Articles by Utopia Support

CISNOCs finances are a police matter

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The whole board of CISNOC should or must resign immediately due to the gross mismanagement, insolvency and misuse of sports and government funds held in trust by incompetent people at CISNOC. The writing was on the wall some years ago but Sir Geoff refused to acknowledge the big mess within CISNOC, now the […]

Kata - December 22, 2011

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Net loss

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna says the problem of population decline is evident in the preliminary census results. The population loss is one (issue) that stands out. That is a concern, he said. We are trying to build up our economy so that people can find a good reason to stay here, but theres still some […]

Population down 8.1% to 17,791

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

The financial secretary has released the preliminary results of the population and dwelling census taken on December 1. Chief statistician Taggy Tangimetua has advised that results are strictly provisional and subject to change, and says a full census report will be available on a rolling basis in the first half of 2012. The census was […]

Perth gift goes to meals on wheels

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands community of Western Australia (Perth) has donated $2535.30 to the Creative Centre ahead of the holidays. Lydia Framhein, who used to live in Perth and still has family there, this week handed over the donation cheque to Creative Centre director Bob Kimiangatau on behalf of those who made the contribution. Months ago […]

Wharf work takes a break

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

Construction work in the Avatiu harbour redevelopment project will halt over the Christmas break, before re-launching early in the New Year. The workforce will carry out its final day of work today and be back to work around January 4, said Ports Authority general manager Nooroa Bim Tou. The $25 million project is expected to […]

Harmonies at the hospital

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

The Hospital Comforts group has been providing comfort for one of its own among the hospital wards this week. The group set out on its annual Christmas carolling and present-giving tour of the Rarotonga Hospital on Tues- day afternoon, delivering songs, sweets, food, fun, gifts and goodwill to patients and staff. As the tour moved […]

Cooks support for Unesco bid

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

Travel Tou Ariki, Pa Marie Ariki and Justina Nicholas are signatories to a memorandum of understanding in support of having Raiateas Taputapuatea declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tou Ariki signed the memorandum on behalf of the ui ariki of the Cook Islands, Pa Marie Ariki on behalf of vaka Takitumu and Nicholas on behalf […]

Crisis poses limited threat

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in National

The eurozone crisis is expected to have limited impact on the Pacific, given its economic fortunes are more closely tied to New Zealand and Australia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports. That claim is the focus of an article in the tri-annual Pacific Economic Monitor an ADB publication. The assessment of the economic growth prospects […]

Sleepless out west

Thursday 22 December 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: This signaller would like to know what on earth is going on at the Crown Beach Resort in Arorangi? The residents living in the area are just fed up with noise and drunken behaviour of those in attendance. The new Tangs Tapas bar is rocking way into the mornings Saturday nights […]

Motu injunction in court

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Local

The case between a majority of the landowners of motu Koromiri (3J and 3K) and Tama Tuavera of Captain Tamas Lagoon Cruizes has been adjourned, pending the result of a related court proceeding. Last month the landowners of Koromiri 3J and 3K filed an application for an injunction to keep Tuavera from using their slice […]

Secret Santas make deposit

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Local

Some of Rarotongas neediest children wont go without a Christmas present this year thanks to donations made through Westpac Banks Giving Tree. The tree has had almost all its name tags returned to it with presents suitable to the age and gender attached so many that bank staff Grace Ngarua, Dan Vaubula and Makiroa Mato […]

Insolvent CISNOC needs $800,000

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Local

CISNOC is insolvent and needs about $800,000 to pay its debt, send Cook Islands athletes to next years Olympic Games and maintain operations until the end of this financial year. Treasurer Dan OBrien shared the bad news with members of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) at a closed meeting on Monday […]

Local tattoo art the subject of new book

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Features

The much-anticipated Patterns of the Past the 224-page book about the art of tatau in the Cook Islands has been officially launched. It was introduced to Auckland on December 13 at Tav Pacific, and will be re-launched in Rarotonga next March. Copies of the $49.95 book were on sale at a 10% discount at the […]

Why are we reforming again?

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is my appeal to the Government of the Cook Islands to reconsider the public sector reform currently being ushered through by ADB. This is not the first time that the Cook Islands have undergone economic reform. We vividly remember the 1995/6 reform which forced many Cook Islands families out of their islands […]

Questions for lawyer and police

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After reading the article Jury acquits convicted criminal in your edition of Thursday December 15, and if the article is in fact correct, I am concerned about justice for the victim and the safety of the community at large. As a member of the general public I do have questions about this particular […]

Inform people of risks and benefits

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in regards to this weeks article on Henry Puna, Kevin Iro, Abu Dhabi and a clown fish named Nemo. Last time I checked lobbyists like Kevin Iro usually wine and dine government officials with lunch and drinks but I suppose when youve got personal business interests, contractual aspirations for yourself and […]

Stench a national issue

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to join others in conveying dismay and utter disgust in regards to the awful smell permeating from Scotts farm all these years and getting worse as time goes by. A special congratulations to Mann Short who has the courage and conviction to be proactive in getting this stench problem addressed. […]

Too offensive to overlook

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We have returned to your beautiful island every year since 1997 for very obvious reasons. Its beauty, the gentle and friendly people, the amazing blue lagoon keep pulling us back. Although we have encountered this problem on many of our previous visits, we now feel compelled to comment on the overpowering stench of […]

It's for aristocracy

Wednesday 21 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s ironic a minister of an elected government should consider it important to set aside a day for the aristocracy in this country, ie Ui Ariki Day. These are people who are born to their positions: an anomaly in any democracy. These people aren’t elected by the public of this country, so why […]