Articles by Utopia Support

Government financially on track

Thursday 3 November 2011 | Published in National

Government has spent 4 percent less than estimated in the first quarter of this financial year and is in a good position to pay off additional debt if further loans are warranted. There has also been 7 percent more revenue collected by government in the three months from July 1 than anticipated and accounted for […]

CI vies for world maritime position

Thursday 3 November 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands has decided to run for elections to the executive council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which take place at the end of this month. Based in London, the IMO is a United Nations specialised agency responsible for the safety of life at sea, maritime security and the protection of the marine […]

Everyone has a part in disaster management

Thursday 3 November 2011 | Published in National

Disaster risk management personnel from government, non-government and community organisations have been freshening up their knowledge and getting in sync with each other. A workshop brought in agencies and outer island administrations to Rarotonga for last week to ensure their disaster response plans are synchronised as the cyclone season approaches. Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) […]

Utopia, just the way we are

Thursday 3 November 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Very seriously, a smoke signaller writes, you tourism people dont need to spend taxpayer funds or send junkets to China to promote tourism from there. Time magazine reports that by the year 2015 there will be 100 million Chinese citizens looking for somewhere around the world to descend upon. This current year around 54 million […]

TIS environmental group mobilises youth

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Environment

Environmental group Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) is beginning the task of expanding its membership base and is asking Cook Islands youth to start thinking of how they can make a difference for the environment. TIS has been developing a membership strategy over the last month as it looks to expand its public profile to match […]

Biomass expert to assess potential

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Environment

An Austrian biomass expert is in the Cook Islands this week to examine if the renewable energy source can be used to create electricity in the country. Doctor Richard Zweiller, co-director of Gussing Energy Technology, is visiting Rarotonga and Atiu this week to assess whether the two islands could use biomass energy for electricity generation […]

CI finalises fisheries deal with China

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Local

Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) secretary Ben Ponia is on his way to China where he will meet up with cabinet minister Teina Bishop to further a bilateral fisheries agreement. Ponia departed Rarotonga yesterday and is due back in the Cook Islands on November 10. He says the Cook Islands is close to finalising an […]

Nothing to hide: Sir Geoff

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Local

A special general meeting of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee will go ahead on November 8, president Sir Geoffrey Henry says. The organisations executives have called the meeting following a request to do so by the leaders of 12 national sports federations. Sir Geoffrey says a meeting agenda planned by the federation […]

Dashing for cash at Sevens in Heaven

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Local

Local charity groups are set to benefit from the fun festivities of the Sevens in Heaven dash for cash competition sponsored by ANZ Bank. The charity dash for cash will be staged on day one of the competition presented by CITC starting directly after the opening of the tournament at 2pm. This will be a […]

Reign in CISNOC before it implodes

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Sir Geoffrey Henrys diatribe on yesterdays letters page about a writer who signed with a nom de plume had me wondering about gutless wonders. No wonder people like the writer have to use a pseudonym for fear of recrimination and victimisation because power-crazy people like Sir Geoffrey will crucify them for daring to […]

Sir Geoffrey sounding more like Moamer Gadhafi

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Sir Geoffrey Henry is sounding (and looking) more and more like the late Libyan despot Moamer Gadhafi as the liberation forces closed in. Rather than be accountable for CISNOCs incompetence on his watch, he is now engaging in character assassination and mindless diatribes directed at those who have the cheek to question him […]

Vote for change

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a shambolic mess we have at CISNOC with Sir Geoff and Rosie at the helm. Its high time for all of them to go and let the new guard in. The financial shambles at CISNOC is showing similar signs to when Sir Geoff was in charge of government when it went belly-flop […]

Kata - November 2, 2011

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Kata

Aquas Cup runneth over at the races

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in National

The hats were big, the heels were high and the champagne flowed at Aqua Bar and Cafe, bringing a taste of the Melbourne Cup to the Cooks on Monday night. The annual event grew in its second year, with more men dressing up and joining the women in the fashion competition than they did last […]

Jetty work out to tender soon

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in National

With the community, church and school at Arorangi now on board with the Arorangi jetty project, construction companies will soon have the chance to bid on the projects construction. The Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Teariki Heather says the Arorangi jetty, which has been proposed to be built at the Arorangi Primary School, is a […]

Glimpse into Ravakais life

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in National

Having seen the Ravakai moments after its birth in yesterdays Cook Islands News, one of our readers thought it best to show the vessel at the time of its death. Elgin Tetachuk, the first owner of the Seafari fishing charter business, took these photos the day after Cyclone Sally hit Rarotonga and brought the final […]

Raro radio contact with 8500 people

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in National

A group of visiting ham radio operators managed to make contact with more than 8500 people from all over the world at the weekend. For 48 hours, they made a concerted effort to contact as many people in as many countries in as many zones as they possibly could, vying for the top spot in […]

Australia renews defence support

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in National

Australias defence force has renewed its commitment to support the Cook Islands and combined efforts to make the wider Pacific a safer region. Police commissioner Maara Tetava yesterday chaired a roundtable discussion between leaders of the Australia Defence Force (ADF), Cook Islands Police and its maritime surveillance division, the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and […]

Its mad dog behaviour

Wednesday 2 November 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: I was shocked to read Geoffrey Henrys (I have not used his Knight of the Realm title because in my opinion he demeans it) disgraceful letter in Tuesday mornings paper. This is the abusive ranting of a mad dog defending its territory and control, exhibiting aggressive, irrational, abusive loud barking. It […]

CISNOC executive board keeps quiet

Tuesday 1 November 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee appears to be closing ranks as executives defer all comment to president Sir Geoffrey Henry. CISNOC secretary general Rosie Blake yesterday told Cook Islands News no one other than Sir Geoffrey is prepared to comment about recent developments within the organisation because of accusations being flung about […]