Regional
BCI launches relief package
Thursday 18 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Army and air force personnel load the trucks with aid supplies delivered to Aitutaki by Hercules. Cyclone appeal reports, pages 7-8. MC 0037-033. MC 10-0037-033 “/> Government-owned Bank of the Cook Islands has launched a relief and rebuild package of financial support for Aitutaki. Relief is offered in the form of a loan repayment ‘holiday’ […]
Hercules airlifts heavy machinery
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules returned twice to Aitutaki yesterday with more equipment to help the island’s clean-up progress. On board the first flight to the island were two small bobcat bulldozers – one from T&M Heather Contractors and the other provided by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning division. Also on the […]
PMG gives bed bunks to Aitutaki
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Pacific Mini Games chief executive Mac Mokora said that yesterday’s PMG equipment sale at Te Atukura was a success. Shoppers and browsers snapped up leftover bunk beds, paper cups, paper towels, hot boxes, flags and torches at half price. Mokoroa said that the PMG committee has arranged with the New Zealand High Commissioner to send […]
Cruise liner departure not due to Cyclone Pat
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Last Tuesday’s quick departure of the luxury yacht style cruise liner Seabourn Odyssey was reportedly unrelated to cyclone Pat which hit Aitutaki that night. Destination Management Cook Islands (DMCK) cruise ship events coordinator Marlene Cuthers says the ship, the third to visit Rarotonga this year, did not send its passengers ashore citing the official reason […]
Aitutaki plants crops for the future
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
“The time to mourn is over – now is the time to rebuild and plant.” These were the words of Aitutaki head agriculture officer Fred Charlie who is leading the crop planting project on Aitutaki. Most of the food crops and fruits trees on Aitutaki were destroyed during cyclone Pat, however Charlie says that some […]
Austrian guests pick up tools
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Before Cyclone Pat visited us, we had two guests staying at Gina’s Garden Lodges – Bernhard and Christa Dziuba, a couple from Austria. They stayed through the cyclone and the days after without a complaint about the lack of electricity, or the environmental damage. They took it all in their stride as a unique and […]
Air Raro plays key role
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
When Cyclone Pat threatened the Southern Cook Islands last Wednesday, Air Rarotonga dispatched two aircraft carrying emergency personnel to be sheltered in Mauke in case the storm moved southward over Rarotonga. By 1pm in the afternoon, as soon as the cyclonic winds began to abate on Aitutaki, the aircraft landed with police and other personnel […]
Govt asked to defer VAT from Aitutaki
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Aitutaki businesses have asked for temporary deferment of value added tax (VAT) payments. Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen says government is now looking into the real value and benefits of this proposal. Aitutaki’s Arutanga/Reureu/Nikaupara MP Teina Bishop, on behalf of the island’s business community, asked that government delay this month’s VAT payment – deferring the payment […]
New appeal body to coordinate fundraising
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
A new group has formed to promote and coordinate fundraising efforts for cyclone recovery on Aitutaki. At Monday night’s meeting, the Aitutaki community on Rarotonga elected a committee to oversee and consolidate all cyclone fundraising efforts. Florence Syme-Buchanan, secretary for the cyclone relief committee, said that the committee is advocating a coordinated approach to fundraising […]
Local MP stands by criticism
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Aitutaki member of parliament Teina Bishop is standing his ground and defending his comments on what he believes was a slow response by government to the disaster on Aitutaki after it was struck by cyclone Pat on the night of Tuesday February 10. “I’m not grandstanding! It’s my duty to speak out as a member […]
Roxz and Warriors draw 4-all
Wednesday 17 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The open men’s and women’s touch rugby competition on Monday ended with some surprising results. The Warriors were not able to overcome the prisoners Roxz team who for the second week in a row have managed to draw even with their opposition. The Roxz boys held the Warriors to a 4-all draw in what was […]
Roxz rumble with Warriors at the swamp
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The Avatiu swamp is again the place to be this afternoon for the open men’s and women’s touch rugby competition. The competition continues to produce some excellent touch rugby matches and with impressive defences across the board – the team that works together to move the ball around quickly and stretch their opponent will no […]
Building codes to be invoked
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Building codes will have to be adhered to when reconstruction of private homes begins on Aitutaki following tropical cyclone Pat. “I think the lesson learnt is that if you are building your house, don’t take any shortcuts,” said minister Wilkie Rasmussen after visiting the island last week. “You have to build your house according to […]
New cyclone predicted
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Another tropical cyclone is predicted this week. The regional Nadi Weather Office predicts that a new tropical cyclone will form later this week. Director Rajendra Prasad said yesterday that weather conditions between Samoa and the Northern Cook Islands are such that a tropical cyclone is expected to form by Friday and move closer to Fiji. […]
Aitutaki bounces back for visitors
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The Aitutaki Tourism Council yesterday issued a media release for worldwide distribution in an effort to preserve tourism and visitor interest following last week’s cyclone. The release sent out by Mike Henry said that in the interest of helping visitors to Aitutaki make informed decisions on their travel to the island, the Tourism Council of […]
Eels slip past Bears
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The Avatiu Eels lived up to their ‘slippery’ reputation when they managed to slip out of the Arorangi Bears’ grip in the second half of their tense action- packed match on Saturday to run away with the win 34-24. The game was touted to be a big hitting bonanza and the massive crowd of spectators […]
Matai sports gear makes debut
Monday 15 February 2010 | Published in Regional
After a week of rugby league in their new Matai Sports uniforms, the 2009 club rugby league champions the Tupapa-Maraerenga Panthers report they feel like NRL stars in their new gears. The Panthers club is the first sports team on the island to take advantage of the Fiji-based team wear manufacturer with the Avatiu Eels […]
Red Cross takes the lead
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Red Cross volunteers, led by Charlie Numanga, were out in numbers on Thursday meeting with households on Aitutaki to gauge their immediate needs. Numanga told Cook Islands News that their main focus was to ensure that people had the basic needs of shelter, food and water. Numanga said they were making sure that people who […]
Power and water top priority
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Regional
Cabinet appeals for volunteers, seedlings, tents and NZ Hercules Some power in some pockets on Aitutaki has been restored over the past two days. Prime minister Jim Marurai said yesterday that reinstating power is the immediate priority for the island, along with providing a reliable water supply and providing adequate shelter for the residents who […]
$20,000 from Forum for Aitutaki
Saturday 13 February 2010 | Published in Regional
The ministry of foreign affairs and immigration has been busy co-ordinating requests for assistance to rebuild Aitutaki – from regional and international sources, according to secretary Mike Mitchell. “We have been promised $20,000 from the Forum Secretariat immediately – which should defray some of the transport costs. “We have also been encouraged to contact the […]
« Previous 1 … 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 … 403 Next »