National
Music festival set to save 'lost' youth
Wednesday 21 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Local
A VIBRANT Christian music festival aimed at getting "lost" youths off the street, out of nightclubs, away from criminal activity and back to church will take place on December 15 at Te Atukura Grounds (Office of the Prime Minister) in Avarua.
Meetings focus on Maori medicine
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health
Ta’unga of our traditional Maori medicine and those with great knowledge and interest of medicinal plants along with members of the public are encouraged to attend consultations that begin tonight (Tuesday) in Vaka Puaikura.
Latest litter survey results 'rubbish'
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Published in Environment
Who said picking up and separating your trash wasn’t fun?
Road danger prompts warning
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Local
Children sitting or standing, on the backs of trucks, toddlers not buckled up in carseats, drink-drivers, motorcyclists riding without helmets, badly potholed roads and poorly-designed carparks…
Police struggle with ever-increasing workload
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Published in Crime
The sheer volume of offending dealt with by the police should “give pause” to any criticism that police officers on Rarotonga are not doing their jobs, says Cook Islands Police Service spokesman Trevor Pitt.
Acclaimed Tahitian trio in 'one-only' concert
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local
Tahitian band Trio Kikiriri who are on a visit to Rarotonga en route to New Zealand, will perform a one night only concert on Wednesday November 21 at the Islander Hotel.
Price tribunal says goodbye to two members
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Published in Politics
The Price Tribunal has farewelled two long-serving members.
Police investigate allegedly abandoned baby
Monday 19 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Crime
Police are investigating the case of an abandoned new-born-baby, allegedly found “in a field” in Turangi on Saturday morning.
Rotary golf event raises thousands
Monday 19 November 2018 | Published in Local
The Rotary Club of Rarotonga’s fundraising effort, which culminated with the annual Bob Boyd Memorial Golf Ambrose last weekend, raised almost $18,000.
Family grieves passing of Ivirua MP
Monday 19 November 2018 | Published in Local
Ivirua, Mangaia Member of Parliament and local businessman Anthony Touariki Armstrong passed away last Thursday.
Police crack electronics case
Monday 19 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Crime
Determined Rarotonga CIB detectives have cracked a stolen property case resulting in the recovery of around $50,000 worth of electronic goods, including watches, PlayStations, videogames and laptops.
Five drink drivers land in court
Monday 19 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Crime
The “don’t drink and drive” message is simply still not getting through, says police spokesperson Trevor Pitt.
Bus driver goes over and 'above'
Friday 16 November 2018 | Written by Chris Taylor | Published in Local
As a regular visitor to the island I’m continually blown away by the random acts of kindness from locals.
Christmas Box time – and your help is invited
Friday 16 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local
With Christmas around the corner, preparations for the annual Christmas Box campaign are underway.
Cruise ship docks in our harbour
Friday 16 November 2018 | Published in Local
The comparatively unusual sight of a cruise ship docked at the Port of Avatiu drew a steady stream of spectators to the wharf yesterday morning.
Proud to be a New Zealander...
Friday 16 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local
After living in the Cook Islands for nearly 50 years, Ingrid Caffery felt happy and relaxed when she received her New Zealand citizenship certificate yesterday.
Fuel prices up – but they may come down next quarter
Friday 16 November 2018 | Published in Local
The price of fuel has increased throughout the Cook Islands, reflecting a hike in prices globally.
New party 'serious alternative'
Thursday 15 November 2018 | Written by Jaimie Keay | Published in Politics
The leader of the new Cook Islands United Party, former deputy prime minister Teariki Heather, says he wants to give the country a serious future alternative to the Cook Islands Party and the Demos. The former deputy prime minister says CIUP will launch their political campaign on November 24 at 6pm at the Arorangi sports clubhouse. The party’s banner features a rainbow, which Heather says is symbolic of God’s covenant of love. “That is what the party is founded on.” It also has 15 stars, which he says represent all of the Cook Islands. “We will “never forget those islands, north or south.” The party’s goal Heather says, is to “give hope to our people,” and finally bring about political reform and minimise the costs of government, with fewer MPs. Heather says the costs of running the country are continuing to escalate. And having a number of years’ business experience as chief executive of long-established contractors T&M Heather, he says he wants to build a stronger economy by being mindful of the country’s spending. “Our people had a tough time in the’96 recession and I don’t want to see us go through something like that again. That’s one of the most important issues for me.” Following his exit from politics and the CIP party at the general election in June, Heather says he was content to go back to his construction business and spend more time with family. Since then however, he has been approached by various “politically disheartened” members of the local community and the Pa Enua, asking him to step up and form his own party. And it’s not the first time he has attempted to launch a new political party. Following a stint as the first mayor of Puaikura in 1998 and at the urging of his parents, Heather launched the Cook Islands National Party, with the aim of achieving political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term. The party disbanded after just 11 months. At the time he says he felt he was alone “on the fence” between the Democratic Party and the CIP. He then joined the CIP under Geoffrey Henry as a junior MP. He was appointed to Cabinet in December 2010 after the Cook Islands Party won the 2010 election and served as Minister of Infrastructure & Planning and Justice. In December 2013, he was appointed deputy prime minister, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Tom Marsters. He lost his seat in this year’s general election on June 14, with Nooroa o Teariki Baker taking his seat in parliament. Former minister of Health, Nandi Glassie and former MPs Moana Ioane, and Tau Isamaela have joined with Heather after also being defeated in the election. Heather says he was not disheartened with the CIP, but since leaving the party had been approached to form an alternative to the “status quo”. He has since brought together similarly-minded politicians in their aim of having 24 candidates contesting the next election in four years’ time He says he doesn’t necessarily have aspirations to become leader of the country, and it’s not key to forming the party just yet. However, he says, “I have to lead as there is no one else stepping up... I’ve faced the challenge before and I’ll face it again, whether successful or not.” He adds that people may say, “Oh you may have a new party, but are they capable of running the country?” “And the answer to this is yes. We’ve been there, we’ve done that.” He says the party will be a serious contender by the time of the next general election in 2022 or any other by-election in the meantime “The country has prospered and I would like to keep that going.” Heather says he was content where he was in life but didn’t want to be what the Mangaians call “Aringa me kare atika”. The phrase means in English, “I should have done something.” – Chris Taylor
Conference focuses on plastics
Wednesday 14 November 2018 | Published in Environment
Research shows that if nothing changes, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
Biosecurity focus of summit meeting
Wednesday 14 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment
Participants from the outer islands are attending a wide-ranging Biosecurity Summit on Rarotonga at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) premises.
« Previous 1 … 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 … 1,903 Next »