Articles by Utopia Support

74 spouses granted PR

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Local

Cabinet has approved the granting of permanent residency (PR) status to 74 spouses of Cook Islanders and permanent residents. At a meeting in Rarotonga yesterday cabinet approved a list of the 74 applicants, who have all been married to Cook Islanders or those with PR for at least five years. They are now being notified […]

Police chase and arrest teenage girl

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Local

A teenage motorcyclist reached speeds of up to 90km/hr during a police pursuit through Rarotongas west this week. A 17-year-old female was arrested on Monday afternoon and charged following the pursuit. She spent the night in police custody and was charged with dangerous driving. Cook Islands police detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said police were considering […]

Killer whale of a time!

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Local

Proud aunty Josephine Turepu sent in this gorgeous photo of her two-year-old niece Taleya Gukisuva having a Killer Whale of a time at the Rarotongan celebrating her brother Zechariahs fifth birthday with family. This photo is one of a number of stunning images sent in to Cook Islands News in our Memories of summer photo […]

Shocking stuff

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Its just shocking to read yesterdays paper about the skipper who sailed to Rarotonga by himself, was allowed free access into Rarotonga by the harbour master who was sick, escaped the customs check, was allowed to see the doctor (who did not admit him into the medical ward for observation but knew his […]

Kata - January 19, 2012

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Kata

League season start set

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in League

February 4 has been confirmed as the first round of play for the rugby league regular season in 2012 at the Cook Islands Rugby League annual general meeting this week. The 16-week tournament will continue without a break until May, with the grand final set to be played on May 26. Seven clubs will again […]

College open for enrolments

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

Enrolments for the new school year have already begun at Tereora College, with new students the first in action for 2012. The college opened its doors to new students yesterday at 10am, taking in students from other schools in the Cook Islands and some from New Zealand and Australia. The college will be open again […]

Island spirits lifted by water tanks, new roofs

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

The people of Rakahanga are reportedly thrilled with upgrades to their island, with its smattering of homes sporting colour-steel roofs and brand-new water tanks. Rakahanga School principal Tuhe Piho is in Rarotonga this week, and sat down with Cook Islands News to discuss the delight of his people at the recent project managed by the […]

Rakahanga rallies to protect turtles

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

Rakahanga students have rallied behind their islands green sea turtles, proving that even young people are capable of big things. Thanks to the kids keen interest in protecting sea turtles, the entire island community has elected to take the endangered species off the menu. Rakahanga School principal Tuhe Piho says the movement gained momentum when […]

Pu Kuru tradition extolled

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

A string of traditional meetings have been held in Mangaia this month to help keep the public sector and the islands community in touch with each other. Each Puna (district) on Mangaia has been holding its annual Pu Kuru meeting this month, bringing together members of the general public, the island administration and government workers […]

Support for Mangaia agriculture

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie and a delegation have returned to Rarotonga from Mangaia where they spent a few days discussing various issues with the local community. Glassie, associate agriculture minister Kiriau Turepu and Ministry of Agriculture secretary Anthony Brown travelled to the southern-most Cook Islands community to learn more about the islands diminishing maire industry. […]

Survey looks at job opportunities

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in National

For the sake of school leavers and students seeking work experience, the Chamber of Commerce is urging local businesses that were part of the Pacific Business Mentors Programme to complete an education-employment survey. Chamber of Commerce executive director Lynne Samuel first disseminated the surveys via email in early December, but has had a lackluster response […]

Relax and enjoy paradise

Thursday 19 January 2012 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writers in response to Kevin Wards rambling complaint over the driving speed of Papa Tauira [yesterdays letters to the editor], one wonders what Kevins priorities might be? We all get stuck behind the papa. No doubt some of us react like Kevin and think our rights are being trampled by one fella […]

Hot dogs put sun to use

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Local

The Esther Honey Foundation will be able to spend less time worrying about its power bills and more time helping animals in need following and thanks to a new donation. A new 10-panel solar system has been installed at the foundations Rarotonga clinic with its costs and installation all covered through donations. Mary Smith, a […]

Dead or alive?

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Local

A friend of the missing skipper and wanted man said he does not believe he is still alive and has dismissed ideas that he had faked his death. The skipper who is wanted in New Zealand on 26 charges including four of rape, has been the subject of a missing persons investigation since disappearing in […]

Major noni deal sours

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Local

A deal in which tens of thousands of litres of Cook Islands noni juice would be shipped to China for sale has gone sour leaving local growers searching for alternate buyers. Last year Pure Pacifika a New Zealand-based company with subsidiaries in the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa announced it would purchase Cook Islands noni […]

Keep to a schedule

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When are CITV going to get a more accurate TV schedule in place? I did notice they now say Greys Anatomy or whatever follows TV One News will be after the TV One News, so they have taken note there, obviously knowing they will be running late. But again, last night CITV advertised […]

Worst thing to happen to this country in decades

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Concerned Cookie (January 17) has got it right or your banner certainly said it! The fishing licences issued to the Chinese are a national disaster! Wake up TIS. Instead of worrying about recyclable picnic plates, how about doing something (as the only NGO environmental protection agency in this country) and rally your people/government […]

No Maori name for this group of islands

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thanks but no thanks to Interested (January 17) for the false propaganda and inaccurate history of the Cook Islands. If anyone needs to go back to history and find out who we really were it is you. Here’s the correct history of your country (available to be read in history books about the […]

Why recycling is the last resort

Wednesday 18 January 2012 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The letter writer who doesnt want to restrict the number and types of cars imported to the Cook Islands makes me wonder if they might be someone who makes money from selling them. Either that or they are a minority in this country who doesnt think too much about the earths future. Their […]