Articles by Utopia Support

Au revoir!

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Local

Team Cook Islands athletes and officials gathered for a special farewell church service yesterday at the AOG church in Takuvaine before a photo session in front of the court house steps with Prime Minister Henry Puna. Chef de mission George George and CISNOC secretary general Rosie Blake lea the group of athletes and officials to […]

CISNOC meeting was a disgrace

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Wednesdays meeting at the CISNOC offices called as a Special General Meeting but cancelled when Sir Geoff Henry walked in was a disgrace. What was a greater disgrace was Sir Geoffreys attempt to not let people ask questions. This was shameful in the extreme. However, there were other disgraces. 1) The information […]

Kata - August 22, 2011

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Kata te CIP!

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Dear Editor, The letter from True Demo confirms that our Demo caucus is not only talking to each other but also talking past each other. Second, the leader of the party is being openly challenged from within caucus. Caucus is divided and there is no unity, in other words you cannot ask the party rank […]

Teen charged with indecent assault of girl

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

Further adjournment has been granted in the case against 17-year-old Panama resident Ngatokoa Teao, who is charged with indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl. Teao appeared in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua before Justice of the Peace Tui Short last Thursday. Defence counsel Norman George is representing Teao on a separate charge of assault. […]

Humanitarian day

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

Thousands of humanitarian aid workers, who each year help millions worldwide, were honoured last week. World Humanitarian Day is celebrated internationally on August 19 in recognition of all who help others. The day recognises the sacrifices and contributions of people who risk their lives to give others help and hope, and is about inspiring the […]

SPCA wants more local support

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

Progress at the Cook Islands SPCA dog pound has virtually come to a stop as the societys funding streams slow to a trickle. The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) currently draws almost all of its funds from items sold at its Punanga Nui market stall and small change deposited into its […]

NZ training for prison guards

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

Two Cook Islands prison officers have graduated from a training course at Rimutaka Prison in New Zealand. Teariki Purua and Andrew George have spent two months training in Upper Hutt, north of Wellington. They have just graduated from the course, along with a bunch of other corrections staff based in New Zealand. Graduates also include […]

Downtown village market on monthly

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

The Takuvaine-Tutakimoa villages grouped together on Friday for the second in what is now a monthly market day. Stalls set up across from the Banana Court, with people local to Takuvaine or Tutakimoa selling food, crafts and goods through the day. The go local theme was still champion at the market, the stall owners selling […]

Cooks magazine reaches 1.8m Aussies

Monday 22 August 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands push into the Australian market continued at the weekend when a special, 24-page magazine was delivered to about 1.8 million readers in Sydney and Melbourne. The custom publication was inserted into the two big Fairfax newspapers in Australia on Saturday the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbournes The Age which have a combined […]

Team of 152 heading to Noumea

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Environment

Today is exactly a week until the opening of the 14th Pacific Games in New Caledonia where 5000 athletes from 22 countries will compete in 28 sports. New Caledonia has spent the past four years preparing for the games and all is set for one of the biggest sporting events in the region. All athletes […]

Ministry wants more data on fish

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Environment

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is teaming up with the Cook Islands Fishing Association to encourage greater data collection by artisanal, subsistence and recreational fishers. MMR has developed a new catch logbook programme which is being rolled out in all islands to provide capacity for extra information on fishing and catch to be recorded […]

Pukapuka sets the solar example

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands government is looking to Pukapukas past as the islands and the nations future is beginning to come into focus. Pukapuka will be one of the first islands to make the solar conversion as part of Prime Minister Henry Punas clean, green vision for the Cook Islands. But the idea is not a […]

Tax Q&A published

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Local

Public concern and confusion about governments new withholding tax has prompted the Office of the Financial Secretary to publicly disseminate information on issues surrounding the revenue generating initiative. From September 1 the withholding tax will be implemented, effectively reducing the amount of interest earned on Cook Islands bank deposits by 15 percent. That money goes […]

Pacific plunder worries anglers

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Local

The plunder of fish throughout the Pacific region is worrying New Zealand authorities, particularly fishing associations and councils which claim regional activity is impacting negatively on fish migration elsewhere. An article in the latest edition of the New Zealand Fishing News reports more than three million tonnes of tuna is caught in the Pacific Ocean […]

Tourism miffed by NZ clanger

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Local

The worldwide interest in the Aitutaki bank theft has left the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation feeling miffed but not worried, said chief executive officer Carmel Beattie. The corporation has been tackling the question of whether all publicity is good publicity since the news of the BCI bank burglary exploded on to the international scene. In […]

Doctor of Letters

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Local

Marjorie Tuainekore Crocombe OBE is the first female Cook Islander to be awarded the Doctor of Letters from the University of the South Pacific. She accepted the award from USP pro-chancellor Fiame Naomi Mataafa at a graduation ceremony honouring the academic achievements of more than 100 Cook Islanders yesterday.

Te Maeva Nui and holiday stories

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Features

Dear Diary, I had a really great time during the holidays. I went to PHAB Pharmacy Health and Beauty. At that shop I was working and I got paid and when I was hungry I would walk over to Oasis and buy whatever. It was really cool at the float parade. When I went to […]

Peace Bird book released

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Features

More than 40 people filled the Peace Garden on Thursday to celebrate the launch of The Peace Bird and the life and work of its author, peace advocate Paddy Walker. The childrens book, illustrated by artist Nanette Lelaulu, has been published by New Zealand firm Native Council for Pasifika Education Centre. Evelyn Stanley of Pasifika […]

Tavs show in Fiji

Saturday 20 August 2011 | Published in Features

Local fashion designer Ellena Tavioni is entering her resort wear, swim wear and trans-seasonal designs into the running to feature at Fiji Fashion Week. It will be the first time she has applied to be part of Fiji Fashion Week now in its fourth year though her work has featured in international fashion shows staged […]