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7 December 2024

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Social Impact Fund awards $199,825 to 14 community projects

The Cook Islands Social Impact Fund approved 14 proposals totalling $199,825.20 from 21 applications, supporting community initiatives across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua, with a focus on sports, wellness and youth development.

Entertainment

Christmas in the Park brings festive cheer to Rarotonga

Hundreds of locals, visiting families, and tourists gathered at the National Auditorium and Domes on Thursday evening for the annual Christmas in the Park event, hosted by Rotaract Rarotonga.

SPTO not doing enough: Skews

Turama Pacific Travel Group boss and member of the Cook Island Tourism board, Robert Skews, does not believe that the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is doing its job. “I see a lot more opportunities for the region than the SPTO is acting on,” Skews said. “SPTO has gone back into its shell and it’s […]

National

Talking turkey and shooting guns

Rasmussen has new experiences aboard US Coast Guard cutter Sergeant Saungaki Rasmussen tasted turkey for the first time last month, but not at the family dinner table – instead, he was aboard the US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter ‘Rush’, a 115-metre vessel with a helicopter and a crew of 180. Rasmussen was a ‘shiprider’ on […]

National

Cultural learning on Mauke

Once every year, for a full week, the Mauke School community turns its learning focus to traditional cultural practices. The week long cultural celebrations began with an opening carnival and the crowning of a maine purotu (princess) and tama tumu toa (prince) from the school. Traditional games was one of the highlights of the cultural […]

National

Acacia eradication on Mauke

The Acacia Eradication project is underway with Environment Officer Basilio Kaokao overseeing the work. There are three species of acacia on Mauke, all are invasive and high water users. To begin with Basilio is targeting the most common large tree varieties Acacia Crassicarpa and Acacia Mangium. Acacia was introduced to Mauke by the Agriculture and […]

National

Focus on traditional bonds: Temaru

The bond between Polynesian countries may still exist, but it can be stronger and achieve more if the Pacific island countries get themselves organised and focus on shared traditions, such as ocean voyaging, says Speaker of the French Polynesia Assembly Oscar Temaru. Temaru was in Rarotonga for two days to accompany home the three Cook […]

National

Emotional goodbye for Webber-Aitu

It was an emotional farewell for Director of Hospital Services Heather Webber-Aitu yesterday after three years in the role which she dubbed an ‘amazing journey’. Webber-Aitu said in that time she has watched the hospital staff grow and take up the challenge to deliver excellence in the services each department provides to the public. “What […]

National

Ambassador presents credentials

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Cook Islands, Xu Jianguo, presented his credentials to Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin yesterday before the pair exchanged gifts. Xu presented Sir Frederick with a decorated Chinese vase and the QR returned the gesture, gifting Xu a book on Cook Islands culture. During his speech, […]

National

USP going from strength to strength

The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Cook Islands campus is showing the way for the rest of the USP. “For me, this place has become a model for the USP’s other distant campuses,” said Tevai Matapo, chairman of the USP advisory committee. He said that the MBA programme was first taken to the campus […]

National

Court rejects libel action

George denied application to prosecute Cook Islands News Justice Christine Grice has refused to grant Norman George leave to prosecute Cook Islands News on charges of criminal libel. After hearing the case by telephone conference on December 9, she released a judgment denying George’s application to prosecute cartoonist Tim Buchanan, managing editor John Woods and […]

National

EU programme changes made

The European Union programme which is providing $5.88 million (EUR3.3 million) to the Cook Islands over the 2008-2013 period is again being managed by the Aid Management Division of the Ministry of Finance. The agreement to return the management and administration to government was made in September. A fulltime EU programme assistant has been recruited […]

National

Orometua farewelled by Mauke

Last week, Mauke island farewelled the Aratangi family who are returning to their home island of Mangaia. Orometua Ngara Aratangi was due to retire at the next General Assembly in October 2011, but has had to retire early due to health reasons. The Aratangi family have served in Mauke for the past three years at […]

National

TC Idols show their stuff

Move over Raro Idol, Tereora College junior students are in the building! Wannabe T C Idol’s took centre stage at the Princess Anne Hall recently with some promising talent. From cute to shy to loud to downright hilarious, the Year 9 and 10 students made the Princess Anne Hall the place to be. Students showed […]

National

New solar-powered ATMs

ANZ Cook Islands has unveiled three new solar powered ATMs as part of its ongoing commitment to be carbon neutral. This brings the number of solar-powered ATMs to nine across ANZ’s Pacific business. “ANZ’s solar-powered ATMs give our customers an opportunity to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” ANZ Cook Islands chief executive, David Dennis, […]

National

Nukutere students told to work hard

Nukutere College has presented awards to outstanding students. The college honoured their highest achieving students in every year. Malaika Strickland was awarded the inaugural Tama Aruaru Award, which recognises excellence within the special needs unit. The first in year awards, which recognise the most outstanding work in each year, went to Robert Cooper in year […]

National

Mangaia celebrates success

Mangaia School annual prize giving was held last Wednesday, December 8. It was attended by all school students on Mangaia which includes Mangaia School (preschool, primary and secondary), Ivirua School (preschool and primary) and Tamarua Preschool. We had a great turn out of parents who came along to celebrate the success of their children. The […]

National

Proud to have helped

Nancy Fulford has been performing arts advisor at the Ministry of Education for the last three years. She leaves soon to return to New Zealand, proud that she has helped make performing arts contribute to student credits. Fulford said that she loves the way the performing arts are part of life and culture in the […]

National

Traditional vaka revival predicted

The traditional fishing vaka is what fishermen will be using in the near future. This is according to master carver Mike Tavioni, who led the recent Akateni Vaka canoe carving project in Avarua. Tavioni believes that the state of the world economy, rising fuel prices and the recent fuel shortage on Rarotonga are signs that […]

National

Tuna disappointment

Greenpeace is disappointed at the failure of countries attending the weeklong meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to agree to measures to stop the decline of Pacific tuna stocks. Pacific countries who are part of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), supported by New Zealand and Australia, had proposed a […]

National

Vaka looking for recruits

Voyaging vaka Marumaru Atua is looking for young student recruits to undergo under a youth training programme funded by NZAid Community Initiative Scheme – a programme which could qualify them to be part of next year’s voyage to Hawai’i and beyond. The potential crew members should be between 16 and 25. Experience and qualifications are […]

National

Verge loss endangers pedestrians

The loss of grass verges along Rarotonga’s main coastal road is concerning some village residents, who say it is now too dangerous for pedestrians – especially children – to walk along the road. The Cook Islands News has been contacted by residents worried about the widening of the main coastal road, and subsequent loss of […]

National

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