National
Night market achieves its goals
Thursday 19 April 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local
The first “Keeping It Green Night Market” held on Friday last week was deemed a success with organisers Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) achieving its desired goals.
Subsidised voyage off
Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Local
A shortage of cargo means a Taio Shipping Services vessel scheduled to make a subsidised voyage to Pukapuka, Nassau and Palmerston today, will not now sail till next week.
Film screening marks Anzac Day countdown
Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Local
War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us....a film by New Zealand film-maker Gaylene Preston, will screen at the Cook Islands RSA tonight.
Two flights called off in one week
Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Local
Jetstar Airways has come under fire once again, after they were forced to cancel a flight for the second time in a week.
CIP focus on infrastructure
Thursday 19 April 2018 | Published in Politics
The Cook Islands Party (CIP) plans to continue focusing on infrastructure heading into the June 14 election.
Island water resource tested
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Outer Islands
Tests that will identify potential locations for future development of water resources on Aitutaki have been conducted by a team from Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji.
Memorial to honour Pacific soldiers
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Local
New Zealand’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage has allocated almost half a million dollars towards a Pacific Island memorial which will feature in New Zealand’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
New hall hosts CICC women's conference
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Local
“Come and see, go and tell, Jesus is alive.”
Runners work on rubbish issue
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Environment
To combat the increase in rubbish left lying around the island, WATSAN is promoting “plogging”, a new online community on Instagram for a large group of people around the world who combine running with picking up rubbish. Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) waste programme coordinator Hilary Boyes says a number of people have been posting on social media about the recurring rubbish problem that is affecting beaches around Rarotonga. “Air New Zealand staff did a clean-up at Social Centre beach in Nikao and by the next weekend, bags of rubbish were found at the beach again,” says Boyes. “As you can imagine, this is pretty disappointing for the staff who worked so hard out of their own hearts to pick up all the rubbish.” She said that there was a high likelihood that rubbish left on the beach or in parks would find its way to the ocean, becoming dangerous to marine animals and impacting the health of our oceans and planet. The issue of rubbish, especially the build-up of plastic in our oceans, is a huge global problem that we can’t keep ignoring, says Boyes Plastic is a physical danger to sea creatures and is now part of the food chain through animals ingesting plastic particles and eventually onto our own dinner plates, she adds. “We can all act at an individual level with our everyday choices and practices to prevent further plastic contamination of the ocean and our health.” Boyes, who has worked in Kiribati and Australia on waste management, says that while litter management on Rarotonga is generally good compared to other Pacific islands where she has lived or visited, there is still much room for improvement. “If you open your eyes to it, there is lots of litter lying around. In particular, after all the rain we have had recently, there is a lot of litter on the beach and in streams. It’s sad.” Boyes says the amount of rubbish around the island prompted the “plogging” idea. The concept involves bringing a bag while going on a walk or run, and when rubbish is spotted to perform an exercise while picking it up. “Squatting and carrying the extra weight of the rubbish adds to the fitness benefits and obviously picking up rubbish before it goes into the ocean or waterways is a good thing,” Boyes says. “If you want, you can then post a picture of your bag of rubbish on Instagram to share with the rest of the global community and support each other.” Boyes has collected over 650 pieces of rubbish since she decided to count it in the last few weeks, and hopes to collect 5000 pieces during her time in Rarotonga. “But I hope I don’t get to that. I hope I no longer find rubbish when I run so my bag comes home empty. Or at least I hope I have to change my running route. “I love the ocean and I love Rarotonga. It’s my way of saying thanks for allowing me to be here and to swim in our gorgeous lagoon.” ICI is working on a number of waste initiatives, such as a cost benefit for glass crushing and mechanisms for operating a sustainable financing scheme for waste management. “The sustainable financing scheme involves adding a small additional cost on the price of products, like 15c on plastic bottles and cans, which we then get a portion back once we have returned the container for recycling,” ICI secretary Ngametua Pokino said, “This scheme works well in almost 50 countries around the world. It just gives containers a small monetary value so we take the time to return it for recycling instead of littering or having it end up in the landfill.” You can also join the online plogging company and link with Hilary on Instagram at Kiwi_hb
Early reform questions still valid
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics
In 2004, the Group for Political Change put the following question to our political leaders:
Bluesky supports tourism awards
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
Bluesky Cook Islands is continuing with its support and sponsorship for the biennial Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards.
Mobile clinic a big boost for health services
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Health
A project aiming to boost access to health clinics on Rarotonga has gone from dream to completion, thanks to the dedication of a group of Rotary Club members in Masterton, New Zealand.
Weekend incidents keep police busy
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Crime
The Cook Islands police were kept busy last weekend, starting on Friday when they executed bench warrants for the arrests of three people. All three were arrested and appeared in the High Court.
Demos release policy document
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics
A $10 minimum wage, home ownership schemes, a halt to Chinese borrowing, income tax exemptions for local growers and farmers, a better shipping service, reduced reliance on foreign workers, a government minister code of conduct and the establishment of an Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Reform issues still alive
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics
Lynnsay Rongokea has plenty of experience with political reform in the Cook Islands.
Demos 'ignorant' says Brown
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics
Finance minister Mark Brown says criticism of the setting of the June 14 election date by parliamentary leader for the Democratic Party, William “Smiley” Heather shows the opposition’s “total ignorance and lack of understanding” regarding financial management and government processes.
Crash increase disappoints police service
Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Crime
Motor vehicle crashes are on the rise according to the latest quarterly statistics released by the Cook Islands Police Service.
Thanks for a cyclone-free season
Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Local
Marking another cyclone-free year in the Cook Islands, hundreds of people gathered at the National Auditorium on Sunday night for the annual thanksgiving service.
Helping visitors help our islands
Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Local
The first time Kiwi environmental sociologist Dr Corrina Tucker visited Rarotonga she knew she would be coming back.
Matenga issue 'storm in a teacup'
Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Politics
Leaders of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) have responded to the Margaret Matenga’s claims of corruption and bias in the runoff for the Titikaveka CIP candidacy.
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