Local
Eye lady returns with glasses for studentss
Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local
Tereora College graduate Raukura Ellison said she didn’t realise how much she needed eyeglasses until she donned her first pair. “I just kind of ignored it until mum made the appointment (with the eye doctor),” Ellison said. But now her world is clearer – “I can even read that!” she said, pointing to a chart […]
'Agriculture lacks diversification and organisation'
Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local
The agriculture industry has only itself to blame for failing to develop fast enough to meet consumer demand here and introducing measures to protect it isn’t the answer, says leading grower and Economic Taskforce member Teava Iro. “Protect them from what?” he replies to the possibility of government providing protective measures that may help expand […]
National hero award merited?
Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local
The government is to give some thought to creating a national hero award, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. Puna, who has yet to be “fully appraised” by police commissioner Maara Tetava of the facts in last week’s boating accident in which three men could have lost their lives at sea, says why and how it […]
House fire in Arorangi
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local
Police, Rescue Fire Services and the Vaka Puaikura Fire Services responded to a fire in Inave, Arorangi, around 2.40am on Saturday after a passing motorist noticed smoke coming from the house and called 999. Four trucks attended the fire which gutted the first house and part of the house next door It is unclear how […]
Good catch
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local
An Aitutaki tiddler – this 17kg yellow fin tuna was caught by these two boys at the weekend during a fishing trip at the end of a promotion to launch the new Aitutaki Bonefishery. Story, page 8. 11021328
Telecom NZ to hear govt's telecom plans
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local
Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown is scheduled this month to hold his first meeting with the Telecom Cook Islands Ltd board and CEO including representatives of 60% shareholder Telecom NZ. Brown is looking to that meeting to advise of the direction government wishes to take with telecommunications development in the Cook Islands, including tabling his wish […]
Public ought to know: Glassie
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local
Opening up civil list travel figures is a way of “curbing corrupt practices,” says Health Minister Nandi Glassie who is in full support of public disclosure. Prime Minister Henry Puna intends to present a cabinet submission tomorrow asking ministers to support the lifting of the ban imposed almost 30 years ago. Glassie says he will […]
Price Tribunal revived
Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local
The new Cook Islands Party Government has revived the Price Tribunal and given it a new brief. Finance and Internal Affairs Minister Mark Brown says the three-member tribunal will serve only until government passes the Commerce bill. Brown last week re-affirmed the appointment of Terry Hagan as president with businesswomen Madeline Sword and Tatiana Burn […]
McCully names John Carter as new High Commissioner
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Local
John Carter. “/> New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands will be the Minister of Civil Defence, John Carter. Announcing this on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said, “New Zealand and the Cook Islands enjoy a special relationship based on historical, constitutional, and strong people to people links. “The Cooks have been self-governing […]
PM to reveal secret travel figures
Saturday 12 February 2011 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna has made an historic decision that no other prime minister in over 20 years has been bold enough to make – with the support of cabinet, he plans to lift the ban on public disclosure of civil list travel figures. Travel costs incurred by ministers and members of parliament have been […]
Workers want $8 minimum
Friday 11 February 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Workers Association is asking government to increase the minimum wage rate from $5 to $8. CIWA president Anthony Turua and a workers representative met with the Minister of Internal Affairs Mark Brown and internal affairs secretary Bredina Drollet on Monday to discuss various labour issues concerning workers in the Cook Islands. “In […]
Villagers rejoice
Friday 11 February 2011 | Published in Local
An emotional thanksgiving service was held on Wednesday night in Arorangi for the lives of Te Ina Tapurau, Augustine Heather and Johnny George – who survived the boating accident on Monday night. Puaikura villagers packed into the Calvary Hall to give praise to the Lord for protecting their three sons and to thank everyone involved […]
'Trust me' says telecommunications minister
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Local
Telecommunications minister Mark Brown says if legislative changes are needed to again put the Cook Islands at the forefront of regional telecommunications, he will make those law changes. The Cook Islands was once a regional leader in telecommunications and now the country has lagged behind, says Brown. While past administrations have relied on Telecom Cook […]
Ivaiti says there is a way out of 'Toa thing'
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Local
Former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti says he knows how government can extricate itself from the Toa deal but it’s up to officials and cabinet to work out for themselves how to do this. “There is a way out of the Toa thing, but it’s up to the government to give it serious thought how they […]
Release of MP travel figures uncertain
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Local
Parliamentary staff are uncertain whether a ban on the release of ministerial and MP’s travel figures imposed over 20 years ago will be lifted by the new government. According to Parliament, releasing official travel figures was prohibited by the late speaker of parliament David Hosking on the instruction of the then Cook Islands Party Government. […]
Police will review boat safety
Thursday 10 February 2011 | Published in Local
In the wake of Tuesday’s search and rescue mission, police commissioner Maara Tetava plans to call a meeting with local fishermen and boat owners to discuss maritime safety procedures. Te Ina Tapurau Jnr, Augustine Heather and Johnny George were fishing on Monday evening when their boat was hit by a rogue wave. Tapurau swam ashore […]
3 men survive ordeal
Wednesday 9 February 2011 | Published in Local
Twenty-eight-year-old Arorangi resident Te Ina Tapurau Jnr was hailed a hero yesterday after swimming for more than six hours to shore to raise the alarm after the fishing boat he was on with two friends capsized at sea on Monday afternoon. Cook Islands News caught up with an anxious and still shocked Tapurau yesterday morning […]
Pharmacist warns against overuse
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Local
The recently diagnosed case of MRSA at Rarotonga hospital raises important questions about the use – and overuse – of antibiotics. MRSA – or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – is a ‘super bug’, or a bacterium that has developed a resistance to antibiotics. Initial symptoms of MRSA are small red bumps resembling pimples or boils, often […]
Govt promises 'overly ambitious'
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Local
Government is promising “far too much” and will have trouble finding the funds, according to former finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen. The Democratic Party deputy leader said yesterday he expects government will take to parliament a supplementary budget with a deficit of $3 million to $5 million. He said the Democratic Party Government faced a deficit […]
Minister wants to open TCI books
Tuesday 8 February 2011 | Published in Local
Finance Minister Mark Brown wants to open the books of Telecom Cook Islands Limited. As minister of State Owned Entperises, he says the annual accounts of Telecom Cook Islands have never been publicly disclosed, but he would like to change that to achieve greater transparency from a company which is 40 percent owned by the […]
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