Local
PM turns down invite to summit
Monday 25 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai has turned down an invitation to attend what has been touted as the first major gathering of world leaders following last month’s Copenhagen climate change conference. The Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi, India, will run from February 5 to 7under the theme ‘Beyond Copenhagen: new pathways to sustainable development’. […]
Crocombe charts new directions in tourism
Monday 25 January 2010 | Published in Local
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe is looking forward to the challenges of taking the industry in a new direction this year. Following news of a 7 percent increase in tourist arrivals last year – the first year the Cooks recorded more than 100,000 visitors – Crocombe says the number still has to be substantially increased […]
Makiuti ruled out
Saturday 23 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands high commissioner’s position in Wellington is still up in the air. Makiuti Tongia was approved by cabinet last year to take over from current high commissioner to New Zealand, Tepure Tapaitau. Prime minister Jim Marurai said foreign affairs minister Robert Wigmore is in discussion with secretary Mike Mitchell about the position. “It […]
CT scan machine gifted to hospital
Saturday 23 January 2010 | Published in Local
Rarotonga hospital may soon have its first CT scan machine – often described as a super x-ray machine – which could save many lives and reduce government’s spending on patient referrals to NZ. Health minister Apii Piho said the news that Waikato Hospital is willing to donate a machine it has had reconditioned has put […]
Fishing fees slashed
Saturday 23 January 2010 | Published in Local
Licensing fees are going down to give the local fishing industry a hand up to help overcome the current slump its experiencing and decline in fish stocks in southern group waters. The revised licence fee structure means that vessels less than 20 metres which are based in Rarotonga or Aitutaki will now pay $2000 for […]
National seats like NZ's list seats
Friday 22 January 2010 | Published in Local
Introducing national seats to the Cook Islands Parliament is one of the more far-reaching and important reforms proposed. Advocate Tata Crocombe says it would be moving in the direction of other jurisdictions such as New Zealand where half the seats are national or ‘list’ seats, putting a large focus on addressing national issues. “Most issues […]
The 12 reforms
Friday 22 January 2010 | Published in Local
The 12 recommended reforms are: 1) Direct election of the prime minister by all voters. 2) PM to appoint cabinet from among all voters (currently he can only choose from the other 23 MPs – or more accurately the ruling party). 3) Cabinet appointments approved by parliament (ensures process is transparent, allows for public to […]
Radical reforms
Friday 22 January 2010 | Published in Local
The new 12-point political reform proposal was released by prime minister Jim Marurai yesterday. The major changes proposed include direct election of the prime minister by all voters, creation of five national seats, limits to the PM’s terms and to the term of parliament, and combining nine of the current constituency seats into four seats. […]
Kia Orana Air gets thumbs up
Friday 22 January 2010 | Published in Local
The proposed low-cost domestic airline Kia Orana Air has cabinet excited about better travel options for locals and visitors. Last week prime minister Jim Marurai said cabinet was supportive of the proposal after being briefed about the application by the airline for an air service licence and its aim to start its operations by mid-year. […]
Blame shifting criticised
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Democratic Party executive say that prime minister Jim Marurai is good at shifting blame, especially when he claims to know nothing of matters that passed under his nose and got his approval. The Demos, through a media release, say that Marurai claims that the former DPM appointed mediation consultant, Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood. “It […]
DPM defends ad
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
Deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore has responded to criticism over the recent advertising of the position of seabed minerals commissioner, which was authorised by his office. As minister responsible for minerals and natural resources, Wigmore says, through a letter to the editor, that opportunities exist for interested companies to apply for an exploration licence once […]
PM won't quit
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai says he refuses to resign despite the calls from the Democratic Party for him to step down now. Marurai says he is not considering a move to resign as a way to resolve the current political turmoil. “Why should I resign? What have I done wrong?” he asks. Late last week […]
Claire's here for dance and drama
Thursday 21 January 2010 | Published in Local
Tereora College will receive a boost to its performing arts department with the addition of new teacher Claire Waldron. She’s pictured here with her five-year-old son Gabriel. Bringing extensive acting and teaching experience, Waldron will be leading dance and drama for NCEA classes. She has moved here after two years at Gore High School in […]
No money crisis: Rasmussen
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Minister of finance and attorney-general Wilkie Rasmussen is hitting back at claims the country is in a political crisis and that government has problems of money supply. Rasmussen issued a statement yesterday in response to a recent slew of allegations by the Cook Islands Party. “The Cook Islands is not in a political crisis and […]
Tourism calls for innovation
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe says government is looking for a much bigger role for the industry going forward with new aviation opportunities and public infrastructure being set up to support tourism. Crocombe said these new initiatives should see increased growth in the industry and a resultant positive impact on the economy over the coming […]
PM asks MPs to support reform
Wednesday 20 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai is calling on all members of parliament to support a new proposal for political reform. Yesterday he announced that cabinet has responded positively to the proposed 12 point ‘political reform’ package that was outlined at its weekly meeting. The proposal has been put together by reform advocates Tata Crocombe and Iaveta […]
Voyage of a lifetime coincides with Expo
Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in Local
One young Cook Islander could score the opportunity of a lifetime this year by being chosen to take part in a six-month ocean vaka voyage that aims to retrace the ancestral migration of the Polynesian people back to mainland China. The project is being pursued by the government of French Polynesia and has been planned […]
CEO quits
Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Tourism chief executive John Dean handed in his resignation last week just a few months shy of his second year in the role. His surprise resignation follows the good news of a 7 percent growth in visitor numbers for 2009. Yesterday Dean said he had resigned for personal reasons. Tourism board chairman Tata […]
Tiare petals count 5 to 8
Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in Local
Unique flower blooms have made headlines in the Cook Islands News over the past few years and this week a Takuvaine family have come across a unique blooming flower of their own. When six-year-old Javanna Pierre of Matavera visited her uncle Tereapii Hosking in the Happy Valley on Monday morning, she discovered something special about […]
PM 'dodging' money problems?
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local
CIP leader Henry Puna says the government has urgent financial problems. “/> It is irresponsible and foolhardy of prime minister Jim Marurai’s five-member cabinet to avoid and dodge government’s responsibility to maintain money supply and pay its way, according to CIP leader Henry Puna. The Cook Islands Party leader says by not calling parliament in […]
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