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Moana target 2025 World Cup
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Articles by Melina Etches
Second cyclone shelter unveiled
Saturday 5 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
The “beautiful” opening of ‘Te Papa o Savaiki Tere’ Cyclone Shelter for Tetautua, Penrhyn was held yesterday morning with approximately 150 people in attendance, says the island’s executive officer Puna Vano.
Punanga Nui Market ‘buzzing’
Saturday 5 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Three weeks on from the border opening, vendor confidence is on the rise at the Punanga Nui Market thanks to the increasing numbers of tourists on Rarotonga and an extended rent-free period for vendors.
Aitutaki prepares for paediatric Covid vaccine rollout
Friday 4 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Schools on Aitutaki will now start next week on Thursday, February 10, to allow for the Ministry of Health vaccination team to roll out the paediatric Covid-19 vaccine to 5–11-year-olds.
Request to dredge Arutanga Harbour channel approved
Friday 4 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Dredging work for the Arutanga Harbour Project in Aitutaki has resumed after approval from relevant environment bodies following concerns from residents over the legality of the work in the harbour basin.
Celebrating Omoka cyclone shelter
Thursday 3 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
Penrhyn island gathered together to celebrate and welcome guests to the opening of ‘Te Tahua o Tarakore’ Omoka Cyclone Shelter on Tuesday.
Reclaiming work in Avatiu’s Vaimutu’uri stream starts
Thursday 3 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Contractors have started work on reclaiming the banks of the Vaimutu’uri stream at the Avatiu back road that have been severely eroded by the flash floods late last month.
New water tanks for Manihiki
Wednesday 2 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in
The construction of the first two new 20,000 litre water tanks for the northern island of Manihiki are expected to be completed next week.
A magnificent start to the 2022 marlin season
Wednesday 2 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, National
The 2022 marlin season has launched a magnificent start to the year, with three of the monster fish landed weighing in at over 200 kilograms each.
Government agencies keen to ‘Give a little love’
Tuesday 1 February 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Government agencies will again “Give a little love” on Friday when they kick start their social club fundraiser to support medical referrals who have to travel to New Zealand for further treatment.
Grateful for the support
Monday 31 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Weather
Brutal winds and torrential rain in the early hours of Saturday morning over a week ago sounded like ‘planes flying over dropping bombs’, says Kavera resident Tabitha Ahsin, who lost the roof of her home that night.
Steady flow of people as vaccination rollout resumes
Saturday 29 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
There was a steady flow of people coming to get their first, second and third booster dose of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination yesterday.
Poor turnout for island wide clean up operation
Saturday 29 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
There was a disappointing and poor turnout of non-essential public servants for the island wide clean up campaign yesterday.
Market reopens with appropriate health measures
Saturday 29 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, National
The Punanga Nui Market (PNM) will be open for vendors, customers, visitors, and the general public today with appropriate Covid-related public health measures in place.
Complaint against arrest procedures
Saturday 29 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Crime, National
Denied contact to a lawyer after his arrest and the failure of police to press charges within 24 hours were among claims Quinton Schofield made in a letter of complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Cozzies ‘quietly’ mark Australia Day celebrations
Friday 28 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Although the crowd was not as big as last year’s event, a decent number of locals and visitors turned up to celebrate Australia Day at the Vaiana’s Bar & Bistro in Nikao on Wednesday night.
Niki Rattle appointed new Ombudsman
Friday 28 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Former Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament Niki Rattle is the country’s new Ombudsman.
Vaccination rollout to resume in Rarotonga
Thursday 27 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
The Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination rollout will resume in Rarotonga this Friday and Saturday for all eligible people over 12.
Nurses take charge of Airport Rapid Antigen Tests
Thursday 27 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Travel
The Arataki Cook Islands team are the Covid-19 health and safety officers responsible for the Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) that are required by travellers departing Rarotonga for the Pa Enua (by sea or air travel).
Island wide clean up to avoid dengue outbreak
Thursday 27 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health is anticipating a possible dengue outbreak following a week of extreme weather that caused flash flooding and damages to properties especially in the coastal areas of Rarotonga.
Masked and ready to serve
Wednesday 26 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Food
Xaeon Henry waits patiently for customers at the Punanga Nui Market yesterday at her stall laden with ripe mangoes, fresh fruit and vegetables
