Local
Unlicensed taxi taking tourists
Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Published in Local
The owner of Cook Islands’ largest transport company is fed up with a member of parliament who he believes is poaching his customers. Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd owner Kevin Cook wrote a letter of complaint to Police Commissioner Maara Tetava on Saturday, saying that Member of Parliament for Pukapuka-Nassau Tekii Lazaro deliberately drives […]
Water upgrades to employ an 'awful lot' of locals
Monday 24 September 2012 | Published in Local
Rarotonga’s current water network loses about 70 percent of water through aging pipes before it even reaches people’s taps, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning. But the future water infrastructure upgrades, confirmed as part of a tri-lateral agreement signed by the Cooks, New Zealand and China recently, will bring potable water to all […]
'Rise above criticism'
Monday 24 September 2012 | Published in Local
Pride and passion was the key message at Friday’s police parade for the blessing of the department’s new fleet of vehicles. While the purpose of the early morning parade was to officially bless two new Mitsubishi double cab trucks and two motorbikes – the focus of the speeches was on motivating and encouraging local officers […]
Mother of 8 dies in crash
Monday 24 September 2012 | Published in Local
A 40-year-old single mother of eight died in a fatal head-on motorbike crash at the weekend – bringing Rarotonga’s road death to five so far this year. Maniu Jack of Pue died from serious injuries received in the accident which occured around 11.30 on Friday night in front of the Farm Direct Pearls store in […]
October sitting
Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Local
Parliament will sit next in October. Before leaving for New York on Thursday, Prime Minister Henry Puna confirmed that Parliament will be sitting next month. His motivation for convening Parliament as a matter of priority is the “urgent” need to push two bills in particular through the house. “We have a couple of urgent bills […]
PM wants to learn about shark sanctuary
Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Local
The prime minister is keen to “hear more” about the local movement to carve out a shark sanctuary in Cook Islands waters, which started gaining real traction during the Pacific Leaders Forum. While they were in Rarotonga, leaders of American Samoa, Tokelau and the Marshall Islands were vocal about their governments’ intentions to protect sharks […]
Bishop to explain China deals
Saturday 22 September 2012 | Published in Local
Marine resources minister Teina Bishop has promised Cook Islands News a question-and-answer session on Tuesday after Cabinet to cover his recent trip to China and interaction with Luen Thai Fishing Ventures Ltd. Bishop returned from China on Tuesday, but left marine resources secretary Ben Ponia behind. The minister said Ponia remained in China to meet […]
PM acknowledges possible 'conflict'
Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna has acknowledged that there might be a “conflict of interest” plaguing the Ministry of Marine Resources’ relationship with Chinese fishing company Luen Thai Fishing Ventures Ltd, but says he trusts marine resources minister Teina Bishop to do the right thing. Bishop has appointed Sam Chou, chief operating officer of Luen Thai […]
Paper cranes lift wearable art award
Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Local
Tereora College student Ashley Chaloner models the winning wearable arts piece titled ‘Paper Crane’ created by Paerangi Vainerere. Vainerere created origami cranes out of recycled paper including pages from old magazines and copies of Cook Islands News. Vainerere’s creation was one of 38 wearable arts outfits created by Rarotonga students out of ‘waste’ materials for […]
11 offenders apprehended
Friday 21 September 2012 | Published in Local
Police are urging parents to look after their children better to avoid them being caught up in a life of crime. Police have been busy over the last couple of weeks carrying out special investigations targeting burglars and other offenders involved in criminal activities around Rarotonga. To date, police have arrested a total of 11 […]
'Diehard' fan flies with All Blacks
Thursday 20 September 2012 | Published in Local
Alexis Wolfgramm is predicting she will be the only person at the All Blacks’ test match in Argentina wearing an ei katu. She’s probably right. Today Wolfgramm flies to New Zealand ahead of her Saturday departure for Argentina aboard a black Air New Zealand charter adorned with an All Blacks fern. She is one of […]
Recyclers claiming import levies
Thursday 20 September 2012 | Published in Local
A committee has formed to prepare a policy guideline and funding strategy for a proposal to build the cost of recycling into import levies. In other words, a portion of the fee charged to import a product would cover its eventual disposal and shipment offshore. The committee, comprising Malcolm Sword and John Wichman of Recycling […]
$50,000 gift from Chinese charity
Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Local
A ministerial visit to China kicked off with a significant donation to Cook Islands school children this week, as marine resources minister Teina Bishop received US$50,000 from the Tan Siu Lin Foundation to purchase 130 laptop computers. Bishop is leading a delegation to China, which includes marine resources secretary Ben Ponia and Manihiki mayoress Ngamata […]
Concerned man warns residents to stay alert
Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local
Three well-known local offenders are allegedly living together, despite a court order stating two of them must not associate with each other. A concerned local business owner contacted CINews with the information, reporting that Robert Piniata, William Wade, and Ponatu Ua are all living in the same house near the Assembly of God Church in […]
Taxpayers fork out for Penrhyn
Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local
The chartered flights to Penrhyn Island will cost the taxpayers over $100,000. The revelation was made by finance minister Mark Brown exactly one month after the Lady Naomi departed the Avatiu port and three weeks after the sixth and final Air Rarotonga chartered plane arrived in Tongareva. The matter is in the hands of the […]
Two ambassadors present credentials
Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local
Italian ambassador Alessandro Levi Sandri (left) and Dutch representative Arie Van der Wiel presented their credentials at Government House yesterday. It was the first time two national representatives have presented credentials to Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin on the same day. 12091105
Too early to predict cyclone pattern
Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local
The cyclone season is approaching – but the Meteorological Service says it is too early to predict whether it will be a bad one or not. “We have not yet issued any projections,” says Met Service director Maara Vaiimene, “but we will have a better idea of what is coming by early October.” There are […]
$1.2m not paid in Coca-Cola levies
Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Local
A damning Audit report reveals that for over 20 years, CITC avoided paying full levies on Coca Cola, thereby depriving government of millions in taxation revenue. Owing to an arrangement with Customs, CITC routinely separated contents from packaging on invoice sheets – paying a 10 percent levy on packaging and a 40 percent levy on […]
Maintenance workers back at work
Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Local
A poorly worded and interpreted Budget Policy Directive is being blamed for the misunderstanding that had five Cook Islands Investment Corporation maintenance workers thinking they had lost their jobs. The CIIC work gang of five men were yesterday assured they are still employed – resulting in broad smiles and handshakes all round. Yesterday minister of […]
'CIIC workers not terminated'
Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Local
It’s work as usual for the five maintenance workers who believed they were ‘laid off’ following intervention by minister for the Cook Islands Investment Corporation Mark Brown. The minister issued a media statement yesterday explaining his views of the issue. Referring to statements by Tupapa Maraerenga MP George Maggie and Cook Islands Workers Association president […]
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