Local
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Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Local
There will be two parades and services in Rarotonga tomorrow to mark Anzac Day. The dawn parade starts at 5.30am and the bigger public ceremony starts at 9.30am. Members of the public are invited to join veterans and uniformed personnel at both parades, and afterwards at the Returned Services Association premises in Nikao. There will […]
New wharf proposed for Manihiki
Tuesday 24 April 2012 | Published in Local
Developmental prospects in Manihiki and Rakahanga – including a possible $4 million upgrade to Tauhunu wharf – will be put on show this week when New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter travels north for his first official visit to the atolls. Prime Minister Henry Puna and Minister for Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown will […]
Voyage delayed
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Reef Express is undergoing repairs before even embarking on its maiden voyage to Rarotonga. Southern Express was recently replaced by Reef Express, formerly Forum Pacific. Her first voyage to Rarotonga – number 156 – has been delayed as she is undergoing maintenance work in Auckland. She is expected, then, to leave Auckland on May […]
Mataiapo defends village beautification
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Local
Matavera resident Papa Motu Kora BEM, who holds the traditional title of Mokare Mataiapo, has been part of numerous government and community groups including the Matavera beautification group. At 75 Papa Kora has seen a lot change on the island and is no fool. Recently Cook Islands News published a letter to the editor in […]
Webb Ellis Cup coming to Raro
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
One of the world’s greatest sporting trophies – the Webb Ellis Cup – is coming to Rarotonga. The 4.5kg silver gilt trophy won by the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup last year will be on the island for four days – coinciding with the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) annual general meeting […]
Businessman makes $153,000 civil claim
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
An Arorangi business is proceeding with a claim of over $153,000 against Robert Heather Wichman and police commissioner Maara Tetava. Motherland Limited, trading as The Sharp Shop, and its director Peter Robertson are plaintiffs in a case against Wichman, one of the landowners of the Arorangi property on which the business is situated. Robertson alleges […]
Takitumu land decision delayed
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Privy Council will not hand down a decision in the Takitumu land dispute case currently before it for another two months. According to Terri Judd, legal affairs correspondent for United Kingdom newspaper The Independent, tensions have been running high in the London court. As the highest court in the Commonwealth, it is the final […]
Rarotonga trochus potential highlighted
Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Marine Resources is concerned that a valuable export, trochus shell, is not being used wisely on Rarotonga, with people missing out on the opportunity to earn additional income. Trochus were originally introduced into the Cook Islands in 1956, with a view to developing an income generating opportunity and small export industry for […]
Fines possible for dangerous operators
Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Local
Fuel suppliers in the Cook Islands are being gently pushed into making reforms that will improve the safety and standards of the handling of dangerous goods, but authorities have the option to penalise or remove the licences of any operators that don’t show improvements. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the body tasked with issuing and […]
Takitimu land case heard in London
Thursday 19 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands made its first appearance at the Privy Council, thousands of kilometres away in London, this week. A dispute over 53 acres of Takitumu land came before the Supreme Court judges of the United Kingdom – the highest judicial authority throughout the Commonwealth. Popular UK newspaper The Independent published the story about the […]
Power station posed 'dire' threat
Thursday 19 April 2012 | Published in Local
“Unacceptable” levels of leaking diesel at the Te Aponga Uira (TAU) Avatiu valley power station have the potential to ignite and cause “dire consequences” for the power station and Rarotonga as a whole, according to a report released to the media this week. The report, conducted by New Zealand Department of Labour inspector Kim Comben […]
New police minister 'impressed'
Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Local
Minister of Police Teariki Heather says community involvement is key to police work and he will use his new role to encourage Cook Islands Police to meet as often and as regularly as they can with the people of each vaka. Heather officially took over the police portfolio from Prime Minister Henry Puna at a […]
Fuel farms on 'provisional' licences
Wednesday 18 April 2012 | Published in Local
Both Toa Petroleum and Triad Pacific Petroleum are operating under provisional dangerous goods licences. The Ministry of Internal Affairs became aware of issues of non-compliance at both facilities following the release of a damning independent report in late 2010. Both were subsequently denied full dangerous goods licences. Since then, Toa and Triad have taken steps […]
Tutaka underway
Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Local
Public health inspectors began a new round of tutaka health checks yesterday. The inspections will be conducted randomly with health officials fanning out across the island checking properties. Senior health inspector Charlie Ave says the main purpose of the week-long tutaka will be to check for mosquito breeding and resting place. “We want to make […]
Airport charging plan shelved
Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Local
Proposed changes to aeronautical charges at Rarotonga Airport have been sidelined following the public bashing they received last week. The government will instead consider wider changes to what costs and charges are being asked of airlines in taxes and fees. Airport Authority chief executive officer Joe Ngamata yesterday said government had decided to shelve the […]
8 arrests
Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Local
Eight burglars have been arrested by police after detectives swooped on a number of homes on Thursday, Friday and at the weekend. Police say the group of eight male youths are believed to be responsible for the spate of burglaries through the Avarua area last week. Some of those arrested appeared in court on Saturday […]
'Signs of desperation'
Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Local
Any increase in departure tax or increase in airport surcharges will be sternly opposed by the opposition because it is a direct contradiction of the former Democratic Party Government’s plans to lower departure taxes. “Our idea was to lower departure tax back to $35 and let that tax pay the loan by the Airport Authority […]
Pearl auction to help sailors
Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Local
Two pearls of Manihiki have received an added push in their Olympic dreams thanks to a contribution from the Cook Islands Pearl Authority. The authority has donated a pearl necklace to the Cook Islands Sailing Association to help fund Helema Williams and Taua Elisa’s Olympic qualifier attempts and – all things going to plan – […]
Salute to Wigmore
Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Democratic Party is mourning the loss of one of its most prominent leaders. The Honourable Robert Wigmore lost his battle with cancer yesterday morning, his passing leaving a void in the heart of Titikaveka and within the Democratic Party. Described by those who knew him as a “very hardworking man” and a “quiet achiever”, […]
Hostile backlash to charges
Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Local
Backlash to proposed increases to airport charges appear to have sunk Airport Authority plans for dramatic rises to its fee structure, although no official word from government has confirmed such reports. Cook Islands News understands draft proposals that pitched increases to airport usage fees of between 80 and 300 percent over three years have now […]
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