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Articles by Melina Etches

Face to face with colourful ideas

Friday 27 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

First the pharmacies, then stylish fashion boutique TAV. Now everyone’s doing facemasks.

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A Rarotonga favourite pulls down the shutters – for now

Thursday 26 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

The well-loved Mooring Fish Café closed its shutters indefinitely on Tuesday–for the first time in 10 years.

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Pa Enua children sad to stay home, away from friends

Wednesday 25 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

News of early school holidays brings out surprising and unexpected reaction from Mitiaro students.

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United in keeping the virus away

Wednesday 25 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

The children of Apii Raumanu on the islet of Tauhunu of Manihiki are happy and smiling, and ready to battle the coronavirus.

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The shop and the land stay stocked

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

Living on the island of Ma‘uke, Eileen Story started to realise how risky Covid-19 was when a team of health officials arrived from Rarotongato raise awareness.

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Every day brings its own threat on atoll

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

On Thursday the island of Manihiki held a Covid-19 prayer service. “People are worried for their families on Rarotonga and overseas,” says Tukao school principal Apii Napa.

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Growing our own food

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

Quentin Schofield’s family have started their own vegetable food garden, in case the coronavirus pandemic lasts for months: “No one really knows.”

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Sick people sent to the other motu

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

As Rarotonga locks in border control, life goes as usual on Pukapuka.

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Cheap veges in Aitutaki

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

Aunty Nane had just planted more of her hydronic vegetable in her garden on Aitutaki, when the orders from the resorts dried up.

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Feeding our islands: Cancelled convention has silver lining for Mangaia

Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

The unexpected arrival of a container-load of chicken, sausages and ice cream is like manna from heaven for Mangaia.

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Schools are long-closed, children's play dates are on Skype, and restaurants do takeaways only

Saturday 21 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

In South Korea last month, Diane McFadzien experienced some of the tightest, most unrelenting quarantine controls in the world. Now she is returning home to her family in Rarotonga with a tough message about the measures we need to protect herself.

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'I knew it was crucial that I do my part'

Saturday 21 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

Fine Tu’itupou Arnold was in Geneva at the start of the month for a Red Cross meeting. Now she has quarantined herself at home to protect her community.

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Last flight out to the Pa Enua

Saturday 21 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Outer Islands

Air Raro took off for its last flights to the Pa Enua late yesterday. Elderly mamas and papas with their grandchildren on their hips boarded their flights; working age adults tearfully watched them go.

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Q-tips: 'Have plenty to read, watch, and listen to'

Saturday 21 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

Trevor Pitt returned home last week after attending the Disaster Risk Management and Resilience building conference in Hawaii with Prime Minister Henry Puna. Immediately after landing in Rarotonga, he self-quarantined.

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School unscathed by floodwaters

Friday 20 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local

Apii Nikao has experienced its worst flooding since the school opened.

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Kids go home to spread info, not virus

Friday 20 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education

Rarotonga’s schools close this afternoon for two weeks early school holidays – and students say it’s the right thing to do to combat Covid-19.

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Working out is no sweat with Covid-19 measures

Friday 20 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health

Team sports competitions on the island may have been cancelled, but gyms throughout the country continue their exercise regimes.

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Villages ready to look after their own

Thursday 19 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Weekend

It’s 6pm, still light but the day is drawing to a close. Gibeona Sunday School Hall in Matavera is a big space, but already it’s crowded with more than 80 people. Most are familiar faces from Matavera, but there are others from further afield in Ngatangiia and Titikaveka.

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The day the music died

Thursday 19 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture

First, the sound was cut on the national composing contest. Now, the National Dancer of the Year competition is swaying off into the sunset. Te Mire ‘Ura was to have been held in May, but has now been postponed until October.

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Rugby league last code to agree to suspend competition

Wednesday 18 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports

The country’s major team sports have called off all their games – but rugby league refused to go down without a fight.

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