Articles by Utopia Support

Cultural heritage under discussion

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

Protection of our cultural heritage is the topic of a meeting taking place today in Rarotonga. Members of the Asia-Pacific region will be welcomed to the 2012 Sub-regional Information and Network Meeting for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Pacific, which is taking place over the next three days.

Mongoose health checks

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

Men’s health is this year’s focus for the Avatiu-Nikao Mongoose golden oldies club who are inviting all their brothers from Ruatonga to Pokoinu to join them for a warrant of fitness health check this Thursday. Doctor Fariu from the ministry of health and fellow health officers will be at Mongoose headquarters, Rose’s Garden, at 4.30pm […]

Happy 'leap year'

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

There is a term for those with a February 29 birthday – they are ‘leap babies’, who technically have one birthday every four years. Today is ‘leap day’ according to the Gregorian calendar. Occurring in most years that are divisible by four, such as 2008 and 2012, leap days exist to keep the modern calendar […]

New China agreement released

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

The new agreement between the Chinese and Cook Islands governments – granting $3.8 million to the Cooks –has been made available to the public. In response to prodding from Cook Islands News, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAI) yesterday released a copy of the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement jointly signed by Tom Marsters and […]

Kia maeva te peu, reo Maori!

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

In honour of Mother Language Day, internationally commemorated on February 21, Apii Te Uki Ou put on a cultural extravaganza at a special assembly for family and friends last Friday. Makara Vaine, teacher in charge of Maori and culture at Apii Te Uki Ou, says that Mother Language Day commemorations ran for the whole week […]

Kave Kave in Pukapuka

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

The Kave Kave fishing competition remains a unique, time-honoured tradition in Pukapuka. For two days, the men of each village compete against each other to see which village can catch the most fish. And since Yato won the overall sports competition, Yato set the rules for this year’s Kave Kave fishing competition. For two days, […]

Grocery grabber fills 5 trolleys

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in National

A planning meeting on Monday night helped Vaine Ngatokorua grab $2713.90 worth of groceries in three minutes at the CITC supermarket yesterday as the second winner of the company’s grocery grab promotion. Ngatokorua turned up for the grocery grab in heels and her work uniform but the clever Cookie brought a spare set of clothes […]

Is this another of those deals?

Wednesday 29 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

“So, Air New Zealand wants the Cook Islands to subsidise its increased fuel costs on the Los Angeles and Sydney routes?”a smoke signaller writes. “One wonders how it is recovering its increased fuel costs on its other routes? How is any other airline recovering its increased fuel costs, or any other increased costs? One would […]

$4m grant from China

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Local

It was yesterday revealed that an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement providing for a grant of approximately $4 million, for projects yet to be identified, was signed last week between Prime Minister Henry Puna, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Marsters and a special Chinese envoy visiting the Cook Islands. However, last week reasons for the […]

Special meeting going ahead

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Local

CISNOC is going ahead with a special general meeting tomorrow. The meeting is to discuss the 2012 budget, outstanding payments and funding for the national activity programme. The meeting had been scheduled for February 15 but was postponed. CISNOC president Sir Geoffrey Henry is in New Zealand receiving medical treatment, and will be absent from […]

Go loco!

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I thought this parable below would be fitting for the CISNOC and what is happening with our country: Henry Puna is my Shepherd I shall not want He leadeth me beside still offices and an incompetent CISNOC He restoreth my doubt in the CIP Party He annointeth my vote with overseas travel While […]

Deal disadvantages subsidy payers

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The points made by the CEO and Chairperson of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation to justify the continuation and increase in subsidy to Air NZ for the Los Angeles and Sydney routes are all valid. However, equally valid are other points that have not been covered and should have been explored. Why has […]

Avatiu rock wall 'dangerous'

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your letter writer who called the new rock wall at Avatiu useless did not get it quite right. It is in fact both illegal and dangerous. Many people have been asking about this so I make the following points: (1) When he was told the Japanese JIKA report recommended a rock wall for […]

Kata - February 28, 2012

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - February 22, 2012

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Vets perform operation at open day

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in National

Great fun was had by all at the ‘Esther Honey Party’ to honour World Spey Day, and help raise funds for – and awareness of – the continued free veterinary treatment and neutering for Cook Islands dogs and cats. Over the course of the afternoon, about 50 children turned up to cuddle some kittens and […]

Plans progress for wellness centre

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in National

Pa Marie Ariki has spoken of her vision to run a wellness clinic out of her Mata Enua palace, and now she’s doing the legwork to make it happen. Recently she met with minister of health Nandi Glassie, director of community health services Dr Rangi Fariu and nutritionist Karen Tairea – all of whom are […]

Quake escape leads to wedding

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in National

Christchurch earthquake hero Lawrence Timpson enjoyed his visit to the Cook Islands so much he can’t wait to return for his wedding. Timpson is one of 82 earthquake heroes who have been to the Cook Islands to enjoy a well deserved break from the quake zone in Christchurch. “I didn’t really know what to expect. […]

Harvest festival has support

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in National

According to Danny Mataroa, growers and hoteliers have at least one thing in common – a dread of February. Mataroa has a finger in both pies – agriculture and tourism – and desperately wants to give them a bit of a boost in their February lulls. “February is the worst month for growers and for […]

Telecom looks at 'partnering'

Tuesday 28 February 2012 | Published in National

Telecommunications minister Mark Brown has convened a meeting of the telecommunications industry – providers, retailers and associations of users – to discuss its future. Originally scheduled to be held at his office, the venue was yesterday changed to Telecom Cook Islands headquarters in Parekura. Billed as an ‘informal forum’, the meeting is scheduled to take […]