Articles by Utopia Support

Teuira Napa crowned

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

Teuira Napa was a picture of humble elegance on the national auditorium stage where she was crowned Miss Cook Islands 2012 on Thursday night. The Miss Cook Islands pageant drew a huge crowd to the national auditorium to support the eight Miss Cook Islands pageant contestants. The young Cook Islands women carried themselves with grace, […]

Jemimah takes charge!

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Features

Jemimah Tekena owned the stage in her Roman get-up and hip hop dance as the junior Miss Cook Islands non competing contestant on Thursday night. At just 17, Tekena was too young to join the pageant, however she was so keen to be part of the pageant experience that the pageant association felt it would […]

Give Teava Iro credit for 'initiatives'

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The other night Teava Iro was on CITV Local News outlining why he wants to be the next MP for the constituency of Titikaveka after the upcoming by-election. A simple campaign platform really – to unite the people of Titikaveka in all aspects of community life. To remove the ugliness of party politics […]

Constructive criticism doesn't hurt

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I usually don’t respond to comments made in the media but in this case I wanted to respond to Matariki’s comments about the headline, coverage and photos. I have read all the updates on CINews online from the beginning of the season right up to now. I also read the article about the […]

Sea water on roads is natural

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Having spent the last ten days on the island I’m amazed at the faux outrage at the spilt sea water from the trucks leaving the port area. Last weekend I travelled along the sea wall road at the end of the airport runway and had to dodge the spray from the waves crashing […]

Kata - June 9, 2012

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Kata

Netball back indoors at Telecom Sports Arena

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Netball

Netball heads into the fourth games of round two with teams wanting to register wins heading towards the tail end of the season. Today Avatiu will rumble with Arorangi, Tupapa take on Titikaveka and Ngatangiia meet Takuvaine. Games, as usual, will start with the babes – the Avatiu and Titikaveka under 8 grade. The youngsters […]

Pa happy with fizzy levy

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

New import levies on sweetened drinks are likely to increase the cost of the average soft drink by 25 cents – and Pa Marie Ariki is thrilled. For months she has been trying to promote messages of healthy eating and living, and applauds the government for taking the initiative to discourage consumption of sweetened drinks. […]

'Nagging queen' promotes chia

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Pa Marie Ariki is a woman on a mission, and her ultimate goal is to transform her nation into a fit and healthy one. She has been actively promoting healthful messages, emphasising the nutritional value of locally-grown fruits and vegetables – in particular the coconut – and liaising with doctors overseas about setting up a […]

Pa enua funding maintained

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Government has chosen to keep pa enua expenditure levels steady even as people continue to leave the outer islands. The Budget reveals that island administrations have access to funding totalling $10.8 million for this financial year. Funding comes from the pa enua capital fund ($2.7m), pa enua small capital fund ($110,000), pa enua equipment for […]

PM launches logo competition

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Government is offering $500 to the winner of a competition to design the logo for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum. The Government and people of the Cook Islands will be hosting the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum in Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the last week of August 2012. The Prime Minister and 2012 Forum Chair Hon […]

Health scholarships discussed with Cuban ambassador

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Health minister Nandi Glassie recently met with Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand, Her Excellency Maria del Carmel Herrera Caseiro, to discuss possible health scholarships to Cuba for young Cook Islanders in the coming year. The discussions follow on from the visit to the Cook Islands of Ambassador Herrera Caseiro in March, during which she presented […]

Budget breakfast draws questions

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Businesspeople raised concerns over VAT thresholds, the Cook Islands’ high cost of living, fishing licences, depopulation and forthcoming import levy increases at a ‘Budget breakfast’ with finance minister Mark Brown and finance secretary Richard Neves yesterday. Prime Minister Henry Puna opened the breakfast meeting, attended by about 80 people, applauding the Budget committee for balancing […]

L'Arago courtesy call

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

French naval vessel L’Arago arrived in Rarotonga on Wednesday morning on its maiden voyage to the Cook Islands. The ship, which replaced an older French vessel in Tahiti last year, arrived at Avatiu wharf at 8am yesterday and will stay in port until Sunday afternoon. Senior sergeant Stu Tuariki Henry, operations officer and second in […]

PM at tripartite meeting

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna is in Auckland from Monday to Thursday next week attending a tripartite meeting between Pacific leaders, the Pacific Island Forum, and the European Union. EU relations in the Pacific region will be discussed. The meeting will also be attended by New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and a minister from […]

CPI on the rise

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

The consumer price index has been revised upwards on account of increases in the price of fuel. The index, or CPI, relates to the cost of living and inflation, and indicates price changes for consumers. The most recent CPI data available relates to the March 2012 quarter, and is recorded at 121.84 for all groups […]

'Zero hope, bleak possibilities'

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen yesterday issued this statement on the new Budget, which he perceives to be a document of ”zero hope and of bleak possibilities“. An annual Budget by any government is something that the people of the Cook Islands look into for hope of better things. But this Budget presented on Thursday by […]

Speeding through downtown Avarua

Saturday 9 June 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”In Thursday morning’s court report,“ a smoke signaller writes, ”there are the names of nine people who have been caught and fined for failing to stop at a stop sign. While there is nothing right about the action, one wonders how many fines are issued to all the people who overtake in a dangerous manner […]

Prayer and fasting

Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Church Talk

OUR STUDY of prayer has emphasised the role of our prayers on earth to invoke the power of our God from heaven. Prayer is powerful because it is human weakness deferring to God’s strength. As James wrote, ”The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.“ (See James 5:16b KJV.) When the righteous pray […]

New ministers heading to Nassau

Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Church Talk

”But many who are first will be last, and the last first.“ These words from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ have come to pass within the grounds of Takamoa Theological College (TTC) through Mr and Mrs Casey Poila, students from the Pukapuka Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC). The dynamic duo, who have been married […]