National
Why the early years count
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
We all know just how vulnerable children are in their early years. What we are now learning through international research, is that what happens in a child’s life in their first few years will have a huge effect on the makeup of their brain. It will shape their development in every area of life for […]
Education returns home to Nikao
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
The official handover of the new Ministry of Education building on Friday drew passionate words and much enthusiasm about a better education for all Cook Islands children. Secretary of Education Sharyn Paio told the large gathering of educators and political, cultural and religious leaders that the building was as much theirs as it was the […]
Bishop in Tonga for Forum fisheries meet
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
All the cabinet ministers bar one will be in the Cook Islands this week, with parliament sitting again on Monday. Prime Minister Henry Puna, Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, Ministers Mark Brown, Teariki Heather and Nandi Glassie will all be in the Cook Islands carrying out normal duties. Minister Teina Bishop will be in Tonga […]
Village groups vying for clearing contracts
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
Government has said it prefers to give contracts for roadside cleaning work to community groups over private companies. Nikao MP Ngamau ‘Aunty Mau’ Munokoa asked internal affairs minister Mark Brown in Parliament this week whether village groups ”are allowed to help with the clearing programme“. ”Government has looked at establishing some policies with Internal Affairs […]
Finance legislation tabled in Parliament
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
Parliament this week tabled the Foundations Bill, legislation allowing for the creation of a new service which the financial services industry can market internationally to bring more business into the country. Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen raised concerns during question-and-answer time on Thursday that government was not being proactive enough in its efforts to promote the […]
Napa leads
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
The electoral office has released the preliminary results of the Titikaveka by-election, showing Democratic Party candidate Selina Napa to be in the lead. Napa is leading with 256 votes, followed by Cook Islands Party candidate Teariki Matenga with 224 votes. In third place is independent candidate Teava Iro with 94 votes. This result does not […]
Harpooners' catch rates down 70%
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
Since the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) enacted a set of rules last month to regulate use of fishing aggregate devices, one local fisherman says his catch rate has declined by as much as 70 percent. The fisherman, who uses a harpoon to spear mai mai, says that the rules – which ban harpooning within […]
Kwai en route to Penrhyn
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
Kwai is set to make landfall in the Cook Islands during the first week of July. The Cook Islands-registered cargo vessel makes several trips to the Cook Islands per year, but is based in a Honolulu port. She is currently southbound. Kwai’s most recent trip to the Cook Islands was last December. She stayed longer […]
Govt considers privatising market
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in National
Business Trade and Investment Board minister Mark Brown has said government is keen to ”divest“ itself of the Punanga Nui market. In a live interview with Matariki FM, Brown acknowledged the public interest in privatisation of the Punanga Nui marketplace. ”With the expansion of the Punanga Nui out there, there’s a lot of interest in […]
The origin of mynas in Tahiti?
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The first mention of mynas in Tahiti is by Clement Wragge who arrived there from Rarotonga in 1904. He wrote that he saw the ”mina“, a thrush-like bird, strutting around Papeete and they had been ”imported from the Moluccas to kill those infernal big wasps and cattle ticks.“ Although the French name in Tahiti, Merle […]
The spread of the 'farmer's friend' – the myna bird
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Environment
The myna is locally much loathed as a pest, yet it arrived in the early 1900s with such high hopes as the ”farmer’s friend“. We follow its triumphant march from India to many countries, including the Cook Islands. The Common Myna is indigenous to southern Asia, primarily India. It lives in open woodlands but is […]
Arts council board elected
Saturday 23 June 2012 | Published in Local
The National Arts Council is moving ahead, with a board of seven members having been elected. The new members of the board include Mike Tavioni, Rutera Taripo, Ani O’Neill, Maurice Newport, Tokerau Jim, Ana Rasmussen and Barbara Arbon – all of whom represent the wide range of arts across the Cook Islands, from film to […]
Bishop denies shark finning claims
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has refused to accept minister of marine resources Teina Bishop’s denial of allegations that three tonnes of shark fins were found aboard a Luen Thai vessel in Cook Islands waters. He called Bishop’s dismissal of shark finning claims a ”cover up“. Rasmussen asked Bishop in Parliament on Wednesday to comment on […]
MMR refutes shark fin finds
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in Local
To prevent targeted finning taking place the Ministry of Marine Resources has drafted a shark policy that allows certain species of sharks to be caught as long as their fins are attached to the carcass. The current Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) licencing conditions allow fishing vessels to retain non-endangered species of shark but that […]
The mouths of babes
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
Mata Maxwell is very familiar with the mouths of Cook Island children. She has been working as a dental therapist for years. Dental therapists, or dental nurses as they were previously known, are the first face of free dental care for Cook Islands children. It is often from this first visit to the school dental […]
Titikaveka goes to the polls
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
The people of Titikaveka were busy casting their votes yesterday to choose who will represent their community in Parliament. Voting was held between 9 am and 6 pm at Titikaveka Sunday School and YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Hall. A mobile booth for pre-registered special care was also operating. Electoral office staff running the booths […]
Tradesmen upskilling at workshops
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
Rarotonga tradesmen had the opportunity to upskill this week at a series of workshops run through the Cook Islands Trades Training Centre. Eighteen participants were invited to take part in the workshops that were organised by the Trades Training Centre and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP). These included 10 staff from MOIP and […]
Food festival fundraiser
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
Tereora College is holding a food festival at the Punanga Nui marketplace this Friday to fundraise for new school equipment. Students from all form classes will cook the food, which includes a barbeque, umu food, curried chicken and home baking. They are also manning the stalls, with help from parents and teachers. Proceeds from the […]
Follow the flags for food, craft
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
Food and craft markets across Rarotonga have been given a marketing boost by the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) who this week provided brightly coloured flags and banners for the various market initiatives. BITB minister Mark Brown enthusiastically presented the flags to the various market organisers saying that the promotional equipment was a fantastic […]
Jewellery class inspiring participants
Friday 22 June 2012 | Published in National
Follow the sounds of hammering and laughter at Tereora College on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, and you will find the community education jewellery class in session. The class has been meeting for some weeks now, with the group of seven budding artists having already produced a number of pieces. They began with simple black […]
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