Articles by Utopia Support

Visitors up 8%, bringing $315m

Tuesday 31 January 2012 | Published in National

More than 112,000 tourists injected an estimated $315 million to the Cook Islands economy in 2011, according to the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. The government body recorded an 8 percent increase on visitor arrivals in 2011 when compared to the 12 months before that, pushing visitor figures to 112,446 for the calendar year. The increase […]

New Empire market hangout planned

Tuesday 31 January 2012 | Published in National

Organisers of a new night market are hoping to turn the carpark at Empire Theatre into a Friday night hang-out, where both locals and tourists can mingle and pick up a steak and mushroom roll. Coordinator Piltz Napa says the idea is to give food vendors the opportunity to operate on a weekday and the […]

It should never get to that point

Tuesday 31 January 2012 | Published in National

Suicide is a symptom of a deeper affliction, says youth leader Tony Feao. Feao addressed the issue and explained that suicide is a reaction to life a cry for help that comes too late. Feao, 32, and his wife Simone are leaders of 412, a youth ministry at Celebration on the Rock, and run their […]

Teenage boys death not suspicious

Tuesday 31 January 2012 | Published in National

The body of an Avarua youth has been returned to his family with police and the coroner ruling out foul play in his death. The 16-year-old male was found dead at his Avarua home on Saturday. Cook Islands Police inspector John Strickland said police had closed the case and the coroner had released the youths […]

Parliament opens mid-Feb

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in Local

The next session of parliament has been unofficially scheduled for February 15. Parliamentary services clerk Nga Valoa says he cannot confirm a date as yet, but Cook Islands News understands that the deadline for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management to confirm the workings of the supplementary budget is February 15. The budget is […]

Aitutaki keen to host retreat

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in Local

Aitutaki member of parliament Teina Bishop says the people of Aitutaki are 150 percent supportive of the proposal to host Pacific Islands Forum leaders on One Foot Island in August. Were 150 percent supportive we just cant wait, Bishop said yesterday. The Aitutaki community met with Bishop, mayor John Baxter and retreat coordinator Mike Henry […]

High level talks begin today

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in Local

A two-day meeting between Cook Islands officials and representatives from its development partners in New Zealand, Australia, China, India, the European Union, the Pacific and other regions begins today. The meetings, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, include a number of bilateral discussions with about 30 representatives from governments, international authorities, regional […]

Kata - January 30, 2012

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in Kata

139 graduates, 28 scholarships

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in National

One hundred thirty nine graduates who last year studied under Department of National Human Resources (DNHRD) schemes and 28 new scholarship students were the guests of honour at a ceremony held in the National Auditorium on Friday afternoon. The DNHRD runs the ceremony annually to acknowledge those Cook Islanders who successfully graduate under DNHRD-arranged scholarships, […]

Rousing speech at graduation

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in National

Dr Teina Rongo gave a powerful, rousing speech at Fridays Department of National Human Resource Development (DNHRD) graduation ceremony. Dr Rongo, who recently earned his PhD in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology was chosen to be the ceremonys keynote speaker. He began by thanking DNHRD and other funding organisations for sponsoring his […]

Moana Herman returns home to Avarua

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in National

For Teremoana Herman, becoming principal of Avarua School wasnt like taking on a new job it was more like coming home. Herman has moved from the deputy principals job at Tereora College to replace Gelling Jack as Avaruas principal. Jack worked in the role for 17 years, bridging the gap from when Herman last worked […]

Mato lands Pacific trade role

Monday 30 January 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bids farewell to its trade policy officer and the country to a prominent community personality next week. Teremoana Mona Mato has been offered a job as a trade and export promotions officer with Pacific Islands Trade & Invest, an Auckland-based agency that facilitates exports, investment and tourism promotion within the […]

Keep yourself for the very best, not for second best

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Church Talk

It is absolutely gut-wrenching and cruelly heartbreaking to hear far too many of our teenage suicide cases as resulting or involving some kind of a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship. Where in the world did we ever get this concept or notion of a boyfriend and girlfriend relationship? It certainly did not and does not come […]

Betela sand mine brings tears

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Environment

An Arorangi couple says plans to have their grandchildren and great-grandchildren build homes on their family property have been trashed by workers who mined sand and replaced it with a dumping ground for rubbish. Great-grandparents Glynne and Dora Evans were left heartbroken after a visit to their Betela property two weeks ago, when they discovered […]

Muri people say no one is listening

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Local

Muri residents say they have given up hope that the Ministry of Health will take action to address their collective complaints about the smell coming from John Scotts poultry farm. Resident Mann Short says he and his neighbours have been making noise, but are being ignored and rebuffed by authorities. He says he is still […]

Treat it as spam: CI Tourism

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Local

Claims made in an email aimed at blowing the lid on the Cook Islands tourism industry are misleading at best and should be treated as spam, says Cook Islands Tourism Corporation chief executive Carmel Beattie. Beattie said it was best to ignore the email, as international tourism representatives were sure to be doing, and stick […]

Skin care line named Te Tika

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Features

Sydney-based company Cook Islands Medical Technologies (CIMTECH) is planning an August launch for a new line of skin care products made from Cook Islands plants. CIMTECH research director Dr Graham Matheson confirmed that the company will be staging its first product launch in Rarotonga. Scheduled to precede the Pacific Islands Forum in August, it will […]

Kata - January 28, 2012

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in Kata

74 spouses awarded permanent residency

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in National

Seventy-four spouses of Cook Islanders and permanent residents of the Cook Islands received their permanent residency status this week. People of 12 nationalities were represented in the list, with some married to their partners for more than 40 years and others for a minimum of five. Today, Cook Islands News publishes the names of all […]

Double meaning

Saturday 28 January 2012 | Published in National

Australia Day is the most popular day for new nationals of the country to undertake their citizenship ceremonies. So for Australians who lined up to receive their certificates permanent residency at the National Auditorium on Thursday, the ceremony held an extra special meaning. Six Australians were listed among the 74 spouses of Cook Islanders and […]