Local

PM pays first official visit to Mangaia

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna was given a royal welcome to Mangaia on Monday morning on what was his first official visit to the outer island. Puna and his wife Akaiti were carried on a traditional paata from their Air Rarotonga plane to the Mangaia airport terminal where they and their group were warmly welcomed to […]

TAU lowers solar power limit

Tuesday 4 October 2011 | Published in Local

Te Aponga Uira (TAU) has cut its limit on renewable energy installations which need approval to one-fifth of its former 10 kilowatt limit. The new limit for installations that are automatically eligible for net-metering is now 2 kilowatts, as was reported in Cook Islands News on Saturday. TAU released a statement to the media yesterday, […]

Miss Manea pageant contestants

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

TAU plans radical policy change

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands green dreams have been torpedoed just a day after government signed a $1 million deal to introduce solar power to Rakahanga. Rarotongas energy provider is expected to change its policies surrounding privately-owned solar installations next week as the islands electricity grid nears its capacity. Cook Islands News understands Te Aponga Uira (TAU) […]

Russians claiming Suwarrow

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Local

A Russian political party leader is claiming that he purchased Suwarrow from the Cook Islands government in July of this year. Anton Bakov has declared Suwarrow the capital of the revitalised Russian Empire and himself the prime minister. Izvestia, one of Moscows most well-known newspapers, quotes Bakov as saying he bought Suwarrow for tens of […]

Heroes ready for selection

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

Fifty Christchurch earthquake survivors and their partners are set to travel to the Cook Islands for a free holiday in November and December. Christchurch mayor Bob Parker has almost completed his selection of 50 heroes who will enjoy an all-expenses-paid holiday to the Cook Islands with their partners. Parker was also among those invited, although […]

$3m more earmarked for northern group

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

All of the Cook Islands northern group will see projects similar to the Rakahanga renewable energy scheme be introduced in the next three years. About $3 million remains open for Cook Islands use under the Pacific Environment Community Fund for future projects similar to that being implemented at Rakahanga. Yesterday, Prime Minister Henry Puna said […]

Rakahanga signs $1 million deal

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

It can be easy to forget about the people affected by government business in all the political talk of policy, purse strings and progress. Their stories are often lost in the wider details of a deal. But when an emotional Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka took to the speakers podium at the prime ministers office yesterday, […]

Kiwi default will make Kukis stronger: PM

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna says the Cook Islands can go into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup with pride in the fact it beat the reigning world champions New Zealand albeit by default. Puna hosted the Cook Islands senior representative squad and other visiting rugby league players in a luncheon at his Avarua office yesterday. […]

Solar funds

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Government will today officially receive more than $1 million for solar panels in Rakahanga. Japans government and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are involved in assisting the project, which receives US$1 million through the Pacific Environment Community Fund. From 11am members of government, including Prime Minister Henry Puna, will take part in the signing of […]

$1.1m grant to help elderly

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Traditional structures of assistance for vulnerable members of society are weakening and there is need for greater facilitation of help, Prime Minister Henry Puna says. He spoke yesterday at the official handing over of funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese government for a project aimed at improving the lives of elderly and […]

Kia Orana Kukis

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands public will have their first chance to meet the Kuki team tonight at Muris Kia Orana night market. Members of the Cook Islands representative rugby league team will be mingling with the crowd at Muris Nukupure Park between 6pm and 9pm tonight. The whole Cook Islands team, minus two players who are […]

There has to be some misunderstanding

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Local

Government is determined to create its own niche market for vanilla, and already has loose arrangements in place to export the spice to Japan, China and Australia. Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie says government has singled out vanilla as a potential cash crop and plans are underway to develop the countrys horticultural production accordingly. Glassie is […]

Drought hits Aitutaki crops

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Local

Lack of rain for nearly two months is seriously affecting horticulture growers of Aitutaki. The few drops of rain that drip off Aitutaki over the weekend was only a few minutes (of) passing showers with no significant remedy to the drought problem, senior agriculture officer Fred Charlie says. He says the drought is doing more […]

High time to look at fuel prices

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Local

Triad Pacific Petroleum Ltd manager Chris Vaile says the company is in dialogue with the Price Tribunal in an attempt to establish a fairer playing ground for fuel wholesalers in the Cook Islands. Vaile says despite a recent price order lowering the maximum prices of fuel from Toa Petroleum Ltd in rivalry with Triad there […]

Isabelles art of the future recognised

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in Local

For illustrating her idea of a futuristic Cook Islands in 40 years, Te Uki Ou student Isabelle Drollet won recognition at a Pacific Showcase exhibit and a series of greeting cards emblazoned with her artwork. The year five student was one of a number of Cook Islands students to vie for the top spot at […]

Second best performer

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands is ranked the second best performing nation for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters says. Marsters made the claim when launching a local consultation for the 2013-2017 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Rarotonga last week. He also expressed governments appreciation for the UNs continued support […]

Rotary idea praised

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotongas emergency services have given their approval of Rotarys plan to create a numbering system for the islands properties. The heads of the fire service and the ambulance service both put their weight behind the Rarotonga Rotary Clubs scheme to produce a map of Rarotongas properties with identifying numbers based on Te Aponga Uiras electricity […]

New unit opening

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

The opening of a Cook Islands Police transnational crime unit will take place this week. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the units official opening is scheduled for 9am on Wednesday at the police headquarters in Avarua. Prime Minister Henry Puna is expected to attend the function, and a team from the Australian Federal Police is […]

Supplies for Pukapuka

Saturday 24 September 2011 | Published in Local

A boat full of building materials has headed to Pukapuka this week, to help further the progress on the islands cyclone shelter. Foundations of the multi million-dollar cyclone management centre in Pukapuka have been laid and materials for the next stage in the sites construction are now on the way. A boatload of mostly steel […]