Articles by Utopia Support

Legends come to life at Avatea

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Features

After reading and learning about Cook Islands legends such as Katikatia, the creation of Nukuroa, Ati and the Momoke and the removal of Raemaru mountain to name a few – students retold the stories through dance and plays. It was an enjoyable and educational day for both students and parents. Thank you to Avatea School […]

Salute to Rangi

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am so impressed with Moana Moeka’a’s comprehensive coverage of his late father Rangitukua’s story. Intrigued by the man’s history especially when he was being educated on the remote island of Mauke then. Considering the difficulties that he had to put up with in trying to get to Rarotonga to travel to NZ […]

There are jobs

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read my friend MP Winton Pickering’s article on people leaving Pa Enua saying ”we got no jobs“. There are immediate jobs for at least 10 workers on Mangaia and 10 on Mauke to work in the maire exports. Earn earn up to $200 per day. You are your own boss. It is […]

What about the survey office?

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading with interest Minister Mark Brown’s sourcing funds to computerise the Ministry of Justice and Police in your paper the other day prompts me to write and offer my 2 cent contribution to your paper about the neglect and demise of a now very small (3 staff) but equally important government institution and […]

Telecom explains work behind outages

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recent comments about the adequacy of public notices when Telecom plans outages that affect our services have led us to re-think the way we do this. At the moment we have several important developments on the go and these require us to take parts of the network down for short periods to implement […]

Kata - June 16, 2012

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Coco Lounge returns by Vaka

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

The popular 88 Coco Lounge music video show makes a comeback this Sunday on Vaka TV – live! The island’s favourite coco cousin and 88FM DJ George ‘G-Dub’ Williams along with fellow DJ and musician Mii Taukia will for two hours present music videos, international and local, as well as share their wealth of musical […]

Te Kainga turns 8

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

It is Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre’s eighth birthday this month, and director Mereana Taikoko says that is why June is a ”lucky month“. Te Kainga, which exists solely on public donations, offers a range of programmes for mental health sufferers. Such initiatives include day respite programmes to give families and carers a […]

Edgewater launches new mini market

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

As part of the Edgewater Resort and Spa’s village concept and delivery of an authentic Cook Islands holiday – the Arorangi resort this week launched a new in-house mini market. Guests of the resort will be able to buy authentic Cook Islands souvenirs from the local stall keepers at the mini market every Wednesday from […]

SilverSands opens

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Muri Beach Club Hotel has launched its new restaurant concept. Last Friday, Muri Beach Club Hotel celebrated the successful unveiling of its new specialised Polynesian Cuisine restaurant, SilverSands. After sunset cocktails and canaps by the pool, SilverSands was formally opened by Pa Ariki in the presence of members of the Rarotongan business community, local media […]

Graduate home for work

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Armed with his Bachelor of Science from Auckland University – Muraai Herman (pictured below with his partner and their children) is now looking for job, and a job back home on Rarotonga would be perfect. Twenty-three-year-old Herman is the son of Mona and Atatoa Herman of Ngatangiia and a staunch Sea Eagles supporter and former […]

Four lawyers admitted to CI bar

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Four lawyers were recently admitted to the Cook Islands bar, meaning they can appear in court on behalf of their clients. Judge Colin Doherty admitted Fronzuance Tiseli, Antony Will, Rebecca Puni, and Tamatoa Jonassen to the bar in a swearing-in ceremony at the High Court on Thursday May 31. Lawyer Mark Short was also due […]

New Zealand steps in to help with fuel crisis

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

When New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter visited the northern group earlier this month, he realised the shortage of fuel on the islands had reached critical levels. Carter discussed the problem with island leaders on Pukapuka, Nassau and Penrhyn, and found that residents were rationing fuel in order to avert a crisis. Generators on Penrhyn […]

Navy helps avert fuel crisis

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

A fuel crisis has been averted in the northern group thanks to the quick thinking of the New Zealand High Commission, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the people of Penrhyn. The HMNZS Endeavour, the naval fleet tanker, supplied small amounts of fuel to Pukapuka and Nassau successfully early in the week. It was in […]

Ancient Aitutaki provides clues

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

A prominent New Zealand archaeologist is currently in the Cooks to explore how ancient communities adapted to changing climate and weather patterns, which in turn could help today’s society adapt. Dr Melinda Allen, associate professor in archaeology at the University of Auckland, has assembled a team of scientists to undertake a three-year research study on […]

Cabinet all here

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

All cabinet ministers – Mark Brown, Teina Bishop, Teariki Heather, Nandi Glassie, Tom Marsters and Prime Minister Henry Puna – will be in the Cook Islands next week. Cabinet had a busy time this week as Parliament was sitting every day. The main debate centred on the Budget, of which six papers were tabled. The […]

'Forced' to sign

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

One of the signatories on the petition circulating Mangaia to get Junior Areai elected as the next island secretary has said he was ”forced“ to sign. Deputy Mayor and councillor for Keia district Ngatamaine Ivaiti was concerned that CINews had reported him as signing the petition, as he had been told his name would be […]

Call for super fund 'repatriation'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked finance minister Mark Brown to explain in Parliament whether his government intends to repatriate $20 million in superannuation funds, as the former Democratic Party government intended. ”As I understand the plan was to bring back $20 million into our finance system here for the use of government in times like […]

'Don't ignore Fiji's boom times'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

A smoke signaller writes from Fiji ”where the economy is booming, the resorts are full, new island cruise ships are operating to capacity, the people are happy, cargo ships berth daily with transshipments from around the world, and airlines deposit tourists from Asia and Eastern countries. Supermarkets sell jam from Poland and Denmark and goods […]

Norman George 'not scared of little boys'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

Atiu MP Norman George called Taoro Brown’s mayoralty ”highly unsatisfactory“ in Parliament yesterday. During question-and-answer time he asked the prime minister to comment on the situation of the Atiu mayoralty. ”You’re now the minister of the outer islands. I want to ask you: are you aware of the problem in Atiu where the mayor resigned […]