Local
Conference will chart direction for Pacific
Wednesday 10 February 2010 | Published in Local
Vanuatu prime minister Edward Natapei says despite the pain of the global economic crisis, Pacific island countries can come out of it with better choices and more opportunities. Natapei addressed over 200 delegates gathered for the opening of the UN Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, Vanuatu […]
Pat moves southwest
Tuesday 9 February 2010 | Published in Local
Aitutaki is expected to feel the effects of tropical cyclone Pat later today as the category two storm makes its way southwards. At 5pm yesterday Pat was located about 240 nautical miles (440km) north of Aitutaki and moving at nine knots (16kph) in a southeasterly direction. The cyclone was expected to track southwards last night, […]
Better access to aid needed says delegate
Tuesday 9 February 2010 | Published in Local
The impact of the economic crisis and climate change means that it is even more crucial for the Cooks to get better access to aid. According to Liz Koteka, director central policy and planning office at the office of the prime minister, work still has to be done in obtaining access to aid that can […]
Increased pressure for fishing licences
Tuesday 9 February 2010 | Published in Local
Government faces increased pressure to provide more long line fishing licences than its 40 licence limit a year. Cook Islands News asked ministry of marine resources’ (MMR) director of offshore fisheries, Joshua Mitchell to explain the present licence situation and how they are allocated each year. He says right now 26 vessels are licensed to […]
PSC investigation begins into Finsec
Monday 8 February 2010 | Published in Local
The office of the public service commissioner has begun its investigation into financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti’s role into the Toa fuel farm affair. Public service commissioner Navy Epati says the inquiry will look into the role and impact of decisions made, and advice given to cabinet and finance minister, by Ivaiti. “I had earlier indicated […]
CT scanner plans put on hold
Monday 8 February 2010 | Published in Local
Plans to accept a donated CT scanner from Waikato Hospital are now on hold according to ministry of health secretary Tupou Faireka. A submission detailing the donation and the expected costs of installation and maintenance of the machine was supposed to be taken to cabinet by health minister Apii Piho last week. But it is […]
Cyclone Pat on its way south
Monday 8 February 2010 | Published in Local
The US Navy Research Laboratory released this forecast map of tropical cyclone Pat moving towards the Southern group islands. sh142010_ “/> A tropical cyclone alert has been issued for the Northern Cooks. But it appears that the islands in the Southern group will experience the brunt of tropical cyclone Pat later this week. Yesterday Pat […]
Taura in custody
Saturday 6 February 2010 | Published in Local
Police returned escaped inmate Daniel Taura to Arorangi prison yesterday morning at about 8am. He will remain in custody until February 25, when he will appear in court for three outstanding charges and an additional one of escaping from lawful custody. Police received a number of calls from people who had sighted Taura on Thursday, […]
Crime a big concern for accommodators
Saturday 6 February 2010 | Published in Local
The high incidence of burglary and theft in Puaikura is still one of the main concerns for tourism accommodation operators in the vaka. Puaikura contains the largest number of accommodation properties making it even more prone to crime. At infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather’s meeting with around a dozen operators on Thursday, government was asked […]
Te Aponga reduce tariffs
Friday 5 February 2010 | Published in Local
Households will soon be saving $40 to $60 a month on their power bill in a new tariff restructure, Te Aponga Uira announced. The electricity company held a media conference yesterday to reveal the new prices which was attended by acting TAU minister and prime minister Jim Marurai, chief executive Apii Timoti, chairman Piltz Napa […]
Inmate escapes from vehicle
Friday 5 February 2010 | Published in Local
Prison inmate Daniel Taura, also known as Daniel Hewitt, escaped from custody yesterday after appearing in court for theft, unlawful taking and threatening to kill. Taura attended a hearing yesterday morning at the Avarua courthouse. At around 11.40am he appeared before justice of the peace Dorice Reid, who ruled that he be remanded in custody […]
Social welfare system under review
Friday 5 February 2010 | Published in Local
Public views are being sought as government carries out a review of the nation’s 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 as of December last year. In […]
90 grads honoured
Thursday 4 February 2010 | Published in Local
Marguerite Dean and friends celebrate her diploma in food preparation and cooking yesterday. “/> The national brains trust grew yesterday. The Department of National Human Resources Development (DNHRD) honoured the Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institutes (ACITI) graduates at a ceremony in the auditorium. Seventy-seven Rarotonga students and 13 outer islands students graduated, and 17 […]
Pressure for fishing licences
Thursday 4 February 2010 | Published in Local
Rising demand for long line fishery vessel licences continues to put pressure on the ministry of marine resources (MMR) to review its limit of 40 licences per year. This has been highlighted by the recent lobbying of a local fishing company to the minister of marine resources Robert Wigmore. CINews understands Northern Cook Islands Fishing […]
Water tank project runs out of money
Thursday 4 February 2010 | Published in Local
The water tank subsidy scheme has run out of money. When government launched the operation in early December, it allocated $50,000 in subsidy funds to the ministry of infrastructure and planning. MOIP has received 139 applications for subsidies, 82 of which have been approved and granted. The ministry can not afford to dispense many more. […]
New audit probe
Thursday 4 February 2010 | Published in Local
Sir Terepai and son accused of unfairly receiving business funds Former finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate and his son and MP Terepai Maoate Jnr are alleged to have unfairly benefited from around $90,000 in outer island business support loans from a government fund set up last year. The audit office is now investigating the serious […]
Porter grocery business still under wraps
Wednesday 3 February 2010 | Published in Local
Shareholders in a new grocery company set to open this year at the former Meatco premises are still silent on the venture. The Cold Store Ltd was formed last July and its shareholders are the children of former Meatco owners Brett and Cavelle Porter, who have already tried to distance themselves from the venture. Brett […]
Public views wanted on new labour law
Wednesday 3 February 2010 | Published in Local
Public views are being sought on the country’s proposed new labour law this month. When the bill is passed by parliament, it will introduce rights and obligations for employees and employers in the private sector. This extends to such provisions as hours of work, wages, rest and meal breaks. Part of the proposed law sets […]
Tourism people want Crocombe to explain new marketing group
Wednesday 3 February 2010 | Published in Local
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe may have to reassure the industry that the new destination sales and marketing (DSM) committee he also heads is of value to smaller operators. The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council met with members on Monday to discuss the controversial government initiative to appoint the separate marketing committee under the tourism […]
Wilkie seeks 'true facts'
Tuesday 2 February 2010 | Published in Local
FINANCE minister Wilkie Ras¬mussen yesterday deflected criticism and demands for dis¬closure of secret sums in the Toagate scandal. He issued a statement to Cook Islands News that did not reveal figures but said the government of today is diligently working its way through the contents of the settlement agreed with Toa Petroleum Limited. “It is […]
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