Articles by Utopia Support

Nikao roadwork's causes profit loss

Wednesday 7 March 2012 | Published in National

For the business located near the Rarotonga Airport, the Nikao road project is more than a minor inconvenience. The day the detour signs went up about a week ago, Cafe Jireh’s profits took a 50 percent hit. Cafe manager Brian Aitken says that as a result of the road project he is recording a loss […]

Welfare policy change recommended

Wednesday 7 March 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands government strongly reiterates its commitment to ensuring the most vulnerable in the community such as the very elderly continue to receive appropriate support and assistance. “The Cook Islands has one of the most extensive social welfare systems in the Pacific region,” said internal affairs minister Mark Brown, “and it is an integral […]

Customer complaint prompts rate review

Wednesday 7 March 2012 | Published in National

Recent media coverage of a Telecom customer’s complaint has re-opened a conversation between Telecom Cook Islands and its parent company about roaming rates in the Cook Islands. Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) chief executive Jules Maher says New Zealand media reports of disgruntled customer Magnus O’Neill’s experience using his mobile phone in the Cook Islands could […]

Rarotonga's big mushroom

Wednesday 7 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

An impressive mushroom-shaped cloud had a number of people scrambling for their cameras to snap a picture as it towered over Rarotonga recently. This photo, sent in by the same smoke signaller who submitted last week’s cute picture of a friendly kitten and piglet, shows the cloud mushrooming over Upper Tupapa. We asked Met Service […]

Muri supports sanitation plan

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Environment

Organisers are saying that a public meeting on Muri Lagoon water quality was a success after 45 local residents turned up on Thursday night. Water Waste and Sanitation Unit (WATSAN) project director Ken McDonald said the response from the local community had been really positive. “Given we are working with 239 houses, to have a […]

Mass oyster mortality in Manihiki

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Environment

Pearl farmers have often described previous “dark periods” in Manihiki lagoon. The current dark state of the lagoon however is just part of the picture involving the complete mortality of all bivalves, including pearl oysters, below 25 metres in the Manihiki Lagoon. The culprit is thought to be La Nina weather conditions, according to Ministry […]

MP calls Avatiu meetings

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Local

Avatiu-Ruatonga-Atupa-Palmerston member of parliament John Henry has called three community meetings to listen to the public’s views on the contentious Avatiu sea wall. “The letters to the paper have been from people outside my community,” he says. “I want to listen to what the community thinks and give the experts the opportunity to give the […]

Toa Petroleum's future in limbo

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Local

A group of landowners has served papers on Apex Agencies, principal of Toa Petroleum Ltd, over the lease on the tank farm site. In an application filed with the Land Court on February 28, landowners raise concerns about the company’s treatment of – and alleged contamination to – their land, and indicate they have no […]

Winning H Factor dream comes true

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Local

Confidence, stage personality and a smooth singing voice earned fitness instructor Joseph Pakitoa the H Factor talent quest crown for 2012. Winning the title was also the best birthday present for Pakitoa who turned 19 on Sunday – a day after taking out the five-week singing competition. For Pakitoa, singing is a passion and one […]

LA flight gives us more time in Raro

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My wife and I have visited the Cook Islands four times now. We are due to do so again this year. We fly from San Francisco, and had to fly through New Zealand (my home) the first couple of times. That route meant we spent less time in the Islands, as we split […]

Rock wall requires urgent answers

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The ongoing debate about the merit and demerits of this Avatiu wharf structure needs some urgent decisions because the country must ask this critical question: Can we afford to render at least a third of the Avatiu harbour useless by building this rock wall? Surely if the rock wall is there purely because […]

Cry from the heart for super

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From 2003 to 2011 I cared for my mum here on Rarotonga. She is 91 now and has for some years needed 24 hour care. The half-entitlement that she got of her NZ superannuation was never enough to allow me to stay home with her 24 hours and still feed my family. And […]

Govt should take a firm stand

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I clap my hands for the Hon. Winston Peters whose position was reported in your front page story of Saturday’s issue headed ‘Winston Peters backs retirees’. He stated he will be looking into this problem with superannuation and taking it up in the appropriate place, either in the house or at the select […]

Kata - March 6, 2012

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Wacky Wednesday for Leap Year

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

It was a wacky Wednesday at school for Apii Te Uki Ou students and teachers who all went loopy to celebrate Leap Year last week. Students were encouraged to ditch the uniforms and dress wack for the day. Being the obedient bunch they are at Apii Te Uki Ou, students rocked up to school wearing […]

Arorangi head boy pledges his support

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Puaikura pride overflowed at the Aroa Nui Hall on Friday when Arorangi Primary School inducted 10 school leaders for the 2012 year. Puaikura members of parliament and traditional leaders joined parents for the special occasion which also included the induction of the school’s two peace ambassadors. The 10 prefects are Teumere Tairi (head girl), Emilio […]

Jumping thresher shark entertains crew

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Cook Islands vaka Marumarua Atua crew members Numa Mackenzie and Alex Olah recently sent an update of their journey from Mexico to the Galapagos Islands to members of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society – here we have printed parts of it. Our weather has been improved greatly as of yesterday and the waves have calmed […]

500 miles to go, excitement in the air

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

It has been an interesting couple of days since our last correspondence with a few changes and events on and around our vaka. We had a visit from our support vessel who brought two film crews to spend a day and night with us – Mike, the head honcho of the production, and Tim as […]

Dog to be destroyed

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

A dog attack, theft, assault and contempt were all crimes that police dealt with at the weekend. A young girl in Matavera was attacked by a dog on Saturday. The owner and the dog have been identified and the dog will be destroyed. One man has been charged with careless driving after he collided with […]

Farmy Army lady takes a break

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Christchurch hero Helen Heddell has been blown away by her visit to the Cook Islands. “We’ve loved it. It is very special, generous and humbling. Every experience here has been amazing,” she said. Heddell is visiting the Cook Islands with her husband Peter as part of the Heroes initiative of the Cook Islands government. They […]