This update: 3rd February, 2012
An exclusive summary by the website author who is a former BBC TV and radio journalist
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The following - unless otherwise credited - are a summary of the latest stories from Cook Islands News, the daily newspaper of the Cook Islands which is published Monday to Saturday inclusive.
Its web site www.cookislandsnews.com is updated weekly, usually on a Thursday (Cook islands time, Friday GMT). The summary is published with the permission of the copyright owners Cook Islands News Ltd. Click on any underlined headlines for the full story on the newpaper's own website
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The straw hatted, singing islander who greets every flight arriving in Rarotonga has been given a top tourism honour
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The Pacific Resort, Aitutaki has taken a top award at the travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars for the fourth year in a row
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Marine studies is being added to the education curriculum. with students being taught about sea turtle conservation and shark awareness
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RARE TURTLE IS OFF THE MENU
Critically endangered green turtles have been taken off the food menu on Rakahanga thanks to the island's schoolchildren. Students began taking an interest in them after they started wandering on to the school grounds last year, and a conservation project was started. Strenuous efforts were made to protect nests and eggs and keep the beaches clean for them. Turtles are now part of the science curriculum. The conservation project was launched with the help of the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative who the children contacted for help.
Picture: Cook Islands Natural History and Heritage website/Gerald McCormack
Critically endangered green turtles have been taken off the food menu on Rakahanga thanks to the island's schoolchildren. Students began taking an interest in them after they started wandering on to the school grounds last year, and a conservation project was started. Strenuous efforts were made to protect nests and eggs and keep the beaches clean for them. Turtles are now part of the science curriculum. The conservation project was launched with the help of the Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative who the children contacted for help.
Picture: Cook Islands Natural History and Heritage website/Gerald McCormack
Aitutaki is "150% supportive" of plans for up to 15 Prime Ministers from all over the South Pacific to meet on lagoon motu, One Foot Island in August. The annual retreat for leaders in the Pacific Islands Forum is used to discuss matters and concerns of mutual interest to the region. One of the organisers, Mike Henry said it will also be a great opportunity to showcase Aitutaki to the world. He expects lots of media interest because attendees will include the Prime MInisters of New Zealand and Australia as well as those from the small Pacific nations.
NEW HELP FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED
Home and nursing care for the elderly and disabled in the Islands is being boosted with US$300,000 of aid. It'll enable three national pilot schemes to go ahead to help some of the most vulnerable people in the Cooks. The extra help is seen as essential because traditional extended family support is breaking down. The money is part of a US$900,000 grant from the Asian Development Bank Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. The rest of funds will be used to undertake a review of services and develop a national social protection safety net.
Home and nursing care for the elderly and disabled in the Islands is being boosted with US$300,000 of aid. It'll enable three national pilot schemes to go ahead to help some of the most vulnerable people in the Cooks. The extra help is seen as essential because traditional extended family support is breaking down. The money is part of a US$900,000 grant from the Asian Development Bank Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction. The rest of funds will be used to undertake a review of services and develop a national social protection safety net.
PIG THEFT WASN'T CRICKET!
Two teenagers from Aitutaki have pleaded guilty to stealing a pig carcass and a box of chops from a visiting cricket team. The incident happened last month when the Muri Creeps from Rarotonga team was playing on the island. The men will be sentenced next week.
Two teenagers from Aitutaki have pleaded guilty to stealing a pig carcass and a box of chops from a visiting cricket team. The incident happened last month when the Muri Creeps from Rarotonga team was playing on the island. The men will be sentenced next week.
MURI RESIDENTS PLAN PROTEST OVER SMELLY FARM
Residents in the Muri area of Rarotonga are planning a protest outside a poultry farm which has been identified as the source of smells that some say are sickening. The locals say they've given up hope of action by the government to deal with the problem. The Community Health Ministry has conducted a survey about the problem but they haven't published the results yet. The farm owner says he's now treating waste with an odour reducing chemical.
Residents in the Muri area of Rarotonga are planning a protest outside a poultry farm which has been identified as the source of smells that some say are sickening. The locals say they've given up hope of action by the government to deal with the problem. The Community Health Ministry has conducted a survey about the problem but they haven't published the results yet. The farm owner says he's now treating waste with an odour reducing chemical.
EU SUPPORT PROTECTS PUKAPUKA AGAINST CYCLONES
The European Union is providing nearly a million NZ dollars (600,000 Euros) to help protect islanders on Pukapuka from cyclones. A shelter and management centre is due for completion next month. Work has been underway since last June with funding guarantees from the EU and the Cook Islands government. Now the money is ready to handed over. Fiji-based EU Head of Delegation Abdoul-Aziz M Baye described the project and the ongoing partnership between the EU and the Cook Islands as "very, very successful." The need for a new shelter was first agreed after a cyclone devastated the island in 2005 More about the 2005 cyclone
The European Union is providing nearly a million NZ dollars (600,000 Euros) to help protect islanders on Pukapuka from cyclones. A shelter and management centre is due for completion next month. Work has been underway since last June with funding guarantees from the EU and the Cook Islands government. Now the money is ready to handed over. Fiji-based EU Head of Delegation Abdoul-Aziz M Baye described the project and the ongoing partnership between the EU and the Cook Islands as "very, very successful." The need for a new shelter was first agreed after a cyclone devastated the island in 2005 More about the 2005 cyclone
Work in progress on Pukapuka's new cyclone management centre
MORE EFFICIENCY NEEDED FOR TROCHUS HARVESTING
Faster and more efficient methods are needed for harvesting trochus shells, which are used to create mother of pearl buttons and beads. And those involved in the harvesting need to feel they're getting a proper reward for their efforts. Those are two of the findings in a report into the first trochus harvest for eight years on Aitutaki last November. The harvest yieled NZ$83,000 which was shared with islanders involved in the work. The Marine Resources Ministry only allows a harvest when it's satisifed there are adequate stocks and it says it will continue to monitor supplies before arranging another one.
Faster and more efficient methods are needed for harvesting trochus shells, which are used to create mother of pearl buttons and beads. And those involved in the harvesting need to feel they're getting a proper reward for their efforts. Those are two of the findings in a report into the first trochus harvest for eight years on Aitutaki last November. The harvest yieled NZ$83,000 which was shared with islanders involved in the work. The Marine Resources Ministry only allows a harvest when it's satisifed there are adequate stocks and it says it will continue to monitor supplies before arranging another one.
8% MORE VISITORS GIVE A BIG BOOST TO ISLANDS' ECONOMY
Tourists have boosted the Islands' economy by an estimated NZ$315 million in the past year. The Tourism Corporation says there were 112,000 visitors in 2011 which is 8% up on the previous year. They spent NZ$2.8 million on promotions and also boosted their on line presence. The official tourism website also recorded a 120% increase in unique visits which totalled 244,000 in 2011.
Tourists have boosted the Islands' economy by an estimated NZ$315 million in the past year. The Tourism Corporation says there were 112,000 visitors in 2011 which is 8% up on the previous year. They spent NZ$2.8 million on promotions and also boosted their on line presence. The official tourism website also recorded a 120% increase in unique visits which totalled 244,000 in 2011.
