Speculations about a large Chinese vessel outside the Avatiu harbour has been laid to rest by Ministry of Marine Resources’ secretary Pamela Maru.

The child welfare benefit will be extended to cover teenagers up to their 16th birthday.

Parliament’s Speaker Niki Rattle returns today to preside over the rest of the session, after travelling to Auckland with her sick husband who needed hospital treatment.

It was a dream come true for Nukutere College special needs class students who visited Parliament – they met with their MPs.  The politicians were pretty lucky, too. They met some inspiring young people, and had the chance to fulfil some of the key performance indicators around civics education.

James Herman pulled off a major win in the men’s open of last week’s Rarotonga Open Golf Championship held at the Nikao golf course.

Cultural events organised by the government are expected to get bigger and better this year.

The onus is on parents to ensure their children wear helmets at all times while riding a motorbike, says police minister Mac Mokoroa.

“You know nothing about the north.” Those were the words of prime minister Henry Puna to Opposition MP Tamaiva Tuavera as they got into a brief heated exchange in Parliament.

Parliament has been asked to supply the outer islands with ammunition – to take care of their pig problem. Ngatangiia MP Tamaiva Tuavera said growers on the Pa Enua were having their crops destroyed.

Government can no longer rely on private sector shipping – Mark Brown