Articles by Utopia Support

Pora laid out

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in National

The people of Rakahanga brought a taste of their traditions and culture to the visiting Japanese ambassador, laying out the official welcome mat, or pora, for Hideto Mitamura yesterday at the prime ministers office. Rakahanga warrior Junior Leon Tarau welcomed Prime Minister Henry Puna, Mitamura and a score of other government officials and regional leaders […]

PMs green dreams becoming a reality

Friday 30 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands, Japan and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat yesterday joined forces to send a strong message that renewable energy was no longer an option but a necessity for the Pacific region. On the lawns of the Prime Ministers Office under yesterdays blazing sun, Prime Minister Henry Puna and Forum deputy secretary general Feleti Teo […]

Rare giant octopus found

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Environment

Nan Hauser and her team have managed to reel in the slipperiest and most exciting discovery of the year a four-metre Haliphron atlanticus. In laymans terms, thats the largest known species of octopus in the world. Its also the third one found in the South Pacific ever. The specimen is currently occupying a cooler in […]

$1.1m grant to help elderly

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Traditional structures of assistance for vulnerable members of society are weakening and there is need for greater facilitation of help, Prime Minister Henry Puna says. He spoke yesterday at the official handing over of funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese government for a project aimed at improving the lives of elderly and […]

Kiwi default will make Kukis stronger: PM

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna says the Cook Islands can go into the 2013 Rugby League World Cup with pride in the fact it beat the reigning world champions New Zealand albeit by default. Puna hosted the Cook Islands senior representative squad and other visiting rugby league players in a luncheon at his Avarua office yesterday. […]

Solar funds

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Local

Government will today officially receive more than $1 million for solar panels in Rakahanga. Japans government and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are involved in assisting the project, which receives US$1 million through the Pacific Environment Community Fund. From 11am members of government, including Prime Minister Henry Puna, will take part in the signing of […]

Public services need to improve

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How much longer must this country suffer before PM Henry Elvis Puna does the right thing and replaces the current Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati? In recent years the overall delivery of services by the public service has been poor to say the least. The finger of blame for the dismal performance of […]

Alcohol accidents deter honeymooner

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I visited Rarotonga and Aitutaki in 2007 for my honeymoon and every day I dream of returning. But as a potential tourist from the UK I am put off visiting Raro due to the amount of alcohol related road accidents. So many people have been injured or killed due to the selfish behaviour […]

Immigration rejects insinuation

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The issues raised in the article Foreign workers terrified of seeking help (CINews of September 28) are not new and those relating to immigration matters were addressed in my earlier letter on the same general subject (see CINews of September 19). A number of the statements made in the article lack sufficient detail […]

Great job done by Muri group

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Take That Muri who replied to Mata Hetlands letter in the paper was a bit out of line. If the people dont have much food, then they must have their priorities wrong because they drink most weekends, they have money to go to housie, and they have money to go make heaps of […]

Kata - September 29, 2011

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Junior Kangaroos approached to play

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Rugby League has approached the ARL with the chance to send the Junior Kangaroos to Rarotonga and take the place of the retreating Kiwis team. CIRL made the offer to host the Junior Kangaroos squad in the hours after it was informed the New Zealand team would be pulling out of the […]

New unit strengthens crime fight

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands is now equipped to help combat transnational crime sweeping the Pacific, such as money laundering, people smuggling and drug dealing. A transnational crime unit situated within the Cook Islands Police Avarua headquarters was officially opened at a ceremony yesterday morning. The unit has been established with help from the Australian Federal Police […]

The Tepuka saga continues

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in National

Residents of Tepuka 106C in Nikao are being called to a meeting on October 3 to discuss a letter they recently received from the executives of the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC). Distributed to Tepuka occupants this month, the letter advises those tenants with outstanding rents to pay up or face legal consequences and possible […]

$400,000 for public sector review

Thursday 29 September 2011 | Published in National

A Cook Islands public sector review is being boosted by almost $400,000 from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japans government. An official handing over of the money (US$300,000) granted to the Cook Islands from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction established by the ADB and Japanese government took place at the Ministry of Internal […]

Kia Orana Kukis

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands public will have their first chance to meet the Kuki team tonight at Muris Kia Orana night market. Members of the Cook Islands representative rugby league team will be mingling with the crowd at Muris Nukupure Park between 6pm and 9pm tonight. The whole Cook Islands team, minus two players who are […]

There has to be some misunderstanding

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Local

Government is determined to create its own niche market for vanilla, and already has loose arrangements in place to export the spice to Japan, China and Australia. Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie says government has singled out vanilla as a potential cash crop and plans are underway to develop the countrys horticultural production accordingly. Glassie is […]

Dont rule by decree like Fiji

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read Mata Shorts nasty comments about my letter. But I still believe Muri has been mistreated on the 10 year raui and the 30km speed limit. Please do not call me Casper. I am not a ghost. I am a real person in the village. Its good I dont use my real […]

Tepuka saga leaves outer islanders high and dry

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Something very unusual in the history of this country is about to happen soon when the CICC successfully terminates 30 leases in Tepuka, the results of which could be: 1. a lot of homeless Cook Islands people camping on public lands or beaches; 2. a lot of people crammed into the cramped homes […]

Kata - September 28, 2011

Wednesday 28 September 2011 | Published in Kata