Opinion

Leave our Smiley alone

Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the letter by Ruaau Voter for Demos. Firstly you say that, and I quote, “I voted for the Demo Candidate in Ruaau” and then you go on to say, and I quote, “if our member in Ruaau decides to do anything, he must ask us first”. Who do […]

Kata - November 27, 2010

Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Kata

Same same, not different

Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Well, if we had any thoughts that the Cook Islands Party might be different from the Demos, we can now set those aside,” a smoke signaller writes. “Took them what – six days – to get a leadership crisis?” Our photo (right) shows a Hot Mix demonstration given by the man himself – Chris Vaile […]

CIP, please put roading at top of list

Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I should not have to be telling MOIP how to do their job, but I do hope that their road gang will be returning to those areas on the road side which still flood after heavy rains, such as the bend in front of the Ngatangiia CICC Church, to fix the problem once […]

Divine delusions?

Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A few weeks ago after reading one of the good Bishop Pere’s public rants, I was tempted to suggest that he was, quote: “inebriated by the exorbitance of his own verbosity.” I would now further suggest that if he thinks he’s received a divine message in the shape of a racing hermit crab, […]

Protect coffee sellers

Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have just read about the mobile coffee van selling coffee around the island. What’s more, it seems from your article that this new business is owned and operated by expatriates. Why doesn’t someone wake up at the BTIB and do their job. Surely there are enough locally owned coffee outlets on the […]

Employ more locals, stop the outflow

Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in reference to your report of comments at the Tourism Forum last week attributed to CI Tourism chairman Tata Crocombe. While it is correct that he said that the board wanted to see arrival numbers double to over 200,000 per year, he also stated that there was no time frame for […]

Ask us first

Thursday 25 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor. I voted for the Demo candidate in Ruaau. Reading the front page news onTuesday I can only surmise that if Norman George is talking to anyone he would be talking with successful Demo MPs. In your paper I would like to take this opportunity to ask my member for Ruaau that if he […]

It is our right not to vote

Thursday 25 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to all those that cast the ‘stones’ on those who wish to abstain from voting in the Cook Islands General Election process. This is quite ridiculous when many complainers frequently compare us to the likes of Burma or countries where people are persecuted, murdered and stoned etc for trying […]

Kata - November 25, 2010

Thursday 25 November 2010 | Published in Kata

Smell the freedom

Thursday 25 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your smoke signaller of November 22 misses the point. The beauty of our democratic system is that one does have the right to complain whether one did or did not vote in the general election – the same way an MP takes care of ALL the constituents in his electorate whether or not […]

CIP congratulations

Thursday 25 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There was no question who would win, just by how much. Congratulations CIP for a resounding election victory. The swing away from the Demos is a clear indication voters have had a guts full of their shambolic and chaotic administration. Toagate will be long remembered in history as one of the Demos’ biggest […]

Coffee from the islands

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to the article ‘Cooks’ coffee fix sorted’ in Saturday’s paper, a smoke signaller writes: “The sale of Atiu coffee from a mobile espresso outlet is great. Can Juergen Manske-Eimke, the owner of Atiu Coffee, please assure us that he no longer imports coffee beans that I believe have in past comprised up to […]

Kata - November 24, 2010

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Kata

George blames Maggie for starting CIP rumours

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hate to spoil your rumour network, but while I dislike dignifying it with this response, I do so to state my position. The culprit in all of this is the several days old M.P. for Tupapa, George Maggie. I called him last Friday, November 19 having arrived back from Atiu on Thursday […]

Kata - November 23, 2010

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Kata

Congrats CIP

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana. I wish to congratulate all the successful candidates of the General Election and commiserate with the unsuccessful ones. Of course, I’m delighted to see the Cook Islands Party back in power and wish you all the best in serving our people. Ngereteina Puna MANUKAU

CIP needs to take note

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The leader of the CIP and incoming Prime Minister, Henry Puna, is correct to credit much of his party’s landslide victory during last week’s general elections to political infighting within the Demo Party. I think that Puna’s assumption on his party’s emphatic victory is partially correct. However, as a voter I believe that […]

Fired up over Class of '86 lawyer

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have deliberately left responding to Class of ‘86 Lawyer’s letter published November 10 ‘Telecom critics one-eyed’ until now, now that the elections have passed. So I respond as follows. Firstly to Class of 86 Lawyer, front up with your name, you racist coward; attacking me personally behind a pseudonym is gutless and […]

Accept the blame

Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to a front page article last week ‘Demos dug own grave’, a smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Come on Sir Terepai Maoate, accept you are the instigator of the Democratic Party split because of your greed for power and that you created the Toa problem – stop trying to deny it. We all […]