Articles by Utopia Support

Sopranos in paradise

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in Local

Between them opera singers Mere Boynton and Deborah Kapohe have performed in high-country sheep stations in New Zealand, converted woodsheds in the Australian outback, in pine forests, on islands and even while emerging from the mist of a New Zealand geyser. After this weekend, Boynton and Kapohe will be able to say they have also […]

Commercial pharmacies under pressure

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in Local

Island pharmacies have noticed an increase in customers over the past couple of weeks – and it’s not just the cold snap. Reports have come to light of the public Rarotonga Hospital’s pharmacy running low on stock due to the Ministry of Health being at the end of the financial year. CITC Pharmacy’s manager Shannon […]

Kata - May 24, 2012

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Beautification projects on Mauke

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

Mauke continues to make developments on the island for the benefit of locals and visitors alike as all of the mesh labelled recycling bins are now in use at their various stations. To add to that, Mauke recently received sturdy wheelie bins donated for their waste management initiatives. In March, environment officer Basilio Kaokao and […]

Traffic restricted on Panama side road

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

Motorists looking to use the Crash Fire Road over the coming three months will be asked to find an alternative route as trucks descend on the area. The Ports Authority has advised that for safety reasons traffic will be restricted on Crash Fire Road during the harbour dredging operations to transport fill to the Panama […]

Ministers get hands-on in harbour work

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

With the redevelopment of Avatiu harbour nearing its completion, the Ports Authority’s attention is now turning to developments in the surrounding area. The authority has put two construction tenders out to the public for buildings in the harbour precinct. One of the tenders is searching for a company to construct concrete foundations for a new […]

New mentoring programme for women

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

A group of four altruistic women is hoping to give primary caregivers in the Cook Islands a chance to set up their own viable business and become economic contributors. The Emerging Pacific Women’s Leadership Program (EPWLP) Cook Islands group is to present their new project at the Cook Islands Business and Professional Women’s Association (BPWA) […]

Pawpaw exports depend on plant approval

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

An inspector from the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is scheduled to assess Rarotonga’s heat treatment plant at the end of this month. The country’s planned pawpaw export arrangement hinges on whether or not the inspector approves of the plant and the way the Ministry of Agriculture is managing it. The plant has […]

Queen's Jubilee UK tour 'well worth it'

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

Bringing Cook Islands culture directly to the Queen as part of her 60th anniversary jubilee was a highlight the whole country should be proud of, Minister of Cultural Development Teariki Heather said. Heather headed the Cook Islands delegation on its journey to the United Kingdom this month to join the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. He […]

Special purpose FADs proposed

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Marine Resources has considered floating specially designated fishing aggregate devices (FADs) for various groups, but secretary Ben Ponia warns that the FAD system is complicated and requires careful balance for it to remain effective. Ponia said marine resources had been in discussions with members of the Rarotongan spear fishing community over their […]

Watch group looking out for crime

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in National

A meeting at the Rua O Te Tonga meeting house on Tuesday night addressed how community members can deal with the rising crime rate in their neighbourhood. The Neighbourhood Watch Committee of Ruatonga, consisting of four members at present, called the meeting with the Avatiu and Ruatonga districts to address concerns about the rising number […]

Why repeat the immigration fee?

Thursday 24 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

”It seems the Immigration Dept has found another way to make more money,“ a smoke signaller writes. ”When permanent residents go to Immigration to get their passport stamped to prove their status, understandably the first time you do this you expect to pay around $20 for their work in checking your certificate and documents are […]

Oyster outages

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in Local

Internet was down across the whole of Rarotonga for half an hour on Monday afternoon, affecting all of Telecom’s customers. The incident occurred around 1.30pm, and affected local businesses and schools before Telecom’s tech support could fix the unexplained fault. Telecom’s servers were also down last weekend, interrupting internet use on the island for an […]

Pacific Voyagers set sail for Samoa

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in Local

Soft rain, seen as a sign of the presence of our ancestors, mixed with tears of joy and sadness at Avatiu harbour yesterday as family and friends farewelled the Pacific Voyagers fleet and their crews on their next journey to Samoa. Mothers of Cook Islands crew on vaka Marumaru Atua urged their sons and daughters […]

Ura Kuki Airani i Tiapani

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in Features

Cook Islands dancers Sikimi Vailoa Tuarii, Tina Kae and Tearoa Kairua danced to the drums of the Cook Islands at Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki City, Japan, last night. The three drew gasps of admiration from the audience from a stage usually occupied by Hula Girls, a 30-strong troupe of Japanese dancers who perform Polynesian […]

Kata - May 19, 2012

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - May 23, 2012

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Farmers market on today

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

The farmers market will be back in action today at the Punanga Nui Market. On sale will be fruit, vegetables, plants and piglets of Rarotonga and selections from the southern group islands. The produce of Aitutaki will again feature among the stalls, with remu, kumara, tupa and crabs expected to be on offer among the […]

Moana Nui o Kiva connects 2 nations

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

By Henry Puna – Prime Minister of the Cook Islands That the peoples of the Cook Islands and Japan are truly connected by the great Moana Nui o Kiva was brought home to all of us last year when the terrible earthquake and tsunami wrecked devastation and horrendous loss of life to those living on […]

Japanese PM reaffirms Pacific empathy

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

By Yoshihiko Noda – Prime Minister of Japan A friend in need is a friend indeed. This widely quoted but truthful proverb was most manifestly embodied by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami last year. We will never forget the compassionate encouragement and assistance from […]