National

Students hone leadership skills

Tereora College student leaders learned how to be role models during a leadership training programme at the Edgewater Resort and Spa. School prefects, counsellors and peace ambassadors attended the half-day workshop conducted by Tereora principal Bali Haque, deputy principal Andrea Panther and school counsellor, Thomas Wynne. Haque started the session off by introducing and explaining […]

Tuara reinstated as president of CIRA

For the first time in two years the Cook Islands Research Association (CIRA) has held an annual general meeting. President Makiuti Tongia was not present at the meeting – something anticipated by the CIRA as he has been out of contact for some time. Previous president Angie Tuara was reinstated, with full support from the […]

Church songs 'strictly non-dirge'

Global Volunteer Carol Russell came to Rarotonga to volunteer her time in the second half of last year. This week a story she wrote about her experience ran in the Bismarck Tribune, a newspaper based in North Dakota in the United States. Here we have printed parts of it. When I first got to Rarotonga […]

Bonefisherman on new mission

American fly fisherman Jon Hall has devoted the last two months to helping bonefish guide Itu Davey and his brothers get their guiding business off the ground. Hall left the Cook Islands at the weekend, but plans to take his bonefish campaign further afield – and to keep spreading the word until he returns in […]

First asphalt roadway laid

Work started on Saturday on the Cook Islands’ first asphalt roadway. “It’s quite an exciting moment,” said Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) acting secretary Donye Numa. The main Rarotonga road at Panama was closed from 8am to 12pm while MOIP contractor teams laid the first 500 metres of asphalt on both sides of the […]

DPM to attend Brussels meetings

The Cook Islands will be represented at the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) meetings in March in Brussels by Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters. He will attend the meetings in Brussels from March 19 to 22. Relations between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU) take place within […]

Hero dreads return to quake city

Warren Wisneski isn’t looking forward to his return to Christchurch. The earthquake hero has spent the last week enjoying the Cook Islands’ lifestyle and has promised to return. “They’ve looked after us tremendously well,” he said. Wisneski is one of 50 ‘heroes’ and their partners given an all expenses paid holiday to the Cook Islands […]

Port dredging to start next month

The Ports Authority is gearing up to remove 70,000 to 90,000 cubic metres from Avatiu harbour as part of its $27 million redevelopment. “We are looking at bringing in bigger vessels. The greater the carrying capacity, the cheaper the freight,” said Ports Authority general manager Bim Tou. At present the port can only receive vessels […]

A time of reflection for Cook Islands women

The women of the Cook Islands plan to keep sewing the symbolic tivaivai that represents the tapestry of their achievements. Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) president Vaine Wichman said a light-hearted celebration of International Women’s Day on Thursday was a chance for women to “take a break, enjoy our company, have a coffee, […]

New radios for more efficient policing

The Cook Islands are already reaping the rewards of new and improved radio technology. Until recently there was a small number of out-dated vehicles radios and some portable radios which only worked in town. There were radio blind spots around Rarotonga, and inclement weather impacted even further on the quality of communications. Police officers relied […]

Parade honours new radio system

In a culmination of two years of hard work, the Cook Islands police were symbolically handed over their upgraded radio communications system yesterday morning. The project was aptly named ‘Te Karere’, or ‘the message’, by attending Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters. Police Commissioner Maara Tetava gratefully accepted the new system in a formal celebration outside […]

Public meeting addresses seawall concerns

Safety concerns were a priority to residents who attended a meeting with the Ports Authority organised by Avatiu-Ruatonga-Atupa-Palmerston member of parliament John Henry at the Ruatonga Meeting house on Thursday evening. “How do we know the rock wall isn’t going to fall down or that waves aren’t going to go over it?” asked Ruatonga resident […]

Cabinet minister's weekly travel diary

Minister travelling to VietNam

Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie will travel to VietNam this week to meet with the new director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The new director-general Jose Graziano da Silva will be attending the 31st FAO Regional Conference for Asia and Pacific being held in Hanoi on March 12-16. Ministers and senior government officials from […]

Cultural revival at Tupapa Centre

Involving youth in keeping the Cook Islands culture alive was discussed at the Tupapa Maraerenga Cultural Centre annual general meeting last week. At the meeting Tere ‘Johnson’ Strickland officially took on the role of president of the centre. His aim is to encourage the youth of Tupapa to become involved in the cultural group, seeing […]

Women's day knows no political divide

High-profile women of the Cook Islands celebrated International Women’s Day on Thursday with a breakfast meeting at the Aquarius Hotel. The function recognised the country’s political and diplomatic women, including the wives of the prime minister, deputy prime minister and government members. Also attending the breakfast function were Lady Goodwin, Dame Margret Karika Ariki, Lady […]

Opposition celebrates women's success

In honour of International Women’s Day, opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has called women the ‘backbone of the Cook Islands’. “Women are the backbone of the Cook Islands,” Rasmussen said at a gathering to honour women at the Ruatonga opposition office. “Women bring intelligence and warmth to politics and a dimension that men don’t have,” said […]

Toys brighten children's ward

The children’s ward at the Rarotonga Hospital just became a more kid-friendly place. As part of its ongoing community outreach programme, CITC Building Centre donated $1000 worth of toys to the paediatric ward in an effort to make it a more comfortable place for kids. Amongst the boxes and gift-wrapped packages delivered to the ward […]

Cooks replica sails into museum

Offering a glimpse into what life is like for a sailor during one of Captain Cook’s voyages will be possible for some lucky people in Australia this week. Cook, the namesake of the Cook Islands, spent much of his life exploring the Pacific. He visited the Cook Islands in 1773 and 1777 and is credited […]

Cruise ship stops at Aitutaki, Rarotonga

Passengers of sailing ship L’Austral enjoyed a day of activities and sightseeing on Aitutaki on Wednesday, and yesterday visited Rarotonga. Before she arrived in the Cook Islands she stopped at Borabora and her next stop is Vavau, Tonga. Less than a year old, she is the sister ship to L’Boreal. Her passengers yesterday enjoyed a […]