Articles by Utopia Support

Kata - April 4, 2011

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in Kata

Tai Joseph stars in Japan game

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

Sailosi Nagi in action for the Cooks at the Adelaide sevens tournament at the weekend. “/> The Cook Islands sevens squad had a winless Adelaide sevens campaign at the weekend which was dominated by too many mistakes, missed opportunity and injuries. The Cooks faced Kenya on day one of the tournament where they had ample […]

New board for Cook Islands Red Cross

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Red Cross conducted its two-yearly general assembly last month attended by branch members from all outer islands except Nassau, which unfortunately was not able to attend due to shipping constraints. Friday was allocated for good governance for two members per branch with observers who had attended the community based health and first aid […]

Linda Te Puni is proud to be the first woman high commissioner to Cooks

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

As the first woman to serve as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Linda Te Puni is a person of particular interest to local women’s rights advocates. In her address to PPSEAWA (Pan-Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association) last week, Te Puni discussed her background as a career diplomat and highlighted gender issues […]

New regional advisor

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

Commander Tony Grubb of the Royal New Zealand Navy will replace Wing Commander Ron Logan as Defence Advisor Pacific, who is being posted to Canberra. From Wellington, Grubb will represent New Zealand Defence Force interests in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, until another adviser is appointed. Grubb joined the Royal New Zealand Naval […]

Yogi returns

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

Ashtanga yoga expert Dik Bree will be on Rarotonga for the next two weeks and conducting yoga workshops. With over 20 years of experience in yoga, the New Zealand-based yoga teacher has established a name for himself among local yoga enthusiasts. He has been to India twice and studied with 90-year-old yoga teacher Pattabhi Jois, […]

Unsafe vehicles upset Short

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

The number of unsafe vehicles on the road concerns local mechanic Eric Short, who has been lobbying for a standardisation of warrant of fitness (WOF) checklists since he moved home four years ago. Short says that the government held a series of meetings with police and garage operators last year but afterward ‘shelved’ the issue. […]

Computer helps Edwina to learn

Monday 4 April 2011 | Published in National

For the past year, Pat Farr from Te Vaerua Trust has been helping to develop the computer and literacy skills of 20-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Edwina Matapo. Using Pat’s laptop, Edwina has been introduced to games and other activities to keep her mind stimulated and active. However, the laptop with its small keyboard did pose […]

Heather at helm with 14 portfolios

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Local

Not even five months after being sworn in for the first time as a cabinet minister, Teariki Heather takes over the reins as acting prime minister of the Cook Islands. Heather has also assumed responsibility for deputy prime minister Tom Marster’s portfolios. Both the PM Henry Puna and DPM are out of the country. Heather […]

Declaration not signed

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Local

Speaker of Parliament Sir Geoffrey Henry has yet to sign the declaration officially affirming that the Pukapuka seat is vacant and allowing for a by-election date to be named and preparations to begin. Prime Minister Henry Puna said it was one of the first things he expected Sir Geoffrey to complete on his return from […]

Miss Cook Islands pageant date set

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Local

The Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association has settled on Thursday September 1 as the next Miss Cook Islands pageant date, after taking into consideration all that is happening this year. This will allow enough time to organise an unforgettable event as well as fit in with the schooling and work timetables of both Miss Cook […]

Tickets to Pipirima musical on sale now

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Tickets for the highly anticipated Once, Upon a Reef musical production will go on sale today at the Punanga Nui Markets. The musical and cultural production, based on the neglected twins Pipirima, will be launched on Wednesday, May 25, at the National Auditorium. The show, featuring all Cook Islands actors, singers, dancers and drummers, is […]

DJ 'Whateva Treva' salutes Stevie Wonder

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

DJ ‘Whateva Treva’ pays tribute to legendary singer/songwriter Stevland Morris, more commonly known as Stevie Wonder, during tomorrow’s three-hour ‘Groovin (on a Sunday afternoon)’ broadcast. From midday until 3 o’clock, ‘Whateva Treva’ will be playing a collection of songs by Stevie Wonder on 88FM. “(Stevie) got awarded the (Gershwin) Life Achievement Award from (President Barack) […]

'Tropical Vibes'

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Local company Motone, a husband-wife venture established in 2009 by musician Maurice ‘Mo’ Newport and marketing expert Glenda Tuaine, has big plans to expand the local creative industry. The couple contends that while people tend to ‘talk about’ growing the industry, Motone has the credentials and the connections to make it happen. Mo and Glenda […]

Thousands ask BCA 'where you from?'

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Earning the distinction of being the gallery from the farthest away at the prestigious VOLTA NY art show, the local Beachcomber Contemporary Art gallery has stirred enough interest there to feature on the annual art show’s website. Close to 20,000 people viewed, critiqued and some bought the art works exhibited by 85 galleries at VOLTA […]

'A life of luck and beauty'

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

The long and successful career of accomplished New Zealand designer Annie Bonza will be celebrated at Auckland’s Bridal Fashion Week. On the eve of a retrospective of her best work at Auckland’s inaugural Bridal Fashion Week, fashion designer Annie Bonza is talking about good luck. Even with a career which has spanned 55 years, she […]

Last chance to win a car

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Today and Monday will be the last chance for shoppers to enter the CITC supermarket ‘win a car’ promotion. The promotion has been running since January with great response from the public. To enter the draw to win the brand new gold Hyundai Getz – customers simply have to buy one product from the four […]

Whale songs add to science

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Local whale expert Nan Hauser has been studying whale songs – the noises male humpbacks emit as they hang upside-down, motionless – for over a decade. The songs are the focus of a paper she and some colleagues recently published in the scientific journal ‘Current Biology’, a paper which encompasses 11 years of research and […]

Power bills going up

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

Te Aponga Uira is estimating most Rarotonga households will see their monthly power bills increase by $15 to $20 excluding VAT. Most homes use around around 200-300 electricity units. Acting TAU chief executive Elma Spooner-Marurai says larger homes using more than 500 units a month can see an increase of around $30 to $50 in […]

CITC gets proactive

Saturday 2 April 2011 | Published in Features

The country’s largest company CITC has taken the proactive step of giving staff the opportunity to learn how to better manage their budgets and make some savings. Manager Gaye Whitta says the company is also looking at ways to encourage staff to save power costs at home as well as at work. She explains CITC […]