Politics
Opposition leader joins in the fray
Thursday 4 June 2015 | Published in Politics
Opposition leader William ‘Smiley’ has weighed into the controversy over Prime Minister Henry Puna’s reported intention to seek independence for the Cook Islands, saying Puna is now back-pedalling as fast as he can go.
Independence story 'shoddy'
Wednesday 3 June 2015 | Published in Politics
PM’s media advisor Trevor Pitt has labelled as ‘journalistically shoddy’ a story which appeared on the Stuff news website at the weekend, claiming that the Cook Islands has been pushing for independence from New Zealand, at the cost of New Zealand citizenship.
Water policy up for discussion
Tuesday 2 June 2015 | Published in Politics
A new draft water policy has been put to public consultation this week, with the aim of gauging how people feel about water chlorination.
Monitoring tools there, says MMR
Tuesday 2 June 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
THE MINISTRY of Marine Resources (MMR) says it has the tools to monitor the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Pacific waters.
Women politicians learn in Thailand
Tuesday 2 June 2015 | Published in Politics
Two Cook Islands politicians attended development and training opportunities in Thailand recently.
HOM job response 'overwhelming'
Tuesday 2 June 2015 | Published in Politics
The response to this year’s advertisements for Heads of Ministry positions has been ‘quite overwhelming’, says Public Service Commissioner and HOM selection panel chairman Russell Thomas.
Story got it wrong, says PM
Tuesday 2 June 2015 | Published in Politics
‘Appalled’ at online claims The Cook Islands is not pushing for independence from New Zealand as claimed in a story published online by the Stuff website, says Prime Minister Henry Puna.
PM committed to marine park plan
Saturday 30 May 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
PRIME Minister Henry Puna has reaffirmed his commitment for the proposed Marae Moana marine park. This week he told the leaders at the 71st session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand about the ambitious plan.
Renewable energy aims on track
Friday 29 May 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Cook Islands is on track to become 100 per cent reliant on renewable energy by 2020, says Prime Minister Henry Puna.
Parliament tipped to sit shortly
Thursday 28 May 2015 | Published in Politics
Parliament will be sitting in the next two weeks with the main focus of discussing the 2015/16 budget, says Finance Minister Mark Brown.
PM underlines importance of aid
Thursday 28 May 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
PRIME MINISTER Henry Puna emphasised the importance of Official Development Aid (ODA) at the seventh Japan-Pacific Islanders Leaders Meeting (PALM7) last week.
Bid to get details on Civil List
Wednesday 27 May 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
The Cook Islands government has acknowledged receiving an email from a concerned Rarotonga resident wanting information about Civil List expenditure for the current financial year.
Japanese aid welcomed
Wednesday 27 May 2015 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Politics
THE COOK Islands government has welcomed Japan’s pledge of $625.6m to Pacific Island countries to help battle climate change and natural disasters.
Brown fights back
Wednesday 27 May 2015 | Published in Politics
Finance Minister, Mark Brown’s visit to Korea last week for the UNESCO World Education Forum has caused controversy.
Ex-MP tackles animal issues
Sunday 24 May 2015 | Published in Politics
Cook Islanders concerned about this country’s inadequate animal welfare laws have formed Cook Islands Veterinary Services Incorporated (CIVSI) in an effort to address some of the problems involving animal care in this country.
Puna misses flight call
Friday 22 May 2015 | Published in Politics
The Aitutaki Business Association’s call early this month for an urgent multi-party policy statement on the freedom to fly to the island on Sundays, appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
Brown attends education meeting in South Korea
Thursday 21 May 2015 | Published in Politics
Cook Islands Finance Minister Mark Brown will address the plenary of the World Education Forum in Incheon, South Korea today.
Ceremony celebrates Kosovo ties
Tuesday 19 May 2015 | Published in Politics
The Cook Islands formalised its diplomatic ties with the Republic of Kosovo this week.
Work and play at solar openings
Sunday 17 May 2015 | Published in Politics
The opening of the solar power plants in the Northern Islands wasn’t all work and no play.
PM quiet on flight vote
Sunday 17 May 2015 | Published in Politics
The Aitutaki Business Association has had no response from Prime Minister Henry Puna or the leaders of the two other political parties to its calls for a national policy statement enshrining the freedom of people to fly to Aitutaki on Sundays.
