Local
'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 […]
Elderly man slashed in bush knife attack
Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local
A land dispute between two elderly men in Mitiaro escalated into a machete attack on Wednesday, leaving one of them in hospital with severe cuts to his body. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said the incident took place late Wednesday afternoon and police were notified at about 6pm. The victim received two cuts to his head, […]
Tuariki resigns Murienua seat
Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local
The winner of the recent Murienua by-election has resigned from his post, pre-empting a court hearing of a petition by his opponent. Cook Islands Party candidate Kaota Tuariki won September’s by-election in the Murienua constituency, defeating Democratic Party candidate James Beer in the bid to fill the seat that was vacated by Queen’s Representative Tom […]
Royal visit
Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local
Queen’s Representative Tom Marsters and wife Tuaine hosted the Queen’s Baton and the team accompanying it to mark the start of its Cook Islands visit. The baton arrived on Thursday and after its official visit to the Queen’s Representative’s residence in Titikaveka, it began the first of two relay legs on the island. Papaaroa students […]
Queen's baton passes through parliament
Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local
In addition to the passing of bills, the Cook Islands parliament saw the passing of the Queen’s baton during Friday’s sitting of the house. At roughly midday, a Commonwealth games delegation including Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee president Hugh Graham visited parliament to present the baton to the house. The visit saw the […]
Rain snuffs out fires in Aitutaki
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Local
Aitutaki residents had their prayers answered on Wednesday night when rain finally arrived to snuff out scrub fires burning on the island. The downfall was a huge relief for locals, who have been battling numerous fires since a huge blaze scorched acres of land in Amuri on Saturday night. Miimetua Blenkarn, head of the Airport […]
Parliament pays tribute to Mandela
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Local
Parliament began on Thursday with a solemn tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. Described in the house as a “great man", Speaker Niki Rattle said the South African Nobel Prize winner and peace activist “should be dignified in this house”. Addressing parliament, acting PM and finance minister Mark Brown said it was a “sad occasion […]
Debate winner meets EU Ambassador
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Local
A Titikaveka College student who claimed victory in a youth debate on deep sea minerals has been congratulated in person by the European Union’s Ambassador for the Pacific. Fifteen-year-old Titikaveka College student Teherenui Koteka has been in Fiji this week after winning the Cook Islands debate in October. EU Ambassador Andrew Jacobs met Koteka in […]
Parliament's 'false start' a false alarm
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Local
Parliament was nearly brought to a standstill yesterday after the opposition questioned the constitutionality of the current sitting. At the beginning of question period, leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen questioned the legality of the sitting by referring to a letter published in CINews yesterday. The letter, written by Rarotonga resident and businessman John Scott, […]
Aitutaki water woes addressed
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Local
Emergency measures are being taken to provide Aitutaki residents with clean drinking water as they stare down the barrel of another six months without rain. Most people living on the island rely on rainwater tanks for their drinking supply but the skies have not opened since July. Otheniel Tangianau, director of the Pa Enua division […]
Banner rings in Christmas cheer
Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Local
With 21 days to go until Christmas day, colourful tinsel and bright lights are rapidly growing on local businesses and homes – dressing them up for the festive season. Adding to the growing Christmas buzz, a big bright red banner wishing all a Merry Christmas has been erected at the entrance to the Avarua shopping […]
School students visit parliament
Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Local
A special group of visitors were present for Tuesday’s session of parliament. Yesterday, students from Titikaveka College were present at the Cook Islands parliament building, and observed the nation’s members of parliament at work from inside the chamber as well as outside. In introducing the visitors, speaker Niki Rattle said the students have a desire […]
Treated water relieves shortage in Atiu
Wednesday 4 December 2013 | Published in Local
A plan of action has been implemented on Atiu as the island’s water supply, like that of many of the southern group islands, becomes critically low. A Nomad water treatment plant, which treats water by UV (ultra violet) and filter, was shipped to Atiu last week to produce clean drinking water for the 466 residents […]
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