Articles by Utopia Support

Mentor programme workshop run

Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in National

A one-day training workshop is being held in Rarotonga for those involved or interested in the Pacific Business Mentor Programme, facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce. The programme workshop is for all business owners, managers and staff who are already part of the initiative as well as those wanting to apply for the next intake. […]

Not helping stranded passengers

Tuesday 28 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

What a cop out response by the local Air New Zealand manager in respect of the airfares to Rarotonga in time of serious distress by Pacific Blue customers, a smoke signaller writes. In Saturdays paper Mr Bridge said when their flights are very heavily booked, as is the case at present, all of the cheaper […]

Confusion continues

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Local

More meetings are to be held between those involved in a $670,000 upgrade of the Rarotonga hospitals septic system. There is still confusion about whether the necessary permits were obtained for the upgrade as well as whether processes required by legislation were followed. Last week a meeting was held at the Ministry of Health following […]

Dad proud of family flight

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Local

Flying is a family business for the Willis clan. Air Rarotonga pilot captain Sean Willis was beaming with pride on Friday morning after he and his children first officer Stephen Willis and head flight attendant Frances Willis ran a return flight to Aitutaki. Captain Sean Willis has been flying for Air Rarotonga since 1986 and […]

Too soon to find new NZ envoy

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Local

Acting Prime Minister Tom Marsters says it is too soon to appoint a new high commissioner to New Zealand following the death of Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid (above). Marsters said cabinet would decide on Te Tikas replacement under the same process that led to her appointment, but that the process was only just beginning. […]

Cook Islands stakes high seas claim

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands government is set to officially take claim of more than 400,000-square-kilometres of continental shelf on its northern border in September this year. Deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Marsters said on Friday that the government expected the Cook Islands would officially sign a deal to extend its ocean sovereignty […]

Kata - June 27, 2011

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Early start to kitesurfing comp

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

Light winds at Muri made for a slow start to the international kitesurfing competition, but winds gusting to 20 knots yesterday in Aitutaki convinced some of the worlds best riders that the Cook Islands is one of the best places in the world. Cook Islands Kitesurfing Association president Teanaroa Worthington reported yesterday from Aitutaki that […]

First kids born

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

The first Boer-cross goats bred in the Cook Islands have been born on Mauke, six months after resident Hugh Graham imported six male Boer goats from New Zealand for a breeding programme. The two kids, both males, were born on June 17 after more than five years of research and planning by Graham to reduce […]

CI maritime law graduate a first

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

Paula Manarangi is the first Cook Islander to graduate with her masters in maritime law. Manarangi, a quality manager and legal adviser at Maritime Cook Islands, graduated from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) International Maritime Law Institute in Malta last month. She was stationed there for eight months doing what was essentially two-and-a-half years worth […]

Free business risk workshops

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

Business training manager Stephen Caunter will be delivering a series of free workshops for Rarotongas business community this week. Organised by ANZ Bank and the 2011 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards, his first seminar will cover the risks inherent in owning a business. Being in business is inherently risky, but by taking action […]

Call to add value to food exports

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

An impromptu workshop for those involved in the development of Cook Islands produce is inspiring a resurgence of locally grown and made goods for the domestic and international markets. New Zealand food development professional David Curtis is in the Cook Islands having taken part in last weeks Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) food expo. Curtis […]

She feared a heart attack

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Police Commissioner Maara Tetava is investigating the overnight lock-up of a 62-year-old woman with a heart condition. Antonina Browne, of Tupapa, was apprehended by a police officer on the evening of Saturday May 28 as she drove towards the Tupapa clubhouse after watching her son play in the rugby league final at Nikao. […]

New flag

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in National

Two Cook Islanders left last week for Hawaii to join the crew of vaka Marumaru Atua. Jason Tuara and Lorna Nicholas took with them a new Cook Islands flag to replace the vakas battered banner. Both the new flag and the old were donated by Maritime Cook Islands (MCI). The old flag has been flying […]

Seabeds trillions: what do people want?

Monday 27 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: Saturdays CI News front page contains on the street opinions of Cook Islands voters overwhelmingly opposed to seabed mining, while above those sentiments is a picture of one of our leaders with a handful of nodules and a look that each reader will need to interpret. With respect and in the […]

ADB supports renewables

Saturday 25 June 2011 | Published in Local

Te Aponga Uira O Tumutevarovaro chief executive Apii Timoti says the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has finance opportunities for renewable energy projects which could be useful to the Cook Islands. Members of the ADB board of governors spent yesterday afternoon with senior Te Aponga Uira staff including Timoti. Following a round table discussion about the […]

Seabed exploration by 2013

Saturday 25 June 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands government is aiming to begin issuing deep sea mining exploration licences by 2013, deputy prime minister Tom Marsters said yesterday. Marsters, the Minister for Minerals and Natural Resources, told Cook Islands News he expected the Cook Islands would be in a suitable position to begin offering licences in about 18 months. He […]

Campbell to be honoured here

Saturday 25 June 2011 | Published in Features

Early next month the Cook Islands Library & Museum will host an exhibition in honour of the late Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, arguably the countrys most famous literary export. The exhibition will mirror the one currently on display at Pataka Museum in Wellington, but will also incorporate tributes from local artists in the form of […]

Seeking the last puzzle piece

Saturday 25 June 2011 | Published in Features

Anthony Francis says he has settled in to life in the Cook Islands he has a house he loves, a job that he enjoys and the sun on his back. All he needs now, he says, is a boat. After three months of living at Arorangi, the new Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) Building Centre […]

Taste of Thailand in Rarotonga

Saturday 25 June 2011 | Published in Features

Asian fusion restaurant Bamboo Jacks is officially open. The Tupapa restaurant opened its doors to the public on Thursday, but owner Jack Cooper says it was an unpublicised soft opening so as to ease staff into it. The chefs, a husband and wife who go by the nicknames of Bear and Oil, arrived from Eastern […]