National
Simulators give seafarers confidence
Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in National
Computer simulators are being used to give Pacific trainee seafarers a ‘virtual’ feel for highly-skilled jobs, while minimising the risk of damage to a real ship. The training simulators can be programmed to suit different jobs on ships in areas such as navigation, the engine room, ship management, fuel operation and cargo handling. This is […]
Minerals flag flown in China
Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in National
As the senior advisor to minerals minister Tom Marsters, Paul Lynch was last month invited on a three-week junket to China to attend a seminar on mineral resources development and management, attended by delegates from Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. At the invitation of the Chinese government, Lynch and GIS specialist for […]
People helping people is 'humanitarian'
Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in National
”This year’s World Humanitarian Day presents an historic opportunity to bring together one billion people from around the world to advance a powerful and proactive idea: People Helping People.“ Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations Peter Muller is the regional disaster response advisor for the Pacific with the United Nations Office for the […]
Akirata perform proudly for Czechs
Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in National
Akirata have done themselves proud with their performances in the Czech Republic. The Rarotonga dance team’s first stop on the Czech tour was the city of Ostrava, only 10 kilometres from Poland. Akirata are performing alongside dance troupes from Croatia, Poland, Serbia, Denmark and the Czech Republic all with their own unique style of dance […]
Auckland councillor supports war veteran
Monday 20 August 2012 | Published in National
A councillor for New Zealand’s biggest city is throwing his support behind Rarotongan Bill Framhein, who despite having served in the New Zealand Army is not receiving a pension while living in the Cook Islands. Born in Rarotonga, Framhein was one of some 36 young Cook Islanders who were recruited by the New Zealand Army […]
Reclamation project awaits final material
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
Avatiu port land reclamation project designer George Cowan is still aiming for completion of reclamation by October, as the cyclone season looms. The designer, who works independently from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP), said they were hoping to finish the entire project by November as the reclamation plan was waiting on the final […]
Harbour dredging all done
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
Dredging of the Avatiu port has been completed, meaning the hardest worker of the bunch is about to head home to New Zealand. Around 73,000 cubic metres of underwater materials have been dredged at the site and have since been shipped to either the Punanga Nui markplace as a part of the land reclamation project […]
PM explains shipping 'complication'
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
Prime Minister Henry Puna has emphasised he has no personal or business-related cargo in a one-page statement. A fact sheet was released by Prime Minister Henry Puna and gave a breakdown of ”salient facts“ as confirmed by culture secretary Sonny Williams, who was in charge of the departure of the Lady Naomi on Saturday. Thirteen […]
Police minister checks out with police chief
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
Minister of Police Teariki Heather left the country yesterday morning to attend the Pacific Chiefs of Police conference in the Solomon Islands. Police commissioner Maara Tetava accompanied him. The two may be glad to escape the heat from yesterday’s news of money and property being stolen from the police safe by sworn officers. Cash to […]
Experts 'surprised' at climate change results
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Environment
Two Australian climate change experts here to teach a training programme were surprised that a one-size-fits-all approach does not apply to Pacific Islands climate projections. Scientists John Clarke and Ron Hoeke from Australia’s national science agency CSIRO are in the Cooks this week for two reasons: to teach Meteorological Service staff how to use new […]
Forum flags flying
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local
The Forum flags have arrived. Cook Islands images – of marine life, a breaching whale, costumed dancers Matthew Pierre and Silas Tuaputa, and the view from a vaka – have been printed on larger-than-life-sized banners and flags, which will be positioned around Rarotonga and strung on 100 flagpoles. Banners will be stationed around the airport, […]
Quick visit by McCully
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local
New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully made a quick visit to Rarotonga yesterday to meet with Prime Minister Henry Puna ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum. McCully entered the country without much fanfare, aboard a commercial Air New Zealand flight. (He has arrived via chartered jet or Air Force Orion in the past.) McCully leaves […]
500 pearls go missing
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in Local
It’s safe to say pearl farmer Temu Okotai’s faith in the police couldn’t dwindle any further. Questions surrounding the police force have arisen this week after two instances of police thievery were revealed in Cook Islands News. The first was the theft of around $9000 from the Bonny crime scene by then-24-year-old constable Davinia Webb. […]
UNESCO approves 2 proposals
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
The UNESCO National Commission of the Cook Islands has received notification from the UNESCO head office that two of its proposals, submitted under the participation programme for the 2012-2013 biennium, have been approved. The sum of US$25,000 has been approved for the digitisation of the audio-visual collections of the national archives, and this project will […]
Cooks making international headlines
Saturday 18 August 2012 | Published in National
Hillary Clinton’s ”rumoured“ visit to the Cook Islands has flung the country into the international spotlight. The Cook Islands made headlines this week for being what an Associated Press writer called ”almost too small for Hillary Clinton“. At this point Clinton’s office has not confirmed that the secretary of state will be flying to Rarotonga, […]
Tepuka sewerage problem solved
Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Environment
No longer do Tereora College students have to endure the stench of untreated sewage wafting from tanks positioned at their school’s entrance. For over a decade the Tepuka wastewater plant has been under-performing, to put it politely, but this week the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) introduces an updated secondary treatment system, installed by […]
PM's office goes solar
Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Environment
The prime minister’s office has now been converted to solar power. Eighty solar panels were installed on Prime Minister Henry Puna’s office roof by local company Andersons Ltd. The official handover ceremony was on Monday morning. The initial work started in June, when the workers began to put down the cabling and rails in preparation […]
Judge Judy appointed
Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Local
The High Court of the Cook Islands has a new judge. Justice Judith Potter has been appointed as a judge of the High Court, with her warrant starting on September 1, which post-dates her retirement as a judge of the New Zealand High Court. She will be the second woman appointed to the role, Justice […]
New police scandal:
Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Police are embroiled in yet another scandal involving officers stealing money. Commissioner Maara Tetava has confirmed that cash to a value of between $10,000 and $20,000 – along with other property – has gone missing from the national police headquarters. Tetava will not reveal how many are suspected of being involved as the […]
Hydroponic first in Atiu
Friday 17 August 2012 | Published in National
Atiu is reaping the benefits of the island’s first hydroponics scheme. With help from the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) board director Ngaakitai Taria, Timau and Ngametua Mokoroa are the owners of the facility that aims to reduce imports to the island and boost the local economy. The impressive structure houses hydroponic lettuces, with […]
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