More Top Stories

Local

Top cop position advertised

7 December 2024

Culture
Church Talk
Court
Economy
Economy
Economy
Economy
Education

National

Local

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.

Raro, island balance in new cabinet

The new cabinet were sworn in yesterday by the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin. Tom Marsters, who has served as an MP since 1991, is now the Deputy Prime Minister. The six man cabinet has a fifty-fifty split of representation from the outer islands and Rarotonga. Representation from the northern group comes from the Prime […]

National

Fishing assn reformed

The Cook Islands Fishing Association has been revived following some conflict and confusion within the local fishing industry, and the need for a representative organisation. Those attending a fishing seminar facilitated by the Ministry of Marine Resources in Rarotonga on November 22-25 made the decision to re-form the association and elect office bearers. Mark Vaikai […]

National

Paddlers give back

Three paddlers and a coach from New Zealand gave something back to the community when they came over for Vaka Eiva. Pat Farr is a volunteer support worker for Te Vaerua. She was contacted by Donna Tamaariki, head coach at Orakei Water Sports, before the group came over for the festival. Tamaariki asked what she […]

National

PSC creates new position for fund

The Office of the Public Service Commissioner is hiring a permanent manager for the NZAID public sector technical assistance fund (PSTAF). PSC chief executive officer Priscilla Maruariki says prior to the Public Service Act 2009 coming into effect, one or two staff had been assigned to assist with the co-ordination of the fund. “With the […]

National

Takitumu names top students

Takitumu Primary School’s top prize winners were announced during a ceremony at the Matavera school grounds yesterday. Year 6 pupil Maggie Nanai is the school’s Dux for 2010, taking home the Rosalia, Francis, and Ngatokoa Samuela Shield. Nanai was also presented with the school’s Purua award and received a certificate of best attendance. The 11-year-old […]

National

Vaka TV off air

Technical problems have forced the shutdown of Vaka Television’s transmission infrastructure around Rarotonga, before the launch of its new free-to-air television channel. General manager Greg Parker said the main transmitter outside Chillis Sports Bar in Tupapa was not working properly. The 200-watt amplifier sends signals to six smaller transmitters positioned around the island. Parker said […]

National

Westpac takes electronic banking into new era

Westpac Cook Islands is taking banking into a new era with a suite of new services to make it easier and faster for their customers and merchants to transact and do business. “While we have already launched a number of new initiatives this year, soon we’ll see more services that we think will revolutionise the […]

National

Mauke looks after its own

Te Ata o te Ra is Mauke’s support centre for people with a disability. There are 20 recognised people having a disability on Mauke, some since birth, but more as a result of accidents, aging and health problems such as strokes. Mauke is indebted to Sister Emma Kaitara of St Joseph of Cluny who began […]

National

Be positive!

Andrea Ford is CEO of the Children’s Autistic Foundation and has been holding workshops on Rarotonga and Mauke. Her workshops help families of children with autism and make sure those children are valued and included in the family, in schools, and in the community. Autism is a neurological disorder which affects one in every 140 […]

National

Mauke success

Andrea was brought to Mauke to help one young woman with autism and her family by raising awareness of autism and community inclusion. Andrea volunteered her time on request from Gloria Rarere – secretary and co-founder of Autism Cook Islands, based in Rarotonga. There are 15 people diagnosed with autism in Rarotonga and quite likely […]

National

Fund flawed

Businessman Tata Crocombe believes there are some fundamental flaws with the National Superannuation Fund (CINSF). Crocombe, who runs the Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa, has recently begun the process of registering with the fund after a long stand-off with the CINSF office. He and his staff had refused to join the fund because of concerns […]

National

Happy to be home

Former foreign affairs secretary Edwin Pittman is now chief executive officer to new Prime Minister Henry Puna after returning from Auckland to take up the new role. Pittman was secretary of foreign affairs and immigration for 15 years until he resigned in late 2007. He was with the ministry for 19 years. Pittman moved to […]

National


Drug abuse talks on next week

Police and customs officers have asked Superintendent Ross Ardern, New Zealand Police’s South and West Pacific Police Liaison Officer, to come to Rarotonga next week and host a series of talks about drugs. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said that while police have no evidence that hard drugs have infiltrated the island, they suspect that some […]

National

Tiare brightens businesses

While the Tiare Pageant, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed to early next year due to a busy month, the decorated properties competition went ahead yesterday. Eleven private businesses and government departments got into the spirit of Tiare week, decorating their offices with flowers and pot plants in the hope of winning the […]

National

Kwai brings 27

Kwai has arrived from the northern group carrying its biggest passenger-load this year – 20 adults, six children and a baby, all from Penrhyn, Rakahanga and Manihiki. The passengers paid the $70 per night to travel to Rarotonga aboard Kwai for a variety of reasons – a Johnson family wedding among them – but most […]

National

STI warning

Today is World AIDS day. The Cook Islands has marked the date by holding the inaugural meeting of the newly formed national HIV, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis committee – or HSTC for short. Nearly half (46%) of all Cook Islanders between 15-24 years old have a sexually transmitted infection. A survey conducted earlier this […]

National

Games athlete named dux

Titikaveka College’s 2010 Dux Patricia Taea is considering her future study and employment options. The 17-year-old Titikaveka resident may attend Tereora College next year for her last two years at secondary school, after which she will choose between a tertiary education at university or enrolment in New Zealand’s armed or naval forces. The year 11 […]

National

Family members flock in support

Many of Prime Minister Henry Puna’s ten children were at the ceremony at the Queen’s Representative’s residence to see their father take his place as leader of the Cook Islands. In a departure from tradition, around 25 members of the PM’s family took part in a rendition of the family song at the ceremony, accompanied […]

National

Speculation over 7th cabinet post

Speculation continues about the possibility of a seventh cabinet minister from outside parliament being appointed by the new government. The new CIP cabinet ministers are due to be appointed tomorrow, but former PM and party leader Sir Geoffrey Henry explains that although it has never been exercised, the seventh minister provision is there in the […]

National

MPs pledge support

MPs looking forward to the next four years in government were all ready to state their support for the new PM at his swearing in ceremony yesterday. Tom Marsters, MP for Murienua and former Cook Islands Party leader in parliament, said “I think the country has been looking forward to this day. With all the […]

National

« Previous  1    686  687  688  689  690  691  692  693  694    798  Next »