Articles by Utopia Support

Media requests breakdown of govt spending

Friday 23 September 2011 | Published in National

The audit office is assisting the Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) in an investigation into governments spending of Civil List funds. Audit director Paul Allsworth says the review of Civil List expenditure is due to take two weeks to complete. This review was prompted after a complaint from the public was received. The Pitt Media […]

Name game may be different today: Sir Geoff

Friday 23 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands would have a better chance of taking on a name change now than it did in 1994 when the people turned down the chance, says former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Henry. Seventeen years is a long time for a young nation, and Sir Geoffrey thinks there might be a different outcome today […]

White powder holds up Wallabies training Wallabies rugby practise was delayed nearly two hours yesterday after a player reported an unknown white powdery substance on the practise field. Coach Robbie Deans immediately suspended practise while police were

Friday 23 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Our rugby poet puts her pen to the Wales vs Samoa World Cup Rugby game that the Welsh won 17-10. Wales and Samoa that was a great game to watch Yet another upset, Welsh discipline Samoa could not touch What a choice try Shane Williams your mum would be so proud Telling all who will […]

Te Puni posted to Noumea

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in Local

Former New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Linda Te Puni is Aotearoas new Consul-General to New Caledonia. New Zealand foreign affairs minister Murray McCully announced Te Punis new appointment yesterday. Te Puni a career diplomat most recently concluded her three-year posting as high commissioner in the Cook Islands, making way for John Carter. […]

5 new FADs for fishing

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in Local

Five new FADs are to be installed around Rarotonga to help improve fishing. The loss of at least 70 percent of deep water fish aggregation devices (FADs) is contributing to poor catch rates by Rarotonga fishermen, according to the Cook Islands Fishing Association. Association president Mark Vaikai says for the best part of this year […]

AJs 60th on the list

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in Local

Congratulations on your new grandchild Tere and Mii Tangauru have heard those words more than most grandparents. Anthony Junior Onongauru Manase Witehira is the south Auckland couples 60th grandchild. Nicknamed AJ for short, he weighed in at 2.78kg or 6lb 2oz when he was born at 12.01am on June 15. He might be at the […]

Kata - September 22, 2011

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Mauke makes its own mechanics

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Automotive tutor Papa Teariki Mataroa was recently called to Mauke to take a one-week basic course. A request made by Island Secretary Teariki Rongo was originally for the purpose of upskilling government workers on small engines, but Papa Teariki was happy to open the course up to whomever was interested knowing that although students in […]

Approval for septic system upgrade

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Approval has been granted by the Rarotonga Environment Authority for an upgrade of the septic system at Rarotongas hospital. The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), which is managing the government project, is now negotiating with the contractor about when work can restart. Government agencies involved with the project briefly delayed the resumption of work, to […]

South is king, north disappoints

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

The number of visitors coming to the Cook Islands from the southern hemisphere in August has again increased on previous years, pushing the total number for the month about six percent higher than 2010. The August gain comes on the back of the Cook Islands busiest ever month in July, with 11,800 visitors making the […]

Get moving!

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

The fight against fossil fuels waged by dozens of local people on bicycles begins tomorrow morning. The National Environment Service (NES) is coordinating a Move Rarotonga campaign to raise awareness of issues like climate change, fossil fuel use and waste management. Scheduled for tomorrow, the campaign encourages everyone on Rarotonga to ride a bicycle, walk, […]

Kuki name hard to swallow

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Unhappy with the idea of being called a Cookie in his native tongue, Danny Mataroa has returned from the Takitimu Cultural Festival in New Zealand with a suggestion for an alternative. Changing the Cook Islands name is no new concept the idea springs up at various points through the countrys history. In 1994, former prime […]

Dedication to saving kakerori paying off

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Veteran Kakerori researcher, ornithologist Dr Hugh Robertson of the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC), is highly elated by the results of his latest efforts. To say that I am very pleased would be to put it mildly, he said. Rarotongas very own endemic flycatcher is romping ahead here, and doing nicely on Atiu, too. […]

Celebrating the peace we live in

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Rarotonga joined the world in celebrating International Peace Day with a peaceful ceremony at the Peace Garden yesterday afternoon. The institution of International Peace Day encourages people the world over to recognise the value of peace. On September 21 each year, those who live in peaceful communities like the Cook Islands can take a moment […]

Pacific Forum Line trading stronger

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in National

Despite former financial woes, Pacific Forum Line (PFL) is performing ahead of expectations in the Cook Islands and accordingly the shipping companys local registration has been renewed. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, who holds the transport portfolio, recently met with PFL commercial manager John Pearson.The Cook Islands is one of 12 Pacific nation shareholders of […]

Business or cattle, decisions decisions

Thursday 22 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

This IS a Kata joke without a picture! writes a smoke signaller. Finance minister Mark Brown was reported in CI News last week as saying that there is nothing stopping a Member of Parliament or minister from opting to fly economy class on an official trip, or using AirPoints accrued through other official travel. Honestly, […]

Where are the whoppers?

Wednesday 21 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I got up at 5am this morning and went for a boat ride (I dont call it going fishing anymore). Working my way through the swell as the sun broke out of the sea, I got to thinking about Katas cartoon and remembered my dad coming back from fishing out from Kerikeri when […]

Kata - September 21, 2011

Wednesday 21 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Virtues looking to run workshops with businesses

Wednesday 21 September 2011 | Published in National

Non-government organisation Virtues Cook Islands is looking to run a series of in-country workshops with local businesses, the first of which was held at the Chamber of Commerce a few weeks ago. Eight businesspeople turned up for what Virtues hopes will become a regular workshop. Acting on its desire to see a resurgence of respect, […]

Inspiration for agriculture revitalisation

Wednesday 21 September 2011 | Published in National

Director of Research at the ministry of agriculture William Wigmores is preparing to present before Cabinet a summary of lessons learnt during a recent growers jaunt to Tahiti. Headed by agriculture minister Nandi Glassie, a delegation of 32 local growers visited Tahitian farms and factories last month to observe the work of their French Polynesian […]