Articles by Utopia Support

Slap on the face

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would acknowledge it if this letter finds its way to the Letters to the Editor column on your newspaper. This letter seeks to express the general feeling of disapproval from local Solomon Islanders after an edition of the famous Cook Islands KATA cartoon showed up on Facebook. Since showing up on the […]

Don't gloat

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Imagine if the Duke and Dutchess came to Rarotonga and someone from the Solomons were able to outwit us and have them wear Solomon Islands dress and shirt whilst attending our functions? The furore will be deafening and Tavs and other seamstressers will be on the warpath. It will cause a South Pacific […]

Singing and drumming defended

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing because I believe it is time the management for the Sails Restaurant received a wake up call for their misguided attempt to shut down a private function where a group of islanders were hosting a farewell function on Captain Tama’s premises in the late afternoon. On Friday last week at […]

Does MMR have a handle on it?

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Earlier this year I wrote to you to explain the policies and efforts of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) with respect to our offshore fishery. I welcome the media interest in fisheries issues but noting the criticisms, mainly anonymous, and misreporting that has taken place, I guess the question on some people’s […]

What tripe!

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wonder if Minister Teina Bishop and Ben Ponia truly believe the tripe we are being force fed. These two are happy to prostitute our most valuable asset for 50 pieces of silver. Shame on the both of you. You are being paid by the people of the Cook Islands to protect their […]

Crystal clear

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Minister Bishop has gone on record to confirm that his top fisheries advisors come from the fisheries department of ministry of marine resources, who has been involved in dealing with the commercial fishing side of things on behalf of the country for a very long time. What I would like to know is […]

They failed to act transparently

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am very concerned in regards to a few of the points Minister Bishop raised in his reply to Reuben Tylor. Firstly, the fact that Nauru’s resource is on land and ours is in the water is irrelevant. The point I believe Mr Taylor was trying to raise is in regards to the […]

Kata - September 29, 2012

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Kata

School holiday sailing

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

There’ll be tons of activity at Rarotonga Sailing Club these school holidays. Two days of fun activities in each week of the school holidays have been planned for Tuesday and Wednesday next week and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday October 9-10 at Muri beach for kids. National sailor Junior Charlie has planned a programme […]

Divas in Raro make TV in NZ

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

TVNZ’s top rated daytime programme The Good Morning Show is coming to Rarotonga for Divas in Paradise. Motone Productions has been working with TVNZ to showcase not only its event, which features international funk hip hop star Ladi6, rising star Iva Lamkum who is hot off her appearance at the Singapore Grand Prix, best female […]

Nukutere receives Rotary support

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

New equipment arrived at Nukutere College last week, thanks to a donation from the Rotary Club of Rarotonga. Rotary President John McElhinney presented the school with a brand new data projector during their school assembly. Donna Nahu, Principal of Nukutere, says the resource is an excellent interactive teaching and learning tool. It will be used […]

Fishing for cash in Aitutaki

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

The 16th Gary Parlour Wahoo contest gets underway this weekend on Aitutaki as they look to improve on last year’s miserable catch. In what really is a community event, the weekend is spent tirelessly reeling in fish while by sunset, the Aitutaki Sportfishing Club becomes a haven for fishermen. Wahoo is clearly the fish of […]

New Te Tika Mataiapo invested

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

Working for the betterment of youth in Titikaveka is one way Katuke Kopa plans to use her newly invested title of Te Tika Mataiapo. Kopa was invested with the title at Te Pou Toru Marae in Titikaveka in front of proud family and friends in a beautiful traditional ceremony that went ahead without a single […]

Cabinet at home

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna will arrive back from a nine-day trip to New York City tomorrow. He was in the Big Apple to attend the 67th United Nations General Assembly, where he co-chaired a meeting alongside the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. The prime minister also met with newly-appointed UN under secretary-general Gyan […]

Study on airport upgrades

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

Airport authority chief executive Joe Ngamata said the feasibility study looking into the outer islands airports will help shape the future of the country. A feasibility study into the future of the Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia airports was given $206,000 in the 2012 budget, and will be awarded to one consultant or company based […]

Be strong, says police chief

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands Police remembered former colleagues at the country’s first National Police Remembrance Day. Police paraded after the Cook Islands flag was raised to half-mast just after 8 yesterday morning. Police Minister Teariki Heather then gave a speech in Maori, thanking past members of the force and acknowledging those police who have passed away. The […]

Island taxis going lime green?

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

The Taxi Association wants to forget recent squabbles involving the transportation community and move forward to become stronger. The Cook Islands Taxi Association called a meeting for its members yesterday morning at the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) offices. Pukapuka-Nassau Member of Parliament Tekii Lazaro was also invited, to clear up any confusion he […]

Exam build-up

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

Students across the Cook Island will be hard at work sitting their mock NCEA exams over the coming weeks. The first exams took place last week and will continue into this week for most students. While the exams are only mock exams, Nukutere College principal Donna Nahu and Tereora College principal Bali Haque both agree […]

Cannabis 'locked up' at police station

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

To those wondering what happened to the more than 60 cannabis plants confiscated by police on Wednesday – they are being kept strictly under lock and key at the central police station. In one of the Cooks’ biggest drugs busts in recent years, police raided a house in Panama on Wednesday, where they allegedly found […]

'Right to know' ripples worldwide

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in National

In an effort to raise awareness about the taxpayer’s right to knowledge and information, a worldwide network of freedom fighters yesterday celebrated International Right to Know Day. Media reports emerged from countries the world over about events and rallies staged to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the occasion. In Kathmandu, for example, over 300 activists, […]