National

Independents helped CIP success: George

Winning Teenui-Mapumai CIP candidate Norman George said that the preliminary general election results fulfil the prophecy he made weeks ago: that the CIP would sweep the election, and the independents would help them do it. “I predicted it right from the start that independents are novices – good for amusement purposes and that’s all,” George […]

Final count of results begins

The Electoral Office began sorting special votes yesterday and expects to be issuing final results as they come to hand each day. Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua said the office was not sure when all the votes would be counted and their task complete but they will be working to get the final results out […]

King-sized catch

Brendon Nicholas caught this 100kg blue marlin on a soft bait hook off Panama. Nicholas caught the monster fish while out trying to catch tuna. He sold it to Wigmore’s Superstore for $630. The keen fisherman was out alone and had to drive his boat while wrestling with the fish for an hour and 45 […]

BTIB's case against Taakoka adjourned

Justice John Kenning presided on a number of cases in the High Court yesterday. The Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) has laid nine charges against Taakoka Island Villas Limited – all were adjourned without plea to January 27. Kaveao M Kaveao – pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and burglary on Muri Mart. Police Prosecuter […]

Skippers supported

The Cook Islands Yacht Squadron (CIYS) and the Department of National Human Resources Development (DNHRD) have offered to cover course expenses for three local sailors who head for New Zealand to complete an Ocean Yacht Master’s certificate. CIYS and DNHRD are joining forces to send Nick Henry, Peia Patai and Tetini Pekepo to Auckland for […]

Marurai denies he called the Demo defeat

It seems Mangaia MP and outgoing PM Jim Marurai may have called the Democratic Party’s defeat just prior to voters going to the polls. However, he has now claimed he was misquoted in a Radio Australia report yesterday that said he expected the party to be defeated at the election. Marurai won back his seat […]

Upbeat start

Winner of the Tupapa seat George Maggie was one of the first people to cast his vote when the polling station at the Aotearoa Centre in Tupapa opened yesterday. Maggie was in buoyant mood as he cast his vote in the seat he went on to win by 145 more votes more than his closest […]

Marurai happy with his win

Outgoing PM and Mangaia MP Jim Marurai was happy to be re-elected yesterday despite predicting the Demo Party’s fall from grace. Marurai will now have to pass the prime ministership on to the CIP and not party leader Robert Wigmore as the party had hoped. Meanwhile, Marurai won his seat 60 votes to CIP’s Moe […]

Sir Terepai splits vote and loses

The Cook Islands Party’s Atatoa Herman took advantage of the split Democratic Party supporters to win the seat of Ngatangiia. The actions of Sir Terepai Maoate (above) in separating from the party and running as an independent after losing a run off left the field wide open for the Cook Islands Party candidate. Herman won […]

Maggie never in doubt

Kua akaei kotou iaku – you have adorned me with your ei. These were the words of winning Tupapa CIP candidate George Maggie Angene after he was announced the winner of the seat. In Maori he told his supporters at the Tupapa Centre that his success was not from the past three months of campaigning […]

Police deal with dispute

Tensions ran high over polling in Ngatangiia yesterday. According to Mann Short’s campaign chairman Steven Peyroux, the Ngatangiia Demo camp had to tell police that opposition supporters were hanging around the polling station. One voter said that they were approached by a supporter of independent candidate Sir Terepai Maoate while looking for their name on […]

Major catering for election day

Regardless of results, an epic kaikai was guaranteed for all those involved in yesterday’s general election at the various functions held in every Rarotonga village, as well as on outer islands, throughout the day and night. Winners, losers, and those in between gathered at homes, meeting houses, shops, resorts, and other establishments to celebrate, commiserate, […]

From home to the house

CI journalist documents women in Pacific politics Political candidates Cassey Eggelton and Angeline Tuara are the focus of a 20-minute television documentary being made with funding from the United Nations Development Fund For Women (UNIFEM). Auckland-based Pacific journalist and media network founder Lisa Williams-Lahari is in Rarotonga producing the documentary, which is part of UNIFEM’s […]

Election toilet talk follow up

Dear Editor, With all the toilet talk going on during election campaigning, we are disappointed that not one person has been brave enough to seriously consider waterless and composting toilets as a real solution to waste management. The Minister and Secretary of Health plus others have seen what we have here in Mauke and been […]

High hopes for Mangaia Gold

The agriculture development unit of Mangaia Island Administration yesterday harvested a crop of cultured pineapples branded ‘Mangaia Gold’. The pineapple project was a joint effort between the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture, the Mangaia Island Administration (MIA) and the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which provided funding as part of the ‘Fruit Trees Development Project’ […]

La Railleuse welcomes kids aboard

Avatea students were this week invited aboard the 55-metre patrol boat La Railleuse to look around and meet the French Marine Nationale sailors who just returned from a week-long mission to the High Sea Pocket. Captain Blonce Alexandre, four officers, 18 petty officers and a number of seamen aboard the French navy vessel just returned […]

GENERAL ELECTION PRELIMINARY RESULTS

CIP's Kiriau Turepu takes Matavera

Another Democratic Party seat fell to the CIP as Cassey Eggelton lost Matavera to Kiriau Turepu. Turepu and his supporters, pictured here, were in an uproarious mood after the win, leaping and punching the air as the results were announced. In one of the few seats without independents or candidates from non-traditional parties, Turepu polled […]

Who won – at a glance

Tupapa-Maraerenga CIP’s George Maggie Angene shut his critics up as he pulled away to a resounding victory, clearing away from the rest of the pack with 386 votes. His nearest rival was Demo’s Nooroa Tupa who got 241. Sitting MP John Tangi who stood as an independent got a mere 82 votes. Takuvaine-Tutakimoa Mark Brown […]

Marsters back and ahead

Leader of the opposition Tom Marsters has retained his seat with 171 of the 408 votes cast in the Murienua electorate. Closest rival James Beer, of the Democratic Party, received 118 votes according to preliminary results announced last night. Murienua’s result was the last to be counted, giving the Cook Islands Party 15 seats to […]