Articles by Utopia Support

Dancer of year time

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Features

The best of Cook Islands dance will be showcased through the three main dancer of the year competitions starting this Thursday at the National Auditorium. Warming up the stage for the annual dancer of the year event will be the junior and intermediate division dancers. Eleven junior and 12 intermediate boys and girls have signed […]

Faith in the system down the drain

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you for the chance to add my one cent to the proposal by government to increase departure tax to $70. Attention please, the government and your advisors – the age bracket needs reviewing. Who is in their right mind would charge a 13-year-old $70? Far out! Let us just hope the $70 […]

Bank loans biggest killer in our society

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are not that blind any more. I totally agreed with the comment made by the Minister of Finance that cheap loans are one answer to the depopulation problem to the Cook Islands. In fact several other factors that contributed to the big problem and they are as follows: Biggest killer in our […]

Kata - April 16, 2012

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Kata

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Kata - April 17, 2012

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Kata

Details cloud vessel's journey

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

The MV Samoa Express has begun its long-pending voyage to the Cook Islands’ northern group, albeit under an unclear schedule for the five islands awaiting its arrival. The vessel made contact with Pukapuka yesterday, the first of its destinations in the northern group. But the remaining journey remains unclear, with Cook Islands News yesterday receiving […]

Market food huts are 'falling short'

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

Land extensions currently underway at the Punanga Nui market will give hut owners a chance to improve their facilities, market manager Elmah McBirney said. While the majority of hut owners are complying with regulations and restrictions being asked of them, McBirney said there were still two or three huts that were falling short of expectations. […]

Mutiny on the Bounty descendants meet

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

A chance meeting in Aitutaki has seen descendants of Commander William Bligh and mutineer Fletcher Christian, who are, of course, central to the mutiny on the Bounty, come face to face at a seaside bar. Though the pair are progeny of fierce enemies many generations removed, Aitutaki resident Steve Christian said he shared a short […]

Island boy wins 'rookie of the year' award

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

Island boy Mouroa Reuben Hosea scooped up the ‘Rookie of the year – Leisure” award at the House of Travel Annual Awards Ceremony on March 31 in Auckland. Hosea, the eldest son of Hosea and June Hosea, is a former student of Papaaroa Adventist School, Enuamanu School, Araura College and Tereora College. He started off […]

PM confirms cabinet shuffle

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

A mini shuffle of cabinet portfolios that will see Prime Minister Henry Puna take over responsibilities of outer islands governance and give up the police portfolio is being attributed to recommendations from the Public Sector Functional Review. Puna yesterday confirmed a report from Saturday’s Cook Islands News that announced that Minister Teariki Heather would take […]

Visiting eye doctors in big demand

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in National

People waiting to see a team of eye doctors from New Zealand packed out the outpatient area at Rarotonga Hospital last week. The coordinator for the team’s visit, Pa Taukume, said the hospital had a priority list of 400 patients with eye problems. In past weeks staff have been contacting people on that list, encouraging […]

Why the shuffle?

Tuesday 17 April 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Questions and reasoning behind the recent Cabinet reshuffling between the Prime Minister, giving away the police portfolio to Teariki Heather for outer islands, should be explained to the people,” a smoke signaller writes. “Government should come out and give the reasons why this is taking place. I believe that most taxpayers would want to see […]

Carbon emissions rise 64% in 12 years

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands’ carbon dioxide emissions have risen by 61 percent between 1994 and 2006 according to a report released by the National Environmental Service. The large majority of emissions are emulating from generators and transport throughout the country, which account for four out of every five tonnes of CO2 being released by the Cook […]

Sun-powered freezers in store at Beco

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Environment

Using heat to freeze your food seems like an unusual way to go about freezing. Beco Limited now has in stock solar powered freezers and fridges. These run on DC power (most models run on AC power) and can be hooked up to solar panels and 12 to 24 volt batteries. This way they run […]

8 arrests

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Local

Eight burglars have been arrested by police after detectives swooped on a number of homes on Thursday, Friday and at the weekend. Police say the group of eight male youths are believed to be responsible for the spate of burglaries through the Avarua area last week. Some of those arrested appeared in court on Saturday […]

'Signs of desperation'

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Local

Any increase in departure tax or increase in airport surcharges will be sternly opposed by the opposition because it is a direct contradiction of the former Democratic Party Government’s plans to lower departure taxes. “Our idea was to lower departure tax back to $35 and let that tax pay the loan by the Airport Authority […]

Go for gold Patty!

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is a message to Patty (Patricia Taea): Patty, you have taken our little nation to extreme levels of some of the world’s best games and still some are not pleased. You have driven miles to get where you are today and still some are not pleased. Girl, achieving greatly in your young […]

Thanks for your support

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the Democratic Party supporters that rallied to give comfort and warmth to Mrs Tuaine Wigmore during the death of her much beloved husband and their children and grandchildren. As a loyal and strong member of the Democratic Party, Robert will certainly be missed […]

Angered by lack of communication

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am responding to Saturday’s letter from ‘Proud Mangaian’. Don’t be abhorred! I will see Rod Dixon and give him all the assistance I can. (I just have not got around to it yet as I am busy trying to survive.) What angered me was the lack of communication between the universities and […]

Why are police withdrawing so many charges?

Monday 16 April 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Reading the court pages it appears the police are now withdrawing a large amount of matters. Is their evidence collection not up to standard, their decision-making skills lacking or has their supervision fallen away? Come on Maara, you are supposed to be a lawyer, well trained at the taxpayers’ expense, bring the success […]