Articles by Utopia Support

2 new faces at Intaff

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (Intaff) welcomed in two new faces this week, bringing a boost to its consumer affairs office and welfare division. With about 17 years of experience in the social development ministry New Zealand, Iva Tau Eitiare said she enjoyed the work that came her way in Intaff’s welfare division. Eitiare moved […]

'That isn't really a pig'

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST director Gerald McCormack analyses ancient Cook Islands beliefs about gods and spirits and the animals they inhabited. He also took the photos illustrating this story. The Cook Islands has a rich tradition of working with spirits. In ancient times all misfortune and ill-health were attributed to spirits who consisted of a plethora […]

Space junk splashes down in Muri

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

On a cloudless Rarotonga night the stars always put on a fantastic show, aided by a streaking meteor or two, but all that was about to be upstaged. To the left it appeared as a bright orange, diamond shaped light in the night sky, approaching from the north of Muri lagoon, heading on a southerly […]

School health check-ups on again

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Health has rescheduled its biennial (two-yearly) school physical health examination for all Rarotonga schools. American Global Volunteer Susan Koralek has returned to Rarotonga and will be resuming her free eye-screening programme in coming weeks. Accordingly, the ministry has brought the physical health check dates forward. Health officers did the physical check at […]

'We had no control over circumstances'

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

Finance minister Mark Brown is adamant that government had no control over the circumstances which forced it into a deficit. In Parliament on Tuesday he said: “I would just like to point out to our members and those of the public that are listening in that this deficit in the budget occurred from an event […]

Norman George criticises Allsworth's salary

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

Teenui-Mapumai member of parliament Norman George has pointed the finger at former auditor-general Paul Allsworth for continuing to collect a salary equivalent to that which he collected as auditor-general. Allsworth has been appointed head of a new government division – the Governance and Oversight Services Unit. During question-and-answer time in parliament on Tuesday, George queried […]

Big shoes to fill in 2012 pageant

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

The Miss Cook Islands Pageant dates for 2012 have been confirmed. The final night of the pageant will take place in the National Auditorium on June 7, ending a week of high-stakes competition. The Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association (MCIPA) finalised its pageant dates at its annual general meeting earlier this month, during which Clee […]

George George is mad mad

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

If it was food, George George wouldn’t be too upset. But because thieves targeted electronic items, iPods, Playstations and other such toys and gadgets when they went through his house, George says he’s left feeling angry, disappointed and, perhaps worst of all, insulted. After years of working with children and teenagers to help promote them […]

Minister's travels for the week

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

Southern group youth to join forum

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

At least 20 youth from the southern group of islands will join 100 young adults from Rarotonga to share their views, opinions, concerns and practical solutions with each other at a youth forum next month to help overcome the challenges facing their age group. A steering group charged with organising the forum, which is aiming […]

So what's the 'trigger figure'?

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

The government and the people of the Cook Islands received a surprising and slightly worrying notice from Air New Zealand this month when it warned that the underwrite being provided by the country to secure flights to Australia and the United States would rise to an estimated $12.5 million for the financial year. Until this […]

NZ 'reneging' on pension promise: Priest

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in National

Making New Zealand’s superannuation portable so people living in the Cook Islands can access their pension is a complex issue and will be examined in time, according to New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully. McCully said New Zealand was not breaking a promise made to the Cook Islands when he announced last week that the […]

Koru lounge or staff pay?

Saturday 25 February 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “It is actually quite devious of the high-ranking CISNOC defenders to let us know coincidentally that the Air NZ Koru Club members of the team have repaid the money they took for their memberships. The treasurer should be the one reporting this, but once again it’s part of the make-it-up-as-we-go spin […]

If only I wouldn't be this way

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk

I asked my daughter Miriama if she could write the “churchtalk” article for me. I did not give her any topic, I just told her, write from the heart, from your personal journey. The article below is what she came up with. I read it and concluded that the activation of life is so real […]

Cardinal of Manila welcomed

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Church Talk

The Cardinal of Manila, Gaudencio Borbon Rosales, has spent the last two weeks visiting the Cook Islands. He took time out this week to chat with CINews about his visit, his life and renewable energy. Sitting on the veranda of the Bishop’s House in Avarua, Cardinal Rosales looks as though he enjoys life. “I am […]

Airline subsidy 'necessary'

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Local

The flights linking Rarotonga with Los Angeles and Sydney are key to ensuring the Cook Islands receives an inflow of tourists across the year while making sure it does not solely rely on New Zealand as its only market. And by underwriting the Air New Zealand flights that travel those routes weekly, the Cook Islands […]

New national post office proposed

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Post is considering opening a new post office and headquarters alongside the Telecom headquarters in Parekura, but first the company is trying to gauge the level of community support it would receive. The new location would contain more post boxes than is at the current office and at a larger size. They would […]

Useless rock wall

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s ironic that the newspaper had the photo of the new rock wall in the Avatiu harbour with the caption ‘New wharf used for the first time’. The fact that the rock wall is a total waste of money and cannot be used for any harbour function begs the question as to whose […]

Lack of transparency

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are very concerned about the lack of transparency with the seabed mining negotiations. It is only because a question was asked in parliament that we know anything about this latest approach by Endeavour. We urgently request of government that they keep the Cook Islands public fully informed of what is happening. We […]

Kata - February 24, 2012

Friday 24 February 2012 | Published in Kata