Local
Cyclone alert!
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Metrological Service is closely monitoring a cyclone that is moving towards the southern parts of the Cook Islands. Yesterday at 5pm tropical cyclone Nisha, with 35 to 40 knot winds (64 to 74kph), was situated about 225 nautical miles (416km) to the west of Palmerston. The cyclone was expected to gradually turn east and […]
PM invites submissions on reform
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai says his office will accept written views on political reform from any person or party leading up to his planned public conference on the issue. In a statement yesterday, Marurai said written submissions from any interested person or party can be made in advance of the conference. There will be a […]
Wong investigation completed
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Local
The investigation into former tourism chief executive Chris Wong has been completed. Detective inspector Mark Franklin said the police enquiry into the former tourism boss wrapped up late last year and is now in the hands of crown law. “Police have now referred the matter to crown law for legal opinion to establish whether criminal […]
Police ask for help in Aitutaki rape case
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Local
Police are calling on the help of the Aitutaki community with the ongoing investigation into a rape of a young girl last year. The offence was first reported in April 2009 when the victim was nine-years-old. A review has recently been completed in what areas police still need to work on. Suspects have been interviewed […]
CT scanner costs considered says health
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Local
The feasibility of accepting a donated CT scan machine from Waikato Hospital has been given alot of consideration says health secretary Tupou Faireka. Last week health minister Apii Piho announced that Rarotonga Hospital may soon have its first such machine which could save many lives and reduce the high cost of patient referrals to New […]
Crocombe on mission in NZ
Wednesday 27 January 2010 | Published in Local
Chairman of the economic development taskforce Tata Crocombe was headed to Wellington yesterday to pursue discussions with New Zealand government officials on a range of initiatives proposed by the taskforce. Mac Mokoroa, chief of staff at the office of the prime minister is accompanying Crocombe on the weeklong mission funded by the OPM budget. Mokoroa […]
Girl bound and gagged
Tuesday 26 January 2010 | Published in Local
A female teenager was taken to Rarotonga Hospital with injuries sustained during a break-in to her Tutakimoa home on Sunday morning. Police say that the two masked persons entered the girl’s bedroom while she was asleep, bound and gagged her and took her to a nearby plantation. Police were told by the victim that at […]
PM keen on telecommunications reform
Tuesday 26 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai has issued a statement saying he hopes to maintain momentum on the proposed reform to the telecommunications sector this year. Last November the telecommunications minister announced government’s intention to open the market to competition but said it could take until February to formalise the changes under law. The reform not only […]
Police force faces restructuring
Tuesday 26 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands police force is facing a major restructure. Police minister and prime minister Jim Marurai made the announcement last week during a press conference and said it was a move to lower the average age of the force. “He (police commissioner Maara Tetava) was saying for staff at the top level he was […]
Lobby group supports PM
Monday 25 January 2010 | Published in Local
Aitutaki’s lobby group Te Kura O Te Au is backing prime minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet. Leader Taraota Tom says the people’s movement is fully supporting Maurai and his team “for their effect in leading this country toward the election”. Although the group was formed as a result of discontent over Sunday flights to […]
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 […]
Tree climbers back to school
Monday 25 January 2010 | Published in Local
By 8 o’clock this morning, these young kids will be in their school uniforms and greeting their teachers. These youngsters were snapped on Saturday playing ‘monkey up a tree’ at the Takitumu school grounds where they said that they were bored and couldn’t wait for their Takitumu school to start. Climbing out the tree was […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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