National
Tetava elected chairman of regional group
Friday 9 March 2012 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Police commissioner Maara Tetava has returned from a meeting in Australia where he was elected chairman of the Pacific Police Training Advisory Group for a two year term. On March 2, a meeting sanctioned by the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Conference and supported by the Australian Federal Police was held in Sydney […]
Opposition alleges political favouritism
Friday 9 March 2012 | Published in Local
Alleging ‘nepotism’ and ‘political favouritism’, the opposition is concerned by the prime minister’s appointment of Russell Thomas as the new public service commissioner. “We’re concerned because as we understand it the prime minister exercised his discretion to overlook the recommendations by the selection panel and appointed his nephew,” leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen said […]
BTIB asked to abolish parking fee
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Yet more changes may be up ahead for the Punanga Nui Market. In a move to reverse the new parking charges that were put in place in December, minister of the Business Trade and Investment Board Mark Brown has asked the Cook Islands Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) to remove the $2 parking fee. Brown […]
Women's Day events
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Today is International Women’s Day – a day that honours and celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women all around the world. It was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to recognise the progress women have made over the years, and to inspire women to continue pushing for equality and progress […]
Fabric painting turns a profit for Annafaye
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
What started out as a hobby for a bit of ‘time out’ has turned into a money making venture for Annafaye Tatuava Newbigging. With her salary from working two jobs mostly going on the mortgage, Newbigging discovered that she could earn extra cash to pay for daily living costs through her passion for fabric painting. […]
Sewing on the side
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Learning to sew at school and watching her mother gave Nane Tepai the skills to earn extra money to support her family. To supplement her salary from working for prison services, Tepai has turned to her sewing machine where she makes men’s and boys’ shirts including school shirts, formal island wear and staff uniforms. “What […]
Demand growing for Matutu's skirts
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
A church group women’s activity day opened up a door of opportunity for Fiona Matutu to create her own at-home business and earn extra income. Through the church based women’s activity Matutu learned to hand paint clothes and make skirts – a side business that has taken off resulting in her leaving one of her […]
Woman turns hobby into money-maker
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Discovering her passion for fabric painting and dyeing led Avatiu resident Joanna Manuela to quick money. The mother of five discovered a love for dyeing and painting fabrics when she watched her uncle Piritau Nga and his daughter Teata painting fabrics at home. “I admired my uncle and Teata with their fabric painting skills and […]
Fashion a passion for seamstress
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Fashion is a passion for Marion Howard who comes from a long line of seamstresses. Her passion for designing and creating beautiful garments began as a little girl watching her grandmother and Tutakimoa seamstress Koiatahi Howard at work on her machine. “I used to love looking at the pieces my grandmother created and they inspired […]
Mother-daughter team aims high
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
At just 18 years old Kimberly Vakapora knows exactly what she wants to do – run her family business. Vakapora looks up to her entrepreneurial mother Tereapii Vahua Vakapora as her business role model and together the women run their family business ‘Roteek’. Roteek is a business that deals in Cook Islands crafts through sourcing […]
Solar Bob takes DIY solar to jail
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Environment
To build a solar water heater using recycled materials was the challenge undertaken by inmates at Arorangi Prison last week, under the guidance of ‘Solar Bob’ Riley and tutor Karen De Waal. The idea for the class came from De Waal reading a book written by Riley in 1991, “Solar Made Easy”, which discusses simple […]
Reflecting on the situation of local women
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
International Women’s Day is a day for reflection and to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. Some of these achievements include the right to vote, to be educated, to have access to safe quality health care, to have access to justice, to be gainfully employed and to participate in decision-making processes. But […]
WATSAN project moving ahead
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Environment
The Muri lagoon sanitation project is moving ahead quickly with 11 bio-filters already installed and work on installing improved septic tanks due to begin in the next week or two. The Muri pilot project is the first in a larger scheme being implemented by the Water, Waste and Sanitation unit (WATSAN) of the Ministry of […]
Govt should prioritise employment bill
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Over the last three months women in the Cook Islands community have been bringing their concerns about maternity leave and employment protection to Punanga Tauturu. The organisation has received enquiries from women in the community in relation to their rights to maternity leave, asking as to whether the six-week paid leave provisions have been passed […]
Funding available for civil society groups
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Local
Civil society organisations are being encouraged to apply for a final round of community initiative scheme (CIS) funding this month. Non-government organisations, Cook Islands-based partners of international non-government organisations, community-based organisations, sports organisations and other groups – individuals and business excluded – are invited to submit proposals for funding. The CIS has $219,000 in available […]
Scheme to support female caregivers
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
Vital Voices and AusAID have approved a project proposal submitted by a contingent of Cook Islands women. Just in time for International Women’s Day, four women learned that their proposal to empower female caregivers had been accepted. Global non-government organisation Vital Voices last year selected Teina Mackenzie, Nukutau Pokura, Vaine Nooana-Arioka and Helen Maunga as […]
Avatiu seawall the best option
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Local
Criticism of the Avatiu seawall is off target, says Ports Authority chairman Mike Henry. “This is the best option. This plan has been developed over the past four years with input from port users, the main shipping companies,” he said in response to recent criticism of the seawall design. Henry explained the basic concept of […]
NZ and CI police working together
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
In a show of its partnership with Pacific countries, members of the New Zealand police force have been visiting the Cook Islands this week. Kim Perks, communications manager for central districts, is in the country to share her knowledge on media and communications with the Cook Islands police. Her visit is part of an advisory […]
Government supports Women's Day today
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in Local
The government is throwing its full support behind International Women’s Day. “Empowering Women – today’s global theme for International Women’s Day 2012 – is not only a goal in itself, it is a condition for creating better lives for everyone,” said Prime Minister Henry Puna. Acknowledging events locally and internationally to mark International Women’s Day, […]
Meeting endorses accreditation scheme
Thursday 8 March 2012 | Published in National
The tourism industry council is aiming to get its newly-introduced accreditation scheme off the ground within the next few weeks, ahead of its official launch in June. About 35 people met last Thursday to discuss the accreditation scheme, which will replace an outmoded system that has been labelled ‘toothless’. “People were concerned that the scheme […]
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