Articles by Utopia Support

3 new HOMs in appointments

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Local

Three new chief executives have been appointed to lead government ministries and departments. All other incumbent heads of ministry (HOMs) are to be re-appointed. Cabinet has approved recommendations by a selection panel for the heads of ministry positions. Prime Minister and Minister of the Public Service Henry Puna and his Cabinet over the weekend considered […]

Leave winning formula

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is some talk that the Punanga Nui Market will go back to the Ministry of Agriculture. If this is true then I am disgusted in this government. As a market vendor I have never seen the market improve until the BTIB took over its management. For many years the market has gone […]

Stop the road toll 'nightmare'

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is indeed a very sad moment for the loss of another young life on our road. Yes, our road has yet again claimed another young life and this time a young sailor from the visiting NZ navy boat. I am a mother of children around the same age as the young sailor […]

Obey the rules or 'see you later'

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent granting of more Chinese fishing licenses with the prospect of even more being issued soon, coupled with increasing public concern over the sustainability of stocks and shark finning activities, raise the need for MMR and the minister to respond to at least two of the major issues at issue regarding licensing. […]

Kata - June 26, 2012

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Kata

National netballers aim to topple Fiji

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in Netball

The Cook Islands national netball side is focusing on acclimatising to the Fiji weather ahead of the Pacific Netball Series, which starts today at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. The team arrived yesterday brimming with high hopes to deny the Fijians from retaining the regional title at home for the third consecutive year. Coach Margaret […]

Eseta collects national Sunburst title

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Shifting and varying breezes from zero to 11 knots made for testing conditions for race officials and sailors who took part in Saturday’s National Sunburst Championships held by Rarotonga Sailing Club on Muri Lagoon. A total of 11 Sunbursts took to the water with seven official and four unofficial entrants. A Sunburst Championship is carried […]

New seawall confirmed for reclamation

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

The Punanga Nui Market extension is gaining traction. Plans for the northern extension behind the markets in Avatiu through the creation of a new seawall have been confirmed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) are preparing the documents for the tender application process, which will begin at […]

Job offer stopped lawyer in Cooks

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Fronzuance Tiseli was just about to fly home to Auckland when she was offered a job. The young lawyer had been working for a month at a general practice legal firm in Avarua before deciding it wasn’t for her. ”It was a Thursday morning and I was flying out that afternoon. So I was sitting […]

Pacific Resort shortlisted

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

A prominent Cook Islands hotel group has been nominated for the best hotel resort group award at the 2012 New Zealand travel industry awards. The Pacific Resort Hotel Group has been picked for the award, along with top international hotel groups Four Seasons Hotels, Accor, Starwood Hotels and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. A number of […]

Careless driver gets jail sentence

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

A man has been sentenced to ten months in prison for careless driving causing death. Christopher Castillo was sentenced by Judge Hugh Williams in the High Court on Friday for careless driving causing the death of cyclist Pauline Atera. Castillo pleaded guilty to the charge, which happened after he fell asleep at the wheel and […]

'Handout' idea dismissed as 'simplistic'

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Atiu MP Norman George has suggested government pay workers between $20 and $30 per week as a means to arrest depopulation, but finance minister Mark Brown has dismissed his proposal as ”simplistic“. George accused Brown’s Budget 2012 of failing to implement initiatives aimed at convincing Cook Islanders to remain in the Cook Islands. He said […]

100 day promise questioned

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Atiu MP Norman George is holding the government to its promise to convene Parliament for 100 days this year. During this current session, Parliament has met for 15 days. ”Is it the intention of your government to meet the promise it made to the people of this country to sit for 100 days a year […]

Keep fighting, Papa Pai

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Sir Terepai Maoate has been sent to New Zealand to receive medical treatment for a worsening illness. He announced last year that he has prostate cancer, and launched a campaign to raise awareness about the prevalent but preventable disease. Yesterday Parliamentarians made special mention of Sir Terepai, whose condition is deteriorating, and his family. Opposition […]

FIU and FSC merger consummated

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Parliament has legislated the merging of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), which has already occurred physically but will be legally effective from July 1. Yesterday the house passed the Financial Legislation Amendment Bill, which cements a Cabinet decision made last year to merge both entities in the interest of improving […]

Foundations bill enables a new service

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Parliament has passed the Foundations Bill without amendment. In introducing the bill, finance minister Mark Brown said it is the first of many that government intends to introduce over the next year to increase the profile of the financial services industry internationally. The industry is the second-largest contributor, behind tourism, to the Cook Islands’ economy. […]

Otago's crew farewell 'Delz'

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Crew of the HMNZS Otago gathered at Rarotonga Airport yesterday morning to pay their last respects to the crew member killed in a motorcycle accident last week. Able Seaman Combat Specialist William Paratini Delamere was farewelled with a guard of honour and a moving haka before his fellow shipmates carried his coffin into a waiting […]

7 babies due for bonus

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

Cabinet minister Teariki Heather said in Parliament yesterday that last week, seven babies were born at Rarotonga Hospital. This is a higher than usual number of babies born within a single week. One of the births, he noted, was a pair of twins. Heather joked that perhaps the government’s extension of a ‘baby bonus’ – […]

Puna congratulates Napa

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

The finalised result of the Titikaveka by-election will be released today. Still, yesterday in Parliament Prime Minister Henry Puna congratulated Democratic Party candidate Selina Napa ”for winning the by-election“. He extended congratulations ”to Selina Napa for winning the by-election last Thursday, and congratulations to Teariki Matenga for putting out a good show“, and commended the […]

Man jailed for tourist attack

Tuesday 26 June 2012 | Published in National

A man who is already in prison on burglary charges was convicted of indecent assault in the High Court on Friday. Judge Hugh Williams sentenced Japhet Manuel to 12 months in prison, to be served concurrently with his six month term for burglary, and to 12 months probation after that. Manuel entered his victim’s resort […]