Articles by Utopia Support

Cook Islands gets own iPhone app

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

The Cook Islands now has its own iPhone app, or an application on Apples popular smartphone. Former BBC journalist John Roberts, has created an application that familiarises visitors and potential visitors with the 15 Cook Islands. For $2.59 users can download the Cook Islands app, which gives them access to a guide to every one […]

Tahiti ties strengthened with visit

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

The cruise ship Paul Gauguin stopped in recently at Aitutaki and Rarotonga for the second time in two months. The vessel carried two tourism industry members from French Polynesia, on a mission to search out their Rarotongan counterparts and build on the ties that exist between the two countries. Two members of the Bailey family, […]

Outer islanders try paddleboarding

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

Te Maeva Nui dancers from the northern group islands will take their drums to Muri lagoon today for a fun afternoon of stand up paddleboarding. Stand up paddleboarding enthusiast and events organiser Charlotte Piho, who is originally from Rakahanga, has organised the event as a lead up to the walk on water week from August […]

Pacific Resort group a triple threat

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

All three Pacific Resort properties are finalists in the prestigious HM Awards. Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Pacific Resort Rarotonga and Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa have have been named finalists in the 2011 HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on September 2. Pacific Resort […]

Reducing stress

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

Classroom blues is an age-old issue and one that Fay Greenslade hopes to help resolve. Greenslade, who was on Rarotonga recently visiting family, has been working as a resource teacher for learning and behaviour at Helensville primary school in the north west of Auckland for the last 12 years. She completed her masters degree thesis […]

Tiki and Mii take up new post

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

Tiki Matapo is leaving behind his pigs and taro patch for high rise buildings and lattes on Lambton Quay in Wellington. As the latest Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Matapo will be representing all Cook Islanders and government in his first diplomatic post. He and wife Mii flew from Rarotonga to Auckland on […]

It feels like home to new NZ envoy

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Features

New Zealands relationship with the Cook Islands has never been stronger and will continue to develop to the benefit of both nations, New Zealands latest High Commissioner to the Cook Islands John Carter says. Carter is in the first month of his new job, having moved to Rarotonga with wife Leoni to take up the […]

Kata - August 13, 2011

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Emma Koteka-Wikis back from the US to de-stress

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

Four years ago Emm Koteka-Wiki introduced Rarotonga to the Zumba fitness craze. Shes back on the island for the second time since then, and she says shes pleased to see that so many people have caught the Zumba fever. Its taken off big time, she said. Ive seen more people doing Zumba which is really […]

Te Maeva Nui photo scrapbook

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

To help remember the thrill of the week-long festival students have poured over, cut out and made wall hangings of the photos from the festival printed daily in Cook Islands News. Today we share some of the excitement kids had at Te Maeva Nui written by Room 4 students. Te Maeva Nui Te Maeva Nui […]

An oasis blending beauty and profit

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

It is almost impossible to believe that Maire Nui Gardens was once three lone trees on a flat seven-acre paddock. Macquarie, who has lived in the Cook Islands all her life, could see the lands potential however and embarked on what has been a 14-year journey. Fronting the main road through Titikaveka, the expanse of […]

Stirring message in San Francisco

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

San Francisco, one of the biggest cities on the California coast, had its eye on the Cook Islands this week. Wednesday was deemed Cook Islands Day in celebration of the arrival of vaka Marumaru Atua, which left Rarotonga in March and has since travelled over 15,000 miles to the American mainland. Prime Minister Henry Puna […]

HTTC students off to Aitutaki

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

TOURISM Minister Teina Bishop will make good on his promise to send the award-winning Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre students on a trip to Aitutaki. Bishop reaffirmed his pledge while attending a congratulatory ceremony organised by the centre yesterday. He said the students, who brought home silver and bronze medals from the prestigious Nestle Toque […]

Rakahanga rewarded

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

There must be some sore thumbs in the Rakahanga camp this week thanks to the mammoth text-messaging marathons of the week before. But hopefully the people of Rakahanga feel like it is worth it, having now received a $500 cheque from Telecom Cook Islands for coming first in its Te Maeva Nui peoples choice awards. […]

More money to be made at trade days

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

The Trade Day markets held during Te Maeva Nui were an enormous success for stall vendors but the outer islands are still not taking full advantage of the opportunity, says Business Trade Investment Board chief executive officer Terry Rangi. Although the event grew again this year, the message from BTIB is that there was plenty […]

North to be CIs green leader

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

The northern group of islands will lead the rest of the Cook Islands as the country moves towards becoming 100 percent reliant on renewable energy sources, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. The government will soon begin installing solar technology in the northern islands to meet its goal of becoming completely reliant on sustainable energy for […]

Report card out

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Education today makes public the results of its first report card. The report card is published in Maori in todays CINews, and will be published next Saturday in English. Borne of a desire to be transparent and accountable, the ministry asked the community represented by a panel of five people from schools […]

Water works about to begin

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

Details are being finalised for a $2.2 million project to improve water collection, storage, and supply infrastructure on cyclone-hit northern group islands while island council members and mayors are gathered in Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui. A meeting at the University of the South Pacific campus in Avarua yesterday provided a chance for project coordinators, […]

The Great Wheelbarrow Robbery

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

The burglary of the Bank of the Cook Islands branch in Aitutaki on Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning brings to mind the Great Wheelbarrow Robbery of the old A B Donald store in Aitutaki many years back, a smoke signaller writes. Some boys broke into the shop at night, somehow managed to get the […]

Blanket treatment for chlamydia

Saturday 13 August 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Health will role out a nationwide mass treatment programme next week to help reverse the rampant spread of chlamydia within the Cook Islands. Members of the ministry will visit workplaces, schools, community clinics and community clubs with the free treatment from Monday, the first day of the ministrys weeklong drive. Anybody aged […]