National
More money missing
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National
The audit office has acknowledged that there is more money unaccounted for, following a review into unidentified payments made by the Cook Islands Sports & National Olympic Committee in 2008-09. After reading the report which was tabled in parliament late last year, the Cook Islands Rugby Union’s chief executive Ben Koteka complained to the audit […]
Talks start on new trade agreement
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National
Consultations have begun in the Cook Islands for a new regional trade agreement. The Cook Islands are signatories, along with 14 other Forum Island countries, to Pacer (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations) Plus, following the 40th Forum leaders meeting in October last year where it was agreed negotiations would start. At that time, forum […]
Mail delays explained
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National
Dear Editor, Several of us on Aitutaki just received Christmas cards that had been mailed from our respective countries over a month ago. It seems pretty obvious that a mail bag sat somewhere in a corner in the post office in Rarotonga and someone finally decided to process it. It has nothing to do with […]
We have to reform
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National
Dear Editor, With all the political reforms being proposed, there remains lots of confusion. Probably some concepts are not yet well explained. For example, many people have difficulty dealing with the concept of constituency seats versus national seats. Simply put, a constituency seat is the traditional way of voting where you have choice of voting […]
Gang of 19 not required
Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National
Dear Editor Our political system is not even a Westminster system (as in behind the old Iron Curtain). Our politicians have carefully and intentionally taken us back to where 20% of the countries voters work for the government in one way or another. They are all hostage to the political bullies who threaten their employment […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cabinet of 5 not serving national interest claims George
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National
Opposition MP Norman George claims the new five-member cabinet should be called ‘the save Jimmy’s job’ government. “Or is it a ‘SOJ – Save Our Jobs government’ – for a temporary period of six months that is…” snipes George. The MP has also accused Marurai of ‘latching on to political reform to cushion his overstaying […]
Police continue blitz
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National
Investigations are continuing into the cases of the six men arrested during what police are calling Operation Muri. Operation Muri is the code name for the raids of Tuesday and Wednesday in which six young males were charged with a range of offences involving drugs, burglary and theft. Of the six offenders targeted during the […]
Walk the talk: Bishop
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National
Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop (above) says he called on three of the current ministers to take three months without pay, because he has been down a similar path. With three ministers resigning just before Christmas and five now in the new cabinet, Bishop says there are now eight ministers who are on the government payroll, […]
Prison team back on the rugby field
Friday 15 January 2010 | Published in National
Boredom will reduce for some Arorangi prison inmates as officials push to get young offenders into sport as part of their rehabilitation programme. A team of 12 inmates – 11 male and one female – took to the Avatiu field on Wednesday for the touch rugby mixed division muster. Arorangi prison superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa says […]
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 […]
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