Articles by Utopia Support

First culinary comp will lift the bar

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Four gold awards were handed out at the inaugural Cook Islands Salon Culinaire, which saw hospitality and tourism industry members pitted against each other to test their skills in cooking, front of house design, coffee-making and housekeeping. Contestants in the innovative cocktail class earned two of the gold awards handed out at the competition, making […]

Telecom internet server crashes

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

A Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) server failure disrupted business throughout Rarotonga yesterday, while the company worked to establish a temporary internet connection network. One of TCIs many computer servers stopped functioning properly yesterday morning, cutting internet access to those on the companys broadband system. TCI internet supervisor Andre Pareanga says the company worked closely with […]

Credit rating review underway

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Despite a recent trend of credit downgrading, international firm Standard & Poors may look favourably on a couple of changes within the Cook Islands context. It last rated the Cook Islands in December 2010, citing a weak political culture, rising public sector debt and a falling population as reasons for a BB- rating which remains […]

Volunteer doctors enjoy Rarotonga

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Both Perth and Rarotonga are isolated, though by different geographical circumstances Perth by vast stretches of desert and Rarotonga by the sea. Familiarity with remoteness gives four medical students from Western Australia confidence in their volunteer work at Rarotonga Hospital this month. There are different challenges here different resources, a small number of doctors but […]

Checking up on World Diabetes Day

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Hordes of Cook Islanders made the most of free health checks in Avarua yesterday, lining up to have their risk of developing diabetes calculated. November 14 is marked by the United Nations as World Diabetes Day. Accordingly, each year the Ministry of Health continues its public awareness programme for diabetes, which remains the Cook Islands […]

Pick presses for action

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands triathlete Kelly Pick has made a formal complaint to police against All Blacks winger Zac Guildford so that he will learn he has to be held accountable for his actions. Cook Islands Police met with Pick yesterday after Cook Islands News published a letter from the athlete that detailed what she describes as […]

Top athletes face pressure cooker

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in National

Former league international Kevin Iro has seen more than most of what the pressures of being an international athlete at the highest level can do to a young man. Iro, the Cook Islands Rugby League international director, was asked by Cook Islands News to comment on the pressures of being a top athlete, following All […]

Banana zaquiri

Tuesday 15 November 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Zac should have received a special award at the tourism awards on Friday evening, a smoke signaller reckons. He has given Raro (particularly Trader Jacks) more media coverage in New Zealand than the Tourism Corporation has achieved in years of trying. SS: Ha! But where would they pin his award medal? A smoke signaller responds […]

Star tourism operators honoured

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Local

The 2011 Air New Zealand Tourism Awards on Friday night recognised individuals and businesses which form the backbone of the Cook Islands tourism industry. Tourism was celebrated as the driver of the Cook Islands economy and the 250 people in the room as those who make it possible. For greeting every one of the Cook […]

Guildford apologises

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Local

Disgraced All Black Zac Guildford has agreed to front up for his drunken actions in Rarotonga, and to apologise. The All Blacks mental skills coach, Gilbert Enoka, a Cook Islander, told Cook Islands News yesterday that Guildford is ashamed and repentant, and he wants to apologise personally to people he had disrespected. Enoka said for […]

Zac walks free

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Local

Local police have finally admitted that they did detain the drunk and naked All Black Zac Guildford on Thursday night after initially denying to Cook Islands News on Friday that police knew anything about Guildford. In fact, up to six police officers spent several hours of Thursday night chasing and apprehending Guildford before and after […]

Bulls thank hosts

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From the bottom of our hearts, we the NZ based Tauae Bulls management and players, would like to say Meitaki Maata to Papa and Mama Tupa for their generous hospitality, coach Nooroa Tupa, our sponsors for our beautiful gifts of pareu, pate and eis not forgetting our free dinners every night. Your behind […]

Flying the Cooks flag at Presidential golf

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This week from the 15th to 20th November the beginning of the Presidential Cup between the USA and the Internationals will be held here in Victoria at the Royal Melbourne international golf course. The likes of Tiger Woods and his former famous caddy New Zealander Steve Williams will be here, and Williams will […]

Guildford harassed me

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Just to comment on the story in Saturdays Cook Islands News about Zac Guildford. I had the unfortunate experience of being harassed by a drunken Guilford on Thursday evening. I was on a training run at about 5.30pm when Guilford drove erratically past me near the Edgewater Resort. Him and his friends then […]

Kata - November 14, 2011

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in Kata

Avatea gala a fundraiser banquet

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in National

Funds raised during the all day Avatea School gala on Friday will go towards much needed school supplies including books and furniture. The one off fundraiser on Friday drew a steady crowd of school supporters through the grounds where a huge array of tasty island favourites was on sale. Apart from the ready to eat […]

May is our top maths brain

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in National

It doesnt take much of a maths whiz to figure out that coming in the top 0.2 percent of the country in a competition is a good feat. So when 15-year-old Tereora College student May Myo Min found out she had done just that in the 2011 Westpac Australian Mathematics Competition, she was pretty pleased […]

High praise for the Cook Islands

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in National

The guest speakers at Friday nights Air New Zealand Tourism Awards come from different backgrounds, but share two relevant passions for tourism and for the Cook Islands. Jeff McDowall, Air New Zealands sales and operations manager for the Pacific region, called the Cook Islands the biggest destination in the Pacific, and one hes proud to […]

Tourism thriving and expanding: Bishop

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in National

Tourism minister Teina Bishop acknowledged the marketing efforts of each tourism operator in the room on Friday night, but stressed that in the end, the most tried-and-true, effective marketing tool is the good old word of mouth. Each individual (visitor) has the potential to be a marketing ambassador for the Cook Islands, he said. He […]

Jake Numanga most outstanding

Monday 14 November 2011 | Published in National

When it was announced that Papa Jake Numanga had earned the ANZ-sponsored Most Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award, the National Auditorium was silent. No Papa Jake. A minute or two later, John Kenning took the microphone: Yes, it appears Papa Jake has gone to meet the aircraft. Jake Numanga. On time, every time, he said, […]