Local

No news

Friday 4 February 2011 | Published in Local

CINews was not aware of the outcome of the Aitutaki electoral petition hearing at press time. The two-day hearing was set to end yesterday, and sources on Aitutaki say that the Arutanga courthouse was overflowing with people. Chief Justice Tom Weston’s decision determines whether Cook Islands Party MP Mona Ioane Kake will retain the Vaipae-Tautu […]

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PSC investigates over-expenditures

Friday 4 February 2011 | Published in Local

The office of the Public Service Commissioner (PSC) is in the process of investigating fund management and over-expenditures related to last year’s general elections. “Obviously we can’t comment on that until it (the investigation) is completed,” PSC Navy Epati said in an email. The electoral committee had initially requested $300,000, but $200,000 was appropriated in […]

Local

2000 flu shots

Friday 4 February 2011 | Published in Local

Director of Community Health Services Dr Rangi Fariu has issued a release advising the general public of a forthcoming H1N1 vaccination at the Tupapa health clinic. He said that pregnant mothers, anyone with a chronic heart or lung condition including hypertension and asthma, and border control workers are at special risk and should take advantage […]

Local

Parliament pleads for more funding

Friday 4 February 2011 | Published in Local

The country’s highest legislative authority is plagued with financial troubles and is struggling to make ends meet. Parliament may not be able to maintain operations to the end of the financial year if rescue doesn’t come in the proposed Supplementary Budget, says clerk Nga Valoa. Valoa has taken the matter up with Parliamentary Services minister […]

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Govt wants more productivity from State Owned Enterprises

Thursday 3 February 2011 | Published in Local

Government will soon be making significant policy shifts around state owned enterprises. Finance Minister Mark Brown says that government is looking at shifting the focus of state owned enterprises away from maximising revenue generation to increasing productivity. “This includes a better service delivery so that the benefits accrue to the wider economy, especially to the […]

Local

Hospital reviewing over-prescription

Thursday 3 February 2011 | Published in Local

Director of clinical services Dr Zaw Myo Aung has confirmed that a hospital patient has been diagnosed with MRSA – the third case in 15 years. MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium that has developed resistance to certain antibiotics, including penicillin. The bug derives its name from its resistance to drugs that should […]

Local

Sir Geoffrey for Speaker?

Thursday 3 February 2011 | Published in Local

One of the country’s most experienced former politicians, Sir Geoffrey Henry, says he would accept the post of speaker of Parliament if invited to take it up by the government. Sir Geoffrey is being widely named as being the government’s choice to be the next speaker of Parliament. But the government is being coy about […]

Local

Tower sacks manager

Wednesday 2 February 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Tower Insurance office, formerly run and managed by Mariia Pera-Maurangi, is currently under the management of senior staff from Tower in New Zealand. This action follows an internal audit that took place in December last year which resulted in two staff members being dismissed and the matter referred to Cook Islands Police. […]

Local

CIP retains Tamarua seat

Wednesday 2 February 2011 | Published in Local

Chief Justice Tom Weston has rejected Democratic Party candidate Andy Matapo’s petition challenging the Mangaia election results. Cook Islands Party Member of Parliament Pukeiti Pukeiti – who won the Tamarua seat by just one vote – will represent Mangaia. Matapo – who brought his petition through lawyer Tina Browne – named Pukeiti as first respondent, […]

Local

$1.5m Grow Fund stymied

Wednesday 2 February 2011 | Published in Local

A $1.5 million NZaid development fund intended for low interest rate on-lending to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Cook Islands has been shelved, over six months after the New Zealand government approved it. During that six months the Grow Fund was never accessed as Cook Islands officials were working on changing the fund’s […]

Local

Peep, peep

Tuesday 1 February 2011 | Published in Local

Toward the end of last year, Sabine Janneck of the Dive Centre stumbled upon a baby white tern – a seabird of the gull and skimmer family – in her kitchen. She estimated he was about a week old and named him Peep. “I tried everything to get some information here on the island how […]

Local

Sports may get facilities

Tuesday 1 February 2011 | Published in Local

Sport and Finance Minister Mark Brown is looking into giving sports codes the responsibility for maintaining and running their own facilities. Currently the Cook Islands Investments Corporation has responsibility for managing sports facilities like the BCI Stadium and the Telecom Sports Arena. But many sports codes have argued for years to have control of their […]

Local

SPCA election ends 3-year 'hiatus'

Tuesday 1 February 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Society for Prevention Against Cruelty to Animals (CISPCA) proceeded with its scheduled meeting last Thursday, despite confusion over the date of its official AGM – for which two conflicting advertisements were placed last week in CINews. At Thursday’s meeting, members and potential members elected a new team of office-bearers – Eric Sijp […]

Local

First sitting of parliament must wait

Tuesday 1 February 2011 | Published in Local

No date has been set for the first sitting of parliament as Prime Minister Henry Puna must wait for the outcome of the four electoral petitions. There is a ruling in the constitution which states that the sitting of parliament has to happen within 90 days of the election – making February 17 the last […]

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