Articles by Utopia Support

MMR collaborates with BTIB in Manihiki

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

The Ministry of Marine Resources is collaborating with the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) as part of the Business Advisory Service to the Pearl Farmers and the Manihiki Pearl Farmers Association. This collaborative work is part of the Cook Islands Pearl Industry Support Programme 2011-2013. Compliance to the Manihiki Lagoon Management Plan is important for […]

Chinese pearl expert willing to help farms

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

An eminent Chinese pearl expert who recently visited Rarotonga expressed willingness to assist our pearl industry if he is asked by the CI government. Professor Xie Shaohe was part of a Chinese delegation visiting the Cook Islands on March 3-7 at the invitation of Minister Teina Bishop to discuss fisheries and pearl development. The professor […]

La Nina linked to algae bloom

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Survey findings of complete mortality of all bivalves including pearl oysters below 25 metres may be linked to the La Nina weather and the dark state of the lagoon that has persisted since winter 2011. Findings were presented to the Island Council and pearl farmers of Manihiki by MMR in March. The trigger for alarm […]

Farmers' association ready for action

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

The newly elected executive committee of the Manihiki Pearl Farmers Association (MPFA) is gearing up for work it will face in the next couple of years. The committee that was elected during the Annual General Meeting held in March has some new faces on board and at the helm. Former Mayor and active Association member […]

Passing - off still a problem

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

CIPA’s Pearl Inspector, Caroline Tiria, makes regular visits to the Punanganui Market and the Wharf on boat days to inspect the pearls on sale for authenticity, to make sure that Cook Islands pearls are being properly labeled and that pearls that are not genuine Cook Islands pearls are clearly marked to inform potential buyers. She […]

Avaiki success in Europe

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Avaiki showed Europe what Cook Islands pearls have to offer at a recent international trade show. Described as successful by the Avaiki wholesale team, it was a chance to exhibit alongside the latest European trends in jewellery and watches. The annual Inhorgenta trade show was held in Munich in February, and is truly an international […]

Pearls of Romance

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

The romance of Cook Islands pearls is part of a celebration of wedding fashion currently taking place in Wellington. “Unveiled – 200 years of Wedding Fashion” from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, is showing over four months at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The Cook Islands Pearl Authority was invited […]

Retailers and wholesalers unite

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

A new organisation was incorporated in early January 2012 called the Cook Islands Pearl Retailers and Wholesalers Incorporated (CIPRWI) to represent the interests of retail, wholesale and jewellery establishments on Rarotonga. The members of CIPWRI included Fisher’s Pearls, Goldmine, Island Craft, The Pearl Lounge, Tarani’s Craft & Pearls, Bergman & Sons, Farm Direct Pearls, Classic […]

Song and dance at Avarua

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

This week at Avarua School was all about celebrating the language and culture of the Cook Islands. “Te Rito o te Reo te Peu Kuki Airani” has involved participation from students across the school, including the pre-school. Each island is represented, with students choosing which island group they wanted to be part of after discussion […]

Cooks are 'better than the pictures'

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Photographed against the busy backdrop of New York City and submerged in French Polynesian lagoons, an opaque bottle of Japanese vodka Iichiko is something of a world traveller. Recently well-known Japanese talk show host, author, videographer and photojournalist Shimpei Asai and Japan Belier Art Center’s art director Hideya Kawakita brought Iichiko to the Cook Islands. […]

Award-winning creative agency opens shop

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

A design and marketing company called Woods the Creative Agency will open for business in the Cook Islands next week. Recently approved by the Business Trade Investment Board to operate as a foreign enterprise, the award-winning agency from the Bay of Plenty is run by Reuben Woods, son of Cook Islands News managing editor John […]

Pukapuka on Facebook

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Pukapuka has a new online presence with a new Facebook account. The site provides photos and news of activities happening at the school, hospital and community in Pukapuka. While only about 20 people in Pukapuka have Facebook accounts, the Pukapukan community in New Zealand has been actively spending time on the site. “Take me back […]

The motus of Pukapuka

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Someone asked me what makes Pukapuka special and unique. I had two answers: the community and the motu system. The motus cover an uninhabited area at least three times larger than the main settlement of Wale. Each village has pule guards that strictly regulate what can be gathered on each motu and when. Anyone breaking […]

Artists unite to form arts council

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Features

Most tourists recall two things about their Cook Islands holiday – the people and the culture. For artist Mike Tavioni, that’s an indication that the Cook Islands’ most important and marketable asset is its culture, a framework that conditions a people. “People are a by-product of their culture, and art is culture. People are not […]

Law should not be elitist

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am reading the comments by Chief Justice Weston relating to having lawyers on the Parliamentary select committee to consider the Judicature Amendment Bill. Knowledge of the law should not be regarded as an elitist pastime fit only for lawyers and presumably above the comprehension of anyone else. Not so, we the Iti […]

Some welfare suggestions

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The public notice shows that Internal Affairs is calling for public input into their review of the social welfare system and my hope is that the Government makes good on their promise to care for the vulnerable. So my suggestion would be to amend the relevant Act so as to make some financial […]

All talk

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yesterday I questioned who released the obviously incorrect statement that “average loan yields in the Cook Islands was 7.3%”. The editor has clarified that it was a Government release. Oops, sorry, wrong line, that was Fiji’s rate. That indicates the real interest Government has in dealing with loan rates, all talk and no […]

Dragged out court case 'stinks'

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

I am writing because my nephew’s friends who wrote to you last week are right. He has had his case dragged out when it should not be like this especially when other people who have done worse things have never been to court. Te tata atu nei au no te mea kua tano te au […]

Kata - March 31, 2012

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Fishers flock to the FADs

Saturday 31 March 2012 | Published in National

A recent survey of fishers reveals that most rely heavily on the fishing aggregate devices (FAD) around Rarotonga. On Thursday afternoon the FAD committee, chaired by Don Beer and comprising fishers and Ministry of Marine Resources representatives, invited all recreational and professional fishers to a meeting to discuss the results of its survey. Thirty-two people […]