Tamaiva Tuavera was yesterday a relieved man after a petition involving the Ngatangiia seat, which he won in the June 14 election, was dismissed by Chief Justice Hugh Williams.

Cook Islands Party’s Albert Nicholas and Tamaiva Tuavera of Democratic Party have retained their Avatiu-Ruatonga and Ngatangiia seats respectively, after the High Court yesterday dismissed the petitions filed for those seats.

The former Cook Islands high commissioner to New Zealand, Tekaotiki (Tiki) Matapo, has been appointed the new president of the Cook Islands Party (CIP).

Chief Justice Sir Hugh Williams is expected to make his ruling on two of the six general election petition cases by later this week.

The Cook Islands National Environment Service (NES) has confirmed that there was no approval given to a contractor clearing away the charred remains of the Raromart Megastore building to dump waste on a nearby wetland.

People on Mauke are baffled after hail fell on the island for the second time this year, on Sunday night.

Caretaker PM Henry Puna has admitted people might have thought that there would be a public holiday on Friday, June 15, on Rakahanga based on what he said during a Cook Islands Party (CIP) meeting on the island on June 12.

What was supposed to be a fiery contest between the two top teams in Rarotonga turned out to be a dull fixture in round three Rarotonga Club 15s competition on Saturday.

Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort managing director Tata Crocombe says investigators have confirmed “no suspicious circumstances” were involved in the fire which destroyed three accommodation units and a beach bar.

The House of Ariki is not happy with the proposed development at Avana Point as the group comprising high chiefs fear it may destroy historical sites in the area.