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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.

Vara Nui's 4000

Since opening its doors to the public in June, Te Vara Nui Village has proved to be a hit both locally and internationally with an estimated 4000 visitors and counting. The business is now expanding its product range to now include catering to the groups and events sector as well as increasing its profile in […]

National

Water tanks cleaned

Some Takuvaine and Tauae Heights residents have a cleaner water supply following the drainage and clearing of a 300,000-litre water reservoir up Happy Valley Rd this week. The reservoir, which has two water tanks inside, was drained and cleaned of silt and dirt which had accumulated since it was last cleared about ten years ago. […]

National

Spat over Aitutaki cyclone funds

A spat has developed over funds collected on Rarotonga for Aitutaki cyclone recovery. Aitutaki Mayor Tai Herman says that Aitutaki has yet to see a cent of the money donated by the people of Rarotonga during the cyclone appeal drive. Cyclone Pat devastated Aitutaki in February, leaving hundreds of home needing extensive repairs – 95 […]

National

Lobby group appeals for 15-year hold on new tourism development

A leading environmental group is urging the government to place a 15-year moratorium on any further tourist accommodation development on Rarotonga and place urgent focus on infrastructure development. Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) says the country also needs to refrain from setting policies to increase visitor numbers and current accommodation capacity for the next five years […]

National

Rogz gifts for Dogs

For the third year in a row – Australian animal lover Kylie Young and her crew have returned to Rarotonga with goodies for island animals. This year, Young with the help of some of her paddling crew raised $1250 from barbeques in front of the Bunnings Warehouse in her hometown of Mollymook on the south […]

National

Joyana carries Cooks' hopes in PNG pageant

Today marks the final day of the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – and the Cook Islands is still anxiously waiting to find out whether Maine Tapairu Joyana Meyer will bring home the title. For the contestants, the pageant has been a whirlwind of outings, meet-and-greets and nerve-wracking stage performances. […]

National

'Treating' not good

Professor Nigel Hemmington believes that ‘treating guests’ at hotels as part of a business is wrong. Hemmington is Professor of Tourism at Auckland University of Technology. He addressed over 100 hoteliers and tourism operators at the Cook Island Tourism Forum last Saturday at the Edgewater. He said that most hotels base the way they work […]

National

MP denies bribery

Newly elected Cook Islands Party member Mona Ioane has dismissed claims that he used his position in the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal committee to gain leverage in the Vaipae constituency during the general election campaign. Ioane delivered a decisive win against Democrat Kete Ioane who had held the seat for two terms. The former Crown Law […]

National

Petitions close next week

No election petitions have yet been filed in the High Court, but one inquiry was made with the court in regards to a possible petition over Pukapuka by a member of the general public yesterday. The Cook Islands Party has secured the Pukapuka seat giving it the 16 or two-thirds majority seats to form the […]

National

59.2% want fewer MPs

The non-binding national referendum has resulted in 59.2 percent or 4983 voters supporting a reduction in the number of seats in parliament. The Democratic Party government had pledged that it would only pursue a reduction in the number of members of parliament as a policy if at least two-thirds (67 percent) of voters were in […]

National

White Ribbon Day against domestic violence

Yesterday was White Ribbon Day – a day to recognise violence against women and children – and Westpac and Cook Islands police came onboard to support it. Police organised a parade and a sausage sizzle yesterday morning, and all day sold White Ribbon Day T-shirts at $15 each, and staff at Westpac and Telecom wore […]

National

We're 3rd fattest

The Global Post is reporting that Cook Islanders have maintained their position as third fattest nation in the world. But the website notes that we have the same rating as Micronesia and Tonga, with 92% of the population weighing in with a body mass index of more than 25 – so three Pacific nations have […]

National

Tourism growth gradual

Doubling of visitors expected in 3-5 years Cook Islands Tourism chairman Tata Crocombe predicts tourism numbers could double in about three to five years time. He admits this is an optimistic estimate of tourism growth, but believes the industry can meet the challenge. There has been speculation that his statement at last weekend’s tourism forum […]

National

Helpers stop fire in Matavera home

A Matavera home was saved from being razed to the ground by about 10 diligent residents who battled a fire spreading through the house on Sunday morning. One of those, Matavera resident Benjamin Maxwell, said he was alerted to the blaze about 8.50am. A passerby saw the house on fire and went to Maxwell’s nearby […]

National

Clarification on caption

A photo in yesterday’s paper of the Vaka Eiva trade day carried the wrong caption. The photo was of Dernice Rongo with her popular coconut money boxes but the caption read that it was Lyn Martin from Mangaia. CI News apologises for the error.

National

Fixing the recycling problem

A Cook Islander has committed her master’s thesis to resolving the problem of rubbish and the lack of recycling on Rarotonga. Rerekura Teaurere, whose father comes from Penryhn, is studying for a masters of science in environmental management at Auckland University. Her project, entitled ‘Solid waste practices, drivers and barriers within the hotel industry: Rarotonga, […]

National

Smiley laughs off rumours

A meeting between CIP MP Norman George and Demo MP William Smiley Heather yesterday did nothing to stop the rumours that coalition talks are underway. Heather says the meeting at George’s office was simply to share a laugh about earlier reports that they had met for coalition talks and to congratulate each other on retaining […]

National

Puna not worrying about petitions

CIP leader and Prime Minister elect Henry Puna says his team is ready to meet the challenge of possible election petitions head on. Although the full results of the election have yet to be announced, already the Demos looks set to file petitions against the CIP for the Manihiki seat won by Puna. Petitions for […]

National

Results for nine electorates in

Latest confirmed figures don’t change election night party tally The final election results for most of the southern group islands – nine of the 24 seats in parliament – were released on Tuesday evening. The final count did not change the outcome for Aitutaki’s three electorates, Atiu’s two electorates, Mangaia’s three electorates and Mitiaro – […]

National

'Divine message' on beach

A Cook Islands church leader says he has received a “divine message” that 12 of the Greymouth miners may still be alive. This is despite a second explosion at the South Island mine on Tuesday night which New Zealand authorities say has eliminated all possibilities of any of the 29 miners surviving. Cook Islands Apostolic […]

National

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