Local

Eclipse disappoints

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Monday night was a disappointing one for stargazers as rain and cloud prevented the people of Rarotonga from getting a view of the lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipse fans will have to keep their fingers crossed for clear skies on June 4, 2012, when a two hour long partial lunar eclipse may be seen over the […]

Local

Island justice

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Most of the hearings for the four electoral petitions will be heard in the outer islands early next year. This was confirmed after Chief Justice Tom Weston had a telephone conference with counsel for the petitions yesterday to confirm further details for the hearings. It was decided that the Court will travel to Pukapuka to […]

Local

Webber-Aitu plans to sue

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Former hospital head says she will take legal action against Faireka The former Director of Hospital Health Services, Heather Webber-Aitu has confirmed she intends to sue Secretary of Health Tupou Faireka for an alleged breach of her employment contract. “As provided for under the Public Service Act, I have attempted dispute resolution but that has […]

Local

Snow strands tourists

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

Two Swedish tourists on their way to the Cook Islands for a Christmas break have been stranded by the ice and snow in Europe. Managing director of Island Hopper Robert Skews predicts that more people on their way here will be prevented from travelling by the snow and ice which has closed three major European […]

Local

Birthday bash bribery alleged

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

The counter-petition for Aitutaki’s Vaipae-Tautu was filed in the High Court last week with respondent Mona Ioane Kake (the elected MP) throwing allegations of bribery back at former MP Kete Ioane. He alleges Ioane gave four voters food, money or other assistance for a birthday party in return for their votes as well as committing […]

Local

Industry welcomes LA flights

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

Father Freddy Kaina was kept busy selling sausages to the hungry crowd at Sunday evening’s Christmas in the Cathedral. Story, photos – pages 10 and 11. 10122005

Local

John Carter for Raro Highcom post?

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Civil Defence Minister John Carter (above) has reportedly been nominated to be the next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully says he is now waiting on the approval of the ‘nominee’ by the Cook Islands cabinet. “The nominee is somebody who I regard highly – someone who I think […]

Local

Pleased with Aitutaki progress

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he was pleased with the progress made on the Aitutaki cyclone recovery programme after visiting the island at the weekend. The NZ government put about $5.5 million into the programme earlier in the year and McCully revealed it recently topped up its contribution by another $900,000 to cover the […]

Local

Valuable visit: McCully

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully says his brief four-day visit to the Cooks was a valuable one. “I’ve found this a very valuable visit because we’ve managed to shape up a work programme, particularly on some big picture issues that are really important to the future of the Cook Islands where we now need to […]

Local

Bid to wind up Vaka TV

Saturday 18 December 2010 | Published in Local

Australian investor Christine Backer has petitioned the High Court to get back her investment in Vaka TV and have the company wound up. Backer is a shareholder in Vaka Television – having secured 20% of the business for $105,000. That money, as well as $20,000 for establishing a bistro at Chillis, was transferred to Vaka […]

Local

NZ to commit more resources

Saturday 18 December 2010 | Published in Local

Metua Hawkins No, because we need that money for other things like education, our health and especially our roads. Why don’t they just use the money to help with future sports men and women and use the TSA building as their office? “/> Kieran Topui No they shouldn’t. $1.5 million just for an office is […]

Local

New airline deals approved

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Local

Cabinet backs Los Angeles, Sydney and Fiji flights Cabinet has reportedly approved $11.5 million in spending to underwrite and market the Air New Zealand Los Angeles and Sydney flights and the new Air Pacific Fiji-Rarotonga route from next year. On Tuesday cabinet held its first meeting to approve new three-year contracts with the airlines for […]

Local

Pirates could close Empire Theatre

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Local

“Sooner or later Empire Movies will have to shut down if nothing is done about piracy.” That was the warning issued by Ashley Wichman, the granddaughter of movie theatre owner Harry Napa. She had been away for four years and returned to live on Rarotonga last month. She found that nothing had improved – and […]

Local

Olympic House a 'waste of money'

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Local

Sporting codes have criticised plans by the Cook Islands National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) to build a $1.5 million administration building. Brian Baudinet, representing tennis, said tennis was against the building of the proposed Olympic House. “The money would be far better spent on athletes than buildings because of the Telecom Sports Arena,” Baudinet said. “Because […]

Local

Cooks' first HIV case

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Local

Warning issued as Cook Islands detects its first HIV case here The first case of HIV has been found in the Cook Islands. Because of patient confidentiality, which applies to all patients, the identity of that person will not be released. The Secretary of Health, Tupou Faireka, yesterday released a statement which said that the […]

Local

Seawall problems being fixed

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Work began yesterday to fix some minor problems on the seawall in Nikao. Debris and silt alongside the road curb which was clogging drainage on both sides of the road was cleared yesterday and vegetation alongside the Met Service side of the seawall that was encroaching on the walkway has been cleared. According to acting […]

Local

Scam!

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Telecom is warning customers that a text message scam is being sent to mobile phones. A number of people have rung Telecom to report receiving the unusual text. The message runs “You have won 2mil pounds – ring or email below and claim code number # ….Sender: +447266696687 or email claimlottodraw@rediffmail.com” Mark Boyd of Telecom […]

Local

PSC investigates Tangianau

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati has confirmed his office is now investigating the weekend incident in which the head of infrastructure was stopped by police and forbidden to drive after being found under the influence of alcohol. Acting infrastructure and planning ministry secretary Otheniel Tangianau did not wish to comment on the claim he was […]

Local

Unhappy vendors

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

A number of food vendors were left disgruntled on Monday after the planned Christmas in the Park was postponed because of rain, leaving them scrambling to try and sell all the food they had prepared. While organisers said most vendors understood Rotaract’s decision to postpone the event to today, a number were unhappy with the […]

Local

Cabinet meets

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

The country’s new cabinet held their first official weekly meeting yesterday. The main business of the day was the airline deals to extend the Air New Zealand Los Angeles flight, the new direct Sydney flight and to consider the proposed Air Pacific weekly Fiji service. It is understood no decisions were made as cabinet has […]

Local

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