News Briefs
What Happened This Week
Compiled for the Times by Norma Ngatamariki and Tiare Ponini
Kakino Apprehended
On Monday afternoon, a police team successfully apprehended Kakino Kakino after a high speed vehicle pursuit from Arorangi to Nikao. The suspect was in a vehicle with another person who was also arrested by Police for dangerous driving. Police have been searching for Kakino since Christmas in relation to a breach of his bail conditions, burglary cases, and offences. He is in Police custody and will appear in Court on Tuesday. Also it’s been over a week and still the missing skipper from the yacht Bonny, is yet to be found.
Flying soon by Kia Orana Air?
Plans are underway in the Cook Islands to establish a new domestic airline carrying passengers and freight. Kia Orana Air is planning to secure land space at Rarotonga’s
International Airport complex. The company says that it will bid on a piece of land with the hope of launching its first flight sometime this year.
Director Mark Lusby, a former pilot with Japan Air, says the aspiring airline is putting in a tender for a section of land in the airport grounds that is currently being advertised for tender by the Cook Islands Airport Authority.
He says Kia Orana Air will not be able to function until it is allocated some land for a hangar and offices at the airport.
Tougher WOF tests coming
It will soon become harder to obtain a warrant of fitness (WOF) for vehicles. That’s because the Cook Islands is poised to introduce standardized vehicle testing in the next few months, following decades of efforts to do away with the current AD HOC system.
The Police Commissioner says legal details are still being finalized and if a law change is required implementation may take until mid-year.
Maara Tetava says it’s likely there will be a reduction in the number of permits for the issuing of warrants of fitness to about four or five outlets in Rarotonga.
He says that will ensure all certified parties meet a standard of criteria and practice.
Tetava says once standard testing comes into force all vehicles must comply but there will be a grace period for motorists until their current warrants expire.
Netball holiday programme
The Cook Islands Netball Association will be running a holiday programme for children between the ages of 8-12 years old from the 16th to the 20th of January at the Tupapa Netball courts. The programme aims to provide quality netball coaching covering all aspects of the game-ball handling, shooting, defending and attacking skills.
For further information or a registration form visit the CI Netball website www.netballci.sportingpulse.net
Registrations close on Friday 13 January and the fee is $20 per person.
NCEA results next week
The Ministry of Education says that NCEA results will be out by the end of next week with students probably receiving their scores by the beginning of the following week, depending on postal arrangements made by each student. If students cannot wait the check the internet for your results.
Cricket Clinics Take
Place Across Rarotonga
The Cricket Grand Final between the Muri Creeps and the Titikaveka Titans open mens division will be held this Saturday 14th January at Muri.
Also, high performance clinics will be held for up and coming cricket stars between the ages of 9 – 18 years of age.
On the 13th January-a clinic for pace bowling will be held at Raemaru
On the 15th January-a clinic for wicket keeping & fielding will be held at Titikaveka.
And on the 22nd January Twnety20 Batting clinic will be held at Raemaru.
These clinics are free and for registrations Call Alistair on 20744 or 55740.
Punanga Nui Impose New Parking Fee
Four weeks ago a $2 parking fee was imposed at the Punanga Nui. The fee applies because of the cost to manage the car park, says BTIB CEO Terry Rangi. Since the fee was put up, the car park on the back area is less congested as people are now parking outside and towards town. The fee only applies to an area that has been set aside close to the market for vendor parking.
Dengue Fever Hits Tahiti
Reports of high dengue rate has been reported from Tahiti, so the Ministry of Health has been pulling out all the stops by spraying all the containers arriving from the island into Rarotonga to keep our dengue rate at 0. “We have also been spraying the hospital grounds and other places around the island,” says Dr. Fariu.
MOH Survey Scott’s Farm
This week the Ministry of Health did their first round of the Scott’s Farm survey. Dr. Fariu quotes that yesterday went smoothly. They had two teams working hard with one team interviewing people with homes around the area and another team interviewing Scott’s workers. Results will hopefully be presented by this Friday. Dr. Fariu of Public Health states that he hopes to publicize the results as it is a matter of interest.
Pets Up For Adoption
The Esther Honey Foundation has a number of pets up for adoption. There are 5 cats, 10 kittens and 2 dogs up for grabs. All these animals are in a good condition and are awaiting loving owners to come and claim them.
Volleyball season begins
The Turtle Business House Volleyball will be starting up again on January the 25th. Registration for teams is open to the public. Games will be played every Wednesday starting on the 25th for 10 weeks. To register for tournament contact Robert Graham on 55100 or Hugh Graham on 52287.
Tennis Coaching
Malcom Kajer’s Tennis School Holiday Coaching program will be back up and running starting Monday the 16th of January. Kids can sign up for beginners, intermediate or advanced courses.
Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009
