Features

Team Cook Islands visits India's monument to love

Built between 1632 and 1653 – the Taj Mahal is the Indian monument synonymous with everlasting love. And this week Team Cook Islands visited the majestic marble structure that is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum commissioned by Mughal emperor Hah Jahan in memory of his […]

Speaking as a 'real' New Zealander

You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t written a column for a few days. I came close a couple of times; I was going to write about Paul Henry. But I was pretty grumpy and it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight. Anyway I’m ready now and I want to start by talking about the Commonwealth […]

Feeding the masses

More than 1000 people enjoyed a traditional umu feast in Tupapa-Maraerenga yesterday, to celebrate the centennial anniversary and official re-opening of the village’s refurbished meeting house. Tupapa-Maraerenga residents were divided into three catering groups for the event, to which 2000 people were invited. Each group had to cater for about 750 people. All week food […]

Th' Dudes' Morris dies

Iconic New Zealand band Th’ Dudes’ founding member Ian Morris has died. The 53-year-old guitarist, songwriter and producer was found dead yesterday in Napier. Napier police would not provide details about Morris’ death but said no suspicious circumstances existed. “We are all shocked and dreadfully saddened at this news. Ian was a truly gifted musician, […]

New role

The Indian actress who starred in “Slumdog Millionaire” has moved from the slums of Mumbai to the squalid refugee camps of the West Bank in a new film: the story of a defiant Palestinian girl who wants to fight against Israel in a coming of age story with a Mideast twist. “Miral,” directed by award-winning […]

Raro Idol down to top 10

Just 10 performers are left in Raro Idol 2010. Last week three people – Nana, Samuel and Mata – were voted out in front of a packed audience at Staircase. This week just one performer will be for the chop. Tonight’s performances must be in Maori. The event will start at 6.30pm, with tickets on […]

Penrhyn poems help with learning

Penrhyn’s Omoka High School students are studying numeracy, and submitted two poems that pay tribute to what they’re learning. I Have Ten Tiny Fingers I have ten tiny fingers I have ten tiny toes I have two ears I have two eyes I have a little nose I have a mouth to open, with little […]

Holiday fun!

A range of activities are being held next week for school pupils on holiday. The Cook Islands Cricket Association is again running a school holiday programme, following the success of its others this year. A direct result of the popular cricket in schools initiative – the holiday programme will comprise activities suited to groups of […]

CICC hosting youth convention

For the first time in a decade the Cook Islands Christian Church is hosting its youth convention for members and their relatives aged between 16 and 25. The three-day convention is expected to involve almost 100 youth from Rarotonga and the outer islands, and will be held at the Titikaveka CICC complex next week. CICC […]

Exotic fruit industry expands

Manea Nui Plantation is a new company being formed to expand the exotic fruit industry in the Cook Islands. Carambola, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Lychee, Longan, Durian, Abiu, Mango and Avocado are just some of the tropical fruit trees that will be grown and sold by the company. Australian Brian Paxton and his partner, American Jon Beymer […]

Local art on offer

You are still in with a chance to own a piece of original art from Telecom’s telephone directory competition. Nineteen of the best 20 pictures are on sale at the Beachcomber gallery with reserve prices as low as $50. At press time yesterday, there were only nine bids listed. Half the proceeds go to Te […]

Golf for paddlers

The Live Free Outrigger Canoeing Club is staging a Golf Ambrose Tournament to raise funds for repairs, paddles and uniforms for the team. The tournament starts at 4.30pm on Friday October 15. It’s $120 entry for every team of six, and the theme is Black and Gold. The team are currently in training for the […]

Muri photo, framing studio opens

A new photography and framing studio – reportedly the only one on the island – opened recently in Muri. Now, tourists wanting holiday shots and locals wanting professional family portraits snapped and framed can head to Picture Paradise in Nukupure, open five days a week and by appointment on weekends. Professional photographer Jenna Tere moved […]

Common bonds

Delhi, India is a world away and more diverse than the Cook Islands, but I’ve come across a number of things that the two have in common. The stand out similarity between Delhi and our tiny country is island time! We’ve worked out that five minutes Indian time is around 20 minutes Cook Islands time […]

Hand surgeons gather

More than 100 hand surgeons are taking part in a conference at Edgewater Resort. The specialist surgeons are all members of the New Zealand Hand Surgery Society. Karen Smith, the hand specialist from Middlemore Hospital in Auckland, organised the annual get together and decided that an offshore location might be a draw to her colleagues. […]

Money back from Motor Centre

Kevin Hosking (centre) was the lucky winner in the Motor Centre’s Constitution celebration competition. The promotion offered buyers of garden equipment and white goods between 23 July-20 September the chance to win their money back. Hosking accepted a cheque from General Manager Ken King and Sales Manager Kim Mulholland for $1658, which the Hosking family […]

Phone book art on show

The winner of the Telecom phone book design competition will be announced on Monday. A top 20 has been selected from around 50 entries – all of which will be on display in the Beachcomber Gallery next week. The judging panel – Ben Bergman, Ian and Kay George and Jules Maher – has chosen the […]

'I will just do my best'

Two weeks ago 17-year-old track athlete Patricia Taea took on Oceania’s best under 20 sprinters and won a bronze medal. Now she is preparing to take on some of the world’s best at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in India. And although buoyed by her recent achievement on the track, Taea is certainly not talking up […]

Incredible India

It's all relative in the scheme of destruction

Just over a week ago I was somewhere very warm and pleasant and the sea temperature was just right to cool you down after a few hours in the hot sun. I was on the beautiful island of Aitutaki, one of the homelands for the people we now call Maori here in Aotearoa. It’s said […]