Articles by Utopia Support

Disease-resistant taro being bred

Thursday 19 July 2012 | Published in National

Taro plants have been engineered by cross-breeding to be high-yield and resistant to disease. After taro leaf blight destroyed Samoa’s taro crop in 1993, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) set up CePaCT, a special research centre for Pacific crops and trees. They were tasked to develop a solution to taro disease. Alongside the […]

Australians taste Cook Islands cuisine

Thursday 19 July 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands features on primetime Australian television tonight. Chef, restaurateur and television host Peter Kuruvita will continue sharing with Australians the culinary curiosities of Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu tonight, on the tenth episode of series ‘Island Feast’. The series comprises 10 episodes and features Peter’s culinary journey through the Philippines, Indonesia, Vanuatu and the […]

Protect your computer against hackers

Thursday 19 July 2012 | Published in National

At a recent cybercrime meeting, a visiting expert gave his tips on how the everyday internet user can protect their details from the rising threat of cybercrime. Professor Marco Gercke, from the UN’s International Telecommunications Union, gave around 20 people who attended the meeting at New Hope Church on Tuesday advice on keeping personal information […]

Matariki FM defends 'unprofessional' presenter

Thursday 19 July 2012 | Published in National

A Cook Islands radio station is defending the actions of a health presenter who allegedly trivialised prostate cancer on air. Health presenter Rangi Aitu was joined on Cook Islands Radio’s health awareness programme by radio announcer Paara Pitomaki and George George, who joined the conversation by telephone. A typed letter from an anonymous source sent […]

Public meeting on prostate education

Thursday 19 July 2012 | Published in National

A public meeting is being held at the Sinai Hall tonight to discuss prostate cancer and other issues relating to prostate issues. After listening to the sessions on prostate at the recently-completed annual health conference, the Cook Islands Prostate Foundation is ensuring the message will be heard through the community. Doctor Joe Williams will be […]

80 tonnes of waste per week

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Environment

School children from around Rarotonga learned of a statistic that was as concerning as the stench surrounding them when they visited the Waste Management Centre at Arorangi yesterday. Official data collected from the Waste Management Centre found Cook Islanders produce 80 tonnes of waste each week. ”That’s quite a bit for us,“ centre director Tai […]

Names suppressed in Operation Eagle pre-trial

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Local

A pre-trial for the remaining Operation Eagle defendants was heard in the High Court yesterday morning, with name suppression granted to two witnesses. The five defendants were netted during the country’s biggest drug bust and face charges relating to the cultivation, possession and sale of cannabis. Defence lawyer Norman George appeared on behalf of Riki […]

Direct link to Hawaii is possible

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Local

Hawaiian Airlines’ renewed expansion into the Pacific is an ‘interesting’ development, according to the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. The airline has announced it will fly three times a week from Auckland to Honolulu from March next year. Tourism’s director of sales and marketing Karla Eggelton says the corporation holds regular dialogue with airline operators to […]

New Punanga Nui committee announced

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Local

Associate Minister of Agriculture Kiriau Turepu is hoping for more community involvement after confirming the committee that will oversee the Punanga Nui Market. As announced in last week’s Cook Islands News, CISNOC secretary general Rosie Blake has been given the role of chairperson, while Sam Crocombe, Tony Armstrong, Teariki Bucklet, Maara Peraua, Mii Quarter and […]

It's another Rippa!

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Local

More than 600 boys and girls from Rarotonga primary schools will be hitting the field today for the annual CINews Rippa Rugby tournament at Raemaru Park. Story, back page. 12071735

Cost control?

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I never heard of such a thing until I had a chat with my mate in Manihiki, who stated the ship Kwai came in on July 15 from Hawaii and that’s where that 2kg chicken for $40 came from. Bloody hell, this is a daylight robbery or an attack from the pirates in […]

Two issues

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I have two issues to address 1. The process of recruitment, selection and appointment concerning the Punanga Nui management. What was the process used for the recruitment, selection and appointment of the new chairperson and of the new committee that is involved in the management of the Punanga Nui? The process does not […]

Kata - July 18, 2012

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Kata

'Friends of netball' rally round

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Netball

Netball is set to boom right across the country thanks to the ‘friends of netball’ who’ve manufactured 40 standard and seven junior netball goal posts. Avatiu Harbour contractors McConnell Dowell partnered up with a number of businesses and co-ordinated the manufacturing of the netball equipment for pre-schools, schools and community sports groups across the Cook […]

Kids learn importance of reefs

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in National

Tanks displaying what lies beneath the waters of Rarotonga captivated the minds of children on the second day of the annual conservation event, Lagoon Day. Those young and young at heart made their way to the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) site on the beach next to Edgewater Resort to discover the effects of various […]

Future options presented to students

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in National

Making a decision on where to study in New Zealand just got a bit harder for students from the outer islands. Students from Mauke, Mitiaro and Mangaia were introduced to university representatives from Unitec, the University of Waikato and AUT University at an open evening on Sunday night. Unitec representative Sam Palisi said personal experience […]

Paddy Walker makes her mark

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in National

At the recent ‘Making Their Mark Awards’ morning held at St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland, Paddy Walker was named as the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Old Girls’ Honours Award. Although Paddy was not able to attend (she was apparently swimming in the lagoon at the very time of the award), she was represented by her […]

Money doesn't make culture survive

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in National

Dear Editor, I wanted to comment about the views expressed regarding the absence of a Cook Islands delegation at the Pacific Festival of Arts in Solomon Islands. I do agree that artists and crafts people should attend the festival and the country would have been better represented. But the real question is who should pay […]

A level playing field wanted

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in National

”Government regulations and competition go hand in hand,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”To improve competition in the marketplace the government must be in a position to provide the right conditions so that all players such as wholesalers, retailers and consumers are given a fair and open playing field in order to carry out their business. […]

Soccer season kicking off

Wednesday 18 July 2012 | Published in Football

The 2012 Rarotonga football season is scheduled to kick off next month. Cook Islands Football Association’s executive and club delegates agreed at a meeting last week that the 2012 season will feature seven clubs competing in the tournament from August through to mid-December. An exciting feature of this season is the winner of the Lotto […]