Articles by Utopia Support

Road toll a hot topic

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is pleasing to see contributors are writing letters regarding our road toll. While it is unfortunate that it has taken several deaths to arrive at this point, at least it is now a hot topic, as it should be. There are many different views as one would expect on the subject regarding […]

Some thoughts on doing it tough

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Any successful enterprise should welcome feedback and doubtless both the people and Government of the Cook Islands view the development of tourism, whilst retaining cultural values and traditions, as an enterprise. I have been on Rarotonga for five days now (although this is not my first visit) and the goodwill of the people […]

Kata - July 7, 2012

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Shaping up!

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Four weeks into the new Top Shape Health and Fitness Gym’s ‘shape for life’ challenge – those on the programme are feeling healthier and more energetic. The challenge designed for Cook Islanders and designed to fit around each individual, has attracted over 100 people to the programme to change their lives and lifestyle for the […]

Kids called to make kites

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Aitutaki school kids had their chance – now it’s Rarotonga’s turn to craft flying masterpieces out of old scraps. Local kitesurfers are running a recyclable kite competition for five- to nine-year-old students of Rarotonga schools. They ran the same competition in Aitutaki last week, to coincide with Manureva, the Cook Islands’ second annual kitesurfing competition. […]

Reporter pushes his comfort zone

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

After two weeks in Rarotonga, the newest member of the Cook Islands News team is satisfied he made the right decision to accept a job as a reporter in a country he knew little about. Matiu Workman joins the team from the Auckland office of sports news website Sportal New Zealand, where he worked for […]

Ui Ariki changing roles

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Before the arrival of Christianity to the islands – the ariki ruled his vaka tangata as his people wished. The traditional ‘mana’ of the ariki as leader of his tribe is much alive today as it was during pre-Christianity times, however what has changed is the level of respect given to them by the various […]

PM off to Aitutaki

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

All cabinet ministers will be in the Cook Islands next week. Prime Minister Henry Puna will fly to Aitutaki on Friday, where he has meetings with the Island Council to discuss arrangements for the Pacific Islands Forum in August, part of which will be hosted on Aitutaki. He returns to Rarotonga the next day. Deputy […]

Stand up, be strong

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen is warning all new heads of ministries to stand up for themselves and to resist being ”bullied“ by the government. ”The opposition wishes the best to all the HOMs (heads of ministries) reappointed or appointed and we’re asking the HOMs to stand up to bullying and attempts by the government and […]

No suspects in home invasion

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Police are no further along in their investigation into a burglary of a Titikaveka house 12 days ago. On the night of June 25 a man entered through a balcony door into Tikioki resident Hoana Matapo’s bedroom while she was in bed with her three young children. As there was a bedside lamp on in […]

Tree care and trimming an arbour of love

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

People wanting to know more about the proper trimming of trees are being advised to visit the utu tree-dominated Makea Nui Ariki marae in Avarua. Nooroa Baker, of Baker Tree Services, gained his seven-year qualification and worked for 17 years in New Zealand before returning home. Baker is concerned at how people are trimming trees […]

Media man says reports 'ridiculous'

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Johnson Honimae – who is this week the subject of extensive regional media attention, having been accused of making offensive remarks as emcee for the Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara – is in Rarotonga to meet with the Pacific Islands Forum organising committee in his capacity as media officer for the Forum Secretariat. Accompanied […]

New company invites local investment

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Tai Moana Ltd has secured an international shipping licence for the next two years. After much deliberation, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of shipping Tom Marsters has made the decision to award the licence to the newly-incorporated local company. Offers have been made by Pacific Forum Line, Pacific Direct Line and Shipping Cook Islands Ltd, […]

Helmets won't affect tourism

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in National

Tourist numbers would not be affected if helmets were made compulsory, according to the Cook Islands tourism corporation. But the corporation says it can ”see the dilemma“ in weighing up the helmet debate. ”Visitors come here looking for unique experiences and the freedom of not wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike is one of […]

Ariki day food 'a burden' to the people

Saturday 7 July 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Ariki Day is turning out to be a burden on the people,“ a smoke signaller wrote us on the eve of the country’s first Ra o te Ui Ariki national holiday yesterday, which replaces the individual island gospel days. ”Leave Puaikura to do the hosting this year, then when it’s the next vaka’s turn, Puaikura […]

Nappies reusable

Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Environment

New mothers are in for a boost after the CITC pharmacy donated 100 reusable nappies, brochures and cloth wipes to voluntary group Hospital Comforts. The voluntary organisation visits hospitals and creates baby packs for new mothers. The donation will ensure one cloth nappy, brochure and wipe in each new pack. Reusable nappies are made of […]

Economic ministers agree on sustainable development

Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Environment

The 16th Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) concluded yesterday in Tarawa, Kiribati. At the conclusion of the meeting, the economic ministers present – including the Cook Islands’ own Mark Brown – released the Forum Economic Action Plan 2012. The 16th FEMM focused on key economic issues of importance to the region including the implementation of […]

By-election protest

Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Party candidate Teariki Matenga has filed a petition protesting the win of his sister and political rival Selina Napa. Napa was named member of parliament for Titikaveka after a by-election, which landed her with 297 votes to Matenga’s 283. Independent candidate Teava Iro polled 104 votes. At 4pm on Tuesday, Matenga filed a […]

Prison for girl aged seventeen

Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Local

A teenage girl has been sent to prison for committing five burglaries. Seventeen-year-old Witamahame Metuakore was sentenced by three justices of the peace – John Kenning, John Whitta and Georgina Keenan-Williams – in the High Court yesterday. Two of the burglaries committed were on the same house in Arorangi on June 27 and 29, which […]

Demos call for commerce commission

Thursday 5 July 2012 | Published in Local

The opposition believes the best way to regulate the price of imports is not to hand out another shipping licence but to re-instate the dormant commerce commission. Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says his party wants to be proactive about making the Cook Islands an easier place to do business, ”rather than sitting and tapping our […]