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CI  Muslim opens up about her faith and journey

Tatiana Kautai, a Cook Islander Muslim, has shared her personal journey into Islam and her experiences living as a Muslim in the Cook Islands. Talaia Mika reports.

Local

TAU board appoints engineering professional

Te Aponga Uira (TAU) has gained an expert described strong new asset with the appointment of Barbara Elliston, an experienced electrical engineer and corporate governance professional, by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) Board of Directors.

New wharf in use by October

Though the project wont be finished until next year, shipping companies will start using the new facilities at the Avatiu harbour by the end of the month. Construction on the southern end of the wharf is just about complete and the Ports Authority expects it will be given full access to the new area by […]

National

Double honours for elderly Mauke pair

Recently all of Mauke was invited to a special and rare event as Papa Tautara MBE and Mama Tekura Purea BEM celebrated their 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary. Accompanied by two of their grandchildren, the couple were walked into Opetipa Hall in Oiretumu whilst everyone sung Turama te Kuki Airani, a favourite song of […]

National

New Manihiki councillor

Justine William is set to be the latest member of the Manihiki Island Council, following her success in a recent by-election. Earlier this year Tauhunu council member Taromi Solomona passed away, leaving his seat vacant. The preliminary results for the by-election favour William over fellow candidate Takairahi Toka 35 votes to 26. Ministry of Infrastructure […]

National

Peace day celebration

Rarotonga joins the rest of the world in celebrating International Peace Day tomorrow. In recognition of the peace that pervades Cook Islands society, the peace council of the Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asian Womens Association (PPSEAWA) has organised a celebration for 5pm in the Peace Garden tomorrow. The programme includes peace readings and prayers, which will […]

National

Biodiversity study includes Cooks

Leafflower trees and leafflower moths which are mutually dependent on each other arrived in the South Pacific separately, but over time reconnected. That is the conclusion of a study conducted by University of California Berkeley PhD student David Hembry, whose research centred on biodiversity in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. Hembry started out studying […]

National

Natural resources adviser appointed

A Cook Islands initiative to develop deep sea mining is further progressed by the appointment of a natural resources adviser. New Zealand geologist Daryl Thorburn has officially been appointed to the new position, funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat for two years. Minerals and natural resources minister Tom Marsters has formally notified the secretariat that Cook […]

National

Finsec tracks aid funding trends

Global funding patterns are changing, but the Cook Islands is relatively well-placed to continue receiving aid, financial secretary Richard Neves says. Neves has returned to the Cook Islands from a conference in London, at which the changing trends of aid application and criteria were analysed. It precedes a further international conference in November, at which […]

National

PM clocks up biggest travel costs

Prime Minister Henry Puna has proportionately spent the most from governments Civil List on international travel of any minister or member of parliament in this financial year. Since July 1 Punas official international travel to Samoa, New Caledonia, the United States, New Zealand and China has included about $47,000 from the Civil List. Government has […]

National

Audit job under wraps

Finance and audit minister Mark Brown is keeping tight-lipped about the appointment of an audit director. He says a media release is likely to be issued in the next two weeks and in the meantime he is not prepared to discuss the matter.

National

Parliament to resume soon

Parliament may resume in October, finance minister Mark Brown says. Following a lengthy session in July, parliament adjourned sine die and then an impromptu sitting was scheduled in late August for the passing of an amendment bill to governments withholding tax legislation. Brown says the resumption of parliament has not been confirmed, but government wants […]

National

Vanilla in demand

The Cook Islands could soon be exporting up to 100 tonnes of vanilla to French Polynesia every year, as international demand for the spice continues to grow. A delegation of Cook Islands agriculture industry professionals, growers and government officials recently travelled to Tahiti in an effort to better understand initiatives for product expansion. Finance minister […]

National

US pays $2m for fish rights

Annual payment to the Cook Islands by the United States as part of a Pacific fishing treaty is set to increase from $250,000 to $2 million. Finance minister Mark Brown says the increase is a result of discussion at the recent Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand, involving marine resources minister Teina Bishop. Brown says […]

National

Travel savings voluntary

Ministers and members of parliament have the opportunity to save taxpayers money on travel by opting for economy class seats on flights, using air points accrued from official travel and staying in cheaper accommodation. There is a level of entitlement to MPs and ministers for official travel and its associated costs, through the Remuneration Tribunal […]

National

Tupapa takes early lead in Lotto Cup

The 2011 Rarotonga Lotto round cup football competition kicked off on Saturday with Takuvaine hosting Tupapa and Avatiu facing Arorangi. In the premier mens match in the Happy Valley Tupapa showed their dominance in terms of ball possession and tactical play, however it was Takuvaine that piled the pressure on first. Tupapa found it difficult […]

National

Zumba funds go to mental health

International Zumba instructor Maria Teresa Stone generated funds for the Cook Islands Creative Centre and Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre last week. Stone, who originates from Mexico but now lives in Sydney, hosted a Zumba master class at the National Auditorium in Rarotonga on Wednesday. Shes pictured here with zumba enthusiast George George […]

National

Pearls and energy on agenda

Cook Islands pearl exports to China and cooperation in respect of renewable energy technology are issues being discussed this week by Prime Minister Henry Puna and senior representatives of the Chinese government. Puna is also involved in bilateral discussions with China about its general development assistance to the Cook Islands and possible aid for next […]

National

Prime minister begins China visit

Prime Minister Henry Puna began his official visit to China yesterday with his first official engagements in Beijing. Met at the new airport in the capital by senior Protocol officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prime minister and his delegation were provided a police escort into the city where they were taken […]

National

Harbour works using 0.2% of Rarotongas water

Concrete mixed for use in the $25 million harbour upgrades at Avatiu wharf is accounting for less than one percent of Rarotongas daily water use, but people in the town area will be feeling the impact more than people who live in other areas. Rarotongas water storage levels are at about 50 percent of capacity […]

National

Georges travel in public eye

On the heel of his comment this week that government travel is obscenely excessive, lawyer and independent member of parliament Norman George has departed the country. He is in New Zealand as a spectator of the Rugby World Cup and is expected back in Rarotonga by the end of the month. This trip is at […]

National

Brown says travel pays dividends

The cost to government from its Civil List for international travel pales in comparison to the value of benefits for the country as a result, finance minister Mark Brown says. In the two and a half months of this financial year, the Civil List budget of $330,000 has been reduced by $200,512. Civil List money […]

National

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