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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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