Articles by Utopia Support

Help for smokers

Friday 3 June 2011 | Published in National

In the wake of World No Tobacco Day, the Ministry of Health is offering to help smokers kick their addiction. The ministry of health runs tobacco cessation programmes designed to help smokers plan how to quit smoking and cope with the struggle of giving up tobacco. For help quitting, ring 29110 ext 313. The ministry […]

McBride cleared in investigation

Friday 3 June 2011 | Published in National

The storm has passed for Tim McBride, a 38-year-old surfing instructor who had been the subject of a Fijian police investigation. As far as he (Tim) is concerned, the storm has passed, McBrides mother Nima said from her Rarotonga home. Hes calm and collected and he was not concerned at any time because he was […]

$2.2m northern water project begins

Friday 3 June 2011 | Published in National

The contract for a $2.2 million project to supply Pukapuka, Nassau, Rakahanga, Manihiki, and Penrhyn with better access to safe drinking water has been awarded to Keta Williams. Williams has subcontracted Cook Islands Building Supplies and Raro Plumbing to manufacture and outfit the 300 water tanks and first flush systems, which will be shipped to […]

Butts: love them or hate them?

Friday 3 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: While were on the topic of trying to stamp out smoking, maybe the Government should look at having a law to impose an instant fine against the smokers that flick their disgusting butts and ashes out of their vehicles (or bike) while driving, into the face of the poor bike rider […]

Climate change apriority

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Environment

Climate change adaption and emergency risk response need to go hand in hand and be considered in relation to all government policy, Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) training and community education advisor William Tuivaga says. He has just returned from a four-day conference in Samoa which focussed on the lessons learnt by small island developing […]

Respecting the lagoon

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Environment

If we want to improve the health of the Rarotonga lagoon, we need to treat it like we treat our bodies, says Mii Kauvai of the Muri Environment Care Group. Treat the lagoon like you treat your body feed it with good things and it looks healthy, Kauvai told those who visited the Muri Environment […]

PM calls for environment action

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Environment

Prime minister Henry Puna says the new lagoon research is a call to action for Cook Islanders. As environment minister, Puna is taking a keen interest in Environment Week, Lagoon Day and measures to clean up the Cook Islands. Puna congratulated the Ministry of Marine Resources on the research conducted as part of their new […]

Death may be probed

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Local

There may be further police investigation into the death of an elderly man at his home in Matavera last month. The man was found lying face-down and covered in blood beside a plastic lawn chair. Members of the mans family suspect foul play was involved and are asking the police to consider further investigation of […]

Cannabis in schools a problem

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Local

Cannabis-related offending is on the rise in the Cook Islands and even children of primary school age are becoming involved, the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua heard yesterday. Justice Hugh Williams quizzed police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Ruth Hosking-Tane about cannabis use in the country during the sentencing of a Ngatangiia teenager for possession of […]

Lagoon Day expo raises awareness

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Local

Hundreds of school children are now wiser about the role wetlands play in protecting the lagoon and marine life. Yesterday hundreds of school children along with prime minister Henry Puna and various heads of ministries visited the Lagoon Day expo at Nukupure Park in Ngatangiia which continues today. What we do on land impacts the […]

Kata - June 2, 2011

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Kata

Netballers meet prime minister

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Netball

The Cook Islands national netball squad met with their biggest fan yesterday prime minister Henry Puna who hosted the team to a healthy morning tea. Puna wished the team good luck for the Pacific Series in PNG and urged the girls to take care of themselves. Do your best for yourself and for your country, […]

Woman of the year to be decided

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in National

Nominations closed this week for the Business and Professional Woman of the Year awards, which are scheduled for June 10. The awards have not been held since 2006. Eleven women have been nominated for this years award and while they know they have been nominated, the Business and Professional Women (BPW) board prefers not to […]

Kwai disappearance not thought suspicious

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in National

There is no evidence to suggest foul play was involved in the disappearance of an Arorangi man who may have fallen overboard from the sailing Vessel Kwai last month. Police are continuing to investigate the suspected death of Manuela Fortes, who was employed as a driver/operator for T & M Heather Ltd. Fortes, in his […]

Buried waste no public health risk

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in National

The National Environment Service should have been consulted on the burial of untreated septic waste at the Rarotonga hospital, NES compliance manager Vavia Tangatataia says. In April less than one tonne of solidified untreated sewage was buried in a two metre-deep trench underneath a cracked 10,000 litre septic tank on site at Rarotongas hospital in […]

Give free patches to help quit

Thursday 2 June 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

I note with interest that Government and the Ministry of Health are trying to stamp out smoking, a smoke signaller writes. Why, with the high tax collected on cigarettes, is the ministry not providing FREE patches for any smoker who wants to stop? The revenue collected by way of tax needs to be directed to […]

Packed schedule for Lagoon Day

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Local

Today is Lagoon Day and a packed programme is in store for Rarotonga children and the community taking part. The programme starts at 8.30am with a prayer, opening ceremony and words of encouragement by prime minister and minister of environment Henry Puna. Invited guests including Aronga Mana, ministers and heads of ministries will have a […]

Teen arrested for indecent assault

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands police are urging parents and caregivers to monitor the whereabouts of young children after a six-year-old girl was indecently assaulted while fishing for eels unsupervised. The girl, from Takuvaine, was with her younger brother at the Takuvaine stream at the time. Police say the boy is about four years old. The two were […]

Junk pulled from watery depths

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Local

McConnell Dowell is clearing out junk as it prepares to start piling or driving steel piles into the bottom of the harbour at the Avatiu wharf. Yesterday the crew was using a clam-shell bucket on its crawler crane to scoop old tyres and junk from the bottom of the sea which constitute obstructions before it […]

Operation Calypso in Rarotonga

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Local

The HMNZS Otago arrives at Avatiu tomorrow, and Rarotonga-based chief petty officer Del Bewg and the New Zealand High Commissioners Office are busily preparing for her visit. The Otago left Samoa on Monday morning and is now en route to Rarotonga she is expected to arrive at around 10am tomorrow. Te Kukupa heads out this […]