Pacific

UNDP advisor impressed with plan

Government has acted swiftly to take Aitutaki from cyclone relief to recovery phase starting this week, says United Nations Development Programme consultant Moortaza Jiwanji. The disaster risk management advisor travelled with ‘recovery coordinator’ and finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen to Aitutaki last Friday on his mission to inform the people of government’s plan to spend $9.46 […]

Tamarii Pierre - Photos

Police plead for change of attitude

The tragic death of young Cook Islander and local news presenter Tamarii Pierre (19) adds to the out-of-control drink driving trend that is taking so many young lives. Police commissioner Maara Tetava is pleading with all members of the public to change their attitude to drink driving and speeding. “We have lost another young Cook […]

Cash for work initiative to be launched in Aitutaki

Part of government’s $9.46 million recovery plan for Aitutaki includes a ‘cash for work’ initiative to help inject much needed money into the economy now. The $100,000 initiative is designed to provide labour for the housing project and support the immediate clean up of debris from the cyclone. According to the recovery plan released last […]

Tragic crash claims young life

Tamarii Pierre. “/> Popular local television news presenter Tamarii Pierre was tragically killed on Saturday morning when the vehicle he was a back seat passenger in, crashed into a power pole at Blackrock. The 19-year-old was with two male friends in a black Nissan Torano heading towards Arorangi when the driver of the Nissan Terano […]

Good news for Aitutaki

Recovery plan brings a message of hope Government has given Aitutaki a message of hope – announcing a $9.46 million cyclone recovery and reconstruction plan. It aims to move quickly to undertake a $5 million housing project to repair and completely restore almost 300 homes on the island damaged by Cyclone Pat last month. Yesterday […]

Gypsy Jac pitches in

After the private yacht Gypsy Jac docked at the Avarua harbour last weekend, its captain has agreed to stop in Aitutaki to deliver some donated goods free of charge. Captain Chris Petch retrieved the Gypsy in San Francisco and will deliver the vessel in Melbourne. His journey will cover 9500 miles and include stopovers at […]

Yachts gone with cyclone

The Aitutaki Sailing Club in Ootu is still searching for missing sailboats which were washed and blown away by cyclone Pat when it struck the outer island on February 10. Five sailing boats in total were picked up by strong winds and flung into the sea. Since the cyclone three weeks ago, Aitutaki sailing coach […]

Bowls a class act

On shots, drives and drawing to the jack are just some of the new words and skills Tereora College year 13 physical education (PE) students are learning on the lawn bowls green. Close to 30 students from the national college are taking lawn bowls to earn NCEA (national certificate of education achievement) credits in PE. […]

Panthers play Bulldogs at Victoria Park

The Tupapa Panthers will host the Titikaveka Bulldogs today at Victoria Park and not in Titikaveka. In fact, there are two main rugby league matches today with the Aitutaki Sharks/Warriors here on the island to take on the Arorangi Bears. As defending champions and playing on home soil, the Panthers are without a doubt the […]

Golf starts

The finals of the men’s and ladies’ Classic Pairs golf tournament were played out last Saturday at Rarotonga Golf Club after everything had turned back to almost normal following the tsunami. In the men’s competition, team Couching Tigers’ of Daniel Webb and Aukino (Tiger) Tairea were the winners, triumphant over team Rainmakers made up of […]

Learn to sail in 5 weeks

A five-week ‘kids in boats’ sail certification course starts this Saturday for youngsters aged between 8 and 12 years old. The sailing course for first time sailors will be in the Optimist class vessels – where all great sailors start. The course will be held every Saturday morning starting at 8.30 and wrapping up at […]

Recovery plan ready

The Aitutaki cyclone recovery plan is due to be approved by cabinet and its contents revealed today by minister Wilkie Rasmussen. According to a ‘draft Aitutaki Domestic Housing Policy’ leaked to CI News, government is looking at both a low cost and a high cost option for its housing project under the recovery plan. Cost […]

What to do with the appeal funds?

Having raised $127,000, the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee is under pressure to decide how to allocate the money. Florence Syme-Buchanan, ACAC secretary, said that the committee as the “parent body” does not intend to divvy up the money without community input and has plans to canvass each village for suggestions as to how to distribute […]

Air Raro on normal'

Air Raro managing director Ewan Smith says that in the wake of Cyclone Pat and its would-be successors, flight schedules are “pretty much back to normal”. Air Raro continues to run special freight flights to Aitutaki to transport supplies to the recovering island, but is otherwise back on track and running regular flights. “Apart from […]

Habitat offers help for Aitutaki rebuild

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is poised to help the Cook Islands recover from the devastating onslaught of Cyclone Pat. The organisation is hoping to see NZ and Cook Islands volunteers working together on Aitutaki’s housing reconstruction programme. Yesterday minister responsible for the recovery plan for Aitutaki, Wilkie Rasmussen, said the offer of assistance would […]

Westpac adds support to school breakfast programme

Westpac donated $26,000 to Red Cross for the Aitutaki schools breakfast programme yesterday. “We looked at what would make the most difference in terms of community assistance and the school breakfast programme is a morale booster for the community. The children are all getting a good breakfast in the morning to be able to continue […]

Westpac's package:

In line with the two other trading banks, Westpac bank yesterday announced a range of measures to help those affected by Cyclone Pat. General manager Rob Buick says, “Our thoughts are with everybody affected by this disaster. “We spent three days assessing the damage and providing immediate assistance on the ground to our customers. I […]

Sharks return to take on Bears

Friday afternoon is going to be the big day of rugby league this week-end with two main matches scheduled for the day. The Aitutaki Sharks are returning to Rarotonga to take on the Arorangi Bears while the wounded Titikaveka Bulldogs will take on the untested Tupapa Panthers. But first up today will be the match […]

Recovery plan slow

Prime minister Jim Marurai says he is ‘comfortable’ with the process government is undertaking for an Aitutaki recovery plan, despite the criticism that it is taking longer than expected. It has been three weeks since the devastation of Cyclone Pat and Marurai’s office says he understands that putting assessments together has taken time but these […]