Articles by Utopia Support

Mental health stats shocking: Te Kainga

Friday 27 January 2012 | Published in National

More needs to be done to combat mental illness in the Cook Islands population, says Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, with figures showing Rarotonga in particular is recording a severe rate of suicide. When recorded per capita, Rarotongas suicide rate among its male population overshadows those recorded in Australia and New Zealand. Te […]

Pathway programme returns to Rarotonga

Friday 27 January 2012 | Published in National

The Pathway programme returns to Rarotonga for the eighth time next month. The programme has been set for Tuesday February 28 and Wednesday February 29 from 9am to 5pm. The two-day event will take place at Te Uki Ou School in Ngatangiia. Ten people have already confirmed their intent to attend. The focus of the […]

93 to pledge loyalty

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands permanent residency list will grow by almost 100 people by midday today. Ninety-three people are set to be granted their PR status in a ceremony beginning at 10.30am at the National Auditorium. All in the group are spouses of Cook Islanders or permanent residents. Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin, Prime Minister Henry […]

Police nab thieves, burglars

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Local

Thirteen people between the ages of 15 and 31 will face burglary charges for offences at businesses, visitor accommodation and residential premises. Cook Islands police report that in an operation that has been ongoing since late last year, 14 burglary cases as well as instances of unlawful taking of a vehicle and being unlawfully found […]

Returning Cook Islanders cited for crimes

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Local

Repeat offenders, delinquent youths with no parental control and returning Cook Islanders with criminal history are being blamed for burglaries, thefts and other crimes across Rarotonga. Crimes such as theft and burglary continue to plague Rarotonga residents and visitors with some victims saying thieves and burglars are becoming more brazen. While many point the finger […]

Sea Scouts ready to set sail on Southern Cross

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Local

The Avarua Harbour Sea Scouts took to the ocean blue yesterday skipper Paul Green offered to take them out on SV Southern Cross for a bit of a sunset sail. Led by Maara Vaiimene, the scouts have been together as a group for about two years now.

No response, no excuse

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article from a few weeks ago about two Italian documentary filmmakers critical of the waste management system in Pukapuka. There has been no response from Rarotonga. Government officials came to visit the island last week and did not respond to the issue. Distance is not an […]

When are we getting paid?

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Being an enumerator during the recent national Census, I am wondering when are we to be paid. I have been contacting the Statistics Office for any confirmation since before Christmas and the answer I get is either the end of this week or next week. How many next week have gone past and […]

Kata - January 26, 2012

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Kata

Scholars and graduates to be honoured

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

The Department of National Human Resource Development (DNHRD) is putting on a ceremony to honour recent graduates and scholarship recipients tomorrow. The ceremony, which is in its fourth consecutive year, recognises 139 recent graduates and those who have received scholarships for study in 2012. It honours Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institute (ACITI) graduates, scholarship […]

Uni studies galore offered by USP

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

USP Cook Islands has a full course schedule this year. It is offering both undergraduate courses (in accounting, agriculture, biology, chemistry, computing, economics, English, education, geography, geomatics, law, marine sciences, mathematics, management, physics, psychology, sociology and hospitality and tourism) and postgraduate courses (in public sector management, information systems, international affairs, education and climate change). All […]

Six tips on taking control of your future

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

USPs message for Back to School is addressed to senior school students, many of whom will be leaving school later this year, and may yet be undecided where theyre heading. Begin mapping out your post school education and employment plans now in fact, it might have been better to start as early as age 14. […]

Guten Tag Berlin

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

More than 170,000 people will have access to the Cook Islands at the worlds leading trade show for the international travel industry in March and the tourism corporation is looking for representatives to join them. Cook Islands representatives will join tourism industry members from Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and the South Pacific Tourism Organisation at ITB […]

Egg farm survey still under wraps

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

The Ministry of Health is meeting with Scotts Farm owner John Scott tomorrow to discuss the results of a survey and inspection conducted earlier this month. Director of community health services Dr Rangi Fariu says he met with public health nurses and senior ministry staff yesterday to compare and analyse data collected during a residential […]

Gear and goods donated to fire brigade

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in National

The Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade will be better-equipped to combat fires thanks to a donation from some New Zealand counterparts this week. Clive Lennox and his sons Andrew and Jamie, who are all volunteer fire fighters in New Zealand, donated boxes full of fire-fighting gear to the brigade on behalf of the Taranaki-based Hawera Volunteer […]

One Foot over the line

Thursday 26 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes that a German man resident in New Zealand, who is alleged to have made hundreds of millions of dollars profit from his computer file sharing website megaupload.com, should be welcomed to the Cook Islands with open arms. Kim Dotcom would bring all that lovely money he has stashed away and then […]

Saving daylight but not power

Wednesday 25 January 2012 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands may not experience the same drop in power use that countries such as New Zealand experience if daylight savings is reintroduced, warned a renewable energy development body. The idea of introducing an earlier start to daylight savings times to create energy savings is one that has been tossed about for years. In […]

Up for grabs!

Wednesday 25 January 2012 | Published in Local

A little planning and some good running legs thats what youll need if youre chosen for CITCs three-minute grocery grab, says the last lady to run it. Mariana Henry, who competed in CITCs grocery grab when it was last run in 2009, said it would be a good idea for whoever wins the competition next […]

Fiji storm not a threat to Cook Islands

Wednesday 25 January 2012 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service says the big storm brewing over Fiji is neither expected to develop into a cyclone nor likely to affect the Cook Islands. Heavy rains and flooding in Fiji have already claimed two lives and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. At about 3pm yesterday, met services operations manager Maara […]

Pacific leaders flock to One Foot Island

Wednesday 25 January 2012 | Published in Local

Aitutaki will be hosting this years Forum Leaders Retreat. Each year the leaders who convene for the Pacific Islands Forum meet for a one-day retreat last year the forum took place in Auckland, and the Leaders Retreat was held at Waiheke Island. This year One Foot Island in the Aitutaki lagoon is looking like the […]