National
Tourism supports Buy Local
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in National
Cook Islands Tourism has come to the support of the BTIB plan to open an airport outlet dedicated to local products. The Buy Local shop was to be positioned inside the departure terminal to capture some of the 100,000 visitors who leave Rarotonga each year. But plans have stalled following what the Airport Authority says […]
New seats means 'Buy Local' misses out
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in National
The Buy Local initiative missed out on getting an outlet in the departure area for small suppliers of local products because the Airport Authority identified an “operational need” for space. Commercial operations manager Mark Vaikai says they needed to accommodate extra passenger seating, understood to be an extra column of four seats. This ruled out […]
PM delays NZ departure
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local
A meeting that was to be held tomorrow between Prime Minister Henry Puna and the Cook Islands Taokotaianga Trust in Auckland has had to be cancelled. In order to be present for the opening of parliament today, Puna has had to reschedule his New Zealand departure until early tomorrow morning. Trust members had wanted to […]
Banker sees potential for food exports
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local
ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America (APE&A) chief executive officer Alex Thursby speaks to local ANZ customers at a breakfast function yesterday. He believes the Pacific has potential as a food supplier to Asia. Report, page 9. 11021715
More pay for a foreign Finsec
Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local
If a new Financial Secretary is recruited from overseas, that person will be paid a higher salary than someone hired locally. The position of Financial Secretary commands a salary of about $120,000 for a local appointment. A salary top-up offered through the NZAid programme for an overseas recruit means the salary package will be considerably […]
Kids raise water and sanitation awareness
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Environment
Vaka Takitumu school pupils have until this Friday to complete their various projects as part of the education awareness competition organised by the Muri Environment Care Group in conjunction with the European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project. Students have been researching, writing and creating posters under the water and sanitation topic with the view […]
Tribunal to hear police complaints
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Police will be establishing a formal tribunal to hear a number of outstanding public complaints lodged against officers. CINews understands that Police Commissioner Maara Tetava is in discussions with New Zealand police for a commissioned officer to be on the tribunal. Police are said to be reviewing disciplinary processes assisted by a NZ […]
'Tag team' not talking
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Local
Once best political buddies who described themselves as the Atiu tag team, MPs Norman George and minister Nandi Glassie haven’t spoken since November 17 – election day. “When Nandi left me, we haven’t contacted each other. He’s supposed to come back but he hasn’t,” says George, adding he’s used to such treatment from so-called friends. […]
PM pleased with NZ response
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Local
Prime Minister Henry Puna says he’s pleased with the New Zealand government’s response to Cook Islands’ renewable energy polices and the direction being taken. Puna says he’s particularly glad that NZaid has supported the government’s plans for waste management, “and we are getting on with that right now”. In preparation for NZa id related meetings […]
Forum to help officials understand big picture
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Local
A Commonwealth forum to be held here next week aims to provide top Pacific government officials the opportunity to reflect on understanding the ‘big picture’ for strategic leadership to achieve government objectives. Aimed at cabinet secretaries and heads of the public service, the forum will be held on February 21-24 and is a follow-up to […]
Stringent recruitment process for Finsec job
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Local
Extra steps are being taken by the Public Service Commission to have a stringent recruitment process in place to evaluate suitably qualified candidates for the top job of Financial Secretary. A New Zealand specialist recruitment firm has been engaged to scrutinise all applicants and provide the local selection committee with expert advice on ranked candidates, […]
Ways for sea cucumber aquaculture to deliver real benefits to rural communities
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
NOUMEA, Feb 17 – Stocks of high-value sea cucumber species have been chronically over-exploited throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as elsewhere in the world. They are in great demand, not only for food but also for their reported medicinal and supposed aphrodisiac qualities, particularly among the Chinese. Collected by divers in deep water and by women […]
Sea cucumber: nerves not required
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
It looks like a slimy worm – but it lives in the sea. The common sea cucumber is a sluggish creature, brown and blotchy, designed to blend in with its habitat: rocky reefs and sandy bottoms. It is sub tidal and can be found at depths up to 100 metres, all around the coast of […]
Pleased to be accredited pearl graders
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
Three Cook Islanders have passed examinations which now recognise them as accredited pearl graders under a programme driven by the Pearl Authority to standardise grading in the country. They are Christine Newnham and siblings Tamuela Karaponga and Mehau Johnson all from Manihiki. Karaponga, who topped the exams, and Johnson are farmers and pearl seeding technicians. […]
MMR starts bonefishing meetings
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
About 40 villagers attended the bonefish awareness community campaign meeting at Araura College in Aitutaki on Monday. There were a lot of concerns from the general public as to whether they were allowed to gillnet, to fish in the lagoon for kiokio, whether they had to buy a fish permit and where the fees for […]
Cash for clothes vs good causes
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
“This clothing allowance rhetoric should be taken notice of by the prime minister,” writes a smoke signaller as he joins the debate over whether the government should bring back the $5000 clothing allowance for each parliamentarian, at a cost of $120,000. “I see colourful Norman George has now thrown his hat in the ring. For […]
ANZ's top brass visit Rarotonga
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America (APE&A) chief executive officer Alex Thursby arrived on Rarotonga last night – ticking off one more stop on his Pacific tour. Accompanying him on his tour are South and South East Asia chief executive officer and APE&A chief operation officer Mark Robinson, APE&A general manager of human resources Anouk […]
Decision due today on Pukapuka
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in National
Justice Nicholson heard evidence and submissions pertaining to the Pukapuka electoral petition in the Rarotonga High Court yesterday, following a court sitting in Pukapuka earlier in the week. Nicholson is expected to have a decision ready to deliver this morning. His decision will determine whether CIP Member of Parliament for Tekii Lazaro will retain the […]
Scientists testing lagoon quality
Thursday 17 February 2011 | Published in Environment
The curious white poles planted in the Ngatangiia lagoon this week do indeed serve a purpose. A team of researchers from Southern Cross University, the University of Texas, the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is testing lagoon and inland areas to get a clearer picture of the nutrient makeup […]
George opposes salary deal
Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Local
Rebel MP Norman George has turned his attention on Cook Islands Party stalwart Sir Geoffrey Henry alleging the former prime minister is demanding an $85,000 salary package to be speaker of parliament. Under civil list regulations if Sir Geoffrey were appointed speaker, he would be entitled to a $35,000 salary as an unelected member. A […]
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