National
Budget advisory panel to be set up
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
After scrapping the budget committee last month Finance minister Mark Brown says he’s going to have a new budget advisory panel because it’s good to have outside opinion on how these things work. The former budget committee was made up of private sector individuals with experience in the field – they scrutinised ministry budgets and […]
330kW saved during Earth Hour
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
More than 300 kilowatts of electricity was saved by those on Rarotonga who observed Earth Hour between 8pm and 9pm on Saturday. The amount of energy saved – 330kW – is the equivalent of about 3300 lamps, each 100kW, being turned off for an hour. Earth Hour parties and gatherings were held in villages around […]
Vaka expected to leave today
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
Rarotonga farewells traditional vaka Marumaru Atua this morning. But whether or not she will leave at midday as scheduled depends on the weather. Anyone hoping to see the vaka and her crew off to Tahiti should assemble at the Avarua harbour before the start of the ceremony at 10am. “It’s a spiritual send-off from the […]
Reduced fees for foreign spouses
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
Long-term spouses of Cook Islanders should now be able to pay a reduced permit fee of $60 to remain living and working in the country each year. Under a 2008 schedule of fees used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the annual fee for foreigners in such relationships with Cook Islanders has been […]
Pa Ariki's genealogy same as mine
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
Dear Editor, I am saddened to read the divisions created amongst the families of Mata Pa Ariki of Takitumu. Individual families have their own version of their genealogies and their story that goes with it. I am part of the extended family that comes from Araura Enua and Manihiki, according to our genealogies and history. […]
Kare teia i te akatereanga ou
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
E te Etita, Kia orana koe e te tama, Te anoano nei au i te pa’u atu i te peapa a Mauke Tumu e pera ta “Not 100% kaakaa” i roto i taau reta ki te Etita. I toku manako noatu koe e “Mauke Tumu” e e tangata angaanga na te kavamani, kua poiri tangotango […]
Region reports on climate change preparations
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Pacific nations are working together to better prepare communities for climate change, following a regional conference in Niue. The Cook Islands was represented at the 2011 Pacific Climate Change Roundtable (PCCR) by National Environment Service (NES) island futures division manager Pasha Carruthers. Carruthers made a number of presentations to the roundtable, and gained some valuable […]
Earth Hour celebrated
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Local
Children took part in Earth Hour celebrations, held throughout Rarotonga villages on Saturday evening. Story on page 7. 11032828
13 women bosses
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Local
Pleased that a record 13 women are heading government ministries and agencies, prime minister Henry Puna says the public can expect even more to be appointed to senior positions. “There will be more, trust me,” says Puna. “We always make a point of choosing the best.” Puna says he’s proud that it is during his […]
Record women in top govt jobs
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local
Government has a record number of women in top positions because they’re the right people for the job, says Cook Islands National Council of Women president Vaine Wichman. Twelve women are heading ministries and agencies either as permanent heads or in acting capacities, including two women island secretaries. But it will be when there’s significant […]
Formal ties set with Japan
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands and Japan have formally entered into diplomatic relations – a development that will bring significant benefits for the Pacific nation, says prime minister Henry Puna. Discussions with the Japanese government on formalising relationships have intensified over the last five years – that the development happens during Puna’s term can be regarded as […]
Sun goes digital
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Visitor guide Cook Islands Sun went digital last week. The newspaper-format guide, which has been published locally for over 20 years, decided it was ‘high time’ to launch a website, as more and more travellers are planning their holidays online. “Our aim was to build a site for visitors to help them plan, make informed […]
Immigration look to improve compliance
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is stepping up to the mark by appointing a new compliance and immigration office manager. The position is a new one, after 15 years of the ministry being understaffed, director of immigration Kave Ringi says. In 1996 and 1997 the ministry lost 15 or 16 positions through a […]
World record holder diving for big one
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Last Thursday, Wellington free-diver Dave Mullins boated to the Nikao fishing aggregate device, dropped a weighted line, gathered his thoughts, drew one breath of air and dove to 110 metres. It was a “good, fast and easy” dive, but for the world record holder – whose personal best is 118 metres – it was child’s […]
Possible reductions in health services
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Health minister Nandi Glassie is working to ensure the Cook Islands community is adequately serviced by the Ministry of Health, which is facing a stagnant budget allocation and increased costs of operation and service delivery. The ministry recently presented its draft annual plan and budget as required by all government departments, which included proposed service […]
Tourism gears up for Aussie flights
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) are focusing on getting the Cook Islands into Australian media in the months leading up to the launch of direct flights from Sydney to Rarotonga in July. CIT is hosting a media famil for Dilvin Yasa, a feature writer for Cosmo Bride and Cosmo Pregnancy. Each has a wide circulation within […]
Alcohol cause of accidents
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Alcohol is believed to have contributed towards two of the three accidents that were reported to police at the weekend. Police have yet to receive the blood alcohol results from a woman who crashed her bike on the back road in Tupapa. The woman was thrown off her bike and found in the middle of […]
Minister takes on noni growers' concerns
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie is taking on board the concerns facing noni growers, following a predicted reduction in the export of noni juice to Japan. Japan is the country’s largest noni export market, annually contributing about $1 million to the industry. Following Japan’s earthquake, the local noni industry has received warning about a cut to […]
Cabinet discuss development bank concept
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Reverting the Bank of the Cook Islands back to being a development bank is an idea that has value, and the finance minister says government is now discussing ‘ways forward’. Finance minister Mark Brown says the concept has been discussed at cabinet and official level and he expects a firm position on the initiative will […]
Growers miss out on vital machinery
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Members of the Titikaveka Growers Association feel as though they have been “slapped in the face” by the new government, chairman Teava Iro says. Iro has received formal confirmation that the association will not be allocated a piece of heavy machinery gifted to the Cook Islands by the Chinese government, as initially intended. The equipment […]
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