Articles by Utopia Support

Seas remain high from cyclones

Wednesday 8 February 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has removed all strong weather warnings, but encourages people in Rarotonga to keep a careful watch on the seas until tropical cyclones Cyril and Jasmine have either dissipated or moved further south into a region of cooler sea surface temperatures. Seas are expected to remain high throughout the week. From […]

18 in Aitutaki to get PR status

Wednesday 8 February 2012 | Published in National

Cabinet will add four more people to the list of Aitutakians who are set to receive their certificates of permanent residency this week. Eighteen people from Aitutaki have been confirmed to receive their permanent residency status during a ceremony in the island tomorrow. Fourteen people had already been confirmed for the ceremony and cabinet yesterday […]

4 new Kiwis naturalised

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Local

Four people in the Cook Islands were granted New Zealand citizenship yesterday, becoming perhaps the last people in the world to undergo the naturalisation ceremony on Waitangi Day. Three Samoans and a French Polynesian were the lucky four to receive their citizenship at New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter’s Ngatipa residence. In a short ceremony, […]

5 new consultancy jobs at PSC

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Local

Five new consultancy positions have been created at the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, in keeping with a report put together by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reviewing the functionality of the public service. They are for technical assistants whose job it will be to oversee implementation of recommendations outlined in the functional review […]

Puppy love

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

Nine-year-old Eryka Tommy’s dream of owning a puppy finally came true last week, when her parents collapsed to two years of wishing and gave her one for her birthday. But a dream that took years of pleading to come true only needed days to unravel. Eryka was left heartbroken on the weekend when her new […]

Holds water

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My attention was drawn to Mr Piakura’s letter because it holds water in abundance. The manupulation of genealogy has been an ongoing practice for yonks since the introduction of the white man’s land court to the Cook Islands. Interpreting in court from English to Cook Islands Maori and vice versa has been a […]

Professionals barking up wrong tree

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to add a comment regarding the recent discussion on teen suicide in Rarotonga. Over the past year there have been a number of these teen suicides. After each I have spoken to a few people who have been closely involved with the investigations in each and also people connected with […]

Kata - February 1, 2012

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Kata - February 7, 2012

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in Kata

Big hits in domestic league openers

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in League

As promised there was loads of action at the BCI Stadium on Friday night where a decent crowd enjoyed big hitting cricket under lights for the first two games of the 2012 Turtles Domestic League. Rarotonga turned on glorious cricket playing weather early in the afternoon when Te-Au-O-Tonga took the field for their first of […]

Text banking on 8 islands

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

Westpac customers can now do their banking on the go. The bank last week launched its ‘mobile phone banking service’, which allows registered customers to take care of their banking wherever they are. “Mobile banking is Westpac’s new banking channel that gives customers the option to manage their day-to-day banking needs from their mobile phone,” […]

Police: don't leave keys in motorbikes

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

Don’t leave your keys in your motorbike, even if it is parked right outside your door at home. That’s the message Cook Islands Police are urging the public to take on after two motorcycles went missing at the weekend. It’s a persistent problem facing police and the public. Though there are only ever one or […]

Good reasons to be happy new citizens

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

Though they came from different pasts and different backgrounds, all four people who received their New Zealand citizenship yesterday had a few things in common. In every case, the new New Zealanders were married to Cook Islanders and have been living in the Cook Islands for many years. Each of them also has children, born […]

Weather warning

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service is issuing a strong wind and high seas warning for the southern Cook Islands, including Rarotonga. An active, slow-moving trough of low pressure means clouds and showers for the southern group, though weather conditions are expected to improve from tomorrow. At the weekend the low-pressure systems that developed around Vanuatu, […]

'So close – yet so far away'

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

It’s not another ship on Mauke’s reef, but a reminder of the frustrations of interisland shipping, and the vulnerability of small islands dependent on imports. Taio Shipping’s MV Maungaroa had a bit of a rough time, I was told, getting to Mauke resulting in some cargo shifting en-route. Things only got worse as Thursday’s arrival […]

Health team thrilled with turnout

Tuesday 7 February 2012 | Published in National

A four-person team from the Ministry of Health travelled to Mangaia last week to run a free men’s health clinic in each of the island’s three villages. Team leader Dr Rangi Fariu was impressed by the turnout – of the 181 men in Mangaia, 117 made it to a session. Joining Dr Fariu in delivering […]

Hangi party in Raro

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Aotearoa Society gathered at their Marae in Tupapa to celebrate Waitangi Day with a hangi and chats over a cuppa tea. While today, February 6, is officially Waitangi Day – the society members decided to celebrate the day yesterday in line with New Zealand. To celebrate the day, which commemorates the the […]

Quake heroes take time out in the Cooks

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The first group of Christchurch heroes and heroines arrived on the island over the weekend for a break from the ongoing recovery and rebuilding of Christchurch city after the devastating February 2011 earthquakes. Close to 100 heroes, heroines and their partners will retreat to Rarotonga over the next few months in small groups of 6 […]

Online laws need overhaul: advocate

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Local

The recent spate of emails from a man who is intent on bringing down the Cook Islands tourism industry though an insidious online campaign has sparked an internet advocate to call for more comprehensive laws governing the use and abuse of the web. Maureen Hilyard, the Rarotonga-based chair of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the […]

Suicide hot line must be a priority for govt

Monday 6 February 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Most civilised societies have a suicide hot line that is staffed by qualified trained people 24/7 that people can call when they are in stress. I would like to know what pitiful excuse the Cook Island’s government can come up with for not funding such a service. Not enough money is not an […]