Local
Australia proposes $55 departure tax
Monday 14 May 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands government might consider accusing the Australian government of plagiarism after they announced their plans for the nation’s departure tax in last week’s budget announcement. The Australian plans for their so-called passenger movement tax are similar to the Cook Islands’ intentions and financial secretary Richard Neves looked on with interest as the Australian […]
Dredge arrives for Avatiu port project
Monday 14 May 2012 | Published in Local
Ten weeks of 24-hour dredging is due to begin in Avatiu Harbour from today. The backhoe dredge Kimahia has arrived in the port after a two-week tow from Auckland. The 100-tonne, barge-mounted excavator is the largest of its type in New Zealand and will carry out the dredging of the port as part of the […]
Seven vaka set sail
Friday 11 May 2012 | Published in Local
As the people of Aitutaki prepare for the arrival of the Pacific Voyagers fleet of seven vaka, repair and refit work is being carried out on Vaka Te Au O Tonga – the original and mother vaka of the seven new fibreglass voyaging vaka. This refit for Te Au O Tonga is the most extensive […]
Farewell, Sir Geoff
Thursday 10 May 2012 | Published in Local
Two-time prime minister and one of the Cook Islands’ most colourful politicians Sir Geoffrey Henry died at his home in Takuvaine, surrounded by family and friends. Sir Geoffrey succumbed to kidney cancer around 1am on Wednesday, bringing to close a long and vibrant political career that spanned almost 50 years. Sir Geoffrey first entered politics […]
Old uto chopped for safety
Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Local
Road safety was on the minds of Tupapa resident Mereana Hagai and the village’s MP George Maggie yesterday as workers pulled down an uto tree in Maraerenga. The tree, situated on Hagai’s property on the main road near Victoria Park, was a traffic hazard and needed to be removed. Maggie said that the tree was […]
Bedside vigil for Sir Geoff
Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Local
The family of the Speaker of Parliament, Sir Geoffrey Henry, maintained a bedside vigil at his home yesterday afternoon as he lay gravely ill with cancer. Sir Geoffrey, 71, a former prime minister, had been a patient at the Rarotonga Hospital until Saturday, when he was discharged and brought back to the comfort of his […]
Brother versus sister in Titikaveka
Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in Local
Brother and sister will face each other in the June 21 Titikaveka by-election with the Democratic Party and Cook Islands Party officially announcing their candidates yesterday. The Demos have pinned their hopes on Selina Matenga-Napa to retain the seat that former opposition leader Robert Wigmore held. The Cook Islands Party, meanwhile, has looked to her […]
Vaka changeovers before leaving Tahiti
Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Local
The Tahiti Voyaging Society has been gifted Vaka Moana Faafaite by Deiter Paullman, the founder of the Pacific Voyagers Society. The gift to the Tahiti Voyaging Society is a result of years of demonstrating their hard work and initiative in preserving the kaupapa and connecting land and sea. It was a powerful and emotional moment, […]
Harbour dredging starts soon
Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Local
Dredging at the Avatiu harbour is expected to begin in about two weeks’ time as the $27 million project enters its final stage of development. Dredges left New Zealand on April 30, bound north for Rarotonga to join the major construction project. They are expected to take two weeks to reach the Cook Islands and […]
60 seek 10 HOM positions
Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Local
The selection panel responsible for recruiting the Heads of Government Ministries is now preparing to finalise shortlisted applicants ahead of conducting interviews over the next three weeks. The selection panel includes the Public Service Commissioner Russell Thomas as chairman, and other members approved by cabinet including Niki Rattle, Te Aroa Tini and Nga Mataio representing […]
23 youth arrested, plus boy of 9
Monday 7 May 2012 | Published in Local
Rarotonga police have arrested or apprehended 23 people accused of committing burglaries in April in an attempt to curb the “concerning” high number of offences committed during the month. Burglars targeted businesses and the Te Au O Tonga area with a special interest during the month, Cook Islands Police inspector Tere Patia reported, although Puaikura […]
No new cases of dengue reported
Saturday 5 May 2012 | Published in Local
No additional cases of dengue fever were recorded in Rarotonga by yesterday afternoon, leaving three people as confirmed carriers of the disease. Director of Public Health Doctor Rangi Fariu said that the Rarotonga Hospital had not recorded any new cases yesterday after reporting that people from Nikao, Arorangi and Matavera had been the first confirmed […]
Kia Orana Air not taking off
Saturday 5 May 2012 | Published in Local
Kia Orana Air, the low-cost domestic airline first proposed in mid-2008, is now grounded indefinitely. Managing director Mark Lusby announced yesterday that he has abandoned the venture. This follows approval to operate the airline business in January 2010 and protracted delays attributed to the economic downturn and recent problems in finding a site for an […]
Meeting called off
Saturday 5 May 2012 | Published in Local
At the eleventh hour, the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee called off its controversial annual general meeting citing the need to have audited accounts ready for the meet. CISNOC secretary general Rosie Blake announced yesterday that the meeting scheduled for last night was deferred but no new date has been set for the […]
Molten tar burns man
Friday 4 May 2012 | Published in Local
A labourer who received burns to his foot and hand while working with hot tarmac due for use in the Nikao road works is making marked improvements in hospital. The 22-year-old man received a mix of superficial and deep burns to his foot and hand on Saturday after he came into contact with hot tarmac […]
New dengue outbreak confirmed
Friday 4 May 2012 | Published in Local
Three cases of dengue fever have been confirmed at Rarotonga and although public health officials expect there will be more to come they are asking people to be alert but not alarmed. All the confirmed cases emanate from Rarotonga so far, but because the three infected individuals come from different parts of the island – […]
Democratic Party aims to take back power
Thursday 3 May 2012 | Published in Local
The Democratic Party is re-grouping with a long-term vision to take back the majority in parliament at the next general election. Opposition leader and deputy leader of the Democratic Party Wilkie Rasmussen is buoyed by the “unity” and “professionalism” he perceives within the party’s branches in Titikaveka and Aitutaki. Having visited Aitutaki several weeks ago, […]
Govt plans sole fuel supply
Thursday 3 May 2012 | Published in Local
The government is endeavouring to consolidate the country’s fuel volume requirements. Cook Islands News understands a tender document specifying a sole supplier will be released later this year, around October. The contract will not include the supply of aviation fuel, as Pacific Energy has an arrangement to supply the airport until 2015, but the idea […]
Kia orana, Jerome Kaino and Webb Ellis Cup!
Wednesday 2 May 2012 | Published in Local
All Black flanker Jerome Kaino’s side-stepping moves were handy on Monday night when the 196-centimetre star showcased his Cook Islands dancing at a special World Cup dinner hosted by Prime Minister Henry Puna. Kaino hadn’t expected to pull out his dancing moves so early into his trip to Rarotonga but the persuasive crowd and pulsating […]
Toa in limbo as lease expires
Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Local
Toa’s lease for its Panama site – which it acquired from Mobil in 2006 – expired today when the clock struck 12. Yesterday landowners were counting down the hours to midnight, reporting that they were “so happy to get our land back”. “We the landowners have warned the contractors working onsite that from 12 there […]
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