Local

Theft, burglaries record dramatic drop Crime numbers down

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Local

A Cook Islands warrior welcomes the Northern Knights cricket team to the Cook Islands yesterday. Report, back page. 11101045

Water being rationed in the north

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Local

Penrhyn Island will run out of drinking water in two weeks if the dry-spell in the Cook Islands does not break soon. The northern atoll is currently under water rationing until further notice, with couples allocated a daily ration of 20 litres meant for drinking. Water storage tanks on the atoll are running short at […]

Appeal to help Andrew Iroa

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

An urgent application has been made for Tupapa resident Andrew Iroa to be issued a New Zealand passport in order to receive high-level medical treatment. On Friday Iroas friends lodged an application for an emergency New Zealand passport at the New Zealand High Commission. The application was accompanied by a petition in support of Iroa […]

Piho Rua dies after illness

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

Former Cook Islands politician Piho Rua (above) passed away last Wednesday surrounded by his family at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland after a long struggle with diabetes. The 57-year-old entrepreneur was a police superintendent, former director of corrective services, CEO for former prime minister Robert Wonton and former member of parliament for Rakahanga who stood for […]

Solar panels to save Tereora $60k a year

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

Solar panels due to be installed on the new Ministry of Education building at Tereora in Nikao will save Tereora College up to $60,000 a year, according to Prime Minister Henry Puna. Renewable energy consultant Shay Brazier, a New Zealand structural design consultant, is currently in Rarotonga to begin work this week on the design […]

Vroom for view

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Local

What is yellow, blue and will be seen all over? Answer the latest addition to the Cook Islands Police fleet of vehicles. Yesterday, New Zealand Police officially handed over the keys to a Holden Crewman patrol car to the Cook Islands force. The brightly-painted sedan utility is a gift from New Zealand and a measure […]

MMR puts up funds for local fishing

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIFA) is $90,000 richer thanks to the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and licence revenue from foreign fishers. MMR has pledged $200,000 from licence revenue to Cook Islands fishing clubs this year and its first allocation is to the parent body CIFA. The money is to boost fisheries development in […]

Celebrating teachers

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Kukis make case to NZ chairman today

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Rugby League officials will today push their New Zealand counterparts to sign a contract committing the Kiwis team to a rematch with the Kukis at Rarotonga next year. Members of the CIRL will hold a meeting with the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League Scott Carter today to plead their case for […]

Town water quality condemned

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Ministry of Health staff are trying to determine the validity of a report alleging Avaruas water supply is rife with parasites, bacteria, pathogens and toxins dangerous to humans. Doctor Rangi Fariu, the ministrys director of community health services, says he is perplexed by the report, which has been circulating via email this week. The email, […]

TAU defends policy

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Local

It would be unwise and unsafe to follow an initial cap on the amount of renewable energy able to be embedded within Rarotongas electricity grid, Te Aponga Uira O Tumutevarovaro (TAU) says. Two years ago TAU acknowledged that it would face a ceiling amount in respect of embedded installations of renewable energy on the grid […]

From solicitor general to justice secretary

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Local

Former solicitor general Tingika Elikana has started his new job as the head of the justice ministry. Elikana began working as justice secretary on Monday, although his appointment was formally confirmed by public service commissioner Navy Epati yesterday. e Evans will be officially sworn in as deputy solicitor general during a ceremony at Government House […]

PM pays first official visit to Mangaia

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna was given a royal welcome to Mangaia on Monday morning on what was his first official visit to the outer island. Puna and his wife Akaiti were carried on a traditional paata from their Air Rarotonga plane to the Mangaia airport terminal where they and their group were warmly welcomed to […]

TAU lowers solar power limit

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Local

Te Aponga Uira (TAU) has cut its limit on renewable energy installations which need approval to one-fifth of its former 10 kilowatt limit. The new limit for installations that are automatically eligible for net-metering is now 2 kilowatts, as was reported in Cook Islands News on Saturday. TAU released a statement to the media yesterday, […]

Russians claiming Suwarrow

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

A Russian political party leader is claiming that he purchased Suwarrow from the Cook Islands government in July of this year. Anton Bakov has declared Suwarrow the capital of the revitalised Russian Empire and himself the prime minister. Izvestia, one of Moscows most well-known newspapers, quotes Bakov as saying he bought Suwarrow for tens of […]

Miss Manea pageant contestants

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

TAU plans radical policy change

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands green dreams have been torpedoed just a day after government signed a $1 million deal to introduce solar power to Rakahanga. Rarotongas energy provider is expected to change its policies surrounding privately-owned solar installations next week as the islands electricity grid nears its capacity. Cook Islands News understands Te Aponga Uira (TAU) […]

Heroes ready for selection

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

Fifty Christchurch earthquake survivors and their partners are set to travel to the Cook Islands for a free holiday in November and December. Christchurch mayor Bob Parker has almost completed his selection of 50 heroes who will enjoy an all-expenses-paid holiday to the Cook Islands with their partners. Parker was also among those invited, although […]

$3m more earmarked for northern group

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

All of the Cook Islands northern group will see projects similar to the Rakahanga renewable energy scheme be introduced in the next three years. About $3 million remains open for Cook Islands use under the Pacific Environment Community Fund for future projects similar to that being implemented at Rakahanga. Yesterday, Prime Minister Henry Puna said […]

Rakahanga signs $1 million deal

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

It can be easy to forget about the people affected by government business in all the political talk of policy, purse strings and progress. Their stories are often lost in the wider details of a deal. But when an emotional Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka took to the speakers podium at the prime ministers office yesterday, […]