Local
NZ funding not confirmed
Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Local
The New Zealand government has yet to announce funding for the Aitutaki cyclone recovery plan. While recovery work is starting, government officials are reportedly worried about when NZ will declare its financial support and it has already been noted that this is not the normal practice. Last week government announced that the plan will cost […]
Buzz off!
Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Local
Thirteen-year-old Lawton Tepai and his grandparents have had enough of the bees in this big hive attached to their house in Arorangi. The family is asking anyone who knows how to handle bees to come and help them remove this lot. Lawton has the misfortune of sleeping in the bedroom directly under the hive and […]
Te Puna dispute settled
Thursday 11 March 2010 | Published in Local
A landmark judgement was handed down in the Cook Islands High Court this week. Judge Kenneth Heta Kingston reversed a highly controversial decision made by the country’s first chief justice in 1908. The case that has come to be known as “Te Puna” concerns 147 acres of Takitumu land that stretches from the shore right […]
Driver charged
Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Local
The 18-year-old driver of the car in which Tamarii Pierre died Saturday morning was arrested on Sunday afternoon. The young man from Tupapa appeared in court on Monday morning on an initial charge of excess blood alcohol. He did not enter any plea. He was released on bail and instructed not to purchase or consume […]
New tropical disturbance
Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Local
Fiji Met Services detected a tropical disturbance just south of Samoa yesterday. Tropical disturbance 14F was located at 13.5 south and 171 west at 10 am and was moving slowly in a southwest direction. The TD was not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone. Cook Islands Met Services said that 14F does not pose […]
CIP dispels talk of merger
Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Party has not merged nor is it about to merge with the Democratic Party, says leader Henry Puna. He wrote a letter to CI News yesterday to ‘clear up any misconceptions about the true CIP position’. Demo Party president Makiuti Tongia referred to a merger with the CIP several times in his […]
'Relief funds will be short'
Wednesday 10 March 2010 | Published in Local
The $2.7 million government contribution to Aitutaki cyclone recovery efforts will fall short of what is needed, says Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna. In a letter to the editor today (page 6), Puna says the CIP will give government the MP numbers needed in parliament to ensure the further supply of funds for the […]
Gym for health
Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Local
Over 100 staff at the ministry of health plan to use their own gym so they can walk the talk in promoting healthy living. Yesterday the ministry and guests opened the gym and reopened the refurbished Tupapa community health clinic. Thanks to about US$30,000 funding from the World Health Organisation, the ministry has been able […]
Child benefit part of welfare review
Tuesday 9 March 2010 | Published in Local
Changes to the child benefit, currently paid out for 3645 children nation-wide, are being considered under a review of the social welfare system. This year more than a third of the population will receive welfare payments – there were about 5600 or about 40 percent of the resident population (about 13,000) on a welfare benefit […]
Justified
Saturday 6 March 2010 | Published in Local
Definite risk justified last weekend’s tsunami alert, according to Emergency Management Cook Islands. In response to accusations that Saturday’s tsunami warning was ‘useless’ and a ‘public nuisance’ given Rarotonga’s invulnerability to tsunamis, Willie Tuivaga of EMCI said that “real-life data” and “real scientists” have proven that Rarotonga is in fact vulnerable to a tsunami threat. […]
Audit on Toagate critical and complex
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Local
The investigation into government’s fuel farm scheme and the resulting $1.75 million Toagate settlement scandal is the most high profile review to be carried out by the audit office to date. Audit director Paul Allsworth says he knows there is a high level of public interest in the investigation but is not sure when the […]
China loan unlikely
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Local
Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen says it’s likely government will no longer approve the planned $37.5 million China soft loan for Rarotonga road and water upgrades. He says apart from putting extra strain on the country’s already high debt level, government may be ‘veering away from Chinese support’. “The loan has not been signed and I […]
Enough Heathers
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Local
Henry ‘Black’ Heather has snuffed out rumours that he has been approached to run as the Demo candidate for the Ruaau seat – held by his brother and cabinet minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather – in the next election. “I have no intention at all of being in politics. He’s my brother – how could I […]
Bike riders injured in 2 accidents
Friday 5 March 2010 | Published in Local
Police handled reports of two motor vehicle accidents this week. On Monday at 4.24pm, a gray Mitsubishi pick-up truck crashed into a Honda motorbike at Matavera. The driver, age 85, had been drinking but did not exceed the legal limit and was not charged with excess breath alcohol. He was forbidden from driving for 24 […]
Water tank fund dry
Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is no longer accepting applications for water tank subsidies. The project ran out of money a few weeks ago and the applications that had been neither approved nor denied were put on hold until MOIP could secure additional funding. The ministry received 142 applications and approved 82, but is […]
New party likely
Thursday 4 March 2010 | Published in Local
Cabinet of 5 may be forced to form new political party Prime minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet ministers may be forced to form a new political party if the Democratic Party rift remains. Cabinet is also being rocked by news that others are now being named as the Demo candidates for their seats for […]
Baby's drowning draws warning
Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Local
In a tragic accident on Sunday night, 33-month-old Ezra Jim drowned in the swimming pool at his home in Matavera. He was transported to hospital by ambulance at 7.35 pm and doctors pronounced him dead two hours later. Senior sergeant Nga Pouao offers condolences to Jim’s family on behalf of police and encourages parents with […]
A break in warnings
Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Local
Last weekend was full of weather warnings, but for now the Cook Islands can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. Cyclone Sarah fizzled out by Monday and caused no real damage, but did rile up the seas and send heavy showers to the Cook Islands. Met services cancelled a strong wind warning for the […]
Patients airlifted
Wednesday 3 March 2010 | Published in Local
Health minister Apii Piho confirmed five Penrhyn people needing medical attention were on their way to Rarotonga last night. After diverting the Manihiki Air Rarotonga flight yesterday to continue on to Penrhyn, the decision was made to make the return flight the same day instead of staying overnight there as planned. The flight was also […]
Minister due back on diverted flight
Tuesday 2 March 2010 | Published in Local
Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen is due back in Rarotonga tomorrow after government paid to divert an Air Rarotonga flight yesterday to go to Penrhyn with the intention of bringing back patients for medical care. The plane will overnight on the island so that about nine people can undergo medical assessments. Health minister Apii Piho says […]
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