Articles by Utopia Support

Slur campaign continues online

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

The purported chief executive of bogus online company TouristAdvisor continues to pester Cook Islands residents with emailed promises to cripple the country’s tourism industry. In January a man – Cook Islands News believes him to be American author Rick Johnston, who spent a number of months on Rarotonga last year – sent an email under […]

Pukapuka leads way in health

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Pukapuka is leading the way in the fight against non-communicable disease. The island held a meeting about healthy living and diet at its school hall on March 2, following which an ‘NCD-friendly lunch’ of local food and fresh fruits and vegetables was served. The meeting, attended by hospital staff, the island council and government representatives […]

New call for rock ban

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Former Ports Authority chairman Sam Crocombe is calling on the government to halt further work on the Avatiu sea wall. “It looks to me as though they have run out of money to do the job properly,” he told CINews yesterday. Crocombe was ports chairman from 2006 to 2010 and oversaw the project to redesign […]

Owners serve notice on Toa

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in National

Following a flawed arrangement with Toa Petroleum, the government is required by law to top-up the company’s annual income – provided it is open for business and operating. The petroleum depot’s lease expires next month, at midnight on April 30, and landowners have not made any arrangements to renew it. What that means for the […]

Elvis and Apii 'out of tune'

Tuesday 6 March 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Elvis Puna and Apii the Meter Man are singing a different song when it comes to renewable energy,” a smoke signaller quips. “While the travelling PM is overseas warbling (unrealistically) 100% green, Te Aponga’s bandleader is out of tune with his 6%. And by hogging all the big installations for himself and government and limiting […]

TIS calls for shark finning ban

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Environment

Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is concerned that the Cook Islands lacks legislation to protect sharks from being hooked by foreign fishing vessels in its waters. Responding to a recent Radio New Zealand item about Marshall Islands police enforcing their newly-instituted shark fishing ban, TIS is pushing government to institute a similar ban – and in […]

Finsec on air

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Local

Financial secretary Richard Neves will face the music on Matariki FM today. Broadcaster William Framhein will be putting some tough questions to the country’s leading public servant between 7 and 9 o’clock tonight. Framhein says the interview will cover the performance of government agencies, country debt and payment programming, CISNOC’s debt and the additional budget […]

New look for 'Cooks Book'

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is updating the brochures it distributes at its headquarters and branch offices around the region and the world. The current A4 brochure – which is often referred to as The Cooks Book – will be replaced by an A5 brochure designed to complement the corporation’s updated website. Noel Bartley of […]

Demos will 'stick to the basics'

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Local

The Opposition and Democratic Party under Wilkie Rasmussen’s leadership will stick to the basics but have an open mind towards forces of change to make better the lives of Cook Islanders. “My approach will be quite structured, logical and common sense,” Rasmussen said yesterday in a statement to Cook Islands News. “This is in contrast […]

Rock wall design is flawed

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Neither Ports Authority nor the Beca Project Manager has addressed the main points of my letters about the rock wall at Avatiu. Given the faulty materials being used and the distinct dangers that could be presented by this rock wall, there has been no EIA presented by NES for public perusal containing the […]

Kata - March 5, 2012

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in Kata

Growing Atiu tourism

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in National

One of the most exciting outcomes of the recently launched tourism destination development project on Atiu has been the incredible support by the people of Atiu for the initiatives. Tourism Cook Islands acknowledges that the first phase projects would not have been completed without the cooperation, hard work and determination of Te Iti Tangata o […]

Linking women on international day

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in National

Connecting girls and inspiring futures is the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day on Thursday, March 8. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. To commemorate the annual day for women – Internal Affairs will be highlighting the endeavours of young […]

Takitumu inducts new prefects

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in National

Vaka Takitumu celebrated the induction of eight new prefects and two peace ambassadors at Takitumu Primary School on Friday. Proud parents, grandparents and wider members of the community gathered at the school in Matavera to support the young leaders of the school. The newly inducted prefects of Takitumu Primary School are – Jasmanda Tuaputa, Joseline […]

Lagoon Day runs with Careers Expo this year

Monday 5 March 2012 | Published in National

Rarotonga and southern group island students will have the opportunity to explore their future career options through the annual Careers Expo scheduled for July 19. The one-day expo brings together employers and businesses in the public and private sectors as well as overseas tertiary local trades training providers under the one roof to give students […]

Love, not war, for Celebration on the Rock

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk

When Celebration on the Rock pastor Jonathan Cargill whipped out a gun mid-sermon, a few members of his congregation did a double-take. But Cargill allayed their concern when he launched into an explanation of the church’s newest venture – Paintball Natives, a recreational paintball club focused on fun for the whole family. Owned and operated […]

Arorangi CICC confronts suicide issue

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Church Talk

Ahead of this month’s national suicide forum, members of the Arorangi Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) are putting their heads together to determine how they can address the country’s suicide problem. Last Friday Arorangi CICC Ekalesia executives met with its Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, Girl Guides, Sunday school and youth club to talk about suicide. […]

Fishing groups review concerns

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Environment

Representatives of all fishing associations under the umbrella of the Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIF) gathered for a two-hour annual general meeting on Tuesday afternoon. In attendance were fishers, marine biologists and representatives of the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR). All members present elected this year’s executive – Don Beer replaces Mark Vaikai as president, […]

Pokoinu land claim in court

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Local

Five family groups are vying for 60.57 hectares (149.67 acres) of Pokoinu land. A three-day hearing was set down for this past week but subsequently adjourned, and will begin on Wednesday. The hearing is expected to last through Friday afternoon. Originally three groups were contesting the relevant sections, which include the Rarotonga golf course and […]

Winston Peters backs retirees

Saturday 3 March 2012 | Published in Local

Veteran New Zealand parliamentarian Winston Peters has promised to do his bit for Cook Islands retirees who have worked in New Zealand and would be entitled to a New Zealand pension if they lived in New Zealand. “I will be looking into this and taking it up in the appropriate place. I will raise the […]