Articles by Utopia Support

Not 'evasion'

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Local

MP and lawyer Norman George did not face tax evasion charges, as stated in Saturday’s headline – his charges were the lesser charges of failing to furnish tax returns. Norman George had pleaded guilty in the High Court to 12 charges against him and his company Norman George and Associates. The Teenui-Mapumai (Atiu) MP was […]

Big hype in meeting Hillary Clinton

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Local

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s historic visit to the Cook Islands caused a huge amount of buzz on the island with many locals still talking about their meet with the famous woman. One such person is local woman Vania Kenning who still can’t believe her luck in being photographed with Clinton. Even more exciting […]

'Tying a noose around our necks'

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in Local

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen is openly suspicious of government’s tripartite agreement with New Zealand and China to administer the biggest-ever water project undertaken in the Cook Islands. Rasmussen has issued the following statement: “The announcement by the government that it has signed a loan of $32 million from the government on the Republic of China […]

Parliamentary leaders unite for rugby 'test'

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

New Zealand parliamentarians are gathering on Rarotonga but they will be doing their talking on the rugby field. The visiting Kiwi parliamentarians will face off against the Cook Islands parliamentarian team on Wednesday at the BCI Stadium in what promises to be an entertaining match. The last time these two teams met in 2009, the […]

Education advisors visit Pukapuka

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

It was as much a cultural experience as it was professional development when a team of Ministry of Education staff and teachers visited Pukapuka last term. Five staff from the Ministry spent 12 days on the island, in an exchange which saw a number of teachers from Nuia School travel to Rarotonga to take part […]

Cook Islands voice at world congress

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

The upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress will have a Cook Islands influence after a motion put forward by Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) was accepted to be presented at the global event. The congress is the largest single event on conservation in the world and will see, amongst other events, 176 submissions showcased in Jeju, South […]

Clinton vows to come back

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

That a woman of Hillary Clinton’s status thought it worthwhile to visit the tiny island of Rarotonga was surprising enough – that she turned out to be down-to-earth, approachable and willing to pose for countless photos with locals came as even more of a shock. Coming off the airplane on Thursday evening, Clinton was all […]

Cabinet in Atiu

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

All cabinet ministers are in the Cook Islands this week, with the highlight being a trip to Atiu to open the island’snew power supply. Atiu’s new power station will be officially opened on Thursday, to replace an old power station which experienced frequent outages. The automatic control power station with four new generators was built […]

Emotional signing for MIFA

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

A heartfelt speech by Mangaia Island Fishing Association (MIFA) president Tangimokopuna George illustrated the effects of a $153,921 grant given to the association by the Japanese Government. Known as the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), it is the second such donation from the Japanese government after it donated about $141,000 to the […]

Buchanan buoyed

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

Yesterday’s Merchant Navy commemorative service was a matter of good fortune for New Zealand World War Two veteran Buck Buchanan. The Matamata resident spent two years on the HMNZS Achilles during its four pushes through Japan in the final stages of the battle eventually won by the Allied forces. Having joined the New Zealand Navy […]

Wartime merchant navy honoured

Tuesday 4 September 2012 | Published in National

Merchant navy men were honoured for the first time in Rarotonga at their inaugural merchant navy service at the Cook Islands RSA yesterday. With September 3 being acknowledged worldwide as the day to honour the merchant navy, Bob Kimiangatau said it was time to welcome those who served in “a service that has long been […]

SPC study helps Mangaia prepare for cyclones

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Environment

A study of tropical cyclones and associated wave action is providing information that can be used to assess the resilience of Mangaia, the most southern of the Cook Islands, to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Jens Kruger of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) said that with coastal communities, private […]

Undersea cable 'urgent'

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Local

Talk of a new undersea cable in the region was rampant last week. Within the Forum communiqu released on Thursday, leaders acknowledged an “urgent need to implement submarine cable connectivity in the Pacific Islands region”. They asked that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and University of the South Pacific conduct “further urgent analysis of […]

Clean water for Raro: $65m

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Local

Rarotonga’s dirty drinking water is set to be a thing of the past, with a tri-lateral agreement promising potable water by 2015. The water partnership agreement – signed by the Cook Islands, China and New Zealand last week – aims to deliver clean drinking water to all buildings connected on Rarotonga’s existing water network. The […]

Dragons scrape home

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Features

A composed Ngatangiia-Matavera Dragons senior A team did just enough to outlast the fast finishing Tupapa Panthers in the main match at the weekend to win the game 22-18. With this week’s semi finals in mind it was imperative to build confidence and momentum as both teams suffered forced injuries to key personnel and Saturday’s […]

Second annual arts week

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Features

Last week was the second annual arts week at Tereora College. Arts week began as an initiative to promote visual and performing arts as well as to increase the profile of student creativity within the school. Throughout the week there have been student drama and dance performances, guest speakers and screening of documentaries and films […]

Media circus

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just a quick note on last week’s media circus. Bouquet to the local media for their professionalism, patience, and humility, and to our foreign colleagues, perhaps a lesson in the above. William Framhein Matariki FM

They stayed!

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In recent weeks, I have been reading and following news items on public individuals and the fair share of public letters criticising the ministers, HOMS and public employees. Most recently, the headlines surrounding the police commissioner and minister over tax matters. It is important to note that these individuals are NZ qualified and […]

Dog patrol

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I was disappointed to read recently about the incident at a local night club in Rarotonga. As a frequent visitor to the island I would think it was the duty of the police to assist visitors and locals alike in any situation that may arise. It would appear from the reports in your […]

Kata - September 3, 2012

Monday 3 September 2012 | Published in Kata