Articles by Utopia Support

Budget debate 'guillotined'

Saturday 16 June 2012 | Published in National

One hour into yesterday’s Parliamentary sitting, Norman George made a noisy exit, protesting what he called ”a dark day“ in the history of the Cook Islands Parliament. ”I depart from the chambers in protest,“ he said at about 11am. ”People of the Cook Islands, I’m leaving chambers in protest of this horrific move of the […]

First Communion for 16

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Church Talk

Last Sunday, June 10, Catholics worldwide celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Sixteen St Joseph’s School grade four students and a number of other Catholic children from schools across Rarotonga received the body and blood of Christ for the first time – in the form of the Holy Communion. Parents, families, […]

Safeguarding creation, and our future

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Church Talk

The correct use of the earth’s resources implies safe guarding creation and solidarity with the future generations. An Indian proverb teaches that ”we should never think that we inherited the land from our forefathers, but we have borrowed it from our children“. Daily, on our news we hear of the 240 billion euro bailout Greece […]

Cooks on brink of harnessing

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Local

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters has praised his government for allocating funding in this Budget toward the Cook Islands’ deep sea mining programme. ”It is the first time we’ve had allocation in the Budget for this programme,“ he said. He thanked the former Democratic Party government, in particular Sir Terepai Maoate and his son Junior, […]

Undersea cable on drawing board

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Local

The possibility of installing an undersea fibre-optic cable to enhance telecommunications services is ”on government’s agenda“, says finance minister Mark Brown. He told a group of about 80 businesspeople at a ‘Budget breakfast’ last Friday that government was considering improving broadband speed by installing an undersea cable. A baseline survey to determine how improved broadband […]

Teatuanui's first communion

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Local

Absolute crap

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to reply to Meg Perkins of the University of Queensland, published on June 14. I have 12 siblings, five older and seven younger. We have had a great upbringing, you couldn’t ask for a better mum and dad. Both have well-respected jobs, were always there when we needed them, made […]

Are we promoting shark fishing?

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last letter I reported that MMR refused to allow me to have a copy of the licences they have issued for exploratory fishing licences. My main objection to the issuing of the exploratory long line licences has always been the increase in the number of licences when I believe the resource is already […]

Kata - June 15, 2012

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Air Rarotonga puts $11,520 into netball

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in Netball

Netball Cook Islands efforts in developing the sport in the outer islands and supporting youth initiatives have been given a boost by Air Rarotonga who this week donated $11,520 to the netball body. The local airline company has supported netball for a number of years and in previous years it has helped dress the national […]

Barrel riding

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Visiting Australian body boarders have been having a barrel of a time riding waves while avoiding the reef. Among the group of friends visiting the island is keen photographer Brodie Gillan. This week the young Aussie visited our newsroom and shared some of his magic images from fun filled days on the water around Rarotonga. […]

Sharing of fishery information extended

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Integrated Fisheries Information Management Systems (iFIMS) were the focus of discussions at this week’s second iFIMS symposium in Rarotonga. Participants from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu met in Rarotonga from June 11 to 13 to discuss fisheries information management at their respective fisheries administrations. The […]

Blood donors thanked on world day

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

It was World Blood Donor Day yesterday, and Red Cross Cook Islands was busy recruiting and thanking donors. On June 14, countries worldwide celebrate World Blood Donor Day with events to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. […]

Imports warning

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Expected growth in tourism is likely to increase demand for fresh produce, thereby giving the agriculture industry a boost. The Budget warns that if the agriculture industry does not propel itself forward, produce imports will continue to grow. ”If concentrated efforts are not made to increase domestic supply, reliance on imported produce will continue to […]

Loan fund for change?

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Government is considering widening the scope of its Crown loan reserve trust fund. The Budget says government is pursuing its options to legislate the Crown Law Reserve Trust Fund during this fiscal year, so that the funds it contains can be applied toward all loans and not just those taken out by SOEs. The idea […]

Govt expects $13.77m in fees

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

The government expects to collect $13.77 million in administrative fees for this financial year. Budget Book 1 outlines its expected takings, a figure which includes departure tax fees as the International Monetary Fund categorises departure tax not as a tax but as a levy on airline passengers. This year government expects to receive $6.5 million […]

PM praises Budget 'transparency'

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna spoke for close to an hour in Parliament yesterday, covering a range of issues, from suicide to Budget 2012. He addressed his constituency, the people of Manihiki, advising them that government has made it a point to maintain the level of funding available for the pa enua. He said government feels […]

Four NZ navy ships in Cooks

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Four of the 12 Royal New Zealand Navy vessels are in the Cooks over the coming week. The HMNZS Canterbury, which is anchored off Avarua Harbour until Saturday morning, will be supporting patrol efforts around the region and reporting on its findings. Canterbury’s captain Commander Sean Stewart says they are part of a planning contingency […]

HMNZS Canterbury here to support maritime patrols

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

New Zealand naval vessel HMNZS Canterbury is in the Cooks until Saturday morning, when it will head to Tonga. Commander Sean Stewart says they are here supporting patrol efforts around the region. The Canterbury, at 131 metres long, is too big to fit into the Avarua Harbour. She has a crew of 130, of which […]

New x-ray unit for pets

Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National

Diagnosing problems with local pets has become a whole lot easier at the island’s only animal clinic thanks to the generous donation of an x-ray machine. The Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic in Nikao received an x-ray machine last week sponsored by the Barton family and The Bond Store. And in its short time on […]