National

Tourism a contributor to youth crime?

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in National

Following years of research into Cook Islands criminal behaviour, Australian psychologist Meg Perkins proposes a means of combating the problem of young children stealing from tourists. She believes tourism has widened the gap between rich and poor in the Cook Islands, thereby elevating crime rates. Accordingly she suggests that tourism operators should be responsible for […]

National

Police portfolio goes to Heather

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in National

Teariki Heather will take over duties as Minister of Police from Prime Minister Henry Puna in a swap that will also see Puna become Minister for the Outer Islands. Puna will officially hand over the duties to Heather at a police parade to be held on Tuesday. The ministerial duties of the outer islands has […]

National

Nine apply for Suwarrow jobs

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Environment

The National Environment Service (NES) has received nine applications for two Suwarrow park ranger positions. The positions were advertised recently, and the deadline to submit passed this week. Elizabeth Munro of NES says a panel of three people will be interviewing all nine applicants, as there is “no need for shortlisting”. The interview panel will […]

Environment

Pearl auction to help sailors

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Local

Two pearls of Manihiki have received an added push in their Olympic dreams thanks to a contribution from the Cook Islands Pearl Authority. The authority has donated a pearl necklace to the Cook Islands Sailing Association to help fund Helema Williams and Taua Elisa’s Olympic qualifier attempts and – all things going to plan – […]

Local

Salute to Wigmore

Saturday 14 April 2012 | Published in Local

The Democratic Party is mourning the loss of one of its most prominent leaders. The Honourable Robert Wigmore lost his battle with cancer yesterday morning, his passing leaving a void in the heart of Titikaveka and within the Democratic Party. Described by those who knew him as a “very hardworking man” and a “quiet achiever”, […]

Local

TB patient in hospital

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in Local

A 33-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being admitted in a seriously ill condition three weeks ago and subsequently diagnosed with tuberculosis. The man went into hospital on March 18 and was placed in isolation after it was suspected he may have tuberculosis, a bacterial infection the patient said he once had when he […]

Local

Tax increase 'insane'

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in Local

Business leaders yesterday used words like “insane” and “gotta be nuts” to describe proposed government increases to departure tax and airport charges. News of the controversial increases was leaked to Cook Islands News despite attempts by officials to play down their intentions as being “for discussion only”. Airlines operating international and domestic flights in the […]

Local

New group will write code of practice

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Technicians from various businesses on Rarotonga met and formed the Cook Islands Refrigeration and Airconditioning Association on Wednesday. Forming the association can protect industry members from possible negative impacts such as legislative changes and foreign enterprise, strengthen capacity by developing a code of practice and generally create an alliance of individuals and businesses with the […]

National

Policeman pastor reaches out in both roles

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

New Life Church pastor Ngatamariki Pouao wears two hats – he’s a minister, but he’s also part of the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Cook Islands Police. On the public holiday following Easter Sunday, Pouao wore both his hats. He organised a sports day for members of the Kavera church, focusing in particular on kids […]

National

Vaka heading for the Tuamotus

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Alex Olah reports from Marumaru Atua as the ocean-going vaka sails toward French Polynesia. Kia orana kotou katoatoa on a wet and windy Easter Sunday morning here on Marumaru Atua. It has been a good week of sailing for us since our last correspondence with nice steady winds of approximately 15 knots. This has kept […]

National

Vaka fleet will sail into Aitutaki

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Aitutaki is preparing for the ceremonial arrival of the seven voyaging canoes in mid-May. Currently six vaka – including Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua – are crossing the Pacific, en route from the Galapagos and headed for the Tuamotus. There they will meet up with Tahitian sister vaka Faafaite, somewhere around April 18. As of […]

National

Pukapuka project celebrated in style

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

The Pukapuka cyclone shelter project is a model example of how a developed and a developing nation can work together to the benefit of both parties, according to the European Union’s Pacific charge d’affaires Adam Janssen. Janssen visited Pukapuka this week alongside Prime Minister Henry Puna and five others in a whirlwind trip to officially […]

National

Fiji flood appeal today

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Temo Sukanaivalu of the Cook Islands Fiji Community holds up an example of the t-shirts that will go on sale this weekend to raise funds for those affected by floods in Fiji. A radiothon will start at 12pm today and run till 5 o’clock where members of the community can pledge donations to the fundraiser […]

National

New 'mat' rolls out

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

The smooth, asphalt-sealed welcoming mat to the country is beginning to be rolled out at Nikao. Motorists passing by or accessing the Rarotonga International Airport will notice a change in the road surface leading west from the airport entrance. Already widened and covered with a new surface between Nikao and Panama, the main road at […]

National

Harbour dredging will feed reclamation

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Dredging machinery is due to set sail for Rarotonga from New Zealand next week to jointly launch the Avatiu harbour redevelopment project into its final stage and provide material for the Punanga Nui land reclamation project. The dredge will leave for the Cook Islands on Thursday, April 19, and is expected to reach Rarotonga about […]

National

'No decisions'

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Government late yesterday confirmed that it is proposing increases in airport charges and departure tax. A curt media statement by Prime Minister Henry Puna said that no decisions have been made with regard to the airport departure fees or airline industry aeronautical charges. Described as a comment on media speculation, the statement quoted Puna as […]

National

New charges 'not in interest of country'

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Any increase to domestic airfares in the Cook Islands caused by an increase to airport charges at Rarotonga would be a major concern for the people of the pa enua, Aitutaki tourism operator Michael Henry says. Henry said the tourism industry of the outer islands was still struggling to pull people away from Rarotonga despite […]

National

Departure tax increase 'up for discussion'

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in National

Travellers leaving Rarotonga can expect to pay more in departure tax by year’s end as government considers introducing a tax increase. Cook Islands News understands the government is considering an increase of $15 to the departure tax, bringing it to $70 in total, but there is speculation that the tax could increase up to $80. […]

National

12 charges

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in Crime

Ngatupuna Rata appeared in the Cook Islands High Court yesterday on 12 charges. The defendant has admitted charges of theft and denied further charges of theft, being party to an offence and breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. He has yet to enter pleas on charges of breaking and entering, aiding and […]

Crime

Second climate change report to be launched

Friday 13 April 2012 | Published in Environment

Environment minister Henry Puna and the National Environment Service (NES) will be launching the Cook Islands Second National Communication Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) today at USP from 12.30pm. This report outlines the Cook Islands’ progress in addressing the issue of climate change since the Initial National Communication report […]

Environment

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