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 […]

'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 […]

Police too busy to return money

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Police Commissioner Maara Tetava says the investigation into the theft of $20,000 from police custody by police officers is still ongoing. He apologised yesterday for not providing more information, saying he was ”very busy“ with the Forum security operations. The commissioner, along with Minister of Police Teariki Heather, flew to a week-long conference in the […]

'We don't speed'

Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in National

Motorcade coordinator Robert Graham claims the motorcade carrying foreign leaders around the Forum does not speed – despite the public alleging otherwise. Volunteer drivers, who practised for weeks, were trained to observe strict traffic regulations and all speed limits. ”We don’t speed,“ says Graham, before saying he has been ”sacking guys every day“ for that […]

Fishermen support shark protection

Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in Local

Terrence Nightingale, Captain of Cook Islands longline boat FV Viking Spirit, says, ”We don’t have any interest in catching sharks. We set them free.“ Terry’s testimony resonated as the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative (PICI) proposed regulations for the creation of a shark sanctuary that would ban all retention of sharks on commercial longline vessels. In […]

Avoid that motorcade

Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National

Rarotonga residents looking to avoid the motorcades hurtling around the island may be out of luck – motorcade co-ordinator Robert Graham said he cannot give out exact travel times due to security reasons. ”All I can say is that there will be a few more motorcades travelling around the island over the next few days.“ […]

Cook Islanders rally for shark sanctuary

Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in Local

Sharks are more important to Cook Islanders than many people think. ”For a lot of us and a lot of Cook Islands people, the shark has always been in our families. A lot of our families use the shark, use the mango, as a protector, a family guardian, which makes it even more important for […]

Regal entrance by Australian PM Julia Gillard

Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard sits regally as she is carried on a traditional paata into the official opening of the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum at the National Auditorium yesterday. Each of the 16 Forum country leaders here on Rarotonga for the week-long Forum received a turou challenge from a warrior as they were carried […]