With up to 13 million tonnes of plastic leaking into the ocean annually, to be ingested by sea life and birds, and then through the food chain, by man, more needs to be done about the problem of plastic litter, says Te Ara Cook Islands Museum of Cultural Enterprise director Stan Wolfgramm.

French “wwoofers” (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) Baptiste Castaner and Lucie Willemot are in Rarotonga doing volunteer work at Oasis Hydroponics in Tupapa, for two months as part of their world travels.

Pastor Ngarima George has embarked a one-man anti-smoking campaign at the Punanga Nui market.

SPCA volunteer Gaelle Pion did not know what SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals) stood for when she saw the notice at a backpacker she was staying at in Rarotonga.

Miss Cook Islands Project Runway Tropicana saw top pacific labels being modelled by this year’s seven contestants.

Mata George started selling his expertly-woven kikau baskets almost as soon as his display, opposite CITC Liquor was set up last Saturday.

Dr Isaac Warbrick has moved to Rarotonga with his wife and family for three months.

Hitchhikers Lena Beier from Germany, Martyna Ksiazek from Poland and Cassandra Martin from London did not know each other before they met at the International Backpackers in Arorangi last week.

New Agriculture minister Rose Brown visited a number of agricultural establishments on Friday, including an organic fertiliser company, some schools, a hydroponic farm and vanilla orchard.

The Cook Islands prison and probation service will be renamed as a new agency, the Department of Corrective Services.