Articles by Utopia Support

George at the Demos front door

Thursday 11 August 2011 | Published in National

Atiu member of parliament Norman George says that while he is standing at the front door of the Democratic Party, he is not making any hasty decisions about whether to join. While he was most impressed by the Democratic Party conference, he prefers to remain a free agent or independent candidate for the time being. […]

Kata - August 10, 2011

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in Kata

Pearl industry gathers

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) is putting on a conference for the benefit of pearl industry stakeholders tomorrow. Since 2008 there has been no forum for pearl farmers, retailers, commercial exporters and jewelers to discuss the state of the industry and the way forward. With the passage of years and particularly with many of […]

House on hill raises concern

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Despite public query a home being built on the lower slopes of hospital hill in Arorangi is not likely to have required an environment impact assessment (EIA). The home is under construction below Rarotongas hospital, fronting the back road on the Arorangi side of the hill. Cook Islands News has received queries from readers about […]

Cultural crooks beware

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands traditions and culture will receive better protection from potential pilfering through two proposed bills currently in their draft form, says a New Zealand lawyer. Speaking at a culture and traditional knowledge workshop yesterday, lawyer Richard Wallace said the Cook Islands government would soon be presented with draft bills dealing with copyright protection and […]

Audit job closed

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Applications are now closed for the position of audit director, which until recently has not been advertised in almost ten years. Paul Allsworth is the current audit director and his contract has been rolled over numerous times. Allsworth has held the position for the last 12 years. The number of applicants has yet to be […]

The hat fits

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Theres nothing to it for Manihiki hat maker Haumata Tepania who was at the Trade Day last week selling some of her hand made crafts at the Manihiki stall. The self taught rito hat maker is on the island as part of the Manihiki group taking part in the Te Maeva Nui celebrations. Tepania brought […]

Passenger sickness causes delay

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

An investigation into the illness of six visitors to Rarotonga is continuing, despite them all having left the Cook Islands for New Zealand. On Saturday the tourists were among passengers of an Air New Zealand flight from Rarotonga to Auckland. On arrival in Auckland the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) was alerted that several […]

Police investigating NCIFC

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati will not be suspended while under investigation by the police, Prime Minister Henry Puna says. Puna confirms a report about Epati has been made to police. He says the Cook Islands is a country where people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Someone being under investigation is not grounds for […]

Go hard or go home says Wigmore

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

Most of the Democratic Party re-grouped yesterday for the first time since losing the November elections to discuss preparations for the next election in 2014. Most of the partys members from the pa enua were present, as they were already on Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui celebrations. The party conference opened with a review of […]

Wilkie tells party to speak out

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

As one of the more outspoken members of parliament, deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen urged his fellow Demos at yesterdays party conference to speak up on behalf of the Cook Islands people. We tend (not) to say the nasty things that need to be said, he said, blaming that reluctance to speak out […]

Youth speak out

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

For the first time a youth speech competition is being held with the focus on four specific issues affecting young people teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, alcohol and smoking. The Ministry of Health is behind the competition, organised by reproductive health coordinator Maine Beniamina. This is the first year Beniamina has trialled the speech competition […]

CI man in London mayhem

Wednesday 10 August 2011 | Published in National

A Cook Islands man has spent the last few days dodging violent riots in London that have transformed areas of the city into no-go zones for travellers and locals alike. Maritime Cook Islands director Garth Broadhead said a massive influx of police into the English capital was having an affect on the riots, which entered […]

Assault case

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Local

A 33-year-old Tupapa consultant will today defend two charges of assaulting his young children during a hearing before a Justice of the Peace in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua. The man, whose continued interim name suppression order expires today, denies two charges of assaulting a toddler and baby at Tupapa on April 22. […]

The peoples choice

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Local

Enua Rakahanga performers were the early leaders in the peoples choice voting poll run by Telecom Cook Islands, Ariki sponsors of Te Maeva Nui 2011. Report and photos, pages 10-11. 11080376

Demos call it unitedly

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Local

For the first time since losing the general elections to the Cook Islands Party, the Democratic Party is convening for a conference. The objective of the conference, according to party president Sean Willis, is to reconcile the party and plot its way forward. Basically it gives us a chance to look at what we consider […]

Tiki our new envoy

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Local

Justice of the Peace Tiki Matapo is the new Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand. His appointment was confirmed yesterday by deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and immigration Tom Marsters. Mr Matapo is a very well-known Cook Islander, long active in the community through his involvement in politics, sports, the church, […]

Well done, BTIB

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We take this opportunity to applaud Terry Rangi, Melanie Tuiravakai and the rest of the team with BTIB for the great effort put into ensuring the 2011 Trade Show was a success. We thank you for your professionalism and patience while attending to the numerous queries and requests prior to and throughout the […]

Vaka do us proud

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Apart from selling our country as a tourist destination to Californians and Americans, our prime minister would also participate in the welcome ceremony for all six vaka including the Marumaru Atua in America. The six vaka purua/drua/vaa/waka from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Hawaii and New Zealand arrived in America two Saturdays […]

Plea to lend a hand

Tuesday 9 August 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is very disturbing to see that our own prime minister of the Cook Islands has turned a blind eye to all organisations that have been working very hard to combat all the kikia and all the wrong-doings that he says brings shame and embarrassment to us all. Firstly, prime minister, take your […]