Articles by Utopia Support

Te Kainga pushes mental illness awareness

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

Te Kainga o Pa Taunga staff believe that addressing mental illness as a problem of priority importance will go a long way toward reducing both crime and physical illness in the Cook Islands. Around the world mental health is a low priority but particularly so here (in the Cook Islands), registered nurse Mereana Taikoko said. […]

10 new officers honoured, challenged

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

Ten more Cook Islanders have officially joined the Cook Islands Police Service. They took the officers oath yesterday at a graduation ceremony, which represented the culmination of 11 weeks of intense physical and academic training. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says this group of recruits is the best-trained in the history of Cook Islands Police. Yesterday, […]

Harbour master to be replaced

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

The Ports Authority is advertising the harbour masters position, as the man in the job plans to leave. Current harbour master Esau Esau has given his intention to leave the job, saying he had become home-sick for his native Tonga. Esau replaced John Fallon as the authoritys harbour master in October last year, coming off […]

Mangaia carving gifted to Pacific Forum

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Pacific Islands Forum next month, the Cook Islands government has donated a carving to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji. Presented by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Pacific division director Carl Hunter, the gift is a storyboard wall carving crafted by Tangi Vaipo. Hunter unveiled it […]

Disaster response fund valued

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

Three Cook Islanders represented the country at a disaster management conference in Auckland last week. Over 200 delegates from 22 Pacific countries and territories met at the third session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management to discuss ways to mitigate the impact of disasters, including climate change, on regional development. Representing the Cook […]

Mystery fish is a crocodile longtom

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

The case of the mean-looking Avana mystery fish has been solved, with the unknown species being identified as a suitably-named crocodile longtom. Richard Story, Aitutaki-based fisheries officer at the Ministry of Marine Resources, contacted Cook Islands News yesterday with the information and said though the fish was common on the eastern coast of Rarotonga, it […]

Akaoas Wednesday night market revived

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

For years Akaoas night market has been dormant, but its back. The Arorangi village held its first night market in years on Wednesday night. About 30 vendors sold food, arts and crafts in the roadside space opposite the Akaoa meeting house. Kids enjoyed an instant photo booth and their own corner, where they watched movies […]

Use of trust fund deplored

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in National

Money from a 1985 Cook Islands Pacific Games trust fund is being used inappropriately to cover expenses for Team Cook Islands to go to Noumea, former CISNOC secretary general David Lobb says. The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) has hastily withdrawn about $98,000 from the trust fund this week. It has been […]

No one will be held accountable

Friday 19 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

No one is ever punished for incompetence in the Cook Islands, even if it costs the country, an irate smoke signaller writes. Nothing has changed. Quit trying to pull the wool over our eyes. CISNOC officials knew of the pending financial shortfall and were counting on Government to bail them out. To date they have […]

Rarotonga visitor numbers at a high

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

If you felt like it was busy on Rarotonga in July, youd be right more than 13,400 travellers visited the Cook Islands during the month. The figures, recorded by the Cook Islands Statistics Office on behalf of Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, show that visitor numbers for July this year jumped about 12.5 percent on last […]

Rugby squad to patrol Muri for crime

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

The senior squad of the Ngatangiia/Muri Flying Dragons rugby union club will carry out nightly patrols through their village to stem a cycle of crime that has been hurting the tourist hotspot in recent months. More than 20 men will be trained as qualified security patrolmen, with individuals rostered on seven nights a week to […]

Sir Geoffrey deflects criticism

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Local

Government is not bailing out the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC), according to president Sir Geoffrey Henry. Instead it is bailing out Team Cook Islands, which needs more money to attend the Pacific Games in Noumea starting on August 27, he says. Sir Geoffrey chaired a meeting at CISNOCs Maraerenga premises yesterday […]

Harder hits Rehab

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Features

New Zealand R&B star Vince Harder will perform at Rehab on Friday night. He is the latest performer to join Rehabs list of celebrity music artists, which this year has included King Kapisi, Young Sid, Pieter T and Tiki Taane. Harder won Best Pacific Male Artist at the recent Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards for […]

Kata - August 18, 2011

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Waitakere arrives

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

The Waitakere United football team arrived in Rarotonga last night for the one off match against a Cook Islands selection side. Neil Emblen and his Waitakere United players have been handed a chance to escape the winter chills and head to Rarotonga for a friendly pre-season game against the Cooks. Cooks coach Maurice Tillotson is […]

Economic mission to US hits target

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

The Marumaru Atua economic mission to the US will bring more tourists to the Cook Islands shores, see more pearls leaving the countrys farms and foster a greater exchange of ideas and support in the future, says the mission participants. Through the trip, the Cook Islands has found a new black pearl agent in California, […]

Puna leads CI Day

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna and his delegation have returned from San Francisco, where they celebrated Cook Islands Day before hundreds of California passersby. Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Carmel Beattie said it was absolutely fabulous to be part of Cook Islands Day. Puna was the only Pacific prime minister to meet the vaka in San […]

Calm seas carry Lady Naomi north

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

The large swells and windy weather that beleaguered the MV Lady Naomi on its trip to Rarotonga have given way for calm seas and light breezes on its return journey. The Cook Islands Meteorological Service says forecasts show passengers aboard the Lady Naomi will be enjoying fine sailing weather as they return to their home […]

Ten new police trainees graduate today

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

Police recruits are today graduating from a ten-week training course. The graduation begins at 9am at the Avarua police headquarters. Each of the ten new recruits has completed a standard police training programme in the hope of becoming sworn officers. Three are women and seven are men, all from Rarotonga and aged between 18 and […]

Mr Mac writes his dream

Thursday 18 August 2011 | Published in National

Alistair McIntyre is living proof that dreams can come true if theyre built on courage and perseverance. When McIntyre left school to live every little boys dream to drive big trucks and operate heavy machinery he was semi-literate. Hes now an acclaimed author and publisher of two childrens books, and promotes reading for a living. […]