Articles by Utopia Support

Budget not a 'wish list' – Brown

Wednesday 13 June 2012 | Published in National

Finance minister Mark Brown has dismissed Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen’s allegations that his Budget was ”for show“ and ”about appearances“. He notes that Budget Book 3 is not a ”wish list“, but instead sets out a schedule of projects that are ”definitely“ funded. ”The process we’ve done is outlined exactly the projects we’re going to […]

Shipping relief on the way

Wednesday 13 June 2012 | Published in National

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, whose portfolios include transport, says Tapi Taio’s new boat is on the way. He said he has been in discussion with Taio Shipping, who indicated their plan is still to source a second ship. Marsters told Parliament that the Samoa freighter Northern Star was ”only a temporary measure until Tapi […]

'Budget fails to stimulate growth in economy'

Wednesday 13 June 2012 | Published in National

Nukuroa MP Tangata Vavia has said the only sector the Budget actually supports is the pearl industry, and that it fails ”miserably“ to support others. ”My views are similar to (Norman George’s) as we realise there are weak points in the budget,“ Vavia said in Parliament yesterday. ”I was expecting to see policies by government […]

Budget 800 pages of 'verbal diarrhea'

Wednesday 13 June 2012 | Published in National

Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George says the Budget prioritises the Tourism Authority to the detriment of ”the little people“, in particular the country’s growers. ”This budget is for people on high income, for people earning $30,000 upwards. There is nothing here for the little people of this country There is nothing in this budget to cut […]

Recycled sculptures cut waste

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Environment

Friday morning saw five judges visit 11 sculptures around Rarotonga for the SLM Recycled Sculptures competition which was the last event for National Environment Week. Groups, government departments, businesses and other organisations were invited to participate by creating sculptures of sea creatures out of waste material from their office/workplace/community to display during Environment Week. With […]

Rasmussen delivers long attack on Budget

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Local

Twice, the time window was extended for Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen to finish his speech condemning government’s Budget in Parliament yesterday. Tabled last Thursday, the Budget is the subject of debate and discussion for the duration of this week. Rasmussen opened the formal Budget debate, which followed the initial question-and-answer time yesterday. He has been […]

Shortlist for HOMs 'being fine-tuned'

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Local

A shortlist of new heads of ministries will be presented to the prime minister next week. Public service commissioner Russell Thomas says the report is ”still being fine-tuned“ and has yet to be presented to the prime minister as required by the Public Service Act. Prime Minister Henry Puna, upon receiving the shortlist of applicants, […]

George takes Speaker's seat

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Local

The first was the Banking Amendment Bill, which will be read for a second time after the passing of the Appropriation Bill. Minister of Finance Mark Brown also tabled the Insurance Amendment Act. Among the other papers tabled were the Public Health Notifiable Conditions paper, Environment Application to Manihiki 2012, and a raft of Audit […]

Go local, fish local

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is a shame to see and read about the new rules and regulations limiting local fisherman to catch fish as they have been taught to. And what makes it even more of a shame is that these rules were suggested by a committee made up of charter operators. These rules obviously are […]

New Aroko tower draws flak

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For about two month or so Telecom Cook Islands has been installing a new telecommunications tower in Aroko, Muri. Some of the work undertaken has involved digging into the side of a slope in order to build a level foundation and platform which anchors the tower and provides adequate room for a small […]

Kata - June 12, 2012

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Teariki Matenga campaigns for youth

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Teariki Matenga believes giving youth an alternative future in trades is the way to stop Titikaveka’s crime problem. The Cook Island Party (CIP) candidate is busy campaigning for the Titikaveka seat in the June 21 by-election. His campaign deals with a number of issues, including agriculture and social welfare, but youth is a focus. ”My […]

Village consultation meetings for NGOs

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands Civil Society Organisations are inviting members of the public to attend three village consultations this week and next. Cook Islands Civil Society Organisations (CICSO) is the national umbrella body which manages all local and regional non-government organisations (NGOs). Discussions will be held on what sort of work CICSO covers, plus a wide range […]

Obituary: Rangi Moeka'a, educator

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Rangitukua Moeka’a – the first Cook Islander to hold the post of director of education – passed away in New Zealand last week after a long illness and was laid to rest on Rarotonga at the weekend. Rangitukua Moeka’a replaced former director Russell Gerard in 1972, at a time when public service positions were beginning […]

35% of expenditure on public sector salaries

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Thirty-five percent of the government’s expenditures relate to employee salaries. The public service includes ministries, outer island administrations, Crown agencies (Crown Law, Parliament, Police, Office of the Ombudsman, Audit, Business and Trade Investment Board, Ministry of Environment, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, Head of State, Financial Intelligence Unit, Cook Islands Investment Corporation, Cook Islands National Superfund, […]

Demo MPs call for pa enua job creation

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Oneroa Member of Parliament Winton Pickering raised the dormant issue of outer islands agriculture project Te One Kura in Parliament yesterday. He asked whether government intends to increase funding for the project as a means of pa enua job creation. ”The people of Mangaia and Atiu are all leaving. I can tell you that todayWe […]

Budget all 'show' – Opposition

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has said Budget 2012 is ”for show“ and ”about appearances only, (not) substance“. He opened the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday, framing his speech as a ”right of reply“. ”The Budget that was presented by the minister of finance last Thursday with a small surplus of $98,000 I describe as an […]

Fishing exports offset pearl slump

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Though the black pearl industry is under-performing, the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) expects its revenue to increase by 4 percent this year due to increases in fisheries exports. Thereafter, fisheries exports are expected to increase by 5 percent per annum. For the 2010/11 financial year the marine sector was expected to make $4.9 million […]

Extra 20 fishing licences questioned

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Minister of Marine Resources Teina Bishop says no additional exploratory fishing licences have been issued to overseas interests. Budget 2012 contains a projection that 20 ”additional“ licences – to be issued this financial year – will generate $2.4 million in revenue for the country. Cook Islands News reported the fact accordingly, as marine resources regulations […]

SOEs to make $2.1m

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

State-owned enterprises are due to generate $2.1 million in dividends for this financial year. This is $1 million less than the $3.1 million that were forecasted for the last financial year. It appears as a decrease because, according to Budget Book 1, of a one-off dividend paid in by Te Aponga Uira (TAU) in 2011/12. […]