Regional
Final 'hit out'
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Today’s golden oldies rugby match will be their final ‘hit out’ before next week’s ‘test match’ between the Cook Islands and visiting New Zealand parliamentarian teams. The Kiwi parliamentarian team will arrive on Tuesday and play their ‘test’ against the host Cook Islands on Wednesday before a few days of rest and relaxation prior to […]
Access to finance a regional concern
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
The ever-present issue of a lack in access to funding was one of the key points addressed by Chamber of Commerce president Teresa Manarangi-Trott when she spoke on behalf of the private sector dialogue to the Pacific Leaders Forum on Wednesday. The statement was delivered after the conclusion of the two-day private sector dialogue meeting […]
Final rugby round starts
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Women rugby players and rising under 16 rugby stars will be under the spotlight at the BCI Stadium this evening for the start of the final round of rugby. The Titikaveka Bulls will head to the stadium to rumble with the Takuvaine Reds in the Polynesian Bike Hire Under 16 division. The young Bulls will […]
Cooks create world's largest marine park
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
The Cook Islands have announced the creation of the world’s largest marine park, covering a huge expanse of ocean nearly twice the size of France. Prime Minister Henry Puna, who officially launched the initiative at the opening of the Pacific Leaders Forum on Tuesday, said the 1.065 million square kilometre reserve is “the largest area […]
Temaru backs Fiji return
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru says he will support Fiji’s return to the Pacific Islands Forum if its suspension is brought up by the Leaders. “The Pacific Leaders are hopeful that in the very close future Fiji will be back again, because all countries in the Pacific are linked and no one should be expelled […]
'Give the Tahitians a chance'
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Takitumu chief Pa Marie Ariki has implored New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to hear French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru’s cries for self-determination. On Tuesday night she pleaded with Key to consider the situation of French Polynesia – or, as Temaru has called it, French-occupied Polynesia. “They (the Tahitians) are our cousins, they are our […]
Support for self-determination
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
French Polynesia president Oscar Temaru has successfully pleaded with Pacific Forum leaders “not to stay still but to embrace the momentum” of his quest for the freedom of Ma’ohi Nui. Speaking to leaders about the outcomes of an Asia-Pacific meeting convened earlier this year, he segued into the issue of self-determination for his own country. […]
Secret service callout
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Local businessman Piltz Napa is taking advantage of the historic visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by raising the issue of movie piracy in the Cook Islands. Yesterday afternoon Napa hung this poster outside the Empire movie theatre saying the objective is to raise awareness on the rampant piracy of movies in the […]
Puna happy with 'empowerment of women'
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Prime Minister Henry Puna has said during a press conference that the Cook Islands is “happy where we are now in terms of empowerment of women”. Asked whether his government was doing enough to achieve gender equality, he said he was proud that the Cook Islands has a female speaker of the house and that […]
Rapa Nui 'atrocity' recalled
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
The people of Rapa Nui have come to the Cook Islands to make their voices heard, and to rally the support of their Polynesian cousins and the international decision-makers gathered here for the Pacific Islands Forum. Their primary mission was to make an application, in person, for admission to the Polynesian Leaders’ Group, which they […]
Act now, says Bachelet
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
United Nations Women under-secretary-general and executive director Michelle Bachelet told a large public gathering at a gender panel discussion on Wednesday that “the time for action is now”. The discussion was held as a Forum side event, and was scheduled directly after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that her government would be earmarking $320 […]
Clinton visit 'huge'
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Prime Minister Henry Puna has called Hillary Clinton’s visit a “huge, huge milestone” for the Cook Islands. “The mere fact of her coming here is a huge, huge milestone for our country,” he said. “There are some issues, particularly fisheries as I mentioned earlier, we want to run past her but just having that engagement […]
Aitutaki beauty astounds guests
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Aitutaki’s beauty never fails to astound. It’s no surprise, really, that leaders and journalists who travelled to the near northeast for the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum retreat reported being “spellbound” by the island’s blue lagoon. Their enthusiasm, says local MP and tourism minister Teina Bishop, will translate into real, tangible economic benefits for the whole […]
16 Pacific leaders leave a foot print
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Pacific Forum leaders have left their mark on Tapuaetai. Upon arriving at the venue for their retreat – the famed One Foot Island in the Aitutkai lagoon – each was allocated a space to plant his own tamanu tree. For Prime Minister Henry Puna, the ceremony was meaningful in that it drove home the environmental […]
Oxfam launches climate change report
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
A report on strengthening governance of climate change finance in the Pacific was launched by Oxfam yesterday. The Owning adaptation in the Pacific :Strengthening, governance of climate adaptation finance report was launched by Richard Benyon, the British Parliament under Secretary for the Department of Environment Fisheries and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Benyon said, “Our support comes […]
Leaders open to re-engaging with Fiji
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Pacific Forum leaders are open to “re-engaging” with Fiji, but not on a Forum level until the country holds democratic elections. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said after Forum deliberations concluded yesterday that while “some progress has been made” in Fiji, the country will not be re-instated into the Forum until it goes ahead […]
VIP in town!
Friday 31 August 2012 | Published in Regional
After much hype and speculation about whether US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would attend the Forum, she has finally arrived in Rarotonga. Clinton flew in last night at 9.30pm on her personal jet, one of four government C-32s, or a Boeing 757 fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks enabling it to fly about three hours […]
Solar power options showcased
Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in Regional
The evolving use of solar power and sensors that adapt to varying conditions was the noticeable aspect of the Clean and Green Industry Showcase. The trade delegation, headed by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Samex, are taking the opportunity to illustrate the latest advancements within their respective fields outside the National Auditorium. The presence […]
Private sector can help fisheries
Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in Regional
The private sector was advised that if they want a slice of lucrative fish pie, they should invest in ancillary support rather than highly competitive tuna fleets. The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) deputy director general James Movick addressed a group of around 50 Pacific business representatives at the second day of the private sector dialogue, […]
PNG keen on improved engagement
Thursday 30 August 2012 | Published in Regional
Papua New Guinea as a very interested partner in the Pacific region is keen to engage with other Pacific countries on many issues including climate change that affect all countries alike. Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill said while the government was very keen to engage with respective countries in the Pacific, it […]
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