Articles by Utopia Support

Blinded by the Chinese dollar

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Whilst our Pacific neighbours have wisely closed off their fishing territories to foreign entities to preserve stocks and allow for a sustainable future for their countries here our ignorant government continues to pursue the short term gain of Chinese dollars blinded by the fact that they will eventually rape our ocean. Purse seine […]

Right decision would have been to postpone

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest Tupapa president John Paul Wilsons reply to Avids Supporters letter and noted that CIFA approved one game be postponed and not both. The decision by CIFA on which match or game(s) should be postponed is unruling and the request by Tupapa (JP) should never have been allowed at the […]

Kata - December 7, 2011

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Koro and Kuia visit homeland

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

A group of visiting New Zealand Maori elders and leaders are on Rarotonga learning about the home of their ancestors. The kaumatua are on the he kura ki Waikato visit to Rarotonga and on Tuesday familiarised themselves with the governance of the nation by paying a visit to Parliament House in Nikao. Clerk Puna Rakanui […]

Araura College bids principal farewell

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

Araura College bid a sad farewell to its outgoing principal Enoa Raea at the Aitutaki airport on Monday. Raea is leaving the school after two years as its head. Drummers beat out a goodbye as students and teachers formed a guard of honour for Raea leading to the waiting plane. As a testament to Raeas […]

St Josephs scientist wins dux

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

Mass set the tone for the St Josephs School prizegiving yesterday with the St Josephs Cathedral full to the brim with parents and the wide Catholic community. School principal Sister Celine was extremely proud that the school could graduate the entire grade six class who will move on to high school next year. Most will […]

Fitness Revolution tackles obesity

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

2011 has been an amazing year for Fitness Revolution or FR as they like to call themselves. In 2010, the vision was to bring the gym to the masses with the introduction of group fitness classes such as Fight Do and Zumba to community halls. Roll out 2011, and fitness gurus Puai and Tai Wichman […]

Island should be proud: MP

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

Minister for Tourism Teina Bishop has said Aitutaki is a special destination, worthy on its own in the Pacific as a place to visit. Bishop said the sites, the culture and the warmth of the people made Aitutaki a destination in its own right, and he called on tourism wholesalers from across the world to […]

Aitutaki shines for the world

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

The people of Aitutaki have come together as a community to showcase the best of the people, culture and hospitality of the island to visiting tourism operators this week. More than 70 international tourism wholesalers, media representatives and industry members toured Aitutaki over Monday and Tuesday this week. They were on the island to get […]

Takitumu School in for a Fairy good time

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

The grounds at Takitumu School in Matavera were turned into fairytale land as the school celebrated their end of year prizegiving with a fairytale themed function. The entire playing field was turned into a fairytale carnival as each class, dressed in the outfits of characters from their chosen fairytale, paraded on colourfully decorated trucks much […]

Tupapa prepared for emergencies

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

No one in Tupapa and Maraerenga will have to worry about sleeping through a tsunami thanks to an emergency siren being installed at the Tupapa meeting house. Pu tapere George Matutu approached Tupapa member of parliament George Maggie seeking funding for a tsunami siren to be installed in either of the villages he represents. Its […]

Census enters final stages

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

The post-census will be completed by Friday. Enumerators are visiting homes that were empty when they did their rounds the first time, and double-checking that all information supplied between November 21 and December 1 still stands true. For example, if a baby was born in that period the population count has to be amended. Police […]

Polynesians reflect on Taputapuatea

Wednesday 7 December 2011 | Published in National

A delegation of chiefs and cultural advisers from Rarotonga is in Raiatea, championing for famous marae Taputapuatea to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pa Marie Ariki, Tou Travel Ariki, Ngarima George, Ngatuaine Maui and Justina Nicholas are this week discussing with their Polynesian brothers and sisters the significance of Taputapuatea and the importance […]

Environmental integrity is key

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands delegation to the United Nations climate change summit in Durban, South Africa has emphasised the issue of environmental integrity when reducing greenhouse gas emission from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transport. Head of delegation Pasha Carruthers, from the National Environment Service, made the position known at the opening plenary session […]

Climate and fisheries in focus at workshop

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Environment

Well-known weatherman Dr Jim Salinger is coming back to Rarotonga to talk climate and fisheries. Dr Salinger, together with University of Auckland lecturer Phoebe Fletcher, will this week be speaking at a workshop jointly organised by the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Cook Islands Meteorological Service. An offshoot of the climate and fisheries conference […]

If it seems too good to be true, it is

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Local

Fraud tends to peak during the holidays, as scammers attempt to take advantage of the seasonal surge in spending. Its the festive period a lot of people are spending money and the possibility of internet scams occurring is very high right now, Financial Intelligence Unit head Bob Williams said yesterday. I think as a precautionary […]

Better project implementation advocated

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Local

Better project implementation will support inclusive, sustainable growth, delegates at a workshop organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have been told. The workshop on project implementation and administration, held in Port Vila, was attended by senior officials from ministries of finance and economic management, infrastructure and public utilities, and lands and natural Resources, as […]

Parliament to resume

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Local

Parliament resumes from 1pm tomorrow. Members will meet for a prayer and a roll call to determine whether parliament has a quorum a minimum of 12 members who must be present in order to conduct the business of parliament and can resume. As such, the sitting cannot be confirmed until tomorrow afternoon. Clerk of parliament […]

Kata - December 6, 2011

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in Kata

Excess noise and thefts at weekend

Tuesday 6 December 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Police have recorded a trouble-free weekend on Rarotongas roads, but noise complaints and thefts have been keeping officers active. Police recorded a number of burglaries and thefts over the weekend, but warned that some could have been prevented if people took more proactive precautions. A tourist fell victim to theft at Rutaki beach […]