National
Jury trial aborted
Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Crime
The jury trial of the woman accused of stealing pearls from her employer started yesterday morning – and was aborted by the afternoon. Tipora Maihia is accused of stealing 47 pearl pendants to the value of $5000 between November 1, 2010, and March 12, 2011, from her employer Farm Direct Pearls to sell at her […]
CJ sceptical of man turning over new leaf
Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Crime
A man who committed five out of six burglaries while on bail was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison. In sentencing Ngatapuna Rata for 14 offences, including assaulting a female, Chief Justice Tom Weston noticed the man had a “very significant” criminal record. He has previously spent time in prison for burglary. In […]
Not 'evasion'
Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Local
MP and lawyer Norman George did not face tax evasion charges, as stated in Saturday’s headline – his charges were the lesser charges of failing to furnish tax returns. Norman George had pleaded guilty in the High Court to 12 charges against him and his company Norman George and Associates. The Teenui-Mapumai (Atiu) MP was […]
SPC study helps Mangaia prepare for cyclones
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Environment
A study of tropical cyclones and associated wave action is providing information that can be used to assess the resilience of Mangaia, the most southern of the Cook Islands, to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Jens Kruger of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) said that with coastal communities, private […]
Undersea cable 'urgent'
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Local
Talk of a new undersea cable in the region was rampant last week. Within the Forum communiqu released on Thursday, leaders acknowledged an “urgent need to implement submarine cable connectivity in the Pacific Islands region”. They asked that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and University of the South Pacific conduct “further urgent analysis of […]
Clean water for Raro: $65m
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Local
Rarotonga’s dirty drinking water is set to be a thing of the past, with a tri-lateral agreement promising potable water by 2015. The water partnership agreement – signed by the Cook Islands, China and New Zealand last week – aims to deliver clean drinking water to all buildings connected on Rarotonga’s existing water network. The […]
Arorangi jetty taking shape
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
Work on the $2 million alternative cruise liner landing platform and jetty in Arorangi is well on track for completion in mid October. Funded by the New Zealand/Australia Harmonised Aid Programme – the project includes the building of a landing platform in the middle of the lagoon with a 65-metre jetty extending from the shore […]
Cooks commemorate Merchant Navy
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
A service to recognise the efforts of the Merchant Navy during wartime will be held at the RSA clubrooms at 11am today. The Merchant Navy flag will be hoisted for the first time ever at the RSA. Merv Martin, an ex-fireman who served in the Merchant Navy from 1951 to 1965, explains the world is […]
Big fishing grant hooked by Mangaia
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
The Mangaia Island Fishing Association (MIFA) has landed the big one – a $153,921 grant from the Japanese Government. Formally known as Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGP), the funding will go towards completing the island’s training facility, which will be complete with cool storage facilities and will run from solar power. Funding […]
Leaders ignore Papuan rights abuses, call for observer status
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
While calls from civil society organisations continued last week for Pacific leaders to grant observer status to West Papua amid fresh reports of human rights violations in the Indonesian-ruled Melanesian region, there was little interest in Forum circles. Vanuatu deputy prime minister Hamilson Lini told Pacific Scoop that while he supported the call by West […]
Call to clean up 'nuclear mess'
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
Ahead of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s visit, Pacific Forum leaders called on her government to clean up its nuclear mess in the Marshall Islands. Clinton confirmed yesterday that her government has earmarked US$3.5 million in additional funding to clean up unexploded bombs and warheads in the region. In a Forum communiqu released on […]
Celebrity guest at Manuia Beach Resort
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been the buzz on the island for the past week, where between official meetings and photo shoots the diplomat has also taken the time to pose with local and visiting admirers. Here she is pictured with management of Manuia Beach Resort Tom and Sue Vea along with Loren […]
US funding maritime surveillance
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
Recognising nearly 70 years of the United States military’s involvement in the region, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton announced that her government would be earmarking funding for increased maritime surveillance in the Pacific. The United States first penetrated the region at the start of World War II, she said, and since then has kept […]
Japan hands over Te Kainga centre
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
The Japanese government handed over a refurbished mental health respite facility to the Te Kainga O Pa Taunga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre on Friday. Te Kainga received a grant of about $141,000 under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), under which it was able to complete the project. This project is […]
Lynch new seabed minerals commissioner
Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in National
Local lawyer and ministerial advisor Paul Lynch has appointed to the position of seabed minerals commissioner. This was announced on Friday by deputy prime minister and minister for minerals and natural resources Tom Marsters. A selection panel short-listed applicants for the advertised position, and Marsters made the final decision pursuant to the Seabed Minerals Act […]
Training call for parliamentarians
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
A training run has been called for players intending to be part of the Cook Islands parliamentarian team taking on their visiting New Zealand counterparts next Wednesday. The visiting Kiwi team will also be bringing with them the Parliamentarian Rugby World Cup – the third world cup to tour Rarotonga this year. The training run […]
Te Vaerua says thanks to ADB
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
Te Vaerua staff offered their gratitude to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at an official handover ceremony yesterday. The ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Program (JFPR) gave $167,000 in grants for four projects for homecare and nursing services in the Cook Islands earlier this month. Exactly 100 elderly and persons with disabilities will receive […]
American Samoa bans shark fishing
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
American Samoa has reiterated the cultural importance of sharks by signing an executive order that will ensure the safety of all sharks in its waters is adhered to. Governor Togiola T.A. Tulafono signed the document that will ensure commercial fishers who accidentally catch sharks will be forced to simply throw them back into the water. […]
Golden Tuna shipment unveiled
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
The future of the Cook Islands’ canned tuna industry has a golden look to it after the first shipment of local tuna to be labelled under the Golden Tuna brand was unveiled yesterday. It is expected that as much as 500 tonnes of fish will be shipped from Rarotonga every month, though this could very […]
World Bank leads oceans investment
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
The World Bank yesterday announced plans for a Pacific Islands ocean investment package to be supported by a number of partners from the Global Partnership for Oceans (GPO). The GPO is a coalition of more than 120 countries and organisations, including the World Bank, that has come together to improve the health of the world’s […]
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