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Education

Read, read, read

To be a writer, you need to read, read, read, says children’s book author Karen McMillan, who recently wrote Elastic Island Adventures: Rarotonga.

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Economy

RMD ‘system error’ annoys taxpayer

A businessman in Rarotonga is annoyed with the Cook Islands tax department for a taxation blunder they’re calling a ‘system error’.

Ex-principal ready for new role

Thursday 13: New secretary of education Sharyn Paio has been on the job for just five days and is optimistic about what she can achieve during her three-year term for the future of education. Paio says the ministry must now widen its horizons and have a strategic approach to implementing the new education master plan. […]

National

It's all been said before!

Monday 17: The Arorangi Prison was completed in August 1954 and the first inmates entered the facility on September 14, 1954. Apart from the more recent addition of the female quarters, little or no renovations have taken place since. The main prison is in many areas falling to bits. It is long past time that […]

National

Parliament resumes for 2 bills

Thursday 13: Parliament is due to sit again from today, primarily for the reintroduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill which has been under select committee review for the past few months. The bill is seen as one of the most important in terms of new law this year as once it comes into force as […]

National

12 reports since 1976

Monday 17: Penal reform campaigner Gordon Sawtell believes now is the time to deal with problems and conditions at the national jail. He contributed this article at the weekend with the closing comment that we need at all costs to ensure proper containment of prison inmates especially during the Pacific Mini Games to avoid a […]

National

Bishop says new budget irresponsible

Thursday 13: Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop claims that the budget that has been put together by government is “fiscally irresponsible”. “This budget is nothing but loans and aid – $30 million is in foreign aid,” says Bishop “When I first read the budget, I thought the total appropriation [of $215,537,534] was a typing error. We […]

National

Behind the Arorangi jail walls

Monday 17: Cook Islands News was allowed behind the doors of Arorangi prison last week. Organised by the secretary of justice Mark Short, along with the acting minister of justice Robert Wigmore, the tour was to expose the conditions housing 37 male prisoners. Among the problems with facilities at the correction institution are corroding bars, […]

National

Maori King visits for Maeva Nui

Thursday 13: New Zealand Maori king Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki and his family will arrive on September 13 for a week-long visit to Rarotonga for Maeva Nui celebrations. The Cook Islands government will spend $25,908 to cover the king’s accommodation, meals and transport for the first half of his stay. Cabinet approved the payment on […]

National

Opera singer returns

Monday 17: One of New Zealand’s foremost professional sopranos, Gina Sanders will return to Rarotonga in September for her fourth trip to the island. Jillian Sobieska, who is a friend of the singer, is excited about Sanders return and says that plans are being put together for an opera evening in September. Sanders last visited […]

National

Finsec wants performance bonus

Thursday 13: Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti is among more than 20 senior public servants including other HOMs who are now looking for performance bonuses. Ivaiti is understood to be claiming he should get the maximum 5 percent (of salary) bonus for ‘exceptional performance’ for the year. Since Ivaiti, the highest paid public servant, is on […]

National

Design starts for Mauke and Mitaro harbours

Monday 17: BECA International has been awarded the NZAID/AusAID funded contract to design the upgrade of Mauke and Mitiaro harbours. New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Tia Barrett made the announcement this week. “The awarding of the contract to design the upgrade of Taunganui and Omutu harbours is an important first step in […]

National

Renewed call for prison reform

Saturday 15: Gordon Sawtell, who has past experience in prison administration, has proposed a commission of inquiry be launched on the national prison and its conditions. He met with new secretary of justice Mark Short yesterday to offer his services if a commission is set up following the recent escape of two inmates who claimed […]

National

Jail tour shows conditions

Saturday 15: New justice secretary Mark Short opens prison gates for inspection The doors of Arorangi prison were opened yesterday to the acting minister of justice and media. A tour was organised by the new secretary of justice Mark Short in order for people to see why he had been outspoken about the state of […]

National

9 dancers perform at Taiwan festival

Friday 14: Nine Cook Island dancers and musicians have returned from the 2009 Yilan International Lan Raining Festival which was held in Taiwan last month. For group leader Ingrid Caffery, it was her fourth trip to Taiwan, with the Yilan City Council footing the bill. Caffery says the group and a few other performing arts […]

National

Warm welcome touches Molly

Tuesday 11: The subject of men’s netball briefly popped up during discussions on the first day of the International Federation of Netball Association’s congress in Rarotonga yesterday. IFNA president Molly Rhone says currently men’s netball is not part of the international body’s structure but IFNA is aware that men do play the game in some […]

National

Fijians exhorted to challenge govt

Thursday 6: The former chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Niue premier Toke Talagi, has urged the people of Fiji to rise against the country’s military regime to re-establish democracy. Talagi made the call at the opening ceremony of the 40th Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns on Wednesday. He told delegates, guests and media at […]

National

Unconfirmed super fund loss causes concern

Tuesday 11: Public concern is growing over a rumoured multi-million loss on investment by the national superannuation fund. But CEO of the super fund office, Anne Herman, says she is not prepared to comment on the rumour or the financial status of the fund just yet. Herman says this is because her office is currently […]

National

PM visits CI community in Cairns

Thursday 6: Prime minister Jim Marurai and his delegation arrived in Cairns, Australia, on Sunday and were embraced by the Cook Islands community that lives in the city. Marurai is in Cairns for the 40th Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting – but he took the time to not only meet Cook Islanders who now call […]

National

Parking and speed restricted at Tereora

Monday 10: Police are warning motorists and drivers to heed parking restrictions around the Tereora area during the World Youth Netball Championships which begin today. Inspector Tere Patia says that there will be no parking on the ara metua (back road) between Manea Foods and the Nikao CICC Sunday school hall. Patia says a one-way […]

National

Pittman invested with Teaia Mataiapo

Thursday 6: A second person in a week was invested with the Teaia Mataiapo title yesterday, but not before part of the proceedings was played out in court yesterday morning. Teuatakiri ‘Tua’ Pittman claimed the title at Auroa marae, before 100 family, supporters and guests – just six days after Atatoa Herman was invested with […]

National

Te Hiva dancers a hit in England

Monday 10: Te Hiva Nui cultural dance group member Tekao Herrmann reports that the team is quite a hit with the English crowds at the Billingham International Folklore festival. It’s been almost a week since departing Rarotonga and the group adapted really well to the town and people of Billingham. Billingham is a small town […]

National

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