Articles by Utopia Support

Hectic schedule

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna has a hectic schedule in Japan, which has been organised down to the last detail by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has the honour of opening the Pacific Islands Exhibition and Festa on Thursday morning (Wednesday morning CIT), at which Cook Islands dancers will be sharing the stage with other […]

Japan draws together Pacific leaders

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

By Rachel Reeves – Reporting from Japan Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is diligently fine-tuning arrangements for this weekend’s high-level PALM meeting. Press cards are being distributed, schedules are being tweaked and tweaked again, and appointment times are being thrice-confirmed. The meeting is generating hype in Tokyo, as journalists from international news agencies and from […]

Sick numbers rise with cold

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

As the weather cools down, the incidence of influenza goes up – meaning time off school for sick kids. Things got so bad at Niua School on Pukapuka, the Ministry of Health made the decision to close down the school last Thursday in order to quarantine the sick children and keep the healthy children safe. […]

Digging in to harbour floor

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

Round the clock dredging will begin at the Avatiu harbour today as the $27 million development moves in to its final stage of work. A high-tech backhoe dredge, called the Kimahia, will begin digging up more than 80,000 cubic metres of material from the harbour floor that will deepen it by up to 2.2 metres […]

Opposition decries speaker's appointment

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

Opposition Leader Wilkie Rasmussen has labelled the government’s appointment of an unelected Speaker of Parliament as a ”vote of no confidence“ in the Cook Islands Party parliamentary representatives. Rasmussen congratulated Cook Islands Red Cross secretary general Niki Rattle on her appointment as speaker but said that the move was a knee-jerk reaction on Prime Minister […]

'An elected speaker has limited powers'

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

MP Norman George and former speaker of parliament has come out in criticism of the Cook Islands Party government for looking outside parliament chambers for its new speaker. The government yesterday named Niki Rattle, who is not a member for parliament, as the nominated choice for the speaker’s role. George, member for Teenui-Mapumai in Atiu […]

New rules for use of govt vehicles

Wednesday 23 May 2012 | Published in National

A new whole of government vehicle policy has been adopted to answer concerns that government vehicles were open to misuse during non-working hours. The Office of the Public Service Commissioner publicly released details of the new policy after cabinet gave its tick of approval to the rules. The new policy will take in all ministries, […]

Vaka voyagers speak at college

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in Environment

Pacific Voyagers visited Tereora College to inspire the future leaders of the nation in the huge importance of preserving the environment – both land and sea. Voyagers shared first-hand accounts of some of the environmental issues they’ve faced while voyaging on Moana Nui o Kiva; from floating islands of rubbish to rescuing choking turtles and […]

Family backs Teuira Napa

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in Local

Miss Tarani Crafts and Pearls Teuira Napa’s pageant campaign is something of a family affair. Tarani Crafts and Pearls will be sponsoring the young Napa, but family members have offered to cover incidental costs like shoes and costumes. With the support of her family behind her, the 19-year-old feels confident in her bid to take […]

Kata - May 22, 2012

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Bishop learns of RAMSI progress in the Solomons

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

Minister Teina Bishop has returned to the Cook Islands after attending the sixth meeting of the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee (FMSC) on the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in Honiara. The meeting noted significant progress of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) and the improved security situation in Solomon Islands with further […]

Koutu Nui focus on Te Moana at AGM

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

The Koutu Nui o te Kuki Airani is preparing for its annual general meeting which this year will be held in Aitutaki, at the invitation of the Vaka Mataiapo of Araura. This year, the theme is ”Te Moana e tona ki katoa“, or ”The Ocean and all her bounty“. The theme could also translate as […]

Sel's good at attack and defence

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

As the first female to stand for election in Titikaveka, Selina Napa understands that she will face some different challenges to the men she is running against in the electorate’s upcoming by-election. But Napa, the Democratic Party candidate, said she doesn’t think gender will be the main decider for voters when they head to the […]

Duties call in Japan, Denmark and Switzerland

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

Three cabinet ministers will remain in the Cook Islands as ministerial duties for the three others have them headed to destinations in Europe and the Pacific. Prime Minister Henry Puna is in Japan as co-chair in the sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meetings (PALM6) in Nago City, Okinawa. Puna is co-chairing the meeting alongside Japanese Prime […]

DPM takes ideas to ACP meet in Denmark

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters will join representatives from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states and members of the European parliaments to discuss how the two groups can combine their mutual interests and strengthen cooperation between the two groups. Marsters left Rarotonga over the weekend to take part in the Joint Parliamentary Assembly […]

Super Fund penalises late payers

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund (CINSF) is this week enacting a penalty fee for employers who submit late payments. The fee is in accordance with the Cook Islands National Superannuation Act 2000, which provides for ”a penalty equal to 10 percent of the amount in respect of which default has been made together with […]

School seeks history

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

In hope of planning a 50th anniversary in 2013, Takitumu School is searching for any information about the school’s history. Takitumu School staff would like anyone with any knowledge and photos of the school in the past 40 years to consider joining a committee to help plan the 50th celebration in 2013. ”We are hoping […]

7 vaka all on CI register

Tuesday 22 May 2012 | Published in National

Travelling to the Cook Islands last week was a homecoming of sorts for the seven voyaging vaka currently moving through our waters. Although the boats were built in New Zealand and each flies the flag of their respective country, they are all registered in the Cook Islands under Maritime Cook Islands. The reason they’re not […]

Ariki's DBE for women

Monday 21 May 2012 | Published in Local

Makea Karika Margaret Ariki accepted her title of honour as Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) on behalf of all Cook Islands women. Her investiture in front of hundreds of proud family, friends and government representatives at the national auditorium on Saturday was an emotional one for the 92-year-old, […]

Bulldogs savage Panthers in rugby league semi-final

Monday 21 May 2012 | Published in League

The Titikaveka Bulldogs camp has been howling with delight all weekend after the club’s premier grade mauled the Tupapa Panthers 18-6 to progress to the 2012 rugby league grand finals against the Avatiu Eels. As the underdogs, the Bulldogs have certainly been this year’s big improvers and on Saturday the team’s big forwards did all […]