Articles by Utopia Support

DPM takes minerals story to Brussels

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters is representing the Cook Islands at the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States in Brussels. The JPA meets twice a year in plenary, once in Brussels and once in an ACP state. European Union (EU) funds are provided to enable parliamentarians to attend […]

21 students off to Japan on Kizuna project

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

Twenty-one students from Aitutaki, Mitiaro, Mangaia and Rarotonga depart for a two-week trip to Japan today, at the invitation of the Japanese government. The students – one from Araura College, one from Mitiaro School, four from Mangaia School, 12 from Tereora College, one from Nukutere College and two from Titikaveka College – are going to […]

Investiture protest was over bloodline

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

The Kamana family are disputing the recent investiture of Tauepa Vainemoeroa Last Parade Tutakiao Tupa with the Mokare Mataiapo. Tupa was invested with the title on Wednesday – a title transferred to her by her grandfather Metuakore Teremoana Kora (Papa Kora) who had held the title for 50-years. The investiture of the title was protested […]

Puna in Big Apple

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna flies to New York City on Thursday to attend the 67th United Nations General Assembly and related meetings. As Puna was chair of the recent Pacific Leaders Forum, he has been invited to address the UN delegates on the Forum’s outcome. The prime minister will be out of the country for […]

Motorbike thief caught in sting

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

Police have recovered stolen motorcycle parts from the home of a 17-year-old male. The Arorangi man was caught as part of a current police sting targeting people allegedly involved in the crime wave that has been happening on Rarotonga in the last few months. The man has been remanded in custody until September 20. One […]

Dr Oxana's frustration grows

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in National

Dr Oxana Makhno was hoping her latest trip to the police station would be the end of a two-year ordeal. Instead, it opened up more frustration about items stolen over two years ago. Makhno was born in Russia but has worked in the Cook Islands for 12 years. The majority of that time has been […]

Visa change impacts foreign workers

Saturday 15 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller texts to 188: “The New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga’s decision not to process visas for non-Cook Islanders will create a lot of inconvenience for a significant number of foreign workers in the Cook Islands. Perhaps it’s time that government underwrites direct flights to Fiji.” A smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Just […]

Change the world with truths

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Church Talk

I wish to comment a little on the manner in which the world turns. Not the scientific aspects such as the manner in which the earth orbits and rotates in its sphere, and all the other necessary elements that cause molecules to integrate and align perfectly, that allow for the earth’s (life’s) synchronisation. But rather […]

Cricket development team to debut

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Features

Big match ups are on the cards for the second round of the Computer Man and Edgewater cricket competition this weekend. The Davana ladies had the bye last week but are rearing for action as they head over to Matavera. The Air Raro Matavera ladies had a solid start to their season last weekend with […]

Last call to create wearable art pieces

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Features

A last call has been issued for entries in the Clean Up Wearable Arts Competition Showcase. With the theme being ‘My Waste, Your Waste, Our Responsibility’, students from Rarotonga schools have been working over the past four to five weeks to create wearable art out of waste material in order to entertain, educate and inspire […]

3 beautiful goals were scored

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Oh my gosh! It seems to me that Non Nikao SFC Supporter is still crying and hurting after Saturday’s soccer match between Tupapa and Nikao. What surprised me is this, this person claims to be a non-Nikao supporter and yet he/she seems to know the players’ names that played on the field, SURPRISE, […]

Why we feel we've come home

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I picked up my sister and her man from the airport on Sunday night. I’d got them each an ei and it was lovely to see them marvel and luxuriate in the fragrance and beauty of the waxy gardenias and fine, delicate tiare. I remember the time I was first garlanded with an […]

Kata - September 14, 2012

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Netball squad half named

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Netball

There is still an opportunity for local netball players to make the national netball squad with three more spots in the team still to be filled. So far nine of the final 12 person squad has been selected to represent the country during the Wales and Scotland tour to Rarotonga tournament next month and the […]

Power hitting with NZ legend

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in National

Legendary New Zealand cricketer and former New Zealand national coach Mark Greatbatch is on the rock and ready to coach local cricketers. A New Zealand icon, Greatbatch scored over 2000 runs for New Zealand and was the highly successfully coach for the Black Caps in 2010. In 1992 Greatbatch changed the face of 50 over […]

NZ visas go direct

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in National

Foreign travellers to New Zealand will no longer be able to apply for and obtain visas locally from September 18. People in the Cook Islands applying for New Zealand visas will need to submit their applications direct to the Immigration New Zealand Northern Region Documentation Branch in Auckland, rather than to the New Zealand High […]

Seabed authority opens doors

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in National

A Crown agency set up to manage an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars formally opened its doors yesterday. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, headed by recently-appointed seabed minerals commissioner Paul Lynch, formally opened yesterday. Minerals minister Tom Marsters addressed the audience – comprised of cabinet ministers, traditional leaders and distinguished guests – […]

Mokare Mataiapo investiture protested

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in National

Despite ferocious opposition – the traditional chief title investiture of Tauepa Vainemoeroa Last Parade Tutakiao Tupa with the Mokare Mataiapo title went ahead on Wednesday morning. Held at the ‘Tiki vaine i te maeata’ Marae in Matavera, the investiture of Tupa with the title was a unique event although the vocal protest by a faction […]

Rewards still up for grabs

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in National

A number of rewards offered in recent weeks through this newspaper do not seem to have any effect on spurring the public to come forward with information. A local builder who offered $200 for information leading to the return of his tools and the thief apprehended is surprised he has not had one bite. Mann […]

Wake up, own what's yours

Friday 14 September 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

The minister of Marine Resources and his secretary have the audacity to go overseas and receive gifts, free trips, perks etc from very rich Asian businesspeople and not even be transparent at home first with fishing licences, shark fin hauls and fish catches requested by Reuben Tylor. Now we see that the Prime Minister’s wife […]