Articles by Utopia Support

Cooks press for closer US ties

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands should receive a portion of United States climate change funding totalling $21 million, which is being released to the Pacific region. Cabinet minister Teina Bishop talked with US government officials at the recent 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand. State department deputy assistant secretary Daniel Clune told Bishop the US is […]

Prayer was harmless fun

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I must thank Nick Carter (September 10) for showing me the way to a very tongue in cheek rendition of the Lords Prayer on page 11 of the September11 edition of CI News. Now I need to email this version to all my friends because I thought it was very cleverly written. What […]

The day we commemorate Gods power

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just want to help those readers of Brian Chittys Sabbath obsession in last Tuesdays paper who are serious about knowing the truth concerning the Sabbath, so they will understand that the Sabbath is more than just the Jews celebration of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The truth is, God made the […]

Kata - September 13, 2011

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Cooks leapfrog Samoa in netball

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Netball

The Cook Islands has bucked the regional trend in international netball, by holding its top 10 position in the world rankings. Of the four Pacific nations involved in international netball, the Cook Islands was the only nation not to move down the rankings table. The Cook Islands maintained its 10th placing in world ranking, leapfrogging […]

4 new members on netball board

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Netball

Netball Cook Islands (NCI) has appointed four new members to its recently established board, who will join five others already elected to their roles. The new members are Chris McGeown, general manager of Edgewater Resort and Spa; Leslie Turepu-Katoa, general manager of Asiaciti Trust Ltd; Yvonne Heather, managing director of Vonnias; and Glenda Tuaine, company […]

Double lapping

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

It might seem like a tough enough task as it is, but one runner from New Zealand wont just be running around Rarotonga once in the Round Rarotonga Road Race this month, hell be doing it twice. Long distance runner Perry Newburn will complete two full laps of Rarotonga during the September 23 Round Rarotonga […]

Tereora performers take the stage

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

The performing arts students of Tereora College are staging their first-ever performance on Thursday night. The college launched its drama programme last year. Teacher Claire Waldron says its proven successful and is really growing, as young natural performers gain the confidence they need to shine onstage. Thursday nights performance will comprise a series of skits […]

Police catch peeping tom at Titikaveka

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Police have had another relatively quiet weekend in patrolling Rarotongas roads and responding to incidents. Police caught a 26-year-old Vaimaanga man, who was allegedly seen peeping around a Titikaveka tourist accommodation on Saturday night. The man has curfew conditions that bar him from being abroad at night time and he is due to […]

150 bags of rubbish picked up

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Volunteers collected over 15,000 litres of rubbish about 150 bags of it from roads, beaches and rivers in the Cook Islands during Fridays Clean Up the World campaign. The National Environment Service (NES) sorted the rubbish at the weekend and sent recyclables to the recovery centre. Over 30 groups registered to be a part of […]

Fiji inclusion should be considered

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Government should use its opportunity as next years Pacific Leaders Forum host to bring into the political arena controversial issues about Fiji and French Polynesia, deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says. He says it is time Pacific nations further considered bringing Fiji back into the forum and making French Polynesia an observing participant. Its not […]

NGO rep glad to be consulted, included

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands non-government organisation representative Kairangi Samuela hopes government will take on board matters discussed at this years Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand. Samuela was one of about 20 official Cook Islands delegates to the Auckland forum, which finished last week. She says there needs to be further analysis of data disaggregated by age […]

Ties established with Spain

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Closer Cook Islands ties with Spain are being explored, with emphasis on fishing and access into European Union markets. Spain wants licences to fish in the Pacific and the Cook Islands wants to expand its access of international export markets. Both issues were discussed recently between cabinet minister Teina Bishop, who holds the marine resources […]

Fishing, organics, renewables discussed

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands delegates to the 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand have engaged in top-level discussions with political partners including those from Japan, China and Samoa. Delegates also attended a United States event on Pacific fisheries before engaging in post-forum dialogue. This was followed by an hour-long lunch with dialogue partners, at which Pacific […]

Tongareva dangerously low on essential supplies

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Penrhyn islanders are resorting to extreme methods of survival as food and fuel supplies on the northern island continue to dwindle. Tongareva member of parliament Wilkie Rasmussen says there is no fuel for fishing boats or cooking left on the island and no scheduled shipment for replacement supplies. To cook, residents are cutting down ironwood […]

Priyani in the Miss Universe running

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Miss Universe New Zealand Priyani Puketapu, a 20-year-old beauty with Cook Islands roots, was yesterday in the running for the Miss Universe title. She competed alongside 89 other contestants in the Sao Paulo pageant yesterday, the results of which were not available at press time. The pageant, hosted by NBC Today anchor Natalie Morales and […]

Anti-crime hotline set up

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

A new anti-crime hotline has been set up in Ngatangiia, allowing people to report suspicious behaviour directly to the areas newly formed watch group. Nightly patrols have now begun in the villagewith 20 senior rugby players from Ngatangiia Dragons trained up and making the rounds in pairs seven days a week. The players have been […]

Civil List fund disclosure with-held

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in National

Cabinet ministers are today meeting to discuss governments planned trip to China, outcomes of the 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum and the Cook Islands hosting of the 2012 regional event. A post-cabinet media conference has been scheduled for 12.30pm, when it is expected Prime Minister Henry Puna will finally answer calls for cabinet disclosure of travel […]

Heading for NZ Parliament

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Place a circle around Saturday November 26 a little over 10 weeks away as thats the day Cook Islander Alfred Ngaro should become a member of parliament in New Zealand if National wins. National recently announced its party list of candidates to fight the election and newcomer Ngaro is at list position 37, with the […]

Soccer back on the calendar

Tuesday 13 September 2011 | Published in Football

The 2011 annual Rarotonga soccer competition is set to kick off with the opening match this Thursday, September 15, with Titikaveka hosting Matavera down in the south. The first match on Thursday is between the under 14 boys, which will be followed by the senior womens teams. The girls from Titikaveka who finished second and […]