Articles by Utopia Support

Half our water leaking

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Local

About half of Rarotongas public water supply is leaking into the ground through a 60-year-old reticulation scheme under the islands roads. Finance minister Mark Brown mentioned the current water problem yesterday in explaining efforts by government to improve Rarotongas water storage and supply infrastructure. He says there are plans for the storage capacity of water […]

Government eyes $2.5m surplus

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Local

Government expects to have a $2.5 million surplus by the end of this financial year, and a national budget surplus of about $6.3 million in the 2013-14 financial year. That is a projection, based on figures during the financial year to date, in which visitor numbers to the Cook Islands have been strong and accordingly […]

Police need encouragement, not criticism

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Cook Islands Police for many years have been expected to perform to the highest standard expected of a force that has a large budget, specialist training, highly qualified university graduates, access to equipment and computer savvy technicians. It is time that people realise that the Cook Islands Police are hugely underpaid in […]

Give Punanga Nui a board of trustees

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to make a very small comment on the Punanga Nui Market as an interested party to our only cultural market on the island of Rarotonga, Cook islands, and the way it has been administered and controlled by the previous government and now, the current government. It made me very sad […]

MOIPs road gang repairs a disgrace

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent road repair work undertaken around Rarotonga by MOIPs road gang is a disgrace to say the least and just not acceptable. Firstly, why is the repair of the potholes around Rarotonga now being undertaken in the middle of the Vaka Eiva tournament when there are an extra 1000 visiting paddlers on […]

Kata - November 24, 2011

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Kata

Health consultation today

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in National

A two-day consultation in Rarotonga this week will form the guts of a national health strategy for 2012 to 2015. Today key stakeholders and members of the public have their chance to discuss the way health should be handled in the short term future during consultations at Sinai Hall. Yesterday Ministry of Health (MOH) employees […]

Bits, bobs and a boil-up

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in National

People wanting to start their Christmas shopping, or have a belated spring clean should consider the Aotearoa Society Rarotongas massive garage sale this Saturday. Spaces are $20 and there are still some left for anyone wanting to sell clothing, household items, and other used goods. Anything other than food can be sold on the day, […]

Budget policy statement ready

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in National

Government is on target to publicly release its budget policy statement next Thursday outlining its priorities for spending in the next financial year. On the eve of his departure from Rarotonga to international conferences, finance minister Mark Brown yesterday sat with local media to highlight the documents key points. He and financial secretary Richard Neves […]

Leftover building materials for sale

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) is inviting tenders for all left over materials from the Aitutaki cyclone recovery programme. Surplus building materials are on sale by tender through the ministry, until December 2 when applications close at 3pm. Items include fastenings (nails, brackets, washers, bolts, galvanised wire), damp-proof course bitumen rolls, polythene membrane, […]

Trade days for Vaka Eiva

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in National

The tastes and talents of the outer islands and the town area are gathering in Avarua today for the two-day Trade Day markets. Food, crafts and other items from the pa enua and the local Takuvaine-Tutakimoa community will be on offer at the trade day markets today and tomorrow from 8am to about 2pm each […]

Spare ribs fine in Samoa

Thursday 24 November 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The Australian media has picked up on the variety of justice (or lack of) in the Pacific when it comes to disciplining rugby players. Aussie website brisbanetimes.com.au has contrasted and compared the plight of two rugby bad boys from Samoa and New Zealand in an online column this week, highlighting the dissimilarities. "Zac Guildford received […]

Exploratory fishing agreement signed

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in Local

A three-year access agreement with China for exploratory fishing of bigeye tuna and swordfish has been signed by government, netting up to $40.8 million for the country. It allows 17 Chinese vessels access to fish in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the next three years as part of the Ministry of Marine […]

Police chief calls Tetavas comments inappropriate

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Police commissioner Maata Tetavas request for the public not to bring complaints against police to the media is disappointing, says a United States police chief. Idaho police chief and regular visitor to the Cook Islands Jeff Gunter said he found Tetavas comments reported in Cook Islands News yesterday disappointing and inappropriate. He said […]

Fight Night cancellation a disappointment

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to express my disappointment in Cook Islands Amateur Boxing Associations cancellation of the Fight Night tournament that was scheduled to take place on the 17th of November at 7pm at the Tupapa/Maraerenga Youth Centre. I had been advised by my coach that I would be having my first bout on that […]

Kata - November 23, 2011

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in Kata

Glassie proud of his achievements

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in National

On the eve of his 10-day trip to Atiu, health and agriculture minister Nandi Glassie has compiled a list of achievements in respect of the island and his portfolios in the last year. It is 12 months since Glassie, through the Cook Islands Party, was elected into office. He is the member of parliament for […]

21 schools benefit from Vaka Eiva initiative

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in National

Its not just Rarotonga schools that get to benefit from the Vaka Eiva adopt a school initiative the capitals pa enua sisters are being taken under the wings of visiting paddlers, too. Schools in Mitiaro, Manihiki, Aitutaki, Penrhyn and Palmerston have been adopted by various paddling teams under the programme and they too will receive […]

Writing workshop on tonight

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in National

Hone Kouka and Miria George of New Zealands Tawata Productions are offering local writers the chance to meet, talk about their work and learn from each other. Both Hone and I are a part of the Maori and Pacific writing communities in NZ and know how important it is for writers to come together – […]

Scholarship application open

Wednesday 23 November 2011 | Published in National

Applications are now open for tertiary education and government training scholarships through the Department of National Human Resources Development (DNHRD). The annual scholarships have been available since 2006, helping Cook Islanders studying at tertiary institutions overseas as well as those wanting to enter the local public service. Each year the government department tries to maintain […]