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Articles by Melina Etches
Taking health service to villages
Thursday 26 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Sixty women attended the breast and health check evening on Tuesday at the Avana Sunday School in Ngatangiia.
Kindly CookSafe Tag at Schools
Wednesday 25 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Schools and tertiary provider premises are fully equipped with CookSafe tagging capabilities - precautionary measures for the current Cook Islands Alert Level 2 procedure - in response to the changing scope of the community outbreak of the Covid-19 Delta variant in New Zealand.
Education Ministry will ‘address’ teacher pay parity in September
Wednesday 25 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
A media statement from the Ministry of Education acknowledges that teacher remuneration has been an ongoing issue for an extended period of time, needs addressing, and is due for review.
Plaque pays tribute to founding members of Are Ariki
Tuesday 24 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
A plaque to commemorate the 50th conference of the Are Ariki (House of Ariki) was unveiled on Friday at the Atupare marae in Arorangi.
Seal visits Aitutaki
Monday 23 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
Having been missing in action from Avarua harbour last week, “Nosey”, the yearling Kekeno/New Zealand male fur seal, has appeared to have extended his holiday having landed on Aitutaki over the weekend.
Aitutaki concert cancelled
Monday 23 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
A proposed concert extravaganza to celebrate the best of Aitutaki composers and their music over the past years has fallen victim to the pressures of Covid-19 and has been cancelled.
Cool, calm and collected - Tangianau Taoro is an all-rounder
Saturday 21 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
President of the Cook Islands Girl Brigade Company, a senior Justice of the Peace and team leader of the recently completed Te Mato Vai water intake project, Taoro tells Melina Etches how she keep her cool to carry out her duties and responsibilities.
Committee established to resolve battles for Ariki titles
Saturday 21 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Sixteen Ariki from around the country attended the 50th conference session of the Are Ariki (House of Ariki) High Chiefs which closed Friday.
Work begins on Aitutaki dome and golf ambrose
Friday 20 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
Work has begun on the construction of a temporary dome that will cater for up to 800 people in anticipation of the 200th Bi-Centennial celebrations on Aitutaki this coming October.
Aitutaki reactivates Covid-19 taskforce
Friday 20 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
In light of the growing concerns of the increasing numbers of people affected by the Delta strain of Covid-19 in New Zealand and the Cook Islands Alert Level 2 extension, the village of Amuri in Aitutaki has reactivated its community taskforce.
Travel restrictions to Pa Enua extended
Thursday 19 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
A Ministerial order restricting air travel from Rarotonga to the Pa Enua has also been extended to Monday, August 23.
Sport on hold for three days as Covid-19 investigations underway
Wednesday 18 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Sports federations have been asked to suspend all activities for three days to give Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health time to assess and conduct tests determining Covid-19 status in the country.
Visitors in Raro . . . ‘We want to do the right thing’
Wednesday 18 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
In the wake of the Covid-19 community cases in New Zealand - plans for Kiwis to holiday on Rarotonga are now indefinitely on hold.
Bold opening speeches get 50th Session of Are Ariki underway
Tuesday 17 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in
The time is right for the country to appoint an Ariki (traditional king/queen) as Cook Islands’ Head of State, expressed Bishop Tutai Pere in his speech at the official opening of the 50th session of the Are Ariki (House of Ariki) yesterday.
Koutu Nui opposing Are Ariki’s proposed changes
Monday 16 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
A group of traditional sub-chiefs have strongly opposed Are Ariki’s (House of Ariki) proposed changes to law involving Ariki title challenges in court and the abolition of Koutu Nui.
Whispering life into plants
Saturday 14 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
Lots of gardeners have “green fingers”, the ability to grow things well, better than most people. But Luduina Williams is a “plant whisperer”, a gardener who is repeatedly able to achieve all kinds of magical things in her garden. By Melina Etches
House of Ariki set to abolish Koutu Nui
Friday 13 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National, Politics
The abolishment of the Koutu Nui (counsel of sub-chiefs) and a change in the Act regarding the challenge of traditional Ariki titles in court highlights the agenda of the Are Ariki (counsel of high chiefs) conference next week.
Ministry of Education drafts new pay policy for teachers
Friday 13 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
The ministry is optimistic of soon resolving a pay parity issue with Tereora College staff who have recently carried out a work action.
Strengthening Maori connections through new cultural School
Thursday 12 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Te Vananga Are Tapere o Takitumu – a new Cook Islands Maori Performing Arts Language and Cultural School – was launched on the first of this month at the Pa Ariki Palace in Takitumu.
Tereora teachers take ‘work action’ over pay
Thursday 12 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Tereora College has put on hold its support classes and extra-curricular activities to protest against Ministry of Education’s inaction on pay parity issue for its ‘committed long serving teachers’.
