National
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 […]
PFL finds new ship
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 14: Pacific Forum Line customers have received some good news. The shipping line has concluded negotiations and acquired a vessel, Komaiwai II, to transport cargo offloaded in Suva after a fire broke out on board the Forum Avarua last month. The Forum Avarua had to be towed to Fiji on the weekend of July […]
Design starts for Mauke and Mitaro harbours
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Monday 17: BECA International has been awarded the NZAID/AusAID funded contract to design the upgrade of Mauke and Mitiaro harbours. New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Tia Barrett made the announcement this week. “The awarding of the contract to design the upgrade of Taunganui and Omutu harbours is an important first step in […]
CITC is going green
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Environment
Monday 17: CITC is going green and increasing its efforts to be more environmentally friendly. Starting last week, customers receive a free reusable bag when they buy two or more cans of Palm corned beef from the CITC supermarket in Avatiu. CITC sales and marketing manager George George says that CITC will be rolling out […]
Two convicts plead guilty to escaping
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Friday 14: The two prison inmates who escaped from jail for three days appeared in the Cook Islands High Court yesterday each charged with escaping from legal custody. Daniel Mare,17, and Roger Tauarea, 38, handed themselves in to authorities on Wednesday after fleeing from Arorangi Prison last Saturday night. The pair pleaded guilty to the […]
Renewed call for prison reform
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in National
Saturday 15: Gordon Sawtell, who has past experience in prison administration, has proposed a commission of inquiry be launched on the national prison and its conditions. He met with new secretary of justice Mark Short yesterday to offer his services if a commission is set up following the recent escape of two inmates who claimed […]
Drug bust at wharf
Wednesday 19 August 2009 | Published in Local
Wednesday 19: A second man in two weeks has been charged for importing drugs into the country. Kimi Katoa of Tupapa was arrested on Friday after a routine check by police and customs uncovered 273 grams of cannabis. The drugs were found in a bucket on a boat at Avatiu wharf. Katoa appeared in the […]
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