Articles by Utopia Support

Reform issues still alive

Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics

Lynnsay Rongokea has plenty of experience with political reform in the Cook Islands.

Demos 'ignorant' says Brown

Wednesday 18 April 2018 | Published in Politics

Finance minister Mark Brown says criticism of the setting of the June 14 election date by parliamentary leader for the Democratic Party, William “Smiley” Heather shows the opposition’s “total ignorance and lack of understanding” regarding financial management and government processes.

Sir Graham at local rugby clubs

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Rugby Union

Sir Graham Henry is living proof that there is life after being one of the most successful All Black coaches of all time.

Placing blame for the floods

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Regarding the headline in CI News on Wednesday, April 11, ‘Government blamed for flooding’.

Corruption columns amusing

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

It was with great amusement that I read the columns by both Demo leader Tina Browne and chief executive Wilkie Rasmussen about corruption.

Demos don't look that ready to me

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

‘We are ready, bring it on, we have got this…’ Nek minute! All I can see is panic and insults being thrown as one of the Demo leaders, Tina Browne, prepares to get on a plane on Sunday for a netball game. Helloooo… anybody home?

Awaiting debate with bated breath

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We should be grateful that the CIP President Nga Jessie offered an opinion, even if it has been suggested that he was not the author of the letter he signed, dated Wednesday April 11. But because it is from the CIP president it would have to then be an official position from the Cook Islands Party. If anything, it is precisely what helps build a better democracy; constructive criticism giving a clear indication of where each party stands on different areas of public policy. It is positive to the extent necessary to help voters draw their own conclusions on party policy, helping them make informed decisions in the June elections. So, what can we take from the CIP president’s letter? We can now establish the CIP position in at least four areas, those being the four areas the opposition raised with the New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern in February of this year in our open letter. The CIP president says the government is working on electoral reform. He might have this wrong. I think he means the Cook Islands Party, not the government? In general, a government matter would require a bill or an amendment to the Electoral Act, and come to parliament, but before that there would be debate – similar debate as we have seen in the last few weeks on this subject alone. So how the CIP president knows about reforming our Electoral Act when MPs don’t is a curious point. I hope Mr Jessie in a future letter can clarify this. If it is political reform policy that the CIP president is referring to from the Cook Islands Party, now that would be a first, and it would be prudent to now provide to the public the CIP position on political reform. Let’s see it, let’s debate it. We don’t want to read about it after the elections. I seriously doubt that any CIP reform initiatives on this subject would be serious enough to include voter equity. We wait with bated breath. In the same vein, when the CIP president responds, which I hope he does, can he tell us whether he is aware that his government on their recent ‘state visit’ to New Zealand had on its agenda commerce legislation under the guise of ‘consumer protection’ up for discussion and were simultaneously seeking assistance from New Zealand? How does that assistance compare with our suggestion to New Zealand prime minister Ardern as an alternative? Again, I doubt that Mr Jessie is aware of this, otherwise the letter would have been crafted differently. Is this the proverbial left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? Finally, from the letter in the final two points, both on ‘Law and order’ and ‘Audits’, what is your policy then? Remain with the status quo, and do nothing? If it is then say so – advise the public that your policy is largely to do and say nothing and that the status quo of one law for all, is, for as long as the law doesn’t affect our leaders remain unchanged and to seek no new recommendations. If the CIP are happy with the breaches of the Constitution when it comes to reporting both ‘unauthorised expenditure’, eight years of failure and Crown Accounts’ six years of failure in this area are acceptable to you and the public then please say so. If you have a method that will fix it other than passing legislation to retrospectively cancel this responsibility, like the core tax writeoff, then inform the public. I look forward to robust debate in the weeks ahead on these important subjects. James Beer Democratic Party Candidate 2018

Thanks for a cyclone-free season

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Local

Marking another cyclone-free year in the Cook Islands, hundreds of people gathered at the National Auditorium on Sunday night for the annual thanksgiving service.

Helping visitors help our islands

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Local

The first time Kiwi environmental sociologist Dr Corrina Tucker visited Rarotonga she knew she would be coming back.

Matenga issue 'storm in a teacup'

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Politics

Leaders of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) have responded to the Margaret Matenga’s claims of corruption and bias in the runoff for the Titikaveka CIP candidacy.

Survey winner takes home a black pearl

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Local

Kiwi tourist Janine Hyde has won a black pearl pendant for her participation in the online International Visitor Survey (IVS).

Political changes were within the law

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Regional

TONGA – A former prime minister has hit back at allegations made last week by Tonga’s current prime minister that political reforms were made in 2010 without the approval of parliament.

Medical teams deployed to Ambae

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Regional

VANUATU – Medical emergency teams have for the first time been deployed to the Ambae volcano disaster.

13,000 islanders need to be resettled

Tuesday 17 April 2018 | Published in Regional

VANUATU – The active volcano on Vanuatu’s Ambae island has once again begun spewing out ash and harmful smoke, and Vanuatu’s government is now looking into acquiring land to permanently resettle the island’s 13,000 residents.

Kata 16 April

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Kata

Kata 14 April

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Kata

Soccer battle has begun

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Football

Day one of the 2018 National Football Championship wrapped up with moments of triumph and moments of disappointment.

Close matches at touch semis

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Touch Rugby

Last Wednesday saw a number of competitive games in the Bluesky Mixed Touch Competition semi-finals.

Eels romp to win in Muri

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in League

The match of the week in the domestic rugby league competition was unfortunately a one-sided affair on Saturday, as the Avatiu/Nikao Eels stomped the Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles on their way to a 34-8 victory.

Machiavellian machinations and mismanagement

Monday 16 April 2018 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Well, well! Following the ‘breaking news’ announcement on CITV last week (which was apparently also revealed earlier during the CI Radio 6pm news session), the QR Tom Marsters has dissolved parliament (as advised by PM Puna to His Excellency of course), with the date of the 2018 election set as Thursday, June 14.