Local
MPs reminded of tradition in parliament
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local
Members of the Cook Islands Parliament are enjoying discourse about whether the $20,000 ceremonial opening of parliament last week was a worthwhile expense. Debate over the ceremony has been heating up, particularly between speaker of the house Sir Geoffrey Henry who supports the ceremony and all its trappings, and deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen who […]
More money for pearl authority
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) has received a financial shot in the arms as it plans to rejuvenate the once-mighty pearl industry. The new 2011/2012 budget appropriates $502,387 to CIPA, allowing for greater operating costs than the previous year. Another $3 million is being allocated to CIPA through an NZAid programme, the details of […]
Man dies
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
A motorbike accident on the Nikao back road early on Saturday morning claimed the life of 36-year-old Boye Nicholas and left a second man from Nikao seriously injured. The accident occurred in Atupa near the Tiare village about 100 metres from the scene of a fatal accident that killed two young Pukapuka men in May. […]
Underpaid justice staff due for increase
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
With a total net appropriation of $1.7 million, the Ministry of Justice receives some extra attention from government this financial year. In his budget speech on Friday, finance minister Mark Brown said the government has committed 17 per cent of its resources towards the governance and law and order sector. A key component of this […]
$20m to boost economy
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
More than $20 million is to be spent in the next year on economic growth, half of which has been directly allocated towards tourism. Within the governments 2011-2012 budget, which was tabled on Friday, 12 percent of its resources ($20.5 million) is earmarked for what finance minister Mark Brown describes as the economic sector. A […]
Pay as you go budget tabled
Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Local
A balanced Budget was tabled in parliament yesterday with total revenue and total expenditure both estimated at $106.1 million. Finance minister Mark Brown presented the 2011-12 Appropriation Bill and Estimates at a short session in the House after the ceremonial opening at the National Auditorium. Debate on the budget detail will begin on Monday when […]
Lavish ceremony
Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Local
A two-hour, $20,000 ceremony yesterday marked the official opening of the forty-seventh session of the Cook Islands Parliament. Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin, Lady Goodwin, lady-in-waiting Tangi Goodwin, aide-de-camp inspector Arama Tera, official secretary Harry Ivaiti and official messenger senior sergeant Kau Mapu arrived first, each greeted with a maire ei and a turou. After […]
Christian values needed
Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local
Education and a return to Christian values are key for the Cook Islands battle against theft, Minister for Tourism and Education Teina Bishop says. Bishop said he was worried that thieves who have been targeting tourist accommodation were hurting the Cook Islands reputation as an attractive holiday destination. In this day and age with the […]
Ceremony divides opinion
Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local
There are mixed opinions within parliament about whether todays opening ceremony, expected to cost more than $20,000, is a waste of time and money. Deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen says it is. My personal view is its an outdated form of opening parliament. My suggestion would be to have an opening down at […]
$1.5m more to be spent on health
Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local
The New Zealand government has committed to continue its support for the Health Specialist Visits Programme that aims to improve health care for the people of the Cook Islands. Yesterday, New Zealand Aid Programme manager Jonathan Rowe along with acting secretary of health Rangiau Fariu and acting secretary of finance Priscilla Maruariki signed an agreement […]
Budget presented to Parliament
Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local
The government will table this years budget in Parliament today. A ceremonial opening of Parliament commences at 10am in the National Auditorium which in this context is being referred to as the Queens Chambers and is expected to last through to early afternoon. An eight-page programme details the timetable for this mornings affair, to which […]
Operation Eagle in court
Thursday 30 June 2011 | Published in Local
Operation Eagle will again be the focus of the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua today when most of the 13 arrested through the drugs bust are due to appear before a Justice of the Peace. Those scheduled to appear, based on decisions made during their last court appearances, are Scott Arlander, Victor Wichman, Dina […]
Parliament ceremony to cost $20,000
Thursday 30 June 2011 | Published in Local
Five months after its first parliamentary session, the government is preparing to stage the ceremonial opening of the house. The 47th session of the Cook Islands Parliament formally opens tomorrow. From 10am, a strictly structured ceremony will mark the occasion. More than 1200 guests have been invited to observe the opening at the National Auditorium […]
Police trained in batons
Thursday 30 June 2011 | Published in Local
Residents and visitors within the Cook Islands may get used to seeing this a baton-wielding police officer. Here senior constable Epii Poila and constable Tupou Patia demonstrate some of the ways in which batons can be used by officers as defensive weapons in violent, life-threatening situations. About 50 expandable batons are being issued to Cook […]
We can only do so much
Wednesday 29 June 2011 | Published in Local
Almost half of all burglars and thieves in the Cook Islands are caught by police but residents and visitors alike need to remain vigilant in the prevention of such crime, police commissioner Maara Tetava says. He was asked to comment yesterday on new reports of burglary and theft within the community, following two new letters […]
Plan to boost local production
Wednesday 29 June 2011 | Published in Local
A relationship between the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) and a New Zealand trade development company is being formed due to a proposed importation substitution strategy. BTIB and Tuia International have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see both organisations work towards implementing a strategy to address the Cook Islands reliance on imported goods. […]
Direct flights begin again
Wednesday 29 June 2011 | Published in Local
Australia and the Cook Islands will soon be directly connected by air services again with non-stop flights between Sydney and Rarotonga set to restart next week. The first planeload of Australian visitors will touch down at Rarotonga International Airport on Tuesday, July 5. Cook Islands Tourism Board director of destinations development Metua Vaiimene said the […]
Women, families ignored - council
Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in Local
The basic needs of women and families continue to be ignored in the Cook Islands despite donor funding, members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been told. An ADB delegation to the Cook Islands yesterday met with members of the Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) at its Takuvaine headquarters. CINCW president Vaine […]
Board keeps eye on project promises
Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in Local
There is no set programme in place for the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) to monitor whether contractor McConnell Dowell is honouring an agreement over the $27 million Avatiu harbour upgrade. BTIB initially rejected McConnell Dowells application to operate within the Cook Islands but the parties reached an agreement subject to the delegation of some […]
Hospital work left hanging
Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in Local
Work on a $670,000 upgrade of Rarotonga hospitals sewerage system has been stopped, pending an environmental impact assessment (EIA). There has been mounting confusion between stakeholders about whether the project, for which work began in April, required an EIA from the beginning. It appears an EIA was not ordered of engineers by the National Environment […]
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