National
Job conditions border slavery: lawyer
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Some cases of Fijians being employed by Cook Islanders in Rarotonga resemble slavery, Fijian lawyer Lavenia Rokoika says. She adds to comments made by deputy opposition leader and fellow lawyer Wilkie Rasmussen, who is calling on government to review immigration and recruitment policies. Rokoika says she has had discussions recently with Fijians working in Rarotonga. […]
Rasmussen supports foreign workers
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Government needs to seriously review its policy on the recruitment of foreign workers, particularly those from Fiji, deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says. Rasmussen says there are far too many instances where disputes arise because of poor contractual terms and conditions, or inadequate immigration rules, involving Cook Islands employers and foreign workers. Many such cases […]
Watchmen have eye on strange behaviour
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Fully trained and dressed to match, the Ngatangiia neighbourhood security patrol group has now completed its first week of watch on the villages streets. The nights have been incident-free for the most part since the Flying Dragons premiership players began carrying out the patrols, two at a time, this week. During their first night on […]
Concept will grow in CI: resort owner
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Unit titles will become an important and viable part of the hotel accommodation industry in the Cook Islands, but the concept will not lead to a cash windfall for investors, warns one resort owner. The Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa is one property advertising beachfront villas for sale on its website. A variety of properties […]
14 unit titles sold in six years
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Just 14 unit titles have been sold since the controversial scheme was passed into Cook Islands law in 2005. The Unit Titles Act 2005 allows investors to purchase holiday units without taking ownership of the land the condominiums are built on. A building developer becomes the leaseholder of the entire property and can sell out […]
School enters digital era
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Classroom lessons at Rutaki School will enter the digital era today as the school officially opens its new information technology labs. The school has accepted a delivery of 13 new desktop computers and a number of laptops to help it lead the Cook Islands into modern teaching. Rutaki School teachers have been asked to bring […]
Statistics office starts collecting data
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
The Cook Islands Statistics Office has started collecting its first round of data ahead of this years double-pronged census. This year the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management of which the Statistics Office is a division will be conducting its first headcount since 2006, and its first agricultural stock take since 2000. A pre-census will […]
Cabinet minister travels to the Big Apple
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Cabinet minister Nandi Glassie is in the Big Apple attending a World Health Organisation and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) conference. Glassie, the Cook Islands health and agriculture minister, departed Rarotonga for New York yesterday afternoon. He is due to return to the Cook Islands on Sunday, September 25. Glassies trip comes amidst […]
Brown discloses civil list
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown is expected to reveal the state of governments Civil List this morning. Brown has called a media conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, to start at 10am. Eagerly awaited by local media, and the wider public, is a breakdown of what government has spent this financial year to date […]
Millions for workforce training
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Millions of dollars in the pipeline to boost Cook Islands education will provide for further training of the local workforce, cabinet minister Teina Bishop says. The New Zealand and Australia governments have pledged $500 million over the next four years for education in 13 Pacific countries, including the Cook Islands. Bishop says he talked with […]
Samoa ship to carry fish
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Marine resources minister Teina Bishop says a new shipping service between the northern group and Apia will progress the Cook Islands commercial fishing industry. A Samoan Shipping Corporation cargo vessel is due to start servicing the northern islands in November and is likely to do so once every six or eight weeks. It is primarily […]
New tech for teachers
Friday 16 September 2011 | Published in National
Rutaki School students Eleysa Tepor-Kareroa, 6, Painu Tamarua, 8, Mereina Tamarua, 6, Meile Tuariki, 4, and Teupoko Tuariki, 5, testing out Rutaki Schools new IT lab. Story on p7. 11091513
Mangaia ready to host Manea Games
Thursday 15 September 2011 | Published in National
The outer island of Mangaia is ready to host over 500 athletes and officials for the Manea Games which will run from October 3 to 13. The host island is expected to have around 130 athletes while competing islands Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro will have between 40 and 100 athletes taking part. Aitutaki will […]
Travel cost disclosure still a promise
Thursday 15 September 2011 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown and financial secretary Richard Neves are preparing a breakdown of governments Civil List, detailing how much money has been spent to date on ministerial travel, allowances and incidental costs. This follows repeated requests for Civil List disclosure and a special meeting of cabinet yesterday morning at which Prime Minister Henry Puna […]
PM sees huge benefits in Forum
Thursday 15 September 2011 | Published in National
Next years Pacific Leaders Forum, hosted by the Cook Islands, is likely to revolve around an environmental theme, Prime Minister Henry Puna says. He is already planning the event, dates for which have yet to be finalised. Puna says it is likely the governments of China, Japan and Israel will showcase their countries renewable energy […]
Solar likely for low-income homes
Wednesday 14 September 2011 | Published in Environment
Solar panels, and subsequently reduced electricity bills, are within reach of low income households throughout the Cook Islands, finance minister Mark Brown says. A deal is being negotiated at present between the Cook Islands government and European Investment Bank (EIB) which may see Cook Islanders access renewable energy infrastructure through low-interest loans. Government has access […]
Last call for yellow ribbons
Wednesday 14 September 2011 | Published in National
If you havent yet purchased a yellow ribbon in honour of Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, stop by Te Kaingas booth in front of Westpac this morning. Today is the last day Mereana Taikoko will be hawking ribbons from her booth, as Suicide Prevention Awareness Day came and went last weekend. Shell also be selling Suicide […]
George says forum should exclude Fiji
Wednesday 14 September 2011 | Published in National
Independent member of parliament Norman George says Fijis government should not be allowed to participate in next years Pacific Leaders Forum, which will be hosted by the Cook Islands. George opposes comments by deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen, who says the Cook Islands government should consider allowing dialogue at the forum in relation to Fiji […]
Regional bank recommended
Wednesday 14 September 2011 | Published in National
Private sector representatives from around the Pacific met in Auckland recently for a private sector dialogue, to recommend to delegates of the 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum policies to promote business in the Pacific. The forums theme was converting potential to prosperity and the private sector group focused on its own theme of supporting business growth […]
Buddy readers celebrate literacy
Wednesday 14 September 2011 | Published in National
Aitutaki schools tackled reading on World Literacy Day with a buddy reading programme between Araura Primary and the neighbouring Araura College. The students of both schools took turns reading to each other on the heels of its success, they all agreed to have a monthly session. A book cover competition was also held during the […]
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