Features

49 Cook Islanders fly our flag at the Delhi Commonwealth Games

Saturday 25 September 2010 | Published in Features

If more teams and athletes pull out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games – the Cook Islands are sure to win medals! That’s just one of the light hearted comments being bandied around as Team Cook Islands prepares to fly out to the games being branded the ‘Delhi dilemma’ by international media. Jokes aside – chef […]

New book gives poets a voice

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

The University of Hawai’i Press recently published a sequel to Whetu Moana – a book of contemporary poems penned by Polynesians in English – called Mauri Ola, which features the work of well-known poets from across the region, including a number of Cook Islanders, based both here and overseas. Jean Tekura Mason and Vaine Wichman […]

It's 50 years since the Solent flying boats stopped visiting

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

New direction and designs for Cook Islands postage stamps

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

The Cook Islands Philatelic business, until recently owned by Greta and Jim Little, is under sale to an American company, Philatelic Collectors Incorporated (PCI). They have exclusive rights to design, issue, print and market postage stamps for the Cook Islands and will provide the Post Office with supplies stamps free of charge for their use […]

First two new sets of stamps

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

One set depicts Anzac Day on the Cook Islands using photographs of the cenotaph, the national flag and marching. The second set of 15 stamps focuses on flowers found in the Cook Islands – although none of those depicted is a native species. The government will receive $50,000 per year from the sale of stamps.

Idol dream

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

Fifteen people have qualified to be the next Raro Idol. Staircase held auditions on Monday this week, and 15 vocalists went into the running to be Raro’s newest singing sensation. The auditions will be televised this weekend, but the competition proper starts at 8.30pm on Saturday, September 25 at Staircase. For 10 weeks afterward, the […]

Windjammer Restaurant changes course

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

Dan Forsyth has been in the kitchen at Windjammer six nights a week for six years and four months. He and his wife Maire have decided it’s time to hand the restaurant back to Crown Beach on September 25. Since opening Prime Foods the couple have been working two jobs, with Dan regularly putting in […]

What must we do to be saved?

Friday 17 September 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Every church exist on earth because every member wants to be saved, otherwise why bother to pray, worship and stay in church? Every religion exist on earth because every convert wants to be saved, otherwise why bother to pray, meditate or practice whatever kinds of religious beliefs and rituals? Every human organisations, governments and institutions […]

Artist captivated by Rarotonga

Tuesday 14 September 2010 | Published in Features

The first time New Zealand artist Freeman White came to Rarotonga, he was guided up and down Te Manga by a little dog that befriended his group at the start of their mountain trek. They named the dog Akatere, guide. “He kept barking at us and we tried to shoo him away…then he just started […]

Eminem to kick off awards

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

Eminem is ready to kick off the MTV Video Music Awards. MTV general manager Stephen Friedman said Wednesday that the rapper, who’s nominated for eight trophies and continues to sit atop sales charts with “Recovery,” will open Sunday’s ceremony at the Nokia Theatre, which has been transformed with a sprawling white set reminiscent of the […]

Three wakas turn into one again

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

Trinity Roots’ two albums made a big impact and set a path for New Zealand’s emerging roots scene. Five years after parting ways, the trio is releasing a live album, a documentary and is getting back together to rekindle the spirit. It’s five years since Wellington band Trinity Roots turned their one waka into three. […]

Schwimmer turns dark with new movie

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

David Schwimmer made his name as a hapless romantic in the hit TV comedy series Friends, but takes on a much darker topic in his second stint behind the camera with the movie Trust. A heart-rending drama about how online predators groom child victims and the impact it has on a family, Trust was inspired […]

Maori culture study brings out writing talent

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

Not only did Takitumu Primary School students take part in fun learning activities during their Maori Culture programme this week – the senior students also put their Maori writing to the test in creating original poems. Poems were based on a number of themes including my environment, my strength and my dream. Following are the […]

New artist in residence

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

New Zealand artist Reuben Paterson is the Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery’s current artist in residence, and this weekend he’s putting the finishing touches to an exhibit that debuts at the gallery on Monday at 6 pm. Paterson has been on the island since July working on his exhibit – Aere E Akamotu (Start to Finish) […]

Clinic a success

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

The Men’s Health Clinic has pulled in big numbers this week – and the team has every intention of carrying on the good work. Tuesday night’s first clinic had more men arriving than the clinic had appointment slots for – but the team made sure that everyone was seen, even staying open later to make […]

Holiday prize highly valued

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

Travel agent Helen Roehnelt of Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre spent this week enjoying the prize she won at Cook Islands Tourism’s Australia road show in June – a week’s holiday on Rarotonga and Aitutaki with her husband and four mates. “Someone (at the road show) won a black pearl, but this is so much […]

Pollsters ready for the numbers game

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

The 2010 pre-election opinion poll conducted by Cook Islands News this week has produced some very interesting and, we believe, accurate results. Our staff pollsters called 500 randomly selected – and current national numbers – kindly supplied to us by Telecom Cook Islands. We received just over 200 valid responses of which 182 were eligible […]

Outer island thoughts

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

From the outer islands there was some sage advice as voters said MPs need to be fair to everyone without favouritism, and that MPs need to consider the welfare of the nation, leading wisely. Many offered all standing good luck in the coming elections. But there was also much unhappiness with the current government in […]

The people speak:

Saturday 11 September 2010 | Published in Features

From humorous to angry, to some who had one too many at the pub, our staff pollsters got them all while doing an election survey over the last few days and nights. While some just wanted to rant without giving any constructive comments, many were insightful and offered some excellent suggestions and thoughts. Our staff […]

Biblical spiritual warfare

Friday 10 September 2010 | Published in Church Talk

It seems a common practice among churches nowadays is to be involved in spiritual warfare. There are a lot of parts to this from binding and loosing demons, to screaming at the devil and his minions, praying against the elements, attributing every bad (and inconvenient) thing to the devil, and much more. Many churches carry […]