Local

Fishing association wants answers

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Local

CIFA chairman Mark Vaikai. “/> The big question that the Cook Islands Fishing Association wants answered is whether purse seining will exploit Cook Islands waters. And because so little information has been forthcoming, chairman Mark Vaikai says right now most members would oppose any purse seining happening in Cook Islands waters. “If that information was […]

Local

Bottle bashing 'racially motivated'

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Local

A 33-year-old Fijian worker who has lived on Rarotonga for the past three years bashfully admits he no longer feels welcomed by the community. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, but explained that he and a friend were brutally beaten with fists and broken bottles outside Raro Fried Chicken in the […]

Local

Cannabis found in college hall

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

Police are investigating the discovery of a bag of cannabis inside the Princess Anne Hall at Tereora College. College principal Teaea Parima reported the incident to police and three students aged 14 and 15 were spoken to by police. However, police report that the male student suspected of supplying the cannabis was absent from school […]

Local

Cautious approach

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

Marine Resources says the prospect of having purse seiners operating in our waters needs a lot more careful planning and the largest fishing method in the world is not being actively pursued at this stage. “We are looking at a very cautious entry into this fishery, and as such, making sure that we take every […]

Local

China wants to purse seine in CI waters

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

In an unexpected move, a fisheries cooperation memorandum of understanding with the China Fisheries Association (CFA) has been signed by Marine Resources minister Teina Bishop. The non-binding MOU was signed after Bishop had signed three others earlier on Friday following the conclusion of roundtable discussions with those fisheries companies. The three companies are major players […]

Local

Govt signs fisheries MOU

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Local

A non-binding memorandum of understanding has been signed by the government and three significant players in the global and regional fisheries industry. The MOU affirms the wish of the Cook Islands and the companies to progress fisheries cooperation and partnership development. The first point of the MOU is that both parties recognise the importance of […]

Local

Two berths available on vaka

Friday 18 March 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Voyaging Society is offering two berths aboard Marumaru Atua during her upcoming voyage to Papeete. Each berth costs $1055, which covers departure tax, meals and accommodation but does not cover return travel to Rarotonga or accommodation in Tahiti. No experience is necessary, though contenders should be relatively fit. The voyage is expected […]

Local

Returning to Christchurch after relief in Raro

Friday 18 March 2011 | Published in Local

Christchurch residents Debbie Goodchild (left) and Jo Knudsen have been in Rarotonga with their daughters Ella (7) and Amy (11) to complete part of their bachelor degrees in early childhood education. “/> Leaving family in the aftermath of Christchurch’s earthquake has been difficult for Cantabrians Debbie Goodchild and Jo Knudsen. Both are in Rarotonga on […]

Local

Fishery talks start today

Friday 18 March 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Government will today meet with some of the largest tuna fishing and fish processing companies operating globally and in the Pacific. In a press statement, the Ministry of Marine Resources says government wants to establish cooperation on sustainable fishing and opportunities for economic development. Shareholders and executives from three foreign companies who have […]

Local

Changes will bring more transparency to travel

Friday 18 March 2011 | Published in Local

Audit wants to see changes made to how travel taken by ministers, MPs and HOMs is accounted for to provide greater public transparency. Last month Prime Minister Henry Puna lifted a long standing ban on the release of civil list travel figures. While Finance Minister Mark Brown supports removal of the ban, he wants to […]

Local

New plan

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

Fewer boats and bigger operations are proposed under changes proposed for commercial fishing in the Cook Islands. The Ministry of Marine Resources has revealed a strategy for new form of fishery licensing that would generate $5 million to $7 million a year within three years. Tomorrow government enters into talks with three major fishing companies […]

Local

Govt agrees to bring family home

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

Cabinet has agreed to evacuate Cook Islander Rena Jonassen and his family out of Chiba if this is what they want, Deputy Prime Minister’s CEO Patrick Arioka confirmed late yesterday afternoon. Arioka said cabinet had made a decision that if the Jonassen family need financial assistance to evacuate, the Cook Islands government would provide this. […]

Local

Japan quake hits noni exports

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands noni industry is facing its largest threat, following the earthquake which has devastated much of Japan. An emergency meeting of noni growers and those involved in the noni juice manufacturing and export industry has been called for this morning, at the Cook Islands Noni Marketing factory in Titikaveka. Teava Iro, a director […]

Local

Young achievers on the job

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Two of the Cook Islands’ future business marketing and management stars are gaining experience through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) young achievers programme. Rarotonga teenagers Henrianna Savage (18), and Gaston Tairi (19), have been chosen as the ministry’s young achievers this year, and are enjoying their 12-month paid positions within the government […]

Local

NCEA exam issues sorted

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands students’ National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) examination results have been correctly adjusted following issues with lost papers. The Ministry of Education took responsibility recently for temporarily losing a box of information management NCEA Level One examination papers. The box did not reach the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Wellington office as required. […]

Local

Fuel prices could double: Triad

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Triad Pacific Petroleum manager Chris Vaile warns the price of fuel within the Cook Islands could double by the end of the year. Vaile says fuel prices have already increased by 10 cents per litre, and they are set to rise again with the next shipment due to arrive in the country at the end […]

Local

Police act being completely overhauled

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

The existing Police Act is being completely overhauled with the aim of a revamped version being ready for parliament before the end of the year. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the new act will bring policing into the modern era as the existing 1981 act is old and doesn’t accommodate the full spectrum of police […]

Local

No reports of Cook Islanders in zone

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

No Cook Islanders are known to have been amidst the recent devastation of north eastern Japan by earthquake and tsunami, says Foreign Affairs secretary Jim Gosselin. “New Zealand has been checking for us and do not know of any Cook Islanders who have been caught in the tragedy.” Yesterday a letter of condolence was sent […]

Local

Please bring old text books back

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

Old school text books are still valuable to students today – and Tereora College teachers are urging parents and former students to search your homes for text books and return them. This week a parent returned a stack of text books that prompted head of senior mathematics at Tereora College Bryn Parry to put a […]

Local

More pay, less interest

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

Raising the minimum wage, lower interest rates and abolishing outer islands taxes are some of the initiatives being recommended by the Economic Summit Task Force committee for the next budget. Removing outer islands company and income tax are being promoted as good outer islands initiatives to increase economic activity. The task force has also identified […]

Local

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