Articles by Utopia Support

Where is the CIP love?

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why is everyone moaning about the MPs travelling to New Zealand with a delegation of 20 or the new interest tax or the money spent on the opening of parliament.We voted them into parliament, didnt we all? We followed their campaign at the elections. Did they deliver? Yes, they did. When you add […]

Sunday Star Times not worth it

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A greater deterrent than the freight-cost of Sunday Star Times as suggested in Fridays Smoke Signal is the export documentation fee and the slim wholesale discount available. At $4 per copy, Bounty Bookshop was losing more than $100 per week when distribution was taken over by Fairfax Media, with a higher documentation fee. […]

Audit a valuable service

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I support the work by the Audit Director and his staff. Without this office and leadership by Paul, we would be like PNG, corrupt and down the drain. Sholans ranting is crap…this guy only just finished school and Maoate gave him the top treasury job. Look what financial mismanagement he has left us, […]

Kata - September 3, 2011

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Resort honours Te Tikas legacy

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

The Little Polynesian has welcomed aboard a new manager who is firmly committed to managing the resort according to the vision of its former manager, the late Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid. Alex Wilson has been managing the Titikaveka property for two months. Upon hearing the news of Reids death, he abruptly left both his […]

Sentencing adjourned

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

The sentencing of Corey Nicholas on seven charges has been adjourned for a week to allow police and crown prosecutors to further investigate matters in the case. Chief Justice Tom Weston was due to sentence Nicholas in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua yesterday morning. Crown prosecutor Catherine Evans says she sought an adjournment […]

3500 People treated

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

About 3500 people on Rarotonga received treatment for chlamydia through the government-organised mass treatment programme. The Ministry of Health dispensed the drug for free through its outpatient clinics on Rarotonga during the final two weeks of August. The programme, which is being run by the ministry with drugs supplied by the Secretariat of the Pacific […]

Preparations begin for tsunami dry run

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands will develop a national, coordinated response to natural disasters ahead of a tsunami response dress rehearsal planned for November. The disaster drill will give authorities the chance to test response plans and warning systems at Rarotonga on a large scale. The islands warning sirens and broadcasting systems will go through a trial […]

Akatokamanava gets cell phone coverage

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

Thumbs at the ready, the people of Mauke eagerly embraced mobile service earlier this month. Maukeans have caught the text-message fever and are reportedly thrilled by the prospect of being able to contact friends and family both down the road and overseas with greater ease than they could previously. Telecom Cook Islands (TCI) chief technology […]

Finsec attending London, Korea meetings

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

About $42 million in donor assistance is coming the Cook Islands way this financial year and to ensure it is administered according to international principles financial secretary Richard Neves is taking part in a London conference this month. Neves is the sole Cook Islands representative funded through the Commonwealth Secretariat to attend the Commonwealth Preparatory […]

Audit clears MOIP minister

Saturday 3 September 2011 | Published in National

An audit report has found that although the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) has shown a clear bias towards T & M Heather Ltd, majority shareholder and infrastructure minister Teariki Heather has not abused his position as a politician. The special audit report was prompted by alleged conflict of interest and political interference in […]

BCI confirms $20,000 stolen

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Local

Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) board members confirm the amount stolen from Aitutakis branch is $20,000 not $200,000 as some rumours within the community suggest. The banks board of directors issued a public notice yesterday thanking all customers and in particular those on Aitutaki. BCIs notice states a wealth of information has been flowing […]

Second most deadly roads

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands has the second most deadly roads in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. WHO says the Cook Islands averages 45 road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, which is topped only by the African nation of Eritrea, which records 48 deaths per 100,000 people. The Cook Islands small population must be taken […]

Team Cook Islands stripped of medal

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Local

Team Cook Islands has been stripped of a medal awarded to paddlers at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia. Officials in Noumea yesterday announced the Cook Islands womens V12 500m vaka team should not have been awarded a bronze medal earlier this week. Accordingly the medal has been removed from Team Cook Islands official tally. […]

Knockout performance

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands boxer Eddie Daniel throws a powerful left hook into his Papua New Guinea opponent, clinching the win in his first bout. His success has lifted the spirits of Team Cook Islands. For coverage of his fight, turn to page 8. 11090252

Kata - September 2, 2011

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in Kata

Kids sing for peace

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in National

Tereora Colleges Princess Anne Hall was buzzing with the energy of Rarotongas budding performing artists on Wednesday night. A number of as yet undiscovered talents took the stage at the Peace Song Quest. In the primary division, St Josephs students won first with Oh Peaceful Dove composed by Tupa Tupa whose Peace in the World […]

20 delegates asked for feedback on return

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands delegates to next weeks Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand are being asked to provide feedback to the general public on their return to Rarotonga. Cook Islands News has invited all delegates to share their experience with readers and accordingly newspaper space will be allocated to those who offer information about the sessions […]

CITC had significant financial advantage

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in National

An arrangement between the Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) and Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) has prevented government from receiving an estimated $1.2 million of taxation revenue over three years. CITC had an arrangement with MFEMs customs division which allowed it to separate contents and packaging on imported products supplied by Coca Cola […]

Price moratorium warranted

Friday 2 September 2011 | Published in National

There is enough market competition and variety of product to warrant the revocation of a price order on general grocery and laundry goods, Price Tribunal chairman Terry Hagan says. This week the tribunal formally revoked a 2005 order setting maximum prices on such consumables, for a trial 12 month period. Hagan and fellow tribunal members […]