Articles by Utopia Support

Catholic fundraiser at St Josephs

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Umu, barbeque and desserts are on the Catholic Youth Gala menu today. The Catholic youth will be running a food gala in front of the St Josephs Hall behind the Avarua Catholic Cathedral that will include local, Tahitian and outer island delicacies such as rimu and tupa. Food sales will start at 7.30 this morning […]

Lets hear a balanced view

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is obvious from the article Problems with government appointments published on Wednesday 25 May that certain HOMs, considered to be appointments under the previous government, who are not in favour with the new regime, seem to be targeted. I hope this is not part of an organised systematic approach to slowly weed […]

What a big joke!

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Mrs Quarter, Vainetoa, and the letter Justice must not be cruel published Wednesday May 11 – what a joke! What does having children have anything to do with it? You mentioned in your response to Honesty, the best policy of all, published Tuesday May 10 from me as the mother, […]

Kata - May 27, 2011

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Mixed netball takes to the courts

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Netball

The Telecom Sports Arena is the place to be this Friday night as the 16 teams contesting the new mixed netball season take to the courts. Games start at 6pm sharp and all netball fans are encouraged to watch games that are guaranteed to be intense and highly entertaining. The most important rule of mixed […]

Paddlers slog it out

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Flat conditions and lack of wind or surf forced three womens and three mens V6 (six man) crews to prove what theyve got as they slogged it out over the course from the boiler to Ooaa bridge, and back to Trader Jacks. A mixed crew of seasoned paddlers steered by Reuben Dearlove won the race […]

Omoka High School gets off ground

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

A new school building is rapidly taking shape at Omoka on Penrhyn. Omoka has been without a proper school since cyclone Pat swept over Tongareva in February 2010. The school building was condemned and demolished. Ever since then the school has been based in the Community Centre, which was kindly loaned by Mrs Materau Ford […]

Suspended police officer holds criminal files

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Criminal files are still being retrieved from suspended Cook Islands police officer Inano Matapo, who faces seven charges including attempting to pervert the course of justice, conspiring to import cannabis, selling cannabis, possessing drug paraphernalia, and corruptly accepting bribes. Matapo, who held the rank of Senior Sergeant before being suspended due to her alleged involvement […]

Lost dogs owners sought

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

The Esther Honey Foundation is looking for the owners of a dog, pictured, who has made himself at home at the clinic. Acting clinic director Michelle Gray says the dog has shown no inclination to depart. This lovely boy turned up, obviously having heard about our recent success in re-homing animals and knowing there was […]

Govt cautious on park, mining

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

While the government supports both the marine park proposal and the issuing of exploratory mining licences, it wants to proceed with caution before pursuing either initiative. Prime Minister Henry Puna said at a press conference this week that the government wants to carefully consider all the issues before moving ahead to establish the marine park […]

Mens centre saves man from jail

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Intervention by the founders of a ground-breaking counselling and support centre for men in Rarotonga saved a convicted criminal from a sentence of imprisonment yesterday. Nelson Akava (42), shop assistant, of Panama, appeared before Justice of the Peace John Kenning in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua, charged with (being a male) assaulting a […]

Report highlights threatened species

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Progress and plans to further protect the biodiversity of the Cook Islands are outlined in the 126-page report officially launched yesterday. While titled the Cook Islands 4th National Report to the Convention of Biological Diversity, it is the first report by the Cook Islands. The country was one of the first to commit to the […]

PM to Vienna

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

The prime minister of the Cook Islands is attending the Vienna Energy Forum next month. His initial tongue-in-cheek reaction to a question of whether he would be travelling to Vienna was: My gosh, is there a paper trail following me? He then confirmed that UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) has invited him to attend […]

Tenors thrilled by Rarotonga shows

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Tongan-Samoan tenor Benjamin Makisi and Cook Islands tenor Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua usually sing before European and American audiences, and are thrilled at the prospect of singing to their own people this weekend. Makisi and Allan-Moetaua, or Ben and Bon, pictured above, are performing at 7.30 at Crown Beach Resort & Spas Oceans Restaurant tonight and tomorrow […]

Sacking not political

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in National

Te Aponga Uira (TAU) minister Mark Brown has denied allegations that political motivations were behind the sacking of the former TAU board chairman. Local businessman Piltz Napa was chairman of TAU for three years and on March 23 was reappointed to serve another term. Less than three weeks later, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) […]

Disgusting plan, consultations a sham

Friday 27 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

No surprises that the government has gone ahead and approved 20 new fishing licenses going against huge public opposition, a smoke signaller writes. The so-called consultations were merely an attempt to smooth over the many public objections and make it appear that we had a say over our own marine resources. Sadly, the truth is […]

MPs son in drug sting

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Local

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters spent yesterday morning in the Cook Islands High Court at Avarua to hear a bail application for his son Giovanni, who faces 14 criminal charges. Giovannis de-facto partner Inano Matapo a suspended Cook Islands police officer was also in the court yesterday facing seven criminal charges. Both are among 13 […]

Drug accused revealed

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Local

Name suppression has been lifted for all Operation Eagle accused. This follows yesterdays Cook Islands High Court hearing before Justice Hugh Williams. The 13 men and women have all now been released from the Arorangi prison on bail. Among those facing criminal charges is Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters son, Giovanni Marsters (30), builder, of […]

All smiles for wetlands learning

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Local

National Environment Service education and awareness officer Deyna Marsh (centre) was at St Josephs School this week to promote the importance of wetlands to the students. Wetlands and their importance for healthy islands is the central theme of this years Environment Week programme starting on May 30 and Lagoon Day events on June 1 and […]

Not enough space

Thursday 26 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After visiting the Esther Honey compound last week, I was very disturbed to see how little room they have to keep the unwanted animals that they have on site. Where they are at present is only a quarter acre of land, and is not big enough for the purpose. Is there anyone out […]