National
Public meeting on employment law
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Local
A public meeting will be held on Rarotonga this week to discuss a draft Employment Relations Bill, which is aimed at regulating employment in the Cook Islands. The Parliament Special Select Committee, which was established to review the bill, is hosting the meeting at the Sinai Hall in Avarua on May 4 from 6.30pm. It […]
2 candidates confirmed
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Local
Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua has confirmed the candidates for the Pukapuka by-election. Vai Peua will stand for the Democratic Party and Tekii Lazaro will run against him for the Cook Islands Party. Both candidates are currently in Pukapuka to campaign ahead of the election. Administering the elections in Rarotonga are registrar of electors and […]
Govt owed $79,000 in overdue rent
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Local
Government is owed $78,922.94 in unpaid rental fees for commercial and residential properties managed by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC). Details of the money owed have been received by Cook Islands News following an Official Information Act request. Almost $38,000 is owed in rent on three commercial properties in Avarua one with an outstanding […]
New threats to freedom of expression
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
World Press Freedom Day was born 20 years ago in the vision of a group of journalists gathered in Windhoek, Namibia. The Windhoek Declaration was a call to arms to protect the fundamental principles of the freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration Human Rights. It was also a bell […]
Press freedom exposes misdeeds
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
When governments repress their people and shield themselves from scrutiny, press freedom is among the most powerful vehicles for exposing misdeeds and upholding public trust. This is part of the personal message on World Press Freedom Day 2011 (May 3) by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. He says when people face discrimination and marginalisation, […]
More info, less secrecy
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Its the ultimate fast-track to open governance, but growing a culture of information-sharing doesnt happen easily. Thats the key lesson learnt from the Cook Islands experience so far of the Official Information Act, or OIA. A new media initiative which will grow awareness of the ground-breaking act is aimed at building on that lesson, and […]
Double uni degrees follow donut training in Penrhyn
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Thirty-seven-year-old Uraia Tini from the island of Tongareva graduated with a Bachelor in Arts and Law (double degree) from the James Cook University in Queensland, Australia, on April 16. His proud parents, Mr and Mrs Soa Tini Joseph MBE, from Penrhyn along with other members of his family attended the graduation. Tinis wife Teinano Tini […]
Rare vaka restored, named Taku Mina
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Taku Mina, an 18-foot five-man flying fish Pukapuka vaka known as an Iekelima was re-dedicated and blessed in the new Are Vaka at the Cook Islands Library and Museum on Friday. The vaka, believed to be the oldest in the Cook Islands, was gifted to the Cook Islands Library and Museum Society by the people […]
Quake fund tops $40,000
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Money from Cook Islanders continues to pour in for Christchurch residents still struggling in the aftermath of Februarys earthquake. The Cook Islands Red Cross Society (CIRC) is collecting money from throughout the country and transferring it to the New Zealand Red Cross Societys account for the Christchurch appeal. To date almost $40,000 from the Cook […]
Heroes offer acknowledged
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Rarotonga-based Cantabrian Jennifer Kettley sent a message to Christchurch Mayor Bob Parkers office last week, reminding him of Prime Minister Henry Punas offer to arrange an all-expenses-paid holiday to the Cook Islands for him and 50 other people who showed courage in the aftermath of the February earthquake. I know how horrendously busy you and […]
Gazette back in business
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in National
Cook Islanders interested in business detail can now subscribe to the Cook Islands Business Gazette which is being produced by the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB). The monthly publication will include information and statistics on registered local and foreign enterprises, building permits, bank interest rates, lease assignments and transfers, lease mortgages, and general business news […]
Mauke turns out in force for tutaka
Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Environment
Maukes tutaka clean up team comprising Ministry of Health personnel accompanied by the mayor and environment officer were all smiles and bubbling with praise at the closing of a very successful three-day inspection. Dr Metua Taurarii commented that this was the best result he had seen since coming back to Mauke a few years ago, […]
CI reps bid for climate change funds
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Environment
Billions of dollars worth of international funding for climate change-related activities is now more accessible to the Cook Islands following an international convention held in Bangkok last month. The four-day conference was an annual meeting of those involved in the ad-hoc working groups on long term cooperative action, which arose from earlier international climate change […]
New tick found on Raro dogs
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local
Some Rarotonga dogs have contracted a new tick, but Esther Honey Foundation (EHF) veterinarian Eiligh Hawkins says it is not something to be overly concerned about. A survey in the mid-1990s revealed that there were no ticks on Rarotonga, and EHF is currently doing another census to determine the prevalence of the recently-discovered tick. Hawkins […]
Plea change to speed up assault case
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local
A 38-year-old cargo handler from Matavera will face sentencing for assaulting his partner, on June 9 at the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua. Ilaisa Ravula appeared before Justice of the Peace Tui Short in the court last week, where his defence counsel Lavenia Rokoika entered a guilty plea to the assault charge on his […]
Tourism gears up for influx
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local
More tourists have pre-booked holidays for the next six months than at this time last year, reports Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Carmel Beattie. Forward bookings from Los Angeles and Sydney reflect greater tourist numbers, but that doesnt mean were going to sit back on our laurels, says Beattie. CIT is rolling out its Destination […]
Opposition push Family Law Bill
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in National
Deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen questioned the governments delay in passing the Family Law Bill in Parliament earlier this month. That bill was ready and drafted in 2010 and its an important bill to deal with the issues of families because of the situation that we find ourselves in, he said. I see […]
Brown meets his village people
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in National
As the member of parliament for Takuvaine and Tutakimoa, Mark Brown is implementing a range of initiatives to advance the villages. Brown hosted a meet the MP day at the Takuvaine meeting house on Friday, where between 9am and 3pm members of the community dropped in to have a chat with him about a variety […]
Red Cross ready to build new HQ
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in National
Construction of a new purpose-built facility for the Cook Islands Red Cross Society (CIRC) is set to begin. A contract for the almost $1.3 million development is out for tender until April 29, although CIRC secretary general Niki Rattle says the deadline is able to be extended if necessary.She hopes construction can start in June […]
Pearl farms not paying?
Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in National
A recent spat between a local employer and a foreign worker highlights the limitations of labour legislation in the Cook Islands, says director of labour Helen Maunga. Maunga is currently investigating a Fijian workers claim for unpaid wages. Fijian-born Kolinio Nasau, 33, spent 14 months as a pearl diver for Polynesian Black Pearls Limited. The […]
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