More Top Stories
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
16 May 2024
Alleged rapist in remand
27 April 2024
Rarotonga residents push back on water tariff plan
12 April 2024
High hopes for chronic patients
4 May 2024
Solar power battery repairs ‘could take up to 12 months’
15 April 2024
Cook Islands poised for highest Pacific growth
29 April 2024
Ex-DPM appeals ‘excessive sentence’, hearing date set
26 April 2024
Mass milkfish die-off in Penrhyn raises concerns
3 April 2024
Regulator defends Starlink users
9 April 2024
Cook Islands set to play in new World Series
10 October 2023
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
Moana target 2025 World Cup
11 November 2022
National
Graham appointed new Secretary of Cook Islands Ministry of Justice
Peter William Graham has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), effective June 4, 2024, for a term of three years, replacing Tamatoa Jonassen.
Cook Islands passes Health Bill to improve health outcomes
The Cook Islands Public Health Bill 2024 that aims to protect and promote the health of all people of the Cook Islands by reducing the incidence of disease and ill-health was passed on Thursday.
Police target disqualified drivers
Police have made eight arrests and have documented two thefts and one case of unlawful taking since last Thursday. Of the three people that were charged with excess breath alcohol this weekend, just one was involved in a vehicle accident. The 29-year-old fell off his motorbike near the Punanga Nui Market onThursday night, and was […]
'Mum' to masses earns MBE
At 73 she can’t stop thinking about the people – it’s a lifetime habit for Tiriakau Vakapora Nicholls, fondly known as ‘Mum’ by the staff at Aitutaki hospital, and many others who she has cared for over the last 48 years. It is also why she has received an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the […]
'Airline of the Year'
Air New Zealand was congratulated by NZ prime minister and tourism minister John Key last week for being named Airline of the Year by ‘Air Transport World’ magazine. “This is a great honour but, then again, no great surprise to those of us who continually experience the service that our national airline delivers,” said Key. […]
Prison roof for renewal
Work has finally begun on replacing the rotten roof of the Arorangi prison. The decomposed wood, which covered the cell block, was being ripped off yesterday to make way for concrete later this week. Superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa said a more secure covering has been needed for years. Previous escapes have been made by inmates breaking […]
Rescue team searches for more volunteers
Rescue Cook Islands, the voluntary search and rescue organisation, is looking to increase its numbers and capacity to carry out searches in Rarotonga’s rugged interior. Trainer Ron Bird says they are looking for more volunteers – male and female – who are generally fit and able, who have knowledge of the interior, and who may […]
'Take it to court'
The opposition Cook Islands Party believes a High Court judgement should be sought on whether the Queen’s Representative should call parliament. Party leader Henry Puna told Cook Islands News yesterday that prime minister Jim Marurai should not be relying on a legal opinion to justify his position. “In regard to the opinion of Dr. Alex […]
Justice minister inspects prison
The new minister of justice says he’s making the prison a top priority. Api Piho has hit the ground running, touring the Arorangi prison last Monday, a day before he officially started, with secretary of justice Mark Short. With 10 escapes last year, he said the correction facility needed to be urgently addressed. “To be […]
More money missing
The audit office has acknowledged that there is more money unaccounted for, following a review into unidentified payments made by the Cook Islands Sports & National Olympic Committee in 2008-09. After reading the report which was tabled in parliament late last year, the Cook Islands Rugby Union’s chief executive Ben Koteka complained to the audit […]
Talks start on new trade agreement
Consultations have begun in the Cook Islands for a new regional trade agreement. The Cook Islands are signatories, along with 14 other Forum Island countries, to Pacer (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations) Plus, following the 40th Forum leaders meeting in October last year where it was agreed negotiations would start. At that time, forum […]
Mail delays explained
Dear Editor, Several of us on Aitutaki just received Christmas cards that had been mailed from our respective countries over a month ago. It seems pretty obvious that a mail bag sat somewhere in a corner in the post office in Rarotonga and someone finally decided to process it. It has nothing to do with […]
We have to reform
Dear Editor, With all the political reforms being proposed, there remains lots of confusion. Probably some concepts are not yet well explained. For example, many people have difficulty dealing with the concept of constituency seats versus national seats. Simply put, a constituency seat is the traditional way of voting where you have choice of voting […]
Gang of 19 not required
Dear Editor Our political system is not even a Westminster system (as in behind the old Iron Curtain). Our politicians have carefully and intentionally taken us back to where 20% of the countries voters work for the government in one way or another. They are all hostage to the political bullies who threaten their employment […]
Parties object to seabed job ad
The huge progress that’s been made in the last three years towards seeing the people of this country reaping benefits from our vast seabed manganese resource could be well on the way to being destroyed if the wrong person is appointed to head the seabed mining authority. In a historical sitting of parliament late last […]
New reporter traces roots
It’s a new reporter for the New Year at Cook Islands News. Rachel Reeves joins the editorial team after making the move from Los Angeles, California, to Rarotonga. Despite her accent, she has strong Cook Islands roots through her grandmother Pauline Napa, owner of the Kiikii Motel. Her father, Anthony Napa, is a former Tereora […]
Vaka bound for Aitutaki
Pictured at right is the president of the Araura Oe Vaka Association and Aitutaki MP Junior Maoate (far right) with workers packing a container with 10 vaka bound for the island. Maoate said the V6 and V1 canoes will be distributed to the two existing clubs – Aitutaki Oe Vaka and Te Mana O Utataki […]
System flawed – election won't fix it
The political system of the Cook Islands encourages corruption, according to leading political scientist and Cook Islander Dr. Jon Jonassen. And it may not simply be an election which fixes it. “There are many capable politicians in both major political parties but it is difficult to maintain a national objective when the system itself encourages […]
NCEA national results out soon
Hundreds of teens are keen to get their exam results this week as they prepare to go back to college or on to tertiary studies and work. The ministry of education plans to have the overall national results statistics for 2009 and the comparison with previous years out within the week. This information shows whether […]
Cabinet embraces reform
Cabinet ministers are being briefed on political reform proposals in the build-up to the newly promised referendum. On Tuesday prime minister Jim Marurai announced a referendum will be run on the issue this year and stated that he needs public to support to press ahead with changing the political system. Yesterday political reform advocates Tata […]
Police continue blitz
Investigations are continuing into the cases of the six men arrested during what police are calling Operation Muri. Operation Muri is the code name for the raids of Tuesday and Wednesday in which six young males were charged with a range of offences involving drugs, burglary and theft. Of the six offenders targeted during the […]
Smiley gets stuck in
New cabinet minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather is vowing to tackle basic infrastructure such as water supply and roads head-on this year. As he settles into his new office in Nikao, the minister for infrastructure and planning (MOIP) has already been filling his days with briefings from the ministry’s secretary Taukea Raui and is planning a […]
« Previous 1 … 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 … 742 Next »