Articles by Utopia Support

Allsworth responds to Ivaiti vendetta

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in National

A report by the Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) states audit director Paul Allsworth has obtained more than $6176.75 to which he was not entitled. The report, executed following complaints about Allsworth by former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti, is itself condemned by Allsworth, former finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen and lawyer Tim Arnold. They each say […]

Mataiapo title returns to Mama Ngametua

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in National

Mama Ngametua Enuake Kaota celebrated her 76th birthday yesterday with a peaceful, uncontested investiture ceremony at Marae Patai in Rutaki. She was invested with the Kaimarama Mataiapo title following the death of her late nephew Tuariki the former titleholder earlier this year. Taunga Tangianau Tuaputa cleared kuru trees to construct the 17 by 14 metre […]

Police claim breakthrough in their fight against theft

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands police say they have made good headway into reducing the incidents of theft and burglary on Rarotonga in the past fortnight. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua of the police departments Criminal Investigation Branch said there had been a drop in the number of dishonesty offences, such as thefts and burglaries, during the last two […]

Perplexing priorities

Thursday 1 September 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Government has been billed as Henrys Travelling Circus, whose members stay home just long enough to enact ill-conceived and unpopular withholding tax legislation to rake in revenue from thrifty savers on the one hand, while on the other, doling out a substantial $48,000 of taxpayers money to fund a grossly outsized […]

Rasmussen pulls out of travel junket

Wednesday 31 August 2011 | Published in Local

Deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has declined an invitation by government to be part of the Cook Islands delegation to New Zealand for the 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum. Rasmussen says he was invited by Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, in the presence of Prime Minister Henry Puna, to travel to Auckland as part of the […]

Fruit and vegetable import levies kick in tomorrow

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in Local

Seasonal levies on imported fresh fruits and vegetables come into effect from tomorrow. Ministry of Finance and Economic Management customs officer Pokoina Matara says the logic behind the levy introduced in 2006 is to protect the local produce market from a flood of imported fruits and vegetables. It will be lifted in the summer months, […]

Tour party questions unanswered

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in Local

Pressure is building on government to confirm whether it proposes to send a record-size delegation to the Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand, at a cost of about $80,000. The Central Agencies Committee, chaired by public service commissioner Navy Epati, is also demanding answers of government about a proposed junket to the forum, which coincides […]

Black fever hits CITC

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in Local

CITC is showing its support for the All Blacks, much to the tongue-in-cheek dismay of its handful of Australian staff members. Yesterday, staff of all CITC branches turned up to work in Black Fever T-shirts, emblazoned with a white fern on the back. Staff will be wearing Black Fever shirts every Thursday and any day […]

Kata - August 30, 2011

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Police commissioner at regional talks

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Police commissioner Maara Tetava has travelled to the Federated States of Micronesia to help develop a Pacific-wide response to reduce transnational crime and increase cyber safety in the region. Tetava represented the Cook Islands at the 40th Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) annual conference in Pohnpei, the Federated States of Micronesias capital […]

Nukutere principal furious at court report

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Nukutere College principal Donna Nahu is furious with the article printed in Cook Islands News on Saturday and the statements made by the justices of the peace regarding the expulsion of two students. She has asked for a right of reply, as this was not given prior to the article going to print. She says […]

Assault blamed on the Jimmy

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

A mother and daughter involved in an alcohol-fuelled birthday bash have reconciled, giving the daughter six months to prove she is not deserving of a criminal conviction for assault. Melanie Pare, a 37-year-old Ruatonga resident, appeared in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua for sentence last week, having previously admitted slapping her 61-year-old mother […]

Qualify for Zumba

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Zumba continues to grow in popularity throughout the Cook Islands and for the first time local class teachers are being given the opportunity to become officially licensed instructors on home turf. Top Australian instructor Maria Teresa Stone will be taking a Zumba Fitness Basic 1 training session at the Top Shape Fitness gymnasium in Rarotonga […]

Poor results in fishing comp

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

A disappointing catch did not stop Gary Parlour competitors from celebrating on Saturday night, when a final weigh-in and prizegiving was held at the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club at Kiikii. Over two days of competition, just 197.6kg of fish was caught one of the lowest catch rates per boat entered ever recorded in the […]

Peace in song and music

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Rarotonga students are preparing to sing their hearts out at a Peace Song Quest tomorrow night. Students from all primary and secondary schools were invited to take part in a Peace Songquest, and about 16 groups and individuals have registered in a bid to win trophies and cash prizes. Tereora Colleges Princess Anne Hall will […]

Cabinet to decide on junket

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Cabinet members are today expected to decide how many Cook Islanders will travel for the Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand, for how long, at what cost, and on whose dime. A proposed delegation to the early September forum, which this year coincides with the 2011 Rugby World Cup also being held in New Zealand, […]

Investigation extends

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Police are investigating the movements of certain individuals in the hope of progressing their search for Aitutakis bank burglar. Public details on the burglary of Aitutakis Bank of the Cook Islands branch earlier this month are still vague. To date it has not been confirmed whether as much as $200,000 has been stolen, what security […]

Fire warning issued

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

The Rescue Fire Service has responded to 14 calls in the past 10 days. Deputy fire chief Willie Hagai says all pertained to rubbish fires that had spread uncontrollably in strong winds. He asks the public to consider wind speed and direction before lighting a rubbish heap on fire. Hagai adds that during this time […]

Finance minister to address Lowry Institute

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Finance minister Mark Brown is preparing to speak at a conference prior to the 2011 Pacific Leaders Forum in Auckland. He has been invited by the Lowy Institute for International Policy to be part of a panel speaking on the topic of leadership within a financial management context. The institute is hosting the conference, at […]

Weekend sea swells like hurricane

Tuesday 30 August 2011 | Published in National

Coastal areas and businesses from the southwest of Rarotonga to the islands east have been inundated with water from the rough seas experienced last week. Businesses from Vaimaanga to Muri experienced saturation and some damage from the irregularly high seas, which battered the area from late on Friday and through the weekend. Tata Crocombe, managing […]