Local

SATURDAY 22: ON THE STREET

Wednesday 26 August 2009 | Published in Local

Do you think the Arorangi Prison needs upgrading? Dallas Young Yes, they should be treated like human beings and they need to be rehabilitated right. Sonny Foster I’m not sure, I haven’t seen it. Maui Joseph Probably, but not too much because they will feel too comfortable and want to go back in there. Nancy […]

Local

Nepotism claim just laughed off

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Monday 17: Did cabinet appoint all the new heads of ministries (HOMs) based on favouritism, nepotism and political attitudes? This is the stinging question opposition MP Nandi Glassie asked prime minister Jim Marurai in parliament last Thursday. But he didn’t get the official answer – and he won’t until the next sitting. Still seated, both […]

Local

Govt waives Aitutaki fuel levy

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Monday 17: Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop says Christmas has come early for his island following a recent decision by government to scrap the levy Aitutaki pays on petrol and diesel. Government has now waived the import levy for all islands except Rarotonga effective from August 1. The new order waives the 22 cent per litre […]

Local

Prison reform stirs debate

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Monday 17: Hot debate has begun over calls for penal reform in Rarotonga. This follows last week’s opening of the prison gates for an inspection of conditions after two escaped prisoners claimed they broke out of jail to protest at sub-standard conditions. Prisoners Daniel Mare and Roger Tauarea handed themselves in to authorities last Wednesday, […]

Local

CITC supports PFL

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Saturday 15: The Pacific Forum Line service has received support from the country’s biggest importer. CITC general manager Gaye Whitta says the group is pleased that PFL has a substitute vessel for the damaged Forum Avarua. “We had 10 containers on Forum Avarua, so we were going to suffer shortages along with other importers if […]

Local

Drug dog nabs man

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Saturday 15: A police drug dog has led to an arrest of man entering the country carrying cannabis. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old passenger caught the attention of the drug dog after arriving at the airport from Auckland. He was stopped and searched, and police discovered he was carrying drugs. He appeared in the Cook Islands […]

Local

First swine flu death

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Saturday 15: The Cook Islands has reported its first death associated with swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) – a 36-year-old Kiwi female visitor who died in Arorangi last month. The woman was found to have an underlying respiratory disease, understood to be asthma. Yesterday the ministry of health issued a pandemic influenza update announcing that […]

Local

Cold snap chills air

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 14: Beanies, socks and scarves have been piled on this week as people are feeling the chill in the air. The Meteorological Service says temperatures have plummeted to 18 degrees this week and 17 degrees last week as a cold front has settled on top of the island. “It’s looking to be fine and […]

Local

PFL finds new ship

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 14: Pacific Forum Line customers have received some good news. The shipping line has concluded negotiations and acquired a vessel, Komaiwai II, to transport cargo offloaded in Suva after a fire broke out on board the Forum Avarua last month. The Forum Avarua had to be towed to Fiji on the weekend of July […]

Local

Two convicts plead guilty to escaping

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 14: The two prison inmates who escaped from jail for three days appeared in the Cook Islands High Court yesterday each charged with escaping from legal custody. Daniel Mare,17, and Roger Tauarea, 38, handed themselves in to authorities on Wednesday after fleeing from Arorangi Prison last Saturday night. The pair pleaded guilty to the […]

Local

Drug bust at wharf

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 19: A second man in two weeks has been charged for importing drugs into the country. Kimi Katoa of Tupapa was arrested on Friday after a routine check by police and customs uncovered 273 grams of cannabis. The drugs were found in a bucket on a boat at Avatiu wharf. Katoa appeared in the […]

Local

Super fund loses $3m

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 14: Parliamentary questions force DPM’s disclosure Finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate yesterday admitted that the national superannuation fund has lost around $3 million on investment. This was revealed after he was asked about the super fund in parliament yesterday. Opposition deputy leader Teina Bishop was first to raise the issue asking Sir Terepai during […]

Local

Kids steal from tourist at beach

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 19: Two ‘delinquents’ were apprehended by police last week for stealing a tourist’s wallet on the beach. A 13-year-old and 10-year-old are accused of taking money from the wallet while the owner was swimming at Aroa, Arorangi. It is reported they took the money home and later used it to buy food. Police thanked […]

Local

When Raro eyes are smiling…

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 13: Local Irishman Paddy Lynch has been the Northern Ireland under 21 netball side’s ‘mascot’ while the team has been on Rarotonga. Wearing the traditional green of the Irish, Lynch met the team on their first day, and he supported the team when players and management visited Imanuela Akatemia last week (wearing his lucky […]

Local

New labour law ready

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 19: A new labour law is finally set to be put before cabinet this year to reform the current out-dated law on employment relations. The revised Employment Relations Bill will cover a multitude of employment issues including paid and unpaid leave entitlements, maternity leave, occupational health and safety, individual and collective employment agreements, sexual […]

Local

Super fund chair says no comment

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 13: Even the chair of the national superannuation fund is keeping tight-lipped on rumoured losses made by the fund in 2008. This week CINews asked the super fund office exactly what the status of the fund is now, following rumours that it has lost $3 million on investment. Super fund chair John Kenning says […]

Local

Pacific economies shrinking – ADB

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Tuesday 18: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says the economies of most South Pacific islands, including the Cooks, are expected to shrink this year due to weak tourism and remittances. A report issued this week says the global economy is showing signs of stabilising, but the full impact of the downturn in the United States, […]

Local

DPM wants health portfolio back

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 13: Deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate reportedly started a scrap over portfolios in cabinet yesterday. It is understood the minister made it clear that he wants the ministry of health back in his portfolio. Prime minister Jim Marurai has reportedly objected to this mainly because the DPM now has at least a dozen […]

Local

PSC still waiting

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Tuesday 18: Public service commissioner Navy Epati says that he is still awaiting clarification on the island secretary and heads of ministry positions which have yet to be decided upon by cabinet. Epati says cabinet has not yet explained why it has not decided on an appointment in the position of island secretary for Penrhyn, […]

Local

Escapees give themselves up

Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 13: Jail break was a protest at poor conditions, they claim The two escaped prisoners voluntarily returned to custody yesterday – claiming their escape was a protest against prison conditions. Police and prison wardens have been searching for Roger Tauarea and Daniel Mare since their escape from Arorangi prison last Saturday night. Police said […]

Local

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