Articles by Utopia Support

It doesn't make sense

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, The Cook Islands has an 800 percent harsher maximum sentence for possession of cannabis than New Zealand? That seems excessive. Two years for possessing cannabis? Twenty years for cultivating cannabis? Does the punishment fit the crime? I agree with the writer of Monday’s letter to the editor. This person calls attention to the […]

The best lit hotel on the island

Friday 27 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller asks: ”Can someone please explain why the new Ministry of Education (The Fire Station) is always the best lit hotel on the island every night? Unless you can give a good reason it seems to me as the most stupid and wasteful way to spend money that is supposed to go to […]

Australian tourist numbers up

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Local

Australians are visiting the Cooks in increasing numbers with a 10 percent increase in numbers in May this year compared to last. The statistics office recorded 1173 Australians flying into Rarotonga in May compared to 1069 recorded last year. Cook Islanders living in Australia visited home in greater numbers, with 128 flying back compared to […]

Ika mata on Tem's menu

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Local

He has starred in international blockbusters and has had two stints in New Zealand’s longest-running drama, but Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison looks set to be an ika mata connoisseur by the end of his travels. Three years after coming to Rarotonga for the first time for a wedding, Morrison – of Te Arawa descent – […]

In short supply

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Local

People looking for wheelchairs in an emergency could be out of luck because of a lack of them at Rarotonga Hospital. While the hospital still has a few wheelchairs for use, a lack of emergency-allocated chairs means that the hospital would be unable to cope if there was a sudden demand for them. Director of […]

The issue of copyright

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Though seemingly creative, the new Telecom NZ ”Kung Fu“ prepaid adverts might be infringing international copyright. Of course I could be wrong, and Telecom may have paid ‘Golden Harvest Company Pictures’, or the estate of Bruce Lee, for the use of his image and their movie. With the profits they make off the […]

CEO clarifies comments

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just wish to clarify a point mis-reported in your article on page 7 headed ”Meeting highlights mismanagement“ by Matiu Workman. You have me quoted as saying ”That’s absolute nonsense… etc“ under the paragraph describing Graham’s suggestion of the government’s stance not being affected whether Mark Brown was elected or not. I actually […]

We will remember this incompetence

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How much longer do we have to suffer this incompetence and apparent dishonesty from CISNOC? It is a pathetic joke. Meeting after meeting deferred with the reason cited changing from day to day, as recounted by Hugh Graham in your report yesterday. The board is now openly acting in defiance of the majority […]

Invest super money locally

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest in the Cook Islands News (Saturday July 21) that our invested national superannuation funds for 2011 gave us a net return of 2.6% after ”fees and other expenses“ were deducted. The interest rate charged by our local banks for development projects is around 10% (or in most cases higher) […]

Kata - July 26, 2012

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Netball Cook Islands' new birth

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in Netball

If Luciana Matenga had her way, she would readily trade in her individual award for a better team showing at the recent Pacific Netball Series. The defensive specialist took out Netball Cook Islands’ Player of the Year award at the inaugural Netball Cook Islands (NCI) prizegiving on Tuesday but admitted it was a ‘hollow’ feeling. […]

Awards cap big week for NCI

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

It has been a week of firsts for Netball Cook Islands. First of all there was the inaugural National Age Group Championships held at the Telecom Sports Arena (TSA) on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The competition doubled as a selection tournament for another first – an international invitational tournament later this year that […]

Markets galore for Te Maeva Nui

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

A week-long market in honour of Te Maeva Nui will be held at the Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD) grounds next week. The Trade Day markets will run from 10am until 2pm Monday to Friday next week at the National Auditorium at Tupapa. The markets are held each year and are traditionally focused on produce […]

Fire behind cinema yesterday

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

Two fire engines were called to a fire behind the Empire Cinema yesterday morning. The fire service was called to the blaze at 8.15am, which was caused by burning rubbish. It took half an hour to put out. The man who lit the fire called the fire brigade when he realised the blaze was getting […]

Kwai leaves for northern group

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands-registered cargo trading vessel Kwai is leaving Avatiu Harbour today to start its Pukapuka trading route journey. The ship will take about nine days to reach Pukapuka, stopping to drop off supplies in Palmerston and Nassau on the way. Kwai has been loaded with fuel, propane gas, one vehicle, freezers, building materials and food […]

Te Maeva Nui sponsors needed

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

The Business Trade and Investments Board (BTIB) is calling for urgent sponsorship for Te Maeva Nui, which starts today. The annual national cultural event runs until August 6, and the Business, Trade and Investments Board (BTIB) said there is still time for businesses to jump on the sponsorship bandwagon. All money collected from sponsors is […]

Concentrate on local crime

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

A disgruntled hotelier believes the government should be getting experts in to investigate local crime, not cybercrime. The man, who runs local accommodation but declined to be named, believes it is ”ridiculous“ that two international cybercrime experts came to advise the government last week. ”Cybercrime is hardly relevant here, but there is an obvious need […]

Kids need internet guidance

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

A visiting cybercrime expert says children must be educated to become responsible internet users. Professor Dr Marco Gercke, a legal expert from the United Nations International Telecommunications Union, says parents often leave children to their own devices on the internet, believing the kids know more than them. ”But just as you wouldn’t give your young […]

Gospel Day correction

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

Rarotonga Gospel Day – not National Gospel Day – was celebrated yesterday. The latter is celebrated on October 26. While there used to be a public holiday to celebrate Rarotonga Gospel Day, this has been cancelled by an Act of Parliament to make way for Ariki Day instead. Yesterday the island’s Christian churches held commemorative […]

Telecom can track down stolen laptops

Thursday 26 July 2012 | Published in National

Telecom is willing to track down stolen laptops if police provide the software needed. Cybercrime expert Professor Marco Gercke was in Rarotonga last week to advise the government on the best way to implement cybercrime legislation. He also met with Telecom’s chief technology officer Rob McFadzien to discuss the possibility of using telecommunications technology to […]