National
Toa scheme faces 5 objections
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in Environment
Five separate individuals have formally objected to Toa Petroleum setting up shop on the Nikao foreshore. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) report analysing the environmental and social implications of Toa’s relocation was published on April 7, and the public had 30 days to make written submissions to the National Environment Service (NES) if they harboured […]
Dame's investiture to make history
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in Local
Dame Makea Karika Margaret Ariki DBE will make history in the Cook Islands when she is officially bestowed with her damehood at a ceremony tomorrow. Dame Margaret, also known as Pauline Margaret Rakera Taripo, will be bestowed as a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) in a special ceremony […]
Turou no Marumaru Atua
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in Local
Despite a five-hour delay – Pacific Voyagers received a resounding welcome at Avatiu harbour late yesterday afternoon. From midday a large crowd of spectators gathered at both the Western Marina and main Avatiu harbour watching the canoes on the horizon. But the crowds dispersed on learning of the fleet’s delay. As the canoes finally pointed […]
Emotional homecoming for Nick
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islander Nick Henry decided to learn traditional navigation to gain a deeper understanding of his culture. But on this current Pacific Voyagers mission, Henry has become more aware of the state of the environment and the need to protect the great Moana Nui o Kiva. Henry has risen through the ranks to become vaka […]
Workshop for couples on happy marriage
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in National
A three-day workshop to be held next week is aiming to shed some light on the secrets and strategies to a happy marriage. The Rotaianga Men’s Support Group is hosting the workshop, which is calling on two couples from long-lasting marriages to share their experiences and advice on how to build a strong family. The […]
PM to co-chair PALM6 in Japan
Friday 18 May 2012 | Published in National
Prime Minister Henry Puna will open and make closing remarks at key events to occur as part of the 6th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM6) to be held in Nago, Okinawa, Japan on May 24-26. Co-chaired by Japan and the Cook Islands, the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting is a summit-level meeting held every three years […]
Pension to double
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Pensioners will receive an increase in their government payments under the next financial year’s budget in a three-year plan that will see the pension double by 2015. Minister of Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown yesterday said the Cook Islands government would make good on its promise announced in December last year to double the […]
Departure tax to be included in airfare
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
The Cook Islands government will introduce new laws that will force airlines to include the departure tax within ticket prices from December this year. The laws will be put to parliament when it next sits, which is expected to occur in June, and will bring an end to the days where travellers leaving Rarotonga International […]
Social impact fund meeting
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are being encouraged to join a meeting today to discuss the limitations and difficulties of applying for grants under the Social Impact Fund. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which administers the fund, will hold the meeting today between midday and 2pm at the Sinai Hall in Maraerenga to help […]
New community group to advise on health
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Community members and the Ministry of Health now have a new route for dialogue thanks to the formation of a community health advisory committee. The committee, which met for the first time this week, includes volunteer representatives from Rarotonga’s three vaka, two non-government organisations, the national youth council and a religious representative. The committee will […]
Budget warning: beware of razzmatazz
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Ahead of the presentation of this year’s Budget, opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen encourages the public to scrutinise the government’s financial decisions carefully. ”I just want to warn the public to be careful of the razzmatazz associated with the incoming annual budget by the government,“ Rasmussen said yesterday. ”The government seems to be covering the real […]
Queen's Jubilee expense criticised
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in Local
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen believes the $130,000 government spent to send a team to represent the Cook Islands at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee could have been put to ”better use“. ”That’s a huge amount of money for probably a five-minute appearance,“ Rasmussen said. ”I would rather that money had been spent on remedying the problems […]
7 vaka arriving
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in Local
Avatiu harbour will be abuzz today for the welcoming of the seven voyaging canoes that departed Aitutaki early yesterday afternoon. The fleet is expected to arrive at Avatiu harbour at around 2pm where Ngati Uritaua will conduct the traditional welcome for the 120 voyagers including Prime Minister Henry Puna. Pacific islands communities on Rarotonga along […]
Departure tax going up to $65
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands government will increase the pension for pensioners aged over 70, increase the departure tax paid upon leaving the country in 2013 and have it embedded in airline tickets in the next financial year, Minister of Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown said. In a pre-budget press conference held yesterday, Brown announced some […]
Test time
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Saunders and Haible are on a mission to raise awareness of the biggest killer of Pacific people – diabetes. Every Wednesday the pair is stationed outside the pharmacy in the heart of Avarua where they do a free glucose test for sugar levels in blood and can also do weight and height checks too. The […]
Suicide survey goes to town
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
Members of the Youth Suicide Prevention Steering Committee will be out in town again today and tomorrow with surveys for parents and caregivers to help collect data on the attitudes to and impacts of suicide in the Cook Islands. Committee members were yesterday stationed at the Bank of the Cook Islands Avarua branch with the […]
Advisors finish job
Thursday 17 May 2012 | Published in National
The budget support group has submitted its final report to cabinet, which this week is going through the numbers. Chaired by John Kenning, the budget committee this year comprised Teresa Manarangi-Trott, Christina Newport and Sharyn Paio, in addition to finance minister Mark Brown and finance secretary Richard Neves. Neves handpicked each member based on his […]
Another welcome
Wednesday 16 May 2012 | Published in National
More than a year after leaving Avarua Harbour, the sons and daughters of the Cook Islands aboard Marumaru Atua are coming home. Aitutaki staged the Cook Islands’ major welcoming ceremony on Monday, but a follow-up welcome is being arranged for Rarotonga. The vaka are expected to arrive under full sail at around 2pm tomorrow, and […]
2 more dengue cases under test
Wednesday 16 May 2012 | Published in National
Two new possible cases of dengue fever are being tested following a confirmed report of three cases two weeks ago. Yesterday, the two possible new cases of the disease had been identified but not yet confirmed. Two people were found to be carrying signs of having the disease and they are currently undergoing another blood […]
Soren Larsen visits Avatiu
Wednesday 16 May 2012 | Published in National
Tallship Soren Larsen is currently in the Cook Islands, taking its crew of Australians, New Zealanders, Englishmen, Americans and Swedes, on a long journey through the Pacific. The Soren Larsen, which was used in the BBC TV-series Onedin Line, will stay within the Cook Islands waters until the end of the month. During its time […]
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