Local
Shipwreck moving along reef
Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Local
Mauke Mayor George Samuela is concerned about damage to the islands reef caused by the stranded cargo vessel Te Kou Maru II, which ran aground last October. The ship, owned by Taio Shipping Ltd, has remained on Maukes western reef since it became stranded and all cargo was removed. Samuela says rough seas have pushed […]
Mayor sick of arguing
Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Local
Atiu Mayor Taoro Strickland says he is sick of bickering over politics, and he just wants the government to get on with looking after his island. The Rarotonga based head of the island council says he feels honour bound to speak out against a lie by the Cook Islands Party president on the island, Tereapii […]
Petrol and diesel up again
Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Local
This months price order for Triad Pacific Petroleum fuel reflects a steady global increase in the cost of petrol and diesel. Price Tribunal chairman Terry Hagan announced the new price order, which went into effect on April 18. It puts the maximum fuel price for Rarotonga at $2.39 per litre of petrol and $2.13 per […]
Video pirates to face charges
Thursday 21 April 2011 | Published in Local
Two Rarotonga companies are to be charged with criminal offences under the Films and Censorship Act 1985, following police raids on businesses allegedly pirating material late last year and early this year. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the businesses will be formally charged in the next day or two. He will not name the businesses […]
Parliament to resume in June
Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Local
Parliament is not expected to sit again until June, when it is anticipated the ceremonial opening of parliament will take place. The main 2011-12 budget is also expected to be considered by members of parliament at the June sitting. Parliament clerk Nga Valoa says parliament was adjourned sine die this week, which means an exact […]
Soul musos here to give back
Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Local
San Francisco soul sensation Edna Love and her session musicians join Kiwi songstress Caitlin Smith on stage at Little Polynesian tonight to commemorate the life of the late Jeannine Peyroux. Love, Smith and musicians Jeremy Hoenig and Ed Ivey met Peyroux when they performed at Billy TK Jnrs Cook Islands Jazz and Blues Festival on […]
Pawpaw exporting to return
Wednesday 20 April 2011 | Published in Local
At present 20,000 pawpaw plants are being cultivated in Rarotonga for export in February next year, in an attempt to revive the Cook Islands pawpaw supply to international produce companies including Fresh Direct in New Zealand. Agriculture Minister Nandi Glassie and ministry secretary Anthony Brown recently returned from a business trip to New Zealand where […]
Newborn allowance to be $1000
Tuesday 19 April 2011 | Published in Local
All babies born here since November last year will be entitled to receive a $700 newborn allowance increase under the supplementary budget. Finance Minister Mark Brown made the announcement when tabling the appropriation amendment bill last Friday. The newborn allowance will increase from $300 to $1000 and will be backdated to November 2010. The cost […]
Septic waste disposal unexplained
Tuesday 19 April 2011 | Published in Local
A 10,000-litre septic tank at Rarotonga hospital may have been leaking untreated human waste into the soil underneath for some time. Health Minister Nandi Glassie has ordered a full report into the hospitals waste management system from the public health division of the Ministry of Health. He is concerned there may have been cracks in […]
Budget not extravagant: opposition
Tuesday 19 April 2011 | Published in Local
After two sittings the supplementary budget has been passed in Parliament with a total appropriation of $144,446,888. Parliament also passed the Insurance Amendment Bill before adjourning sine-die yesterday. Finance Minister Mark Brown said yesterday in parliament that the appropriation amendment bill sets the scene for the main budget and future budgets to come. Brown is […]
The pride and joy of Manihiki
Monday 18 April 2011 | Published in Local
Manihiki MP and Prime Minister Henry Puna and Mrs Akaiti Puna were thrilled to celebrate the top two sports awards of 2010 going to Manihiki sailors Helema Williams (sportswoman of the year) and Taua Eliza (sportsman of the year). Full report, results and photos from the annual sports award dinner, pages 8-9.
Vicious attack on woman in Panama
Monday 18 April 2011 | Published in Local
A woman was hospitalised last Sunday morning (April 10) after she was attacked by a youth who was stealing in her Panama property. According to police, the woman went to her Panama property to check the cause of a power failure when she was assaulted and her personal belongings stolen. Police immediately responded, and conducted […]
Reducing public service not an option
Monday 18 April 2011 | Published in Local
Finance Minister Mark Brown says government won’t be considering reducing the public service to save on costs as suggested by a local economist. Economist and Democratic Party finance administrator Eddie Drollet said earlier this week that government should trim back the public service to free up funds to implement some of the specific actions identified […]
Costs 'disheartening'
Saturday 16 April 2011 | Published in Local
Government is having to spend close to $500,000 to cover court-ordered costs to Apex Agencies and the Operation Slush Fund case. This was revealed by Finance Minister Mark Brown yesterday when he tabled the supplementary budget in parliament yesterday. Apex Agencies owns local fuel distribution company Toa Petroleum. Additional payments to Apex Agencies will total […]
George rejected from House
Saturday 16 April 2011 | Published in Local
Independent MP Norman George is to be hauled before a Privileges Committee which will decide whether he was in contempt of a summons from the Queen’s Representative when he refused to attend the swearing in of MPs. To calls of ‘shame, shame’ and ‘cruelty’ from opposition benches, government MPs voted in parliament yesterday for George […]
Water tanks for all
Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Local
The government has committed itself to spending up to $4 million on providing every household on Rarotonga with a water tank, says Finance Minister Mark Brown. A consistent supply of good quality water was identified as one of the key infrastructure priorities at this week’s Economic Summit. Brown says with numerous reports done and projects […]
Deal to Toagate
Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Local
Members of the opposition are holding the new government to its election campaign promise to deal with the Toagate scandal. Democratic Party deputy leader Wilkie Rasmussen says the full opposition caucus met on Monday and decided to pressure the government in respect of Toagate. Rasmussen, who is the party’s spokesperson for law, justice, finance, and […]
George accused of betrayal
Friday 15 April 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Party is not happy with MP Norman George walking out on the party and declaring himself an independent – and Atiu CIP members want the seat back. “We voted him in as a CIP and not as an independent,” says chairman of the Teenui-Mapumai CIP committee Tereapii Porio “We voted for him […]
'Waste of time and money'
Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Local
The National Economic Development Summit is a complete waste of time and money, deputy leader of the Opposition Democratic Party Wilkie Rasmussen says. Rasmussen – who is the Democratic Party’s deputy leader and spokesperson for law, finance, justice and the public service – says 75 percent of those attending the summit are public service employees. […]
Dancer of year starts
Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Local
The best Cook Islands dancers from across the country will take to the stage on Monday for the annual Dancer of the Year competition. Junior and intermediate dancers will tonight warm up the stage in the elimination round of the dance division starting at 7 o’clock at the national auditorium. On Monday, April 18, one […]
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