National
Restoring power and water not easy
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Local
Restoring power to homes in cyclone-ravaged Aitutaki is still a difficult challenge and the priority for officials. Aitutaki mayor Tai Herman reported yesterday afternoon that only a few homes on the island had electricity. He said homes still with power were those least affected by the storm or were already supplied power via underground cables. […]
Hercules brings relief supplies
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Local
An air force Hercules will deliver emergency supplies and hope to Aitutaki today. The plane was due to arrive in Rarotonga around midnight last night carrying supplies and 32 military personnel to help the island recover from cyclone damage. Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki, a Cook Islander, is with the relief mission as communications and media […]
Team to design plans for waste treatment overhaul
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in National
Government and independent groups are engaged in discussions about how to manage a $1 million NZAID donation toward an overhaul of waste management systems on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. ANZDEC Limited is contracting a team to design plans for the project that team member Geoff Mavromatis suspects will span up to ten years. At present, septic […]
ADB suports budgets
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in National
Most Pacific economies are stuck at zero growth but cash-strapped governments are now being provided some budget support from the Asian Development Bank, said vice-president Larry Greenwood. Speaking at a press conference after the second day of talks at the UN Pacific conference on the human face of the global economic crisis (GEC) in Vanuatu, […]
Drunk drivers and burglars in action
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in National
Kids’ clothes and toys, a pick-up truck and tools were among items stolen over the weekend in four separate burglaries reported to Rarotonga police. A cheeky burglar broke into a Pokoinu home by climbing a mango tree and gaining access through a window. The home owner reported that toys were stolen from their home which […]
Special interest courses overcrowded at Tereora
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in National
Tereora College is experiencing an unusually high enrolment of 659 this year but has managed to accommodate students in what principal Teaea Parima calls the core areas of learning. Parima said that mathematics, English, science and social science courses are not filled to maximum capacity and are open to students who meet the pre-requisite requirements. […]
Four assault on a female cases in court this week
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Justice of the peace Pae Tuteru presided over a number of cases in the high court this week: Emily Rima – pleaded not guilty to careless driving. Counsel Levenia Rokoika alleged that police had unlawfully approached the defendant prior to the hearing, urging her to plead guilty and pay fines, and asked that the court […]
88FM starts on Aitutaki
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Local
Nick Henry of 88FM helped to set up a temporary radio station on Aitutaki yesterday. They have set up in the island’s hospital. The signal can be picked up clearly on 88FM in mainly the town area. Henry says it will help disseminate messages to the public. – MM
$200,000 from NZ
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Local
New Zealand will make an initial contribution of $200,000 for relief and recovery efforts in the Cook Islands in the wake of cyclone Pat, foreign minister Murray McCully announced yesterday. Cyclone Pat hit the southern Cook Islands on Thursday (NZT), causing widespread damage on the island of Aitutaki. “Thankfully, there are no reported deaths or […]
Airlines respond to cyclone crisis
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Local
Air New Zealand and Air Rarotonga are offering special discount fares, effective today, for those willing to donate their time to the cyclone relief effort in Aitutaki. For the next couple of weeks, Air New Zealand will be offering discount fares of $419 from Auckland to Aitutaki on the condition that those who purchase them […]
Wilkie withdraws proceedings against Demos
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in Crime
Wilkie Rasmussen has withdrawn legal proceedings against the Democratic Party after his expulsion from the party late last year. On September 10, Rasmussen, who is currently the attorney general and finance minister, filed an application for various declaratory orders declaring that the cancellation of his party membership be null and void, and of no legal […]
Green jobs can help
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in Environment
Green jobs can create a large number of jobs quickly and help revive economies suffering from the impacts of the global economic crisis. Pacific leaders and country delegates heard more about the potential of green jobs at the final day of the regional conference on the human face of the GEC session on green growth […]
Damage estimated at $10m
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in Local
The people of Aitutaki are still coming to terms with the devastation caused by cyclone Pat which ripped through the island on Tuesday night. Government officials including prime minister Jim Marurai and members of his cabinet were floored at the extent of the damage on the island when they visited on Thursday afternoon. The initial […]
Pacific urged to create concrete outcomes
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in National
On the final day of a regional conference on the global economic crisis, Fiji’s Wellington Sevens win was cited as an example of how the Pacific can rise to its economic development challenges. University of the South Pacific vice chancellor Rajesh Chandra said the Pacific’s strength in sport could serve as a lesson for tackling […]
Former bank governor promotes access to credit for micro enterprise
Friday 12 February 2010 | Published in National
A former governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, focused on aid dependency and widening income gaps in the Pacific in his presentation at this week’s regional conference on the global economic crisis in Vanuatu. Anthony Hughes, took part in the session on inclusive economic growth and social policies on Thursday. “All Pacific countries […]
Pat pounds Aitutaki
Thursday 11 February 2010 | Published in Local
Houses were flattened and roofs uplifted as tropical cyclone Pat unleashed its fury on Aitutaki during the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to businessman Mike Henry who reported via a patchy cellphone connection at 9am yesterday, the island experienced winds of up to 100 knots throughout the night. Henry estimated that around 60 percent […]
Human face of crisis captured in essay
Thursday 11 February 2010 | Published in National
Twenty-two year old Solomon Islander June Atomea won the Human Face story competition in the lead up to this week’s Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis. On Wednesday evening she received her prize from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Helen Clark in Port Vila, Vanuatu where the conference wraps […]
No health cuts: Faireka
Thursday 11 February 2010 | Published in National
The national health budget cannot be allowed to suffer further cuts this year says health secretary Tupou Faireka. He is currently head of the eight-member Cook Islands delegation attending the Pacific conference on the global economic crisis (GEC) in Vanuatu this week. Many countries have heard and are repeating that critical social services such as […]
Family law consultation cancelled
Thursday 11 February 2010 | Published in National
Christine Forster, the UNDP representative scheduled to present at yesterday morning’s family law consultation, had just given a speech about legal separation of man and wife when minister of justice Apii Piho issued an emergency evacuation warning. The consultation drew 26 participants – from police, the ministry of justice, Punanga Tauturu, crown law and the […]
Concern over alcohol: police
Wednesday 10 February 2010 | Published in Local
Police made six arrests last weekend, most of which were alcohol-related. Senior sergeant Nga Pouao said that police are still concerned about offences which involve alcohol. “Most people being arrested by police are drinking,” he said. “If you drink alcohol, please know that you are responsible for your actions.” Police arrested a male person for […]
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