Local
Police act being completely overhauled
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
The existing Police Act is being completely overhauled with the aim of a revamped version being ready for parliament before the end of the year. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the new act will bring policing into the modern era as the existing 1981 act is old and doesn’t accommodate the full spectrum of police […]
No reports of Cook Islanders in zone
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
No Cook Islanders are known to have been amidst the recent devastation of north eastern Japan by earthquake and tsunami, says Foreign Affairs secretary Jim Gosselin. “New Zealand has been checking for us and do not know of any Cook Islanders who have been caught in the tragedy.” Yesterday a letter of condolence was sent […]
Please bring old text books back
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
Old school text books are still valuable to students today – and Tereora College teachers are urging parents and former students to search your homes for text books and return them. This week a parent returned a stack of text books that prompted head of senior mathematics at Tereora College Bryn Parry to put a […]
More pay, less interest
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
Raising the minimum wage, lower interest rates and abolishing outer islands taxes are some of the initiatives being recommended by the Economic Summit Task Force committee for the next budget. Removing outer islands company and income tax are being promoted as good outer islands initiatives to increase economic activity. The task force has also identified […]
Intruder caught in the act
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
An intruder who broke into an Avatiu home early Saturday morning was caught in the act by the home owner who wrestled the intruder to the ground and called police. The Avatiu home owner was woken up when he heard a loud noise in the next room. Upon investigating the noise, the home homer saw […]
High seas
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
Tsunami surges from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Thursday night continued to affect the island over the weekend. But the surges had no affect on the water activities as pre-sailing Nemo squad members hunted rori in Muri lagoon, sailors navigated their race course and oe vaka paddlers hit the water for their […]
Budget worries in health
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Health has some serious concerns about its proposed budget, which seems to have flatlined. Government is proposing to allocate to the ministry about $10.4 million – the same amount Health has been getting for the past three fiscal years. Inflation rates of 7.8% in 2008-2009, 6.7% in 2009-2010 and 4.4% in 2010-2011 […]
Tsunami surges in Avarua harbour
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Three hours after the tsunami warning for the Cook Islands was cancelled yesterday – the tsunami surges generated by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan began draining the water in the island’s two harbours. Onlookers were stunned to see the effects of the tsunami surges – water draining from the harbour and come rushing […]
Mirage moves
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Development of the old Sheraton Hotel site in Vaimaanga appears to be progressing, although New Zealand-based firm Mirage Group Ltd has yet to apply for permits. The company has obtained a lease to develop the abandoned accommodation complex, but still has not applied for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report from the National Environment Service […]
New moko!
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Scientists have aptly named one skink that roams Rarotonga the ‘wandering skink’, a new endemic species that is now cemented into the Natural Heritage database. Last month, researchers named the skink emoia tuitarere – the Maori word for wanderer, stranger, alien or sailor. A DNA study undertaken by a team of scientists last year revealed […]
Separating rubbish is only a start
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
Te Ipukarea Society members are pleased residential rubbish is being separated from landfill waste on Rarotonga, but say more needs to be done to address the island’s waste management woes. TIS programme manager Jacqui Evans says the recent move to separate recyclable waste and store it at the recycling centre below Arorangi’s landfill is a […]
Pa urges ui ariki not to repeat mistakes
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
Takitumu paramount chief Marie Pa Ariki is concerned that some ui ariki may again be fooled into believing the far fetched get rich schemes of sovereignty campaigner Bruce Ruatapu Mita and repeat events of 2008-09. The country was thrust into the international spotlight when a number of ui ariki, on the advice of Mita, challenged […]
Opening delayed further
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
The ceremonial opening of parliament has been pushed back a second time and will now take place in early May. Prime minister and minister for parliamentary services Henry Puna says this has been necessary because of his heavy travel schedule. Much of Puna’s travel will be through the southern group islands touching base with island […]
Teenage pregnancy talks
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
Teenage pregnancies and adolescent health will be the focus of a two-day workshop on Aitutaki funded by Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), supported by the Women in Sport Commission. Charge nurse of the CIFWA clinic Kathy Koteka says that the two-day workshop starting today, was instigated by Aitutaki participants who attended the Women in […]
Appeal fund for cancer sufferer
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
Longtime Arorangi resident Mere Ofa was last year diagnosed with breast cancer, and her friend June Baudinet is encouraging Rarotonga to rally behind her and support her both emotionally and financially. Baudinet has been emailing local businesses seeking donations to help fund Mere’s $20,000 chemotherapy treatment. She has also set up a Westpac account (#2000290110) […]
More power to island councils: PM
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
The government wants to see island councils take more responsibility in running their respective islands – as opposed to island secretaries doing this because they believe it to be their responsibility. Conflicts between island councils and island secretaries have led to “heaps of problems with the outer islands in the past,” says Prime Minister Henry […]
'Speed up the jetty'
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Clear instructions have been given to New Zealand officials to quicken the pace of the Arorangi jetty project by Foreign Minister Murray McCully, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. During recent talks between Puna and McCully, the reasons for delays affecting progress on the project were identified as the hydrological survey of the landing. Puna says […]
BJ passes away
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
BJ Oaariki was an identity on Mauke. The young disabled man died last week after a short illness, leaving a big gap in the island community where he was loved and looked after by people of all ages. On page 10 today, June Hosking’s obituary and photos are a small tribute to a popular person […]
Red Cross still counting
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Red and black day appeal money, being collated by the Cook Islands Red Cross Society, for those affected by the 6.3 magnitude Christchurch earthquake is expected to exceed $8000. Cook Islands Red Cross Society disaster management coordinator Charlie Numanga today expects to have a final tally of money generated by Cook Islanders during the Friday […]
MP quitting 'sad' and 'selfish'
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna has hinted his government could be visiting anti-party hopping legislation to possibly fix existing loopholes during its term in office following MP Norman George’s resignation from Cook Islands Party ranks this week. Puna says it’s clear Cook Islanders don’t accept how individual MPs continue to shift alliances after being elected – […]
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