Articles by Utopia Support

Selina sets sights

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in National

The Democratic Party has nominated Selina Matenga-Napa as its candidate for the June 21 Titikaveka by-election, which is needed to fill the seat left absent by the death of former opposition leader Robert Wigmore. Matenga-Napa, a life-long resident of Titikaveka and active sportswomen and community member in the village, said she would commit herself to […]

Teariki Matenga joins CIP for by-election

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands Party Titikaveka candidate Teariki Matenga Jnr says he will fight to improve the lives of the people of his village should he be successful in gaining their support in the June 21 by-election. Matenga said the people of Titikaveka faced similar problems to those from around Rarotonga in their day to day lives, […]

No new cases of dengue fever

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in National

No new cases of dengue fever have appeared in Rarotonga in the days since the disease was first encountered last week. Three cases of the disease were recorded in Rarotonga late last week, from three separate areas of the island. Authorities at public health first thought that other cases would appear in order to link […]

Largest ever CI meeting of leaders

Wednesday 9 May 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands will host the largest gathering of Pacific leaders ever to assemble in Rarotonga when they arrive for the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum and related meetings in late August. Preparations for the 2012 Forum, to be chaired by Prime Minister Henry Puna, are well underway, with much planning going on behind the scenes. […]

Vaka changeovers before leaving Tahiti

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Local

The Tahiti Voyaging Society has been gifted Vaka Moana Faafaite by Deiter Paullman, the founder of the Pacific Voyagers Society. The gift to the Tahiti Voyaging Society is a result of years of demonstrating their hard work and initiative in preserving the kaupapa and connecting land and sea. It was a powerful and emotional moment, […]

Harbour dredging starts soon

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Local

Dredging at the Avatiu harbour is expected to begin in about two weeks’ time as the $27 million project enters its final stage of development. Dredges left New Zealand on April 30, bound north for Rarotonga to join the major construction project. They are expected to take two weeks to reach the Cook Islands and […]

Privy Council may not be the right avenue

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am fascinated with the issues raised in the land cases that were heard by the Privy Council Judicial Committee in London. The fascination is not only with the land cases themselves which are concerned with very important issues of land and rights to title of land but also whether in fact the […]

Appalled

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a regular visitor to Rarotonga for the past nine years, I am appalled that the government is contemplating an increase in the departure tax. I have done some investigation and it is apparent that Rarotonga is the highest in the South Pacific. Refer the following from the cheapest to the most expensive […]

Disappointed

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m writing this letter to show my concern and disappointment with the attitude of the leaders within the Tupapa Maraerenga village towards the Tupapa Maraerenga soccer team. This team is currently overseas representing the Cook Islands and carrying the name of Tupapa Maraerenga but with no acknowledgement not even a small kaikai before […]

Kata is tamer

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It would be interesting to know which society “Goose” belongs to, as it obviously isn’t one which allows freedom of speech and to express one’s ideas, a right we enjoy in the Cook Islands including Kata. Goose doesn’t have to look too far to see politicians – MPs, PMs and Presidents – being […]

Kata - May 8, 2012

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Cooks attending Forum trade meeting

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands trade officer Danny Williams will join a meeting of trade ministers from across the Pacific in Majuro, the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, for the 2012 Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting. Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) Tuiloma Neroni Slade says the meeting will provide an opportunity for […]

Candlelight vigil planned for AIDS memorial

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

Community groups and individuals are being invited to join an international movement later this month to remember those who have lost the lives to AIDS and support those living with the disease. The Cook Islands will join the global movement International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday, May 20, with a special service at the Arorangi […]

Pacific voting outcome still unknown

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

Pacific islanders waiting to see how the weekend’s changeover of French leaders will affect the region will have to wait a little longer, honorary French consulate to the Cook Islands Nathalie Rossette Cazel Tierney said. Socialist Francois Hollande is the new French President after defeating Nicolas Sarkozy in the country’s presidential election run-off over the […]

Resources wasted by reliance mentality

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

CANBERRA – The villagers of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, together with those of Fiji’s military dictatorship where living standards have been dropping precipitously, make up most of the population of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. They are now among the very poorest people in the world. Women and their babies die in childbirth […]

Hollande not well received in Pacific

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

PARIS – Francois Hollande has swept to victory with 52 per cent of the vote in France’s presidential election run-off, but the 57-year-old is not as popular in the Pacific French Territorities. The majority of voters in the Pacific were hoping for a Sarkozy victory. Reporter Helen Hofman in Paris told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat […]

'I-Mega' edges out 'Plough Cow'

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

Imanuela Akatemia Christian school students are still celebrating their artistic success after the school’s cow sculpture ‘I-Mega’ won the secondary schools division of the Mega Milk sculture competition – and not Papaaroa College as reported in yesterday’s story. Papaaroa College’s plough cow came in a close second to ‘I-Mega’ from Imanuela Akatemia. ‘I-Mega’ the superhero […]

Red Cross opens doors for world day

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

People looking to get a peek in to the new Cook Islands Red Cross headquarters in Tupapa can do so today when the local branch of the global organisation marks World Red Cross Day. The headquarters will be open for inspections today between 9am and 4pm to mark the international day, which is being jointly […]

Invitation to join American roadshow

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands tourism industry is being invited to join the Tourism Corporation’s North American Road Show this September, which will take in 11 cities and two major markets in its path. The two-week road show is focusing on the west coasts of Canada and the United States, and participants are being given the opportunity […]

New Suwarrow caretakers going 'home'

Tuesday 8 May 2012 | Published in National

Being named as the new Suwarrow rangers is a homecoming of sorts for Tuakeu Harry Papai and Antony Nicholas, albeit it is in differing ways for each. Manihiki man Papai, the senior park ranger, will travel north to an area that he calls his home. Papai lived in Manihiki for 20 years, running a pearl […]