National

Police target disqualified drivers

Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in National

Police have made eight arrests and have documented two thefts and one case of unlawful taking since last Thursday. Of the three people that were charged with excess breath alcohol this weekend, just one was involved in a vehicle accident. The 29-year-old fell off his motorbike near the Punanga Nui Market onThursday night, and was […]

National

'Mum' to masses earns MBE

Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in National

At 73 she can’t stop thinking about the people – it’s a lifetime habit for Tiriakau Vakapora Nicholls, fondly known as ‘Mum’ by the staff at Aitutaki hospital, and many others who she has cared for over the last 48 years. It is also why she has received an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the […]

National

'Airline of the Year'

Tuesday 19 January 2010 | Published in National

Air New Zealand was congratulated by NZ prime minister and tourism minister John Key last week for being named Airline of the Year by ‘Air Transport World’ magazine. “This is a great honour but, then again, no great surprise to those of us who continually experience the service that our national airline delivers,” said Key. […]

National

Justice minister inspects prison

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National

The new minister of justice says he’s making the prison a top priority. Api Piho has hit the ground running, touring the Arorangi prison last Monday, a day before he officially started, with secretary of justice Mark Short. With 10 escapes last year, he said the correction facility needed to be urgently addressed. “To be […]

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

Tini review continues

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

It is understood that suspended Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) chief executive John Tini is currently preparing his response to a draft audit report dated November 4, 2009. Solicitor general Tingika Elikana said that a disclosure of documents had been made to John Tini. Tini was suspended, on full pay, last September in order for […]

Local

Joint ministerial forum is still on

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai says plans for the first joint ministerial forum with New Zealand are still in place. Last week Marurai said cabinet had decided to go ahead with the forum which is due to be held in Rarotonga this year. The forum would be the second official visit of NZ prime minister John […]

Local

Sailors tough it out

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

Some hard sailing in difficult conditions helped local sailors Aquila Tatira and Teau Mc-Kenzie pinpoint exactly what skills they need to improve their sailing. The two sailors have spent the past few days competing in the Australian Youth Championships and Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers in Australia. McKenzie placed 41 out of 45 competitors while Tatira […]

Local

PM 'dodging' money problems?

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in Local

CIP leader Henry Puna says the government has urgent financial problems. “/> It is irresponsible and foolhardy of prime minister Jim Marurai’s five-member cabinet to avoid and dodge government’s responsibility to maintain money supply and pay its way, according to CIP leader Henry Puna. The Cook Islands Party leader says by not calling parliament in […]

Local

'Take it to court'

Monday 18 January 2010 | Published in National

The opposition Cook Islands Party believes a High Court judgement should be sought on whether the Queen’s Representative should call parliament. Party leader Henry Puna told Cook Islands News yesterday that prime minister Jim Marurai should not be relying on a legal opinion to justify his position. “In regard to the opinion of Dr. Alex […]

National

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 […]

Local

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 […]

Local

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, […]

Local

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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 […]

National

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