Local
Rasmussen hits back at MPs
Monday 11 January 2010 | Published in Local
Minister Wilkie Rasmussen says the joint announcement by the Sir Terepai Maoate faction of the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party MPs to remove prime minister Jim Marurai and cabinet, is simply absurd. Putting aside the CIP’s natural intention to defeat the government, Rasmussen says the Demo MPs involvement makes a mockery of the […]
Kings and Royal Heats unite for anthem
Monday 11 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Royal Heats (left) and Super Kings gather for the national anthem before the two teams squared off for the first Turtles Domestic Cricket League tournament match at Matavera last Saturday. The 50 over match was fast and action-packed with the Royal Heats emerging the winners of the first match in the three team tournament. […]
Mayor charged
Monday 11 January 2010 | Published in Local
Aitutaki mayor Tai Herman was remanded on bail to appear in the High Court this morning on a charge of assault on a male. This follows an incident that occurred on Friday evening near the office of the ministry of infrastructure and planning in Avarua.
Country first: CIP, Demos
Saturday 9 January 2010 | Published in Local
The country’s two main political parties aim to have a caretaker government appointed if prime minister Jim Marurai can be removed from power first. A joint press release from the presidents of the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party yesterday outlined their petition to the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to call parliament to […]
Rasmussen gets briefed on finance
Friday 8 January 2010 | Published in Local
Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen had his first meeting with financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti yesterday for a briefing on the country’s financial situation. While the ‘Toagate’ scandal remains a key issue for government to address, at present the minister is keen to get himself up to date on government’s financial position. “My initial approach is to […]
Cost cuts laughable says Bishop
Friday 8 January 2010 | Published in Local
Opposition and Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop says prime minister Jim Marurai’s comments about cutting the cost of government are laughable. Yesterday Marurai said that they had taken the first step by deciding to reduce costs at the ministerial level first by resolving not to appoint a sixth minister in the new cabinet. Bishop says that […]
Youth pleads guilty to burglaries
Friday 8 January 2010 | Published in Local
Police arrested a male 18-year-old male this week in relation to burglaries on a tourist accommodation. Three guest rooms at Club Raro were targeted on Monday and Tuesday with items taken included a watch, mobile phone, iPods, toiletries and cash. Tiley Ngatupuna Miriau appeared in court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to the three burglary […]
Finsec faces possible suspension
Friday 8 January 2010 | Published in Local
Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti faces possible suspension following his return to the position this month after taking leave over Christmas. Ivaiti was out of the country when news broke of government’s $1.75 million out of court settlement with Toa Petroleum last month following the collapse of the controversial fuel farm scheme. Newly appointed finance minister […]
MPs seek to remove PM
Friday 8 January 2010 | Published in Local
The new five-member cabinet could face removal by the other 19 members of parliament following Opposition claims that the MPs have expressed their complete lack of support for cabinet. Their intention is to carry out a successful vote of no confidence in prime minister Jim Marurai and cabinet if parliament can be called to sit. […]
Travelling art exhibition opens today
Thursday 7 January 2010 | Published in Local
The travelling visual art exhibition – The Banyan Tree – opens today at the Cook Islands National Museum in Tupapa. The general public, local artists and art enthusiasts are all invited to view this exciting exhibition. Inspired by the banyan tree and the artwork of many countries and cultures, the exhibition combines tradition and modernity […]
President says PM is a Demo
Thursday 7 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Democratic Party has not quite sacked prime minister Jim Marurai from its ranks, despite recent statements which have suggested otherwise. Yesterday party president Makiuti Tongia said of the five MPs currently in cabinet, all are still Democratic Party members except Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen whose membership has been cancelled. “Rasmussen has been sacked from […]
Avaiki marketers being sought
Thursday 7 January 2010 | Published in Local
The pearl authority is seeking locals to market Avaiki, the new Cook Islands premium pearl brand, to the international jewellery trade as part of the brand’s development. Launched last September, Avaiki now needs a network of wholesalers and marketers as well as manufacturing and retail jewellers here and overseas to attain higher prices for the […]
PM's priority is to cut costs
Thursday 7 January 2010 | Published in Local
Cutting the cost of government is the top priority going into the New Year for prime minister Jim Marurai. The prime minister and cabinet have endorsed a review of the burgeoning cost of government to find ways to use funds with greater efficiency. Marurai has already taken the first step by deciding to reduce costs […]
New portfolios allocated to ministers
Wednesday 6 January 2010 | Published in Local
Jim Marurai “/> Robert Wigmore “/> Wilkie Rasmussen “/> William Heather Jnr “/> Apii Piho “/> The ministers of the country’s new five-member cabinet were allocated their responsibilities within government yesterday with Wilkie Rasmussen scoring the key finance portfolios. Rasmussen said he was happy to be allocated the responsibilities of the finance and economic management […]
Rheumatic fever medication problem causes upset
Wednesday 6 January 2010 | Published in Local
The recent shortage of the antibiotic injection for rheumatic fever patients prompted one local to send his 11 year old granddaughter to New Zealand for treatment last week. She was seen by a doctor at Auckland’s Starship Hospital – the same hospital that has now advised Rarotonga hospital to use an alternative injectable antibiotic for […]
Tough times ahead: Wilkie
Wednesday 6 January 2010 | Published in Local
Cabinet minister Wilkie Rasmussen — now the new finance minister — has warned the country faces difficult times ahead as government struggles to curb its spending in the face of falling revenues. He has vowed to put in ‘maximum effort’ in managing the financial affairs of the nation saying that the level of borrowing has […]
Car goes off road at Blackrock
Tuesday 5 January 2010 | Published in Local
Only one car accident was reported during the New Year with a vehicle hurtling into rocks at Blackrock on Sunday morning. A Toyota Levin was heading towards Arorangi around 5am when the male driver – a Cook Islander from Australia – lost control at the bend on the main road at Blackrock. The 26-year-old suffered […]
Foreign aid increases
Tuesday 5 January 2010 | Published in Local
Foreign aid has increased by 43.8 percent over the last financial year to around $30 million this year. According to government’s half yearly fiscal and economic update released last week, the increase in aid for the current financial year to June 2010 is due to the new Air New Zealand- Los Angeles flight subsidy of […]
Rheumatic fever medication in short supply
Tuesday 5 January 2010 | Published in Local
The ministry of health is currently experiencing a shortage of an antibiotic medication used to treat patients who suffer from rheumatic fever – a serious disease that can cause permanent damage to the heart. The ministry currently treats around 87 adults and 42 children who suffer from rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic heart disease. Following […]
MFEM warns about debt levels
Tuesday 5 January 2010 | Published in Local
Government has now forecast that its spending will outstrip its revenue from the current financial year onwards with debt levels dangerously close to reaching ‘unsustainable levels’. According to the just-released half yearly fiscal and economic update produced by the ministry of finance and economic management (MFEM), government will not be in a position to raise […]
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