Articles by Utopia Support

Youth STI study questioned

Wednesday 27 July 2011 | Published in National

Dear Editor I and others are curious about the accuracy of the article by the newspaper, CI among worst for chlamydia published on Monday July 18, in relation to the prevalence of chlamydia and other so-called sexually transmitted infections, among those between 15 and 19 years of age in the Cook Islands. A number of […]

Desexing pets the best option

Wednesday 27 July 2011 | Published in National

The number of puppies being seen around the island prompts us to remind everyone of the importance of de-sexing your dogs and cats. The Esther Honey Foundation clinic in Nikao has successfully reduced the canine population from a reported 6000 dogs to a confirmed 2000 dogs. Of the dogs, 78 percent are desexed. The Esther […]

Close-knit sports body

Wednesday 27 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller thinks the countrys sports and national Olympic committee is by and large, a close-knit inner core of people who make a living out of administration, carried out poorly or otherwise. My feeling is that CISNOC exhibits little appearance of people dedicated to sport and more a sense of people achieving income for […]

Funding the write way

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Environment

More renewable energy and saltwater desalination activities in the Pacific region will be forthcoming following the conclusion of a Pacific writeshop in the Cook Islands to help project proposal writing. During the workshop, held last week at Rarotonga, over 40 participants from throughout the region learnt the best way to develop project proposals and how […]

CI is a culturally resilient country

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Local

Despite the level of petty crime in the Cook Islands, one Australian researcher says the country is doing a better job than its larger neighbours in keeping its young people out of jail. Meg Perkins, a registered psychologist, is studying toward her PhD in offending behaviour at the University of Queensland. Her thesis deals with […]

Accidents mar long weekend

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Local

Police are investigating four minor motor vehicle accidents that occurred over the long weekend. At Atupa on the Nikao back road, a passenger bus and motorbike collided due to the narrowness of the side road they were travelling on. The driver of the bike was lucky enough to only receive minor cuts to his toes […]

Tourism council to tackle crime

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Local

The Tourism Industry Councils new president wants to stamp out petty crime hitting the Cook Islands industry. Incoming president Stephen Lyon said the council would focus its efforts on combating crime, by rehabilitating and employing the offenders. Lyon said the council intended to take a joint approach involving local communities groups, Cook Islands Police, Cook […]

A bad concept

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor A question to the Prime Minister: Can the government not recognise that the new withholding tax not only is a bad concept but also is not going to achieve the desired results of balancing the unexpected, unplanned for, shortfall in the budget?Panic taxes are inevitably a bad idea and never go away. As […]

Kata - July 26, 2011

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in Kata

Workshop highlights rights

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands National Disability Council (CINDC) representatives and Creative Centre principal Robert Kimiangatau ran a workshop on Mauke recently. Also playing key roles were CINDCs advocacy officer and acting coordinator Mataiti Mataiti and Te Ata o te Ra coordinator Justina Saamu. The main purpose was to raise awareness of the 50 Articles of the […]

Songs of praise for Christianity

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

SongS of joy and praise lifted the roof of the National Auditorium yesterday as the six Cook Islands Christian Churches on Rarotonga gathered to commemorate the arrival of Christianity on Rarotonga. After the arrival of invited guests, official welcome and short prayer service, each of the churches took to the stage for the choir and […]

Invest in youth to cut crime: Researcher

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

Australian researcher Meg Perkins says that to cut down on crime rates, the Cook Islands should invest in its young people instead of spending money on things like surveillance cameras. Rather than spending money on cameras and security guards, ask hotels owners to donate to Kevin Iros programme, she said. Ron Crocombe predicted this in […]

Aitutaki craft taps into world market

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

Aitutakis Koru Cafe recently launched its eShop, which allows customers overseas to order locally-produced arts and crafts. Owners Katrina Petero and Steve Armstrong have been showcasing local arts and craft products out of their Amuri cafe since 2008. We have received many a phone call or email from people wanting to purchase an item that […]

Tongue-in-cheek marketing awarded

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

Air New Zealand has taken top honours for marketing at the 10th annual Airline Strategy Awards in London. Recognising the success of the airlines marketing strategy, the judges, including Geoff Dixon (former CEO of Qantas), Ray Webster (former CEO of easyJet), and Joe Leonard (director Air Canada), stated that Air New Zealand is in an […]

Red Cross educators armed with new skills

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

Red Cross youth peer educators Alex Samson and Alamein Vakapora are taking a wealth of newfound knowledge back to Manihiki with them next week. They studied the work of Red Cross in Aitutaki, Mangaia and Rarotonga for a month. During a May training session, they were chosen to participate in a Red Cross Youth Peer […]

Tereora correction

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

The Saturday, July 23 edition of Cook Islands News contained incorrectly stated Andrea Panther as the principal of Tereora College. Teaea Parima is the principal. Panther is the deputy principal.

No toxic waste burned at hospital

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

Health minister Nandi Glassie says Aitutaki Hospital is following all recommended waste disposal methods and is not burning plastic on hospital grounds. After meeting with doctors and an environmental officer at the hospital, Glassie said he had full confidence in the hospital. He said there was no issue with waste disposal at the hospital and […]

Taboo-breaking Te Marae Ora a success

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

The ministry of health has pronounced the annual Te Marae Ora health conference held over the last two weeks an all-round success. The conference wrapped up on Aitutaki on Tuesday, fol- lowing a full week of programmes on Rarotonga the week before. Minister for Health Nandi Glassie declared the conference an out and out success, […]

New president outlines goals

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

The Tourism Industry Council has named its new president and ambitions for the coming year as it looks to bolster the status of the Cook Islands. Incoming president Stephen Lyon said the council would focus its efforts on combating crime and introducing a Cook Islands tourism accreditation system over the coming year, as well as […]

Pacific conference probes water

Tuesday 26 July 2011 | Published in National

A major Pacific regional water and sanitation conference is to be held in Rarotonga next week. This is the first time the Cook Islands has hosted the annual conference which revolves around the 13 pilot projects being undertaken in 12 Pacific nations with the help of Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding. In the Cook Islands […]