Opinion

Grocers answer complaints

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been wondering lately if anyone other than myself has noticed the number of foodstuffs that are currently being sold by CITC outlets and other retailers that are close to, if not already past, their ‘use by’ date. I find it more than a little disturbing that, unless one looks very carefully, […]

Kata - February 18, 2011

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Kata

It's a breach of code of conduct

Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read the letter from Concerned Public Servant in Wednesday’s Cook Island News with some disquiet. While the matter raised is relevant, the letter is malicious with no substantial facts. The correspondent claims that they are in a senior enough position to speak about good governance of all Heads of Ministries and obviously […]

Recycling glass is nothing new

Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to reply to ‘Couch Potato’ in Nelson NZ regarding recycling/crushed glass. Thought I should let you know that my husband and I have been crushing glass for two years here in Rarotonga. As you’ve mentioned, we have replaced sand and aggregate with crushed glass in use with cement. We too […]

Kata - February 17, 2011

Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Kata

Look at Nelson's example

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have read with interest that Minister Heather has had a successful trip to NZ researching methods of recycling that may be appropriate for the Cook Islands. Waste management and pollution control should definitely be a priority for this government. The water quality of your lagoons IS the main driver behind the CI […]

All govt travel must be above board

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Interesting to see that our politics have changed noticeably and the CIP Government should be congratulated for demonstrating the art of “good governance”. One area though they would need to address will be at the ministry level. Those trips that are funded by aid donors which are normally being notified through the Head […]

Two thumbs up for Maggie's stance

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I agree with George Maggie that the $5000 MPs clothing allowance should be used for better things,” a smoke signaller writes following the Tupapa MP’s statements to the CINews on Friday in response to suggestions the government is to reinstate the MP’s clothing allowance which will cost a total of $120,000. “And even better, the […]

Support for Tua Pittman

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I don’t want to be involved in the dispute for the Te Aia Ariki Mataiapo title – as our 7th great grandmother Te Paeru A Teaia, the 1st born child of Teau Ariki and Niniva’s children who married Enua Rurutini the 1st went out of the Takitumu district when she married him – […]

Look back

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Meitaki maata e Bobby Turua for responding to my letter concerning the government workforce. To cut matters short, just cast your memories back to 1999. A committee comprising of Mr Fowlds (from NZ), Papa Ron Crocombe, John Herrmann and Iaveta Short looked into the government’s desperate financial situation. At the conclusion of their […]

Kata - February 16, 2011

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Kata

Call for league details

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have no idea of the make-up of the Cook Islands Rugby League Association but could one of those involved be responsible for making sure that details of the match fixtures, times for matches of the grades, etc, are passed in good time to Cook Islands News for publication in Saturday’s newspaper. Not […]

Time for renewable energy

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s very interesting to hear our energy division and UNDP consultant talking on TV the other night about installing a $1 million solar power project on Rakahanga. The intention is good but I have other worries. Before proceeding with this project, can government please look at our existing energy division? History can only […]

Plea to subsidise school bus fares for low income families

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is growing concern in the community in regards to the public transportation of school children to and from school. As a parent of four young children who require transportation on a weekly basis to get to and from school, I admit that this is not a cheap exercise for any family with […]

Excellent decision

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Prime Minister Henry Puna’s excellent decision to lift the secrecy surrounding the travel costs of Members of Parliament calls into question the integrity of all past governments that have fought to keep the ban in place. In Saturday’s CINews, the PM said he didn’t know “why these figures have been so top secret…there’s […]

Economic summit must not be all talk

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to offer some personal views on the national economic summit that the new government intends to hold sometime in the near future. Economically speaking, we all know what and where the major problems and challenges lie for the country and where government therefore needs to focus its attention and efforts in […]

Electrician complains

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We the electrical contractors and independent electricians have some major concerns with the Energy Division, mainly its electrical inspection division and its performance to date. The situation as it goes: All electricians must pay a practising licence every year ($95), when we start a job. We must take out for builder’s temporary supply […]

'A good idea?'

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ex-Finsec Sholan Ivaiti is still saying the government plan to nationalise the fuel industry by buying the Toa and Juhi depots (and forcing Triad out of business), was a good idea. The Heads of Agreement for the purchase of Toa was signed on December 4, 2008, two months ‘after’ BP (the owners of […]

No more travel secrecy

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Prime Minister Henry Puna’s excellent decision to lift the secrecy surrounding the travel costs of Members of Parliament calls into question the integrity of all past governments that have fought to keep the ban in place. In Saturday’s CINews the PM said he didn’t know “why these figures have been so top secret…there’s nothing sensitive […]

Appalled at flak

Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m rather appalled at the flak that Sholan Ivaiti is undeservingly receiving from mischievous characters that appear to be having hallucination episodes. Sholan in all respect was probably the youngest local HOM to take the most demanding job in the Public Sector. One only has to vet his academic achievements and realise the […]