Articles by Utopia Support

Trades training good for both CI and NZ

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in National

It may be one of those rare times where the word selfish is being used in an overwhelmingly positive way. But when New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter described the contributions being made by the New Zealand Aid Programme to the Cook Islands Trades Training Centre as selfish, it was hard to see the negatives. […]

New police focus is paying off

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in National

A new police approach is reducing crime and preventing road accidents, police commissioner Maara Tetava says. For a month now his police officers have been taking a more active role in key sectors of the Rarotonga community targeting problem areas for burglary and theft as well as motor vehicle crash hotspots. The result is a […]

Epati not sure of finish date

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in National

Whether public service commissioner Navy Epati returns to work next Monday may depend on Prime Minister Henry Puna. Epati has been asked to work until a new public service commissioner is appointed, despite his initial plan to walk away from the job on September 30. Epati says he needs to talk with Puna about staying […]

Womens caucus on tomorrow

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in National

The fourth caucus forum on international gender and womens issues is being held at the Takuvaine headquarters of the Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) tomorrow morning. Following a brief welcome and prayer at 11am, associate minister John Henry will make the first forum presentation about his attendance at the fourth womens ministerial meeting […]

Budget planning starts early

Tuesday 27 September 2011 | Published in National

Government is leaving no room for excuses in its budget planning for the next financial year, by initiating the process three months earlier than usual. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) has released its timeline for budgetary planning, which was approved by cabinet on September 20. Financial secretary Richard Neves says government has […]

New unit opening

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

The opening of a Cook Islands Police transnational crime unit will take place this week. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the units official opening is scheduled for 9am on Wednesday at the police headquarters in Avarua. Prime Minister Henry Puna is expected to attend the function, and a team from the Australian Federal Police is […]

Second best performer

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands is ranked the second best performing nation for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters says. Marsters made the claim when launching a local consultation for the 2013-2017 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) in Rarotonga last week. He also expressed governments appreciation for the UNs continued support […]

Rotary idea praised

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotongas emergency services have given their approval of Rotarys plan to create a numbering system for the islands properties. The heads of the fire service and the ambulance service both put their weight behind the Rarotonga Rotary Clubs scheme to produce a map of Rarotongas properties with identifying numbers based on Te Aponga Uiras electricity […]

Progressing or stagnating?

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regarding Rosie Manins article on the Lost Tribe in Fridays paper, I note that our High Commissioners response (not unexpected) is that the superannuation issue is not in his domain, and that I should write to Mr McCully. It is quite ironic that when I had the opportunity in July this year to […]

Mind your manners

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ive just recently returned to Melbourne, Australia, from our beautiful paradise. Ive always had great respect for the Air New Zealand staff in Rarotonga. But for those who have no experience in tourism and manners, you need to be re-educated. When passengers are running late, please, dont call out to them to hurry, […]

Hypocrisy

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What hypocrisy from PM Puna re his speech in Auckland recently concerning protecting our ocean. $730 a day! This is what the CIP Government has sold supposedly exploratory fishing rights to the Chinese for three years eight licences, eight boats, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1095 days over three years. […]

Change of name wont cure our ills

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a strange thing that Danny Mataroa should accuse this letter-writer of having missed the vaka when the Mata Atua he puts forth as a suggestion for a new name for this country, happens to be my ancestral vaka. A long time ago it brought me right here to my desired destination, thank […]

Kata - September 26, 2011

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Panthers trump Dragons for honours

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

Patience and two late tries were the key ingredients that saw the Tupapa Panthers Senior A grade snatch the champions trophy from the Ngatangiia Dragons to win the CITC Senior A grade club grand finals on Saturday. A fired-up Ngatangiia Dragons senior A team, intent on breaking the 32-year grand finals hoodoo and buoyed by […]

Last chance for Japans dream

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

The Japanese Brave Blossoms and Cook Islander Ryan Nicholas will take to the field for the last time in the 2011 Rugby World Cup tonight in Napier. Without any chance to make it through to the next stage of the competition, Japan take to the field against Canada with a slim chance of finishing third […]

More madness guaranteed at todays 1610th Hash House Harriers run

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Hash House Harriers running group celebrates 31 years on the island and the group invites all Round Raro Road Race competitors and supporters to join them on their birthday run today. This evenings celebration also marks the accumulation of 1610 runs on the island by local harriers and hoffsprings. Tonights venue will […]

Australians win 34th run

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

Australian runners took out the 2011 Round Rarotonga Road Race titles in both the open mens and womens division. Aussie speedster Matt Cooper blazed around the island in 2.07.34 to take out this years Island Car and Bike Hire Round Raro Road Race while fellow Australian club runner Renae Jones took out the womens division […]

New effort in fighting transnational crime

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

A number of new initiatives are being implemented by the Cook Islands police, following police commissioner Maara Tetavas attendance at the latest Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) annual conference in Pohnpei last month. The conference theme was Urban Drift Policing Moving Populations and police chiefs from throughout the region agreed they need to work […]

Rights of the child to be discussed

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

Punanga Tauturu is holding a stakeholder consultation to discuss a non-government organisation (NGO) report to the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child this week. The consultation will take place at the Sinai Hall in Rarotonga on Tuesday from 8.30am to 1.00pm. Punanga Tauturu manager Kairangi Samuela says the NGO report complements a […]

New talks with China construction co

Monday 26 September 2011 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna has held the latest round of discussions with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) regarding governments development plans for the next few years. CCECC has been involved in past infrastructure projects in the Cook Islands and while in China last week, Puna took the opportunity to consult the corporation, along […]