National

'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 […]

Crime

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 […]

National

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 […]

Local

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 […]

National

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 – […]

Local

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 […]

National

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 […]

Local

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 […]

National

Singing Mermaids visit Apii Te Uki Ou

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in Local

Gail Tipene, Tammy Diath and Pauline Berry of the Mermaid Dance Band gave a special performance for the kids at Apii Te Uki Ou yesterday after showing the kids’ parents a good time on Saturday night. The singing trio entertained the crowds at the Fire and Ice Ball organised to raise funds for a new […]

Local

Southpac sued for maternity dismissal

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National

A senior trust manager is suing her former workplace Southpac Trust after they dismissed her when she was on maternity leave. In the case, which is being heard in the High Court on June 29, Serena Hunter seeks $141,000 in damages including lost earnings and humiliation for her dismissal from Southpac in March this year. […]

National

Nurse sues health ministry

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National

A case is due to be heard in the High Court next week for the unfair dismissal of a senior nurse from Rarotonga Hospital. Philomena Henry is seeking $50,000 from the health ministry secretary after being unfairly dismissed by the Ministry of Health after 30 years of working as a nurse. Henry had been a […]

National

Government tendering and procurement process explained

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National

Minister of Finance Mark Brown encourages anyone suspicious of government tendering and procurement processes to download a policies and procedures manual from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management website. Yesterday in Parliament, opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Brown to explain government tendering processes. ”Could you please explain to the house and to members of […]

National

New law provides insurance protection

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National

The Insurance Amendment Bill passed without amendment in Parliament yesterday. Finance minister Mark Brown read the bill, and explained its objective. ”In the course of carrying out the licensing of insurers to conduct insurance business in the Cook Islands, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) noted some unworkable provisions in the Insurance Act of 2008,“ he […]

National

Banks 'failing the people'

Tuesday 19 June 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has said that local banks are ”failing“ the Cook Islands people. ”Failing in the sense that the interest rates are so high in the Cook Islands – from our perspective they are very high – and the interest rates are so high on mortgages (that they are) difficult for Cook Islanders […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

'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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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