National
Local lawyer links up with Red Cross
Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in National
An international humanitarian law dissemination officer has joined the ranks of the Cook Islands Red Cross Society (CIRC), through a one-year programme funded by the International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent. Fine Tu’itupou-Arnold will educate stakeholders and the population as a whole on international humanitarian law (IHL), which comes into effect during international […]
Formal ties set with Japan
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands and Japan have formally entered into diplomatic relations – a development that will bring significant benefits for the Pacific nation, says prime minister Henry Puna. Discussions with the Japanese government on formalising relationships have intensified over the last five years – that the development happens during Puna’s term can be regarded as […]
Sun goes digital
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Visitor guide Cook Islands Sun went digital last week. The newspaper-format guide, which has been published locally for over 20 years, decided it was ‘high time’ to launch a website, as more and more travellers are planning their holidays online. “Our aim was to build a site for visitors to help them plan, make informed […]
Immigration look to improve compliance
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is stepping up to the mark by appointing a new compliance and immigration office manager. The position is a new one, after 15 years of the ministry being understaffed, director of immigration Kave Ringi says. In 1996 and 1997 the ministry lost 15 or 16 positions through a […]
World record holder diving for big one
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Last Thursday, Wellington free-diver Dave Mullins boated to the Nikao fishing aggregate device, dropped a weighted line, gathered his thoughts, drew one breath of air and dove to 110 metres. It was a “good, fast and easy” dive, but for the world record holder – whose personal best is 118 metres – it was child’s […]
Possible reductions in health services
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Health minister Nandi Glassie is working to ensure the Cook Islands community is adequately serviced by the Ministry of Health, which is facing a stagnant budget allocation and increased costs of operation and service delivery. The ministry recently presented its draft annual plan and budget as required by all government departments, which included proposed service […]
Tourism gears up for Aussie flights
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) are focusing on getting the Cook Islands into Australian media in the months leading up to the launch of direct flights from Sydney to Rarotonga in July. CIT is hosting a media famil for Dilvin Yasa, a feature writer for Cosmo Bride and Cosmo Pregnancy. Each has a wide circulation within […]
Alcohol cause of accidents
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Alcohol is believed to have contributed towards two of the three accidents that were reported to police at the weekend. Police have yet to receive the blood alcohol results from a woman who crashed her bike on the back road in Tupapa. The woman was thrown off her bike and found in the middle of […]
Minister takes on noni growers' concerns
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie is taking on board the concerns facing noni growers, following a predicted reduction in the export of noni juice to Japan. Japan is the country’s largest noni export market, annually contributing about $1 million to the industry. Following Japan’s earthquake, the local noni industry has received warning about a cut to […]
Cabinet discuss development bank concept
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in National
Reverting the Bank of the Cook Islands back to being a development bank is an idea that has value, and the finance minister says government is now discussing ‘ways forward’. Finance minister Mark Brown says the concept has been discussed at cabinet and official level and he expects a firm position on the initiative will […]
Record women in top govt jobs
Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local
Government has a record number of women in top positions because they’re the right people for the job, says Cook Islands National Council of Women president Vaine Wichman. Twelve women are heading ministries and agencies either as permanent heads or in acting capacities, including two women island secretaries. But it will be when there’s significant […]
Arrests after bottle attacks
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local
Police have arrested two 17-year-old men for the assault of two Fijian men last Sunday morning. Police inspector Tere Patia reported that police arrested the two youths – one from Ruatonga and the other from Panama – and they appeared in court on Wednesday. The pair did not enter a plea and were released on […]
Iro at BTIB
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local
Tina Iro has joined the Business Trade & Development Board as its new business development officer. She will be providing support to those wanting to start up a business and people already in business. Iro, along with Tangata Tou and Melina Tuiravakai, will be involved in running workshops and training in Rarotonga and the outer […]
Toagate responsibility real
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local
It appears that the Toagate contract will continue to be a $10 million millstone around the country’s neck as legislating it out of existence isn’t an option favoured by government. Getting rid of the costly Toagate contract through legislation sets a bad precedent and will send the wrong message to potential investors and the international […]
Mangaia shuts down power at midday
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Mangaia’s island council is showing its support for today’s international Earth Hour by closing down the island’s power plant for an hour from midday. Mangaia Island Administration secretary Helen Henry says the initiative is to support the National Environment Service efforts towards Earth Hour, which aims to encourage power conservation and recognition of climate change […]
Vaka to leave for Tahiti next week
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Vaka Marumaru Atua departs for her big voyage on Tuesday, and the community has finalised the programme for her day of send-off. Tomorrow, crew will be attending a service at Ngatangiia CICC church and will then attend a kaikai at the home of Pa Marie Ariki in Vaimaanga. The departure ceremony starts at 10am on […]
Power prices on Raro to go up in May
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Electricity is set to go up on Rarotonga a week from today. Homes can expect to pay five cents more per unit for usage of up to 60 units. The rate goes up eight cents for usage of 61 – 300 units and above 240 units. Similarly, commercial users are faced with an eight cents […]
Growers miss out on vital machinery
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Members of the Titikaveka Growers Association feel as though they have been “slapped in the face” by the new government, chairman Teava Iro says. Iro has received formal confirmation that the association will not be allocated a piece of heavy machinery gifted to the Cook Islands by the Chinese government, as initially intended. The equipment […]
Mita fails to impress ministers
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Bruce who? – was the dismissive response by prime minister Henry Puna when asked to comment on NZ Maori Bruce Mita’s aspirations in the Cook Islands. Clearly, Puna wasn’t impressed hearing about Mita’s latest intrusion into affairs of the state and ui ariki. Other than to say he’s not about to take advice from outsiders […]
Mita on sovereignty campaign again
Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in National
Dissolution of the country’s constitution and government, lose NZ passports, remove allegiance to the Queen, sever ties to New Zealand and Ui Ariki to become the kings and queens of the Cook Islands. These are the changes that NZ Maori sovereignty activist Bruce Ruatapu Mita is campaigning to have happen in the Cook Islands. Now […]
« Previous 1 … 1,671 1,672 1,673 1,674 1,675 1,676 1,677 1,678 1,679 … 1,898 Next »