National
Thanks for explaining nothing
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
Dear Editor, I thank Mr Sonny Williams for finally coming forward to explain nothing. It’s nice to know that if for example the topic was about ‘the car engine’ Sonny will go to detail on ‘the tyre’ which has no significance to the engine. I have never once complained about the composers’ night. Yes, my […]
Games training squad in sprints
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Environment
This Saturday’s oe vaka sprint races will see paddlers battling it out on Muri lagoon in the V6 canoes over the course distances of 1000m and 1500m. At the weekend races were over 50m in the V6 division with some great results seen overall. A small but enthusiastic group of paddlers enjoyed the day’s racing […]
Young achievers on the job
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local
Two of the Cook Islands’ future business marketing and management stars are gaining experience through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) young achievers programme. Rarotonga teenagers Henrianna Savage (18), and Gaston Tairi (19), have been chosen as the ministry’s young achievers this year, and are enjoying their 12-month paid positions within the government […]
NCEA exam issues sorted
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islands students’ National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) examination results have been correctly adjusted following issues with lost papers. The Ministry of Education took responsibility recently for temporarily losing a box of information management NCEA Level One examination papers. The box did not reach the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Wellington office as required. […]
Fuel prices could double: Triad
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local
Triad Pacific Petroleum manager Chris Vaile warns the price of fuel within the Cook Islands could double by the end of the year. Vaile says fuel prices have already increased by 10 cents per litre, and they are set to rise again with the next shipment due to arrive in the country at the end […]
'We are absolutely terrified'
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
Five days ago Rena Jonassen was teaching English in a Funabashi private school, living happily in Japan with his Japanese wife Mika and their two lively children Moana (11) and Reona (12). Then, along with tens of thousands of other people, their world fell apart when Japan was struck by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and […]
Red and black day raised $12,000
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
More than $12,000 will go to those affected by Christchurch’s earthquake, following a single day-long fundraiser throughout the Cook Islands. The red and black day appeal, which saw residents and visitors don Canterbury colours earlier this month, has generated more than $12,000 to date and donations are still being collected. Cook Islands Red Cross Society […]
Road works costs soaring
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
Projected costs of a multi-million dollar project to upgrade Rarotonga’s main roads and water supply system are increasing, as attempts to start the development fail. The proposed $30 million four-year upgrade has been on the cards for years, although changes in government and legal battles have continued to stall progress. Triad Pacific Petroleum manager Chris […]
Royal wedding CI stamps issued
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
US-based online stamp company Kenmore Stamps is advertising three sheets of Cook Islands stamps commemorating the engagement of Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton. The stamps, which were released in January, are the brainchild of Peter Lazar, whose company Philatelic Collectors Inc (PCI) last year bought a licence to print Cook Islands stamps. A […]
Tourism CEO and marketing director in Europe
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
Cook Islands Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie is in Europe for a month reviewing the country’s overseas tourism representatives. Beattie is accompanied by sales and marketing director Karla Eggelton. Beattie says the review is to ensure they optimise the return on investment for the Cook Islands by exploring opportunities in the marketplace. She and Eggelton are […]
Govt can't use Air NZ points
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
Air New Zealand is unlikely to change its air points policy which would allow all air points earned from government travel to be pooled into an account to be used for medical referrals and other needed overseas travel. Acting Financial Secretary Priscilla Maruariki confirmed that this has been previously explored but successive governments weren’t able […]
Short report on hold
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
An embargo has been applied to the report into the actions of suspended Justice secretary Mark Short, says prime minister and public service commission minister Henry Puna. Although the report was tabled with cabinet last week, Puna said because it was lengthy he hadn’t had time to read it at the time. He says it […]
Political interference rife in CIIC
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
The chairman of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation isn’t optimistic the country’s biggest and richest state-owned assets company will ever be released from a long political stranglehold. Julian Dashwood says unless government agrees that the CIIC has to be free from all political interference, the agency will always be under the political hammer. Dashwood was […]
Raro to pay for island tax breaks
Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in National
“Once again the government is persisting with the vote catching idea that the outer islands should be not charged income tax or company tax,” writes a smoke signaller. “I presume they will still be paying VAT [Value Added Tax]. Surely this could not mean Aitutaki also? It would give the Aitutaki accommodation providers a significant […]
PM wants CI to be clean, green leader
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in National
Leading the region in the clean and green stakes is an achievable ambition with the onus being on government to set an example to the rest of the country, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. A starting point could be government adopting a policy that all its vehicles are fuel efficient, possibly even hybrids – an […]
Auditor compares corruption, governance
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in National
There is now widespread international recognition that corruption is an obstacle to sustainable development and can undermine it in several ways. According to Audit director Paul Allsworth, the main effects of corruption are to: • Negatively affect investment, competitiveness and economic growth • Distort decisions about the investment (i.e. capital) budget of a country and […]
Budget initiatives aim to grow economy
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in National
Making better headway with destination development, offering new offshore financial services and expanding and diversifying offshore fishing via licencing arrangements. These are just some of the initiatives the Economic Summit Task Force has put together for tourism, offshore financial services and marine resources to include in business plans for budget 2011-12. While the government‘s pledge […]
Police act being completely overhauled
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
The existing Police Act is being completely overhauled with the aim of a revamped version being ready for parliament before the end of the year. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the new act will bring policing into the modern era as the existing 1981 act is old and doesn’t accommodate the full spectrum of police […]
No reports of Cook Islanders in zone
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
No Cook Islanders are known to have been amidst the recent devastation of north eastern Japan by earthquake and tsunami, says Foreign Affairs secretary Jim Gosselin. “New Zealand has been checking for us and do not know of any Cook Islanders who have been caught in the tragedy.” Yesterday a letter of condolence was sent […]
Please bring old text books back
Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local
Old school text books are still valuable to students today – and Tereora College teachers are urging parents and former students to search your homes for text books and return them. This week a parent returned a stack of text books that prompted head of senior mathematics at Tereora College Bryn Parry to put a […]
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