Cook Islands Police data shows no increasing crime trend, but the Opposition leader and a road safety advocate argue understaffing and passive policing conceal actual crime and safety issues in Rarotonga.
The Australian High Commission has announced the opening of the Australia – Cook Islands Community Grants Program.
Australian Federal Police have gifted two brand-new pick-up trucks to the Cook Islands police force. As part of the Pacific Police Development Programme, commissioners of police forces across the Pacific have the opportunity to request assistance when they need it. Police commissioner Maara Tetava noted that a vehicle shortage was impeding police officers’ abilities to […]
The unsightly problem of graffiti has been on the increase in recent times. Though graffiti has been plaguing Rarotonga for years, people are starting to get fed up especially after some recent attacks. A tourist staying at a Tikioki accommodation reported to police last week that his rental car had been spray-painted with the word […]
The World Health Organisation (WHO) this week downgraded the H1N1 Influenza A (formerly swine flu) from a pandemic saying that the virus has run its course. However, here in the Cook Islands, the Ministry of Health will maintain its H1N1 awareness and prevention campaign. For the past six or so months, health nurses have been […]
The 11th Pacific women’s health conference in Noumea, New Caledonia, is planned for August 16-20. The conference, which happens every three years, brings together senior decision makers from all walks of life. According to a press release, the aim is to “develop strategies for accelerating progress towards achieving gender equality and full realisation of women’s […]
The Electoral Office is already working on tentative dates for nominations and voting leading up to the November 17 general election. Prime Minister Jim Marurai has also announced that government has decided to dissolve parliament on September 24. According to tentative dates advance and postal voting could start as early as October 18. The main […]
The newly-appointed chief executive of southeast Pacific operations at ANZ was on the island this week to formally introduce himself to bank personnel. Shane Freeman will be taking over from incumbent southeast Pacific chief executive Gayle Stapleton, who accompanied him to Rarotonga earlier this week. Stapleton knows Rarotonga, as from 2003 to 2006, she served […]
Minister says national spirit needed to pave way forward National unity in the aftermath of Cyclone Pat was sparked by a ‘flame of inspiration’ that is also needed to pass the 2010-11 Budget says Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen. He has encouraged MPs to agree to a way forward once Parliament passes the $186.4 million budget. […]
A number of academics presented their papers in honour of the late Professor Ron Crocombe at a festschrift yesterday. Professor Peter Larmour of Australian National University talked about Crocombe’s research into the problem of corruption throughout the Pacific. “Ron was a pioneer in the study of corruption in the region, and he paid increasing attention […]
Once in a while remarkable people walk into our lives and they never leave – even when they die. Those were the words of Pacific author and academic Professor Albert Wendt talking at yesterday’s festschrift for Professor Ron Crocombe. Wendt first got to know Papa Ron, as he was fondly known, and his wife Marjorie […]
The already-extensive collection of Polynesian art and culture books on sale at the Pacific Arts Association (PAA) symposium this week expanded on Tuesday. ‘Polynesia: The Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art’ went public yesterday at a mid-morning book launch. A thick, glossy hardcover, it details, illustrates and explains every Polynesian artefact in Honolulu-based couple Mark and […]
Following Janet Lilo’s exhibit at the Beachcomber Contemporary Art gallery on Tuesday night, Pacific Arts Association (PAA) symposium participants walked next door to Staircase, where the Pacific Sisters had organised a show. The show started rolling just after 9pm, and a number of artists and poets took the stage before guests seated at dinner tables […]
On Monday night, The Art Studio in Arorangi was packed with people, who had come to see Samoan artist Nanette Lela’ulu’s collection of works inspired by her three-month residency on Rarotonga. Lela’ulu was Creative New Zealand’s artist-in-residence in 2006 and painted beautiful portraits of such recognised people as Joan Gragg, Shona Pitt, Paddy Walker and […]
The Business Trade Investment Board did not consider business support loans granted to two politicians to be a conflict of interest, according to its chairman James Beer. Last week government tabled the Audit Office special review into the loans which alleged that former finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate and former associate minister Terepai Maoate Jnr […]
Reducing departure tax has been the subject of recent budget talks says Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen. During Parliament yesterday the Opposition Party again raised concern about travellers being put off by the $55 tax introduced last April. Akaoa MP Teariki Heather asked government when it would look to reduce the tax. Rasmussen admitted a lot […]
A group of Democratic Party supporters in Ngatangiia will attempt to hold a run-off for candidacy despite their plea to the party committee being turned down. Yesterday party president Sean Willis said he received a letter from committee chairman Tutai Purua stating that Sir Terepai Maoate’s candidacy for the election still stands. But candidate-hopefuls Mann […]
At a time when the Aitutaki business community needed some sort of boost to their businesses to help alleviate the economic downturn which we all had been suffering the past two to three years, the business support loan scheme came as a welcoming sign of support from the government to the outer islands. We as […]
– The $550,000 fund provided loans to 21 businesses – 20 of them in the outer islands – Maximum loan amount $30,000 – Repayment of soft loan BCI is three per cent interest over five years – 10 tourism, 8 retail and three trade businesses received loans – BSL recipients spent $248,000 on refinancing existing […]
Cook Islands Party Tupapa-Maraerenga election candidate George Maggie Angene visited Parliament yesterday to acquaint himself better with the roles of an MP. It’s a rare occurrence for election hopefuls to take such a proactive approach – but even rarer to see Angene in a suit and tie. The local builder, traded in the trademark black […]
Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen has revealed government actually drafted a law last year which could have been used to ‘legislate out of existence’ the $5.16 million deal to purchase Toa Petroleum. Cabinet had considered taking the law to Parliament before opting instead to enter into settlement negotiations with the company he said. During Parliament on […]
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sir Terepai Maoate has admitted the extensive public campaign against government by Triad Pacific Petroleum halted plans to nationalise the fuel industry. From December 2008 onwards, Vaile pursued the public campaign, which included full page advertisements in CI News, against the fuel farm scheme. During parliament yesterday, Sir […]
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