Articles by Utopia Support

Top kitesurfers impressed

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Features

Marketing experts will attest to the power of word-of-mouth promotion and that champion riders and a top circuit judge were impressed by what Aitutaki has to offer is more valuable than any half-page magazine advertisement. Though the wind tapered off early this week, cutting Manureva International Competition in half, and the event was considerably less […]

Governments priorities detailed

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Features

The Speech from the Throne, delivered at a ceremonial parliamentary opening by Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin yesterday, formally outlines the governments priorities for the forthcoming years. The speech, delivered on behalf of the government and echoed in Cook Islands Maori by parliament clerk Tupuna Rakanui, was about 45 minutes long. On 17 November 2010 […]

Photo blunder

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a regular reader of the Cook Island News in Cook Islands and NZ (copies are sent to Auckland University, where I study), I feel bound to comment on one of your leading article in the CINews dated July 1. This article comments on the South Pacific Games being no longer a World […]

Nothings changed

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Nothing in the local political arena ever seems to change. As an example, herewith a piece of doggerel I wrote on the occasion of the parliamentary opening ceremony back in December 1983 nearly 28 years ago! Im sure also that the majority of taxpayers will endorse Katas cartoon bemoaning the gross waste of […]

Top marks for planned road reseal

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have to commend the Works (Infrastructure) Minister Tearikii Heather for responding almost immediately to any public criticism about potholes. When someone complains about the terrible state of the roads, the minister kicks butt to see that the roads are repaired as best as possible. Good on him. However, what we motorists really […]

Cinderellas of the Empire

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Council of Women has been in existence since 1967. In 1981, the Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) was formalised and has been the main vehicle for representing womens voices and concerns and finding ways to resolve them. Our 27 affiliate members span broad family, community, island, national and international development […]

Local team busy at harbour

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in National

Local company Mike Rennie Builders Ltd is currently installing reinforcing steel in the pilings at Avatiu harbour. Mike Rennie Builders Ltd has been subcontracted by McConnell Dowell, the construction firm contracted to undertake the harbour reconstruction project. Over 1300 tonnes of reinforcing steel are being used for this project which is equivalent in length to […]

New 90-day visas for Kiwis

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in National

New Zealand passport holders can now stay in the Cook Islands for up to three months on a visitors visa. A new immigration policy came into force yesterday and all those with a New Zealand passport will have it stamped on arrival in Rarotonga with a 90-day visitors visa. The policy does not apply to […]

A budget to have faith in

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in National

Despite a constraining fiscal environment,t the governments 2011-2012 national budget is one Cook Islanders can have faith in, finance minister Mark Brown says. In tabling the budget in parliament yesterday, Brown said the three-part document reflects the governments promise to expand the economy, enable enterprise, reduce the cost of doing business and living, increase peoples […]

Slaps on the hand

Saturday 2 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The Police Commissioner says they can do only so much in regards to theft, but they can do more if they want by laying the correct charges against these crooks so they can get a good jail sentence for these thieves, a smoke signaller writes. Half the time, charges that could give a deterrent sentence […]

Akairo ou no te au matara i Tepuka

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Kua raveia tetai akonoanga akatapuanga i te akairo o te au mataara i Tepuka Nikao i te popongi Varaire ra 10 no teia marama Tiunu ki roto i te hall o te Ekalesia Nikao. Kua riro rai e na te Orometua o te Ekalesia Nikao a Rev Tereora Tereora i rave i te akatapuanga. Kua […]

Christian values needed

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local

Education and a return to Christian values are key for the Cook Islands battle against theft, Minister for Tourism and Education Teina Bishop says. Bishop said he was worried that thieves who have been targeting tourist accommodation were hurting the Cook Islands reputation as an attractive holiday destination. In this day and age with the […]

Ceremony divides opinion

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local

There are mixed opinions within parliament about whether todays opening ceremony, expected to cost more than $20,000, is a waste of time and money. Deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen says it is. My personal view is its an outdated form of opening parliament. My suggestion would be to have an opening down at […]

$1.5m more to be spent on health

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local

The New Zealand government has committed to continue its support for the Health Specialist Visits Programme that aims to improve health care for the people of the Cook Islands. Yesterday, New Zealand Aid Programme manager Jonathan Rowe along with acting secretary of health Rangiau Fariu and acting secretary of finance Priscilla Maruariki signed an agreement […]

Budget presented to Parliament

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Local

The government will table this years budget in Parliament today. A ceremonial opening of Parliament commences at 10am in the National Auditorium which in this context is being referred to as the Queens Chambers and is expected to last through to early afternoon. An eight-page programme details the timetable for this mornings affair, to which […]

Voyagers stitch islands together

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The very first call I received on Wednesday morning was from my best friend Toni. She said that if I could run away from work, that I should come across the street to see the double hulled sailing vakas sailing towards Lahaina. She asked me where are they from?. Just then, the radio […]

Tourist thefts very damaging

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The ongoing, deliberate targeting of the tourist industry by organised petty criminals must be placed at the very top of governments priorities. Here we are spending millions of dollars both from government revenue and private sector – marketing the country to the world as a fantastic tourist destination while at the same time […]

We are killing tourism

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every day I read the online Cook Islands News I get so angry to read about tourists being ripped off by thieves. Thieves are everywhere in any society, you go to some parts of the world the thieves will cut the bottom of your handbag and out falls the contents of your bag! […]

Kata - July 1, 2011

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in Kata

Advice on reducing import reliance

Friday 1 July 2011 | Published in National

There is a $285 million difference between the annual value of imported and exported goods in the Cook Islands and steps are being taken to reduce this discrepancy. The Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) is working with New Zealand company Tuia International to decide the best methods for the Cook Islands to reduce the demand […]