Articles by Utopia Support

Underage driving a growing concern

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Local

Underage driving is a growing concern for local police who fielded worried calls from parents at the weekend in relation to their children driving without a licence. A concerned Ngatangiia mother contacted police at the weekend to report that her 14-year-old daughter had taken off on a motorbike with a friend. Another mother from Arorangi […]

Red Cross win out of the blue

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Local

All it took was one ticket and a collection bucket at the Cook Islands Red Cross office and now the staff is $30,000 richer. Ten of the Red Cross members put in $5 each to buy a ticket early last week and now each of them will take home $3000 for their efforts. Danny Vakapora […]

Chlamydia dosing extended, 2000 take part

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Local

The chlamydia mass treatment programme has been extended into this week to help build on the thousands of people who have already taken the medication. Despite handing out the free treatment to more than 2000 people on Rarotonga during the last week, the ministry of health will continue to treat people for the sexually transmitted […]

Parents should be with their children

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yes, it is a blessing to see these police recruits taking on a very challenging career especially dealing with juvenile criminal activities which we are facing at the moment. Parents need to discipline their children and be with them on the weekends instead of spending their time boozing. I also notice some of […]

Rosie responds to critics

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the nameless few that have smoke-signalled and had nom-de-plumed letters in your paper. My voluntary services to sports span over 48 years, as club captain, president, manager to world and international events, and chef de mission to 3 Olympic Games. I could go on and on, but my […]

It wont be easy

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Fact Information Sheet advertising taken out by the Office of the Financial Secretary and the under siege Minister Brown just goes to show the lack of knowledge evident by the planners and the sheer inappropriateness of a withholding tax. Minister Mark Brown is on public record as saying the new tax will […]

Kata - August 23, 2011

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Busy week for Rarotongas runners

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

The week of September 23-28 will be busy for Rarotongas running community, as the Round Rarotonga Road Race, the Hash House Harriers birthday run, Round Raro Relay and the Nutters Run all fall within days of each other. This years Round Rarotonga Road Race scheduled for September 23 will begin and end from a new […]

Tri series build up to Kiwis test

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Rugby League is running its tri series between the local Cook Islands Rugby League, New Zealand Cook Islands Rugby League and the Australian Cook Islands Rugby League leading up to the Kiwis test against the Cook Islands on October 6. The main purpose of the tri series is to bring all our top […]

Growers gather tips and ideas in Tahiti

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

For Tupapa vanilla producer Danny Mataroa, the chance to travel to Tahiti and learn more about how to grow the promising industry in the Cook Islands was one not to miss. Mataroa said the trip was a very valuable one for him because he was able to access knowledge and techniques unavailable to him on […]

Delegation of businesspeople in Apia

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

Three Cook Islands business professionals are attending a conference in Samoa this week, having successfully been selected by the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce. Steve Lyons of Pacific Divers Cook Islands, Tarita Hutchinson of Club Bana Bistro and Whatever! Bar and Grill, and Melina Etches of Flying Boat Takeaway will participate in a two-day workshop […]

Exporting Cooks a pixel at a time

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

Technology and commerce are moving towards a head-on crash next month and the tourism industry is set to benefit. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is broadcasting a webinar session in September to help clue-up North American travel agents on aspects of the Cook Islands. The online seminar will focus on kids in the Cooks with […]

Appeal to help Mataitis family

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

Local businessman Don Carlaw is partially covering the cost of a local familys car repairs, and is asking another member of the community to make up the difference. Carlaw knows Mataiti Mataiti through his association with Cook Islands Outward Bound, an outdoor challenge that aimed to teach young people how to survive in the outdoors […]

8 to be sentenced tomorrow

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

The sentencing of eight defendants will take place by three justices of the peace in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua tomorrow. Exham George, William Brown, Munokoa Pita, Walter Strickland, Ellis Solomona, Ammon Mitiau, Rangi Vakatini, and Tarapi Samuel are all on the sentencing list. All have previously admitted the charges they face and […]

Jetting scientists back in Rarotonga

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

A groundbreaking scientific mission dubbed HIPPO by its sponsors will return to Rarotonga tomorrow evening for the second time this year. A Gulfstream V (GV) carrying a team of US scientists and a raft of state-of-the-art research equipment is expected to land on the tarmac at about 5pm tomorrow. It was last here in June […]

Cook Islanders involved in trust mismanagement

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

A health trust for Pacific people in New Zealand, run by Cook Islander Jane Poa, has lost its contract after an audit raised concerns about its financial management. Conducted last year, the audit revealed that Cificap Trust was using government funding to provide healthcare services to a small group of people, including the managers of […]

No answers till after Pacific Games

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) will address issues of concern once the Pacific Games in New Caledonia are over. CISNOC president Sir Geoffrey Henry says at present Team Cook Islands is CISNOCs one and only focus. Everything else will have to wait, he says. Our job right now is to ensure […]

Getaway vehicle a yacht?

Tuesday 23 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Aitutakis mayor John Baxter said police were investigating whether the thieves who got away with an amount rumoured to be anywhere between $20,000 and $200,000, could have moored a yacht at Aitutaki, carried out the heist at the Bank of the Cook Islands branch there, and then sailed away. I know the police are checking […]

Yachting numbers sluggish

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Local

Rarotonga is facing a sluggish yacht season this year, with numbers appearing to take a hit in response to construction works at the Avatiu harbour. Ports Authority harbour master Esau Esau said the harbour has housed 20 yachts since the beginning of June, which is around the beginning of winters typical busy yacht season. Last […]

Proactive policing works

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Local

Proactive policing is having a positive effect in problem neighbourhoods around Rarotonga, police commissioner Maara Tetava says. For the past two weeks officers have been targeting known crime spots, such as Takitumu, increasing their presence in the community. Tetava says there has been a noticeable reduction in the amount of crime accordingly. We are coordinating […]