Politics
Parliament to sit this month
Thursday 7 March 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The opening parliamentary sitting for the year is expected to be held sometime this month.
Browne attends seabed minerals workshop
Wednesday 6 March 2019 | Published in Politics
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority geographical information systems (GIS) officer Rima Browne attended the first-ever “Abyssal Initiative” workshop held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
DPM backs name-change body
Tuesday 5 March 2019 | Published in Politics
A committee in the Cook Islands tasked with finding a new name for the country has received tentative support from the government, ahead of a possible referendum on the issue.
Ministers return home
Monday 4 March 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
All three government ministers who were out of the country on official engagements last week have returned home.
Foreign developer warned
Monday 4 March 2019 | Published in Politics
A Democratic Party MP wants the National Environment Service (NES) to regard any breaches of the Environment Act with the severity it deserves after a foreign developer allegedly proceeded with clearing a historically significant coastal section before obtaining approval from the Rarotonga Environment Authority (REA).
Debt distress not China driven
Saturday 2 March 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Debt distress in the Pacific is not a result of lending by China, revealed a paper published by the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre late last year.
QR to be drawn into Hagai row
Tuesday 26 February 2019 | Published in Politics
Democratic Party head and Opposition Leader Tina Browne is looking for Vice-Regal support in a bid to stop the government appointing Toka Hagai as a 7th Cabinet minister.
Group slams lack of democracy
Friday 22 February 2019 | Published in Politics
The integrity of the current government has been challenged by Group for Political Reform (GPC) founding member Lynsay Francis saying it is failing to deliver democracy to the Cook Islands people.
Glassie reveals his work for Atiu
Thursday 21 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Nandi Glassie says Kau Henry, the chairman of independent candidate Te-Hani Brown, must be “colour blind” not to see the development that took place on Atiu during his time in government.
CI looks to boost Nordic relations
Wednesday 13 February 2019 | Published in Politics
Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand Elizabeth Wright-Koteka was delighted to join diplomatic representatives from Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia for a combined Pacific/Nordic luncheon last Thursday.
Wright-Koteka at Waitangi Day celebrations
Saturday 9 February 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Politics
The High Commissioner of Cook Islands to New Zealand Elizabeth Wright-Koteka has been active in her role in representing the Cook Islands at the Waitangi Day commemorations.
Leading the way in UAE
Friday 8 February 2019 | Published in Politics
Prime minister Henry Puna will be attending the World Government Congress in Abu Dhabi this week after an invitation by His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates.
Date set for by-election
Friday 8 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua has set March 18 as the by-election date for the vacant Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua seat.
Nicholas enters not guilty plea in NZ
Thursday 7 February 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Politics
Member of Parliament Albert Nicholas entered a plea of “not guilty” in the Manukau District Court this week, to the charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Te-Hani quits Demos
Thursday 7 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Te-Hani Brown has quit the Democratic Party and will stand as an independent candidate for her current seat in the upcoming by-election.
Updating e-contacts
Tuesday 5 February 2019 | Published in Politics
The Labour and Consumer Services division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is in the process of updating its e-database that provides a contact list for all businesses situated in Rarotonga and the Outer Islands.
Brown backs China ties
Tuesday 5 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Cook Islands’ engagement with China is “firm” and the two countries have had formal diplomatic relations for 20 years now, says deputy prime minister Mark Brown.
PAC ready for the challenge
Monday 4 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is looking forward to the challenges ahead in reviewing the accounts of various government ministries and making appropriate recommendations.
Puna off to Abu Dhabi
Monday 4 February 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Prime minister Henry Puna leaves the country tomorrow for Abu Dhabi to attend the World Government Summit.
MP Nicholas in NZ court
Monday 4 February 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Politics
Government MP Albert Nicholas is due to appear in a New Zealand court over the alleged taking of a rental vehicle.
