More Top Stories
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
National
SPC resource mobilisation and service delivery
The Pacific Community (SPC) recently held its annual meeting in Pape’ete, where 25 member countries, including the Cook Islands, came together to discuss progress and set priorities for the future.
TAU appoints engineering professional
Barbara Elliston has been appointed as an engineering professional for Rarotonga’s power authority Te Aponga Uira (TAUU) by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) Board of Directors.
The last straw
Aucklander Nick Diggle has had a rough few months. First his yacht, Bonny, was stolen by suspected paedophile David Peppiatt last December as he fled New Zealand before his trial. Then Diggle discovered Bonny had been found on January 4 drifting 20 nautical miles from Rarotonga, after Peppiatt mysteriously disappeared. Now he has to pay […]
Police too busy to return money
Police Commissioner Maara Tetava says the investigation into the theft of $20,000 from police custody by police officers is still ongoing. He apologised yesterday for not providing more information, saying he was ”very busy“ with the Forum security operations. The commissioner, along with Minister of Police Teariki Heather, flew to a week-long conference in the […]
'We don't speed'
Motorcade coordinator Robert Graham claims the motorcade carrying foreign leaders around the Forum does not speed – despite the public alleging otherwise. Volunteer drivers, who practised for weeks, were trained to observe strict traffic regulations and all speed limits. ”We don’t speed,“ says Graham, before saying he has been ”sacking guys every day“ for that […]
Internet on lockdown
Telecom Cook Islands is confident their wireless network is coping with the rigours of the Pacific Islands Forum despite a network outage in the lead-up to the event. One of the broadband remote access routers failed completely last Wednesday night that affected broadband customers throughout the island. There have also been complaints of minor outages […]
'Best fit' governance practices critical
Max Everest-Phillips, director of governance and institutional development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, is attending the Pacific Leaders Forum. He maintains Pacific integration and sustainability will be achieved through good governance. Sustainable development in Pacific island countries hinges on good governance and visionary leadership. Effective, efficient and equitable governance improves the lives of citizens by advancing […]
Bachelet in gender talks
Gender equality in the Pacific will be discussed as a Forum side event today, with a number of high-profile female United Nations members attending. Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Michele Bachelet, will take part in the panel discussions on gender equality. The head of the UN Delegation to the Pacific Island Forum was […]
'No such thing as exploratory fishing'
Confident that the Cook Islands ”will do the right thing“, Marshall Islands politician Tony deBrum is congratulating government ”in advance“ for legislating a shark sanctuary. The member of parliament for Kwajalein has been vocal about shark protection in his country, which banned shark finning in October last year. DeBrum, who is in Rarotonga for the […]
Celebrating Moana Nui O Kiva
Conservation International this week hosted a dinner to celebrate the Pacific Oceanscape and those who are party to it. Prime Minister Henry Puna welcomed conservationists, voyagers and regional decision-makers to a seaside function on Monday night. ”The well-known Pacific philosopher and writer Epeli Hau’ofa defined who we are as Pacific Islanders – he said, and […]
New pact opens up regional trade
Following months of deliberation and seven rounds of negotiations, Pacific ACP leaders yesterday signed the PICTA trade in services protocol. ”This will be a significant step towards facilitating regional integration and unlocking potential benefits of regional trade in services,“ Forum Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade said. The agreement engenders the liberalisation of services in travel, […]
PNG accepts deep sea mining talks
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says his government’s options are open and he welcomes an open and transparent discussion on the sea bed mining amidst opposition by international, regional and national NGOs, environmental groupings and other stakeholders. Speaking in Rarotonga, O’Neill said, ”We welcome any contributions the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and other […]
Deep sea mining framework unveiled
A regional legislative and regulatory framework for deep-sea minerals exploration and exploitation was unveiled yesterday, and some non-government organisations are highly concerned about its impact. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, whose portfolios include deep-sea minerals, spoke at the launch yesterday, noting that Pacific leaders endorsed the framework in Cairns in 2009. He said the framework […]
Last leaders arrive
Except for star of the show Hillary Clinton, the last of the foreign leaders to arrive for the Pacific Leaders Forum this week flew into Rarotonga yesterday. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key arrived in an RNZAF plane at around 1 yesterday afternoon. Also on-board were Kiribati President Anote Tong, Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Ham […]
Reward: $12,500
Local businessman Bill Doherty is increasing the reward offered for the return of his safe – to $12,500. On August 4, a Saturday night, the Landholdings Ltd office at Panama was broken into and a locked safe stolen. To speed up the police investigation, Doherty offered $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction […]
'Same people, same nation'
French Polynesia president Oscar Temaru is hopeful that Rapa Nui, Hawai’i and Aotearoa Maori will be formally accepted into the Polynesian Leaders Group by week’s end. ”We fully support (them),“ Temaru said yesterday. ”Maori, Hawaiian, we are all the same people, looking for freedom.“ He attended the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG) meeting on Saturday, at […]
No asylum ban
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says there is no restriction on foreign journalists entering the country and they are free to travel there anytime. Clarifying recent media reports that a ban had been placed on foreign media by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato, O’Neill said yesterday there was no […]
ADB not here to 'babysit'
The Asian Development Bank has opened an office in the Cooks – to make sure its development assistance does not ”fall down the cracks“. Yesterday morning, Asian Development Bank (ADB) vice-president Stephen Groff officially opened the branch development coordination office, located in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management building in Avarua. Two local staff […]
Spouses out and about Rarotonga
The opportunity to meet some of the women from Vaka Takitumu was just part of the spouses programme that took place yesterday. Akaiti Puna, alongside spouses of Cook Islands Members of Parliament, spent the day hosting spouses of Pacific leaders. The group travelled to various destinations across the island, including Rarotonga Hospital, the BCI Stadium […]
Avoid that motorcade
Rarotonga residents looking to avoid the motorcades hurtling around the island may be out of luck – motorcade co-ordinator Robert Graham said he cannot give out exact travel times due to security reasons. ”All I can say is that there will be a few more motorcades travelling around the island over the next few days.“ […]
Regal entrance by Australian PM Julia Gillard
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard sits regally as she is carried on a traditional paata into the official opening of the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum at the National Auditorium yesterday. Each of the 16 Forum country leaders here on Rarotonga for the week-long Forum received a turou challenge from a warrior as they were carried […]
No CI products in True Pacific brand
A non-profit group which helps consumers choose quality Pacific products is showcasing its brand at the clean and green industry showcase at Rarotonga’s National Auditorium. Products displaying the quality mark – a stylised frangipani flower – must be of genuine Pacific origin and meet strict quality standards. True Pacific is an initiative of the New […]
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