Articles by Utopia Support

Pasifika Festival review by BTIB

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

The Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) is surveying Cook Islands stall vendors involved in this year’s annual Pasifika Festival at Western Springs in Auckland. BTIB trade and marketing manager Danny Williams says the 11 vendors who travelled from the Cook Islands to participate in the festival should have made between $7000 and $15,000 each. […]

Wendy films for the fun of it

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Former Cook Islands News co-owner Wendy Evans laid down her camera when she left the media profession, but that didn’t keep her from documenting island life altogether. She bought a video camera, enrolled in a USP videography course and started splicing and editing short films of Rarotonga footage she compiled in her free time. “I […]

Tune out friends, not just TVs

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Turning off the television is not enough. Indirect exposure to media, such as having friends who watch a lot of television, may be more damaging to a teen’s body image, say researchers using Fiji as a case study. Wary parents will have to do more than unplug the television if they want to avoid the […]

More television affects island culture

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Cook Islands culture will suffer with the introduction of a second television station, warns an expert on the effects of screen media. Dr Aric Sigman, a British psychologist and author, says more choice of channels means people will watch more TV, leading to further declines in language usage and a loss of traditional culture. “It’s […]

Why TV is bad for our health

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Ten-year-old Tama lives right next to the lagoon, but spends most afternoons in his room with the curtains pulled. When it’s really hot he goes swimming with his Tikioki friends, but they’re soon back inside watching television or DVDs. Both his parents work, his mum has two jobs, and the TV is his main source […]

Shame on you government

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Features

Last Saturday I spent the afternoon enjoying one of life’s great pleasures, watching one of my mokopuna playing rugby. I was in the company of my son-in-law and a younger grandson. We were sitting on the bank at a sports ground in east Auckland; it was a great day – a bit breezy – but […]

Good on you guys

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have followed the letters and articles in your paper relating to the tree trimming work in the village of Tupapa. I must say the beautification committee have done a great job. After reading your paper I have realised who is behind this work. Congratulations must go out to the two Pu Tapere […]

Let's support our own

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter in support of the petition recently launched by Mervin Communications with regard to being allowed to operate a mobile telephone service and am appealing to our people to support this petition. Te tata atu nei au i teia reta no te turu atu i ta te Mervin Communications […]

Kia Orana card products expanded

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last year, I came back to Rarotonga for the first time after 40 odd years of being absent and stayed in Nikao for three months. During my stay on the island, I tried to make phone calls to my children in New Zealand. I was told by some of my family members in […]

Kata - March 26, 2011

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in Kata

2 main league games today

Saturday 26 March 2011 | Published in League

Rugby league fans have the choice of two main games today with the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles taking on the Panthers at Nukupure Park and the Avatiu Eels hosting arch rivals the Arorangi Bears at the Swamp. At Muri – the Sea Eagles will want to win their battle against the Panthers to maintain their second […]

Aere ra Papa Tauturu

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Ngametua Kae, commonly known as Papa Tauturu on the island of Atiu, passed away quietly at his residence in Teenui earlier this month after a long illness. He was laid to rest at the Atiu CICC church yard. The burial of this gentleman was witnessed by the entire island population. Kae was elected as a […]

In times such as these

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Church Talk

In the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake and the tsunami in Japan, people everywhere are once again reminded of the vulnerability of life. What is here now, can be wiped out in a matter of seconds. I was in Auckland recently, and in the same motel we had stayed in, were families who had moved […]

CICC to celebrate Earth Hour

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) Sunday school grounds at Avana will be the venue for an official Earth Hour party tomorrow evening. A candlelight service will include prayer, song, and purua reading. Local artists at the gathering will also make presentations during the hour between 8pm and 9pm, when all residents are encouraged to […]

Trek turns into rescue for US visitors

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Local

Four American visitors to the island got more adventure than they bargained for when a three hour walk across the island turned into a midnight rescue mission. David Bredehoft (60) along with his wife Adena (59) and their friends Gene (81) and Opal Shepherd (77) set out for what they thought would be an easy […]

Costs to keep climbing: Chamber

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Local

The cost of living in the Cook Islands will continue to escalate as long as the country continues to rely on imported fuel for so much, warns the Chamber of Commerce. Recent rises in petrol prices coupled with confirmation of a significant power increase will make living in the Cook Islands more expensive. President Steve […]

Students to Rotary camp

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Features

Senior Tereora College students Maruia Willie and Tuaine Unuia have been selected by their school to attend the Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN) Camp at Hunua in Auckland in the first weekend of April. RYPEN is a residential weekend seminar especially designed for secondary students. It is a programme of self-development, helping young people […]

Te 'akaaro'a i teia tama

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

E te Etita, Ei pau uatu i te peapa tei tata ia mai inana’i – ‘Te Aue a Akatokamanava’. Toku manoko kua rava ua ana tatou i te utiuti ia tatou rai ki raro. E akaruke tatou i te anga’anga a te kavamani e ta ratou tuku’anga tika ki roto rai i to ratou rima. […]

No evidence of declining stocks in EEZ

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to both thank and reply to Mr Tylor’s letter as we appreciate the opportunity for a well-informed debate with the public. As pointed out in my earlier response, the extracts that were quoted by Mr Tylor for the “Cook Islands” report of 2006 relate to the overall regional picture. However at […]

Questions on the fishery plan

Friday 25 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you Ben Ponia (MMR secretary) for your well meant reply. I believe the extracts I quoted from the “Cook Islands” report do support the position that our yellow fin and big eye tuna resources, along with those of other Pacific nations, are under pressure and exploitation needs to be reduced not increased. […]