National
Turangi's twister
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in Environment
Some beachfront residents ran for safety to escape a towering water twister – 500 metres tall – as it churned across the Turangi lagoon and headed straight for them. “We were looking straight up this huge, swirling column as we ran in all directions,” says Kanoe Aquino, who said they are all still excitedly talking […]
Pirate movies in police hands
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in Local
Chief Censor concerned at inaction on pirate DVDs The police have not prosecuted anyone for selling pirate DVDs, despite having several cases passed on to them by the Chief Censor. An amendment to the Film and Censorship Act of 1985, passed in 2008, increased the fine for piracy from $500 to $5000. It also gave […]
'Halt tourism growth'
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in Local
The environmental lobby group Te Ipukarea Society is calling for a moratorium on new tourism accommodation development until waste treatment and disposal problems are fixed. The action group wants a 15-year halt on new development because of the strain on existing infrastructure. It wants urgent focus by government on infrastructure development, and it wants tourism […]
Joyana is Miss South Pacific
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in Local
Miss Cook Islands Joyana Meyer was crowned the new Miss South Pacific 2010-2011 on Saturday night at the pageant in Papua New Guinea. Joyana, 21, took out the first prize after winning the categories for best sarong and best talent and being named Miss Photogenic. Joyanna is studing for her Bachelors of Mechatronic Engineering at […]
Hoist will help with therapy at Creative Centre
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in National
The Creative Centre has been gifted a hoist which will make life easier for members and helpers alike. A speech and language therapist from Carlson School in New Zealand sourced the $4000 equipment and spoke to Mainfreight, who agreed to ship it to Rarotonga for free. The therapist, Jenny Watson, has visited Rarotonga twice to […]
Boy of 12 caught in burglary
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in National
A 12-year-old boy was among a number of law breakers apprehended and dealt with by police over the weekend. The boy was caught by owners of a tourist accommodation in Ngatangiia rifling through property in one of the accommodation units. The boy is a known offender and will appear at the next juvenile court sitting. […]
Vara Nui's 4000
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in National
Since opening its doors to the public in June, Te Vara Nui Village has proved to be a hit both locally and internationally with an estimated 4000 visitors and counting. The business is now expanding its product range to now include catering to the groups and events sector as well as increasing its profile in […]
Water tanks cleaned
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in National
Some Takuvaine and Tauae Heights residents have a cleaner water supply following the drainage and clearing of a 300,000-litre water reservoir up Happy Valley Rd this week. The reservoir, which has two water tanks inside, was drained and cleaned of silt and dirt which had accumulated since it was last cleared about ten years ago. […]
Spat over Aitutaki cyclone funds
Monday 29 November 2010 | Published in National
A spat has developed over funds collected on Rarotonga for Aitutaki cyclone recovery. Aitutaki Mayor Tai Herman says that Aitutaki has yet to see a cent of the money donated by the people of Rarotonga during the cyclone appeal drive. Cyclone Pat devastated Aitutaki in February, leaving hundreds of home needing extensive repairs – 95 […]
CIP secures 16 seats
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Local
Final election results have secured the Cook Islands Party a two-thirds majority of seats in parliament. CIP leader and Prime Minister elect Henry Puna was rapt that the final results issued this week confirmed all of its seats won on election night as well as the Pukapuka seat, giving it 16 seats altogether. “I was […]
Rogz gifts for Dogs
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
For the third year in a row – Australian animal lover Kylie Young and her crew have returned to Rarotonga with goodies for island animals. This year, Young with the help of some of her paddling crew raised $1250 from barbeques in front of the Bunnings Warehouse in her hometown of Mollymook on the south […]
Joyana carries Cooks' hopes in PNG pageant
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
Today marks the final day of the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – and the Cook Islands is still anxiously waiting to find out whether Maine Tapairu Joyana Meyer will bring home the title. For the contestants, the pageant has been a whirlwind of outings, meet-and-greets and nerve-wracking stage performances. […]
'Treating' not good
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
Professor Nigel Hemmington believes that ‘treating guests’ at hotels as part of a business is wrong. Hemmington is Professor of Tourism at Auckland University of Technology. He addressed over 100 hoteliers and tourism operators at the Cook Island Tourism Forum last Saturday at the Edgewater. He said that most hotels base the way they work […]
MP denies bribery
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
Newly elected Cook Islands Party member Mona Ioane has dismissed claims that he used his position in the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal committee to gain leverage in the Vaipae constituency during the general election campaign. Ioane delivered a decisive win against Democrat Kete Ioane who had held the seat for two terms. The former Crown Law […]
Petitions close next week
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
No election petitions have yet been filed in the High Court, but one inquiry was made with the court in regards to a possible petition over Pukapuka by a member of the general public yesterday. The Cook Islands Party has secured the Pukapuka seat giving it the 16 or two-thirds majority seats to form the […]
59.2% want fewer MPs
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in National
The non-binding national referendum has resulted in 59.2 percent or 4983 voters supporting a reduction in the number of seats in parliament. The Democratic Party government had pledged that it would only pursue a reduction in the number of members of parliament as a policy if at least two-thirds (67 percent) of voters were in […]
Busy court schedule
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice Christine Grice arrives on Rarotonga this weekend, and will begin hearing cases in the High Court on Monday. Her sitting lasts right through to December 10. On Monday morning, Robert Samuel will take an oath before he is admitted to the Cook Islands Bar. He will be reportedly working alongside lawyer Norman George. Temu […]
Voter turnout down
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Local
Voter turnout this election was about 78 percent – much lower than in the previous three elections. The political parties have yet to speculate on the low voter turnout. Although more people appear to have voted this election – 8418 cast a vote – over 10,500 people were eligible to vote. The voter turnout at […]
Puna not surprised
Saturday 27 November 2010 | Published in Local
CIP leader and Prime Minister Elect Henry Puna says he’s not surprised that the referendum failed to secure enough support for reducing the number of seats in parliament. “I’m not surprised by the result at all. But its not so much about what people actually want — I think its more a reflection of how […]
17 confirmed
Friday 26 November 2010 | Published in Local
Eight more MPs were confirmed by the results of the final counts for their constituencies on Wednesday. This follows confirmation of nine new MPs in the final count on Tuesday. The CIP now has 10 of its preliminary 15 seat win confirmed and the Democratic Party has seven of its eight seats won on election […]
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