National
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cyclone alert!
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in Local
The Metrological Service is closely monitoring a cyclone that is moving towards the southern parts of the Cook Islands. Yesterday at 5pm tropical cyclone Nisha, with 35 to 40 knot winds (64 to 74kph), was situated about 225 nautical miles (416km) to the west of Palmerston. The cyclone was expected to gradually turn east and […]
Renovations to begin on Tupapa Nui
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
Renovations of the Tupapa Nui meeting house will kick off with a ceremony on Friday evening. Tupapa pu tapere George Matutu says the pure at 6pm will formally start the renovation programme heading towards the meeting house’s centenary in October. Matutu says the renovations will not involve huge changes to the main structure of the […]
More awards for Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been chosen as one of the Top 10 Luxury Resorts in the South Pacific and Top 10 Resorts for Romance in the South Pacific by the TripAdvisor website in its 2010 Travelers’ Choice awards. Now in its eighth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning […]
Five ships to service Cooks
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
Twelve months ago, there was only one boat plying its trade between New Zealand and the Cooks, amidst complaints from importers that cargo was being left behind in Auckland. And early this month there was concern that Aitutaki could be left off the shipping schedule between late January and early March. Now it appears that […]
Work begins on cells
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
Workers this week have started stripping the inmate cells at Arorangi prison. With the roof having been completed, on Tuesday work began on doing up five of the cells. Workers will renovate five cells at a time so as to avoid displacing all prisoners from their quarters at the same time. For now, the prisoners […]
Minister calls on traditional leaders
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
The country’s traditional leaders were paid a courtesy call on Monday by new minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather. Members of the House of Ariki and Koutu Nui in Rarotonga gathered at parliament for the minister now responsible for the two bodies to introduce himself. Heather’s chief executive Tere Taio says the minister hopes to instil better […]
Sunday flights an insult: Tom
Thursday 28 January 2010 | Published in National
The continuation of Sunday flights to Aitutaki represents an ‘uneven government hand, a blatant misuse of power and a lack of sympathy to the community’s protest’ says Te Kura O Te Au leader Taraota Tom. Despite this Tom says ‘the people’s movement’ no longer wants a referendum on Sunday flights because it would be a […]
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