Articles by Utopia Support

Kaino and Cup parade apopo

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Local

All Blacks star Jerome Kaino and the Webb Ellis Cup laid low yesterday but tomorrow the public will have the opportunity to catch both the star and the cup through the World Cup parade. The parade will start at 3.50pm from the Takamoa Theological College drive and proceed through the Avarua township to the Rarotonga […]

Water passes taste test

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Local

The community in Tupapa now has greater access to filtered water thanks to a new system installed at the village’s meeting house. And New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter, who funded the project, wants to see more like it undertaken across the Cook Islands. The water system was paid for under the commission’s ‘head of […]

No mischief

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent publicity of the stance of the Liquor licensing Authority that liquor on display in shops must be locked outside the selling hours of the liquor is a good example why the private sector dislikes having to deal with “the government”. CITC Supermarket and Foodland are authorised to sell liquor from 9 […]

Norman just out of hybernation

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As Kata correctly pointed out (Saturday April 28 CINews), What has Norman done for Atiu in 29 years as MP? Answer, absolutely nothing. Wait, no he did start something, yes, the $800,000.00 incomplete road sealing for Atiu, what a cost for only six kilometres of road, while drums of tar rusted away at […]

Kata - May 1, 2012

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Kata

Shark campaign goes to all islands

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative founder Stephen Lyon has visited the island of Mauke to discuss shark protection. Lyon, who visited Aitutaki to talk sharks last month, is finding that generally all agree on the value of protecting sharks once they understand the threats posed by the shark finning trade. He says that sharks are finned, […]

Rotaract raises $821

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Rarotonga Rotaract Club raised $821 at a garage sale for the Mangaia Junior Red Cross. As soon as the garage sale sign was erected, garage sale enthusiast bustled to get first dibs on the household items, clothing, jewellery, shoes and bags that Rotaract had on offer. Mangaia Junior Red Cross founder Sue Ngatokorua was also […]

Medal ceremony for woman serving in kitchen

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Margaret Dwane has been added to the list of Cook Islands residents to receive the New Zealand Defence Service Medal in the last week, after she was presented with the medal at a special ceremony on Monday. Dwane, Creative Centre assistant manager, was due to receive her medal alongside seven other people at the RSA […]

Mentoring growing in popularity

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Pacific Business Mentoring Programme country manager Kerry Burridge urges medium- to large-scale businesses to take advantage of New Zealand mentoring services, which are becoming increasingly popular amongst the local small business community. “These mentors are very experienced and very knowledgeable,” Burridge told Cook Islands News. “The calibre of these people is such that they can […]

Businesses invited to mentor meeting

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands companies looking to grow their business or groom it for sale are discovering that the Pacific Business Mentoring Programme is their secret weapon in securing the edge for success. A number of successful businesses including jewellery manufacturing, diving services, brewing and tourism have already benefitted from the Cook Islands’ participation as one of […]

Flight Centre embraces Cook Islands

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands Tourism has taken flight up and down eastern Australia, attending three Flight Centre expos. The Australian staff and its supplier partners joined three Flight Centre shows in mid February, taking in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney during the month. The corporation’s Australian general manager Kerryn Cook said Flight Centre was the biggest partner the […]

'Grey' tourism for Mitiaro?

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

Mitiaro and the “grey brigade” of New Zealand and Australia could be coupled-up in order to cement a small-scale tourism industry on the island, New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter said. Having visited the island last week, Carter said that retirees from the Cook Islands’ largest neighbours could provide the people of Mitiaro with some […]

Doctors sail to northern islands

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

For the first time in four years, a group of highly qualified doctors are sailing the isolated northern atolls to bring their medical skills to people who live there. The medical team left from Avatiu harbour yesterday morning on the police maritime surveillance vessel Te Kukupa after farewells from onlookers and dignitaries, including Prime Minister […]

Visitor stats to be surveyed

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

A new programme of surveys being launched in June will shed some light on the spending habits and general movements of tourists in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation hopes to gain a better understanding on what the average tourist gets up to in the Cook Islands, from the length of their visit, […]

Siren tests okay

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in National

It’s a sound you would normally rather not hear, but the whining call of emergency sirens ringing out over Tupapa had a few people smiling on Monday. On this occasion, the siren wasn’t signalling an oncoming tsunami or any other type of natural disaster. Instead, the noise meant the system had been installed correctly and […]

Ben's pork loin

Tuesday 1 May 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

Some checking their email inbox a week ago would have been confronted by a nude Ben Bergman, his crown jewels hidden by a pig’s head, inviting you to tonight’s preview of five portraits by artist Nanette Lela’ulu, titled ReSpect. Lela’ulu told CI News’ Rachel Reeves last week the five subjects of her paintings are people […]

Pepe wins by 2

Monday 30 April 2012 | Published in Local

Pepe Marika has won a seat on the Manihiki Island Council, narrowly beating Navakatini Greig in a by-election held last week. Marika polled 27 votes in Thursday’s election, recording two more votes than Greig to take the Tukao seat in the six-person council. The third person to contest the election, Mataio Puapii Johnson, claimed nine […]

Titikaveka by-election set

Monday 30 April 2012 | Published in Local

Titikaveka will go to the polls in June. The death of the late Robert Wigmore earlier this month left the Titikaveka seat vacant, and pursuant to the Electoral Act 2004 the electoral office is holding a by-election to fill it. The office has confirmed the by-election for Thursday, June 21. Candidate nominations close on Friday, […]

New FAD rules proposed

Monday 30 April 2012 | Published in Local

Rules limiting the harpooning of mahi mahi, the number of floating longlines and spear fishing around the fishing aggregate devices (FAD) on Rarotonga have been put forward by the FAD committee, established by the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR). Members of the FAD committee include Don Beer, Pupuke Robati, Wayne Barclay and Sonny Tatuava. Chair […]

Minister and Finsec attend ADB meeting

Monday 30 April 2012 | Published in National

Minister Mark Brown and Financial Secretary Richard Neves will be attending the 45th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank from May 2 to 5 in Manilla, Philippines. The minister will be attending in his capacity as the Cook Islands Governor on the ADB Board of governors. The meeting which […]