Articles by Utopia Support

MFEM sees no merit in pursuit

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to William Framhein’s recent letter to you in which he makes a number of allegations regarding MFEM’s practice in the past of splitting soft drink imports into separate import entry classifications for contents and packaging. The issue raised by Mr Framhein was also raised in a letter from James Beer (at […]

Frustration and anger over tax

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Financial Secretary (Finsec) Mr Neves has in three email exchanges with me exposed the failings of his ministry in upholding the integrity and credibility of the public revenue collection system of our country. How can anyone in our country be expected to pay their taxes and not feel that they are being […]

3 cheers for Cooks

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We should all be proud of Kevin and Frances Cooks’ transport system here on Rarotonga. There are cities and islands much larger and smaller who would and need to follow the example of Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport. They have a well maintained variety of vehicles. They are safe. They do a good […]

Stop the idiocy, govern with dignity

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I make reference to a number of articles in your paper recently about the issue of conflict of interest and government protocols not being followed by cabinet ministers and the prime minister. There are times and places where certain behaviours are expected of our leaders. Such arrogance or poor misunderstanding of these situations […]

Kata - October 1, 2012

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in Kata

Remembering our old people today

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands is set to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons for the first time today. This article submitted by the Kumiti Rauti Para calls on Cook Islanders to embrace and celebrate our older members of the community. On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International […]

Skype's the limit for Mangaia School

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in National

Providing professional development to teachers on the outer islands has just been made much easier, thanks to the use of new technology by the Ministry of Education. The first professional development sessions via Skype successfully took place between Ministry of Education advisors Brendon Fiebig and Matthew Easterbrook and teachers at Mangaia School in early September. […]

St Joseph's celebrates book week

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in National

Children dressed as colourful book characters brought St Joseph’s School to life on Wednesday last week. Students were dressed up as range of book characters, with the older students choosing their favourite book character, and the younger students as different characters from the class’s favourite book. Grade One students took to the stage for their […]

364kg of rubbish in 4th roundup

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in National

The fourth event of the 2012 Rubbish Roundup saw the largest turnout to date. A huge group showed up from CITC sporting new, white team t-shirts, along with groups from BTIB, Bank of the Cook Islands, Ministry of Culture, National Environment Service, and even the crew of a yacht passing through Rarotonga. Miss Cook Islands […]

24 scholarships for CI students

Monday 1 October 2012 | Published in National

The end of year exams are fast approaching for the country’s year 13 students, and while this might be enough to contend with for some, others may want to start thinking about options for future study. One such option is getting a scholarship to cover the cost of expensive tertiary study. The Ministry of Education […]

New Te Tika Mataiapo

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Local

A proud Te Tika Mataiapo Katuke Kopa beams at her family and friends as she is invested with her traditional title. 12092822

Vaka battles seas heading to home

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Local

Marumaru Atua is battling strong winds and rough seas on the final leg of her homeward journey. As of yesterday, the vaka was expecting to be in Rarotonga by Sunday or Monday. She was clocking a speed of 7.3 knots, and at midday yesterday was about 240 nautical miles southwest of the Cook Islands and […]

Nothing official on QR's job

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Local

Government is not confirming that Tom Marsters is likely to be appointed as the next Queen’s Representative. Yesterday the Democratic Party of Murienua went public with a statement of confidence that there will be a by-election for Marsters’ seat in June of next year, when the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin’s warrant of appointment expires. […]

Oe vaka ready to go

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Features

Today will be the second attempt by oe vaka clubs on Rarotonga to race, due to the unpredictable high winds of late. Last weekend the originally scheduled 15km race was postponed so oe vaka paddlers could take part in the WATSAN Avana Harbour and Muri Beach clean-up. Even in torrential rain the turnout of paddlers […]

New addition to Oe Vaka art show

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Features

Down by the lagoon, devouring large amounts of creativity with the sun slowly dipping below the horizon, is just one image of many that will be part of The Art Studio’s 2012 Oe Vaka art exhibition. This year the annual Oe Vaka exhibition will also include a lagoon side sculptural exhibition, with three New Zealand […]

Huntly kids visit

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Features

There was much laughter on the sports field at Titikaveka College as students from the Cook Islands and New Zealand enjoyed a friendly game of touch rugby on Wednesday. Thirteen students and four teachers from Huntly College will be making the most of their Rarotongan experience over the next week, while hosted by Titakaveka College. […]

Rio madness at children's ball

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Features

If you see a flock of brightly-coloured parrots squawking their way around Rarotonga on October 12, don’t be alarmed – it’s just local kids incognito for Rotaract’s Junior Spring Ball. The Rotaract Club of Rarotonga is holding their annual children’s ball at the Ngatangiia club house, starting 6pm onwards for children aged five to 10 […]

Mangaian mama reaches 97

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Features

Nobody quite knows Mangaian mama Makianu Nooroa’s secret to a long life but those in attendance at her 97th birthday on Tuesday know her caring nature must play a pivotal role. Born on September 25, 1915, as one of 12 children, Makianu attended school on the outer island but left early to look after her […]

Daughter defends dad from attack

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the coward who posted a hand written letter to Cook’s Islands Passenger Bus Service addressed to my father, Kevin Cook. Albeit the letter was written in very bad English with terrible grammar, I could tell from the handwriting that it was from a man. That’s right. We’ve all […]

When is a Kuki not a Kuki?

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see in Wednesday’s News that Minister Bishop has some strange ideas about what people are and is starting to sound more like a second hand fish dealer every day. He states that his Chinese friend Mr Chou is officially a US citizen, he has a US passport and he grew up in […]