Politics
UN rep presents credentials
Friday 30 November 2018 | Published in Politics
The newly-appointed United Nations (UN) resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Dr Simona Marinescu on Monday presented her credentials to prime minister Henry Puna.
PM's partner makes 'fishy' visit to Raro
Friday 30 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Politics
Clarke Gayford, who hosts TV series Fish of the Day and is also the partner of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, has made a brief visit to our shores to film fishing in the Cook Islands.
$10m grant may go to TMV
Friday 30 November 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Financial secretary Garth Henderson says a recently-announced $10 million grant from China may be able to be used to remedy problems with stage one of the Te Mato Vai project.
Govt ponders TMV legal action
Thursday 29 November 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Government is considering legal action after “friendly consultation” with contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) over issues with Te Mato Vai project failed.
Date urged for Ivirua by-election
Wednesday 28 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Democratic opposition leader Terepai Maoate is urging the Speaker of the House to confirm and publicly announce a date for the Ivirua constituency by-election.
UN to support our graduation
Wednesday 28 November 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The United Nations (UN) remains committed to support the Cook Islands even after the country graduates to developed status (or high income) in the coming year.
Joseph to head new Corrective Services ministry
Wednesday 28 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Teokotai Joseph has been appointed Secretary for the newly-created Ministry of Corrective Services.
Mokoroa at UN workshop in Bangkok
Tuesday 27 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Minister for Internal Affairs, Mac Mokoroa is attending the Midterm Review of the Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development (APPC) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Party system 'flawed' - Glassie
Tuesday 27 November 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The party system in the Cook Islands is flawed and gives power to only a few to dictate and make judgements on key issues, says the former minister Nandi Glassie.
A sunny welcome home for Sir Tom
Monday 26 November 2018 | Published in Politics
In bright and sunny weather, Rarotonga turned on a right royal welcome home for the country’s new knight, Sir Tom Marsters and his wife Lady Tuaine on Saturday afternoon.
Tapaitau in Kenya for UNDP meeting
Monday 26 November 2018 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
Infrastructure minister Robert Tapaitau is leading a small Cook Islands delegation to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
Summit 'centrepiece' for PM
Thursday 22 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Prime minister Henry Puna joined Pacific leaders in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea last week for the annual meeting of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC).
China is to hand over $10 million
Thursday 22 November 2018 | Published in Politics
China will provide $10 million to the Cook Islands in grant funding for a project yet-to-be-determined by the Cook Islands government.
Spreading message of love and peace...
Wednesday 21 November 2018 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Politics
Peace and love are represented by the blue and purple colour themes of uniforms worn for the first time yesterday by Culture George Maggie Angene and his staff.
Price tribunal says goodbye to two members
Tuesday 20 November 2018 | Published in Politics
The Price Tribunal has farewelled two long-serving members.
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
Teina Rongo offers to be stand-in help for RAPPA
Wednesday 14 November 2018 | Published in Politics
RAPPA Democratic Party candidate Dr Teina Rongo says given that prime minister Henry Puna and Speaker of Parliament Niki Rattle are unwilling to divulge the whereabouts of former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament Albert Nicholas, he is willing to take up the responsibilities of the absent MP.
Brown talks up wealth from ocean floor
Tuesday 13 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Public consultations regarding government’s plan to open tenders for the exploration of the Cook Islands’ seafloor have ended on Rarotonga.
OPM wants Stuff story retracted
Monday 12 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) media adviser Thomas Wynne has released details of a formal complaint submitted to Fairfax Media regarding an article published on New Zealand’s Stuff website.
PM greets Air Tahiti Nui's new jet
Friday 9 November 2018 | Published in Politics
Prime minister Henry Puna has been treated to an inspection of Air Tahiti Nui’s latest aircraft, a state-of-the-art Boeing Dreamliner.