Articles by Utopia Support

Tupapa resident house-bound by rain

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Local

In 54 years of living in Rarotonga, Papa Jeff Griffiths has never seen a flood this bad. The 76-year-old Tupapa resident is completely house-bound unable to step beyond his front and back door. Living on Karekare Alley, Papa Jeff has been watching the rain turn his property into a lake. Steps to his porch are […]

Youth drowns at waterfall

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Local

A Cook Islands youth has drowned after becoming trapped under water at Wigmores Waterfall on Wednesday. Sixteen-year-old Aumata Aumata was swimming at the Titikaveka waterfall with a friend about 5.30pm on Wednesday when a heavy gush of water flowed down the waterfall and trapped him, Cook Islands police said. The youth was stuck under water […]

How much longer?

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wow, it took over a year to find a permanent Finsec and now who knows how long it will take to find a new PSC, so far its six months and counting. This is not very encouraging considering the next round of HOMs appointments come up in 2012. But how long will we […]

Outraged and staggered

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After 30 years of residents in Muri having to put up with the on-going nauseating stench and bug infestation from Scotts Farm, I am both outraged and staggered that government after government after government have yet to enact appropriate legislation to finally put a halt to Scotts farm from polluting the environment with […]

Pa might have a site

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have read the letters regarding the stench coming from Scotts Farm and notice that John Scott is reported to be willing to move if a landowner is willing to give him a more remote piece of land. What about coming to some arrangement with his good friend, Pa Marie Ariki who has […]

Reform ideas for rugby union

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Please allow me to express my thoughts regarding our national rugby competition. With the ongoing migration of Cook Islanders to join their families overseas and the declining population, I believe the CIRU should reconsider their focus with the national competition and maybe direct it to identifying talents for export so to speak. This […]

Kata - December 30, 2011

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Govt plans development roundtable

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Government will host a roundtable with its donor organisations and development partners in Rarotonga at the end of next month. The gathering will be a chance for financial secretary Richard Neves and finance minister Mark Brown to discuss with regional and international agencies the Cook Islands needs and initiatives for the next 12 months. In […]

Police call for help from public

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands police are encouraging people to be vigilant and report bad behaviour during the festive season to help them with the holiday safety blitz. Cook Islands police detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said the public should contact police with information on any strange incidents to help police with their campaign. He said police were frustrated […]

Ministers chief executive resigns

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

George Turia has resigned from his job as the chief executive to cabinet minister Teina Bishop. Turia is apparently still with Bishops office, working out his notice. Bishop confirms that Turia has resigned, but he will not explain why. Cook Islands News has been told that Turia handed in his resignation because he was in […]

Staff ready to move into new HQ

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

After being homeless for almost five years, the Ministry of Education will finally move into its new headquarters next month. The ministry has been given the go-ahead to move into its Nikao headquarters, located behind the airport near Tereora College, from mid January. Ministry of Education secretary Sharyn Paio said it was a little concerning […]

Red Cross advice for festive season

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Red Cross is taking a break during the holidays, but encourages Cook Islands residents to prepare for disaster threats this season by taking some time out for planning. – Orientate your family and visitors with your disaster plan in case of a cyclone or emergency – Ensure a ready kit is packaged and […]

Atiu gains mobile phone service

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Atiu has become the latest island to connect with Telecom Cook Islands mobile phone network. Telecom extended its GSM Mobile Service to Atiu in the weeks before Christmas, making it the fourth outer island to have the network introduced this year. The people of Atiu through their mayor, island council, and members of parliament submitted […]

Tupapa roads set for upgrade

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Tupapa action man George Maggie has plans to upgrade about ten roads in his constituency next year. The member of parliament spoke to Cook Islands News yesterday as flood water rendered some Tupapa roads and driveways inaccessible. Maggie says he has already signed a deal with infrastructure minister Teariki Heather to use material dredged from […]

Rains keep falling!

Friday 30 December 2011 | Published in National

Rarotonga received half of its monthly average rainfall for December within a 24-hour period this week, with more than 100mm of rain drenching the island on Wednesday. In the 24 hours leading to 8am yesterday, Rarotonga soaked in 110mm of rain according to the Cook Islands Meteorological Service thats four and a half inches on […]

Early rubbish collection ineffective

Thursday 29 December 2011 | Published in Environment

Early rubbish collection, or a lack of, in some Rarotonga villages has caused a stink among residents. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) told Cook Islands News last week that rubbish collection by its contractor T&M Heather would remain as per normal over the Christmas and New Year period including all public holidays. But […]

Christmas baby came early

Thursday 29 December 2011 | Published in Local

Christmas was extra special this year for Carl and Pua Hunter who welcomed their baby boy into the world on the afternoon of Christmas day the only baby born at the Rarotonga hospital on the day. The yet to named baby boy was due today, though Pua said that after her first three boys she […]

Predictions unchanged

Thursday 29 December 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands cyclone predictions for the current season have not changed despite the current adverse weather, according to Cook Islands Meteorological Service senior forecaster Maara Vaiimene. One or two cyclones are expected to affect the Cook Islands southern group during the current season, which officially extends to April. Climate and weather forecasting organisations across […]

Cyclone-like weather batters Raro

Thursday 29 December 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotonga was battered by high winds and heavy rain early yesterday morning from a weather front that brought in conditions similar to a tropical cyclone, Cook Islands Meteorological Service reports. Wind gusts of about 90km/h battered areas of Rarotonga while more than 60mm of rain fell on Rarotonga between 8am on Tuesday and 2pm yesterday. […]

Loving chicken farm outcry

Thursday 29 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Might I say that I am loving the recent write-ups concerning the stench from the chicken farm in Muri. Loving any negative impact this may have on the chicken farm so that John Scott is forced to clean up his act once and for all. Try living next door to the chicken farm, […]