Articles by Utopia Support

Another white elephant in the distance

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s bloody shocking that government is digging the people of the Cook Islands a deeper grave. Now they’re thinking of doing up the drinking water here in Rarotonga and all we have is reservoirs but last week didn’t Pukapuka receive a solar water distilling plant turning over 250 litres of saltwater into fresh […]

Forum coordinator responds to criticism

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have had comments by the Leader of the Opposition regarding invitations to Forum events and his suggestion that there may have been bias against himself and Opposition MPs, drawn to my attention. I wish to state categorically that neither I, nor my immediate coordination staff, have acted in any political matter whatsoever […]

Kata - September 11, 2012

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Netball takes vision to Mauke and Mitiaro

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in Netball

Netball Cook Islands board member Margharet Matenga and CEO Teina Taulu visited Mauke and Mitiaro last week to let netball associations know the changes that have taken place in Rarotonga over the past 16 months, strategies planned for Netball Cook Islands going forward, and to see what progress is being made in the outer islands. […]

146kg striped marlin sets a new record

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

Akura Fishing Charters crew have every right to boast about always catching the biggest fish after hauling in a record breaking 146kg striped marlin. Caught out from the Kiikii fad on Monday morning – it had Akura crewman Cameron Thorp feeling the monster was a record breaker from the outset. Each of the six anglers […]

Westpac manager resigns

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

Westpac Cook Islands is due to have a change in management, after the bank’s general manager Carmel Butler handed in her resignation. The Australian banker took over the position on a two-year contract in October last year, but will return to her homeland at the beginning of October with the goal to pursue other opportunities […]

MFEM balances the end of year books

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

After initially projecting a $3 million deficit, government has managed to balance its books. Finance Minister Mark Brown told media recently he was happy with the country’s financial performance at the end of the financial year, after the June quarterly financial report shows the predicted deficit turned into a surplus of $769,000. He said this […]

Clearing debt the first priority

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

If government does not take ‘strong action’ to address deficiencies in the banking system, the Cook Islands is unlikely to return to sustained economic growth. The upshot of that is dismal – that “without strong economic growth the objective expressed by all of reversing the current trend of increasing emigration will not be achieved”, according […]

Online toon amusement

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

The political cartoonist at the New Zealand Herald is having a bit of fun with the paata custom, the Cook Islands’ relationship with Chinese fishing enterprises, and the Pacific Islands Forum’s exclusion of Fiji. Cartoons have surfaced on the New Zealand Herald Online that prove the Cook Islands is still more or less in the […]

Late ship blamed for fuel shortage

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

The delayed arrival of Reef Shipping vessel Southern Reef was responsible for the weekend’s petrol crisis. “This is the consequence of relying on the national shipping service from New Zealand – we’re buying in tanktainers rather than in bulk,” Toa Petroleum director Brett Porter said yesterday. “If you’re buying in bulk you’re buying two, three […]

Act before disaster

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

Recovery plans should be made by governments before disasters strike, the United Nations says. One of the key outcomes of a three-day workshop on disaster recovery training in Fiji recently was that Pacific governments need to focus on building resilience. United Nations representative Knut Ostby gave the workshop’s closing address to over 40 professionals working […]

Meeting tonight

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

Questions surrounding the make-up of the Punanga Nui market committee are sure to add some extra spice to the first stallholders meeting since the market was turned over to the agriculture ministry. The Sinai Hall is the venue of tonight’s public meeting and matters including the management of the market are on the agenda. But […]

Recycling bins improve Punanga Nui

Tuesday 11 September 2012 | Published in National

Punanga Nui market manager Elmah McBirney is hoping people will get the message of responsible recycling after six stations were installed around the marketplace. All of the stations are housed beneath signs created to inform the public of making the right choice with recycling. The four bins are categorised into aluminium cans, plastic bottles, glass […]

Environment reporting elevated

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Environment

Consistent state of environment (SOE) reporting is an essential tool for guiding appropriate policy and decision-making. This was the general consensus of the 80 participants attending the 2nd Pacific Environment Forum held in Noumea, New Caledonia, last week. The Pacific Environment Forum is an opportunity for Pacific stakeholders to discuss environmental issues before the annual […]

'CIIC workers not terminated'

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Local

It’s work as usual for the five maintenance workers who believed they were ‘laid off’ following intervention by minister for the Cook Islands Investment Corporation Mark Brown. The minister issued a media statement yesterday explaining his views of the issue. Referring to statements by Tupapa Maraerenga MP George Maggie and Cook Islands Workers Association president […]

Police pays revealed

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Local

The oath is not the only thing trainee police officers should be swearing over after the force’s salary bands were revealed last week. Figures released by the Public Service Commission (PSC) show that trainee policemen and women earn between $12,765 and $17,269, the same as the staff member who is hired to issue the general […]

Competitive first aid test

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Local

CISA students Sirla Pera (top), Maeva Smith (centre), and Pearse Numanga (bottom) apply bandages to an actor from Titikaveka College as part of Friday’s first aid competition marking International Red Cross Day. 12090702 Related article(s):

Kata - September 10, 2012

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in Kata

Tupapa defeat Sokattak

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in National

In the main Lotto Premier men’s soccer match on Saturday, Tupapa-Maraerenga defeated Nikao Sokattak by two goals to one at Nikao. The game was evenly played in the first half, however in the 39th minute Leo Berlim scored a beautiful goal over the Nikao Sokattak goal keeper. In the second spell Nikao Sokattak had more […]

Nukutere students adopted Vanuatu

Monday 10 September 2012 | Published in National

Nukutere College were the lucky recipients of a surprise visit from their adopted country during the Pacific Leaders Forum. Ham Lini, deputy prime minister of Vanuatu, made time in his busy schedule to drop in at the school and meet the students. Donna Nahu, principal at Nukutere College, said Lini was so impressed by the […]