Local
Man held for assault of toddler
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 7: A 45-year-old man has been arrested for assaulting a three-year-old. Police arrested him on Sunday in Arorangi after a family member of the child reported the incident. It is believed the man was the brother of the victim. Inspector Arama Tera says he has been remanded in custody and will appear in court […]
ATM joke 'not funny'
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 2: It was a day for practical jokes yesterday, but Westpac Bank weren’t laughing. Victims of an April Fools prank, their ATM machines in Muri and Avarua were labelled with an ‘Out of order’ sign despite being fully operational. “Upon taking the note off the screen, someone had put an April Fools message underneath,” […]
They're ready for business!
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 7: The three title holders from the Miss Cook Islands pageant went straight into business yesterday. Miss Cook Islands Engara Gosselin, Maine Tapairu Joyana Meyer and Maine Purotu Uirangi Bishop were at the Beachcomber to sign their legally binding contracts with the Miss Cook Islands Pageant Committee. The three girls pledged their availability to […]
Fake $50?
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 2: A $50 note that looks fake has been sent to New Zealand to see if it is counterfeit. A front teller staff member at Westpac bank noticed the “suspicious” note in their cash bundle and alerted the managers. General manager Rob Buick says they sent the $50 to New Zealand yesterday for testing […]
Dengue suspected
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 7: 63 treated in three weeks, tutaka campaign activated Sixty-three probable dengue fever cases have been recorded by the Ministry of Health over the past three weeks. There are no confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease to date as tests done over the past few weeks will be sent to Australian labs this week […]
Man of 58 admits to sex crime
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 2: A 58-year-old man pleaded guilty to attempted rape in the Rarotonga High Court yesterday. Nooapii Williams Tauu was accused of attempting to rape a woman in Titikaveka on Saturday. Police arrested Tauu on Tuesday night and was held in custody until yesterday’s court appearance. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Teinaki Howard requested for the […]
Bank seeks local licence
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 6: Capital Security Bank Limited (CSB) boss Brian Mason says the offshore bank intends to apply for a domestic license in order to survive the axing of this part of the offshore industry. CSB is one of five banks with offshore licences in the country that will soon have to cease operating now that […]
3 for 1 in April Fool's Day fun
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 2: German tourist Julian Kubens (below right) made sure he didn’t miss out on an April Fool’s Day bargain when he exchanged one dollar for a genuine Cook Islands three dollar note from funny man Jim Bruce (left) of Aro’a Beachside Inn. A few other lucky tourists found that getting a genuine Cook Islands […]
Sunday flight cases to be heard on Aitutaki
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 6: Cases connected with Sunday flights to Aitutaki will be heard before the Chief Justice David Williams on the island later this month. In a minute issued by the chief justice, he directed that the cases against Charlie Okotai, Fernando Ngatipa, Henry Raea and Varema Ruahe be heard on April 14 and 15. “The […]
$4.9m added to Games budget
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 2: Pacific Mini Games operating costs estimated to grow to about $9m Government tabled its third supplementary budget yesterday adding $4.9 million in expenditure to the 2008-09 year to cover the growing Pacific Mini Games costs. Finance minister Sir Terepai tabled the budget in parliament saying that a further $3 million has been added […]
New Maine Kuki Airani was the clear audience favourite
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 6: It was definitely a night to remember. Engara Gosselin was crowned Miss Cook Islands on Friday night in front of a near sell-out crowd at the National Auditorium. The 24-year-old was a clear audience favourite with many yelling words of encouragement and holding signs of support. Gosselin not only won the Maine Kuki […]
Cyclone Lin off Tonga
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 4: The Fiji Metrological service issued a warning yesterday morning of a cyclone forming off the coast of Tonga. At 10.30am, cyclone Lin was travelling in a southeasterly direction at about 12 knots. It is expected that if the grade one cyclone continues on its southeasterly path it will pass well to the southwest […]
Actors treated to dance show at Avatea
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 4: Avatea School students came face to face with Shortland Street actors Will Hall and Toni Potter at their Friday assembly yesterday. It was Shortland Street’s last call before heading back to New Zealand after a week-long shoot for an upcoming episode. The students and teachers put on a great colourful dance show for […]
Niue cut increases capacity
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 4: Reef Shipping has announced that the Southern Express will now only service Rarotonga and Aitutaki. Trade manager Ewen Grant says that from voyage 116, the Southern Express will call into the two islands every 24 days. “This will mean increased capacity as well as improved frequency and transit time.” Grant says the turnaround […]
Awards lacklustre
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 4: Chairman of major events and Team Cook Islands chef de mission George George has put the blame for a somewhat lacklustre sports award ceremony squarely on sports managers. “You know the sports awards are a chance for national federations to highlight their athletes,” says George. “But you could tell it wasn’t the best […]
Meningitis scare
Wednesday 8 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 4: A young girl from Aitutaki suspected of having the contagious disease meningococcemia (meningococcal meningitis) is now in Auckland’s Starship Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Health officials averted the possible infection of passengers and crew on an Air Rarotonga flight from the island on Wednesday by contacting all of them and issuing […]
Raro romance for Kip and Alice
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: A lucky Shortland Street fan will get an opportunity to meet with the actors who play Alice and Kip on the New Zealand show this week. Shortland Street’s producers are here on a week-long shoot of an episode centered on a romance between Alice the nurse and Kip the doctor. When Dr Kip […]
Pukapuka threaten to reject EU aid
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 26: Outer island community objects to overseas company getting contract Pukapuka could turn down the building of the European Commission-funded cyclone centre, after a local company’s unsuccessful bid to design and supervise the project. Pukapuka community president on Rarotonga, Makirere Poila, says they intend to write to the European Union to register their disappointment […]
Call for inquiry into $50m loan
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: Opposition says country cannot afford to pay $5000 per person for next 20 years The Cook Islands Party Opposition is calling for an inquiry into the new $50 million China soft loan. Finance and economics spokesperson Norman George says while the opposition agrees in principle to the loan being spent on Rarotonga road […]
PMG broadcast contract on hold
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 30: The host broadcast agreement for the Pacific Mini Games is being looked over by government officials, to ensure that it complies with Cook Islands legislation. After a two-day visit earlier this month South Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan said that council had a number of concerns with the organising of the games […]