National
Mussells plead guilty to 'structuring'
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Crime
Husband and wife Christopher and Akisi Mussell were in the High Court on Monday facing a number of ‘money structuring’ charges. They both pleaded guilty to all charges in front of Judge Hugh Williams. They will be sentenced next week and face a maximum sentence of up to 12 months in prison or a fine […]
Vaka bound for Vanuatu
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Environment
Our arrival ceremony in Laucala Bay in Suva was really cool! It started the same way as in Levuka, with 3 members from each vaka chosen to chase and search through a group of Fijian ladies for the prized tabua (whale’s tooth) that they were concealing. However, the difference with this one was that we […]
From stone age to cyber age
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands this week went from having the oldest customs legislation in the region to boasting the newest. Parliament passed the Customs Revenue and Border Protection Bill without amendment, in the process repealing and replacing a 99-year-old piece of legislation that was reportedly the oldest in the entire Pacific. In speaking on the principles […]
Luen Thai partnering with local company
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Luen Thai Fishing Venture – one of the largest fishing companies in the world – is intending to set up a company in the Cook Islands and has applied for a licence from the Business Trade and Investment Board to operate alongside local partners. Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked minister of marine resources Teina Bishop […]
Progress in boundary dispute
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Cabinet is making strides in a decade-long dispute with Kiribati, Niue and Tokelau regarding the boundaries of the Cook Islands’ exclusive economic zone. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters said in Parliament yesterday that government expects to legally seal the deal at the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in August. In the meantime, Parliament has passed a […]
James wins tabua
Wednesday 20 June 2012 | Published in Local
Vaka Marumaru Atua crew James Pakoti shows off a tabua (whale’s tooth) during the Vaka Voyagers welcome to Fiji. Three crew members from each vaka were chosen to be part of the tabua ceremony that included the voyagers swimming to shore to search for the prized whale’s tooth among a group of Fiji women. Excerpts […]
Banking 'tidy up' law passed
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
The Banking Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday. The Bill amends the Banking Act, which was passed in December of last year and which received royal assent from the Queen’s Representative on December 13. Finance minister Mark Brown read the amendment bill’s explanatory note in Parliament yesterday. ”This bill is to make an amendment […]
Going public
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown says government is keen to publicise a forthcoming report analysing Cook Islands banking institutions, which is currently being drafted by the founding chief executive of Kiwibank Sam Knowles. ”He (Knowles) has provided some initial explanations to myself, however his final report will be due very shortly and it will be a […]
Slow down and watch those animals
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Here at the Esther Honey Foundation our number one case seems to be vehicular in nature – animals being hit by cars, bikes, jumping out of cars, trucks or being run over from sleeping under cars. At this point we have four dogs and three cats which all have serious injuries from being in vehicular […]
Sunset Road portrays life of local artist
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
A play based on the life of local artist Ian George – and written and directed by his daughter Miria – premieres today (June 20) in Wellington. While her theatre experience is extensive, ‘Sunset Road’ is the first play Miria has both written and directed. ”It is inspired by my Dad’s life – but has […]
'Go green'
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Associate minister of agriculture Kiriau Turepu has said that Titikaveka Growers Association deserves more financial support. ”I am happy with what the Titikaveka Growers are doing today,“ he said in Parliament on Friday. ”They are looking at various options of how to use their own soil rather than bringing soil from abroad. I fully support […]
Tongareva gives thanks
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen has extended his sincerest thanks to New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter and his team for supplying Penrhyn with fuel. In Parliament yesterday Rasmussen made special mention of the three warships that travelled to Tongareva bearing 60,000 litres of diesel – 30,000 litres for the island and 30,000 for Te Kukupa […]
'Next time you'll go to jail'
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Carmen Temata presided over the following cases in the High Court on June 14: Tereinga Rima – was in court for common assault. In February this year Rima appeared before the court for assaulting a female, for which he is on probation. Temata told Rima to listen carefully. ”What you have […]
Retrospective tender waiver not granted
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
A Cook Islands Tourism Corporation request to retrospectively waive the tender process for four of its marketing campaigns was not granted, meaning funding was not given. After realising they might not be complying with the proper tender process, the corporation met with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), which then requested a Public […]
Pukapuka group in liquidation
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc has been forced into liquidation by New Zealand’s Inland Revenue Department. The Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc employed 65 people at its peak in preschool and tertiary education, social services and at a bakery. It was described in a book published this year by the NZ Social Entrepreneur Fellowship […]
Heather answers contracting questions
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Infrastructure minister Teariki Heather has said that T&M Heather has secured all its contracts legally and fairly. In Parliament yesterday Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Heather to address concerns voiced by members of the public pertaining to T&M contracts. ”Some time ago the opposition through me raised concerns in the media about the company T&M […]
Budget enacted
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
The Appropriation Bill 2012 received Royal Assent yesterday. Speaker of the House Niki Rattle announced yesterday that the Budget – which was passed by Parliament on Friday after five days of debate – has been formally approved by head of state Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin. She also noted that a delegation of seven – […]
Look after your cows!
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Dear Editor, To the owners of the cows/bulls tied up in Kavera: You are causing harm to your animals by not attending to them regularly. They are tied up on vacant land and left for days and it appears no one checks them so our village has to put up with their constant bellowing and […]
Expat teacher numbers and pays queried
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local
Expatriate teachers continue to receive higher salaries than local teachers. Education minister Teina Bishop confirmed the point yesterday in Parliament, in response to prompting from Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen. During question-and-answer time, Rasmussen raised concerns that the Ministry of Education was hiring more expatriates than locals. ”Some of our local Maori people feel that that […]
Fresh tagging
Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National
Fresh tagging on buildings through the Avarua township is a concern for both community leaders and local police. Sports and community leader George George has noticed an increase in the number of buildings through Avarua with fresh tags by delinquent youth using spray cans. He says that this is the time to raise the awareness […]
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