Articles by Utopia Support

Auckland mayor leads delegation to Cooks

Tuesday 3 July 2012 | Published in National

Auckland mayor Len Brown and a group of Auckland businesspeople arrive in Rarotonga next Monday. Delegates will include business executives from the fields of education, infrastructure and food and beverage – sectors which make up 23 percent of the Auckland economy and are listed as priorities in Auckland Council’s Economic Development Strategy. Brown and his […]

Kite champ

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Local

Manureva Cook Islands 2012 winner Olly Brunton with his prizes and trophy after taking out the one-day kitesurfing competition on Maina Iti island in Aitutaki last Wednesday. The prizegiving of the second annual Manureva competition was held on Friday night in front of a large crowd of Aitutaki islanders who made it out to Arutanga […]

Howard humbled

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Local

New secretary of the Ministry of Transport Ned Howard won’t be changing his golfing habits as a result of his new job. Howard was formally announced as the new secretary at a civil function at Prime Minister Henry Puna’s office last Wednesday and was humbled by the appointment. Formerly the director for marine for 13 […]

Schools adopt Forum countries

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Local

Pacific leaders attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Rarotonga later this year can expect a big, warm welcome of Cook Islands proportions from Cook Islands children. On Friday, the Forum organising committee launched its ‘Adopt-A-Country’ initiative, which pairs each school on Rarotonga with a country being represented at the August Forum. A delegate from each […]

Great news for women

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the newly appointed women HOMS who together with their counterparts now make up the six women in leadership of government departments. Women all over the Cook Islands can be proud of these women who are the top of their game and who have proved their capabilities to make it into these […]

Pig plowing amuses June Hosking

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I couldn’t make it through my newspaper catch-up Saturday morning due to the tears of laughter fogging up my eyes when reading page 7 of Friday’s CINews. I was present for this interview and realise that it’s not easy for one to write about a subject that is totally new to you, especially […]

Blood on the hands of our leaders

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If one life lost is one life too many, then the (at least seven) lives lost on Rarotonga roads in the last year or the over 40 deaths in the last 10 years is a national disgrace! Where are our leaders (MPs, church leaders, community leaders and parents) in all this? The majority […]

Netball effort embarrassing, disappointing

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This year’s Pacific Netball Competition was so embarrassing and very disappointing. I am sure that 80% of the people involved in our inter-village netball season would agree that we have seen better netball being played here on our little island with our talented local players than the ridiculous mix-up they had representing us […]

Kata - July 2, 2012

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in Kata

Growers learn in NZ

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

A group of 20 farmers from the Titikaveka Growers Association recently returned from the New Zealand Agriculture Field Days held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton, on June 13-16. While at the Field Days, the group – led by Titikaveka Growers Association (TGA) chairman Teava Iro and vice president Tereapii Matapo – purchased machinery such as tractors, […]

Burglary, theft, assault dealt with

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

Justice of the peace Carmen Temata presided over the High Court on June 28, and passed the following judgments: Japhet Manuel – appeared on four charges in relation to entering with intent and indecent assault on a female. He appeared before Justice of the Peace John Kenning last Thursday, but his legal aid application has […]

Mangaia forms emergency taskforce

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

Mangaia residents have launched an official emergency taskforce to help deal with emergency situations as they arise. The taskforce is named Te Puna Kira Kira by Mangaian historian Inangaro Papatua, as in times gone by there were always selected members of the community whose role was to monitor events to protect the island. Mangaia experienced […]

Spruce up for Te Kukupa

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands patrol boat Te Kukupa (above) is due to go for its biennial check-up in two weeks. The boat, which is 24 years old, will go to either Samoa or Pago Pago in American Samoa depending on who wins the tender for the work. The repair work, officially known as a ”slip-in“, will take […]

BCI donates winnings

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

Winners of the recent SLM recycled sculptures competition, Bank of the Cook Islands, donated their prize winnings to Rarotongan schools last week. Takitumu School was one of three schools, alongside Arorangi and Rutaki, who received $100 each. Takitumu School entertained Mene Rennie and Kendall Browne from BCI, with a number of songs, and Browne encouraged […]

Demanding work for new HOM

Monday 2 July 2012 | Published in National

Having lived and breathed the language of the National Sustainable Development Plan for the last five years, Liz Wright-Koteka feels amply prepared to take over as the prime minister’s chief of staff from today. Wright-Koteka was last week appointed head of the prime minister’s office, after years of moving up within the ranks – from […]

Fish feeding can harm fish

Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Environment

This article was prepared as a Lagoon Day message by marine biologist Katherine Ross in response to a request for researched information on the effects of fish feeding on our marine environment. For a full copy of this report, including references, contact June Hosking at ajhos@oyster.net.ck or download from www.thedivecentre-rarotonga.com For a number of years, […]

Mauke agriculture officers in China

Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Environment

Mauke agriculture officers and growers are having an eye opening experience at a training course for tropical fruits, vegetable and processing technology in China. Mauke agriculture officers Tereapii Vaine Keu and Archie Taripo along with local farmer Hugh Graham were nominated by the Ministry of Agriculture to attend the course – all paid for by […]

Burglary dominates youth court

Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Local

Ten juveniles were in court on a number of serious charges yesterday. Justice of the peace John Kenning presided over the Youth Court, which the media and public cannot attend. Six of the young people faced burglary charges and one was charged with assaulting a female. There was one case of dangerous driving. Other charges […]

Helmets or not?

Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Local

Three fatal road accidents in the last two weeks have again raised concerns about drink driving and the laws allowing motorcyclists to not wear helmets. The three young men who lost their lives were all riding scooters, and all had been drinking and speeding. The question people are asking is: would wearing a helmet have […]

Hamiltonians here with guitar and jazz bands

Saturday 30 June 2012 | Published in Features

Hamilton Boys High School musicians wowed Tereora College students and staff yesterday when they took to the Princess Anne Hall to perform for the local school. The visiting New Zealand school group is on a musical tour of the islands and on their very first morning on Rarotonga – they made two special performances at […]