National
China not fazed by Taiwan here
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
That a Taiwanese delegation is on Rarotonga for the Forum does not worry the Chinese government. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told reporters on Thursday night that most Forum island countries have declared their support for the Chinese government, thereby rejecting the possibility of establishing diplomatic ties with Taiwan. “I think most island countries […]
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 […]
$25m for climate change
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Environment
The United States has pledged US$25 million over five years to alleviate the destructive impact of climate change on Pacific Island nations. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that her government understands the immediacy and urgency of the issue of climate change for the Pacific Islands. “We understand very well that many of […]
Gift of pearls the crowning moment
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is taking a piece of the Cook Islands home with her. As gratitude for her support of the Cook Islands’ marine conservation initiatives, the Cook Islands Pearl Authority yesterday gifted her with a strand of AB pearls and a pair of black pearls studs set in white gold. […]
Kia Orana, Aunty Hillary!
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in Local
A strand of Cook Islands Avaiki black pearls will soon become one of the most photographed pieces of jewellery on the planet – as it will be worn by the globetrotting diplomat, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The beautiful strand of pearls was gifted by Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna to commemorate Clinton’s […]
#1: food security and environment
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
By Vaine Wichman Development Economist Teura and I proudly did our national duty last Tuesday. We stood in our guard of honour, and danced and welcomed Julia Gillard, Australia’s Prime Minister, on to our shores. This will be the third Forum I can remember the Cook Islands hosting. There was the 1985 one (16th meeting), […]
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 […]
'No strings' to Chinese aid
Saturday 1 September 2012 | Published in National
The Chinese government denies it has any ulterior motives in providing no-strings-attached aid to Pacific countries. In an interview with local and New Zealand media on Thursday night, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai said China is “not motivated by any self-centred grand strategy of (its) own” but by a “genuine desire to […]
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