National
Group tackles weed problem
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in National
The issue of biologically controlling common weeds will be discussed at a workshop today involving a group of plant control experts. Plant pathologist Sarah Dodd and weed ecologist Quentin Paynter of Landcare Research New Zealand have teamed up with entomologist Dr Maja Poeschko and Natural Heritage Trust director Gerald McCormarck and are presenting their findings […]
Jury chosen in Eagle trial
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Crime
The Operation Eagle trial began yesterday with the selection of a jury of 12. The accused – Giovanni Marsters, Inano Matapo and Samuel Tangaroa – have pleaded not guilty to the 31 charges laid jointly or separately against them. The charges include possession, importation and distribution of the class C drug cannabis. Initially police laid […]
Marumaru Atua vaka crew crushed
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands crew aboard vaka Marumaru Atua feels let down by government’s failure to send a Cook Islands delegation to Honiara’s Festival of Pacific Arts. In his regular blog update, voyager Alex Olah described on behalf of his crew the pain and sadness he felt when no one Cook Islands team turned up to […]
$330,000 for VIP lounge upgrade
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in National
The upgrade of the airport’s VIP lounge is continuing to make good progress. The $330,000 project was designed by Stephen+Turner Architects to ensure the senior dignitaries arriving for the Pacific Leaders Forum will not be crowded into a tiny lounge. The large coral wall that once hosted an outdoor smoking area is becoming part of […]
'Before us was an empty beach'
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua arrived at the Honiara Festival of Pacific Arts last week. In this blog update, voyager Alex Olah articulates his crew’s disappointment and sadness at the absence of a Cook Islands delegation in Honiara. He says the crew was broken-hearted and upset that they were the only vaka that wasn’t welcomed […]
Youth inspired to preserve culture
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in National
Youth delegates from around the Pacific discussed heritage at a regional workshop held last week during the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara. Entitled Youth Speak!, the main purpose of the workshop was ”to get young people’s views heard on the topics of culture, heritage and environment,“ said Tarisi Vunidilo, secretary general of the […]
New 'Foundations Act' explained
Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in National
A new service is now available for clients of the Cook Islands international financial services industry after the passing on Monday of the Foundations Act 2012. Foundations are the first new service available from the industry since the 2008 addition of Cook Islands Limited Liability Companies. Parliament requested an in-camera session with Financial Services Development […]
Rarotonga near full capacity
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands tourism season is beginning its peak, and the tourism corporation says numbers are very high already. The tourist peak season in the Cooks is July to September, coinciding with the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. July last year saw tourist numbers at an all-time high for any month, with 13,619 visitors to the Cooks. […]
Burglaries up 50 percent this month
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Local
Burglaries in Rarotonga seem to be on the rise, with statistics showing home break-ins are up almost fifty percent since last month. There were 37 homes broken into around the island in June and 25 broken into in May. According to police, 37 is the second highest figure ever. In March this year 38 homes […]
Drum gifts draw sound advice
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Thursday was a day of welcoming and one of well-wishes for the students at Nukutere College. A beautiful sunny day brought beams of smiles to the faces of the students at school with the gifting of a new pate (drum) set gifted by local maker William Vogel. It wasn’t long before smiles were replaced by […]
Greater awareness promoted
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Raising awareness for the needs of people with disabilities and promoting better networking between organisations were two key parts to a forum organised by the Cook Islands National Disability Council. The day-long event was held at the Sinai Hall in Taputapuatea and council coordinator Pat Farr says it was aimed at building on the Cook […]
Cultural rights meet a first in the Pacific
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
The first symposium for cultural rights in the Pacific will be held in the Solomon Islands this month. The Pacific cultural rights symposium, to be held in Honiara from July 9 to 11, will take place during the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara and will include discussion on cultural rights and heritage, traditional […]
Wall nears completion
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Ports authority Bim Tou says the real legacy of the soon-to-be-completed Avatiu harbour development lies in the new-found skills of the large local labour force who have worked on the project. While there have been 65 workers on the project in total, just 12 of them are expatriates recruited for the McConnell Dowell-run development. It […]
Ariki vaine honoured and praised
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Tinomana Ruta Tuoro Ariki and Dame Margaret Makea Karika Ariki DBE were the first two chiefs to be welcomed to Atupare Marae during the celebrations of Ra o te Ui Ariki on Friday. Tinomana had the honour of being the first ariki welcomed as the paramount chief of the host vaka Puaikura. Dame Margaret Makea […]
Retreat for police
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands Police attended a retreat in Titikaveka on Tuesday in order to plan for the next financial year. About 10 members of the police force were at the all-day planning session at the SDA administration building. The management team, led by police commissioner Maara Tetava, came up with business plans to stand the police […]
Growing pride at agriculture
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
The Ministry of Agriculture had three reasons to celebrate on Thursday. As the ministry formally celebrated Dr Matairangi Purea’s homecoming to the Arorangi headquarters, Purea celebrated the remarkable achievements of two of his staff. ”I am so proud of these fellows,“ Dr Purea said of head of biosecurity Ngatoko Ngatoko and director of research William […]
Domestic violence message goes out
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in National
Eight evenings of domestic violence workshops in Rutaki were well-attended by the community, and organisers hope their message will continue to be heard. The Rutaki Vainetini women’s group, which received $6600 of funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme through the Community Initiative Scheme earlier this year, started the programme after realising something needed to […]
Four in court for assaulting women
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Crime
High Court on July 5 was presided over by justice of the peace Carmen Temata, who passed the following judgments: Mii Matara – was in court for assaulting a female, to which he pleaded guilty. The defendant punched his victim in the eye and twice on her back. The maximum penalty for this charge is […]
Design starts on solar system
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Environment
An Australian design group is working to power part of the Northern Group using solar energy. Solar power systems will be developed on Rakahanga, Pukapuka and Nassau with US$4 million which Japan donated to the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) fund. A group of three designers from the Centre of Appropriate Technology (CAT) Projects, which won […]
Solid waste in the spotlight
Monday 9 July 2012 | Published in Environment
A committee has been given the go-ahead to find the solution to the Cook Islands’ solid waste problem. Minister of infrastructure and planning Teariki Heather set up the Waste Financing Committee in February to investigate possible options for long-term financing for solid waste management, and has now confirmed they can continue with their work. The […]
« Previous 1 … 1,429 1,430 1,431 1,432 1,433 1,434 1,435 1,436 1,437 … 1,901 Next »