Local
Arts council board elected
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Local
The National Arts Council is moving ahead, with a board of seven members having been elected. The new members of the board include Mike Tavioni, Rutera Taripo, Ani O’Neill, Maurice Newport, Tokerau Jim, Ana Rasmussen and Barbara Arbon – all of whom represent the wide range of arts across the Cook Islands, from film to […]
NZ Navy sailor dies in crash
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Local
A New Zealand Defence Force sailor died in a motor vehicle crash at the Avatiu intersection yesterday morning. William Paratini Delamere, 22, was involved in a fatal crash that was reported to police at 12.37am. He was a sailor aboard the HMNZS Otago, which has been in port this week as part of a Pacific […]
Single fin can fetch US$20,000
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Local
Sharks are a popular topic this week, with the Ministry of Marine Resources releasing a draft shark national plan of action and then shark fins allegedly being found on a foreign fishing vessel in Cooks waters. Earlier this month, marine resources minister Teina Bishop was asked whether he was aware of allegations that vessels licensed […]
Planting for a new future
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Local
Nikao member of parliament Ngamau Munokoa plants a citrus tree in front of the new Ministry of Education building yesterday as part of the special hand over ceremony. For being instrumental in negotiating the land with landowners for the new education building – Munokoa was honoured with opening the doors to the building and planting […]
Opening up shop at Nikao
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
Business savvy Nikao Maori preschool students (from left) Tarani Omao, Georgia Marsters, Pati Estall, Paige Aunguna and Teokotai Tuaivi will be opening their own grocery shop today at the school in Nikao. The students learned all about making and spending money this week a before deciding to set up a shop of their own.
Departure tax built into ticket
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
Parliament has legislated to incorporate the cost of departure tax into the price of an airline ticket. The Departure Tax Act of 2005 did not require international airlines to collect departure tax at the point of the ticket sale, but as of yesterday all tickets for travel after December 1 will include the $55 departure […]
Bishop denies shark finning claims
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has refused to accept minister of marine resources Teina Bishop’s denial of allegations that three tonnes of shark fins were found aboard a Luen Thai vessel in Cook Islands waters. He called Bishop’s dismissal of shark finning claims a ”cover up“. Rasmussen asked Bishop in Parliament on Wednesday to comment on […]
MMR refutes shark fin finds
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
To prevent targeted finning taking place the Ministry of Marine Resources has drafted a shark policy that allows certain species of sharks to be caught as long as their fins are attached to the carcass. The current Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) licencing conditions allow fishing vessels to retain non-endangered species of shark but that […]
Get voting, Titikaveka
Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Titikaveka by-election is being held today (Thursday), with booths opening at nine o’clock this morning. The electoral office have set up two voting booths – one at Titikaveka Sunday School and the other at YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Hall. They will be open to voters until six this evening. A mobile booth for […]
Maternity leave scheme a 'great step'
Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) says government’s pledge to implement a paid maternity leave scheme for women working in the private sector is a ”small step for our women, but a great step for our nation“. CINCW president Vaine Wichman says the group has been fighting since 2007 for greater maternity leave […]
Vessel caught with shark fins
Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Local
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has asked minister of marine resources Teina Bishop to comment on allegations that a Luen Thai vessel was this week caught finning sharks. He said in Parliament yesterday, during question-and-answer time, that the HMS Otago boarded a Luen Thai vessel in the north on Tuesday night and discovered a collection of […]
Students give back to elders
Thursday 21 June 2012 | Published in Local
Year nine students from Titakveka College presented gifts of food – boxes of chicken and kinaki – to the elderly at Are Pa Metua yesterday. The gifts were part of a community project that the students undertook, fundraising through a school mufti day and harvesting food from their homes, to share with the mamas. The […]
From stone age to cyber age
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands this week went from having the oldest customs legislation in the region to boasting the newest. Parliament passed the Customs Revenue and Border Protection Bill without amendment, in the process repealing and replacing a 99-year-old piece of legislation that was reportedly the oldest in the entire Pacific. In speaking on the principles […]
Luen Thai partnering with local company
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Luen Thai Fishing Venture – one of the largest fishing companies in the world – is intending to set up a company in the Cook Islands and has applied for a licence from the Business Trade and Investment Board to operate alongside local partners. Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked minister of marine resources Teina Bishop […]
Progress in boundary dispute
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Cabinet is making strides in a decade-long dispute with Kiribati, Niue and Tokelau regarding the boundaries of the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters said in Parliament yesterday that government expects to legally seal the deal at the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in August. In the meantime, Parliament has passed a […]
James wins tabua
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Vaka Marumaru Atua crew James Pakoti shows off a tabua (whale’s tooth) during the Vaka Voyagers welcome to Fiji. Three crew members from each vaka were chosen to be part of the tabua ceremony that included the voyagers swimming to shore to search for the prized whale’s tooth among a group of Fiji women. Excerpts […]
Pukapuka group in liquidation
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc has been forced into liquidation by New Zealand’s Inland Revenue Department. The Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc employed 65 people at its peak in preschool and tertiary education, social services and at a bakery. It was described in a book published this year by the NZ Social Entrepreneur Fellowship […]
Budget enacted
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Appropriation Bill 2012 received Royal Assent yesterday. Speaker of the House Niki Rattle announced yesterday that the Budget – which was passed by Parliament on Friday after five days of debate – has been formally approved by head of state Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin. She also noted that a delegation of seven – […]
Expat teacher numbers and pays queried
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
Expatriate teachers continue to receive higher salaries than local teachers. Education minister Teina Bishop confirmed the point yesterday in Parliament, in response to prompting from Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen. During question-and-answer time, Rasmussen raised concerns that the Ministry of Education was hiring more expatriates than locals. ”Some of our local Maori people feel that that […]
Singing Mermaids visit Apii Te Uki Ou
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
Gail Tipene, Tammy Diath and Pauline Berry of the Mermaid Dance Band gave a special performance for the kids at Apii Te Uki Ou yesterday after showing the kids’ parents a good time on Saturday night. The singing trio entertained the crowds at the Fire and Ice Ball organised to raise funds for a new […]
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