Articles by Utopia Support

Pacific Resort at exhibition

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Features

Pacific Resort deputy chief executive officer Marcus Niszow has confirmed he will be attending the Australasian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE) in Sydney. On September 2, he will join around 30 hotel owners, chief executives and industry leaders at the conference, which is focused on the management and operation of hotels throughout Australia, New […]

Local flavours and flora

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Features

Mataveras newest boutique has such a pronounced local flavour that it has become a stopping point for tour buses. The culmination of a years worth of construction and preparation, Island Living opened its doors this week. A quaint white cottage-like shop just off the main road, it was built of timber salvaged from the old […]

The tree of life flourishes

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Features

A few years ago while researching for a livestock breeding programme on Mauke, Graham began thinking about what he could feed his goats to increase their size and weight. A suggestion of Moringa oleifera and its mysterious nutritional properties got the better of his imagination. I, among millions of others, had never heard of the […]

Are you kidding?

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, No disrespect to Papa Louis but for anyone to hold this man up as a safe driver is laughable. Travelling at speeds of around 25km in a 50km speed zone causes drivers who are usually quite patient to take risks by having to pass. Look for the large queues and then look for […]

Kata - August 27, 2011

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Theyre back in support!

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

The Laughing Samoans cant get enough of Rarotonga. Pictured here, Miss South Pacific Cook Islands contender Uirangi Bishop, Miss Cook Islands 2009 Engara Gosselin, Laughing Samoans Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepuleai and Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association president Clee Marsters march into Rarotonga yesterday ahead of this weekends show at the National Auditorium. Last here […]

Photo comp gets museums backing

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

Budding photographers will have the chance to get their work on the walls of the Cook Islands National Museum in the first photographic exhibition to be held at the complex. The Alliance Francaise de Rarotonga will judge the national leg of an international competition looking at the spirit and inspiration of women in the community. […]

Nation building and national parties

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

My sons under 13 rugby mates have been meeting after school behind our house. For the last three weeks theyve been building a tree house in the kuru tree. I enjoy watching all the construction work going on. When they started I watched them have a meeting to decide on the plan and design and […]

Pearls and beer in Showcase

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

Avaiki Black Pearls, Matutu Breweries and Cook Islands Tourism have been invited to represent the Cook Islands at the Pacific Showcase in Auckland early next month. Organised to coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Showcase will bring together dozens of Pacific businesses, artists and performers for three days (September 6-9) at The Cloud, […]

JP gives students a second chance

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

Schools should not be so quick to turn away troubled youth, Justice of the Peace John Kenning says. He made the comment in relation to the sentencing of two 16-year-old boys who appeared in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua on Wednesday. Ellis Solomona and Ammon Mitiau, both Tereora College students, have admitted their […]

Tax will hit the north more

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

Governments withholding tax is an unfair burden on Cook Islanders already struggling financially with the recession and relying heavily on every penny saved, deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says. In parliament on Tuesday evening Rasmussen criticised finance minister Mark Browns comments that government was forced to impose a new tax to balance its books. Rasmussen […]

Im pleading bear with us

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

In an effort to deflect negativity about its controversial withholding tax, government is highlighting all it has done to the countrys benefit since gaining power in last Novembers election. Finance minister Mark Brown spoke in parliament on Tuesday evening, highlighting government achievements in the last nine months. His comments came in relation to a controversial […]

Filipino fun day at Muri

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

A family fun day and miniature Olympics is being held at Muri tomorrow as a celebration by Club Philippines Raro (CPR) of its inaugural foundation day anniversary. CPR president Henry Ereno says the day will comprise various sporting events and fun games for members and their Cook Islands friends. He expects a crowd of more […]

Odds not good

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in National

Odds are against anglers in this weekends 15th annual Gary Parlour fishing competition, which has grown to be the largest event between the Cook Islands and Aitutaki game fishing clubs. This year Rarotonga hosts the tournament, which began in earnest at 6am yesterday. By 2pm just four fish had been weighed a 9.8kg wahoo, 16.2kg […]

Fishing comparison: our $73 vs their $5000

Saturday 27 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Fishing minister Teina Bishop has returned from China with a reported three-year deal of $800,000 in licence revenue for the Cook Islands. A smoke signaller writes. Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) have recently set down guidelines for fishing in their waters at a minimum of $5000 A DAY for EACH fishing vessel, with some […]

Work is our link to the Creator

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Work is essential for life, for human life and for the life of our planet. Work stands out for its indispensable contribution to both progress and preservation and lights the path to human fulfilment.Work is what we do. Work helps to make us who we are. Work has a dignity of its own in that […]

Controversial tax law passed

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Local

Despite heated debate in parliament by opposition members, governments withholding tax amendment bill has been unanimously approved and passed into legislation without change. A third session of parliament took place yesterday afternoon to allow members the opportunity to each speak for up to 20 minutes on the bill, tabled by finance minister Mark Brown on […]

Toa sucking blood from country

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Local

Independent member of parliament Norman George is demanding answers from government about its obligation to Toa Petroleum Ltd, costing at least $100,000 each month. During Tuesday evenings parliamentary session George asked finance minister Mark Brown to confirm that the government and people of the Cook Islands are paying Toa director Brett Porter and the company […]

PM starring at Jupiters

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna is next week attending a gala function at Conrad Jupiters, a casino on Australias Gold Coast. He will be meeting the Gold Coasts Cook Islands community, which has organised an evening of dinner and dancing, featuring performances by Cook Islands artists and dancers. Cook Islands musicians Mere Darling, Jon Lindsay and […]

60-plus birthday sing-song

Friday 26 August 2011 | Published in Local

Cecilia Herrmann and Chris Raui lead the revelry at Cafe Ariki, ringing in the 60-plus clubs fourth birthday.