Articles by Utopia Support

Network outages not widely advertised

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in National

Planned network outages occurred around Rarotonga at the weekend, but Telecom gave only some businesses written warning. The outages, which occurred because technicians were doing maintenance work, affected mobiles in the Avarua cell site area from the Cook Islands Motor Centre to the Avarua CICC church between 2pm and 5pm on Saturday. There was also […]

Roadside rubbish vegetation piles irk

Tuesday 12 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”Congratulations to the ‘beautification’ gurus who are using a front end loader to push overgrown weeds, general rubbish and tons of topsoil on sections along the main road into piles a few metres off the road,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”One can almost hear the South Pacific Forum leaders as they pass by in their […]

Lagoon Day 'dream' rolls out from today

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Environment

Today begins a 31-day countdown to Lagoon Day – an environmental exhibition to raise public awareness through hands on, and where possible, on site education. Lagoon Day is in its fifth year and the event, on July 12 and 13, is themed ‘Dream the possible dream’. Event coodinator June Hosking says that the theme was […]

10 beautification contracts tendered

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Local

The Department of Internal Affairs is calling for tenders for its Rarotonga community beautification programme. The scheme, sometimes referred to as the vaka maintenance programme, targets the cleaning and maintenance along the edge of public roads. It is delivered through ten separate contracts for different parts of Rarotonga. Since 2008, the contracts have been solely […]

Demo 'boycott' was stupid, childish

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to Saturday’s CINews about the unusual Demo boycott of a special presentation of the Budget for the Demo Opposition at Parliament last week. I am not a CIP voter but I think that Demo boycott decision was stupid and I don’t support it. I hope Kata does a cartoon about a […]

Save money, free software

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As all the businesses and government in the Cooks are battling to save money, there is a very simple way for almost all computer using organisations and individuals to save themselves the money they would normally spend on antivirus programs for their computers by simply downloading the free ”Microsoft Windows Essentials“ program from […]

Kata - June 11, 2012

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Kata

First cultural competition for kids

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in National

Rarotonga school children tested their traditional skills at the first ever schools cultural competition organised and sponsored by Highland Paradise last week. More than 60 school children from three schools took on the challenge to make an umu, weaving, story telling, drumming and performing an ute. Tutu Teuira, co-owner of Highland Paradise, believes that the […]

Toa has a temporary licence

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in National

A story about Toa’s petrol shortage that ran in Cook Islands News last Wednesday mentioned that Toa does not have a licence to operate from its Nikao premises. In fact, Toa has a provisional licence to operate and an agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to store its petrol in tanktainers temporarily, until such […]

Major water works planned

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in National

By 2015, all Rarotonga taps should be safe to drink from. This, at least, is the government’s goal, which it aims to achieve by undertaking a $43 million overhaul of Rarotonga’s water and sanitation systems. The full upgrade will rely on a blended finance arrangement, or loans and grants provided under a ‘Water Partnership’ scheme […]

Firearms expert heads new programme

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in National

The outdated firearms act may not have got its much-needed overhaul, but gun safety procedures are at the forefront of a new firearms programme run by police. The Police Department has recently lifted a ban on the importation of firearms into the country, but procedures surrounding imports have been tightened. In addition to usual applications […]

Firearm ban lifted

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Police has lifted a blanket ban on importing firearms, despite no changes to firearm laws. The ban, which has been in place since the start of 2011, was on police recommendation as they wanted to review outdated legislation – the 1954 Firearms Act. At police commissioner Maara Tetava’s request the ban has […]

Harpooner questions FAD ban

Monday 11 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”I’ve got a question for the Ministry of Marine Resources,“ a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. ”Something I don’t understand is why harpooners are banned from the fish aggregation devices (FADs) any time, and spear fishing is allowed when there is no one around FADs? Harpooners are doing the same thing as spear fishermen – […]

Reclamation grows

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Environment

The $1.8 million Punanga Nui reclamation project is underway at a great pace, with more dredged harbour material being added to make new land every day – and night. Ports Authority general manager Bim Tou said contractors McConnell Dowell (Mac Dow) are working day and night to get the work completed. Water suppression of dust […]

75% of Muri properties signed up

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Environment

After a month-long information and advertising campaign, 75 percent of residential property owners in the Muri-Avana area have now signed-up to receive an upgraded sanitation system provided under the waste management initiative. Those signing up to the waste management initiative (WMI programme) are required to make a $1000 contribution towards the cost of the upgrade. […]

20 more licences

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Local

The Budget discloses that by the end of this financial year the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) expects to have sold an ”additional“ 20 fishing licences under its big-eye and swordfish exploratory programme. At present 17 Chinese fishing vessels are participating and their licences will be re-negotiated at the end of this year. Thirteen of […]

Sharing and living on Pukapuka's motu

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

There are 3 motus on Pukapuka. The names of the 3 motus are Motu Kotawa, Motu Ko, and Motu Uta. Three villages control the motus. Ngake village owns Motu Ko. Yato village owns Motu Kotawa. Loto village owns Motu Uta. When the 3 motus are open then the people go to the motus and live […]

Mentoring and support for women

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

If you are a woman, a caregiver, and looking to earn some extra cash, you’re eligible to apply for some free mentoring. The Emerging Pacific Women Leaders Program (EPWLP) Cook Islands delegation is seeking applications from people seeking mentorship as part of its Business Enterprise and Mentorship (BEAM) project. Global non-government organisation Vital Voices last […]

Te Uki Ou Ball next Saturday

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

Apii Te Uki Ou is calling on the community to ”dust off those dancing shoes and whip up a new glamour gown“ for their fundraising ball. The school is holding the BCA Art Gallery Queen’s Jubilee Fire and Ice Ball on Saturday June 16 at the BCA. Entertainment will feature local DJ G-Dub, and the […]

Healthy and affordable charcoal chicken

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

A tasty new option for eating out in Rarotonga has recently opened its doors. Rob’s Charcoal Chicken is tucked away in the Cooks Corner Complex – it’s easy to find, just follow the delicious smells of chicken cooking. The business is a family affair, owned and operated by Rob and Eileen McBride, with Rob the […]