National

New marine park plan progresses

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

Heads of relevant ministries meet tomorrow to formalise a marine park steering committee, which will chart the direction of the marine park that Prime Minister Henry Puna wants to formally endorse at next years Pacific Islands Leaders Forum. With one round of public consultations out of the way, assembling an organising committee is the next […]

Mire Tama jitters

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

Digging up an oldie

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islanders are well known for being jetsetters and worldly people, but now even Cook Islands machinery is getting in on the action. A sand dredge purchased in 2004 to work at Avatiu and Avarua harbours which was then shipped on to Aitutaki in 2007 is now back at Rarotonga, but not before making a […]

100 days impossible

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Punas vision for parliament to sit during at least 100 days this year is an impossibility. There are 54 working days left in the year and to date parliamentary sessions have totalled 15 days. In February, fresh from being elected into office, Puna announced he expected parliament to sit not less than […]

Passport denied, Iroa looks to Fiji

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in National

Andrew Iroas New Zealand passport application has been declined and the man with head injuries in desperate need of advanced medical analyses and treatment is now pinning his hopes on Fiji. Iroa, a Cook Islands national sports representative and a permanent resident who holds a Fijian passport, was involved in a motor vehicle crash on […]

Aitutaki to host bonefishing competition

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Tourism and the Aitutaki Bonefishing Association are jointly hosting some of the worlds top anglers at an Invitational Bonefishing Event on Aitutaki this month. Aitutakis vast clear lagoon and sundrenched sun flats are rife with trophy-sized bonefish known locally as the grey ghost. Anglers search out the best spots on the globe to […]

Crime breakthrough good for tourism: minister

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

The police crackdown on crime will go a long way to improving the Cook Islands image as a safe destination for tourists, but there is still room to improve, says Minister for Tourism Teina Bishop. Cook Islands Police have reported a dramatic drop in crime for the month of September when compared to last year, […]

Graffiti arrests

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

Police are cracking down on graffiti crime, which is being committed by children as young as seven years old. Arorangi School is the latest victim of graffiti vandalism, which has appeared in villages throughout Rarotonga recently. On Tuesday police received a complaint about the school being vandalised. Officers say it is sad to see offensive […]

A world leader

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in Local

The dramatic drop in theft and driver accident figures for September shows the Cook Islands is a world leader in tackling crime and road trauma, according to Prime Minister Henry Puna. Puna, the minister for police, said the Cook Islands was making headway in two areas where other countries were struggling to do so. At […]

Raro water safe to drink: MOH

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotongas water is safe to drink, according to the latest Ministry of Health (MOH) tests. The ministry tests each of the islands 13 water intakes every two months as well as all school systems at the beginning of every school term, and community water tanks regularly. It also tests private water tanks and supplies on […]

Crickets first Manea gold medal

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

Womens crickets first appearance at the Manea Games proved as exciting and action packed as all had anticipated. Aitutaki were favourites to pick up the gold however faced tough competition from both islands, including a surprise loss to Mauke. Mangaia proved too strong for Mauke in the first of the match ups and despite losing […]

Kukis v Kukis rugby league action

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islanders from across the globe hit the field for a night of rugby league action on Thursday night last week. Kukis from the local islands, New Zealand, Australia and even Great Britain hit the field from mid afternoon to show what theyre made of. The Cook Islands resident under 18s won the first match […]

Secology helps one island at a time

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

Seacology director Duane Silverstein has visited some of the organisations projects in the Cook Islands, which include initiatives in Rarotonga, Atiu, Mangaia, Mitiaro and Manihiki. Seacology is an international environmental not-for-profit organisation focused on saving the endangered species, habitats and cultures of islands worldwide. It is based in the United States. In exchange for the […]

Watchmen play their part in crime reduction

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

The Ngatangiia community watch programme has not only helped reduce crime in the village, it has also brought the villages community closer together, according to watch group chairman David Pratt. Patrolmen from the Ngatangiia-Matavera Flying Dragons rugby league squad have been casting a watchful eye over their village each night since early September, under an […]

Sunday flight shuffle by Air New Zealand

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

A new Air New Zealand flight schedule goes into effect at the end of this month, which reflects a temporary discontinuation of Sunday flights. Air New Zealand announced its timetable which comprises the flights from October 30 to March 24 of next year some months ago. It heralds a few notable changes, which local Air […]

Stage almost set for Mire Tama

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

Final touches on the National Auditorium are being put up today in preparation for tomorrow nights inaugural Mire Tama competition. The competitions 13 boys and girls will be going through their final rehearsals tonight, tomorrow the anticipation and anxiety will be over. Four boys and nine girls aged between 13 and 17 years old will […]

Gen why not takes over market

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands youth will converge on Punanga Nui market tonight, challenging the lazy and pampered tags often attached to their generation and going more for Gen why not? than Gen Y. The local youth are being challenged to dream big, start planning and get involved in business on the island, with tonights youth night market […]

War baby here to discover his ties

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in National

One of about 60 Cook Islands war babies born to American servicemen and Aitutaki mothers, Arthur Beren this year embarked on a journey to unearth his fathers story. As a five-year-old in Vaipae in the 1950s, Arthur was informed that the American father he had never met was dead. Six decades later he learned his […]

Are we the Patipati Islands?

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in National

A smoke signaller writes in with a suggestion: With the growing interest in some people wanting to change the name of the Cook Islands to something more appropriate, how about Patipati Islands? One of the main activities and reasons for the prime minister, government ministers and bureaucrats travelling so extensively overseas it is claimed that […]

Injured man still waiting

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in National

Tupapa resident Andrew Iroa remains in a stable condition at home while awaiting the outcome of his application for an urgent New Zealand passport. Iroa, who holds a Fijian passport but is a Cook Islands resident with PR (permanent residency) status, was involved in a motor vehicle accident on October 2. He requires medical analysis […]