Local
Unpaid tax revealed
Saturday 25 August 2012 | Published in Local
Two businesses are holding off to see if the Cook Islands Sport and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) can avoid paying its outstanding value-added tax bill and could follow suit. Triathlon representative Geoff Stoddard revealed this at CISNOC’s annual general meeting on Thursday night. It means the $312,780 loss the sports body posted could be further […]
Cold snap
Thursday 23 August 2012 | Published in Local
The cold weather has continued this week, mostly thanks to a cold front that has moved across to the Cook Islands from New Zealand. Maara Vaiimene, operations manager at the Meteorological Service, says the cold weather was due to the culmination of three weather systems – a cold front moving from the eastwards from New […]
Is she or isn't she?
Thursday 23 August 2012 | Published in Local
The US State Department is still refusing to confirm whether or not Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will turn up on Rarotonga’s shores next week. But there are a few telling signs. Clinton’s accommodation has been booked (a private home), her security convoy has already arrived, and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has extended her […]
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 […]
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 […]
'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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
« Previous 1 … 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 … 723 Next »