National
This week's appearances
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Cases dealt with in the high court this week: Tuarongo Pareangacharged with attempted rape. Pareanga has been advised to seek legal representation and will re-appear before the court on February 4. Andrew Tonoriocharged with theft. Tonorio has 13 outstanding ‘not guilty’ pleas and four outstanding ‘guilty’ pleas. On Thursday he told the court that he’d […]
Foreign affairs and marine HoMs named
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in National
Former foreign affairs expert James Gosselin will return to head the ministry that he was once a part of. Gosselin was announced yesterday by prime minister Jim Marurai as the new secretary for foreign affairs and immigration. Gosselin is currently serving as regional trade policy advisor for the Commonwealth Secretariat and has been based at […]
Bail changed for Williams
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
Paul Williams appeared in court this week for assault on a female. His wife will not be withdrawing the charges. Prosecutor Kim Saunders of Crown Law said that Williams had “approached” and “interfered with” the victim, thus violating the conditions of his bail. Counsel Norman George countered that since the couple is “back together, living […]
Threatening to kill case back in the high court
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Crime
StRuck-off lawyer Tevita Vakalalabure appeared before the high court on Thursday for an outstanding threatening to kill charge. Legal counsel Norman George requested that the case be adjourned until Vakalalabure receives the medical “documents” he is expecting. The defendant is waiting to hear confirmation for an appointment he made with an Auckland specialist, who will […]
New plan for Sheraton property
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Local
New developers are in the wings saying they want to develop the famous ‘Sheraton’ ruins in Vaimaanga. New Zealand based development company Mirage Group Ltd hopes to complete the construction of the ill-fated Sheraton – which amounts to a complex of derelict buildings on the ten-hectare Vaimaanga property owned by Takitumu paramount chief Pa Marie […]
Toa payments 'top secret'
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in Local
A new outcry and legal action are brewing over ‘top secret’ costs still not revealed in the Toagate scandal. Prime minister Jim Marurai continues to claim he does not know when and how the $1.75 million settlement that government made with fuel company Toa Petroleum is due to be paid. The details remain a secret […]
Esther Honey garage sale success
Saturday 30 January 2010 | Published in National
Thanks to the generosity of the Rarotonga community, the Esther Honey Foundation Animal Clinic raised $625 from last Saturday’s garage sale. In addition, animal patients enjoyed full tummies because of the kindness of local bargain hunters who also donated animal food. A bonus to an already great day was the placement of two sweet-faced kittens […]
Nisha still a threat
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in Local
Tropical cyclone Nisha could approach Rarotonga within the next 24 to 48 hours, after slowing down yesterday. Senior meteorological service officer Maara Vaiimene said Nisha will continue to head in a south or south easterly direction but today will prove critical in determining which path it chooses. As of 5.30pm yesterday, Nisha had a wind […]
Independent MP says PM is 'fooling' on reform
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Rakahanga’s independent MP Piho Rua (above) says the prime minister is fooling the public on the proposed political reforms. “He [Jim Marurai] is saying things that are pretty difficult to achieve,” says Rua. “He knows that he has to go to parliament to achieve those reforms. But the way I see it, he is not […]
Offshore industry represented in US
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Three offshore finance industry people are flying the Cook Islands flag in the United States this week. More than 2500 trusts and estates attorneys are in Orlando, Florida, for the 44th annual Heckerling Institute on estate planning. Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority chief executive Jenner Davis, who has attended previous Heckerling conferences, says it […]
Harbour clears for cyclone
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Boat owners worked round the clock yesterday to remove their vessels from Avatiu harbour in preparation for cyclone Nisha. While smaller fishing vessels were winched on to trailers and taken to higher ground, bigger charter boats had to be lifted out of the water by crane. That included the Ports Authority’s tug boat. Interisland trading […]
Most public servants let off work to prepare for cyclone
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Prime minister Jim Marurai was still in his office yesterday afternoon but had sent his staff home after midday following news that cyclone Nisha had intensified and was continuing on its course towards Rarotonga. At 3pm he told CINews he had not ordered other ministers or government ministries to close early but several of them […]
Playing it safe
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Schools were closed yesterday as the country remained on warning against cyclone Nisha. Ministry of education secretary Sharon Paio made the decision to have children remain at home after receiving an update from the met service early yesterday morning. “It’s a bit of an unknown, the situation can change, but I spoke to the met […]
Police on the alert and watch
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Police are in emergency operation mode as cyclone Nisha is deep within Cook Islands territory. The meteorological service placed the country on warning late Wednesday afternoon triggering the police to activate the emergency operation centre in their headquarters. Officers have been designated to track Nisha’s path with each met service update, answer any inquiries the […]
Tourism tribute to Dean
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
The tourism industry council says CI Tourism CEO John Dean has advanced the work of the corporation in several key areas over the past 21 months. CINews asked the council to comment on Dean’s contribution to the industry following his resignation this month. The council says Dean brought a mature and pragmatic business approach to […]
Tourism council explains role of new marketing team
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe heads a new group of tourism industry members that will give marketing advice to government. The destination sales and marketing committee will provide advice to the tourism board. The group will also be responsible for communicating more with the industry on how to promote the destination. Tourism industry council (CITIC) […]
Licence plates switched on DPM's car
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in National
The licence plates on the ‘DPM’ plated car were illegally switched until two weeks ago when former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate returned the grey Honda Accord to the DPM office. Members of the public had noticed Sir Terepai still driving a government vehicle and CINews can now reveal that even though he was […]
Trader Jack awaits Nisha
Friday 29 January 2010 | Published in Local
As local businesses boarded up yesterday and got ready for cyclone Nisha, Trader Jack was quietly sitting at his Avarua harbour bar sipping on a gin and watching the waves and clouds roll in. Jack Cooper knows more than most the devastation of a cyclone having rebuilt his harbour side restaurant and bar three times […]
Pacific islands join forces on environment
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Environment
Pacific island nations are facing critical environmental issues – pollution, habitat destruction, declining fisheries and climate change – which threaten their costal ecosystems impacting food security and wellbeing. Environmental leaders and managers are in Rarotonga to meet and discuss an innovative approach to the management of coastal ecosystems, known as ecosystem-based management, as part of […]
PM invites submissions on reform
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Local
Prime minister Jim Marurai says his office will accept written views on political reform from any person or party leading up to his planned public conference on the issue. In a statement yesterday, Marurai said written submissions from any interested person or party can be made in advance of the conference. There will be a […]
« Previous 1 … 1,837 1,838 1,839 1,840 1,841 1,842 1,843 1,844 1,845 … 1,880 Next »