Opinion
Criticism a catalyst?
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I am responding from a personal viewpoint to the letter printed on Friday October 30 about Tereora’s new principal. I am also responding as a concerned educationalist and future parent. Even though the letter may have been portrayed as a personal attack by some, it does not divert from the fact that applicants, […]
Land Court reform is critical
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
It’s more important than parliamentary reform, says lawyer Norman George Dear Editor, My friend Joseph Ka’s letter to the editor yesterday dated November 11 prompts me to write this response. 1. After practising in the Land Court for the past 20 years, I have on many occasions walked out of court gutted and disappointed with […]
Consult the north first
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, It is quite disappointing to read that the government is going ahead and passing a bill without consulting with the people of the Northern Group, as the majority of the seabed resources are found in the northern parts of the Cook Islands. Terepai Maoate Junior had a consultation meeting with the people of […]
Learning Maori isn't easy
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was one of the lucky people getting my PR last time, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve been trying to learn Maori for many years and think it’s a great idea that you now have to learn Maori to get your PR, but…where do you learn it? It’s easy to say mingle […]
Report thefts
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, We have to agree with the points made by the Kiwi couple regarding thefts. After being robbed of a large sum of money, passports, credit cards, licences etc while we slept in a locked apartment, we too would never return to your beautiful island for a holiday. The crime level is ridiculous with […]
Fond farewell to Karen Galvan
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I wish to acknowledge the great work of Karen Galvin (pictured) in her time on Rarotonga as the Clinic Manager for the Esther Honey Foundation. Karen has worked tirelessly, with huge amounts of energy to achieve a level of success not previously possible. Karen has made her passion of animal welfare her occupation. […]
'Honest Jim' in danger of drowning
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The growing public outcry in relation to the country’s increasing dysfunctional political system is screaming testament of the very poor leadership that this country has had to endure under the Marurai Government. At a time when the economy is slowing down, Cook Islanders (our most valuable asset) continue to flock overseas to seek […]
Use skype and skip toll costs
Thursday 12 November 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, In response to the letter about exorbitant broadband charges, here is some advice. www.skype.com is available completely free of charge for all computer users to download. Once you have this program loaded, paying premiums for international toll calls is but a memory. Although not entirely free (because of megabytes used), it helps to […]
Wednesday 26: BEST PRICES
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
Since critics are always quick to slam CITC, someone ought to note how the Main Store’s prices for sports gear are among the best anywhere, a smoke signaller says. “Nike apparel, for example, is cheaper here for the same latest range as in NZ and Australia. Evidence of that was seen on Saturday when visiting […]
Wednesday 26: INITIATE, NOT REACT
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
In responding to Wilkie Rasmussen’s expulsion from the Democratic Party, one signaller says that he only wishes that “MPs like Rasmussen will get off their butt and initiate things, rather than just react to anything and everything”.
Wednesday 26: SMOKE TERRORISTS
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader says rubbish burning is an issue the island needs to urgently address “as it’s a real health hazard for children, the elderly and people prone to developing respiratory illnesses. Shops and households burn cardboard boxes, plastic, cans, green waste, and all other waste in between. These are the Smoke Terrorists – you never […]
Wednesday 26: Good deed pays off in the end
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
Here’s a smokie with a happy ending. A parent writes: “Had to mention this one. My daughter and her friend found a wallet in town – they were waiting for the bus at Cooks’ Corner. They did the right thing and headed to the police station. The police officer opened the wallet, looked at the […]
Tuesday 25: MILLER TIME
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
The police headquarters in Raro gets plenty of courtesy visits from fellow police members from other countries, and there was a special visitor last Wednesday. Senior Constable Bruce Miller, one of the two officers wounded in the Napier shooting siege in New Zealand in May this year (one officer, Senior Constable Len Snee, died in […]
Monday 24: HELLO?
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
Some phone users get rattled when they’re confronted by an answerphone message rather than a live person at the other end of the line, and quickly hang up. Over the weekend Air New Zealand’s answerphone – which is normally kept busy updating callers with the latest flight arrival times – was not working, so friendly […]
Monday 24: PIZZA ON WHEELS
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
A reader is curious when a mobile oven that can cook about 30 yummy pizzas an hour, is going to hit the beach. An article in Wellington’s Dominion Post a couple of months ago featured the Petone firm Piazza that has developed the mobile ovens. “People can set it up in a sports ground or […]
Monday 24: ISLAND SALESMANSHIP
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smokesignaller said he loves the unique approach taken by island marketers. “I recall a shoe sale a number of years back that said: ‘Buy one shoe, get the other one free’! Another chuckled after hearing this radio advert: ‘Buy your loved one your love forever. Get her a washing machine… (price etc). Get one […]
Monday 24: CLASSMATES
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
A former Tereora College student was looking at a 1997 photo of her class online and counted that out of 22 students, three have died (just under 14 percent) since the photo was taken 12 years ago.
Monday 24: Our killer roads!
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
The Cooks has come second in the world, but it’s not a record we can be proud of. World Health Organisation figures confirm what the Cook Islands Road Safety Council has been warning all along – our roads are some of the deadliest in the world. WHO says the African state of Eritrea is the […]
Thursday 20: SHOPPING TIMES
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller who claims to have been turned away from a supermarket recently – along with others – at 5.45pm when it’s advertised they close at 6pm – wonders if this is the result of there being a monopoly on supermarkets in town? Another signaller who has a very accurate watch commented that at […]
Wednesday 26: Road death stats table invalid
Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The inclusion of the Cook Islands road death statistic in the WHO table is a classic example of using statistics in the manner of a drunk using a lamppost – for support rather than illumination. We should not even be in that table because we cannot supply a figure of deaths per 100,000. […]
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