National
Solar unit gifted
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Environment
The Cook Islands could be using more solar energy in the future if Kiwi entrepreneur Baskhar Sharma has anything to do about it. Sharma, of trading group Pacific New Zealand, presented Prime Minister Henry Puna with a state-of-the-art hybrid solar air conditioning unit. The solar panel, which goes by the name of Sol Air, is […]
O3B internet experts explain plan
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Local
A special industry forum is being held today in order to discuss the new O3B internet service being launched in the Cooks. Telecom Cook Islands has invited people from key businesses, state owned enterprises and government ministries to attend the evening presentation given by Telecom and O3B representatives. The people chosen to attend the conference […]
Busy week: Lagoon Day, Careers Expo, Rippa rugby
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Local
Learning to improve lagoon health, picking the right path for a future career and lacing up rugby boots are all on the agenda for Rarotonga school students this week. Today the postponed Lagoon Day event will go ahead from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning office in Arorangi. Rarotonga schools would have received their revived […]
4 men survive boating mishap
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in Local
For now, fishing has stopped at Captain Moko’s charters after the Avana fishing operator’s seven-metre fishing boat ‘Tangaroa-Jillymae’ sunk in Avana harbour on Saturday morning. An emotional Steven Kavana, known to everyone as Captain Moko, blames himself for the accident which resulted in a rescue of the charter’s three customers and skipper Andrew Bullen. ”I’m […]
Kiwi tour operator speaks for sharks
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in National
Kiwi tourism operator Boyd McGregor knows more than most about the positive impact sharks have on the environment and is all for the proposed sanctuary in the Cook Islands. McGregor practically lives on the sea for a quarter of the year in Gisborne as the director of Surfit Enterprises, a company that offers deep sea […]
They never come back
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in National
Diabetics who develop progressive kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, have three options – dialysis, transplant or death. In the Cook Islands resources are not sufficient to staff and maintain a dialysis machine, meaning that people who need its assistance must be transferred to New Zealand. In most cases they do not return to the Cook […]
Pa takes war against sugar to medics
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in National
Pa Ariki continues to speak out against unhealthy behaviours and what she perceives as an unwillingness to change them. She spoke at last week’s health conference to a room of visiting doctors and professors about the way sugar and processed foods are destroying her people. Traditionally Cook Islanders ate what they caught, planted and harvested […]
New memorandum in the making
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in National
Ties between the Ministry of Health and the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) have been further strengthened after plans to reopen the Cook Islands School of Nursing were announced. CMDHB chairman Gregor Coster and secretary for the ministry of health Elizabeth Iro discussed the school and other opportunities under a new memorandum of understanding […]
Meaningless diatribe
Monday 16 July 2012 | Published in National
Punanga Nui needs very little management. Yet we are going to appoint a Development Committee. Here is a classic case of fixing something that is not yet (!) broken. For many years this entity has grown haphazardly with very little thought or planning put into it. It has its small issues that can be addressed […]
Aitutaki to go international?
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
Plans are being made to investigate whether Aitutaki International Airport can live up to the name. One month after the completion of the $3.8 million re-seal of the runway, the Airport Authority is preparing a tender for a feasibility study into whether the costs, predicted airport passengers and necessary aircraft will warrant the move for […]
It's not over until the fat lady sings
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
A group of independent shippers whose letter of protest was rejected by government yesterday is not going to give up the fight. Richard Barton of Shipping Cook Islands said it was ”absolutely amazing“ that Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters responded in the manner he did. Marsters asked the independent shippers group to retrieve the letter […]
Tai Moana hits back
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in Local
The owners of the company at the centre of the shipping debate have hit back at what they refer to as the ”unfortunate slurring“ of their name. Tai Moana Ltd owners Vaine and Arama Wichman wrote to Richard Barton of Cook Islands Shipping yesterday and asked him to contact them first in future before putting […]
4 Cook Islands languages 'endangered'
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in Local
Language retention is such a hot topic that it even featured in the annual health conference. Leon Iusitini presented at the conference this week the results of a survey conducted amongst Pacific people in Auckland. The survey involved interviews with 926 children, 134 of whom identified as Cook Islands Maori (about 15 percent of the […]
Celebrate Bastille Day in French style
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
Francophiles unite: celebrate the French national day a la Francaise at Avarua’s Le Bon Vivant cafe today (Saturday). Bastille Day is celebrated annually in France to commemorate the bloody French Revolution. In particular, it is held to celebrate the Fete de la Federation, a huge feast that happened at the end of the revolution on […]
New booklet to guide parents
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
It can be a difficult time for many families when a child takes their first small steps towards independence. Ina Tamarua, early childhood education (ECE) advisor at the Ministry of Education, is making this easier, with the production of a new information booklet for caregivers. Ikianga I Tetai Apii Potiki No Taau Tama (Choosing an […]
Local knowledge is just as useful
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
An Aitutaki gardener says the two agriculture officers and growers from Mauke who recently visited China could have learned just as much by visiting their own backyard. Tereapii Vaine Keu and Archie Taripo joined Hugh Graham in attending a training course in Haikou City which touched on the harvesting and processing of tropical fruits and […]
CITC Liquor gets a makeover
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
With its distinctive pink exterior paint detailing, it has been difficult to miss that changes have been made at CITC Liquor. The new look store officially opens its doors today for its ‘Renovation Celebration.’ Staff are celebrating with a new uniform, and a range of giveaways for customers. This includes the chance to win a […]
Card a 'win-win' for Cooks
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
A new debit card which entices visitors to the Cooks then gives them money to spend in local stores was launched on Wednesday. The Mataora Visitor Card is a collaborative project between the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation and Westpac bank, and aims to provide an incentive for travellers to choose the Cook Islands as their […]
We should all be fighting diabetes
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
Diabetes affects not only its victim, but also her unborn baby. Over eight percent of Dr May Aung’s patients over the last five years have tested positive for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM is a condition that causes women – who have not previously been diagnosed with diabetes – to exhibit high blood sugar levels […]
Obese children need urgent help
Saturday 14 July 2012 | Published in National
The World Health Organisation has deemed childhood obesity one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. This was the crux of a presentation delivered by Dr Voi Solomone of Rarotonga Hospital at the annual health conference. He explained that obese children are more likely to die earlier and develop disability in […]
« Previous 1 … 1,437 1,438 1,439 1,440 1,441 1,442 1,443 1,444 1,445 … 1,912 Next »