Articles by Utopia Support

Peering into legal loopholes

Wednesday 24 April 2013 | Published in Raro on my mind

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reports that the Cook Islands is a tax haven and a “black hole” for the world’s money; financial services industry representatives counter that this is an outdated and sensationalist perspective which discredits the country’s laws and regulations.

'None of us was near his backpack'

Wednesday 24 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to yesterday’s smokie ‘A few can ‘spoil it’,’ [“$400 was taken from a friend’s wallet at a popular tourist attraction at Muri Beach”] a smoke signaller writes: “I was with the person who claimed his money was stolen.

Climate change funding crucial to Cooks

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Environment

A climate change financing roundtable held in Rarotonga recently found there is a lack of clarity in what funding is available for adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction activities.

Unreturned bottles worth hundreds

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Environment

A local brewery that offers a cash reward to people who return their bottles estimates up to 4000 bottles remain unreturned each month.

Fiji to host region's biggest environment conference

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Environment

Regional registrations are open for the largest conservation-focused meeting in the Pacific, to be held later this year.

Mongoose support kid's play

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Local

They no longer use the playground but members of the Mongoose Golden Oldies club are dedicated to making sure the area is safe and well equipped for Rarotonga children including their own mokopuna.

PhD partnership for weather, climate and water

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Local

New PhD fellowships are being offered to those wishing to research weather, climate and water-related hazards.

EU support for climate change adaptation

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Local

Cook Islanders in the pa enua are receiving on-the-ground climate change adaptation assistance from the European Union worth $800,000 over two years.

'Take their points'

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I want to highlight another reason why the Cook Islands Rugby League 1 year stand down rule is dumb– because it doesn’t just apply to the premier grade! This dumb rule applies to the whole club, yes, every age grade in every club – did the scientists on the CIRL board really think about what they were doing? Did they specify in the rules this only applies to the premier grade – no they didn’t.

Kata - April 23, 2013

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Kata

Lawyer to help develop industry

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Politics

The Cook Islands is making sure it learns from other countries which have mining experience before it puts seabed mining practices into force.

Reckless on Raro's roads

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

After reading in yesterday’s CI News about the 11 year old who fell off the back of a pick-up truck, a smoke signaller writes: “Just at the weekend I saw two female tourists on a bike with a toddler straddled in between them; a toddler seated in front of a local rider on a motorbike; watched as a police truck swerved head on towards an idiot overtaking a line of cars – at night; and on Sunday spotted four young fellas riding slowly, two abreast, right in front of a busload of tourists off the cruise liner.

Westpac to launch mobile banking

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Technology

Mobile banking could soon take on a new, more user-friendly face in the Cooks, according to Westpac’s head of mobile banking.

Keeping language alive with technology

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Technology

A dictionary of Cook Islands languages is soon to be available online.

Cooks go down to host

Tuesday 23 April 2013 | Published in Football

The Cook Islands National under 17 men’s soccer team went down in their third match against host Vanuatu by three goals to one at the OFC Under 17 Championship in Santo, Vanuatu in front of five thousand vocal spectators.

Tertiary training institute set up

Monday 22 April 2013 | Published in Local

A new institute is being established by the Ministry of Education to provide tertiary training for the Cook Islands.

Rehab owner issues veiled threats

Monday 22 April 2013 | Published in Local

Veiled threats have been made against Cook Islands News from the co-owner of Rehab bar following the trial of convicted drug dealer Scott Arlander.

Two God-sized thumbs up

Monday 22 April 2013 | Published in Local

Dear Editor, I totally agree with ‘Male and female lover’ (letter Same-sex marriage is wrong, April 20.

Water policy project begins

Monday 22 April 2013 | Published in Local

A new policy on water management will be drawn up by the WATSAN Unit of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning.

Red Cross fundraises ahead of cuts

Monday 22 April 2013 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Red Cross is holding a charity event to raise funds for its humanitarian action across the country.