National
Changes to 2009/10 Budget
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen yesterday presented a supplementary budget that takes the 2009/10 $215.5 million annual Budget to a new total of $184.6 million. Aitutaki and Penrhyn Emergency Relief and Recovery Funds to the value of $2.5 million were also been declared in the supplementary budget. After talking about the support both locally and internationally […]
Bowling rolls along nicely
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
Light drizzle through the week did little to dampen the competitive spirit and hot action of Cook Islands bowlers at the Rarotonga Bowling Club in Parekura. Over 100 players are competing in the Cook Islands Lawn Bowls Championships which began with a parade and exhibition matches by junior bowlers on Saturday. The men’s and women’s […]
26% increase for pearl industry
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
The Pearl Authority has received a 26 per cent uplift despite a massive slump in the value of the industry last year. The increase was justified by projections that that there will be a 45 per cent increase in pearl production in 2010/11. Out of the new national Budget of $157.6 million which was tabled […]
Tourism funding up in Budget
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT) has received a 3.2 per cent increase in the 2010/11 Budget. A rather conservative $157.6 million Budget was tabled in Parliament yesterday and is due to be debated when Parliament resumes on Monday. In 2009/10 CIT received $4,449,153. This has increased to $4,592,193 – an increase of $143,040. In […]
Budgets now public documents
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
The two national budgets presented in Parliament are now public documents – but they were almost held back for release to media despite becoming public information the moment they were tabled yesterday. Cook Islands News was to receive copies of the budget documents when they had been tabled, but when Parliament broke for morning tea […]
Demo faction's silent protest
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
Divide rears its head again in Parliament sitting The governing Democratic Party revealed it is still divided when its MPs went to Parliament for the tabling of the two budget bills yesterday. The faction led by Sir Terepai Maoate staged a silent protest against the tabling of the budgets when only cabinet ministers agreed to […]
Resignation over Beer decision
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Local
Following the Democratic Party decision to allow James Beer to stand as the candidate for Murienua, the constituency committee (puna) chairman has resigned. Kaota Tuariki has resigned from his position citing ‘differences of opinion’. “During the run off of the Democratic candidacy for the Murienua Puna one of the candidates had not paid their financial […]
Boost for infrastructure
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Local
From the $157.6 million 2010/11 Budget, which was tabled in Parliament yesterday, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) has received an increase of $126,656, bringing their budget for this year to $2,844,678. The Government intends the upgrade in water distribution on Rarotonga to be completed by the end of the financial year, with all […]
Cultural extravaganza
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Local
Rarotonga school cultural groups and visiting guest artists will open each night of the Te Maeva Nui cultural competitions. Te Maeva Nui will open on Saturday at the Punanga Nui Markets at 9.30am. Teams taking part in the competition are expected to march through Avarua to the markets for the opening. The colourful international spectacle […]
Toa bites into Budget
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in Local
Supplementary budget labelled a ‘clean up’ by Rasmussen The huge costs related to the Toagate scandal and the decision to abandon the $37.5 million proposed China loan for road and water upgrades are the main changes to be made to the 2009/10 Budget. A much more conservative $157.6 million Budget for 2010/11 was also tabled […]
No guarantees against Toagate repeat
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen focused on the Toagate scandal as a key talking point in his speech on the supplementary budget which declares over $3 million in costs associated with the failed fuel farm scheme. Yesterday he said it would not be surprising for an assurance that such a scandal would not be repeated to […]
Health given a $200,000 boost
Friday 30 July 2010 | Published in National
The Ministry of Health has received an increase of 1.9 per cent, which amounts to $201,430, in the 2010/11 Budget which was tabled in Parliament yesterday. The budget for healthcare goes up from $10,818,871 in 2009 to $11,020,301. In the 2009/10 Budget, the ministry’s budget was cut by 1.9 per cent or $133,431. The nation’s […]
Electric experience for students
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in Local
Te Aponga Uira staff welcomed four work experience students onboard yesterday. Moekopu Enetoma of Tereora College got practice doing administration work – sorting out billings, dealing with customers and working with computers. She said she’s learned that it’s a job which requires lots of patience. Araura College students Tamaine Hewitt, Daniel Tutai and Werner Tschan […]
New database will speed up disaster response
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) is creating a software database that will speed and fine-tune its response to future natural disasters. The brainchild of EMCI director Charles Carlson, FERN (Frontline Emergency Response Network) is an information management system that will ensure a coordinated disaster response from EMCI, police, meteorological services and other government departments. The […]
PM to attend his fourth Forum
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Prime Minister Jim Marurai believes the Forum Island countries can work together to overcome challenges such as fisheries management, trade links, renewable energy and climate change. He hopes to contribute to high level talks on these issues at the annual gathering of Forum leaders next week in Port Vila, Vanuatu for the 41st Pacific Islands […]
Golden Oldies test Sydney team
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Last Friday’s Golden Oldies game at Takuvaine went well with all the Sydney people in one team against the rest. But it did not last long before everybody was anywhere, which was quite enjoyable. Dasher Wilkie was asked to replace a person in Gold shorts, so that he may put up a good show against […]
Traditional vaka to visit
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Traditional voyaging outrigger vaka Te vaka no te tau Auiui is set to sail to Rarotonga and join in on the Constitution celebrations next week before continuing its journey to Shanghai, China. The canoe is set to depart Raiatea for Rarotonga today and it is anticipated that the journey to Rarotonga will take up to […]
Herman defends road maintenance
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning’s Ata Herman reported to the infrastructure forum yesterday that a report by consultants from the ADB stated that “despite budget constraints, and contrary to some public sentiment, (MOIP) are doing a creditable job in maintaining the roads in Rarotonga”. Last year’s budget for roads was $680,000 – the equivalent of […]
Gearing up for cyclone season Akapapa no te tuatau uriia
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Red Cross prepares Penrhyn as northern group stock room The Red Cross team has sent emergency supplies to Penrhyn in preparation for the coming cyclone season. They were due to arrive this week. The team has painted a 10-foot container which will stay on the island as storage for emergency supplies including blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen […]
Students loving the experience
Thursday 29 July 2010 | Published in National
Cook Islands secondary school students, including senior students from Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro, Aitutaki and Mauke, began work experience at various businesses on Rarotonga yesterday. A group of eight chose to learn more about the police force under the instruction of Sgt Kura Taere who is keen on recruiting some of her trainees in the near […]
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