News Briefs

Chinese Ambassador to visit
The Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency Xu Jianguo is to pay a fleeting visit Rarotonga from 3-4 August, accompanied by his wife Madam Li Ni.
They will arrive around 2.40pm on Wednesday afternoon 3 August and will proceed to the National Library where the Ambassador will make a presentation of books to the Library.
That evening the Ambassador and his wife will be special guests at a dinner hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Tom Marsters.
On Thursday morning the Ambassador will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna before attending the opening ceremony of Te Maeva Nui at the National Auditorium.
That evening the Ambassador will attend cultural performances at the National Auditorium before departing for New Zealand in the early hours of Friday morning.

Pole comes down in hit and run
On Tuesday morning, Te Aponga Uria replaced a concrete pole in Maraerenga damaged by a white pickup. The accident occurred about 3am and the pole fell damaging the tin roof of the shop in front of the Matariki FM radio station. The white pickup drove off following the accident. No-one was reported injured.
The Police say these ‘hit-and-run’ drivers are getting smart about leaving evidence behind. They are now following leads from witnesses who say they saw a white or grey-coloured pick-up leaving the scene. Te Aponga Uira workers collected the broken pole this morning and replaced it with a new one.

Aitutaki boxers ready for Thursday’s Fight Night
Three boxers from Aitutaki were seen in training at the Tupapa Youth Centre on Tuesday evening with members of the Tupapa Boxing Club.
Two of the team, Coach/Trainer Tamari Kaivananga and Mona Mataiti will box each other in a “Golden Oldies” exhibition bout at the Centre this Thursday in the Cook Islands Amateur Boxing Association’s Fight Night.
Mona’s son, 25 yr old Oceania, will try his luck against a Rarotongan opponent. Ocean weighs just under 70kg and has had no previous competition bouts.
Trainer Tamari is from Vaipae in Aitutaki and says there are a lot of boys keen to take up the sport but they lack resources and it is expensive to travel to Rarotonga for organized competition. He hopes Ocean will acquit himself well to encourage other Aitutaki boys into the sport.
For his part, Ocean looks keen, slim and fit. In fact he arrived at training running.
Tamari says the team is known as the “Aitutaki Idols.” We wish them luck.

Tepuka flash fire
A fire lit by a resident to burn rubbish in Tepuka on Tuesday about 5pm, got out of control due to high winds and set nearby bush alight. The fire was in the area near the new Ministry of Education building currently under construction. Thankfully there were no houses in the vicinity. The Fire Service was quickly on the scene and the fire was put out before too much damage could be done.- Tiare Ponini

Herald Issue 554 09 March
- Norm exposes Trio of Doom
- Briefs from PM’s media conference Tuesday
- Tourism Industry ponders $5 million draft strategy
- Norman George resigns from Cook Islands Party
- Letter of Resignation from CIP
- Norman selfish says Prime Minister