National
Spouses out and about Rarotonga
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
The opportunity to meet some of the women from Vaka Takitumu was just part of the spouses programme that took place yesterday. Akaiti Puna, alongside spouses of Cook Islands Members of Parliament, spent the day hosting spouses of Pacific leaders. The group travelled to various destinations across the island, including Rarotonga Hospital, the BCI Stadium […]
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 […]
No CI products in True Pacific brand
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
A non-profit group which helps consumers choose quality Pacific products is showcasing its brand at the clean and green industry showcase at Rarotonga’s National Auditorium. Products displaying the quality mark – a stylised frangipani flower – must be of genuine Pacific origin and meet strict quality standards. True Pacific is an initiative of the New […]
Fibre optic proposed
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
The Cook Islands has until the end of the year to accept or reject an offer from New Zealand-based company Hawaiki Cable Ltd to connect to a fibre optic cable being installed from Hawai’i to Auckland and Sydney via numerous Pacific Islands. In the works for about three years, the project has been unpublicised, but […]
'Best fit' governance practices critical
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Max Everest-Phillips, director of governance and institutional development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, is attending the Pacific Leaders Forum. He maintains Pacific integration and sustainability will be achieved through good governance. Sustainable development in Pacific island countries hinges on good governance and visionary leadership. Effective, efficient and equitable governance improves the lives of citizens by advancing […]
Bachelet in gender talks
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Gender equality in the Pacific will be discussed as a Forum side event today, with a number of high-profile female United Nations members attending. Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Michele Bachelet, will take part in the panel discussions on gender equality. The head of the UN Delegation to the Pacific Island Forum was […]
'No such thing as exploratory fishing'
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Confident that the Cook Islands ”will do the right thing“, Marshall Islands politician Tony deBrum is congratulating government ”in advance“ for legislating a shark sanctuary. The member of parliament for Kwajalein has been vocal about shark protection in his country, which banned shark finning in October last year. DeBrum, who is in Rarotonga for the […]
Celebrating Moana Nui O Kiva
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Conservation International this week hosted a dinner to celebrate the Pacific Oceanscape and those who are party to it. Prime Minister Henry Puna welcomed conservationists, voyagers and regional decision-makers to a seaside function on Monday night. ”The well-known Pacific philosopher and writer Epeli Hau’ofa defined who we are as Pacific Islanders – he said, and […]
New pact opens up regional trade
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Following months of deliberation and seven rounds of negotiations, Pacific ACP leaders yesterday signed the PICTA trade in services protocol. ”This will be a significant step towards facilitating regional integration and unlocking potential benefits of regional trade in services,“ Forum Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade said. The agreement engenders the liberalisation of services in travel, […]
PNG accepts deep sea mining talks
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says his government’s options are open and he welcomes an open and transparent discussion on the sea bed mining amidst opposition by international, regional and national NGOs, environmental groupings and other stakeholders. Speaking in Rarotonga, O’Neill said, ”We welcome any contributions the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and other […]
Deep sea mining framework unveiled
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
A regional legislative and regulatory framework for deep-sea minerals exploration and exploitation was unveiled yesterday, and some non-government organisations are highly concerned about its impact. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, whose portfolios include deep-sea minerals, spoke at the launch yesterday, noting that Pacific leaders endorsed the framework in Cairns in 2009. He said the framework […]
Last leaders arrive
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Except for star of the show Hillary Clinton, the last of the foreign leaders to arrive for the Pacific Leaders Forum this week flew into Rarotonga yesterday. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key arrived in an RNZAF plane at around 1 yesterday afternoon. Also on-board were Kiribati President Anote Tong, Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister Ham […]
Reward: $12,500
Wednesday 29 August 2012 | Published in National
Local businessman Bill Doherty is increasing the reward offered for the return of his safe – to $12,500. On August 4, a Saturday night, the Landholdings Ltd office at Panama was broken into and a locked safe stolen. To speed up the police investigation, Doherty offered $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction […]
Cosmo magazine shoots in the Cooks
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in National
If anyone was wondering who the beautiful people being followed around by a camera crew were last week, we can assure you it wasn’t some early Forum delegates. A group from women’s magazine Cosmopolitan came on a direct flight from Sydney on August 18 and left just under a week later. The crew of nine […]
Feasts celebrate Forum fellowship
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in National
Food, friendship and acknowledging the links between Niue, Tonga and Samoa with the Cook Islands was the focus of two special celebrations from their local communities last weekend. A kaikai was held for various Polynesian leaders, including Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and French Polynesia president Oscar Temaru at the residence of the late […]
Underwrite review
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in National
The future of long-haul travel from the Cooks could change drastically after 2014. The present airline underwriting agreement covering the Los Angeles and Sydney direct services runs until then. The Tourism Corporation will shortly be inviting expressions of interest to all airlines within the region who may like future long haul access to the Cook […]
Sentence suspended after assaulting partner
Tuesday 28 August 2012 | Published in Crime
The High Court on August 23 was presided over by justice of the peace Carmen Temata, who passed the following judgments: Richard Hoepper – pleaded guilty to assaulting a female. The assault happened during an argument between the defendant and his victim, who are in a de-facto relationship and have six children. The police prosecutor […]
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