National
WSBC named, told to go
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
27 March: Bank ‘ruining our reputation’ ordered to pay $125,000 in costs and quit the Cook Islands. The lid of secrecy was lifted yesterday on the long running civil court case between the Financial Supervisory Commission and WSBC Bank Ltd. Chief Justice David Williams issued a consent order which allows some details to be published, […]
New bike in pageant booty
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: Whoever wins on Friday night will not only be handed the illustrious title of Miss Cook Islands, but will also take home a brand new motorcycle. The Motor Centre in Panama donated a red Daelim City yesterday to be given to the winner. The $3600 motorcycle joins the growing booty of prizes which […]
Importer wants answers to shipping questions
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Thursday 26: Emails are doing the rounds in search of answers to questions relating to recent shipping problems being experienced by some of the country’s importers. Importer John Scott has put forward 36 questions to the transport ministry which issues shipping licences. His questions range from the structure of the entities currently running the service […]
CIP want Pukapuka seat declared vacant
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Local, National
Enough is enough as CIP take final step to get rid of MP
Leaflet demands deportation
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 26: Leaflets have been distributed around Rarotonga stores demanding that a Fijian woman be deported. In what could be considered vigilante-type action, the poster shows a mug shot of the woman and accuses her of “stealing from your store”. “Do not let her into your shop. Report her to the police and immigration,” it […]
Stimulus reviewed
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti says government is still looking into how the proposed $3 million stimulus package for small businesses will be spent. Last week tourism minister Wilkie Rasmussen announced that government is now looking at scrapping the original plan and putting the funds directly into tourism. Ivaiti says from discussions with finance […]
3 arrested for driving offences
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: Driving related matters landed three people in police custody last week. A woman was arrested for disqualified driving on Saturday outside the Empire Theatre. She was released on bail and will appear in court on Thursday. A 24-year-old male who was involved in a crash in Tupapa will also appear in court this […]
Shorty shoots in Raro
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 26: A few locals will get speaking roles and even more will be extras in next week’s filming of a Shortland Street episode in Rarotonga. A large production crew of about 20 will soon be here along with a few of the star cast from Shortland Street. Fans of the show – keep an […]
Reality TV returning
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: New Zealand reality television show Celebrity Treasure Island is set to shoot its next season’s show in Aitutaki this May. Tourism minister Wilkie Rasmussen addressed the Aitutaki island council on Thursday, saying that this is just one of the events the island should benefit from this year. He told the council that tourism […]
Fuel issue leads to rationing
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: A fuel pricing issue in Aitutaki last week left the island dangerously close to running out of petrol and diesel. On Saturday the price order was issued which allows petrol to be sold for a maximum of $2.80 per litre from this week. Businessman Teina Bishop had shut down his petrol pumps last […]
Pearl farmers approve plan to boost industry
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 26: Manihiki pearl farmers have given the much needed go-ahead to an overall strategic plan designed to kick-start the industry and get it earning more than it was at its peak in the mid-1990s. Put together by the Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA), the plan was launched on Tuesday night by CIPA chief executive […]
Raro switches off and saves
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: Rarotonga residents did take note and ‘switch off’ during Saturday night’s Earth Hour. Te Aponga Uira’s Elma Marurai says that power station staff monitored loadings from between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, and they noted some drops in the feeders. With people being asked to switch their lights off at that time, TAU was hoping […]
Raro romance for Kip and Alice
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: A lucky Shortland Street fan will get an opportunity to meet with the actors who play Alice and Kip on the New Zealand show this week. Shortland Street’s producers are here on a week-long shoot of an episode centered on a romance between Alice the nurse and Kip the doctor. When Dr Kip […]
Pukapuka threaten to reject EU aid
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Thursday 26: Outer island community objects to overseas company getting contract Pukapuka could turn down the building of the European Commission-funded cyclone centre, after a local company’s unsuccessful bid to design and supervise the project. Pukapuka community president on Rarotonga, Makirere Poila, says they intend to write to the European Union to register their disappointment […]
We'll be $100m in debt by 2014 says minister
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: National debt seems bound to grow. In meeting with the Democratic Party executive in Aitutaki last week, minister Wilkie Rasmussen revealed that government has been told that by 2014 the country will be in over $100 million in debt – in part due to the new $50 million soft loan from China. Rasmussen […]
Call for inquiry into $50m loan
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Tuesday 31: Opposition says country cannot afford to pay $5000 per person for next 20 years The Cook Islands Party Opposition is calling for an inquiry into the new $50 million China soft loan. Finance and economics spokesperson Norman George says while the opposition agrees in principle to the loan being spent on Rarotonga road […]
Wiser about water
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Wednesday 1: Paerangi Mataiapo Moetaua Boaza and Puki Mataiapo Paiere Mokoroa are back in Atiu, after attending the 5th World Water Forum in Turkey late last month. The pair were overwhelmed by the forum which was attended by 12,000 people in Istanbul, and say that attitudes shown towards water by other indigenous people around the […]
Dancer of year comp delayed
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Tuesday 31: This year’s dancer of the year competition has been delayed because of the number of activities happening over the coming weeks. The national junior and intermediate finals will now be held on April 30, not April 24 as first scheduled, while the senior finals will take place on May 7 – two weeks […]
PMG broadcast contract on hold
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in Local
Monday 30: The host broadcast agreement for the Pacific Mini Games is being looked over by government officials, to ensure that it complies with Cook Islands legislation. After a two-day visit earlier this month South Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan said that council had a number of concerns with the organising of the games […]
Trades training shared with Niue
Wednesday 1 April 2009 | Published in National
Wednesday 1: Four teachers from Niue High School visited the trade training centre recently to check up on the transition programmes being run at the Arorangi facility. Principal James Poihega says they are interested in carrying out vocational training programmes at their school, and are keen to learn how the TTC operates, along with the […]