National

Climate change the greatest threat

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

Below is the text of a speech delivered by Prime Minister Henry Puna, following a week of Forum deliberations and preceding yesterday morning’s post-Forum dialogue. Forum theme As you will know, the theme of this year’s Forum is “Large Ocean Island States – the Pacific Challenge”. This is aimed at striking a balance between sustaining […]

'I don't want to go on to the next stop'

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

A face-to-face with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the highlight of the week for the Sisters of Charity, a group of nuns based in Titikaveka. Yesterday, Clinton emerged from one of a convoy of vehicles to greet an eager crowd gathered at Trader Jack’s on the Avarua waterfront. Canons poised and videocameras mounted, […]

Clinton makes like a shark

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton takes time out of her busy schedule to chat with Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative programme manager Jess Cramp, originally from America. Clinton accepted a request by Cramp to pose with a shark fin in support of shark protection in the Cook Islands. Clinton engaged with Cramp about her programme […]

Man jailed for assaulting female

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime

A Fijian man living in Rarotonga has been sent to prison by the chief justice for committing 10 offences, including assaulting a female. Sakaraia Sucuigau pleaded guilty to assaulting a female, threatening to kill, escaping from police custody, two thefts, two traffic offences including excess breath alcohol, and three contempt of court charges. The most […]

Clinton speaks for gender equality

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday met with a group of men and women committed to improving the lives of their Pacific sisters. She convened the Rarotonga Dialogue on Gender Equality at Tamarind, attended by men and women from the Australian government, International Development, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, United Nations Development Program, […]

CJ Weston robbed

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime

Chief Justice Tom Weston is usually the one sentencing criminals for burglary – now he is at the receiving end. His accommodation at Sokala Villas in Muri was burgled at 5.45 yesterday morning, in the short time it took him to go outside and get the newspaper. A cellphone and wallet was taken, although the […]

'Pacific is big enough for all of us'

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the Pacific is “big enough” to accommodate the presence and interests of both Washington and Beijing. Speaking to reporters at Ngatipa yesterday, Clinton said she welcomes China’s involvement in the Pacific. “The United States welcomes the chance to work with a broad array of partners in […]

MP sentenced for tax evasion

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Crime

The name suppression order against a prominent politician and lawyer convicted on tax evasion charges has been lifted. Norman George pleaded guilty in the High Court yesterday to 12 charges against him and his company Norman George and Associates. The Teenui-Mapumai (Atiu) MP was fined $21,800 on eight charges against his company for failure to […]

United States 'a Pacific nation'

Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National

Labelling the United States a “Pacific nation”, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says her government intends to be present in the region “for the long run”. “The United States is very proud to be a Pacific nation with a long history in this region, and we are committed to be here for the long […]

'Zero waste' goal announced

Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Environment

A ‘zero waste’ Cook Islands is the goal of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning’s Water, Waste and Sanitation unit (WATSAN) and waste management department. And the acquisition of a brand new compacting machine from New Zealand company Engineering Solutions is a step towards this goal says MOIP Minister Teariki Heather and New Zealand High […]

Vaka retreat

Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Local

Cook Islands mamas in the finals

Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in National

In an annual competition to select the best PR photo in Germany, an iconic Cook Islands image has placed among the top ten images in the tourism category. The Cook Islands tourism corporation photo, taken by Australian photographer David Kirkland, was one of 1530 images submitted. News Aktuell, a subsidiary of the leading German newswire […]

Attacker caught

Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in National

The man who brutally attacked Cook Islands News employee Zeb Autaua a couple of weeks ago has been caught and charged by police. Richard Vainerere pleaded guilty in the High Court yesterday to the assault, which happened on the Avarua main street in the early hours of August 18. The case was adjourned to September […]

Internet on lockdown

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Telecom Cook Islands is confident their wireless network is coping with the rigours of the Pacific Islands Forum despite a network outage in the lead-up to the event. One of the broadband remote access routers failed completely last Wednesday night that affected broadband customers throughout the island. There have also been complaints of minor outages […]

PACP supports Fiji

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Tokelau Premier Toke Talagi has backed Fiji’s return to being involved in Pacific division of the African, Carribean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Formed in 1975, the ACP comprises 80 countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific that are separated into seven areas. Aside from the Caribbean and Pacific groups, the other five […]

USP campus extensions unveiled

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

University of the South Pacific’s vice chancellor Rajesh Chandra vowed to ”transform“ the institution at the official opening of the new extensions to the local campus on Monday afternoon. Construction of an administration area, computer laboratory, lecture room and student kitchen by contractor Landholdings Ltd in March was completed within five months. AUSAid provided funding […]

Teachers sought for 2013 influx of new staff

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Another influx of new teachers is expected to the Cook Islands next year, with the Ministry of Education currently advertising for positions available for 2013. A range of positions are to be filled, with a large number of these at Tereora College. The college is seeking applicants for a deputy principal position, head of faculty […]

Questions over prisoner's mental health

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

The chief justice is worried about sex offender Japhet Manuel’s mental state and the probability of continued offending on his release from prison if he does not receive medical treatment. Chief Justice Tom Weston yesterday sentenced Manuel to three and a half years in prison for six offences – including the indecent assault of a […]

Sex offender jailed

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Serial sex offender Japhet Manuel was sentenced yesterday to three and a half years in prison. Chief Justice Tom Weston sent him to prison for six offences committed over four days in March, including sexually assaulting a sleeping pregnant woman. Manuel’s offending spree started on March 14, when he walked onto a woman’s property and […]

The last straw

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Aucklander Nick Diggle has had a rough few months. First his yacht, Bonny, was stolen by suspected paedophile David Peppiatt last December as he fled New Zealand before his trial. Then Diggle discovered Bonny had been found on January 4 drifting 20 nautical miles from Rarotonga, after Peppiatt mysteriously disappeared. Now he has to pay […]