National
Parliament pays tribute to Mandela
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Local
Parliament began on Thursday with a solemn tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. Described in the house as a “great man", Speaker Niki Rattle said the South African Nobel Prize winner and peace activist “should be dignified in this house”. Addressing parliament, acting PM and finance minister Mark Brown said it was a “sad occasion […]
Ei day before Santa walkabout
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
It’s ei katu day at Foodland today so show your tropical Christmas spirit and be in to win. Wear an ei katu or any ei, spend $5 or more on Christmas products and you could win one of three fabulous Lindz chocolate prizes. The draw for the ei day initiative will be done on Saturday […]
Te Kainga gives thanks for new van and building
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
A building on its last legs and one old car prompted the community into action to help the Te Kainga Mental Health Trust. A van was gifted to the trust in September with the aid of the Indian government’s India Grant and the trust is grateful for the use of the vehicle. “When we started […]
Sixth mental health training workshop in Raro
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
Mental health professionals came together to discuss mental health this week, with a focus on how to reduce anxiety disorders and depression in the Cooks. Anxiety forms 60 per cent of all mental health illness reported in Rarotonga and depression comes in second at 20 per cent. These are statistics that the Te Kainga Mental […]
Resort owners gather for tourism trade day
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
Local resort owners put their best foot forward yesterday to strike new contracts with dozens of travel wholesalers from offshore markets. About 65 wholesalers from 15 different countries are in the Cook Islands this week to meet with members of the tourism industry at the Kia Orana Cook Islands event. Now into its fourth year, […]
Free fun at wildlife centre
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
It’s all fun and games at the Cook Islands Whale and Wildlife Centre today, and everyone is welcome! After a fantastic year with lots of support from locals both on Rarotonga and in the outer islands the centre wants to say thank you with fun, games and discounts on products. The fun begins at 2.30pm […]
Who will wear the crown?
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
Tonight’s the night for contestants in the ‘Carpenters Miss South Pacific 2013’ including our very own Miss Cook Islands, Teuira Napa (20). It’s been a busy week for the lovely ladies who’ve been engaged in activities leading up to the crowning tonight including the official photo shoot, a tour of the Vilu War Museum and […]
Cook Islands seeks fishing ban in high seas pocket
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
The Cook Islands is seeking a ruling from the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting being held in Cairns this week for a complete ban on longline fishing in its adjacent eastern high seas pocket. The high seas pocket which sits between the exclusive economic zones of the Cook Islands, Kiribati and French Polynesia […]
Cook Islands 'stands up' to big fishing nations
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
Regional media reports are painting the Cook Islands as a leading force in standing “up to big fishing nations on conservation” at a regional meeting in Australia. A local delegation is attending the weeklong Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in Cairns, and pushing for a complete ban on longline fishing in the eastern […]
Bonny cash could pay local officials
Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National
Money found aboard the infamous yacht ‘Bonny’ could be used to pay local authorities and a private company that incurred costs when the vessel was towed back to Avatiu Harbour nearly two years ago, says a police investigator. Inspector John Strickland said Cook Islands Police have been consulting with the Crown Law office on what […]
Xmas tree competition extended
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in National
A competition to light up a tree for Christmas has been extended. The ‘Light up your community’ competition, sponsored by CITC and Wattyl Paint, has been running since November 25. The judging for the competition was due to take place today, but a lack of entries has meant the judging night has moved to Wednesday […]
Aitutaki faces worst day of fires
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in National
Aitutaki residents armed themselves with everything from banana leaves to coconut fronds as they battled to contain a fire which threatened homes in Arutanga on Tuesday. It was the worst day of fires since a massive blaze consumed hectares of scrubland in the hills of Amuri on Saturday night. Miimetua Blenkarn, head of the Airport […]
Parliament nearly shut down
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in National
The opposition Democratic Party threatened to walk out of parliament yesterday. Question period for the day got off to a raucous start with opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen making comments on the constitutionality of the current sitting of parliament. The opposition leader’s comments related to an editor’s letter by Rarotonga businessman John Scott, who questioned the […]
Sulphur content 'of higher quality' - Toa
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in National
Dear Editor, I don’t want to enter into a debate with Chris Vaile over his open letter published yesterday, however I want to clarify two points so that your readers are not misled. Sulphur content of 500 parts per million (ppm) in diesel is supplied to the Pacific Islands by the major refineries from Singapore. […]
Reclaimed land remains an 'eyesore'
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in National
A barren area of reclaimed land running north of Punanga Nui Market looks set to remain “an eyesore” for some time yet, with no immediate plans for its use. The four acres of land was formed last year using material dredged from Avatiu Harbour, with the goal of expanding the popular market. Enlarging Punanga Nui […]
'Rookie' enjoys Warsaw climate negotiations
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
Amelia Fukofuka describes herself as a newbie to the UN climate negotiations in her story below. She is attending the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change for the first time, however, she has attended an ‘intercessional’ meeting which are talks that take place during the year. Fortunately […]
CI cyclone doco to screen in Fiji
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
A Cook Islands documentary named ‘Surviving a Cyclone’ will be screened at the University of the South Pacific headquarters in Fiji this week. Produced by David Ngatae, it has been entered into this year European Consortium for Pacific Studies (ECOPAS) First Conference film festival evening at USP in Suva. The ECOPAS conference will focus on […]
CI 'eco-warriors' receive international recognition
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
Two Cook Islands ‘eco-warriors’ have been honoured on the international stage for their tireless efforts to protect the ocean and environment. Ian Karika has been awarded the inaugural Pacific Islands Environmental Leadership Award for excellence in national leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation. Meanwhile, Dr Takiora Ingram was one of eight women from Oceania to […]
Climate change policy launched by OPM
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment
A policy aiming to address climate change issues has been launched in the Cooks. ‘Kaveinga Tapapa: Climate and disaster compatible development policy 2013-2016’ was officially announced last week by the climate change division of the Office of the Prime Minister. At a workshop in Tupapa on Friday, around 30 government officials, members of the Koutu […]
Debate winner meets EU Ambassador
Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Local
A Titikaveka College student who claimed victory in a youth debate on deep sea minerals has been congratulated in person by the European Union’s Ambassador for the Pacific. Fifteen-year-old Titikaveka College student Teherenui Koteka has been in Fiji this week after winning the Cook Islands debate in October. EU Ambassador Andrew Jacobs met Koteka in […]
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