Local
Ready to ura!
Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local
Holly Johnston, Hanalei and Lahaina Wong at the ready to take to the stage for their performances at Takitumu School’s prize giving on Wednesday.
Puna slammed for missing parliament
Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna was put on the defensive yesterday after missing out on the first week of parliament’s current sitting. Puna was absent after travelling to Fiji to attend the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, where he delivered a “keynote address” at the conference. “You were absent from parliament […]
Atiu airport to close because of disrepair?
Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local
The state of Atiu airport was questioned by the leader of the opposition in parliament yesterday, following concern about Pukapuka’s airport being closed. Democratic Party leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Atiu MP Nandi Glassie about the status of the island’s airport, saying a source had informed him that if nothing is done to repair its runway, […]
Stocking stuffers!
Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Local
Westpac’s customer loan processing support officer Teina Savage, senior customer service representative Tahiti Rangi Isaaka, team leader customer service representative Tokoa Harmon and business manager Massey Mateariki are pleased to see presents starting to come in for the bank’s ‘giving tree’ promotion – but many more are still to come. The promotion sees tags labelled […]
Pukapuka airport out of commission
Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Local
Pukapuka is currently without an air link after severe rainfall caused damages to the airport’s runway. The issue was discussed yesterday in parliament when opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen posed a question to Pukapuka-Nassau MP Tekii Lazaro, asking him if he was “worried” that the airport has been closed, and in the event of an emergency, […]
Huge decline in agriculture: census
Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Local
A dramatic drop in agricultural activity across the Cook Islands in the last decade is shown by a recently released agriculture census. The findings were revealed at a workshop on Wednesday at the Ministry of Agriculture in Arorongi. In Rarotonga, the census recorded a substantial decrease in agricultural land use, from 1143 acres in 2000 […]
Prized pupil!
Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local
Young Tschan Hagai was thrilled to be awarded the supreme award of Dux for 2013, and with it the Quincy Manu Tuiravakai Memorial Trophy, at St Joseph School’s prize giving ceremony last week. The day had a bittersweet note for the primary school’s students and teachers, being combined with a farewell to principal Sister Celine […]
One year anniversary for shark sanctuary
Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local
Today marks the one year anniversary of the creation of the Cook Islands 1.9 million square kilometre shark sanctuary. With much fanfare on December 12, 2012, local citizens celebrated the establishment of the zone, which sees a ban on shark fishing and the possession or sale of shark products. Combining the efforts of the Cooks […]
Machete attacker awaits sentencing
Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local
An elderly man who allegedly carried out a machete attack in Mitiaro last week is facing a maximum sentence of seven years in jail if found guilty. The bush knife attack on Wednesday stemmed from a land dispute and left another elderly man with two cuts to his head, one to his shoulder and one […]
Heather announced as DPM
Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local
Months of speculation ended yesterday in parliament when Teariki Heather was formally announced as Deputy Prime Minister. The announcement by Prime Minister Henry Puna ended over four months of speculation on who would be filling the position. In making the announcement, Puna said he agreed with critics that it took a long time for a […]
5 honoured with NZ citizenship
Wednesday 11 December 2013 | Published in Local
Five Cook Islands residents placed a hand on the Bible, swore an oath and officially became New Zealand citizens yesterday. In a warm, upbeat ceremony, High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers presented certificates to Motufaga Tifare Finiasi, Viliame Gukisuva, Teurihei Kainuku, Taniora Lowry and Ariimanu Jean-Marc Shan Sei Fan. About 30 family members and friends gathered for […]
Oriental fruit flies persist in Aitutaki
Wednesday 11 December 2013 | Published in Local
Efforts to eradicate the Oriental Fruit Fly are proving challenging in Aitutaki, despite an elimination programme showing good results in Rarotonga. The Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to achieve zero catches of the pest in baited traps have continued successfully in Rarotonga over the past four months, but eradication efforts in Aitutaki have shown mixed results. […]
'Fast track' to success
Wednesday 11 December 2013 | Published in Local
Mum Takau Moeka’a was beaming with pride as daughter Rima received her teaching diploma at yesterday’s Ministry of Education Certificate and Special Awards Presentation. Rima was one of nine recipients of diplomas as part of the ministry’s Fast Track Teacher Trainees programme. The training certificate programme looks to encourage locals who have a passion for […]
New contract to incentivise Air NZ
Tuesday 10 December 2013 | Published in Local
Air New Zealand will be given more incentive to cut costs and maximise revenue under a new contract being negotiated with the government. The Kiwi airline recently won the tender to continue providing flights to Rarotonga from Los Angeles (LA) and Sydney between November 2014 and November 2018. The Cook Islands government currently underwrites both […]
$3000 donated to fire-ravaged schools
Tuesday 10 December 2013 | Published in Local
It is the season of giving and the team from the Kikau Hut are leading by example. Owners of the Arorangi restaurant Cathy and Kevin Simkin handed over cheques totalling just over $3000 to both Nukutere College and Avatea School on Monday morning. The restaurant raised the money from a three course dinner fundraiser with […]
Offloading hurting local fishers
Tuesday 10 December 2013 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Fishing Association is saying a recent decision to extend a trial programme that allows a foreign fishing company to offload by-catch in Rarotonga is destroying the livelihood of local fishers. Last month, the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) extended a business licence variation for Huanan Fisheries Ltd, permitting the offloading for a […]
Parliamentary staff get first aid training
Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in Local
Speaker of parliament Niki Rattle announced on Friday that Cook Islands parliamentary staff have received first aid training. Rattle, herself a former secretary general for the Red Cross, said the training provided to staff included “cardio pulmonary resuscitation”. To further add to parliament’s first aid initiatives, Rattle told MPs that they should think about getting […]
Santa goes tropo!
Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in Local
Santa Claus went tropo on Saturday spreading Christmas cheer in a Pacific inspired suit. He is pictured here cheering up two young shoppers at Foodland in Avarua before zooming off on his brightly decorated cart to the Punanga Nui Markets where he encouraged Rarotonga children to be good little boys and girls. Santa’s walkabout through […]
Govt to nominate leader for bad loan taskforce
Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in Local
A taskforce being set up to tackle the problem of bad loans in the Cook Islands should soon have its leader appointed. Former Kiwi Bank chief executive Sam Knowles carried out a review of the country’s banking system last year and found non-performing loans (NPLs) were the biggest roadblock to the sector’s growth. A non-performing […]
Govt to pay Air NZ return on LA flights
Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in Local
A new contract being negotiated between the government and Air New Zealand will see the airline guaranteed a profit on its Los Angeles to Rarotonga service. This is a change from the current arrangement where the government pays only the costs and promises no return. Air New Zealand recently won the tender to continue providing […]
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