Articles by Utopia Support

$50,000 gift from Chinese charity

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Local

A ministerial visit to China kicked off with a significant donation to Cook Islands school children this week, as marine resources minister Teina Bishop received US$50,000 from the Tan Siu Lin Foundation to purchase 130 laptop computers. Bishop is leading a delegation to China, which includes marine resources secretary Ben Ponia and Manihiki mayoress Ngamata […]

'Curry Munchers' arrives in Rarotonga

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Features

A new movie hits the islands this week, with an opportunity to watch a Cook Islands resident in action. Nikao Video is releasing the New Zealand produced film ‘Curry Munchers’ – a film that was largely the creation of Aunanda Naaido. Naaido, who is currently working as financial director at The Edgewater Resort and Spa, […]

Feeble excuse

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, One of the expected benefits of having spent $24m or so upgrading Avatiu harbour is to enable its use by larger vessels, resulting (hopefully) in lower freight rates. But until we have enough inward cargo to fill these larger ships, they will obviously seek cargo for other ports, as has happened in the […]

No one realised it was 'poorly worded'?

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The pen is mightier than the sword. In this case it should probably read: the printing press is mightier than the devious schemes of government. Thanks to you, CINews, for your full covering of the news. We have heard of the cunning and devious schemes the minister (Mark Brown) and his executive of […]

Inspired to protect our natural assets

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a long time resident of Rarotonga , and actively involved in the environmental scene in the Cook Islands, I want to congratulate John Woods and the staff of CINews for the wonderfully supportive and informative reporting on bringing the public’s attention to many issues affecting the future of the Cook Islands through […]

Was it poor refereeing or match fixing?

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I make reference to semi retired soccer fan’s concern for the ‘terrible refereeing’ at the Nikao/Tupapa soccer match last Saturday and I totally agree with him. I am also a retired soccer player and know the rules of the game reasonably well. There were serious offences committed by Tupapa players that were not […]

Kata - September 13, 2012

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Vaka Eiva Festival 2 months away

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

In just over two months, Rarotonga will become paddling heaven for around 700 paddlers from across the globe and island who will gather for the fun and energetic week-long Vaka Eiva Festival. The hugely popular paddling festival is in its ninth year of running and long before final confirmation of numbers for this year’s competition […]

Toursim reps push top 10 cultural attractions

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

Ten Cook Islands hotel operators and tourism industry representatives are in the USA and Canada for a two-week tourism roadshow, which started with a show in Edmonton attended by around 70 travel agents and wholesalers. With temperatures hitting single digits on the day of the first show, the operators are hoping the colder weather will […]

O3B in top 100

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

The company contracted by Telecom to provide the Cook Islands with internet four times faster than it is now by April next year has been listed as one of the world’s top infrastructure companies. The KPMG Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition 2012 is a glossy publication that aims to embody the spirit of innovation and […]

New waterslide highly popular

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

A power outage caused the island’s newest attraction – the big red waterslide opposite The Rarotongan – to deflate when a tourist was riding it last week. Resort owner Tata Crocombe is confident electrical upgrades made immediately afterward are sufficient to prevent a repeat of the incident. Every night staff deflate the three-story inflatable slide, […]

More 'oscars' won by Pacific Resorts

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

Pacific Resort Hotel Group (PRHG) properties have won recognition in several categories at the HM Travel Awards, and Pacific Resort Aitutaki general manager Julian Moore has been named South Pacific general manager of the year. PRHG did well in all categories at the HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence at the Sydney Town Hall […]

Quest for 'Miss Thunda Hips'

Thursday 13 September 2012 | Published in National

Seven queenies are taking the stage tomorrow night to challenge reigning champion Geneva, who remains Miss Thunda Hips after last year’s Kura Kapa Anuanua. Tatryana, Geneva, Moana, Briannah, Kendra, Blossom, Robyn and young Neiomi say they are “ready to rumble” and have been working with their respective chaperones to prepare crowd-pleasing numbers for tomorrow night’s […]

Concerned man warns residents to stay alert

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local

Three well-known local offenders are allegedly living together, despite a court order stating two of them must not associate with each other. A concerned local business owner contacted CINews with the information, reporting that Robert Piniata, William Wade, and Ponatu Ua are all living in the same house near the Assembly of God Church in […]

Taxpayers fork out for Penrhyn

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local

The chartered flights to Penrhyn Island will cost the taxpayers over $100,000. The revelation was made by finance minister Mark Brown exactly one month after the Lady Naomi departed the Avatiu port and three weeks after the sixth and final Air Rarotonga chartered plane arrived in Tongareva. The matter is in the hands of the […]

Two ambassadors present credentials

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local

Italian ambassador Alessandro Levi Sandri (left) and Dutch representative Arie Van der Wiel presented their credentials at Government House yesterday. It was the first time two national representatives have presented credentials to Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin on the same day. 12091105

Too early to predict cyclone pattern

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Local

The cyclone season is approaching – but the Meteorological Service says it is too early to predict whether it will be a bad one or not. “We have not yet issued any projections,” says Met Service director Maara Vaiimene, “but we will have a better idea of what is coming by early October.” There are […]

Stand proud

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to publicly pass on my sincere congratulations to the Honourable Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, his Government and all the people of the Cook Islands on the way in which they managed through the recent Pacific Forum. It was an outstanding success. From the Prime Minister of New Zealand the […]

Don't blame ship delay

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Brett Porter’s reported efforts (CINews September 11) to blame delayed arrival of a ship for a recent fuel shortage on Rarotonga ignore the facts, and are a transparent attempt to shift responsibility for Toa’s own lack of inventory management. Contrary to his quoted comments, Southern Reef was only four days behind her published […]

'Terrible refereeing' allegation answered

Wednesday 12 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m a semi-retired sportsman who enjoys watching local matches and most televised sports programmes. Last Saturday I watched an exciting football match between Tupapa and Nikao that eventually went Tupapa’s way. Congratulations Tupapa. I also overheard from a nearby group that Tupapa had flown in three Manukau City FC players particularly for this […]