National
Why not just sell the Cook Islands now?
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
“Watching our leaders smiling while signing ‘non-binding’ fishing agreements brings to mind the native people who once owned what is now called Manhattan Island but sold it for a few strings of glass beads to the invading Brits,” a smoke signaller writes.” Why drag the inevitable out? Let’s sell the Cook Islands now, lock, stock […]
Cooper sees MOU as 'starting point'
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
Amidst all the public discussion about government collaborating with Asian fishing companies, Jack Cooper is not worried about his own fish processing business. Cooper believes it is too early to jump to conclusions about the implications of a memorandum of understanding signed last week by the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and global fishing giants. […]
New NZ head
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has confirmed the appointment of a new general manager for its New Zealand office – 12 months after the position has been vacant. The new manager is Graeme West who CITC describes as having held senior sales and marketing positions with Tourism Holdings Ltd. West takes up his new position in […]
Courses closing
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in Local
Applications for three full-time 11-week courses at the Arorangi Trades Training Centre (TTC) close today. The courses – for a national certificate in carpentry, motor industries (level two) and electrical registration – have all been offered before, and centre on curricula that prepare students for careers as skilled tradespeople. They run from 8am to 4pm […]
Tereora addresses drug issues
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in Local
Tereora College staff are confident the school does not have a drug problem, despite three students being found in possession of marijuana within school grounds last week. The three students found with the illegal drug – in years 9, 10, and 11 – are all serving suspensions from the college. A 17-year-old who is not […]
Power going up
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in Local
The cost of electricity is going to increase significantly within the next month or two. Global fuel rises will seriously impact on the country with Te Aponga Uira already warning of the price rise. “And can only go upwards from now on,” says TAU chief executive Apii Timoti. Higher energy costs will have a widespread […]
Rubbish ready for recycling
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
Former Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning secretary Otheniel Tangianau surveys the Arorangi landfill. Inset: The recycling centre in Arorangi, below Rarotonga’s landfill, is due to be upgraded. “/> The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning has secured $189,000 to upgrade the existing recycling centre below the Arorangi landfill. It will enable Rarotonga’s residential – and some […]
World weather day
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
GENEVA, March 22 – Yesterday was World Meteorological Day, in recognition of the contributions of meteorological offices around the world to our daily lives. “WMO activities in the area of climate are widely perceived today as key contributions to human safety and well-being and the realisation of economic benefits for all nations,” said WMO secretary-general […]
Building approvals down
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
The total value of building approvals issued during the September 2010 quarter decreased by 27% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Residential building approvals contributed to 72.7% of that total value, averaging $140,000 per residential building approved. The number of building permits issued decreased by 22.7% for the same period. During the […]
Parties and candles for Earth Hour
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
Te Aponga Uira O Tumutevarovaro has confirmed its involvement in this Saturday’s Earth Hour. The power authority will assist the National Environment Service (NES) by running a competition for the greatest reduction in electricity usage by a village between 8pm and 9pm. NES education and awareness officer Deyna Marsh says support for local activities being […]
Doors open to foreign investors
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
The Cook Islands is inadvertently being opened up to foreign investment as it becomes more difficult for locals to purchase businesses and manage financial loans, Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) chief executive Terry Rangi says. Rangi says at present there are slightly more businesses for sale in the Cook Islands than usual, many of which […]
Helping with 'emotional recovery'
Thursday 24 March 2011 | Published in National
Rarotonga-based Cantabrian Jane Edgar is informing Cook Islands Red Cross Society (CIRC) officers of the current situation in earthquake-damaged Christchurch. Edgar, who began a 12-month secondment to the CIRC in January, has just returned to Rarotonga from the South Island city where she spent three weeks helping those in worst-hit suburbs. A Red Cross water […]
Invest in your own: Greenpeace
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in Local
Greenpeace is warning that the Cook Islands government should be developing and investing in the country’s own fishing industry instead of licensing foreign companies to exploit our fisheries resource. Regional spokesman Lagi Toribau says rather than leasing the resources out to foreign partners who pay, fish and go, Greenpeace encourages more local participation and involvement […]
Tua beats King in 'backyard brawl'
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in National
What is his tactic? That’s the question everybody was asking on Saturday night when Demetrice King and David Tua faced off in the ‘Tua De Force 3 – Backyard Brawl’. It was the first fight for Tua in his hometown of South Auckland since turning pro and the evening bustled with a palpable Pacific energy. […]
Nathan sheds 42kg – and shares how
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in National
Becoming a nutritional coach was the last thing on Nathan Waitai’s mind as he struggled to carry his 184kg frame. Today, Waitai, who is of New Zealand Maori descent, will celebrate his 36th birthday 42kg lighter and passionate about being part of the solution to the obesity epidemic. He wants to inspire Cook Islanders to […]
'No way'
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in National
Ocean Fresh owner Bill Doherty is not confident the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) will profit from entering an agreement with foreign fisheries. “There is no way MMR is going to make the money they state they’re going to make,” he said. “There’s no way it can be profitable.” The profit government would collect in […]
No background checks done
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in National
Government did not conduct due diligence into any of the international fishing companies it is entertaining doing business with – apparently failing to comply with its own rules to have background checks done first before business. Business Trade Investment Board, the agency responsible for carrying out background checks of businesses, confirmed no request for due […]
After-hours violence on the rise
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in National
Police are concerned about incidences of violence occurring in town on the weekends. A Fijian man and his mate allege that they were attacked outside Raro Fried Chicken by a group of Cook Islanders on Sunday morning. The man admitted he neither filed a report nor waited for police to arrive at the scene – […]
Greenpeace against it
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Operating in the region today are “super super purse seiners” which take almost double the entire annual catch of some Pacific island countries in a single fishing trip. Greenpeace identifies the biggest and most devastatingly efficient tuna catching vessel in the world as the Spanish-owned Albatun Tres which has been fishing far west side of […]
Conserving water is 'fairer'
Wednesday 23 March 2011 | Published in Environment
Greater water pressure and increased water reserves for emergencies are the likely benefits of water conservation efforts by all those living on Rarotonga. During World Water Day yesterday, Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning water works officer Adrian Teotahi urged residents to use water wisely and consider the consequences of water wastage. Teotahi says at present […]
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