Articles by Utopia Support

$20,000 fine for tax charges

Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in National

For failing to pay income tax over ten years a Rarotonga company has been fined $20,000 and ordered to pay court costs of $300. Rarotonga Insurance Agency admitted ten charges of failing to furnish income tax from 2000 to 2009. In the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua yesterday company director Teremoana Ngatokorua said he […]

Details of WSBCs failures revealed

Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in National

Following a long legal battle, the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) has formally revoked WSBC Banks international banking licence. WSBC Bank formerly known as Wall Street Banking Corporation was licensed to do business in the Cook Islands but exiled from the country in December 2009. It was involved in four years of litigation with […]

Marine park gets high level support

Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in National

Takitumu chief Pa Marie Ariki has pledged her full support for the marine park that the government intends to establish in Cook Islands waters. I am very excited to hear about the future plans of a marine park in the Cook Islands and the impact this would have on our moana and its contents which […]

Ministry probes welfare of the elderly

Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in National

Members of the ministry of internal affairs will travel with the Meals on Wheels crew tomorrow to see first-hand the living conditions of some of Rarotongas elderly population. Director of welfare Ngatuaine Mauri said internal affairs representatives wanted to join the food-delivery crew after learning that they recently found a man aged in his 80s […]

20-foot eyesores

Thursday 21 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Were trying to attract tourists to the island, but they dont want to see great containers on residential land. There seems to be no regulation regarding where they can be placed. Containers are not rubbish but they are certainly unsightly and should not be placed on main roads. Tourists come to […]

Primary pupils test out model crafts

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Environment

The lack of breeze on Friday morning did little to dampen the spirits of Takitumu Primary School students who descended on Muri beach for a day of model vaka and boat racing. The Matavera school spent term two learning about water crafts from traditional voyaging canoes to modern yachts as part of the schools inter-grade […]

Police arrest six

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Local

Police made six arrests at the weekend for various offences including breach of curfew, domestic violence and theft. A man who lives near the Nikao golf course was arrested for a wilful damage to the golf course hedges. The man allegedly cut down the hedge and threatened some of the golf club members with a […]

Winning wow factor

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Local

Their teachers always thought the Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre students could hold their own against New Zealands top culinary students, but now they have the proof. All four Cook Islands contenders at the Nestle Toque dOr cooking competition have walked away with awards for their efforts. Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre (HTTC) culinary students […]

Budding boaties

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Local

Young Tere Maoate with his impressive au vaka which was the fastest at the Takitumu School boat racing day on Friday. The lack of breeze did little to dampen the spirits of students who descended on Muri beach for a day of model vaka and boat racing.Full story and pictures, page 10. 11071516

Long, busy season forecast

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Local

Visitor numbers in the Cook Islands continue to grow for 2011, with 700 more people making it to our shores for June this year than the same month last year. Just over 10,000 visitors stopped at the Cook Islands this June, up 7 percent on last years June total of 9300, with the large majority […]

Is this a stalling tactic?

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With all the articles in previous months newspapers regarding the Public Services Commissioner and his private dealings with fishing licences while working as a civil servant, can the Prime Minister explain why he hasnt suspended Navy Epati while an investigation is being conducted by the Cook Islands Police and Financial Intelligence Unit? The […]

Receptionist embodies Cook Islands hospitality

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Here is praise for a very cooperative receptionist. Tourists of Cook Islands descent from Whakatane were photographing from our million dollar view in Muri. The little girl dropped her camera. Two calls to Edgewater to tell the tourists where their camera was brought negative response: They needed the tourists surname which I did […]

Kata - July 19, 2011

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in Kata

$14m for outer islands

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

All outer islands will be allocated a grader, digger and crane if the government can afford it. Infrastructure minister Teariki Heather disclosed his intentions in parliament last week, saying the ministry will ensure the proposal is implemented providing money is available. Heather says $14 million of Chinese funding is being earmarked for outer islands development. […]

Red Cross change

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

A bill amending the insignia of the Red Cross has been passed by parliament. The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Amendment Bill was tabled on Wednesday and unanimously adopted. Marsters says the bill allows an additional symbol to be incorporated within the international Red Cross emblem. The first part of the (Red Cross) emblem is […]

Government probes loan options

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

The government is trying to reduce loan interest rates as much as possible and is considering relationships with alternative partners including the European Investment Bank (EIB). Finance minister Mark Brown spoke in parliament last week in response to a question from former finance minister and deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen, who asked whether there are […]

MMR gets to grips with pearl farms

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

Manihikis pearl farms are being re-mapped by the Ministry of Marine Resources, which is also working with the islands council to re-licence farmers for five years. In collaboration with the Cook Islands Pearl Authority board, MMR has suggested a policy to the Manihiki Island Council for the issuing of permits for active, dormant, or abandoned […]

Vaka heads for San Fran

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua departed Kauai for San Francisco last week. The journey is expected to take over three weeks. The voyage which involves seven Pacific Islands vaka and has been dubbed Te Mana O Te Moana should end up in San Francisco by August 11. Cook Islands Tourism has organised a trade event […]

Careers in science showcased for girls

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

The 10th Women in Science and Technology workshop for female students will run this evening at the Cook Islands National Council of Womens office in Takuvaine. Organised by the Ministry of Education school support department WISAT provides an opportunity for young women studying science in school to meet with women in the community who have […]

Boys get in the careers zone

Tuesday 19 July 2011 | Published in National

Boys from the outer islands will gather in Rarotonga tonight to hear the stories behind the careers of five Cook Islands men. The Boy Zone night, which will act as a taster to Thursdays main Career Expo event, will kick off at the USP campus from 6pm. Boy Zone organiser Strickland Upu, from the ministry […]