National
Prison reform stirs debate
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 17: Hot debate has begun over calls for penal reform in Rarotonga. This follows last week’s opening of the prison gates for an inspection of conditions after two escaped prisoners claimed they broke out of jail to protest at sub-standard conditions. Prisoners Daniel Mare and Roger Tauarea handed themselves in to authorities last Wednesday, […]
Prison system irresponsible – Glassie
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 18: Opposition MP Nandi Glassie says the minister of justice must be made responsible for action on penal reform. Glassie describes the current prison system as ‘loose and irresponsible’. He is among a growing number of local people fed up with the management of the prison and the penal system’s failures. Glassie says the […]
Ex-principal ready for new role
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: New secretary of education Sharyn Paio has been on the job for just five days and is optimistic about what she can achieve during her three-year term for the future of education. Paio says the ministry must now widen its horizons and have a strategic approach to implementing the new education master plan. […]
Witness says he was acting on defendant's instructions
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: A key witness in the Operation Slush case was again accused of lying after facing heavy scrutiny during questioning. Junior Areai-Enoka retuned to the stand on Monday as lawyer Norman George continued his cross-examination. George along with Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui are facing numerous conspiracy and corruption charges in the final week […]
CITC supports PFL
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 15: The Pacific Forum Line service has received support from the country’s biggest importer. CITC general manager Gaye Whitta says the group is pleased that PFL has a substitute vessel for the damaged Forum Avarua. “We had 10 containers on Forum Avarua, so we were going to suffer shortages along with other importers if […]
It's all been said before!
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: The Arorangi Prison was completed in August 1954 and the first inmates entered the facility on September 14, 1954. Apart from the more recent addition of the female quarters, little or no renovations have taken place since. The main prison is in many areas falling to bits. It is long past time that […]
Parliament resumes for 2 bills
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: Parliament is due to sit again from today, primarily for the reintroduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill which has been under select committee review for the past few months. The bill is seen as one of the most important in terms of new law this year as once it comes into force as […]
Credibility of key witness questioned
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Wednesday 19: Norman George began his cross-examination last week on the man whose testimony accuses him of joint conspiracy and corruption. Junior Areai-Enoka was questioned by George who alongside Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui is facing numerous dishonesty charges in the Operation Slush trial. On Thursday before questioning, George stood up and addressed the court […]
Drug dog nabs man
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 15: A police drug dog has led to an arrest of man entering the country carrying cannabis. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old passenger caught the attention of the drug dog after arriving at the airport from Auckland. He was stopped and searched, and police discovered he was carrying drugs. He appeared in the Cook Islands […]
12 reports since 1976
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: Penal reform campaigner Gordon Sawtell believes now is the time to deal with problems and conditions at the national jail. He contributed this article at the weekend with the closing comment that we need at all costs to ensure proper containment of prison inmates especially during the Pacific Mini Games to avoid a […]
Bishop says new budget irresponsible
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop claims that the budget that has been put together by government is “fiscally irresponsible”. “This budget is nothing but loans and aid – $30 million is in foreign aid,” says Bishop “When I first read the budget, I thought the total appropriation [of $215,537,534] was a typing error. We […]
Tepaki's debt repayment extended
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 14: Developer Tepaki Tepaki has been given four months to repay a debt or risk his company being put into liquidation. Last September, New Zealand architect company Peddle Thorp & Montgomery won a civil suit against Tepaki 1 Holdings Ltd and Tepaki Group for unpaid fees of $124,000. Tepaki failed to make repayments and […]
First swine flu death
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Saturday 15: The Cook Islands has reported its first death associated with swine flu (Influenza A H1N1) – a 36-year-old Kiwi female visitor who died in Arorangi last month. The woman was found to have an underlying respiratory disease, understood to be asthma. Yesterday the ministry of health issued a pandemic influenza update announcing that […]
Behind the Arorangi jail walls
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: Cook Islands News was allowed behind the doors of Arorangi prison last week. Organised by the secretary of justice Mark Short, along with the acting minister of justice Robert Wigmore, the tour was to expose the conditions housing 37 male prisoners. Among the problems with facilities at the correction institution are corroding bars, […]
Maori King visits for Maeva Nui
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: New Zealand Maori king Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki and his family will arrive on September 13 for a week-long visit to Rarotonga for Maeva Nui celebrations. The Cook Islands government will spend $25,908 to cover the king’s accommodation, meals and transport for the first half of his stay. Cabinet approved the payment on […]
Witness admits lying for protection
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Friday 14: Crown prosecution continued to question their key witness in the Operation Slush trial on Wednesday with evidence gi-ven of more conspiracy and corruption. Junior Areai-Enoka was still being questioned in the case involving Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui. The witness had previously said in the stand that a bank account was […]
Cold snap chills air
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 14: Beanies, socks and scarves have been piled on this week as people are feeling the chill in the air. The Meteorological Service says temperatures have plummeted to 18 degrees this week and 17 degrees last week as a cold front has settled on top of the island. “It’s looking to be fine and […]
Opera singer returns
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: One of New Zealand’s foremost professional sopranos, Gina Sanders will return to Rarotonga in September for her fourth trip to the island. Jillian Sobieska, who is a friend of the singer, is excited about Sanders return and says that plans are being put together for an opera evening in September. Sanders last visited […]
Finsec wants performance bonus
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 13: Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti is among more than 20 senior public servants including other HOMs who are now looking for performance bonuses. Ivaiti is understood to be claiming he should get the maximum 5 percent (of salary) bonus for ‘exceptional performance’ for the year. Since Ivaiti, the highest paid public servant, is on […]
Witness says refund was for 'political party slush fund'
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Crime
Thursday 13: A key witness in the Operation Slush court trial told the court how he and an accused planned to deceive the government of thousands of dollars. Junior Areai-Enoka returned to the stand on Tuesday to testify in the trial in which Norman George, Chris Vaile and Charles Koronui face numerous corruption and conspiracy […]
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