Articles by Utopia Support

Card seller has bully beef

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Not all retailers are delighted at being turned over by Telecom, a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterdays smokie on E-Cards. Switching from 20 percent to 7 percent margin is only part of the problem. Providing till-roll, internet and increased shopkeeper time (now most of the transactions are at the $5 level) means that […]

Unhappy over surf mission

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What a deal for wanting to do a good thing! The aim of the recent two week surf mission was to introduce the Australian people to the beauty of the Cook Islands through a Track Magazine article, to be produced within the next three months. Businesses in the Cook Islands were keen to […]

Much potential in eGovernment

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Until recently, the main drivers internationally for e-government have been efficiency gains and effective delivery of policy outcomes. The focus has now shifted to other objectives such as improving services, increasing accountability and facilitating engagement with the public. I was encouraged by the statements made by Finance Minister Mark Brown in Saturdays paper […]

Students push wetlands message

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in National

Performing arts teams from four Rarotonga schools exhibited impressive knowledge on the importance of wetlands to the health of our islands. The performing arts programme is part of the Environment Week (May 30 to June 3) activities for Rarotonga and outer island school students. Avatea Primary School won the overall prize of $300 for their […]

Health minister returns from Switzerland

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in National

Health minister Nandi Glassie and secretary Tupou Faireka are back in the country following a three-week trip to Geneva in Switzerland for the 64th session of the World Health Assembly. The annual World Health Organisation (WHO) conference comprises health leaders from throughout the world and is aimed at fine tuning a specific health agenda prepared […]

Navy ship has local link

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in National

Two Cook Island families are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the HMNZS Otago tomorrow. Two Cook Islanders are part of the crew seaman combat specialist Beau Milner and leading stores accountant Noel Hirovanaa. Hirovanaa was born on Rarotonga and grew up in New Zealand, but returns once in awhile to visit relatives. Milners mother and […]

BTIB case set for July

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in National

A court trial is set to be held in July for the case between the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) and Taakoka Island Villas Ltd. It will focus on whether search warrants executed by the BTIB on Taakoka were legal and if the latter company was operating illegally. The BTIB alleges Taakoka was operating in […]

Tourism agents experience CI

Wednesday 1 June 2011 | Published in National

A delegation of tourism marketing agents is in the Cook Islands to experience what the country has to offer. Cook Islands Tourism Corporation facilitates the visits by its contracted agents and staff members based in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. At present 15 of the 17 agents are in Rarotonga, […]

Environment Week clean-up collection

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Environment

Residents of Takuvaine and Tutakimoa are being encouraged to put out all old whiteware and metal wastes including roofing iron for collection this Thursday. Malcolm Sword and Cook Islands General Transport have organised a metal and whiteware waste collection to coincide with Environment Week which runs from May 30 to June 3. Takuvaine and Tutakimoa […]

Lagoon Day focuses on healthy wetlands

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Environment

Wetlands for Healthy Islands will be the key message during this years Lagoon Day event which goes hand in hand with the National Environment Services 2011 theme. It is also the theme of environment week, which began yesterday.The two-day lagoon event, which starts tomorrow at Nukupure Park in Ngatangiia, brings together environment conservation experts to […]

Another painting targeted

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Local

A print of the tall ship Soren Larssen was nearly stolen from Trader Jacks at the weekend, but a watchful staff member was able to recover the framed image from the would-be thief. Owner Jack Cooper said that the print was gifted to Trader Jacks in 2005 by the then-captain of Soren Larssen as a […]

Girl indecently assaulted

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Local

A Six-year-old girl has reportedly been indecently assaulted while catching eels with her younger brother in a Takuvaine stream. The serious crime division of the Cook Islands Police is dealing with investigation of the alleged incident, although details available to the public at this stage remain scarce. It was mentioned in the polices report to […]

Pupils perform for Environment Week

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Local

Todays performing arts competition is to commemorate Environment Week, which runs from Monday 30 to June 3, and will include around five school performing art teams. Wetlands for healthy islands is the National Environment Service theme this year and is the key focus of Environment Week and Lagoon Day starting tomorrow and continuing on Thursday. […]

Lagoon fails water quality tests

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Local

Of 14 Rarotonga lagoon sites surveyed, 13 did not receive passing marks on this years Ministry of Marine Resources water quality report card. The report card issued in time for Environment Week grades 14 sites according to their nutrient levels, water clarity and bacteria levels. The third annual report, it includes results from stream tests […]

Stone exhibition first of its kind

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Features

A collection of Cook Islands stone sites, structures and monuments will be on display at the National Museum, starting from tomorrow. The exhibition entitled Cook Islands in Stone opens for a preview tonight at 6 oclock and will be open to the public until June 21. The National Museum is staging the exhibition with help […]

Kata - May 31, 2011

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Netballers scoop special awards

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in Netball

The Titikaveka Pearls are undoubtedly the top netball club on the island. After last weeks grand finals where the club won the open 1, reserve and premier grade championship trophies, the Pearls club and players also walked away with a number of special awards. The club took out the round cup highest point trophy, champions […]

Westpac launches e-statements

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in National

Hundreds of thousands of trees can be saved and tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions wont be released into the atmosphere because of Westpacs recently launched e-statements the paperless way of receiving bank statements. e-statements are not only good for the environment, theyre also a quick and easy way to access your banking records, says Westpac […]

Honourary consulate presents credentials

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in National

Nathalie Rosette-Cazel presented her credentials as honourary French consulate to deputy prime minister Tom Marsters last week. Rosette-Cazel, a French citizen, has been living on Rarotonga since September 1992. For the last 19 years, she has divided her time between the Cook Islands and France. For several years she worked at the Office of the […]

Police make 5 arrests

Tuesday 31 May 2011 | Published in National

Police made five arrests at the weekend for a number of offences including drink driving and burglary. A 51-year-old man of Avatiu driving a pickup truck was arrested for a hit and run accident that occurred on the main road in Tupapa after allegedly crashing into a white Toyota truck that was driving out on […]