Local
High seas
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
Tsunami surges from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Thursday night continued to affect the island over the weekend. But the surges had no affect on the water activities as pre-sailing Nemo squad members hunted rori in Muri lagoon, sailors navigated their race course and oe vaka paddlers hit the water for their […]
Budget worries in health
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Health has some serious concerns about its proposed budget, which seems to have flatlined. Government is proposing to allocate to the ministry about $10.4 million – the same amount Health has been getting for the past three fiscal years. Inflation rates of 7.8% in 2008-2009, 6.7% in 2009-2010 and 4.4% in 2010-2011 […]
Intruder caught in the act
Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local
An intruder who broke into an Avatiu home early Saturday morning was caught in the act by the home owner who wrestled the intruder to the ground and called police. The Avatiu home owner was woken up when he heard a loud noise in the next room. Upon investigating the noise, the home homer saw […]
Tsunami surges in Avarua harbour
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Three hours after the tsunami warning for the Cook Islands was cancelled yesterday – the tsunami surges generated by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan began draining the water in the island’s two harbours. Onlookers were stunned to see the effects of the tsunami surges – water draining from the harbour and come rushing […]
Mirage moves
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Development of the old Sheraton Hotel site in Vaimaanga appears to be progressing, although New Zealand-based firm Mirage Group Ltd has yet to apply for permits. The company has obtained a lease to develop the abandoned accommodation complex, but still has not applied for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report from the National Environment Service […]
New moko!
Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local
Scientists have aptly named one skink that roams Rarotonga the ‘wandering skink’, a new endemic species that is now cemented into the Natural Heritage database. Last month, researchers named the skink emoia tuitarere – the Maori word for wanderer, stranger, alien or sailor. A DNA study undertaken by a team of scientists last year revealed […]
Opening delayed further
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
The ceremonial opening of parliament has been pushed back a second time and will now take place in early May. Prime minister and minister for parliamentary services Henry Puna says this has been necessary because of his heavy travel schedule. Much of Puna’s travel will be through the southern group islands touching base with island […]
Separating rubbish is only a start
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
Te Ipukarea Society members are pleased residential rubbish is being separated from landfill waste on Rarotonga, but say more needs to be done to address the island’s waste management woes. TIS programme manager Jacqui Evans says the recent move to separate recyclable waste and store it at the recycling centre below Arorangi’s landfill is a […]
Pa urges ui ariki not to repeat mistakes
Friday 11 March 2011 | Published in Local
Takitumu paramount chief Marie Pa Ariki is concerned that some ui ariki may again be fooled into believing the far fetched get rich schemes of sovereignty campaigner Bruce Ruatapu Mita and repeat events of 2008-09. The country was thrust into the international spotlight when a number of ui ariki, on the advice of Mita, challenged […]
Teenage pregnancy talks
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
Teenage pregnancies and adolescent health will be the focus of a two-day workshop on Aitutaki funded by Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), supported by the Women in Sport Commission. Charge nurse of the CIFWA clinic Kathy Koteka says that the two-day workshop starting today, was instigated by Aitutaki participants who attended the Women in […]
Appeal fund for cancer sufferer
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
Longtime Arorangi resident Mere Ofa was last year diagnosed with breast cancer, and her friend June Baudinet is encouraging Rarotonga to rally behind her and support her both emotionally and financially. Baudinet has been emailing local businesses seeking donations to help fund Mere’s $20,000 chemotherapy treatment. She has also set up a Westpac account (#2000290110) […]
More power to island councils: PM
Thursday 10 March 2011 | Published in Local
The government wants to see island councils take more responsibility in running their respective islands – as opposed to island secretaries doing this because they believe it to be their responsibility. Conflicts between island councils and island secretaries have led to “heaps of problems with the outer islands in the past,” says Prime Minister Henry […]
Sir Geoffrey targets daily newspaper
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
New Speaker of Parliament Sir Geoffrey Henry is threatening to haul Cook Islands News before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for possible ‘contempt of parliament’. It’s the same form of action taken against the newspaper for cartoons considered offensive to parliament 15 and 18 years ago. Sir Geoffrey has instructed the Clerk of Parliament to request […]
More rain, cyclones unlikely
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
The cyclone season does not officially end until the last week of April, but the Cook Islands is not likely to experience any cyclones before then. As an indication that it is still cyclone season for the Pacific region, the Cook Islands Meteorological Service is currently monitoring a tropical depression just west of Fiji that […]
'Speed up the jetty'
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Clear instructions have been given to New Zealand officials to quicken the pace of the Arorangi jetty project by Foreign Minister Murray McCully, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. During recent talks between Puna and McCully, the reasons for delays affecting progress on the project were identified as the hydrological survey of the landing. Puna says […]
BJ passes away
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
BJ Oaariki was an identity on Mauke. The young disabled man died last week after a short illness, leaving a big gap in the island community where he was loved and looked after by people of all ages. On page 10 today, June Hosking’s obituary and photos are a small tribute to a popular person […]
Red Cross still counting
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Red and black day appeal money, being collated by the Cook Islands Red Cross Society, for those affected by the 6.3 magnitude Christchurch earthquake is expected to exceed $8000. Cook Islands Red Cross Society disaster management coordinator Charlie Numanga today expects to have a final tally of money generated by Cook Islanders during the Friday […]
MP quitting 'sad' and 'selfish'
Wednesday 9 March 2011 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna has hinted his government could be visiting anti-party hopping legislation to possibly fix existing loopholes during its term in office following MP Norman George’s resignation from Cook Islands Party ranks this week. Puna says it’s clear Cook Islanders don’t accept how individual MPs continue to shift alliances after being elected – […]
Boy of 13 arrested for machete assault
Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Local
Police have apprehended a 13-year-old Ngatangiia boy in relation to an assault case last weekend on a female tourist. The female visitor to the island was out for a jog heading towards Rutaki from her Ngatangiia accommodation when she was assaulted by a local male carrying a bush knife. The woman was able to escape […]
CIP executive to review George walkout today
Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Party executive was to meet today to go over MP Norman George’s resignation and most likely do a quick stock-take of its position. CIP secretary-general Temu Okotai said yesterday the party would be in a position today to release an official statement in connection to George’s resignation. With the Pukapuka by-election yet […]
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