Articles by Utopia Support

Better site needed for Mauke windpower generation

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

Alternative cooking is not the only green initiative the Hoskings are pursuing in their sustainable lifestyle efforts at Mauke. Their home and plans include experiments and testing in a wide-ranging spectrum of sustainable living. Among them, the Hoskings have tried to utilise wind power to generate electricity at their home. June and Andrew have a […]

Emergency works at Vaimaanga

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

Contractors are carrying out emergency works on the main road at Vaimaanga to stop creeping soil erosion from compromising the road surface and endangering motorists. Large stones and fresh sand have been shifted to the main road in front of the abandoned Sheraton resort site in Rarotongas south to try to stop the coastal erosions […]

No more excuses for speeding in Takitumu

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

Motorists will have no excuse for speeding in the Takitumu district when new roads signs are set up around the Takitumu Primary School area next term. It is hoped that with the new road signs announcing the school zone ahead, motorists will slow down especially before and after school. School principal Engia Pate says that […]

Police thanked by tourism operator

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

The role police play in sustaining the tourism industry is often overlooked, says Little Polynesian manager Alex Wilson. To thank the policemen and women who keep Titikaveka safe, he put on a lunch for a few of them in honour of World Tourism Day on Tuesday. World Tourism Day has been a long-standing initiative of […]

Talk about it says counsellor

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

On the heels of this months Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, guidance counsellor Thomas Wynne says the most effective way to defuse pent-up emotion or depression research links both to suicide is to talk about it. He advises all Cook Islanders to talk about emotional strife to get it all out so as to process and […]

Vandalism of buses worse than usual

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in National

Kevin Cook is thinking about installing digital video recorders in his fleet of 12 buses following a bad run with vandalism. Cook and his wife Frances own and manage Cooks Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd, based in Nikao. Cook says his company has ongoing problems with vandalism of buses, although this year has been worse […]

Easy answer to consultants

Saturday 1 October 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Four hundred thousand dollars for a public sector review? a smoke signaller asks. Nothing has changed in the Cook Islands for decades. Smarmy consultants find aid money for government and come here and use up space, time and resources sitting in a room reviewing. All it takes to reform the public service is for one […]

Spiritual leadership the ultimate example

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of spiritual leadership. When most people think of leadership, they picture a military officer giving out orders or an employer closely supervising his employees, making sure all the work gets done. These aspects can be part of leadership, but they are not the essence of spiritual leadership. Spiritual leadership […]

Au tareni kua kaimoumou ia

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Church Talk

A true story was told of a man who tried to be a godfather to one young man and warned him of the dangers of befriending a certain kind of teenage group in the community. He had warned the young teenager to not ever get involved with this particular group but stay completely away from […]

Heroes ready for selection

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

Fifty Christchurch earthquake survivors and their partners are set to travel to the Cook Islands for a free holiday in November and December. Christchurch mayor Bob Parker has almost completed his selection of 50 heroes who will enjoy an all-expenses-paid holiday to the Cook Islands with their partners. Parker was also among those invited, although […]

$3m more earmarked for northern group

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

All of the Cook Islands northern group will see projects similar to the Rakahanga renewable energy scheme be introduced in the next three years. About $3 million remains open for Cook Islands use under the Pacific Environment Community Fund for future projects similar to that being implemented at Rakahanga. Yesterday, Prime Minister Henry Puna said […]

Rakahanga signs $1 million deal

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Local

It can be easy to forget about the people affected by government business in all the political talk of policy, purse strings and progress. Their stories are often lost in the wider details of a deal. But when an emotional Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka took to the speakers podium at the prime ministers office yesterday, […]

Keep Rarotonga road rage free

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Please dont bring road rage to Rarotonga, a smoke signaller writes. Being a Cook Islands athlete, it is so nice to feel safe when out training on the roads, especially on our bikes. We really appreciate it when drivers give us lots of room when passing and dont overtake when its unsafe. Thanks for all […]

Tepuka debacle a political disaster

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing with regard to the Tepuka saga in yesterdays Cook Islands News. This is a political disaster. This is a classic case of the marginalised being overlooked, neglected and forgotten. There are people living at Tepuka who subsist on a pension, which we all know is not a lot of money. […]

Why are we so scared of a name change?

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was reminded by one of my Samoan grand-aunt by these words — Samoa mo Samoa, or Samoa belongs to Samoans not anyone else. The question I would like to ask those who do not want a change or afraid to change is this why are we so scared to change our islands […]

Kata - September 30, 2011

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in Kata

CISA boys spend time with future league stars

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in League

Fancy footwork, big fends and long-wide passes were all on display at Takitumu Primary School yesterday when Cook Islands Sports Academy students turned up to put the mini league players through their paces. The kids were expecting their heroes from the Cook Islands national league team to share some skills with them but when the […]

Moimoi to visit as part of envoy

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in National

Six current and former Kiwi international players including the Eels identity Fuifui Moimoi will come to the Cook Islands as part of a make-up deal for the Kiwis withdrawal from next weeks Rarotonga test match. The crew includes Parramatta Eels Moimoi, Penrith Panthers Sam McKendry, South Sydney Rabbitohs Issac Luke and Sydney Roosters Shaun Kenny-Dowall […]

Nutters navigate Rarotongas interior

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in National

The Nutters Cross Island run record of 45 minutes set in the early 1990s by Greg Gustafson still stands, although local runner Roland Neururer gave it a good nudge on Wednesday. Neururer was one of 51 nutters that took on the cross island run estimated to be about 9km from the Vaima Restaurant in Vaiimaanga […]

Young relationship flourishing, says ambassador

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in National

Yesterdays signing of the $1.2 million Rakahanga renewable energy deal and the Cook Islands nomination to co-chair an upcoming meeting with Japan represents another step forward in a young but prosperous relationship between Japan and the Cook Islands, according to ambassador Hideto Mitamura. Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda […]