Local

Police have Okotai's backing

Wednesday 22 August 2012 | Published in Local

Pearl farmer Temu Okotai is emphasising the police force has his full support after a previous article suggested otherwise. Last Saturday’s edition of the Cook Islands News ran a story about an angry Okotai’s lack of faith in the police after a two-week delay saw him unable to reclaim 500 pearls that were stolen by […]

Local

Solomons PM opts out

Wednesday 22 August 2012 | Published in Local

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo will not attend the Forum next week, reports the Solomon Star. This was because of his state visit to Canberra, Australia, this week plus he had decided to concentrate on domestic issues at home. It was reported earlier that some ministers planned to topple him in the upcoming […]

Local

'Police driving away tourists'

Wednesday 22 August 2012 | Published in Local

Restaurant owner Chris Mussell has been working within the Cook Islands tourism industry for 35 years now and believes the behaviour of the police force is having a negative effect on the industry. Waterline Bar and Grill owners Chris and his wife Akisi are currently negotiating the return of their safe and over $20,000 which […]

Local

Wealthy females love the Cook Islands

Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in Local

The preliminary results from a new programme of surveys will shed some light on the spending habits and general movements of tourists in the Cook Islands. So far the results show the average holiday-maker stays in the Cooks 8.2 days and spends $140 per day. On this estimate each visitor brings just over $1900 to […]

Local

Ex cop: It's not working at the top

Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in Local

Former police senior sergeant Mona Ioane believes lack of police leadership has contributed to the spread of crimes committed by officers. The MP for Waitaka-Waipai-Tautu constituency in Aitutaki was a Cook Islands police officer for 22 years, leaving in 2008. ”When I was in the police force I never came across problems like this. Only […]

Local

Forum flags flying

Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local

The Forum flags have arrived. Cook Islands images – of marine life, a breaching whale, costumed dancers Matthew Pierre and Silas Tuaputa, and the view from a vaka – have been printed on larger-than-life-sized banners and flags, which will be positioned around Rarotonga and strung on 100 flagpoles. Banners will be stationed around the airport, […]

Local

Quick visit by McCully

Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local

New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully made a quick visit to Rarotonga yesterday to meet with Prime Minister Henry Puna ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum. McCully entered the country without much fanfare, aboard a commercial Air New Zealand flight. (He has arrived via chartered jet or Air Force Orion in the past.) McCully leaves […]

Local

500 pearls go missing

Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local

It’s safe to say pearl farmer Temu Okotai’s faith in the police couldn’t dwindle any further. Questions surrounding the police force have arisen this week after two instances of police thievery were revealed in Cook Islands News. The first was the theft of around $9000 from the Bonny crime scene by then-24-year-old constable Davinia Webb. […]

Local

Judge Judy appointed

Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Local

The High Court of the Cook Islands has a new judge. Justice Judith Potter has been appointed as a judge of the High Court, with her warrant starting on September 1, which post-dates her retirement as a judge of the New Zealand High Court. She will be the second woman appointed to the role, Justice […]

Local

New police scandal:

Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Police are embroiled in yet another scandal involving officers stealing money. Commissioner Maara Tetava has confirmed that cash to a value of between $10,000 and $20,000 – along with other property – has gone missing from the national police headquarters. Tetava will not reveal how many are suspected of being involved as the […]

Local

Motorcade for VIPs, weapons not allowed

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Local

A carefully-coordinated motorcade will transport VIP leaders around Rarotonga during the Pacific Islands Forum, and police are asking drivers to be on alert. Police are clear that no drivers are to overtake the motorcade – in the first place a fairly daunting endeavour, as the fleet will comprise 16 cars, police vehicles, motorbikes and scout […]

Local

Tragic accident

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Local

A road accident happened at the back of the Punanga Nui market yesterday, tragically taking the lives of two men. At 11.20am, Albert Nicholas Snr, known as Peto, suffered a heart attack while driving his pick-up truck behind the Punanga Nui market. This caused him to swerve and hit John Taru of Arorangi, who was […]

Local

Police 'slack' says lawyer

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Local

The breach of trust committed by police thief Davinia Webb is ”totally unacceptable and disappointing“, says lawyer and MP Norman George. An ex-cop himself, George says if anyone wants to join the police their integrity should be beyond doubt and they must resist temptation on a regular basis. Webb was sentenced to 12 months community […]

Local

Plane could take residents home

Thursday 16 August 2012 | Published in Local

The first lot of stranded Penrhyn residents could be flown home as early as tomorrow if a logistical plan proposed by Air Rarotonga is put into action. A representative from the national airline met with Penrhyn mayor Tini Ford yesterday afternoon to discuss a package that would see the stranded group flown back to their […]

Local

Mayor may protest at Forum

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Local

Penrhyn mayor Tini Ford is planning a protest if the shipping situation is not solved before the beginning of the Pacific Leaders Forum. For the second year running, the island has been asked to forego either cargo or people and on Saturday the group, spearheaded by Tongareva member of parliament Wilkie Rasmussen, decided to boycott […]

Local

Police thief apologises

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Local

The former police officer who stole around $9000 from a crime scene wrote a letter of apology to her boss, asking his forgiveness. In a letter to police commissioner Maara Tetava, which was presented as mitigating circumstances at her trial on June 20, Davinia Webb wrote: ”I, Davinia Webb, humbly and with great shame am […]

Local

Clinton's visit 'not' confirmed

Wednesday 15 August 2012 | Published in Local

Contrary to an off-the-cuff remark uttered by Prime Minister Henry Puna this week, United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton has not yet confirmed her intent to attend this month’s Pacific Islands Forum. Cook Islands Television incorrectly reported on Monday night that the prime minister let slip during a ceremony at the climate change office […]

Local

Democratic Party to elect new leader today

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Local

The Democratic Party is holding their annual national conference today, when a new leader will be elected. All delegates and supporters are invited to attend the meeting, held between nine and four at the Takuvaine AOG Church Hall. Attendees will be addressed by Wilkie Rasmussen, who is the opposition’s acting leader, although he has been […]

Local

Skipper makes Interpol's most wanted list

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Local

A bizarre twist in the Bonny case has seen David Peppiatt put on Interpol’s most wanted list, despite Cook Islands police declaring him dead earlier this year. Detective Cyrus Robinson of Henderson’s Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) originally investigated and charged Aucklander Peppiatt with over 20 sexual crimes on under-age girls. Peppiatt never faced trial as […]

Local

Police officer takes $5k from crime scene

Tuesday 14 August 2012 | Published in Local

A Cook Islands police officer has been charged and sentenced for stealing a large sum of money from a crime scene. Davina Webb, a police officer since 2007, stole $5,000 from the crime scene of yacht Bonny. She was sentenced to one year of community service and one year of probation, after paying back the […]

Local

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