Articles by Utopia Support

Government naivety knows no bounds

Saturday 29 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller asks: “Does marine resources minister Teina Bishop think we all came down in the last shower? He cannot be serious when he denies what 99% of the population would undoubtedly see as the clear conflict of interest that ensues from him appointing a foreign fishing company’s CEO, whom his ministry is negotiating […]

Heroic trio

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Local

Three runners involved in the Nutters Cross Island Run are brushing off their heroic efforts after they helped rescue a fellow New Zealander who fell six metres during the race. Bruce Baldwin, Dave Laugesen and wife Lynda were competing alongside runner Martin Meads before the branch he was leaning on snapped. “It just gave way. […]

60 cannabis plants seized

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Local

One of the biggest drug seizures of cannabis plants in recent times was netted in a bust on Wednesday, police say. Police executed a search warrant at a house in Panama on Wednesday, where more than 60 cannabis plants were found, says Inspector Tere Patia. A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged with a number […]

Solomons mama cartoon inappropriate

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Rutaki School at the recent Forum exercise adopted the Solomon Islands delegation. My 10-year-old proudly told us at home all that he had learned about his Oceanic cousins. His mother and I hope we have instilled in our son a disdain for racism. How then to explain to him Kata’s cartoon on Thursday […]

'Free ride' not on

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the person who wrote and mailed the letter to Cook’s Bus Passenger Transport Ltd and called himself “Real Cookie.” For your information, Kevin Cook has been a permanent resident since 1972, worked and paid taxes, and has employed Cook Islanders all those years even to this day. That gives him the same […]

Kindness or camaraderie, both very different

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for covering the interview with Minister Teina Bishop. Thank you also, Teina, for supporting transparency within your community by accepting the interview. It’s not easy to be interviewed by a journalist, but it’s extremely important and appreciated. While I empathise with Teina that he views the computers as a gift, it […]

Kata - September 28, 2012

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Aitutaki's new sludge tanker arrives

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

Residents and businesses on Aitutaki are now able to undertake the messy job of desludging their septic tanks with the delivery of a new sludge tanker and tractor on the island this week. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) Teariki Heather and Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop travelled to Aitutaki on Wednesday to complete the handover […]

Peeping Tom confessed to police

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

A man has been found guilty of unlawfully entering the Royal Takitumu Villas property, after confessing to police he went to “peep” on tourists staying there. Justice of the Peace Carmen Temata found Taungamata Kataina guilty of being unlawfully found in the Titikaveka tourist accommodation grounds on April 27. He was identified by a witness […]

Lazaro must get a licence, say police

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

The policeman tasked with investigating Kevin Cook’s complaint about Pukapuka-Nassau MP Tekii Lazaro picking up tourists in an unlicensed taxi van says there are two types of licences available – but either way, Lazaro will have to get one. Inspector Strickland says under the Transport Licensing Act there are two different types of licences available […]

Hate mail to bus company owner

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport company owner Kevin Cook had an anonymous piece of handwritten hate mail slipped into his mailbox yesterday morning. The heavily-underlined letter, written in capitals, claims that since Cook is not a Cook Islander he has no rights to the tourists that visit the country. “All tourists on this island belongs […]

Mud, sweat and cheers

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

Slips and slides were promised, and they were certainly delivered in the Nutters Cross Island race – the final event of the week-long running festival – on Wednesday. Rainfall from the previous three days meant the race was always going to be interesting to judge and of all the competitors only a remarkable few escaped […]

'Right to know' still just an ideal in Cooks

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

The “right to know” is something media relish talking about, as it forms the basis of the fourth estate. Often people forget that as taxpayers, they should be talking about it, too. Today is International Right to Know Day, and the world seems to be taking note – or at least paying lip service to […]

Gala day at Te Uki Ou today

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

Food and fun for all the family is on offer this afternoon at the Apii Te Uki Ou gala. All the fun you expect from a gala will be available including games with great prizes such as coconut shy and treasure hunt, and also a haunted house. There will be lots of different food available […]

Kata 'offensive' says Solomon Times

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

Solomon Islanders have taken to social media to express their feelings on the “offensive” cartoon in yesterday’s Cook Islands News. The CINews satirical cartoonist Kata, a.k.a. Tim Buchanan, drew a cartoon on Wednesday afternoon which neatly encapsulated the furore over the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a Cook Islands designed and made TAV dress to a […]

Too many whale watchers

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

NUKU’ALOFA – The president of a Tonga eco-tourism association is urging the government not to let commercialisation destroy the country’s whale-watching industry. The comment follows an announcement from the Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour that it has issued 24 licences, mainly to operators in the Vava’u group of islands, for this year’s June to […]

Five policemen facing charges

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in National

NUKU’Alofa – A total of five Tongan policemen have now been charged with the manslaughter of a New Zealand police officer who was fatally injured while in police custody last month. Three more policemen were arrested in connection with the death of Kali Fungavaka this week, including a supervising officer identified as Inspector Kelepi Hala’ufia, […]

Who are you kidding, minister?

Friday 28 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to Wednesday’s front page interview with Teina Bishop, the minister of marine resources: “Minister Bishop sees no conflict of interest in the appointment of his honorary fisheries advisor also being the chief operating officer of Luen Thai Fishing Ventures Ltd, who is also involved in the foreign and local […]

Enforcement the shark problem: Bishop

Thursday 27 September 2012 | Published in Environment

Marine resources minister Teina Bishop says the government’s hesitation to declare a shark sanctuary in the Cook Islands has to do with a lack of funding to support enforcement. “Declaring is one thing but making sure we police it, making sure the right types of hooks are adhered to, no traces on the boats, is […]

No food, no fish

Thursday 27 September 2012 | Published in Local

Marine resources minister Teina Bishop does not believe the apparent shortage of fish in the waters of Rarotonga is in any way related to the licensing of foreign vessels to fish in the north. “The fish goes after the food and the food is determined by the temperature and the planktons,” he told media on […]