Articles by Utopia Support

December start for $10m road works

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in National

Workers will be out in force by December to begin the multi-million dollar road and water upgrades to the town area. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) is currently seeking tenders for the first stage of a $10 million upgrade to the water supply systems and road surfaces at Avarua. About 2.7 kilometres of […]

Call to support chlamydia treatment

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in National

Its tasteless, its free and it just may save you from becoming infertile so why isnt the population taking full advantage of the mass treatment programme for chlamydia? Support for the mass treatment programme is not at the level organisers from the ministry of health had hoped. The programme, which is aiming to cut the […]

Burglar caught in the act

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in National

Local police arrested six people at the weekend, including an alleged burglar who was caught in the act by a quick thinking member of the community. A young man from Arorangi was allegedly in the middle of breaking into a Kavera store when he was spotted by a passerby. The passerby managed to apprehend the […]

Blake upbeat despite criticism

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) secretary general Rosie Blake says she is proud of the organisation and all it is doing for Cook Islands sport, despite revelations about its precarious financial status. Blake says CISNOC comprises dedicated Cook Islanders working hard to do the best they can for the benefit of all […]

Do not bail out CISNOC

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Sir, How is it that the president of CISNOC pleads ignorance to its financial problems? According to CISNOC the problem is that the government budget didnt allocate them enough cash. That budget was passed six weeks ago, and the president of CISNOC was sitting in the house of parliament as the budget was passed. […]

CISNOC crisis: who really knew?

Wednesday 17 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Its hard to believe Sir Geoffrey, as the hands-on president of CISNOC, is not familiarised with the financial affairs of his organisation, as reported in Wednesdays Cook Islands News, a smoke signaller writes. Its also hard to believe the Cook Islands Party hierarchy did not know about the mess at CISNOC until they were informed […]

MMR monitors lagoon

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Environment

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is continuing to carefully monitor the Manihiki lagoon as part of a New Zealand Aid Programme-funded plan to revive the Cook Islands pearl industry. Such was the basis of a presentation by MMR secretary Ben Ponia at the pearl industry forum yesterday.Ponia explained that pearl production dropped off dramatically […]

Cooks on the Radar

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

BCI steps up security

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

The Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) is taking extra security measures within its Aitutaki branch following a burglary and theft of thousands of dollars. BCI managing director Vaine Nooana-Arioka says there are no concerns about the security measures in place on Aitutaki at present, but in light of last weeks burglary additional steps are […]

Cash crisis at CISNOC

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Local

Less than two weeks out from the Pacific Games in New Caledonia, participation by Team Cook Islands is uncertain because of a financial crisis within CISNOC. The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee has dropped a bombshell telling national sports federations it cannot afford to send athletes to Noumea. In a last ditch attempt […]

Matenga gives Mangaia netball tips

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Netball

Netball Cook Islands development officer Luciana Matenga discovered Mangaia childrens love of netball during her recent visit to the island to deliver new coaching techniques. Matenga shared with Mangaian children new netball skills through fun games which she says were a big hit. The kids were so excited when I taught them the skills through […]

Dishing up old dishes

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

Gastronomes visiting Rarotonga should delight a new 10-course degustation night has begun serving up generations-old dishes that feature the culinary pleasures of the Cook Islands and Polynesia. Club Bana bistro is now offering a night for food-lovers who want to taste their way through the culinary history of the Cook Islands. Sisters Tarita Hutchinson and […]

Ferry loads up

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

Port workers have been busy overnight loading the MV Lady Naomi with cargo bound for the northern group of islands. Forklifts and trucks busied themselves from yesterday afternoon to load the cargo aboard the Samoan vessel, which is scheduled to set sail today. Although the ministry of cultural development could not supply a cargo list […]

Kiwi comedian explores Cooks

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

Having taken on the world in his latest television series, Kiwi comedian Te Radar is now taking on the Cooks. The host of popular TVNZ shows Off The Radar, Radars Patch and Global Radar is currently travelling the Pacific for filming on his next project, the aptly named Pacific Radar. Having seen the world of […]

Following the Pied Piper?

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

Dear Editor, PM Henry Puna is a very good singer and his rallying song as claimed by former Demo president Makiuti Tongia had a positive ripple effect and was also a Maori format of communication. No one disputes the PMs singing ability but for him not to deliver an honest and true account of the […]

6 jobs available

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Health has six existing vacancies at present. It is advertising for a quality manager and diagnostic radiography officer within its hospital health services, as well as a finance manager, compliance officer and policy, planning and reporting officer for the funding and planning division. A vacancy is also being advertised for a nurse […]

Westpac advises on internet scams and fraud

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in National

Westpac last week warned its customers about the dangers of online scams designed to defraud them of their funds following an increase in the number of phishing reports in the past few days. Phishing is a scam that uses emails and fraudulent websites designed to capture sufficient personal information to allow criminals to withdraw funds […]

Will we keep our people here?

Tuesday 16 August 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

It was exciting to see our hospitality students being glorified of their achievements at the recent Nestle Toque dOr Junior Chefs competition in New Zealand, a smoke signaller writes. But it is disappointing to hear that one the contestants applied for a job in one of our boutique hotels and guess how much the person […]

Speed networking

Monday 15 August 2011 | Published in Local

Speed networking is coming to the Cook Islands thanks to the Business & Professional Womens Association. The BPW has a new executive and invites all current and new members to attend its first event tomorrow evening. Based on the concept of speed dating, BPW will be kicking things off with a fun interactive way for […]

New fishing fight brewing

Monday 15 August 2011 | Published in Local

Tongareva MP Wilkie Rasmussen is threatening a strong fight over what he sees as divisive antics by the government in buying the silence of northern group islanders to purse seine fishing. He said yesterday he has learned that senior government staff representing Marine Minister Teina Bishop have been holding meetings of Te Maeva Nui tere […]