On Sunday 24th of August, the Catholic church in the Cook Islands honoured 2 priests and their 120 years of service. Fr. John Rovers and Fr. Damian Marinus celebrated their 6oth anniversary of ordination. The entire Catholic Community of Rarotonga gathered at St. Joseph’s Cathedral for the event. A celebration followed at St. Joseph Elementary Read more
A fire at Nukutere College in Rarotonga, the Cook Islands’ only Catholic secondary school, has destroyed five classrooms, three resource rooms, a science lab, the tuck-shop and a store. This is the second time in 8 years that the College has been damaged by fire. Approximately two thirds of the College teaching space and most Read more
For the past two financial years millions in NZ aid to Pacific has been spent on Air NZ flights. The Cook Islands has spent half the $3 million of New Zealand aid money it receives for tourism annually on its underwrite arrangement with Air New Zealand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says a total of $3.8 million in aid money went towards the Samoan and Tongan Governments’ providing a temporary underwrite to the airline between 2009 and 2011.
The director of Victoria University’s Development Studies programme, John Overton, said aid development could be better spent. “I’m definitely uneasy about New Zealand Aid money being used to subsidize in effect the commercial operations of a New Zealand company in this case Air New Zealand, which would seem to be counter to any of the stated objectives of the New Zealand Aid programme either now or especially in the past.”
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Fr Paul Donoghue recently the Provincial of the Society of Mary in Oceania was ordained Bishop of Rarotonga by Bishop Stuart O’Connell on Sunday last. The people of the Diocese joined bishops, clergy and religious from across the Pacific; friends and family from New Zealand and elsewhere to see Paul Donoghue ordained Bishop. Bishop O’Connell, Read more
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr Paul Donoghue SM as Bishop of Rarotonga. Born in Auckland, Paul was ordained a priest in 1975. After ordination, Paul taught for some time at St Bede’s College Christchurch, before joining the Marist Oceania province. Paul currently serves as the Provincial Superior of the Oceania province. Prior to being Read more