National

Cabinet all here

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

All cabinet ministers – Mark Brown, Teina Bishop, Teariki Heather, Nandi Glassie, Tom Marsters and Prime Minister Henry Puna – will be in the Cook Islands next week. Cabinet had a busy time this week as Parliament was sitting every day. The main debate centred on the Budget, of which six papers were tabled. The […]

'Forced' to sign

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

One of the signatories on the petition circulating Mangaia to get Junior Areai elected as the next island secretary has said he was ”forced“ to sign. Deputy Mayor and councillor for Keia district Ngatamaine Ivaiti was concerned that CINews had reported him as signing the petition, as he had been told his name would be […]

The case for Reusables versus Disposables

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Environment

Since 2008 when Lagoon Day was first held, June Hosking and other presenters advocated for reusable nappies over disposables. However the topic, without ready suppliers and information on island, has crawled along. So earlier this year Hosking, now the coordinator of Lagoon Day, decided it was time to follow her dream with a good plan […]

Call for super fund 'repatriation'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked finance minister Mark Brown to explain in Parliament whether his government intends to repatriate $20 million in superannuation funds, as the former Democratic Party government intended. ”As I understand the plan was to bring back $20 million into our finance system here for the use of government in times like […]

Shark conservation under consultation

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Environment

A two-day meeting was held this week by the Ministry of Marine Resources to discuss an updated national plan of action for sharks. Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) secretary Ben Ponia organised the consultation to talk about the problem of shark over-fishing and the possibility of creating a shark sanctuary in the Cooks. Ponia flew […]

'Don't ignore Fiji's boom times'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

A smoke signaller writes from Fiji ”where the economy is booming, the resorts are full, new island cruise ships are operating to capacity, the people are happy, cargo ships berth daily with transshipments from around the world, and airlines deposit tourists from Asia and Eastern countries. Supermarkets sell jam from Poland and Denmark and goods […]

Budget passed

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Local

Budget 2012 has been passed without amendment. Yesterday Speaker of the House Niki Rattle went through each schedule and appropriation, and none was opposed. Parliament dispersed quickly just after 1pm when it was announced that the Appropriation Bill 2012 had passed. The announcement was made not long after the bill was read for the third […]

Norman George 'not scared of little boys'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Atiu MP Norman George called Taoro Brown’s mayoralty ”highly unsatisfactory“ in Parliament yesterday. During question-and-answer time he asked the prime minister to comment on the situation of the Atiu mayoralty. ”You’re now the minister of the outer islands. I want to ask you: are you aware of the problem in Atiu where the mayor resigned […]

Workers fear a 'grim future'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Local

Government has been insistent that a 2 percent cut to the public service budget will not engender job losses, but the Cook Islands Workers Association (CIWA) is not convinced. CIWA president Anthony Turua says he has received a flood of feedback from CIWA executives and members, who are disappointed with the Budget and its ”impact […]

Budget debate 'guillotined'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

One hour into yesterday’s Parliamentary sitting, Norman George made a noisy exit, protesting what he called ”a dark day“ in the history of the Cook Islands Parliament. ”I depart from the chambers in protest,“ he said at about 11am. ”People of the Cook Islands, I’m leaving chambers in protest of this horrific move of the […]

Mermaid Dance Band here to play

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Local

Coco Lounge returns by Vaka

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

The popular 88 Coco Lounge music video show makes a comeback this Sunday on Vaka TV – live! The island’s favourite coco cousin and 88FM DJ George ‘G-Dub’ Williams along with fellow DJ and musician Mii Taukia will for two hours present music videos, international and local, as well as share their wealth of musical […]

Te Kainga turns 8

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

It is Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre’s eighth birthday this month, and director Mereana Taikoko says that is why June is a ”lucky month“. Te Kainga, which exists solely on public donations, offers a range of programmes for mental health sufferers. Such initiatives include day respite programmes to give families and carers a […]

Edgewater launches new mini market

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

As part of the Edgewater Resort and Spa’s village concept and delivery of an authentic Cook Islands holiday – the Arorangi resort this week launched a new in-house mini market. Guests of the resort will be able to buy authentic Cook Islands souvenirs from the local stall keepers at the mini market every Wednesday from […]

SilverSands opens

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Muri Beach Club Hotel has launched its new restaurant concept. Last Friday, Muri Beach Club Hotel celebrated the successful unveiling of its new specialised Polynesian Cuisine restaurant, SilverSands. After sunset cocktails and canaps by the pool, SilverSands was formally opened by Pa Ariki in the presence of members of the Rarotongan business community, local media […]

Graduate home for work

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Armed with his Bachelor of Science from Auckland University – Muraai Herman (pictured below with his partner and their children) is now looking for job, and a job back home on Rarotonga would be perfect. Twenty-three-year-old Herman is the son of Mona and Atatoa Herman of Ngatangiia and a staunch Sea Eagles supporter and former […]

Work about to start on new jetty

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands is set to become a more frequent stopover destination for visiting cruise ships, with funding confirmed for the construction of the alternative ocean access jetty at Arorangi. The $2 million project to build the new jetty will be funded by the New Zealand/Australia Harmonised Aid Programme. New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter […]

Pa enua funding 'a waste'

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Oneroa MP Winton Pickering commends the government for maintaining the appropriation levels for the pa enua, but says it was the ”wrong move“. ”I encourage government in terms of support for the outer islands (but) I can see from this Budget there is a substantial amount of money that this government is going to throw […]

Demo caucus budget boycott 'disappointing'

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Finance minister Mark Brown says it is ”disappointing“ that the Opposition chose to boycott a presentation his team hosted for members of Parliament last week to explain the nuts and bolts of the Budget. ”As I read in the newspaper the words of the leader of the Opposition that ‘we will deliberately boycott this presentation […]

Cooks on brink of harnessing

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Local

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters has praised his government for allocating funding in this Budget toward the Cook Islands’ deep sea mining programme. ”It is the first time we’ve had allocation in the Budget for this programme,“ he said. He thanked the former Democratic Party government, in particular Sir Terepai Maoate and his son Junior, […]