Articles by Utopia Support

Anger wont solve anything

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not surprised that Mr Scott has declined to comment on any of the recent letters sent to your paper re Scotts Farm. Im not sure what it is that Mann Short or Mr Scott have done to resolve what appears to be an ongoing problem for Muri residents. What I do […]

Kata - December 23, 2011

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Career over 40 years comes to close

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in National

After more than 40 years in the public sector, the Cook Islands first accredited librarian and dedicated public servant Carmen Temata will bid farewell to full-time work. Prime Minister Henry Puna was among the crowd gathered at the Office of the Public Service Commissioner yesterday to thank Temata for her years of work in the […]

Christmas gift for pet clinic

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in National

Christmas arrived early at the islands only veterinarian clinic in Nikao when CITC Building centre manager Anthony Francis donned his Santa hat to deliver a water tank and pump to the Esther Honey Foundation. As part of the CITC companys giving back to the community scheme and with support from Galloway International and Argon Distributors […]

Christmas sales up on last year

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in National

Christmas sales seem to be up from last year, and store managers are optimistic that the figures indicate a healthier economy. While none has been able to confirm specifics noting that the time for analysing sales figures is after the great Christmas rush all seem to agree that this year certainly seems busier. CITC manager […]

Stench problem baffles authorities

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in National

The smell wafting from Scotts Farm has in recent weeks prompted some Muri residents to lodge official complaints with the Ministry of Health. They claim that for too many years they have tolerated the odour, which they say varies in intensity throughout the year. Muri spokesperson Mann Short believes Scott is in breach of the […]

$1.5m budget may go with NHRD

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Education is set to receive a boost of up to $1.5 million in its coffers for the 2012-13 financial year following its merger with the Department of National Human Resources Development. But before it can, ministry staff will have to justify why it deserves to take the whole of the Department of […]

PM wont tackle tough issues

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Adding their thoughts to the Muri egg farm odour issue a smoke signaller writes: Angry Muri residents, hold your breath, the prime minister has problems showing leadership qualities just read what he and his finance minister say about CISNOC on the front page of the Cook Islands News on Thursday. He shows he does not […]

Soccer rankings rationalised

Friday 23 December 2011 | Published in Football

FIJI Football Association vice president and national team director Tarunesh Reddy believes the latest FIFA World Rankings do not truly reflect the standard of the sport in some of the countries in the Oceania region. In the latest ranking released earlier this week, lowly rated Samoa has leapfrogged into second position in the region ahead […]

$3m deal

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands and New Zealand governments have signed a deal that will bring $3 million of assistance to the Cook Islands public service over the next three years. The contribution, which will be delivered through the New Zealand Aid Programme, will help government improve its quality of public services and address capacity challenges in […]

Govt wont interfere in CISNOC

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Local

Government will not force the hand of CISNOC executives to resign, despite this weeks revelation that the organisation is insolvent to the tune of almost $800,000. Prime Minister Henry Puna says it is neither appropriate nor legal for government to interfere with the executive board or membership of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic […]

Where will funds go?

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The prime minister promoting the marine park concept overseas is a big joke and hypocritical at the same time. This marine park is only a cover to receive millions of dollars of donor funds that will go into a private trust fund and bank account. I ask the prime minister, whose original idea […]

Horrible of horrible

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Cook Islands, called heaven on earth. So the pamphlets tell us in any travel booking office in NZ and Australia. First night I was in Rarotonga and at Muri Beach, I smelled the most horrible of horrible smells I have never experienced ever before. Needless to say, I had to close my […]

NES must act

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I note with interest that the Environment Service is trying to deny any responsibility for the stink that has been affecting the Muri area for some time now. Below are sections from the Environment Act that suggest it is very much their responsibility. Page 8:Pollution means the introduction either directly or indirectly of […]

Scott accusation is downright insulting

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I find it downright insulting that Scotts Farm has the nerve to accuse your newspaper of being irresponsible when all these years it is clearly evident that Scotts Farm has, time and time again, demonstrated to be totally irresponsible by not preventing the horrible stench from its egg farm affecting the entire neighbourhood. […]

More than just smells

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am just wondering if all the brouhaha about smells from Scotts fowl operation has more sinister and/or other motives than just smells. When you consider that the farm was there long before certain accommodation units and private properties were built close by, with the knowledge of the builders that they were likely […]

Scott comment reserved

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, You say I have declined to comment on recent letters. That is only partly true. So far you have published six letters attacking our operation but only the last three did you successfully communicate any invitation to comment. There have been so many exaggerations, provocations and untruths that I thought that I would […]

Sack the lot of them

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After all the bad and shocking news contained in your article in yesterdays paper (December 21) your report states: It remains unclear whether the executive board will resign. I say, sack the lot of them power hungry and, in many peoples minds, dishonest individuals. Enough is enough. They have had their hands in […]

Too quick to offer support

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A few years ago CISNOC had at least $160,000 on term deposit plus other bank accounts, perhaps they had $200,000. Now they are in a massive deficit. They treated the Pacific Mini Games money as their own, and have received thousands of dollars in grants. This means they have spent hundreds of thousands […]

Dont blame Geoff or Rosie

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From all the controversy among the sports codes and the executives of CISNOC, what has the minister got to say about this whole saga? Doesnt CISNOC go under the sports portfolio umbrella, because its pretty stupid if not, and does CISNOC have to pay back government for things such as the airfares to […]