National
Banking on a good thing
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
Community murmurings during the festive season reflect a tightening in spending. Evening stories with friends and family gloss over the cuts in family and personal budgets. Some mention the banks revising repayment amounts. The history of banking in the Cook Islands dates back to 1969 when the National Bank of New Zealand opened a branch […]
'Not passing buck'
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Environment
The National Environment Service (NES) claims it is restricted by the Environment Act 2003 from taking action against Scott’s Farm. Some Muri residents believe that the act – of which they have copies – directs that NES take responsibility for air pollution and prosecute persons causing it. “They’re just passing the buck around,” Mann Short […]
'It's time to talk about it'
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Local
It’s time to talk about the issue of suicide, says minister of youth Mark Brown. Brown, like the community at large, was devastated to hear of another Cook Islands youth who had committed suicide at the weekend. “It was just devastating to hear the news,” says Brown who had personally known the young man who […]
Rain and high seas forecast
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in Local
A series of low-pressure systems developing around the Cook Islands means a probable continuation of rain and rough seas through the weekend. Unusually large surf drew crowds to Avatiu and the Avarau waterfront yesterday morning and Thursday evening. Waves were even crashing over the sea wall at Nikao and rising above the Boiler in front […]
Beach bonding for Avarua kids
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
The tamariki of Avarua School gathered at Muri beach on Friday along with their parents and teachers as part of a community-wide bonding session. The beach fun day was aimed at helping the school and community of Avarua get back in touch with each other after the summer holidays. The fun day included plenty of […]
Bonny high and dry after ordeal at sea
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
The yacht Bonny was one of a few small boats lifted out of the Avatiu harbour yesterday as heavy tides and high swells assailed Rarotonga’s north coast on Thursday afternoon. The 36-foot sloop has been under police control for a month since the man skippering it went missing in Cook Islands waters in early January. […]
2 new stamp series for 2012
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
Already this year the Philatelic Bureau of the Cook Islands has issued two new sets of stamps. The Cook Islands’ stamp bureau was sold in August 2010, and is now owned and operated by New York-based postage stamp agency Philatelic Collector Inc (PCI). PCI was registered with the Companies Office in March last year, procured […]
Another dimension to the aid industry
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
The recent round of discussions between the government of the Cook Islands and its development partners prompted me to write this piece as an attempt to show an observable fact in the business of providing and receiving aid. I believe it is a timely reminder to Cook Islanders or readers of the Cook Islands News […]
From developing to developed
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
If you thought there was a lot of talk about development going on this week you’d be right – but that’s what this week was all about. The Cook Islands’ major development partners were in country to discuss, debate and deliberate on all things development in the country. But New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter […]
Nukutere College appoints new leaders
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
Helena Strickland and Ford Henry have been named the heads of Nukutere College for 2012, officially taking on their leadership roles at an assembly yesterday. The pair is leading a group of 12 prefects for the year as head boy and head girl. Like Henry and Strickland, their deputies Edmund Tupuna and Silveria Wulf were […]
Survey results: no connection
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
The Ministry of Health has finished analysing the results of a survey it conducted in the Muri area last month to determine whether residents felt there was a connection between their proximity to Scott’s poultry farm and any health issues they might have experienced. Community health services director Dr Rangi Fariu is currently in Mangaia […]
Pearl authority takes in a gem
Saturday 4 February 2012 | Published in National
Ever wondered what $1.5 million looks like? It’s actually not as dramatic as you might think. The Cook Islands Pearl Authority happened to take receipt of just that amount this week, the funds from a New Zealand Aid Programme contribution coming through for the agency. And, no, the delivery wasn’t made in one dollar coins […]
Stray cat in Nikao
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in National
A feline patient from the Esther Honey Clinic in Nikao has escaped and needs urgent treatment. Residents in the Nikao area are being asked to look out for a tabby cat with patches of orange, white and gray that went missing from the clinic yesterday. The cat, named Pear Bear, has a wound and significant […]
Accommodators urged to register forward bookings
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands accommodators are again being encouraged to register their forward bookings figures with the tourism corporation to help it direct funding and organise campaigns. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation needs about 75 percent of all tourism accommodation providers to submit their forward booking figures to make the scheme worthwhile. At present, 25 per cent […]
ADB warns not to rely on tourism
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in National
The Cook Islands needs to find ways it can diversify its economy and help bolster its protections against international upheaval, according to the regional director of the Asian Development Bank. Adrian Ruthenberg, who is in the Cook Islands to attend a summit of the country’s main development partners, said the Cook Islands was vulnerable to […]
Cooks could go either way: bank manager
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in National
With less emphasis being placed on the traditional work week, the Cook Islands should not be majorly disadvantaged by choosing not to move to the other side of the international date line, says Westpac Cook Islands general manager Carmel Butler. In fact, she said, the increasing flexibility of working hours means the Cook Islands is […]
Gun laws under police review
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in National
Cook Islands Police will soon begin examining the laws governing gun ownership. The police force is bringing together a committee of people including representatives from the Returned Services Association (RSA) and an aspiring small-bore firearms club, to examine and hopefully update the laws. But members of other groups are being encouraged to join the committee […]
Yacht owner talks
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Local
The owner of the yacht Bonny says he reacted in disbelief when he found out about the fate of his boat, which had gone missing from New Zealand with an accused sex offender late last year. Six weeks later, it turned up in the Cook Islands unannounced with its skipper, who is wanted on 26 […]
MMR looking for Pago Pago office
Friday 3 February 2012 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is currently searching for office space in American Samoa with plans to establish a long-term presence there. A team of workers from the ministry has been in the US territory’s capital Pago Pago since last week. They were due to return to the Cook Islands yesterday. There they have […]
Noni operation audited for organic certification
Thursday 2 February 2012 | Published in Environment
Two auditors are at the Cook Islands Noni Marketing Ltd premises in Titikaveka this week doing a routine inspection to ensure the factory is complying with its organic regulations. “We’re just here to make sure that the business complies with our requirements – it’s as simple as that,” senior qualifications assurance auditor Raymond Najm, who […]
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