National
Political situation distracting: businessman
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
Businessman James Beer is coy about commenting on the political situation as it stands now and what impact it may have on the country. But he is quick to point out that the situation has been brought about not entirely but mostly by the events of the proposed TOA fuel farm purchase. “I don’t want […]
Not sitting soon
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in Local
Parliament is unlikely to sit until government is forced to table a budget in July, says prime minister Jim Marurai. The PM says the threat from the 19 MPs outside of cabinet to have him removed by a vote of no confidence when parliament sits is too great to consider calling a sitting. “The danger […]
PM promises referendum
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in Local
Government now intends to ask every voter in the country if they want political reform through a referendum. Prime minister Jim Marurai has announced that a referendum on political reform will be launched sometime this year either before or at the election scheduled for September. Marurai said that cabinet, which met yesterday, has decided that […]
Happy to be back at 102
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in Local
At 102 years old, Louie Grau has still got her wits about her, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. Born in New Zealand in 1907, Louie came to the Cook Islands for the first time in the 1930s to be with her brothers. Walter was the Resident Commissioner for Atiu and Harry co-owned […]
Hoax protest?
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in Local
Police security was set up outside the office of prime minister Jim Marurai following a rumour that a protest against the new cabinet would be staged yesterday morning. No protest actually took place, but Police Comissioner Maara Tetava decided to ‘err on the side of caution’ and deploy six officers as security. Just who was […]
Office request denied
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
Former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate, who was sacked over the $2 million Toagate scandal just before Christmas, had his request for an MP office and car turned down this week. Prime minister Jim Marurai has confirmed that the request was made during his meeting with the Ngatangiia MP and leader of the Democratic […]
Family law up for discussion
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
Punanga Tauturu will hold a family law consultation in mid-February. The NGO established a fund for non-molestation orders late last year and legal representative Kairangi Samuela says the organisation receive a large number of inquiries from women seeking the orders. PTI are holding the consultation as part of the effort to streamline what is happening […]
Visitors hit 100,000-plus
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
Last year was the first time visitor numbers exceeded 100,000 – a growth of 7 percent over 2008 arrivals. Cook Islands Tourism chief executive officer John Dean has welcomed the official numbers for the year to December 2009. According to the monthly Statistics office bulletin for December, the 2009 year saw a total of 101,110 […]
Visitor numbers up 7%
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
The bi-annual Cook Islands tourism industry forum will begin next week on a high note following news of a 7 percent increase in visitor numbers in 2009. The country is bucking the regional trend for recording losses in visitor numbers and the forum will cover marketing plans that aim to help continue the upward growth […]
'Country in constitutional crisis'
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
The nation is in the middle of an unusual and abnormal ‘breakdown’ of government says opposition MP Norman George. He’s calling the new cabinet a five-headed monster that is only surviving through a loophole in the Constitution. Last week the MP publicly revealed the plans by the 19 MPs outside of cabinet to petition the […]
People in place
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
Senior constable Taruia Ringiao will be making sure all is well in his neighbourhood. The Takitumu resident has been appointed the Vaka Ngatangiia constable in a reshuffle of community officers. Ringiao replaces constable Tungane Lockington who will be serving in the Te Au o Tonga area while constable Allan Rua remains with the Puiakura vaka. […]
Chopper me up
Wednesday 13 January 2010 | Published in National
It was up and away for Hoani Gibson when dad Brett suggested a HeliRaro chopper ride. It was the younger Gibson’s first ride in a helicopter. The 10-year-old Avatea school student said she was a bit nervous at first, but by the end of the ride she couldn’t chose a favourite part. “My favourite thing […]
Hashers ring in 2010 in toga
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in National
Local Hash House Harriers began their 2010 running season in style – in toga, that is. Close to 50 harriers and their hoffsprings gathered at the Punanga Nui market on Monday January 4 for run number 1514 and the first of the 2010 season. And in true hash form, the annual toga run was celebrated […]
High interest in Maori language class
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in National
Due to public demand and high levels of interest, the ministry of education has begun a Maori language course with the first class held yesterday. The language classes will run every day for the next two weeks between 12 and 1pm. Gail Townsend of the ministry of education says that the department was inundated with […]
Pineapple holiday
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in National
Cornelius Tioni (left) from Auckland, New Zealand, and Joneth Elisaia from Sydney, Australia, sell pineapples from the back of a pick-up at Vaima’anga. The boys said they are enjoying their stay on Rarotonga and they have been tasked with selling the pineapples from the family plantation this week. 10011123
Former resident passes away
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in National
Former Cook Islands resident Ruth Harnish (pictured) will be laid to rest this week in Perth after passing away peacefully in her sleep on January 6 at the age of 90. Ruth and her late husband Bob lived in Rarotonga in the 60s and 70s where they started the United Island Traders and Tradewinds retail […]
Growers take on climate communications
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in National
Improving communication on climate information to growers is one of the aims of a three-day workshop currently being held at the Kent Hall in Titikaveka. Meteorological service director Arona Ngari says that getting climate data information to growers is important, especially as the country is in the middle of a weak El Nino phase. The […]
Suppression for official
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in Crime
A prominent island official received name suppression in the High Court yesterday when facing a charge of common assault charge. Justice of the Peace Pae Tuteru granted name suppression for a man accused of assaulting a 57-year-old on Friday night. The alleged offence happened near the office of the ministry of infrastructure and planning in […]
CIP confirms 2 candidates
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Party vice president Mark Brown confirmed recently that the party is already on track for preparing for an election this year. Brown said under the new party constitution formed last September they are working on election campaign preparations – whether it be for a snap election or the one currently scheduled for September. […]
Audit to lift the lid on Toagate
Tuesday 12 January 2010 | Published in Local
All aspects of government’s failed fuel farm scheme that has left the country over $2 million out of pocket will be investigated in the audit review underway this month. The audit office expects to complete the review by the end of the month or early February. The controversial plan to make fuel cheaper for the […]
« Previous 1 … 1,860 1,861 1,862 1,863 1,864 1,865 1,866 1,867 1,868 … 1,894 Next »