Local
Farm stench makes House
Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Local
“Take a face mask,” suggested Opposition Leader Wilkie Rasmussen as Health Minister Nandi Glassie tried in parliament yesterday to explain the government’s inactivity over Scott’s Farm. Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George suggested that a bottle of whisky might also help. The banter followed a proposal from Mitiaro MP Tangata Vavia that the minister should camp three […]
Joint effort to remove whale carcass from lagoon
Tuesday 21 February 2012 | Published in Local
The grandchildren of Mike and Kuraono Henry get up close to the sperm whale carcass in Aitutaki’s lagoon. A marine team will today attempt to move the carcass from the lagoon, four days after it washed over the reef and became stuck on some coral.
Heroes idea 'fantastic'
Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Local
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully has thanked the people of the Cook Islands along with the government for hosting victims of the Christchurch earthquake as part of the Christchurch heroes initiative. McCully yesterday thanked Prime Minister Henry Puna for the government’s contribution to the scheme and asked that he pass on the gratitude to […]
Tuna label design comp
Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Local
Design a label for the soon to be launched Cook Islands Golden Tuna and win cash. Schools across the Cook Islands are invited to take part in the competition and enter a design for the label before February 29. All designs must include the brand name ‘Cook Islands Golden Tuna’ plus 15 golden stars representing […]
Just bee happy
Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Local
Dressed in a cute bumble bee outfit, baby Lebron Anthony tumbled and rolled around in the grass at the Avatiu Swamp while his family watched the action between the Avatiu Eels and Ngatangiia-Sea Eagles unfold. When there wasn’t any action on the field out would come bumble bee Lebron to entertain the crowd encouraged by […]
Produce export problems 'not new'
Monday 20 February 2012 | Published in Local
Payment issues confronting the Aitutaki Growers Association are all too common and represent an ongoing problem for producers across the Cook Islands, Minister for Agriculture Nandi Glassie says. When growers go outside official channels of trade, there is very little government can do to help protect their interests and enforce guarantees, Glassie said. But he […]
Norman George for Opposition leader?
Saturday 18 February 2012 | Published in Local
Ex-CIP Member of Parliament Norman George is making a leadership bid within the Opposition Democratic Party. He wants to feature in leadership structure discussions within the Democratic Party given opposition leader Robert Wigmore’s extended term of medical leave. George announced yesterday that he has re-joined the Democratic Party and renounced all affiliations with the Cook […]
Airline subsidy rises to $12.5m
Saturday 18 February 2012 | Published in Local
A $4.5 million increase in the costs needed to guarantee flights to Sydney and Los Angeles is expected to wipe out a projected $2.5 million surplus in the Cook Islands budget for 2011-12 and push it into a $2.5 million deficit instead. Minister for Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown yesterday revealed the $8 million […]
Parliament expected to sit for two weeks
Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Local
One paper and one bill will be tabled in Parliament from Monday. Parliament clerk Nga Valoa says the session is likely to last about two weeks, and starts at 1pm on February 20. Just two items occupy the agenda and order paper. The supplementary budget will be the focus of the sitting, as Parliament considers […]
McCully reaffirms support to Cooks
Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Local
Renewables, sanitation, depopulation and the Pacific Islands Forum were all open for discussion yesterday when New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully met with Prime Minister Henry Puna and other ministers of the Cook Islands government. McCully is currently in the Cook Islands on his first visit since the National Party was re-elected into government in […]
NZ pension portability off the table
Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Local
Pensioners who have waited 19 years for a New Zealand government decision on superannuation portability will now have to wait even longer, with Foreign Minister Murray McCully yesterday saying the proposal would be off the table indefinitely. McCully, who is currently in the Cook Islands on government business, told Cook Islands News that the superannuation […]
'Bad export deals can be avoided'
Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local
Aitutaki growers disappointed with the fate of exports sent to New Zealand can use Cook Islands government contacts to help ensure similar plans in the future see a better outcome, says secretary for agriculture Anthony Brown. According to Brown, growers from across the Cook Islands can call on a number of government agencies, including the […]
Court to hear Tepuka claim
Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local
Next month the kopu ariki of Ngati Makea will have its say in the Tepuka saga before Chief Justice Tom Weston. The kopu ariki believe the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) should no longer hold the title on Tepuka land, which comprises 23.67 hectares (58.48 acres) of land adjacent to the CICC Nikao. It encompasses […]
Silveria sets example by removing graffiti
Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local
A student leader from Nukutere College has turned a bad piece of news into a good story and, in turn, is providing a source of inspiration not just to her fellow-students but also to leaders of all levels across the country. When students and teachers returned to the college on Monday this week, they were […]
Spreading the love on Valentine's Day
Wednesday 15 February 2012 | Published in Local
It wasn’t just boyfriends and girlfriends getting into the spirit of Valentine’s Day yesterday – there were plenty of chocolates, flowers and wine shared between friends, parents and children too. In fact, there was so much love being shared around that the whole office at Island Craft’s headquarters were told to forget their regular work […]
McCully here this week
Wednesday 15 February 2012 | Published in Local
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully arrives in Rarotonga early tomorrow morning. New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands John Carter has confirmed that McCully and a few of his support staff will be on tomorrow morning’s flight from Auckland. The primary purpose of his visit is to meet with government to discuss […]
Fresh produce exports turn sour
Wednesday 15 February 2012 | Published in Local
A plan to export fresh produce from Aitutaki to New Zealand has wilted for the producers of Aitutaki. While three container loads of produce have made their way south over recent months, only one payment has come back north. And even that was much less than expected. The producers of Aitutaki were expecting to reap […]
CISNOC finances back on agenda
Tuesday 14 February 2012 | Published in Local
Controversy around the financial state of the national sporting body will get an airing this week. A Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee special general meeting will be held on Wednesday at the CISNOC office at 5.30pm for all national federations. On the agenda for the meeting will be updates on the finances of […]
Youth forum set for March 12
Tuesday 14 February 2012 | Published in Local
Youth under 25 will be brought together to share their views on suicide and discuss the challenges facing their peers as part of a wider programme to try to stem the rate of suicide in the Cook Islands. The one-day forum will include youth from Rarotonga and the outer islands. A newly-formed steering committee is […]
iPad makes mum dance!
Tuesday 14 February 2012 | Published in Local
Anapa Nicholas might only be four but the young fellah knows his way around electronic gadgets including the new iPad he won in the recent ‘back to school’ promotion with CITC. CITC key brands manager George George says he is thrilled the prize was won by Anapa as he knows the young man will put […]
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