Articles by Utopia Support

Aitutaki villas proposed

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

Submissions are open on an environment impact assessment report for the proposed development of additional tourist accommodation on Aitutaki. The Heaven to Sea Villas proposes two beachfront bungalows in the Anaunga district, identical to those on a neighbouring property Etu Moana Bungalows. Moana is to maintain and market the Heaven to Sea Villas bungalows and […]

Government considers use of Chinese money

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

Rarotongas hospital needs a new x-ray machine and the government will consider whether money from a Chinese loan can be used to purchase the medical equipment. Health minister Nandi Glassie yesterday tabled a paper at the morning cabinet session, suggesting a loan from China can be considered for use to purchase an x-ray machine. He […]

Mineral dream to become reality

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

After a visit to the Republic of Korea, the deputy prime minister is confident that the government is on the right track to harnessing the potential of the countrys manganese resources. Once just a dream it is all becoming a reality now. I am now confident that our generation will see the benefits of our […]

What about a chilly bin tax?

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

A smoke signaller has a suggestion that would reduce departure tax and help support the local food industry: Each week brings planes full of tourists travelling with chilly bins of food (known as an esky in Australia and a cooler elsewhere). Full planes, yet empty local shops and restaurants! Why not reduce departure tax and […]

Musician ready to perform

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

French Polynesian musician Andy Tupaia arrived on Rarotonga from Tahiti yesterday. Here, he is pictured with William Framhein. Tupaia performed last night at Trader Jacks and will be at Whatever Bar & Grill tonight. Hell be at the Punanga Nui marketplace tomorrow between 9am and 10am, and will entertain for the Te Aito wrap-up function […]

Girl found safe

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

A 13-year-old Matavera girl is now safe and well with her family having sparked a missing persons search by the Cook Islands Police. The teenager was last seen by her family on Saturday and her absence was reported to the police on Monday evening. Yesterday morning the girl was found safe and well, and returned […]

GP sorely missed

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Health bids a reluctant farewell to a member of its long-serving staff. Dr Kamen Boydjiev submitted his two weeks notice last month and has since moved to Palmerston North to be with his wife. He has worked in the Cook Islands for over 10 years, and was a well-liked and widely popular […]

Push to up agriculture

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in National

An agricultural delegation from the Cook Islands may travel to Tahiti in August to learn about growing vanilla, pineapple and watermelon. Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie says the proposed trip is part of a wider campaign to increase agricultural production in the Cook Islands, particularly on pa enua. He says there is global demand for many […]

Sevens opens union season

Friday 10 June 2011 | Published in Rugby Union

Age grade rugby players will open up the 2011 rugby union season today with the start of the sevens tournament at Raemaru Park in Arorangi. The tournament will continue tomorrow with the remaining two weekends of games to be played in August. The tournament includes under 13, 16, 19, senior A mens division teams plus […]

Edwin has a winning smile

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Local

Two and a half-year-old Edwin Charlie was the overall winner of the 26 month to three years category of the Takuvaine baby show yesterday, which was a combined show with Tutakimoa, Ruatonga and Avatiu. Edwin, along with winners of the same age category from the various village baby shows and winners of the Aitutaki, Mangaia […]

Health support continues

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands has renewed its memorandum of understanding with the Counties Manukau District Health Board in New Zealand. It means the DHB will continue to support Cook Islanders in need of specialist health care, by sending trained specialists to the country from New Zealand. Each year medical specialists come to the Cook Islands to […]

Lazaro confident before final count

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Local

CIP candidate Tekii Lazaro who polled 50 more votes than opponent Vai Peua in this weeks by-election credits his initial success to deep divisions in the opposition Democratic Party. Lazaro said as soon as he detected turmoil in the Democratic Party, he knew that he would win the race. Though the final count is not […]

Septic impact report unnecessary

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Local

The Rarotonga Environment Authority has had no involvement in the septic system upgrade at Rarotongas hospital in Arorangi. Authority chairman Ian Karika says the group no longer deals with anything to do with human waste, including proposals with septic tanks and other sewage infrastructure. Those projects are considered by the Ministry of Health (MOH) public […]

Please show some compassion

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I would like offer my support to Yvonne Quarter and her family. I do not condone breaking the law at any time. It is evident that Yvonne and her family have already paid a very heavy price for her actions – public humiliation and condemnation, financial and emotional stress, happy yet? No, lets […]

Kata - June 9, 2011

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Fiji too strong for CI netball side

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in National

The Fiji national netball team was too strong for the Cook Islands as the 5th ranked team in the world put on a physical display of netball to beat the Cook Islands 50-36. The Cooks began their second match of the Pacific Netball Series in Papua New Guinea against Fiji strongly to hold Fiji at […]

Rotary president visits Rarotonga

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in National

Rotary International president-elect Kalyan Banjerlee and his wife Binota will be visiting Rarotonga this weekend. He will assume the position of president of the Rotary organisation made up of 33,000 Rotary clubs and 1.2 million Rotarians on July 1. Ahead of taking over the Rotary responsibility, he has prioritised visits to some Pacific islands. He […]

Mauke harbour project gears up

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in National

As soon as the weather improves construction of a harbour upgrade on Mauke can begin. Fiji contractor Pacific Building Solutions and its subsidiary company Pacific Marine has brought a barge full of equipment for the project to the Cook Islands. It is docked at Avatiu wharf, unable to travel to Mauke until weather conditions on […]

Proud families show off their children

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in National

Baby shows are in full swing across the Cook Islands and yesterday, mums, dads and proud grandparents from Tutakimoa, Ruatonga, Takuvaine and Avatiu came out in force to show off their gorgeous babies and toddlers. But baby shows are not about finding the cutest babe, although there was certainly plenty of cooing involved. Ruatonga child […]

Vaka crosses equator

Thursday 9 June 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua crossed the equator at 2:19pm yesterday, and marked the occasion with a prayer service and a recitation of Papatua Papatuas Marumaru Atua pee. We celebrated with a peanut slab each and a photoshoot, terribly civilised, crew member Nick Henry wrote in an update to Cook Islands Voyaging Society email subscribers. […]