Articles by Utopia Support

Food costs up

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in National

Food is only going to increase in cost for Cook Islanders, industry leaders are being warned. The trend is an international one and unfortunately for Cook Islands residents the addition of increasing fuel, freight and power expenses will only drive up retail prices further. Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) food general manager Dan OBrien says […]

ADB board to visit Cooks

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in National

Members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) board of governors are to visit the Cook Islands next week, in what will be their last official trip to the country for at least seven years. They are expected to arrive on June 22 and leave after June 28. It is anticipated the boards next trip to […]

Police chief disciplines officers

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in National

Police commissioner Maara Tetava has convicted and sentenced two Cook Islands Police officers since internal disciplinary measures were tightened in March. Tetava says those officers were found to be in breach of 1983 police regulations and the 1981 police act. All sworn officers are subject to the regulations, which contain 41 charges that can be […]

Pricing under review

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in National

The Price Tribunal may review regulation and price control of commodities other than goods subject to price orders at present. Finance minister Mark Brown may direct the tribunal to widen its review to include other matters raised in its meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and in submissions, such as the cost of air and […]

Cheese cheaper here

Saturday 18 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Id like to know how New Zealand cheese is about half the price in Rarotonga as it is in New Zealand? asks Andy in the comments section of a stuff.co.nz article about a dairy industry report that claims Kiwis could be paying $195 million too much for milk each year from Fonterra. Andy writes: I […]

Students explain tenets of Judaism

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Church Talk

The Jewish-American students from Tarbut VTorah who have come to clean up Rarotonga have found islanders to be very accommodating and understanding of their faith. While Judaism is one of the worlds major religions, it is not prevalent in the Cook Islands. Yesterday two of the Tarbut VTorah students David Gindi and Alex Sable opened […]

Transforming our tight spots

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Im in a tight spot is a familiar phrase we often hear when people find themselves in a predicament. This is like having all four walls closing up on you. Its where problems press you down with only little space to breathe and no freedom to move or run. Here are some tight spots that […]

Homeland unwell but there is hope

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, How is the general well being of our homeland? Cook Islands health report overall: not well. Families: fighting as hard as they can for the best they can. The land: poor condition and usage. The seas: gradual decline in health, resources and ever relentless The list is long but we have hope in […]

Time to take a stand on our language

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have two Mangaian teenage feeding daughters at Tereora. When I see how they struggle with their studies I realise how lucky I was to have all my education (with the exception of a few guest lecturers at university) in my native language. My students struggle with words like purchase in accounting, compare […]

Kata - June 17, 2011

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Minister defends Tahiti trip

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

Health and agriculture minister Nandi Glassie is fighting back at criticism of a planned trip to Tahiti in August for Cook Islands growers to learn best practice in vanilla, pineapple and watermelon production. The trip has been on the cards since before Glassie took over the agriculture portfolio. He says it is an initiative of […]

Beautiful mega yacht impresses

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

Life on a mega yacht is something dive guide Ngatokoreua William could easily get used to. Yesterday, the Cook Islands Divers guide took passengers from the TV on a tour of Rarotongas finest dive sites and was rewarded for his work by receiving a tour of his own on the luxury yacht. His reaction to […]

Mega yachts visit boosts economy

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

Entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes would have benefitted from the visit of outward-bound super yacht TV during its stay at Rarotonga, Cook Islands agents have said. The TV was expected to depart Avatiu Harbour yesterday after its two-day stopover in the Cook Islands. The vessels passengers were reportedly considering a days stop at Aitutaki […]

Market huts become constituency office

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

Anyone wanting to send a fax to Penrhyn or chat to its member of parliament will soon be able to do so while browsing retail goods at the Punanga Nui Market in Avatiu. Deputy leader of the opposition Democratic party and Penrhyn member of parliament Wilkie Rasmussen is expanding the already varied list of uses […]

Clean up or ship out

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

An Aitutaki smoke signaller phoned the newsroom to share his annoyance at the state of an Aitutaki home that has not been repaired following the February 2010 cyclone. He said that while most of the island homes had been cleaned up and rebuilt in the 16 months since Cyclone Pat, there was one home that […]

New quarry proposed for Arorangi

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in National

The development of a new rock quarry at Arorangi is being proposed, to source high quality basalt stones needed by the local building industry. The stone is used for road sealing, the construction of wharf and quay sides, airport runway, suspension bridges and residential properties. Charlie Strickland Senior is planning to establish a quarry at […]

Exciting games to open union season

Friday 17 June 2011 | Published in Rugby Union

Rarotonga rugby clubs will want a strong start to the 2011 season which kicks off today with the Titikaveka Bulls senior B team to host and rumble with the Tupapa Panthers at 4.30pm. The Titikaveka Bulls senior B team will play all their games on Friday while remaining teams from the 6 clubs will play […]

$6m-a-month mega yacht moors at Avatiu

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Local

One of the worlds largest and most expensive charter boats found itself calling Avatiu Harbour its home overnight. The 78-metre long mega yacht TV moored at Rarotonga yesterday to pick up guests as part of a wider South Pacific tour. The vessel is currently sailing between Tahiti and Tonga. A number of guests flew into […]

Patrons Award to Te Tika

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Cook Islands Business & Professional Womens Association patron Helen Henry (right) awarded Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid the Patrons Award at the Woman of the Year function last weekend. I would now like to announce a special annual Cook Islands BPW award The Patrons Award. This will be awarded to the BPW member whose actions […]

Lost on roads

Thursday 16 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just want to comment on an article last week about road maintenance being neglected. Let me simplify this issue once again, as it is not that simple if you arent sure how to sort this problem out. This ball of fire has been shoved from one government to another, and no one […]