National
Voyage delayed
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Reef Express is undergoing repairs before even embarking on its maiden voyage to Rarotonga. Southern Express was recently replaced by Reef Express, formerly Forum Pacific. Her first voyage to Rarotonga – number 156 – has been delayed as she is undergoing maintenance work in Auckland. She is expected, then, to leave Auckland on May […]
Mataiapo defends village beautification
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in Local
Matavera resident Papa Motu Kora BEM, who holds the traditional title of Mokare Mataiapo, has been part of numerous government and community groups including the Matavera beautification group. At 75 Papa Kora has seen a lot change on the island and is no fool. Recently Cook Islands News published a letter to the editor in […]
Manuia Beach sold for $2.2m
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
About 13,000 investors will receive a share in $2.2 million raised from the sale of the Manuia Beach Boutique Hotel, which was included in investor Strategic Finance’s portfolio at the time of its collapse. The investors are owed about $400 million that was lost when New Zealand investment company Strategic Finance collapsed. Manuia Beach, which […]
Jetty design being tested
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
Even though the Arorangi jetty has yet to be built, the design and construction are being tested to determine how well they will stand up to sea swells. A virtual rendering of the jetty has been subject to a series of tests in New Zealand based on wave modelling simulations supplied by the National Institute […]
Calling all women
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
Members of the Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association want to inspire women to be proud of being women. That’s why they’ve organised a free screening of thought-provoking film Higher Ground for Monday evening. “It’s a movie for women, to show a model of how resilient and strong women are,” Alexis Napa Wolfgramm of […]
Mad rush into new Avatiu cafe
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
Since Mama’s Cafe opened its doors on Monday, the queue has been out the door from morning right through to evening. “We have just been swamped,” says Mamas manager Donna Russell, the likeness of whose face is printed on the cafe signage. “It’s good, I love it. I love the locals coming here, because that’s […]
How deep is your love?
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
One New Zealand man made quite a splash in Aitutaki during a recent visit when he got on bended knee and proposed to his girlfriend 20 metres below sea level. Jared Pyke decided to propose to his girlfriend Jenny while taking a dive class on the island during a trip in March. Having already seen […]
Ministers to outer islands
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands Party cabinet ministers will be focusing their attention on domestic issues this week, with four ministers expected to travel to two outer islands before the week’s close. Prime Minister Henry Puna remains on his constituency Manihiki and is expected to stay there until the middle of the week. Minister Mark Brown will join […]
What does China want from the Cook Islands?
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
China offers the Cook Islands investment, infrastructure, labour and expertise through the developmental partnership that is flourishing between the two countries. But what does the Cook Islands offer China in return? Professor Stewart Firth and assistant professor Kate Hannan offer some explanations. It’s clear what the Cook Islands is receiving out of its budding relationship […]
Pa Ariki makes plea to women
Monday 23 April 2012 | Published in National
In an effort to steer the Cook Islands in a healthier direction, Takitumu chief Pa Marie Ariki is taking the initiative to set up a Wellness Clinic at her Mata Enua palace. She approached Cook Islands News about writing a weekly Thursday message to her people. This is the first of what promises to be […]
Vaka crew feeling the call of home
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in National
Kia Orana kotou katoatoa! We send our love and greetings from the sweltering hot deck of Marumaru Atua early on Sunday afternoon of April 15. There is a little breeze which is only allowing us to puff along at three to four knots, which has been the case for the last few days this week […]
WOF revamp underway
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in National
Draft legislation designed to lift the standards of motor vehicle fitness tests and documentation remains in the pipeline, with Cook Islands Police and Crown Law in consultation on the proposed laws. The legislation has been in the works since 2010, when police first convened a committee to explore the possibility of introducing updates to the […]
Eye care improves over a decade
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in National
Since eye care specialist Jo Simms started visiting Rarotonga a decade ago, eye care services at Rarotonga Hospital have “improved quite a lot”. Simms says that visiting specialists do still have to refer some cases to New Zealand, but that for the most part, surgeries, laser treatments and check-ups can be done here in the […]
Mitiaro a key biodiversity area
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Environment
Te Ipukarea Society visited Mitiaro last month to raise awareness about the unique biodiversity on the island and the identification of Mitiaro as a Key Biodiversity Area and Important Bird Area. This follows visits to Mangaia, Mauke, Atiu and Aitutaki where similar work was done. Mitiaro qualifies as an Important Bird Area because of the […]
Webb Ellis Cup coming to Raro
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
One of the world’s greatest sporting trophies – the Webb Ellis Cup – is coming to Rarotonga. The 4.5kg silver gilt trophy won by the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup last year will be on the island for four days – coinciding with the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) annual general meeting […]
Businessman makes $153,000 civil claim
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
An Arorangi business is proceeding with a claim of over $153,000 against Robert Heather Wichman and police commissioner Maara Tetava. Motherland Limited, trading as The Sharp Shop, and its director Peter Robertson are plaintiffs in a case against Wichman, one of the landowners of the Arorangi property on which the business is situated. Robertson alleges […]
Takitumu land decision delayed
Saturday 21 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Privy Council will not hand down a decision in the Takitumu land dispute case currently before it for another two months. According to Terri Judd, legal affairs correspondent for United Kingdom newspaper The Independent, tensions have been running high in the London court. As the highest court in the Commonwealth, it is the final […]
Rarotonga trochus potential highlighted
Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Marine Resources is concerned that a valuable export, trochus shell, is not being used wisely on Rarotonga, with people missing out on the opportunity to earn additional income. Trochus were originally introduced into the Cook Islands in 1956, with a view to developing an income generating opportunity and small export industry for […]
Fines possible for dangerous operators
Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in Local
Fuel suppliers in the Cook Islands are being gently pushed into making reforms that will improve the safety and standards of the handling of dangerous goods, but authorities have the option to penalise or remove the licences of any operators that don’t show improvements. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the body tasked with issuing and […]
Blackout for 3 hours
Friday 20 April 2012 | Published in National
A mechanical fault at the Avatiu Valley power station is responsible for a three-hour blackout in Rarotonga’s northeast on Wednesday evening that affected homes and businesses from Ngatipa to Turangi. Motorists driving though the area from 3.30pm to about 7pm passed by shops and stores operating by candlelight as the sun set that evening, with […]
« Previous 1 … 1,479 1,480 1,481 1,482 1,483 1,484 1,485 1,486 1,487 … 1,913 Next »