Articles by Utopia Support

World Cup win good for Key: Carter

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

The All Blacks Rugby World Cup win will provide the New Zealand government with a good chance of being re-elected in the upcoming poll, according the New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter. Carter is backing current Prime Minister John Key and his former party, the National Party, to hold office after New Zealand goes to […]

TAU takes on media advisor

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

State-owned energy supplier Te Aponga Uira has appointed Pitt Media Group director and shareholder Trevor Pitt as its communications adviser. Pitt, who took up the position last week, has been appointed to the role as Te Aponga Uira (TAU) makes an effort to increase the speed and scope of information it shares with the Cook […]

Tourism eyes Chinese market

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

A group of Cook Islands performers will travel to China next week to try to dance their way into hearts and minds of a potential new tourist market. The Cook Islands dancers will travel to Chinas southern coastal province Guangdong next week to take part in one of the regions most famous cultural festivals. Their […]

World Cup blamed for flat figures

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

September bucked the visitor number trends shown over the last year posting no growth where other months are recording overall increases of between 5 and 15 percent and all fingers are being pointed at the Rugby World Cup as the reason. The feeling in the Cook Islands tourism industry is that New Zealand has kept […]

TAU looking into blackout

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

Te Aponga Uira is continuing investigations into a power outage that occurred on Wednesday afternoon, affecting customers for about 30 minutes. The outage was caused when one engine at the power station dropped out, shortly after 4pm. An area from Ngatipa Store through to Avana Bridge was affected by the fault. TAU is now focused […]

Investment code changes spark debate

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in National

Proposed changes to an investment code are proving controversial among members of the private sector. The Business Trade Investment Board (BITB) has spent the past 18 months revising the existing investment code and amending certain parts of the legislation. At the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting on Tuesday night, BTIB staff explained […]

German dentist donates soccer gear

Friday 28 October 2011 | Published in Football

No longer will the Matavera under 14 boys soccer side have to borrow sweaty socks and tape up oversized uniforms. The side stepped out onto the field yesterday in their brand-new kit sponsored and donated by German dentist Dr Andreas Bien. The new kit includes socks, shorts and a jersey for every kid on the […]

Sustainable development the priority

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Environment

Small is beautiful but it can also be fragile. As a neighbour to many small island developing states, Australia knows well their vulnerability to climate change. The very existence of countries like Kiribati, the Maldives and the Marshall Islands could be threatened by rising sea levels and more extreme storm surges resulting from global warming. […]

Police chief reappointed

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Local

Maara Tetava has been reappointed as the Cook Islands Commissioner of Police. Prime Minister Henry Puna made the announcement on Tuesday, saying Tetavas achievements since his first appointment to the job in June 2009 have been exemplary. Tetava has led the restructuring of the Cook Islands Police Service and implemented a work programme of assistance […]

Ministers meet Air NZ execs

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna, finance minister Mark Brown and financial secretary Richard Neves are travelling to Auckland next week for a meeting with Air New Zealand officials. Cook Islands News understands the meeting has been set up for discussion of the Cook Islands guarantee to Air New Zealand for underwriting of airfares as well as […]

Dead man identified

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Local

Police are continuing their investigation into the death of 51-year-old Temo Cavakiqili Tareguci, whose body was pulled out of the Avatiu harbour on Monday. Taregucis death is still being treated as suspicious by police, and will continue to be until or unless evidence proves otherwise. The investigation is still young and police have yet to […]

Still no decision on CISNOC meeting

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Local

Executives of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) are still deciding whether to grant the request for a special general meeting on November 8. Leaders of 12 national sports federations, who are CISNOC members, appealed to the executive board for a special general meeting to be held, and circulated a draft agenda. […]

Kata - October 27, 2011

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Kata

Meeting may prompt Commonwealth membership

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in National

A Cook Islands presence at the Commonwealth and Developing Small States Foreign Ministers Meeting in Perth this week may be the first step towards membership of the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters and foreign affairs and immigration secretary Jim Gosselin travelled to Perth for the foreign ministers meeting, […]

Mayor Parker will visit Cook Islands

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in National

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker and his wife will trip to Rarotonga at some stage in the next six months as part of the Christchurch Heroes programme by Tourism Cook Islands. The mayor will be one of 50 heroes plus their partners invited to take an all expenses paid holiday to the Cook Islands following the […]

Reappointment humbles commissioner

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in National

Police commissioner Maara Tetava is humbled and honoured by his reappointment, and the confidence he has been shown by Prime Minister Henry Puna, cabinet and government. Tetava acknowledges the hard work and commitment shown by the men and women (both sworn and non-sworn officers) in the Cook Islands Police Service, and is excited about being […]

Puaikura gives support for new jetty

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in National

Puaikuras traditional leaders signed their support for the Arorangi jetty at a special meeting on Tuesday. Leaders from the village, vaka and across Rarotonga gathered at Tinomana Palace on Tuesday to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ports Authority detailing the restrictions and commitments surrounding the construction of the Arorangi cruise ship jetty. With […]

Sheraton plans derailed

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in National

Plans to resurrect the Sheraton site at Vaimaanga have been derailed again. A group of New Zealand investors and developers who were showing curiosity in the site have seemingly dropped all contact with the Cook Islands government, landowners and legal advisers in recent months. Members of the Mirage Group, who have shown interest in the […]

CEOs statement incredible

Thursday 27 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: What an incredible statement in Cook Islands News yesterday [CINews Tuesday Oct 25 p6] accorded to Mr George Turia, the chief executive at minister Bishops office. Just what does a ministers chief executive do anyway? It sure sounds important New Zealand and Australian ministers have secretaries and PR people to field […]

Gender and climate change are linked

Tuesday 25 October 2011 | Published in Environment

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has sent two policy development assistants to the Cook Islands this week to host workshops on gender balance in climate change policy as well as national energy framework indicators. Koin Etuati (SPCs energy programme and gender policy assistant) and Shakil Kumar (SPCs petroleum officer) both based in Suva […]