Local

Public comment invited on budget

Friday 14 October 2011 | Published in Local

Government has publicly released its budget consultation document for the next financial years spending and is urging all Cook Islanders to read it and submit their feedback in the next two and a half weeks. Submissions on the document close on October 31, so people need to be prompt about telling government whether its plans […]

Crime breakthrough good for tourism: minister

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

The police crackdown on crime will go a long way to improving the Cook Islands image as a safe destination for tourists, but there is still room to improve, says Minister for Tourism Teina Bishop. Cook Islands Police have reported a dramatic drop in crime for the month of September when compared to last year, […]

Graffiti arrests

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

Police are cracking down on graffiti crime, which is being committed by children as young as seven years old. Arorangi School is the latest victim of graffiti vandalism, which has appeared in villages throughout Rarotonga recently. On Tuesday police received a complaint about the school being vandalised. Officers say it is sad to see offensive […]

New marine park plan progresses

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

Heads of relevant ministries meet tomorrow to formalise a marine park steering committee, which will chart the direction of the marine park that Prime Minister Henry Puna wants to formally endorse at next years Pacific Islands Leaders Forum. With one round of public consultations out of the way, assembling an organising committee is the next […]

Mire Tama jitters

Thursday 13 October 2011 | Published in Local

A world leader

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in Local

The dramatic drop in theft and driver accident figures for September shows the Cook Islands is a world leader in tackling crime and road trauma, according to Prime Minister Henry Puna. Puna, the minister for police, said the Cook Islands was making headway in two areas where other countries were struggling to do so. At […]

Raro water safe to drink: MOH

Wednesday 12 October 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotongas water is safe to drink, according to the latest Ministry of Health (MOH) tests. The ministry tests each of the islands 13 water intakes every two months as well as all school systems at the beginning of every school term, and community water tanks regularly. It also tests private water tanks and supplies on […]

Theft, burglaries record dramatic drop Crime numbers down

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Local

A Cook Islands warrior welcomes the Northern Knights cricket team to the Cook Islands yesterday. Report, back page. 11101045

Water being rationed in the north

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Local

Penrhyn Island will run out of drinking water in two weeks if the dry-spell in the Cook Islands does not break soon. The northern atoll is currently under water rationing until further notice, with couples allocated a daily ration of 20 litres meant for drinking. Water storage tanks on the atoll are running short at […]

Demo solar system at TAU

Tuesday 11 October 2011 | Published in Local

A 10-kilowatt solar system will be installed at Te Aponga Uiras main office this week a system not so much intended to generate power for the company but awareness in the community. The system is being installed at TAUs car park area at its main office in Tutakimoa and the area is closed to the […]

Appeal to help Andrew Iroa

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

An urgent application has been made for Tupapa resident Andrew Iroa to be issued a New Zealand passport in order to receive high-level medical treatment. On Friday Iroas friends lodged an application for an emergency New Zealand passport at the New Zealand High Commission. The application was accompanied by a petition in support of Iroa […]

Piho Rua dies after illness

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

Former Cook Islands politician Piho Rua (above) passed away last Wednesday surrounded by his family at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland after a long struggle with diabetes. The 57-year-old entrepreneur was a police superintendent, former director of corrective services, CEO for former prime minister Robert Wonton and former member of parliament for Rakahanga who stood for […]

Solar panels to save Tereora $60k a year

Monday 10 October 2011 | Published in Local

Solar panels due to be installed on the new Ministry of Education building at Tereora in Nikao will save Tereora College up to $60,000 a year, according to Prime Minister Henry Puna. Renewable energy consultant Shay Brazier, a New Zealand structural design consultant, is currently in Rarotonga to begin work this week on the design […]

Vroom for view

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Local

What is yellow, blue and will be seen all over? Answer the latest addition to the Cook Islands Police fleet of vehicles. Yesterday, New Zealand Police officially handed over the keys to a Holden Crewman patrol car to the Cook Islands force. The brightly-painted sedan utility is a gift from New Zealand and a measure […]

MMR puts up funds for local fishing

Saturday 8 October 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIFA) is $90,000 richer thanks to the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and licence revenue from foreign fishers. MMR has pledged $200,000 from licence revenue to Cook Islands fishing clubs this year and its first allocation is to the parent body CIFA. The money is to boost fisheries development in […]

Celebrating teachers

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Kukis make case to NZ chairman today

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Rugby League officials will today push their New Zealand counterparts to sign a contract committing the Kiwis team to a rematch with the Kukis at Rarotonga next year. Members of the CIRL will hold a meeting with the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League Scott Carter today to plead their case for […]

Town water quality condemned

Thursday 6 October 2011 | Published in Local

Ministry of Health staff are trying to determine the validity of a report alleging Avaruas water supply is rife with parasites, bacteria, pathogens and toxins dangerous to humans. Doctor Rangi Fariu, the ministrys director of community health services, says he is perplexed by the report, which has been circulating via email this week. The email, […]

TAU defends policy

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Local

It would be unwise and unsafe to follow an initial cap on the amount of renewable energy able to be embedded within Rarotongas electricity grid, Te Aponga Uira O Tumutevarovaro (TAU) says. Two years ago TAU acknowledged that it would face a ceiling amount in respect of embedded installations of renewable energy on the grid […]

From solicitor general to justice secretary

Wednesday 5 October 2011 | Published in Local

Former solicitor general Tingika Elikana has started his new job as the head of the justice ministry. Elikana began working as justice secretary on Monday, although his appointment was formally confirmed by public service commissioner Navy Epati yesterday. e Evans will be officially sworn in as deputy solicitor general during a ceremony at Government House […]