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National

Environment

Scientists explore coral heat tolerance in Rarotonga

A group from the University of California is working with Cook Islands marine biologist and chairperson for the environmental NGO, Kōrero o te `Ōrau, Dr Teina Rongo, to discover how corals around Rarotonga respond to high temperatures.

Crime

Vandals target fintech startup

Cook Islands tech entrepreneur Brett Baudinet is disappointed that his recently established business, Smartie, has become a target for vandals.

Concerns for Cook Islanders in floods

Families make contact, support and sympathy flow for victims As Queensland mourns the loss of lives and property to devastating floods, water levels continue to rise, filling over 2000 streets and saturating thousands of homes. Given that over 127,000 Queenslanders are without power, attempts by CINews to contact Cook Islanders living in the area have […]

National

Cabinet commits to HIV policy

The first cabinet meeting of 2011 was dominated by deciding on the nation’s response to the first case of HIV. Cabinet started at 10am on Tuesday and the meeting went on until 6.30pm as ministers tried to hammer out a way forward. They were joined by the National HIV, STI and TB Committee for discussion […]

National

Rasmussen fired up over election

Wilkie Rasmussen, the MP for Penrhyn, has raised concern that outer islanders who are currently overseas cannot vote in today’s outer islands local government election – and he is seeking legal advice on the matter. He says the Government “has seriously neglected its duty” to ensure that Cook Islanders who are eligible to vote and […]

National

Holiday job before uni

Nineteen-year-old Gaston Tairi’s holiday job has kept him on his toes during the holiday period. What started as a Saturday job in 2007 working at CITC Hardware has turned into full time employment for the teenager, who has just finished his final year at Tereora college, until he decides on a career move. You could […]

National

Mangaia gears up for Manea

The island of Mangaia is gearing up to host the Manea Zone Games this October with the organising committee on the island expected to confirm dates and competition schedules for the event by the end of the month. The proposed dates for the event are October 7 to 17. Mangaia was the first island to […]

National

Disaster insurance suggested

Recommendations have been made to the New Zealand Government that a number of steps should be taken to make conducting business easier for Pacific Islanders. One of those recommendations is that the NZ government look into natural disaster insurance which would lower the risks faced by new businesses and reassure investors. The report, Inquiry into […]

National

Surgical table donated

After collecting a near-new steel operating table off the wharf yesterday, Esther Honey Foundation volunteers feel better-prepared to perform surgery on local animals. The table – valued at between $3000 and $4000 – was a donation from Dr Judy Harbison of Bulimba Veterinary Clinic in Brisbane, and it arrived safely because of the support and […]

National

Inquiry suggests business aid of $100m

An Inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with South Pacific countries has recommended that NZ provide Pacific countries with a business development fund of up to $100 million to support innovative and sustainable ventures. One of the aims of the report was to investigate how the New Zealand government could assist Pacific nations develop sustainable economies. […]

National

Honeymooners luck in

Before newlywed couple Mark and Kirsty Bignell received news that they were the winners of Edgewater’s promotional honeymoon package, they were planning to go camping to celebrate their December marriage. But their weeklong Rarotonga holiday was a “far cry” from that original arrangement, Kirsty said yesterday under the shade of a poolside umbrella. The Maraetai […]

National

Deportation could apply both ways

A report on the website ‘monstersandcritics.com’ states that deportation of the local individual who has tested positive for HIV could invite the New Zealand government to send home any of the HIV positive Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. The report states, “The Prime Minister Henry Puna told the local Cook Islands News that the […]

National

Final election changes

The outer island council elections are going to the polls tomorrow January 13 – but Atiu will no longer be electing council members. Originally there were seven candidates for the five council posts. Now two challengers to the incumbents have withdrawn, and no election of council members will be held. Elections for the mayor of […]

National

First sitting of parliament affected

Parliament is legally required to sit before February 17 – within three months of the general election. But a date for the sitting of Parliament has not yet been set as four petitions over the outcome of elections have not yet gone to court. All four petitions will be heard between January 31 and February […]

National

Shipping report

The Cook Islands can rely on regular cargo shipping services to continue in the post-holiday period. Pacific Forum Line diverts its vessel Forum Pacific to Suva this month, but has arranged for a substitute vessel to do its rounds. Forum Pacific arrives at Avatiu from Vava’u, Tonga, on January 23 or 24. She generally takes […]

National

Teachers advance themselves

USP Cook Islands is starting the new year with a full course load. In addition to administering two postgraduate courses, the university’s local branch is offering four undergraduate courses this summer. In an effort to improve the country’s standard of education, over 30 local teachers – from schools on Rarotonga and the outer islands – […]

National

Imports to grow by 19%

Imports in 2009-10 cost $349.9 million – a 42 per cent increase on the previous year. Exports for the same period were valued at $5.8 million – a 21 per cent decrease on the previous year. Fuel accounts for 35 per cent of imports. The next largest category is machinery, transport and equipment, which makes […]

National

Pearl production drops

Exports of pearls in the last financial year dropped by 10 per cent. The Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update states there is an urgent need to concentrate efforts into the marketing of the Avaiki Brand for premium Cook Islands pearls which would enable pearl farmers to deal directly with wholesalers overseas. The report says, […]

National

PM agrees with island council critic

Prime Minister Henry Puna said that he supports Aitutaki Mayor Tai ‘Tango’ Herman over his recent complaints about how island councils are run. Last week Herman said that the outer islands councils had been severely neglected by government. “The system needs overhauling,” Herman said. “The council system was put in place a long, long time […]

National

Taking the Cooks to the Outback

Cameron Adams has been teaching Aboriginal people all about the Cook Islands. Adams, whose father is from Mauke, has been teaching for the last 18 months in a remote Aboriginal community, 500km east of Darwin in Australia’s hot and dusty Northern Territory. After training to be a primary school teacher in Perth, Adams applied for […]

National

'Tiare Taporo' sails soon

Ketch-rigged vessel will usher in a new era of trading schooners The new inter-island cargo and passenger vessel – to be named Tiare Taporo – is on schedule to be sailing in the Cook Islands within three months. Pacific Schooners Ltd has concluded a purchase and refit agreement with Dawson Moreland Ship Riggers to purchase […]

National

Firearm imports banned

Cook Islands police have put a ban on the importation of firearms to allow them to review their system of firearm control, registration, licensing and storage. Police records show that there are more than 2000 firearms in the Cook Islands. “This number is too high for a small country such as ours,” says police commissioner […]

National

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