More Top Stories
Tapaitau appeal dismissed
17 July 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Ruta Mave: Can you trust your government?
22 July 2024
TB cases detected
1 June 2024
Touch trio ready for World Cup
23 May 2024
Man accused of raping minors face more charges
30 May 2024
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
16 May 2024
Alleged rapist in remand
27 April 2024
Rarotonga residents push back on water tariff plan
12 April 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
Penrhyn seeks airport upgrade for tourism boost
With a population of around 200 people, the residents of Penrhyn always look forward to welcoming yachters who contribute a little to their economy. However, Penrhyn executive officer Puna Vano says the island needs an upgraded airport to contribute more significantly to its tourism economy.
Visitor ordered to pay $28,000 reparation for Titikaveka crash
A visitor to Rarotonga was convicted of excess blood alcohol and careless driving after a car accident, resulting in a $28,000 reparation.
Does reform include letting go of Ivirua?
After reading about the radical political reforms proposed, one signaller says to push the proposal to combine some of the constituencies, it might help if the prime minister comes out and states that he is in favour of letting go of his Ivirua seat in Mangaia. “Wouldn’t it make more sense if we were to […]
It was back to school this week
It’s been an interesting first week back at school for Rarotonga students. Kids seemed to be starting to settle down and make new friends on Tuesday and Wednesday but on Thursday Rarotonga schools closed their doors for cyclone Nisha. In this week’s Kids Page we look back at the first day of school for Rarotonga […]
Mou Piri response to political reform proposals
This is Mou Piri’s considered response and position on the specific political reforms proposed by the prime minister’s advisers: 1. PRIME MINISTER – Yes, Mou Piri supports the direct election of the Prime Minister by all Cook Island registered voters. Advantage: being elected by the people and not a political party will allow the PM […]
Cyclone Nisha downgraded
What a difference a day makes. The glimpse of sun between showers yesterday was a stark contrast to Thursday afternoon as Rarotonga braced itself for tropical cyclone Nisha. After increasing in movement and losing intensity, Nisha was officially declared a tropical depression at 5am yesterday by the Fiji Metrological Service. Senior Cook Islands met service […]
Airline story was wrong
Dear Editor, Your Smoke Signal under the heading ‘Flying high’ appeared to say that when the country tried to run our own airline in the 1980s it “lost millions – several Toagate worth per year”. The writer is wrong. I led the negotiations for a joint venture airline with Ansett and the formation of Cook […]
NZ donates equipment for airport security
The NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs donated two marked patrol vehicles and a sophisticated computer-based training system to Cook Islands Aviation Security this week. Murray Breeze, manager of quality systems development for the Pacific Islands at NZ Aviation Security Services (Avsec NZ), formally presented the gifts to airport security officers on Wednesday afternoon. He was […]
Independent MP says PM is 'fooling' on reform
Rakahanga’s independent MP Piho Rua (above) says the prime minister is fooling the public on the proposed political reforms. “He [Jim Marurai] is saying things that are pretty difficult to achieve,” says Rua. “He knows that he has to go to parliament to achieve those reforms. But the way I see it, he is not […]
Offshore industry represented in US
Three offshore finance industry people are flying the Cook Islands flag in the United States this week. More than 2500 trusts and estates attorneys are in Orlando, Florida, for the 44th annual Heckerling Institute on estate planning. Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority chief executive Jenner Davis, who has attended previous Heckerling conferences, says it […]
Harbour clears for cyclone
Boat owners worked round the clock yesterday to remove their vessels from Avatiu harbour in preparation for cyclone Nisha. While smaller fishing vessels were winched on to trailers and taken to higher ground, bigger charter boats had to be lifted out of the water by crane. That included the Ports Authority’s tug boat. Interisland trading […]
Most public servants let off work to prepare for cyclone
Prime minister Jim Marurai was still in his office yesterday afternoon but had sent his staff home after midday following news that cyclone Nisha had intensified and was continuing on its course towards Rarotonga. At 3pm he told CINews he had not ordered other ministers or government ministries to close early but several of them […]
Playing it safe
Schools were closed yesterday as the country remained on warning against cyclone Nisha. Ministry of education secretary Sharon Paio made the decision to have children remain at home after receiving an update from the met service early yesterday morning. “It’s a bit of an unknown, the situation can change, but I spoke to the met […]
Police on the alert and watch
Police are in emergency operation mode as cyclone Nisha is deep within Cook Islands territory. The meteorological service placed the country on warning late Wednesday afternoon triggering the police to activate the emergency operation centre in their headquarters. Officers have been designated to track Nisha’s path with each met service update, answer any inquiries the […]
Tourism tribute to Dean
The tourism industry council says CI Tourism CEO John Dean has advanced the work of the corporation in several key areas over the past 21 months. CINews asked the council to comment on Dean’s contribution to the industry following his resignation this month. The council says Dean brought a mature and pragmatic business approach to […]
Tourism council explains role of new marketing team
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe heads a new group of tourism industry members that will give marketing advice to government. The destination sales and marketing committee will provide advice to the tourism board. The group will also be responsible for communicating more with the industry on how to promote the destination. Tourism industry council (CITIC) […]
Licence plates switched on DPM's car
The licence plates on the ‘DPM’ plated car were illegally switched until two weeks ago when former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate returned the grey Honda Accord to the DPM office. Members of the public had noticed Sir Terepai still driving a government vehicle and CINews can now reveal that even though he was […]
Chopper carries out water rescue exercise
A simulated water rescue was carried out with the HeliRaro chopper at Avatiu harbour last Saturday. One of the Rescue Cook Islands stretchers was used in the exercise where a volunteer wearing a life-jacket swam out into the western marina to await the ‘rescue’. The helicopter took to the air with the stretcher suspended from […]
Bigger talent pool for cabinet: Tata
Tata Crocombe says the ‘talent pool’ available for cabinet would be expanded from the ruling political party to around 10,000 people if one of the proposed changes to the political system was accepted. Currently a PM can only appoint ministers from within parliament and in most circumstances from within his own ruling party – in […]
Renovations to begin on Tupapa Nui
Renovations of the Tupapa Nui meeting house will kick off with a ceremony on Friday evening. Tupapa pu tapere George Matutu says the pure at 6pm will formally start the renovation programme heading towards the meeting house’s centenary in October. Matutu says the renovations will not involve huge changes to the main structure of the […]
More awards for Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been chosen as one of the Top 10 Luxury Resorts in the South Pacific and Top 10 Resorts for Romance in the South Pacific by the TripAdvisor website in its 2010 Travelers’ Choice awards. Now in its eighth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning […]
Five ships to service Cooks
Twelve months ago, there was only one boat plying its trade between New Zealand and the Cooks, amidst complaints from importers that cargo was being left behind in Auckland. And early this month there was concern that Aitutaki could be left off the shipping schedule between late January and early March. Now it appears that […]
« Previous 1 … 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 … 758 Next »