Articles by Utopia Support

Govt owed $79,000 in overdue rent

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Local

Government is owed $78,922.94 in unpaid rental fees for commercial and residential properties managed by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC). Details of the money owed have been received by Cook Islands News following an Official Information Act request. Almost $38,000 is owed in rent on three commercial properties in Avarua one with an outstanding […]

Reasons for exploratory fishing not good enough

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The MMR public consultation on exploratory fishing was a big disappointment for me. With all the media hype involved, I was expecting the Pukapuka hostel to be full! In fact, no offence, but there were more ex-pats there than our local Maori people. To make matters worse, the presentation was all in English […]

A setback for democracy

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent subterfuge in Parliament to plunk MP Norman George before the Privileges Committee has not surprised me that it would fertile incense, repartee and debate. Friends and strangers who have visited, rung and stopped by for a chat, fervently expressed coherent comments and opinions in the negative. Standing Orders 37 & 38 […]

Kata - May 3, 2011

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Senior netballers play Wednesday

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Netball

While the junior netters were the stars during Saturdays club netball games senior players in the open 1 and 2 grade will take to the courts this Wednesday for their games. Open 1 and 2 games are played on Wednesday nights at the Telecom Sports Arena starting at 5pm and supporters are encouraged to head […]

Tax trumps MMRs $4M

Tuesday 3 May 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

The report that the Ministry of Marine Resources will make $4 million was probably designed to impress, writes a smoke in response to a front page article in Saturdays CI News. Not so it was a pathetic endeavour to gloss over the bad administration over the last few years. I bet MMR gave the story […]

CI reps bid for climate change funds

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Environment

Billions of dollars worth of international funding for climate change-related activities is now more accessible to the Cook Islands following an international convention held in Bangkok last month. The four-day conference was an annual meeting of those involved in the ad-hoc working groups on long term cooperative action, which arose from earlier international climate change […]

New tick found on Raro dogs

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local

Some Rarotonga dogs have contracted a new tick, but Esther Honey Foundation (EHF) veterinarian Eiligh Hawkins says it is not something to be overly concerned about. A survey in the mid-1990s revealed that there were no ticks on Rarotonga, and EHF is currently doing another census to determine the prevalence of the recently-discovered tick. Hawkins […]

Plea change to speed up assault case

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local

A 38-year-old cargo handler from Matavera will face sentencing for assaulting his partner, on June 9 at the Cook Islands High Court in Avarua. Ilaisa Ravula appeared before Justice of the Peace Tui Short in the court last week, where his defence counsel Lavenia Rokoika entered a guilty plea to the assault charge on his […]

Tourism gears up for influx

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Local

More tourists have pre-booked holidays for the next six months than at this time last year, reports Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Carmel Beattie. Forward bookings from Los Angeles and Sydney reflect greater tourist numbers, but that doesnt mean were going to sit back on our laurels, says Beattie. CIT is rolling out its Destination […]

TIS asks to be on fishery review panel

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Wed like to thank the Minister for Marine Resources Teina Bishop, the Secretary of Marine Resources Ben Ponia and his staff for adopting a policy of transparency and presenting their proposed exploratory fishing plans at a public meeting last Thursday evening. We had asked MMR to meet with our members at our own […]

Kata - May 2, 2011

Monday 2 May 2011 | Published in Kata

Organic planting to be promoted in Muri

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Environment

The Ngatangiia community is invited to an information evening this Monday, May 2, to learn more about organic planting and green tourism. The information evening is part of the European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project and the Muri Environment Care Groups planned activities for the year. In the past the environment group has organised […]

Uirangi retires after 5th win

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Local

Taking to the stage for the final time in the dancer of the year competition was an emotional time for champion dancer Uirangi Bishop who on Thursday night defended her champion dancer title for the fifth year in a row. Bishop says she felt she danced her best ever on Thursday night because it was […]

Boy severely burnt in fire

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Local

A seven-year-old boy was rushed to New Zealand on Thursday evening with severe burns covering over 40% of his body. Dr Zaw Aung confirmed that the boy, whom he did not name, was rushed to the hospital with severe burns on his hands and arms. His family told Dr Aung that he had been burning […]

MMR will make $4m

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Local

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) expects to generate about $4 million of revenue for the Cook Islands government this year, and if it develops designated fisheries as planned the annual profit for the country will be even greater. MMR secretary Ben Ponia says money collected through fishing vessel licences goes directly into the governments […]

Athlete returns to make music

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Features

Celtic fusion artist Steve Macdonald makes an annual trip to Rarotonga for the Round Rarotonga Road Race, but this year hes got a different agenda. Hell be competing in the Ait New Zealand International Triathlon next Saturday, but hell also be livening things up at Trader Jacks with a show tonight and two next week. […]

How to make glasses and a raurau

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Features

Todays Kids Page features two step-by-step guides for making your own raurau (plate) and mata titia (eye glasses) using kikau. The instructions were put together by regular Kids Page readers Ligiahi and Tutemariki Tairi, both 8-years-old, from the island of Atiu. Meitaki maata to Maara Tairi for sending in these two fantastic step-by-step guide and […]

Solar-powered motor fitted to Marumaru Atua

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Features

Following a quick sail to test her new solar-powered motor yesterday, Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua is back in Papeete and preparing to attend a farewell ceremony this weekend. Her departure from Papeete is postponed, as Tahitian vaka Faafaite does not have its own motor fully installed, and the two vaka plan to leave for […]

3500 books from Brumbies

Saturday 30 April 2011 | Published in Features

Schools on Rarotonga and in the outer islands will benefit from a recent gift and shipment of over 3500 books fiction, non-fiction, reference resources and teacher guides among them. Rotary secretary John Hobbs received the 28 boxes of books, which recently landed on Rarotonga courtesy of Australian organisation Brumbies for Books. The group is a […]