Local
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 – […]
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’ […]
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 […]
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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