Local

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 […]

Local

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) […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

'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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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 – […]

Local

Short report ready

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Local

PSC commissioner Navy Epati as Short’s employer will decide his future employment. “/> The Public Service Commission has completed its investigation into allegations of over-spending and possible misuse of public funds by suspended justice secretary Mark Short. As required by the public service act, the report had to be completed within four weeks of Shorts’ […]

Local

George resigns with no remorse

Tuesday 8 March 2011 | Published in Local

Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George has resigned from the Cook Islands Party and says he leaves with no remorse. George has opted to continue his parliamentary career spanning 28 years as an independent MP. He stresses that by going independent he is not the opposition. Since the November general elections, George has been vocal over his […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

For the love of Nassau

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Local

2011 Mire Atu winner Poti Maeva expressed his love for his home island of Nassau on Thursday night when he sang his winning composition Ongalewu to an appreciative crowd at the national auditorium. Report and photos, paqes 14-15. 11030403

Local

Huge outpouring for 'red and black' day

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Local

Organisers of yesterday’s red and black appeal for victims of the Christchurch earthquake are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of Cook Islanders. Although a tally of the funds raised throughout the country will not be known until next week, those who have started counting donations say it will be a large amount. “There’s a lot […]

Local

Stirrer back

Saturday 5 March 2011 | Published in Local

Controversial New Zealand Maori sovereignty campaigner Bruce Ruatapu Mita is back on Rarotonga reviving his 2008 mission – to rouse the Ui Ariki to assert their “traditional mana”. Te Au O Tonga paramount chief Joseph Vakatini Ariki, once close to Mita and directly involved in events of 2008, says he’s since apologised to the Crown […]

Local

Widening explained

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Local

Improved drainage and preparing roads for further tar sealing works are the reasons for current roadside widening through Vaka Te Au O Tonga. Widening of the main road around Rarotonga is an ongoing project from the previous administration and one that Infrastructure and Planning Minister Teariki Heather is happy to continue with. While some residents […]

Local

PMG inquiry stalled

Friday 4 March 2011 | Published in Local

Attempts to resolve a dispute over money allegedly held by the Cook Islands National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) in Pacific Mini Games per diems have stalled. In September last year lawyer for Pacific Mini Games Ltd (PMG) Tim Arnold made plans to recruit an arbitrator to deal with the issue. Arnold says the change in government […]

Local

9 new songs in Mire Atu

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Local

Nine new Cook Islands songs will feature in tonight’s annual Mire Atu composer’s competition at the National Auditorium starting at 7.30pm. This year’s nine composers are accomplished composers in their own right and include Kylie Herman, Yuwunga Mataora, Rurutaura Tauta, Tuakeu Harry Papai, Vaitoti Tupa, Poti Maeva, Samuel Crocombe, Thomas Peyroux and Piritau Nga. As […]

Local

Violent attack stirs Sea Eagles

Thursday 3 March 2011 | Published in Local

Ngatangiia community leaders are taking the violent attack on a Titikaveka youth by three men from the village on Saturday morning seriously. It has been alleged that the three Ngatangiia youths are members of the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles rugby league club and president of the club Tamaiva Tuavera says they will not tolerate this kind […]

Local

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