National
Port fees going up 4.5%
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in National
New port fees are set to come into action at the end of this week. The new fees, valid from Friday June 1, are to increase on average 4.5 per cent. Ports Authority general manager Bim Tou says the fee increase was not a revenue-gathering exercise, but is based on the annual Consumer Price Index […]
Powered by Gas!
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
Miss Gas Cook Islands Antonina Browne joined the Miss Cook Islands pageant to follow in the footsteps of other women in her family who’ve joined the pageant in the past. Browne was officially launched as Miss Gas Cook Islands yesterday – the 20-year-old donning a hard hat, safety gloves and glasses to join the boys […]
Jewellery course underway
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
A unique opportunity in community education is currently on offer at Tereora College. The evening class, open to those who already have some experience in jewellery making, is now in its second week. Frances Kirkham, graphics teacher at Tereora College and also a trained goldsmith, is taking the class. It is Kirkham’s aim that the […]
Judge conducts Eagle pre-hearing
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in Crime
Justice Colin Doherty has this week heard interlocutory applications in relation to three Operation Eagle defendants, but has reserved his decision to this weekend. Justice Doherty arrived in the Cook Islands last Sunday, and starting Tuesday heard applications concerning evidence submitted against defendants Giovanni Marsters, Inano Matapo and Samuel Tangaroa. Interlocutory applications represent the intermediate […]
Samoa's 50th celebrations
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in Local
The local Samoan community will be hoisting a Samoan flag this morning to honour 50 years of Samoan independence. Members of the community and ”friends of Samoa“ have been invited to Navy Epati’s Matavera residence at 6.30am, ahead of a 7am flag raising ceremony. Guests will then share a breakfast in honour of the momentous […]
Tobacco tax going up 33%
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in Local
In honour of worldwide No Tobacco Day, government yesterday gave media a sneak preview of a related measure outlined in the forthcoming Budget. As acting minister of health (in Nandi Glassie’s absence), finance minister Mark Brown revealed that government will be increasing import levies on cigarettes and tobacco by 33 percent annually over the next […]
Tourism scaling back from Bula Fiji
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands tourism industry members are scaling back their presence at Fiji’s major tourism expo, Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange, thanks to the increased opportunities on offer at home. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation and four Cook Islands properties travelled to Fiji last week for the meeting, but Tourism Corporation chief executive officer Carmel Beattie said […]
BCI reduces loan interest rates
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
The Peoples Bank – the Bank of the Cook Islands – has announced that it will reduce the interest rates on all its business loans by 0.5%pa, and on its home loans by 0.25%pa. The cut will become effective from July 1. BCI managing director Vaine Nooana-Arioka is pleased to make this announcement on behalf […]
Bankers welcome banking review
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
The Banking Association of Cook Islands (BACI) welcomes the independent review of the banking and financial services sector that started on May 28. Commissioned by the government of the Cook Islands as a result of the Economic Task Force submission in 2011, the review is being undertaken by independent advisor Sam Knowles. BACI chairman David […]
New website for regional crime fight
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
The Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN) has launched its website in Apia, Samoa, to enhance understanding of transnational crime threats and increase awareness, of the PTCN to target transnational crime threats regionally and globally. The website – www.ptcn.ws – will assist in enhancing the partnership arrangements with law enforcement agencies throughout the Pacific and provide […]
Steering committee works hard behind the scenes
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
CORRECTION – Ngaria Stephenson was incorrectly named as Dr Deborah Perrott in a photo caption for the Youthline launch in yesterday’s CINews. Ngaria Stephenson, the inclusive education advisor at the Ministry of Education, was at Tuesday’s Youth Helpline Cook Islands launch as she was on the steering committee which helped get the new youth helpline […]
Reggae fans depart for Samoa
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in National
A group of local UB40 fans including some rockers departed for Samoa yesterday morning in their own chartered Air Rarotonga aircraft. UB40 staged a concert in Apia last night (Friday in Samoa) as part of Samoa’s 50th Independence celebrations. The flight stopped in Niue for fuel and will return with the group on Saturday night. […]
Miss Pacific Divers pushes an environmental message
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
Miss Pacific Divers Mii Andrews plans to use the opportunity of being a Miss Cook Islands contestant to push her sponsor’s environmental messages and campaign. The 22-year-old secretary at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister says joining Miss Cook Islands has been a childhood dream and that she will be enjoying every minute of […]
Miss Vonnia's home to pursue independence
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
A desire to represent the Cook Islands people on a global scale is one of the reasons for 21-year-old Michelle Elia-Siloata joining this year’s Miss Cook Islands pageant. While Siloata is based in New Zealand, the young woman hopes to return home to live and work and after a short four month ‘trial’ stay recently, […]
New shipping group seeks vessel
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
A group of local importers is reportedly working to source a vessel to fill gaps in the Cook Islands shipping operation. At present only Reef Shipping is actively using its licence to operate a ship from New Zealand to the Cook Islands. Through an interim arrangement Pacific Direct Line (PDL) and Pacific Forum Line (PFL) […]
Minister releases 'capital initiatives'
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
The Cook Islands will for the first time present Budget Book 3 ”Capital Initiatives“. This outlines the national capital investment programme and provides the 2011-12 anticipated expenditure and three year capital budget for ministries and state-owned enterprises. These activities are financed through a mix of resources from international development partners, lenders, the Cook Islands government […]
8 new chiefs sworn in
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
The Koutu Nui Uipaanga Maata 2012 held in Aitutaki was a great success. On the opening day – Monday, May 21 – eight new tribal chiefs were sworn into the Koutu Nui. The new mataiapo are Kaimarama M, Kavakura M, Tiikura Mataiapo, Rae Mataiapo o Taravao and Tere’a Mataiapo as well as Tamakeu Mataiapo, Mama […]
Toa fuels fire again
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in Environment
Toa Petroleum was recently caught illegally storing fuel at General Transport’s recycling centre in Tutakimoa. Ministry of Internal Affairs labour director Helen Maunga said she followed up a report that Toa was storing petrol on the site, and found they were. ”I followed this up with Toa Petroleum a couple of weeks ago as they […]
Raffle ruffles feathers
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in National
Ticket holders wondering why they have not yet heard about the raffle results from the Atiu hostel fundraiser will be interested to know that winners will receive their prizes at 12 noon today. The drawing of the raffle, in aid of the construction of Atiu Nui Maruarua – the Enuamanu hostel in Tupapa – caused […]
NES 'wide open to a lawsuit'
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in Environment
Environmental group Te Ipukarea Society believes the National Environment Service and the Rarotongan Environment Authority are leaving themselves ”wide open to a lawsuit“ in regards to the Toa Petroleum relocation. In their recent submission against the relocation of Toa to the Nikao foreshore, Te Ipukarea Society Incorporated (TIS) states the National Environment Service (NES) and […]
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