Local

Rarotonga visitor numbers at a high

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

If you felt like it was busy on Rarotonga in July, youd be right more than 13,400 travellers visited the Cook Islands during the month. The figures, recorded by the Cook Islands Statistics Office on behalf of Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, show that visitor numbers for July this year jumped about 12.5 percent on last […]

Rugby squad to patrol Muri for crime

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

The senior squad of the Ngatangiia/Muri Flying Dragons rugby union club will carry out nightly patrols through their village to stem a cycle of crime that has been hurting the tourist hotspot in recent months. More than 20 men will be trained as qualified security patrolmen, with individuals rostered on seven nights a week to […]

Sir Geoffrey deflects criticism

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

Government is not bailing out the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC), according to president Sir Geoffrey Henry. Instead it is bailing out Team Cook Islands, which needs more money to attend the Pacific Games in Noumea starting on August 27, he says. Sir Geoffrey chaired a meeting at CISNOCs Maraerenga premises yesterday […]

We have to move on now Chef de Mission

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Local

As the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic cash crisis unfolds Team Cook Islands chef de mission George George is urging athletes to keep focused in these patchy times and keep on with training. George George arrived back on the island on Monday to be greeted with news of Team Cook Islands Pacific Games campaign […]

Tere parties head back home to the north

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Local

Hymns, hugs and tears were shared at the Avatiu Harbour yesterday as Rarotonga said goodbye to its visiting northern neighbours. Hundreds of people packed the harbour to join in one final hymn before passengers from Pukapuka, Tongareva, Rakahanga and Manihiki boarded the MV Lady Naomi to travel to their home islands. It was a fitting […]

Govt bails out CISNOC

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Local

Cabinet is providing a financial guarantee to ensure all 152 members of Team Cook Islands can attend the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia this month. The majority of members will fly to Noumea next week. Government yesterday intervened to save athletes from having to withdraw from the tournament, following revelations by the Cook Islands […]

Cooks on the Radar

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

BCI steps up security

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

The Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) is taking extra security measures within its Aitutaki branch following a burglary and theft of thousands of dollars. BCI managing director Vaine Nooana-Arioka says there are no concerns about the security measures in place on Aitutaki at present, but in light of last weeks burglary additional steps are […]

Cash crisis at CISNOC

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

Less than two weeks out from the Pacific Games in New Caledonia, participation by Team Cook Islands is uncertain because of a financial crisis within CISNOC. The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee has dropped a bombshell telling national sports federations it cannot afford to send athletes to Noumea. In a last ditch attempt […]

Speed networking

Monday 15 August 2011 | Published in Local

Speed networking is coming to the Cook Islands thanks to the Business & Professional Womens Association. The BPW has a new executive and invites all current and new members to attend its first event tomorrow evening. Based on the concept of speed dating, BPW will be kicking things off with a fun interactive way for […]

New fishing fight brewing

Monday 15 August 2011 | Published in Local

Tongareva MP Wilkie Rasmussen is threatening a strong fight over what he sees as divisive antics by the government in buying the silence of northern group islanders to purse seine fishing. He said yesterday he has learned that senior government staff representing Marine Minister Teina Bishop have been holding meetings of Te Maeva Nui tere […]

Paddling warmup

Monday 15 August 2011 | Published in Local

Rakahanga dancers Moreen Peter and friend warm up for their stand-up paddleboard races on Saturday a recreational event for teenagers from northern island dance groups. Report, back page. 11081431

Police seek Peeping Tom

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Police investigating the burglary of Aitutakis Bank of the Cook Islands branch are searching for a Peeping Tom, seen looking inside the bank on the night it was targeted. Detective Inspector Areumu Ingaua is appealing to the public for any information about the burglary, in which a large amount of cash was stolen. […]

Heavyweight in Rarotonga

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Local

After four days of feasting and relaxing on Rarotonga Kiwi boxer Shane Cameron joked that he was back up to a heavyweight fighter. The Mountain Warrior was on the island for a friends wedding and spent most of his time relaxing. Ive just been roaming around the island on my scooter, swimming and relaxing as […]

Depopulation sponsored

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Local

About one tenth of Penrhyns permanent population is leaving the northern group island, having been transported to Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui events this month. Tongareva member of parliament Wilkie Rasmussen says of the 63 people who travelled on MV Lady Naomi from Penrhyn to Rarotonga recently, about 20 will not return. Many are leaving […]

Burglary a first

Friday 12 August 2011 | Published in Local

Thousands of dollars in cash has yet to be recovered after it was stolen from the Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) Aitutaki branch. Rarotonga and Aitutaki police officers are in the midst of investigations into the incident, which occurred late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Police commissioner Maara Tetava can not confirm a rumour that […]

Uirangi our Miss South Pacific contender

Friday 12 August 2011 | Published in Local

Aitutakis Uirangi Bishop will represent the Cook Islands in this years Miss South Pacific competition. The five-time dancer of the year will travel to Apia, Samoa, to vie for the Miss South Pacific crown in December this year. Bishop, the third place getter in the 2009 Miss Cook Islands competition, has been nominated as the […]

George urges Demos to file no confidence motion

Thursday 11 August 2011 | Published in Local

Independent member of parliament Norman George advised the Democratic Party at its conference on Tuesday to file a motion of no confidence against the government over the 15 percent withholding tax. Im expecting that the 15 percent withholding tax is a confidence issue, he said yesterday in a phone interview. As I said when I […]

Aitutaki BCI bank robbed

Thursday 11 August 2011 | Published in Local

Police officers from Rarotonga went to Aitutaki yesterday to conduct investigations into a robbery of the BCI Aitutaki Branch office on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Two senior BCI staff members from Rarotonga were also dispatched immediately to Aitutaki to assist with the investigation after raising of the alarm. BCI managing director Vaine Nooana-Arioka […]

Stash of stolen goods found

Thursday 11 August 2011 | Published in Local

A 28-year-old Matavera man is due to appear in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua today following a police raid on his home this week. A cache of drugs and what is believed to be stolen property found at the address has been confiscated by police. The man, who has been in police custody […]