Articles by Utopia Support

Outer islands a tourism focus

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands cuisine needs to be improved and promoted to the world in order to expand annual visitor numbers to the country and provide local jobs, particularly in outer islands, those at yesterday’s national economic development summit were told. More than 200 people attended the tourism session of the summit, which will conclude today at […]

Departure tax leaves a lasting impression

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Air New Zealand will re-consider including departure tax into airfares from the Cook Islands, as a means of encouraging visitors to return. The airline’s Cook Islands manager, David Bridge was a panellist during yesterday’s tourism session of the national economic development summit. Questions from the floor arose in respect of departure tax during the session, […]

Setting realistic and essential targets

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

A balanced framework for the future is what the Economic Task Force has tried to deliver, said chairman John Tierney in a welcome address at yesterday’s Economic Summit opening. He said the Cook Islands needs a stable, open, competitive, globally connected economy – while modernising attitudes in favour of educated, healthy, skilled, competitive Cook Islanders […]

Swiss envoy visits Cooks

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Her Excellency Marion Krupski (above) will visit the Cook Islands from April 13 to 16 to present her credentials to the Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin. Ambassador Krupski is head of mission at the Swiss Embassy in Wellington and is concurrently accredited to New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Samoa. The Cook Islands and Switzerland […]

Ocean Sun preparing to sail

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

Shipping company operator Tapi Taio hopes his new vessel Ocean Sun will make its voyage to the Cook Islands from Norway in a few months, although an exact arrival date is not known. At present the ship’s captain Nubono Tebano and engineer Tevita Vakasavi are living on the ship while they get it ready to […]

'Scrap outdated and broken scheme'

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in National

The Chamber of Commerce considers the government’s Employer’s Liability Insurance scheme outdated and broken and wants it replaced with commercial insurers. Passed in 1965, the ELI act which established the workers compensation scheme hasn’t been reviewed for over 20 years or “updated to reflect modern conditions”, says chamber president Steve Anderson. ELI is administered by […]

New cars for new leaders

Wednesday 13 April 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller spotted at the Economic Summit yesterday the president of the House of Ariki getting out of a blue government car, registration GA79 “that was a real bomb”. Parked next to it was also a blue car, “but a very flash and new” GA387 driven by the acting secretary to Cabinet. The signaller […]

Vaka makes landfall in Tahiti

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Local

Vaka Marumaru Atua arrived in Tahiti yesterday. Captain Peia Patai emailed an update to Cook Islands Voyaging Society president Ian Karika yesterday at 6.34am, reporting that the vaka was 35 nautical miles from Tahiti and on track to arrive before 2pm. Samoa vaka Matahi and Tahiti vaka Faafaite were expected to greet her and escort […]

Don't trash Punanga Nui!

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Local

A pile of residential green waste dumped alongside the stream at the Punanga Nui Market is the last straw for market manager Elmah McBirney, who is issuing a final warning to those who use the market place as a rubbish tip. McBirney says the large amount of green waste, which includes hedge clippings and other […]

Pukapuka by-election on June 7

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Local

The Pukapuka by-election date has been set for June 7. Nominations for candidates close on April 25 and a fee of $500 is payable for each candidate contesting the by-election. Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua states the main Pukapuka roll will close April 15 and the supplementary roll on April 29. Cook Islands Party candidate […]

5% growth essential

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Local

The Economic Task Force believes the Cook Islands’ economic objective to achieve 5%-plus GDP growth a year would result in the country being self-sufficient and leading the Pacific. This will require keeping growth rates above our past economic performance. The country’s ability to pay for public services that people want will be compromised if we […]

Don't be fooled by this person

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the latest chapter of the Bruce Mita trouble making dissertations. I can say with my hand on my heart that during my time as Police Commissioner there was never any pressure on me from any politician from either side of the house to make an arrest of any person […]

Big thanks for honesty

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My wife and I have just returned from holidaying in Rarotonga and I would like to thank the lady on a scooter who found my wallet on the road outside the airport about two hours before we were due to leave. She went into the airport and found my wife and returned it […]

Kata - April 12, 2011

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Two Bears to face judiciary

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

The rugby league judiciary panel will meet again today to decide the fate of Arorangi Bears captain Augustine Heather and club president Pare Rongokea who last week pleaded guilty to allegations of ‘harassment’ of a referee. On Saturday, April 2, Rongokea was cited for assaulting referee Simiona Teiotu and Heather for assaulting assistant referee Arthur […]

New interest in Te Aito

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

As the Pacific catches the Aito fever, Rarotonga prepares to host its second-ever Te Aito competition. New Caledonia and New Zealand join the Cook Islands this year in hosting qualifier races, winners of which will win tickets to compete in the iconic Te Aito Tahiti race on July 15-16. Te Aito Cook Islands, which falls […]

Eseta wins Optimist title

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands National Championships Sailing in Optimist sailboats were held in Aitutaki from Thursday April 7 to Saturday April 9. The 22 sailors from Rarotonga, Manihiki and Aitutaki raced in two groups – 14 sailors in the Gold fleet and 8 sailors in the Green fleet. All the sailors, officials and catering staff spent […]

Cooks finish 3rd

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

After a sluggish start to the tournament, the Telecom Cook Islands national cricket squad recovered to finish in third place by defeating Tonga in the 3rd and 4th playoff of the ICC EAP Division 2 tournament in Samoa. Despite the win, Cook Islands captain Glenn Miller says his side was a little disappointed with their […]

Low bids were rejected

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

Rarotonga Resort Management director Rohan Ellis says he sympathises with the sentiments expressed by the local real estate industry but business is business. RRM was managing Manuia Boutique Beach Hotel and Castaway Beach Villas when the properties were listed with local real estate agents. Ellis says bids came through for the properties, but Price Waterhouse […]

Automatic door donated by BCI

Tuesday 12 April 2011 | Published in National

The surgical ward at the Rarotonga Hospital has a new automatic door, thanks to a donation from the Bank of the Cook Islands. Hospital staff and former staff, including director of hospital services Dr Tikaka Henry and former director Heather Webber-Aitu, were on hand to watch Orometua Tereora Tereora bless the ceremony last week. Together, […]