It was all hands on deck and no-one was idle, or even wanted to be, when an umu was laid at Sunshine Mata George’s premises on Monday.

One man was down and being resuscitated when the captain of the Layar Mas 291 made the “abandon ship” call, due to an out-of-control fire in two containers.

Inspiring children to read and write is the focus of a visit to the Cook Islands by teacher and author David Riley.

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council Accreditation scheme plans to strengthen water safety standards for all members who offer water-based activities.

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.