Articles by Utopia Support

Kids invited to 'camp'

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

The Youth With a Mission (YWAM) headquarters in Vaimaanga is offering kids with no plans for the school holidays to come along for a ‘Truth Seekers’ camp from April 18 to 21. Youth leaders are coming from New Zealand to help out at camp, the theme of which will be ‘the search for the hidden […]

Marine park criticism 'unfounded'

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

Deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen is throwing his full support behind the proposed marine park development. Rasmussen yesterday told the Cook Islands News criticism of the proposal was unfounded. “I want to reiterate that as a member of parliament, Penrhyn MP, and former minister of marine services, I am in full support of […]

DPM supports safeguarding mineral revenues

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters has lent support to a “safety box” approach to the treatment of revenue generated from seabed minerals, at the Commonwealth Secretariat Forum on Natural Resources. The forum was held in London last week, and the DPM was accompanied by Marine Resources secretary Ben Ponia. Industry experts at the forum view […]

Free seminars on time management

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

Time management professional Robyn Pearce will be speaking at free seminars later this week organised by Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards 2011 council and The Bond Liquor Store – the purpose of which is to teach local tourism operators about time management before they enter the tourism awards. Pearce will speak on the […]

Young Sid and Pieter T check in

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

New Zealand hip-hop icons Young Sid and Pieter T are checking into Rehab tomorrow night to spit their world-famous rhymes for Rarotonga. Young Sid, born Sidney Diamond, is a Cook Islander – his grandparents are from Atiu and Mauke – but he hasn’t been to Rarotonga since he was seven. He says it’s ‘good to […]

Minister orders report on sewage

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in National

Health Minister Nandi Glassie is seeking a full report into the Rarotonga hospital septic waste system following concerns untreated sewage was, or is, leaking or being discharged into the environment. Glassie, who has just returned to the Cook Islands from a business trip to Tonga, yesterday spoke with staff from the public health division of […]

Island soccer sides arrive

Thursday 14 April 2011 | Published in Football

The 14 teams competing in the CIFA National Youth Football are starting to gather with the Mitiaro under 15 boys team the first to step off the plane in Rarotonga yesterday morning. Mangaia under 15 boys arrived shortly after. The championship kicks off on Saturday April 16 at the CIFA complex in Matavera and will […]

Missing hats a mystery

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Local

Twelve beautiful woven rito hats have gone walkabout. Since January, Penrhyn woman Manongi Latham has been carefully weaving a batch of hats to send to her sister on Rarotonga. The 12 shell-studded hats were meant to travel with a Titikaveka group on an upcoming trip to Tahiti. Over a week ago, Manongi loaded the hats […]

'We talk too much'

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Local

Lawyer Iaveta Short issued a challenge to government at the Economic Development Summit yesterday, and when he concluded his brief speech the National Auditorium burst into applause. “In my view the biggest problem for the Cook Islands is we talk too much,” he said. “If we can convert the discussions in the papers from paper […]

'Be nimble and flexible'

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna believes the smallness of the Cook Islands is a huge advantage as it faces the future. In a rally call at the opening of yesterday’s two-day Economic Summit, Puna said the country must change the way it does business. He said in recent years the Cook Islands economy has contracted by […]

Tataia te nuti ki roto i te reo Maori

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Kia orana ete Etita, Te tatau nei au ite pepa Kuki Airani, teia te tata anga i runga ite kapi mua “Cook Islands News” Kia eeu au ite kapi pou rava i roto ite pepa ate Kuki Airani, kare takiri e potonga i roto ite pepa ate Kuki Airani e kua tata ia ki roto […]

Kata - April 13, 2011

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Kata

No decision by league judiciary

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in League

Due to their court appearances this Thursday for aggravated assault – Arorangi Bears captain Augustine Heather and club president Pare Rongokea did not appear before the rugby league judicial panel yesterday. Cook Islands Rugby League Association president Eddie Drollet informed Cook Islands News that it is believed the lawyer for the two men instructed them […]

Meeting Mr Zumba

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Tai Ngari and Puai Wichman of Fitness Revolution are pictured with the creator and guru of the Zumba craze Beto Perez. The local Fitness Revolution owners met Perez while in Auckland attending a special Master Class of Zumba. The Cook Islands’ version of Zumba was showcased at the special session and it certainly caught the […]

National football champs kicking off

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

The 5th National Youth Football Championship will kick off at the CIFA complex this Saturday April 16 and will run for one week with the finals on Saturday April 23. Teams from the outer islands of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro will start arriving today for the one-week tournament. They will be joined by […]

'Wait for nothing'

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Contrary to popular thinking, knowledge is not power, says self-made millionaire Mike Pero who grew up in one of the poorest suburbs of Christchurch. “Action of knowledge is power,” he said referring to the Framework for Economic Growth submitted at the Economic Summit by the Task Force yesterday. Pero, who is part Cook Islands Maori, […]

Copyright laws are ineffectual

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

The global creative industry generates US$424b annually, though developing countries the world over find tapping into its potential difficult – particularly those without stringent intellectual property controls, like the Cook Islands. At yesterday’s Economic Development Summit, Vaitoti Tupa raised the issue with the creative industry session panel comprised of Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid, culture […]

Passion to protect and grow creativity

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

The panel that presided over the cultural and creative industry session of the National Economic Development Summit yesterday fielded a broad range of questions from people in the public and private sectors who had one thing in common: a vision to grow the Cook Islands creative industry. The wide range of questions reflects the breadth […]

'Decrease' public service

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

The government needs to downsize the public service to free up money to pay for some of the 250 specific actions named by the Economic Task Force as necessary to grow the economy sustainably. Eddie Drollet, an economist from the Democratic Party, says the Budget Policy Statement is full of grand ideas but it’s ‘all […]

New accreditation system underway

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

A new accreditation system is being considered by Tourism Cook Islands (TCI) to ensure tourism industry providers maintain acceptable standards. TCI chief executive Carmel Beattie says the new system could be in place within the next few months. She responded to questions yesterday from members of the public about whether checks were in place to […]