Articles by Utopia Support

We can all do something to help

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Local

Today, White Ribbon Day, marks the beginning of 16 days of activities to ensure that we continue to strive for a society with zero balance to any form of violence against women and their children. Violence against our women takes many forms: physical, sexual, psychological and economic. It is estimated that over 50% of our […]

Prime minister meets US president

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna is one of a dozen Pacific leaders to have met United States President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Hawaii earlier this month. The US played host to an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) leaders meeting held in Honolulu, while Pacific leaders including Puna were simultaneously in Hawaii […]

Police introduce changes to justice system

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands police are introducing two restorative justice schemes to better deal with people facing minor offences. The diversion and pre-charge warning schemes will be reviewed in six months, before a decision is made about implementing them permanently. Targeted are first-time offenders, facing charges which carry maximum penalties of less than six or 12 months […]

Moving on

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Mr Jeff Gunter is entitled to his views. He may be a police officer in the US, in a jurisdiction with different cultural values, systems and processes but even in that jurisdiction there is a process for members of the public to make complaints against police which is investigated by a special unit […]

Comments did not add value

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I really dont know why the Idaho Police Chief Mr Gunter thought he could add value to the public discussion on the Zac Guildford incident and in particular the local police performance. Its an unwritten rule amongst the police fraternity, that a copper on another coppers patch shows respect. If he has some […]

Kata - November 25, 2011

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Kata

First diversion case considered

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Police are dealing with their first case of diversion, which enables those charged with single and minor offences, and no previous convictions, to attempt reconciliation with victims. In certain instances, if victims and defendants come to an agreement in collaboration with police officers, court prosecutors can apply for discharge without conviction. It is common practice […]

PIAF begins research project

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

HIV-related research was the focus of a recent Suva workshop, organised and coordinated by Hilary Gormon of the Rarotonga-based Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation (PIAF). The gathering marked the beginning of a project which will involve six countries Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, French Polynesia, Kiribati and Guam. The project aims to explore experiences of treatment among […]

Ariki collect opinions on seabed mining

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Resolutions gathered from a group meeting of the Cook Islands Ariki held early this month will be ready for public release about Christmas time. The House of Ariki brought in chiefs from across the Cook Islands for a series of meetings in early November. They discussed a number of topics relating to land use, relations […]

December start for Parker

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

New auditor general Allan Parker is due to start work at the beginning of December. Parker, who is the audit offices former special reviews division manager, was appointed as auditor general over long-standing head of audit Paul Allsworth a couple of months ago. Parker, who is currently out of the country, is finishing his term […]

Media action prompts assault charge

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Media intervention progressed a criminal matter this week, in which Ngatangiia resident Steven Kavana widely known as Captain Moko has been arrested and charged with assault. His charge relates to an altercation with Muri resident Rick Johnston at the latters home on Sunday evening. Johnston claims Kavana and two friends turned up at his house […]

Fuel pricing explained

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

In light of the interest expressed in how the Cook Islands Price Tribunal establishes fuel prices, the tribunal would like to explain its procedures. Throughout the period since the current tribunal (comprising Madeilene Sword, Tatiana Burn and Terry Hagan) was appointed in 2010 it has adopted a policy of pricing fuel by shipment. During this […]

Internet charges coming down

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

New internet prices for Telecom Cook Islands broadband connections have been designed to encourage heavier internet usage as the company moves towards faster and cheaper services. With the introduction of faster and cheaper satellite services still on track for a mid-2013 introduction to the Cook Islands, Telecom is hoping to boost the countrys internet usage […]

Aucklands Pukapuka community at odds

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Financial difficulties and disputes over leadership are driving a wedge into the Auckland-based Pukapuka community. Following a failed property deal, a physical altercation at a recent meeting and attention from the Internal Department of Revenue, the Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc is at a crossroads. Pukapuka Community of NZ Inc president Nuku Rapana has reportedly […]

Germans top the European numbers

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Germans are known across the globe as being prolific travellers, so it is only fitting that the numbers coming from the European giant dominate the Cook Islands visitors from the continent. Outside of the UK, there is no other European traveller more common in the Cook Islands than those from Germany. There are so many […]

Visitor numbers up for October

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands appears to have bucked the depressing effects that the 2011 Rugby World Cup has had on tourism coming from New Zealand. Although the Cook Islands received fewer visitors from New Zealand in October this year than it had last year, the overall visitor numbers for the month are slightly higher than last […]

Neighbouring fisheries now closed

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

As the Cook Islands starts its own exploratory fishing programme for bigeye and skipjack tuna and swordfish, three Pacific nations have closed their waters to foreign fishing vessels in an effort to maintain sustainable tuna fishing limits. The Cook Islands government has just announced its signing of a three-year access agreement with the Peoples Republic […]

Solicitor general job closed to applicants

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

The job of Cook Islands Solicitor General, within the Crown Law Office, is now closed to applications. Former solicitor general Tingika Elikana successfully applied for the job of justice secretary and was officially appointed last month, when senior crown solicitor Catherine Evans was also sworn in as deputy solicitor general. She retains that position regardless […]

Health feedback welcomed

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in National

Health minister Nandi Glassie is urging all patients and users of Rarotongas medical facilities and services to provide feedback through suggestion boxes installed at various places on the island. The suggestion boxes can be found at Rarotongas hospital, its newly upgraded maternity ward and the outpatient clinic in Tupapa. Planning is also underway for more […]

Ant and grasshopper story revisited

Friday 25 November 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

This ones a little different, writes a smoke signaller who sent across the old and new version of the Ant and the Grasshopper. OLD VERSION: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and […]