Articles by Utopia Support

Increased risk of cyclones this summer

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Local

El Nino weather predictions mean there is an increased risk of stronger tropical cyclones this coming summer. The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has taken note of the Island Climate Update, issued this week by the Pacific Island Meteorological Services, SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme) and NIWA. The bulletin warns Pacific meteorological offices […]

Spouses join Cook Islands family

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Local

Foreign affairs minister Tom Marsters with Rebecca Brown and Lisa Williams – and their families – after yesterday’s permanent residency ceremony. Nine spouses and five medical professionals were awarded PR at the ceremony. and 9. 12071036 Related article(s):

Kata - July 11, 2012

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Kata

'Damaged' marlin not counted

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

After the success of the inaugural Ariki Day Fishing Competition held by the Avana Fishing Club – it has been decided the event will become an annual fixture on the fishing calendar. A total of 16 boats competed in the competition sponsored by Whatever Bar and Grill and the Avana Mooring Fish Caf. The results […]

Strong Pacific links continued

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

The Auckland Council Trade Mission is making progress to enhance relationships between the Cook Islands and the ‘super city’. Headed by Auckland mayor Len Brown, the delegation is in the Cook Islands after earlier trade missions to Samoa and Tonga in an effort to strengthen ties between countries and to ensure opportunities for businesses to […]

Mayor explains value of mission

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has responded to home-grown criticism by laying out the importance of the Auckland Council Trade Mission to local businesses on Tuesday. Feedback on New Zealand talkback station Newstalk ZB was targeted towards the need for Brown to take a delegation to Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. But the mayor responded […]

Fishing for answers

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Marine Resources and the Cook Islands Fishing Association have recently released a report, prepared by consultant Vaine Wichman, that delves into the reasons fishers are experiencing a decline in catch rates. Rachel Reeves has developed a story using excerpts from Wichman’s report, which was completed in March. Entitled ‘Fishing for Answers’, Vaine […]

Each FAD is like Lotto

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

This opinion piece is a joint effort by Dr Jeremy Cooper and Dr George Ngaei, of Invercargill, a well-known amateur fisherman. Dr Cooper is a frequent visitor to Rarotonga, now mainly to fish. He has many friends in the local community and is well respected. He is a specialist anaesthetist in public and private practice, […]

'Over the moon' with Permanent Residency

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

Nine people joined the Cook Islands family yesterday. At a ceremony at Government House, nine spouses of Cook Islanders were granted permanent residency under an amendment to the Entry, Residence and Departure Act. All received their permanent residency status together with a larger group earlier this year but for whatever reason were unable to be […]

Mayor feels at home

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

Walking the streets of Rarotonga gives Auckland Mayor Len Brown a sense of being at home. Brown is in the country to discuss trade relations and told Cook Islands News he felt very much like he had not left New Zealand. ”Raised as a kid and educated in a primarily Pacific town in Otara, South […]

New lawyer for Eagle case trial

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

A New Zealand lawyer was admitted to the Cook Islands bar yesterday in order to prosecute the Operation Eagle accused. Judge Colin Doherty admitted Sarah McKenzie (pictured) to the bar in a swearing-in ceremony at the High Court after she took an oath of allegiance to the Queen, a requisition under the Law Practitioner’s Amendment […]

Drugs imported in shampoo bottle

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

The biggest drugs trial in Cook Islands history started on Monday in the High Court with the choosing of the jury, who heard initial case evidence. In the initial summing up of evidence to the jury, crown prosecutor Sarah McKenzie said the accused Giovanni Marsters, Inano Matapo and Samuel Tangaroa face 31 charges between them. […]

'Cultural rights are human rights'

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

Delegates at the first cultural rights symposium for the Pacific were told that their cultural rights are enshrined in a number of international human rights conventions. Despite this, these rights continue to go unrecognised. Speaking at the opening of the three-day symposium, which is being held at the same time as the 11th Festival of […]

Officials looking after themselves

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in National

”On the same day in the CI News that the Ministry of Culture, on behalf of Government, claim that they had NO Funds to send a delegation to the Festival of Arts in Honiara, the Government has no hesitation in agreeing to spend $330,000 on upgrading the VIP lounge at the airport,“ a smoke signaller […]

International calling down

Wednesday 11 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Telecom had an intermittent problem with its calling system on Sunday, meaning some Cook Islands customers could not make international calls. The problem was not due to any maintenance carried out by Telecom, although it occurred after a scheduled upgrade on their system on Sunday morning. ”The problem was intermittent, which means that calls would […]

Marumaru Atua vaka crew crushed

Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands crew aboard vaka Marumaru Atua feels let down by government’s failure to send a Cook Islands delegation to Honiara’s Festival of Pacific Arts. In his regular blog update, voyager Alex Olah described on behalf of his crew the pain and sadness he felt when no one Cook Islands team turned up to […]

CI flavour to Kiwi exhibition

Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Features

Three artists who have Cook Islands heritage are a part of an Auckland Art Gallery exhibition showcasing the importance of Pacific art to New Zealand’s culture. Home AKL is a new exhibition made up of over 20 artists who have links to the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu and Samoa. The artwork on […]

Disaster for the market

Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the letter in your newspaper that a certain person, an award recipient is/has been appointed to the new board of Punanga Nui Market. What are ”the powers that be“ thinking? This person is involved with CISNOC and if the reading of that fiasco is anything to go by, this […]

'Let down big time by our leaders'

Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have never met such a stupid government. They even ignored sending a delegation to the Festival of Pacific Arts. Who would ever do that to the people they represent and if it wasn’t for us they wouldn’t even be where they are now running the country. I mean, running, yeah right. I […]

Helmets compulsory at night?

Tuesday 10 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see the recent late night accidents and subsequent deaths has brought the ‘helmet or not’ argument back to the pages of the Cook Islands News. When I lived on the island in 2002-2004 (and following a tragic motorbike death) this debate was strong then and no doubt the debate has continued since […]