Local

Overhaul for outdated Crimes Act

Monday 13 February 2012 | Published in Local

Crown Law, in conjunction with the Australian Attorney-General’s Department, is undertaking a major, comprehensive review of the Cook Islands Crimes Act 1969 – which outlines crimes against persons, property and the public order. In 2010 the Australian government offered to provide the Cook Islands government with technical assistance in its review of the Cook Islands […]

Local

Oceania sports award to Rosie Blake

Monday 13 February 2012 | Published in Local

For a lifetime of dedication to sports and in particular women in sports, Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee general secretary Rosie Blake BEM (right) has been nominated as the woman in sport for the region of Oceania by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Blake (68) departs today for Los Angeles for the awards […]

Local

Showers in the air

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Local

No storm warnings are in place for this weekend, but the Cook Islands Meteorological Service predicts showery weather. Tropical Cyclone Cyril has come and gone, and Tropical Cyclone Jasmine is now located within Wellington’s area of responsibility. The Cook Islands Meteorological Service will continue to keep a watch on Tropical Cyclone Jasmine’s movement and is […]

Local

Court concerned by domestic violence

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Local

Seven men appeared in the high court on Thursday to face charges of assaulting a female. Five defendants entered guilty pleas, and the other two cases were adjourned without plea. Justice of the peace Carmen Temata pointed to the prevalence of the issue in the Cook Islands. She was clear that an apology is not […]

Local

Streamlining, not downsizing

Saturday 11 February 2012 | Published in Local

The government is making a medium-term plan to implement some of the recommendations outlined in a public finance management and public sector performance review report compiled by Asian Development Bank (ADB) consultants and a local steering committee. The former Democratic Party government identified the need for a public finance management and public sector performance review, […]

Local

18 new Aitutakians honoured

Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Local

Yesterday was a special day, not just for 18 people at Aitutaki but for the island as a whole, according to mayor John Baxter. Aitutaki officially took in 18 new permanent residents at a special ceremony held on the island yesterday, all spouses of Cook Islanders or permanent residents of the Cook Islands. Some of […]

Local

Ballet babes

Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Local

Pirouettes, pointed toes, tutus and big cheesy grins were all the rage at the Celebration on the Rock church where a group of youngsters gathered for the Xpression Dance Studio ballet class this week. Even the boys were having a ball at the class tutored by Georgia Miles – a Royal Academy of Dance ballet […]

Local

'We are not in a crisis'

Friday 10 February 2012 | Published in Local

Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati yesterday officially released a copy of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Functional Review Report on the Public Sector. “The exercise to re-examine how we do business in the public sector should never come as a surprise to anyone, including the public service itself. This has to be the norm if […]

Local

Parliament to sit on February 20

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Local

Parliament has confirmed it will be sitting on Monday, February 20, at 10am. Notices are currently being issued to Members of Parliament. Parliament’s priority agenda item is the supplementary budget, which is expected to be finalised before the sitting begins. The Office of the Prime Minister says parliament will sit for as long as it […]

Local

Heroes and heroines greeted warmly

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Local

Christchurch volunteers enjoying island hospitality as part of the Heroes and Heroines initiative were told yesterday that because Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens – the Cooks was their country too. The first group of Christchurch Heroes and Heroines volunteers arrived on the island at the weekend and met with Prime Minister Henry Puna yesterday […]

Local

Ambitious $15.5m plan for Aitutaki

Thursday 9 February 2012 | Published in Local

Aitutaki Island Council is confident it will be able to find funding for an ambitious redevelopment project that is expected to cost about $15.5 million. The project is being planned to help beautify the main town area surrounding the wharf while also improving facilities in the area. The wharf, too, will benefit under the plan […]

Local

'He deserves a bravery award'

Wednesday 8 February 2012 | Published in Local

Two builders are being praised for their quick thinking and selfless actions after they saved an American tourist who was at risk of drowning in rough seas. Joe Kaveao and Daniel Maoate came to the aid of a man who got himself into trouble while swimming in the lagoon at Crown Beach Resort and Spa. […]

Local

ADB jobs 'an insult' to CIWA

Wednesday 8 February 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Workers Association (CIWA) is calling advertised vacancies for consultancy positions at the Office of the Public Service Commissioner “an insult” and a “total waste of resources”. The positions are for five technical assistants, who will be employed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and on its payroll. They will be based at […]

Local

PM to greet 'heroes'

Wednesday 8 February 2012 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna will personally welcome in the first of 100 Christchurch heroes at a morning tea to be held at his office today. Minister of Tourism Teina Bishop will also be joining Puna at the morning tea to welcome the small group, who are the first to reach the Cook Islands under the […]

Local

4 new Kiwis naturalised

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Local

Four people in the Cook Islands were granted New Zealand citizenship yesterday, becoming perhaps the last people in the world to undergo the naturalisation ceremony on Waitangi Day. Three Samoans and a French Polynesian were the lucky four to receive their citizenship at New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter’s Ngatipa residence. In a short ceremony, […]

Local

5 new consultancy jobs at PSC

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Local

Five new consultancy positions have been created at the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, in keeping with a report put together by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reviewing the functionality of the public service. They are for technical assistants whose job it will be to oversee implementation of recommendations outlined in the functional review […]

Local

Hangi party in Raro

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Aotearoa Society gathered at their Marae in Tupapa to celebrate Waitangi Day with a hangi and chats over a cuppa tea. While today, February 6, is officially Waitangi Day – the society members decided to celebrate the day yesterday in line with New Zealand. To celebrate the day, which commemorates the the […]

Local

Quake heroes take time out in the Cooks

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The first group of Christchurch heroes and heroines arrived on the island over the weekend for a break from the ongoing recovery and rebuilding of Christchurch city after the devastating February 2011 earthquakes. Close to 100 heroes, heroines and their partners will retreat to Rarotonga over the next few months in small groups of 6 […]

Local

Online laws need overhaul: advocate

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The recent spate of emails from a man who is intent on bringing down the Cook Islands tourism industry though an insidious online campaign has sparked an internet advocate to call for more comprehensive laws governing the use and abuse of the web. Maureen Hilyard, the Rarotonga-based chair of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the […]

Local

'It's time to talk about it'

Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Local

It’s time to talk about the issue of suicide, says minister of youth Mark Brown. Brown, like the community at large, was devastated to hear of another Cook Islands youth who had committed suicide at the weekend. “It was just devastating to hear the news,” says Brown who had personally known the young man who […]

Local

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