Articles by Utopia Support

Open day at animal clinic

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in National

Kitten cuddling, face painting and games galore are in store for the whole family this Saturday at the Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic in Nikao. The open day also commemorates world spey day and the general public at large is invited to celebrate the day and enjoy a great afternoon with the clinic animals and […]

Primary school soccer kicks off

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Football

The Cook Islands Football Association has kick started its annual school visits this week in preparation for the primary school football tournament which will begin next week. CIFA’s technical department staff Tony Jamieson, Tuka Tisam and Paul-Luiz Van Eijk will be visiting schools around Rarotonga teaching and coaching the children the technical side of football […]

Cookies in 'Ethkick' soccer tourney

Friday 17 February 2012 | Published in Football

Cook Islands soccer players based in New Zealand will be competing in the ‘Ethkick’ tournament this weekend where 40 teams will speak the language of football in Palmerston North. Teams from South America, Cambodia, Bhutan, Oman, Malaysia, England and a host of other ethnic groups have entered the tournament, now in its fourth year. For […]

Clean Pacific training underway

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Environment

Nooroa Rangi of Ruaau, who has been spearheading the community’s Taau Taku Tita project, is representing the Cook Islands at a ‘Clean Pacific Campaign’ training workshop in Fiji this week. ‘Every Action Counts’ is the theme of the workshop, which was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), at the Tanoa […]

'Bad export deals can be avoided'

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local

Aitutaki growers disappointed with the fate of exports sent to New Zealand can use Cook Islands government contacts to help ensure similar plans in the future see a better outcome, says secretary for agriculture Anthony Brown. According to Brown, growers from across the Cook Islands can call on a number of government agencies, including the […]

Court to hear Tepuka claim

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local

Next month the kopu ariki of Ngati Makea will have its say in the Tepuka saga before Chief Justice Tom Weston. The kopu ariki believe the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) should no longer hold the title on Tepuka land, which comprises 23.67 hectares (58.48 acres) of land adjacent to the CICC Nikao. It encompasses […]

Silveria sets example by removing graffiti

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Local

A student leader from Nukutere College has turned a bad piece of news into a good story and, in turn, is providing a source of inspiration not just to her fellow-students but also to leaders of all levels across the country. When students and teachers returned to the college on Monday this week, they were […]

Illusionary misconstruction

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I admired the Public Service Commissioner’s use of descriptive language in the recent article containing several of his quotes on the current and predicted future state of public service. I particularly enjoyed: “…reveals an illusionary misconstruction of realities in the public service”. I don’t know anything about the matter to which he was […]

Call for progress report on super

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We hope our PM can find time during Mr McCully’s whirlwind visit to remind him of the statement the latter made in the CINews dated 14 May 2011, quote: “He [Mr McCully] applauded the Cook Islands government’s move to change its immigration policy to extend the Kiwi visa to three months and the […]

Is the 'new way' really necessary at Punanga Nui?

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Could someone please help me? My grandfather and grandmother, 69 and 75 years respectively, are actively going to the Punanga Nui Market every Saturday to sell their local produce to the many that frequent the markets. They were recently told that they were no longer allowed to sell off the back of their […]

Out with the old, in with the new

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is from an observer from the public and a recreational fisherman. Over the last few years I have noticed that things have slightly changed in the Cook Islands within the fishing community and one point I would like to bring out is that I’ve observed there is a new generation of fisherman […]

Kata - February 16, 2012

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Aitutaki league president supports CIRL president

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in League

Aitutaki Rugby League president Mona Ioane says the Sharks give their unreserved support to Cook Islands Rugby League president Charles Carlson and commend him for his ongoing support of the club. Ioane, MP for Vaipae/Tautu, spoke yesterday in defence of Carlson after reading a letter to the editor (‘League a politically driven mess’) in Monday’s […]

Foster reappointed as CI netball coach

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in Netball

Former Silver Fern netballer Marg Foster has been re-appointed as the Cook Islands National Netball head coach. Foster was first appointed as the national netball head coach in January last year. This year she was one of three people who applied for the position. Lynnette Hagai has also been re-appointed as the national squad manager. […]

Power outage possible today

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

Te Aponga Uira (TAU) will carry out routine tests on one of its Avatiu Valley power station generators today and tomorrow. The company is advising there is a chance the testing will cause power to drop out anytime from 9am and 4pm over the period causing outages in some areas. It also warns that for […]

Island Hopper helps Are Pa Metua

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

A community donation will help social service Are Pa Metua keep running for now, but its trustees are concerned that the amount of ongoing support truly needed to keep it operating is not being met. Currently, the service hosts groups of Rarotonga’s senior citizens three days a week. Trustee Pauline Napa thanked Island Hopper Vacations […]

Pa floats idea of 'coconut festival'

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

Like any Cook Islander, Pa Marie Ariki extols the coconut tree for its usefulness. But she believes people have lost sight of the health benefits of incorporating coconut and nu into a daily diet, and she’s got a few plans to remind them. Most exciting to her is the prospect of starting up a ‘coconut […]

New health clinic: a closer look

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

Pa Marie Ariki wants Cook Islanders to understand how dangerous, even deadly, it is to be obese. She says Cook Islanders of years past never struggled with diseases like diabetes – they were fit and healthy and adhered to a diet of local foods like fish, vegetables, fruit and coconut. “Our grandparents, if you look […]

New market starts in Ngatangiia

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

Pa Marie Ariki has always envisioned her Mata Enua palace as a gathering place for the people of Takitumu, and tonight she’s taking the first step toward making that dream a reality. A night market will kick off at the palace grounds at 4.30pm and run until about 9pm. “We thought we’d make use of […]

Pa Ariki wants govt to prioritise health

Thursday 16 February 2012 | Published in National

Pa Marie Ariki is working to rally the support of government and her Tainui cousins in New Zealand for a health clinic she plans to run from her Mata Enua palace. She envisions establishing the palace clinic within the next year, but says the ‘sooner’ she can form a team of helpers and secure funding, […]