National
Blue light shines on youth
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in National
A direct link between the police and community, with a focus on youth, is being formally established in the Cook Islands for the first time. Blue Light New Zealand national manager Brendon Crompton has spent the past week in Rarotonga helping set up Blue Light Cook Islands and its official constitution. Blue Light, which has […]
Pearl authority has big plans
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in National
As the Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) looks to rejuvenate our once-mighty pearl industry, it welcomes a budget increase and aid support. The new budget appropriates $502,387 to CIPA – $215,574 for personnel, $265,583 for operating costs and $21,230 to cover depreciation. The 2010/11 budget appropriated $570,641 to CIPA, but $90,000 of this was for […]
Avaiki pearls to go on sale to millions
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in National
An upmarket shopping mall in a Shanghai satellite city is preparing to set up a jewellery shop exclusively retailing Avaiki pearls from the Cook Islands. Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) chief executive officer George Ellis, Ora Moana Ltd managing director Raymond Newnham and Jackie Tuara of Moana Gems were last month invited to Wuxi, China […]
Winners and losers in this years budget
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in National
The Cook Islands Police seems to have suffered the most of all government departments in this financial years budget compared to last, with a total net appropriation of $595,509 less than it was allocated in the 2010-2011 budget. It is the single largest decrease of any ministry appropriations from the last financial years budget. Other […]
First direct Sydney flight arrives
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local
Singers, dancers and a water cannon have been included in plans to welcome the first planeload of Sydney passengers to have flown directly to Rarotonga this year. Air New Zealand flight NZ60 was due to touch down at Rarotonga International Airport at 7am today, marking the first direct flight from Australia to the Cook Islands […]
MPs reminded of tradition in parliament
Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local
Members of the Cook Islands Parliament are enjoying discourse about whether the $20,000 ceremonial opening of parliament last week was a worthwhile expense. Debate over the ceremony has been heating up, particularly between speaker of the house Sir Geoffrey Henry who supports the ceremony and all its trappings, and deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen who […]
Funding workshop draws in 14 countries
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Environment
Representatives from 14 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat member nations will gather in the Cook Islands this week for a five-day workshop on accessing funds for environmental projects. The workshops will supply training and details on writing project proposals needed to attract backing for projects through funds such as the Pacific Environment Community Fund. The participants […]
Man dies
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
A motorbike accident on the Nikao back road early on Saturday morning claimed the life of 36-year-old Boye Nicholas and left a second man from Nikao seriously injured. The accident occurred in Atupa near the Tiare village about 100 metres from the scene of a fatal accident that killed two young Pukapuka men in May. […]
Underpaid justice staff due for increase
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
With a total net appropriation of $1.7 million, the Ministry of Justice receives some extra attention from government this financial year. In his budget speech on Friday, finance minister Mark Brown said the government has committed 17 per cent of its resources towards the governance and law and order sector. A key component of this […]
$20m to boost economy
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in Local
More than $20 million is to be spent in the next year on economic growth, half of which has been directly allocated towards tourism. Within the governments 2011-2012 budget, which was tabled on Friday, 12 percent of its resources ($20.5 million) is earmarked for what finance minister Mark Brown describes as the economic sector. A […]
Back roll clinches kite win
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
For a lack of wind the second day of Manureva International Kitesurfing Competition could not proceed, but two women riders had a chance to give it their best shot in a spontaneous ten-minute heat on Thursday. Chanti van Boxtel was leading on the point-scale for much of the heat, but Fitness Revolutions Brynn Acheson pulled […]
Night market and fireworks to celebrate kitesurfing week
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
The Aitutaki wharf was buzzing with uncharacteristic amounts of activity on Friday night. Locals and tourists weaved in and out of long marquees housing over 20 vendors frying sausages, grilling tuna-pawpaw-and-onion kebabs and hawking handmade jewellery. It was the first night market of its kind, organised by Business Trade Investment Board and the Cook Islands […]
$30,000 for recruitment
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Government is allocating $30,000 for recruitment costs in 2012 as contracts for incumbent heads of ministries will expire this time next year. Its allocation falls within the governance sector of this financial years budget. Also provided for under the sector are assets for the new electronic border control system at Rarotongas international airport. The government […]
Teachers become students
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
There has been a role reversal of sorts for Australian teachers volunteering at a Matavera school, who say they have not just been giving lessons there, but taking them as well. They say they have become the students, in a way, with their pupils dishing out some lessons on the roles family, enjoyment and culture […]
Burglary victims set trap for thief
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
After being robbed last Wednesday evening a visiting New Zealand couple baited their Vaimaanga accommodation unit the following night, successfully escaping a second theft. The husband and wife were last week on their fifth trip to the Cook Islands with their two children. On Wednesday night their accommodation unit was burgled and property taken including […]
Telecom celebrates 20 years with promo specials
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Look out for details on birthday specials, competitions and giveaways this week as Telecom celebrates its 20th birthday. Log on to www.telecom.co.ck any day of Telecoms birthday week from July 4 to 9, to take advantage of some awesome offers. Tap in with text competitions to win a mobile phone, cordless phone packs, monthly post […]
$40m job hectic but rewarding
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Not every new job comes with the responsibility of managing more than $40 million, but that is the reality for Jim Armistead, the Aid Management division manager of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM). Armistead says the Cook Islands will receive about $43 million in donor funds to be administered through MFEM within […]
Health and education cost most
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Health and education remain the government ministries with the greatest annual operating costs $10.4 million and $10 million respectively. Despite this they receive less money than the ministries of internal affairs and finance and economic management in this financial years budget, tabled in parliament by finance minister Mark Brown on Friday. The Ministry of Healths […]
$150,000 for census
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Government is allocating $150,000 for a census this year. The finance and economic management ministry expects the census on population and dwellings to start on December 1 and take one month. Within the ministrys budget is a net appropriation of $309,034 for the production and dissemination of relevant statistics. Under that ministerial output are guidelines […]
Tattoo art is Boyes legacy
Monday 4 July 2011 | Published in National
Renowned tattoo artist Boye Nicholas will be laid to rest today at the Nicholas/Ngati Manavaroa burial ground in Avana. Nicholas died from injuries sustained in a serious motorbike accident early on Saturday morning. Nicholas, who was born and raised in New Zealand, is the third son of six children of former Avatiu-Ruatonga member of parliament […]
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