National

Tini review continues

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

It is understood that suspended Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) chief executive John Tini is currently preparing his response to a draft audit report dated November 4, 2009. Solicitor general Tingika Elikana said that a disclosure of documents had been made to John Tini. Tini was suspended, on full pay, last September in order for […]

Local

Joint ministerial forum is still on

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai says plans for the first joint ministerial forum with New Zealand are still in place. Last week Marurai said cabinet had decided to go ahead with the forum which is due to be held in Rarotonga this year. The forum would be the second official visit of NZ prime minister John […]

Local

Sailors tough it out

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

Some hard sailing in difficult conditions helped local sailors Aquila Tatira and Teau Mc-Kenzie pinpoint exactly what skills they need to improve their sailing. The two sailors have spent the past few days competing in the Australian Youth Championships and Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers in Australia. McKenzie placed 41 out of 45 competitors while Tatira […]

Local

PM 'dodging' money problems?

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

CIP leader Henry Puna says the government has urgent financial problems. “/> It is irresponsible and foolhardy of prime minister Jim Marurai’s five-member cabinet to avoid and dodge government’s responsibility to maintain money supply and pay its way, according to CIP leader Henry Puna. The Cook Islands Party leader says by not calling parliament in […]

Local

'Take it to court'

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National

The opposition Cook Islands Party believes a High Court judgement should be sought on whether the Queen’s Representative should call parliament. Party leader Henry Puna told Cook Islands News yesterday that prime minister Jim Marurai should not be relying on a legal opinion to justify his position. “In regard to the opinion of Dr. Alex […]

National

PM must act now – Bishop

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai must ‘do the honourable thing’ and either resign, call an early election, or face a vote of no confidence, says Opposition MP Teina Bishop. Marurai has already admitted that he does not command the confidence of the majority MPs since the Democratic Party split and the larger faction joined forces with […]

Local

MPs still the key

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in Local

Political reform advocate Tata Crocombe says the support of the majority of MPs would be the most practical way forward on political reform. He says prime minister Jim Marurai’s renewed interest in pursuing reform is very commendable. Crocombe heads the private sector member economic development taskforce formed by government last year asked to come up […]

Local

PSC waits on audit

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in Local

Public service commissioner Navy Epati says he will await the findings of an audit report into the Toagate scandal, before launching an investigation into the financial secretary’s role in the whole affair. Epati, who has returned this week from leave overseas, says he wants to meet with a number of people, including PM Jim Marurai, […]

Local

Parties object to seabed job ad

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in National

The huge progress that’s been made in the last three years towards seeing the people of this country reaping benefits from our vast seabed manganese resource could be well on the way to being destroyed if the wrong person is appointed to head the seabed mining authority. In a historical sitting of parliament late last […]

National

Vaka bound for Aitutaki

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in National

Pictured at right is the president of the Araura Oe Vaka Association and Aitutaki MP Junior Maoate (far right) with workers packing a container with 10 vaka bound for the island. Maoate said the V6 and V1 canoes will be distributed to the two existing clubs – Aitutaki Oe Vaka and Te Mana O Utataki […]

National

NCEA national results out soon

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in National

Hundreds of teens are keen to get their exam results this week as they prepare to go back to college or on to tertiary studies and work. The ministry of education plans to have the overall national results statistics for 2009 and the comparison with previous years out within the week. This information shows whether […]

National

New reporter traces roots

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in National

It’s a new reporter for the New Year at Cook Islands News. Rachel Reeves joins the editorial team after making the move from Los Angeles, California, to Rarotonga. Despite her accent, she has strong Cook Islands roots through her grandmother Pauline Napa, owner of the Kiikii Motel. Her father, Anthony Napa, is a former Tereora […]

National

System flawed – election won't fix it

Saturday 16 January 2010 | Published in National

The political system of the Cook Islands encourages corruption, according to leading political scientist and Cook Islander Dr. Jon Jonassen. And it may not simply be an election which fixes it. “There are many capable politicians in both major political parties but it is difficult to maintain a national objective when the system itself encourages […]

National

New airport terminal nears completion

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National

Passengers could be using the departure area in the new airport terminal by the middle of next month. Hawkins project manager Russell Smith says the toilet areas are complete, all the framework for the roof is up, and there are still some finishing touches needed on the two VIP lounges. Windows and doors are being […]

National

Cabinet embraces reform

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National

Cabinet ministers are being briefed on political reform proposals in the build-up to the newly promised referendum. On Tuesday prime minister Jim Marurai announced a referendum will be run on the issue this year and stated that he needs public to support to press ahead with changing the political system. Yesterday political reform advocates Tata […]

National

Smiley gets stuck in

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National

New cabinet minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather is vowing to tackle basic infrastructure such as water supply and roads head-on this year. As he settles into his new office in Nikao, the minister for infrastructure and planning (MOIP) has already been filling his days with briefings from the ministry’s secretary Taukea Raui and is planning a […]

National

First court sitting of the year

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Crime

Daniel Mare – previously pleaded not guilty to burglary but appeared in court yesterday to assess whether he had legal representation. The defendant still did not have a lawyer and the court heard from the prison warden that no one wanted to represent him or his fellow inmate, Putere Dean. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Tuaine […]

Crime

Legal opinion supports PM's view

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai is content to rely on a legal opinion on the calling of parliament as he continues to thwart attempts to remove him from power by the majority of MPs. The legal opinion concludes that without his advice the Queen’s Representative cannot call parliament to sit – a view the PM and […]

Local

Church leader urges Demos to settle 'marriage problems'

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Local

A prominent church leader is calling on politicians to settle their differences or step aside. Apostolic Bishop Tutai Pere wants feuding Democratic Party MPs to resolve their “internal marriage problems” or hand over the reigns of government to the Opposition Cook Islands Party. In his Churchtalk opinion piece on page 11 today, Pere shares his […]

Local

500 get NCEA results

Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in Local

Eighteen-year-old Tara Ngari is one of 500 local students who can now access national certificate of educational achievement (NCEA) exam results online. Results for all 140,000 students (mostly in NZ) that sat the exams are available online, but they must register first to log in. Tara and others who sat NCEA here will start receiving […]

Local

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