Local
Continental shelf claim lodged with UN
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 18: The Cook Islands is the first Pacific island country to lodge its extended continental shelf claim, one of the biggest that will be submitted to the United Nations. Deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate has successfully submitted the Cook Islands claim to the Secretary of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental […]
Sunday flights decision reserved
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 17: A two-day trial was held this week in Aitutaki over a Sunday flight protest last year. Charlie Okotai and Fernando Ngatipa appeared before Chief Justice David Williams defending a charge of inciting others to commit the offence of wilful trespass. The matter relates to events which occurred on June 29, 2008 at the […]
10 years for rapist
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 17: A girl under 12 has been credited for her bravery and quick thinking after enduring being raped and assaulted by a 41-year-old man. Fakiki Munokoa Araipu was yesterday convicted of rape, detaining a girl with the intent to have sexual intercourse and indecent assault. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison […]
Fuel price increases in Aitutaki
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 22: A new fuel price order has been issued for Aitutaki only – the first in almost 10 months. Retail customers on Aitutaki can expect to pay no more than $2.80 per litre for petrol (up from $2.45) and $2.70 for a litre of diesel ($2.32). The price order took effect yesterday. – MM
DPM criticised over UN meeting
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 17: The deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate has already come under attack over his travel to New York for the lodging of the Cook Islands’ submission for its extended continental shelf claim. And it looks like a case of sour grapes has caused the criticism being levelled at him. The country’s claim was […]
Safer insecticide being sprayed
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 22: Public health has advised Cook Islands News it no longer uses the insecticide known as reslin to spray for mosquitoes. This week the ministry of health has carried out spraying of pyrethrum insecticide in vaka Puaikura. The ministry now uses pyrethrum after concerns about the environmental effects of Reslin were raised with it […]
Keen interest in tourism awards
Wednesday 22 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 16: More than 40 local tourism operators are expected to be entered in the inaugural 2009 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards when entries close tomorrow. Tourism Industry Council awards chair Steve Lyon says that in a phone survey last week of tourism based operators, about 50 companies indicated they would submit entries […]
Electoral rolls update underway
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 14: The Cook Islands electoral roll is currently in the process of being updated, with an eye on whether voter numbers have decreased or not. When the roll was first updated last year, following the September 2006 general elections, there was a total 10,025 registered electors on the roll. There were 10,181 on the […]
Pukapuka MP status to be determined
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 14: A legal opinion on the status of the member of parliament for Pukapuka-Nassau is expected any day now. The opposition Cook Islands Party want to have the seat declared vacant under the ‘anti-vaka jumping’ legislation, after the Pukapuka-Nassau MP Vai Peua supported government on an issue of confidence last year. Solicitor general Tingika […]
Atiu man dies in seawall accident
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 14: An Atiu man died after falling from his motorcycle along the seawall on Saturday night. Tumaru Iona, believed to be in his late 30s, suffered head injuries when the accident happened between 9pm and 10pm. There was speculation that another vehicle may have been involved. Pastor Tutai Pere arrived at the scene around […]
Teenage charged over Raviz robbery
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 11: A 15-year-old will appear in court today (Saturday) in connection with the armed burglary of Raviz Indian restaurant early on Wednesday morning. Police Commissioner Pat Tasker told Cook Islands News yesterday the defendant was “located” on Thursday and led police to the firearm which was in a building on a back road that […]
Chinese investors show interest
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 11: Two Chinese businessmen caught the interest of locals last month when they began asking about investment opportunities here. The businessmen reportedly came to Rarotonga for the first time to purchase local black pearls. According to Manihiki MP and pearl farmer Apii Piho, the men said they were based in Papua New Guinea where […]
Easter celebrations
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 11: Easter ritual in Avarua More than 100 Catholic worshippers walked through the Avatiu township yesterday as they re-enacted the final moments before Jesus Christ was crucified. The death and resurrection of Christ is one of the most significant dates on the Christian calendar celebrated over the Easter weekend. Worshippers gathered at the Avatiu […]
Coral removal proposed at Muri
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 9: Obstacles earmarked for removal to make way for mini games canoeing course News that coral heads may be removed from Muri lagoon for the oe vaka Pacific Mini Games event has sparked concern among environmentalists and residents of the area this week. On Tuesday PMG chief executive Mac Mokoroa told Radio NZ that […]
Teenger wanted urgently
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 9: Fifteen-year-old Andrew Teroi (pictured) is wanted urgently by police for a breach of bail conditions. After police bail checks on Wednesday morning, police found that Teroi was not at his parent’s home in Avatiu. Teroi is connected to a string of robberies and last appeared in court on March 26 for contempt of […]
'I was scared for my life'
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 9: Nayshad Akhatar bears the bruises of being beaten with a lump of wood when he disturbed the burglars. But he counts himself especially lucky that he didn’t get riddled with pallets from the 12-gauge shotgun blast. Nayshad told Cook Islands News yesterday that because the restaurant had been robbed three times before, he […]
Armed robbery foiled
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Shotgun blast narrowly misses, case treated as attempted murder Thursday 9: An armed burglary went wrong at Raviz Indian restaurant in the early hours of Wednesday morning and is now being treated as attempted murder. Police said yesterday that three employees were in the Avarua restaurant around 2.30am when two offenders – one carrying a […]
Dialogue urged
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 15: Deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate says a group of Pacific leaders must be assembled soon to meet Fiji’s military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama. He says that group should not include New Zealand and Australia because both countries have taken the wrong approach, and Commodore Bainimarama feels cornered by bullying. – Pacnews
Assault, burglaries, thefts, accidents at Easter
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 15: Police are investigating a report of a man allegedly assaulting his children in Tikioki on Friday night. A woman had said she witnessed the man on the side of the main road “beating” his two small children which included a boy around the age of five. The woman reported to police that he […]
Two teens admit to robbery
Wednesday 15 April 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 15: Two teenagers pleaded guilty on Saturday to the armed robbery of Raviz Indian restaurant. The two 15-year-olds appeared in the Cook Islands High Court before Chief Justice David Williams. Their names are unable to be printed as the matter has fallen under the jurisdiction of the Children’s Court. One defendant pleaded guilty to […]