Articles by Utopia Support

Marine park trust deed to be finalised today

Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Local

A trust deed that will set the guiding principles for the management of a national marine park within the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone is expected to be finalised by cabinet today. The deed will set out how a marine park charitable trust is formed and how its trustees administer the park in accordance with […]

Trial delayed until Friday

Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Local

Three men charged in relation to disruption at Manihiki airport in 2008 are due to be the focus of a three-day judge and jury trial in the Cook Islands High Court starting this week. Mataio Johnson, Ruhau Tamaunu, and Temu Okotai are charged over an incident which forced an aborted landing of an Air Rarotonga […]

Pukapuka seat to be declared vacant

Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On his return from Noumea, Parliament speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry is expected to declare the Pukapuka seat vacant which will then trigger the by-election process for the island. Sir Geoffrey is scheduled to return today from Noumea where he has been attending the annual general meeting of the Oceania National Committee General Assembly. He was […]

Kata - March 29, 2011

Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Point separates premiers in netball derby

Tuesday 29 March 2011 | Published in Netball

Closely fought netball games were seen at the weekend at the Telecom Sports Arena where Titikaveka were made to work hard to beat Avatiu 55-46 and Tupapa managed to edge out Takuvaine 60-59. It was point for point in the Tupapa and Takuvaine game with Takuvaine using the match to work on some new combinations. […]

Record women in top govt jobs

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local

Government has a record number of women in top positions because they’re the right people for the job, says Cook Islands National Council of Women president Vaine Wichman. Twelve women are heading ministries and agencies either as permanent heads or in acting capacities, including two women island secretaries. But it will be when there’s significant […]

Formal ties set with Japan

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands and Japan have formally entered into diplomatic relations – a development that will bring significant benefits for the Pacific nation, says prime minister Henry Puna. Discussions with the Japanese government on formalising relationships have intensified over the last five years – that the development happens during Puna’s term can be regarded as […]

'Arigato' from Raro

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to extend on behalf of my family a very big meitaki maata to the following people regarding the situation involving my brother, Rena Jonassen, and his family following the recent devastating earthquake, tsunami and threat of nuclear fallout in Japan. To the DPM and Minister of Foreign Affairs & Immigration […]

We are our own worst enemies

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m writing in regards to the Mauke Island Secretary petition by Nane Oaariki and Tumu Mauke’s letter, which appeared in your issue of 25 March. I’m amazed at both your attitudes towards this whole issue. Steve Barrett comes to Mauke for X months and you know him inside out. Eaa ia! Anyone who […]

Stop spreading untruths

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve been told about some statements made by New Zealand Maori activist Bruce Mita in a meeting held in the Ngatangiia clubhouse last week. He was supposed to have said that in 2008 former DPM Sir Terepai Maoate had ordered police to arrest Rongomatane Ariki because she hadn’t come to a meeting he […]

Kata - March 28, 2011

Monday 28 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Arrests after bottle attacks

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local

Police have arrested two 17-year-old men for the assault of two Fijian men last Sunday morning. Police inspector Tere Patia reported that police arrested the two youths – one from Ruatonga and the other from Panama – and they appeared in court on Wednesday. The pair did not enter a plea and were released on […]

Iro at BTIB

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local

Tina Iro has joined the Business Trade & Development Board as its new business development officer. She will be providing support to those wanting to start up a business and people already in business. Iro, along with Tangata Tou and Melina Tuiravakai, will be involved in running workshops and training in Rarotonga and the outer […]

Toagate responsibility real

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Local

It appears that the Toagate contract will continue to be a $10 million millstone around the country’s neck as legislating it out of existence isn’t an option favoured by government. Getting rid of the costly Toagate contract through legislation sets a bad precedent and will send the wrong message to potential investors and the international […]

Musical comes to Raro

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Cook Islands culture through song, music, dance and drums will take centre stage in May when the musical production ‘Once, Upon a Reef’ comes to life. The musical production, which is based on the legend of neglected twins Pipirima, is still receiving rave reviews from those who saw the production which premiered at the TelstraClear […]

Ea'a te au angaanga a teia au tangata?

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Taote – Ka tauturu te taote i te tangata maki Orometua – Ka tauturu te orometua i te pure tapu Puapii – Ka karanga te puapii ki te tamariki kia rave angaanga Ariki – Ka noo te Ariki ki runga i te nooanga Na Pae Tuteru Taote – Ka oake te taote i te vairakau […]

The big fishing debate

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

The Regional Perspective 1. The SPC Report – the 2006 National Fisheries Assessment, consistent with various other regional scientific reports, does in fact allude to overfishing of certain key fish stocks, more particularly bigeye tuna, in the WCPO (Western and Central Pacific Ocean) region. The information referred to in that particular SPC report was part […]

Lee has high hopes for kitesurfing competition

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Kitesurf instructor Mike Lee has high hopes for June’s international kitesurfing competition: he reckons the wind will blow and the event will put Aitutaki on the map as a kiter’s paradise. Lee returned last week to Aitutaki after spending three months in New Zealand, catching up with family and actively promoting the upcoming competition – […]

Koka celebrates birthday on lagoon

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Rarotonga’s newest lagoon cruise operator Koka Lagoon Cruises celebrates its one-year anniversary this week. Over the past year, the business has worked to establish itself as a reputable tour operator and to give the tourists that come aboard a set of invaluable holiday memories to take away with them. Koka is a family-run business, small […]

Writers chill out in Cooks

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

An animated group of North American writers gathered at Cafe Jireh on Thursday afternoon, and over lunch gushed about their sojourn to the caves of Atiu and the Aitutaki lagoon, from which they returned earlier that morning. Five writers and one Cook Islands Tourism North America representative toured the Cook Islands this week – their […]