Articles by Utopia Support

Te Aponga Uira explains net-metering

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is a clarification of some points raised in your smoke signals Green wires crossed. Firstly, Te Aponga Uira does not in any way limit households or businesses renewable energy production at all. Customers are more than welcome to produce 100% of their energy needs if they would like to or can afford […]

Dont be surprised if history repeats itself

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Takitumus letter in last Saturdays newspaper, the MPs travel to New Zealand with the delegation of 20 and all the expenses used for the overseas trips by government has got nothing to do with Toagate. These trips are a waste of taxpayers money. Secondly CISNOC is mismanaged big-time by Rosie […]

Kata - September 9, 2011

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Cook Islands World Cup begins tonight

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Rugby World Cup campaign begins in Auckland tonight. Not with its own team or any south of the equator, but with Japan and its champion Cook Islander Ryan Nicholas. Four nations can try to lay claim to Nicholas, a Cook Islands Maori who was born in Australias dusty centre and schooled in […]

Excitement hits fever pitch

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

Rugby World Cup fever has taken over Rarotonga. Businesses, homes and people right the way through the island were going World Cup wild yesterday ahead of last nights kick-off between New Zealand and Tonga. CITC stores across Rarotonga had their World Cup displays judged yesterday, the efforts including a miniature Eden Park complete with imitation […]

CITC blackout a big hit

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

CITC kicked off the Rugby World Cup with a company-wide Black Fever competition yesterday. Each outlet was to show its support for the All Blacks using whatever means possible, and a panel of judges which included company owner Trevor Clarke determined which did the best. The winner of the $300 cash prize was the Black […]

How they hauled in the medals

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

Sailors arrived at Cote Blanche in Noumea to no wind for the final day of racing and a gold medal already in the bag. A Cook Islands drumming team led by chef de mission George George psyched up the sailors for their final race of the Pacific Games. With a gold medal already secured and […]

High hope for Maori language

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

The head of New Zealands Ministry of Pacific Affairs mentioned to media recently that the chances of Cook Islands Maori surviving in a New Zealand context are high. Dr Colin Tukuitonga was speaking to Pacific Beat about the dismal future of Niuean and Tokelauan, explaining that both languages were at risk of becoming extinct in […]

Books worm into students day

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

Schools around the Cook Islands marked World Literacy Day yesterday by colouring their hair, speaking their minds and rewarding their teachers. Some kids even called on a super hero and an international cricketer for the occasion. To help commemorate World Literacy Day, former Black Cap Mathew Sinclair, who is on Rarotonga assisting Cook Islands Cricket, […]

Man jailed for rape of girl aged 11

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

A Mangaian man who raped an 11-year-old girl, impregnating her, has been sentenced to five and a half years in jail. To protect the identity of the rape victim, her relationship to the accused and his name are suppressed. The victim and her daughter a product of the rape now live in Australia. Her attacker, […]

Pacific leaders here next year

Friday 9 September 2011 | Published in National

The Pacific Leaders Forum will be held in Rarotonga next year bringing about 400 delegates including the political leaders of the 22 Pacific nations to the Cook Islands. Acting Prime Minister Teariki Heather said yesterday the country is set to benefit hugely by hosting next years Pacific Leaders Forum. On the last day of this […]

No need to apologise

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Filipino picnic and games on Sunday afternoons do not offend all Cook Islanders. I am saddened that one angry, offended viewpoint, on what they think is permitted on a Sunday afternoon, should be used to condemn and control what happens in our village. I am a local, Christian living in and from Ngatangiia. […]

Air NZ doing Cooks a favour

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

The perception that the government is doing Air New Zealand a service by underwriting flights is an incorrect one, a smoke signaller writes. Air NZ is doing the Cook Islands government a favour by being prepared to fly unprofitable routes as long as they are underwritten. If Cook Islands Tourism is able to promote effectively […]

Kata - September 8, 2011

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Plenty of choices for tonights kick-off

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

The big screens are going up, the snacks are stockpiled and all things black are the hot fashion in town. After a long countdown, the 2011 Rugby World Cup begins tonight. Restaurants, resorts, bars and clubs right across Rarotonga are getting into the spirit of New Zealands Rugby World Cup. What felt like an age […]

Sirla smashes personal best

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

Nineteen-year-old local weightlifter Sirla Pera is improving his lifting in impressive leaps and bounds, smashing his two-week-old personal best time lift at the Pacific Games in Noumea. Lifting in the 105kg open mens division Pera expertly lifted 110kg then a 115kg in the snatch category to better his personal best lift of 112kg. He set […]

Tiki Taane gets off police rap

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

Charges have been dropped against musician Tiki Taane after police opted to settle his controversial case out of court. The Cook Islands has been closely following the yarn, as Taane is a regular visitor to Rarotonga and has performed multiple times live on 88FM and at Rehab nightclub and Club Raro. He also filmed part […]

Akatenianga Reo Maori

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

Ka raveia te Akatenianga Reo Maori a te au tamariki apii o Rarotonga nei, Mataiti 9 ki te Mataiti 13 a teia ra – Paraparau ra 8 no Tepetema nei i te ora 9 i te popongi ki te are putuputuanga o Iotepa Peata i Tutakimoa (St. Josephs Hall). Tumu Tapura; E Tama/Maine Kuki Airani […]

SDA church offers to host Filipinos

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

Club Philippines Raro has postponed the second half of its inaugural anniversary celebrations out of respect for staunch Sunday church-goers. The club planned to hold a second family fun day and sporting activities at Muri on Sunday but decided not to, following a letter to the editor published in Cook Islands News. The letter, signed […]

Cooks join oceanscape

Thursday 8 September 2011 | Published in National

Governments support for the establishment of the worlds largest marine park in Cook Islands waters is indicative of the need for Pacific people to reclaim their stewardship of and mana towards the ocean, Prime Minister Henry Puna says. He delivered a speech in Auckland this week at a Pacific Oceanscape event organised through the 2011 […]