Articles by Utopia Support

Petition launched

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Local

A petition has been launched by Mervin Communications calling on the telecommunications minister to grant the company licences enabling it to provide a mobile telephone service. Mervin Communications director William Framhein says they hope to collect 6000 signatures – at which time it will be presented to Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown. Launched on Saturday, Framhein […]

Fishing association wants answers

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Local

CIFA chairman Mark Vaikai. “/> The big question that the Cook Islands Fishing Association wants answered is whether purse seining will exploit Cook Islands waters. And because so little information has been forthcoming, chairman Mark Vaikai says right now most members would oppose any purse seining happening in Cook Islands waters. “If that information was […]

Bottle bashing 'racially motivated'

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Local

A 33-year-old Fijian worker who has lived on Rarotonga for the past three years bashfully admits he no longer feels welcomed by the community. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, but explained that he and a friend were brutally beaten with fists and broken bottles outside Raro Fried Chicken in the […]

Same old people, same old mistakes

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If Cook Islanders were serious about wanting a real future, we need a lot of our young ones to step up and have a go in parliament because all I see is the same old people making the same old problems. I love to read the letters to the editor cause it makes […]

This is our fish pot!

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In your paper dated March 18 was a news article saying that the government will be meeting with some of the largest tuna fishing companies and fish processing companies globally who are wanting to operate in our waters, to gain economic growth. According to the secretary of MMR they want to support the […]

Purse seining vacuums them all up Catch history is vital for planning

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For all the years I have fished in the Cook Islands, it has been gospel that purse seiners are not allowed in CI waters. I know that US boats have had the right to carry out purse seining in CI waters for some time as a result of historical agreements but I understand […]

Kata - March 22, 2011

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Cut the lines, too?

Tuesday 22 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Going through Arorangi from town on Friday, a T&M Heather truck/trailer was carrying a digger back to home base,” a smoke signaller writes. “The vehicle was so high it had to swerve to avoid utilities lines hanging over the road, sometimes driving on the opposite side of the road and once holding up oncoming traffic. […]

Campaigning to save wetlands

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Environment

Projects to mark the Cook Islands’ year of wetlands are being organised to coincide with the country’s national environment week later this year. National Environment Service (NES) environment education and awareness officer Deyna Marsh says 2011 has been recognised as the year of forests by United Nations, and SPREP is recognising it as the year […]

Cannabis found in college hall

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

Police are investigating the discovery of a bag of cannabis inside the Princess Anne Hall at Tereora College. College principal Teaea Parima reported the incident to police and three students aged 14 and 15 were spoken to by police. However, police report that the male student suspected of supplying the cannabis was absent from school […]

Cautious approach

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

Marine Resources says the prospect of having purse seiners operating in our waters needs a lot more careful planning and the largest fishing method in the world is not being actively pursued at this stage. “We are looking at a very cautious entry into this fishery, and as such, making sure that we take every […]

China wants to purse seine in CI waters

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Local

In an unexpected move, a fisheries cooperation memorandum of understanding with the China Fisheries Association (CFA) has been signed by Marine Resources minister Teina Bishop. The non-binding MOU was signed after Bishop had signed three others earlier on Friday following the conclusion of roundtable discussions with those fisheries companies. The three companies are major players […]

Kata - March 21, 2011

Monday 21 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Govt signs fisheries MOU

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Local

A non-binding memorandum of understanding has been signed by the government and three significant players in the global and regional fisheries industry. The MOU affirms the wish of the Cook Islands and the companies to progress fisheries cooperation and partnership development. The first point of the MOU is that both parties recognise the importance of […]

Update from Spain

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

Atiu Fibre Arts Studio owner Andrea Eimke is in Sitges, Spain, teaching women from around the world to sew tivaivai and exhibiting local tivaivai at the International Patchwork Festival. Earlier this week, she emailed CINews from Sitges: “We finished hanging the tivaivais today. The town hall of Sitges, a magnificent building for exhibitions and conferences, […]

Will Crummer's double comeback

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

Rarotongan songster Will Crummer is making a double-pronged comeback – with a public performance and a new, ready-to-release album. Crummer, who retreated from the public eye to raise his family (which includes renowned singer Annie Crummer) has confirmed he will be performing with The Rarotongans at WOMAD this week. Crummer and The Rarotongans will join, […]

Fundraisers still counting proceeds

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

Funds are still flowing in from Thursday’s national fundraiser day for the victims of the natural disasters in Australia and Christchurch. A total of $14,005 was pledged by Cook Islanders during the six-hour radiothon and funds raised by the entertaining concert at the national auditorium and from food sales have not been counted yet. But […]

Instalment symbolises intersection of two cultures

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

The final instalment of one of local artist Krick Barraud’s ongoing projects is now on display at Beachcomber Art Gallery and will remain there until April. Krick is pictured here with BCA owner Ben Bergman. The instalment features an assortment of photographs, text, linen, a life-sized ‘feather’ made of palm frond and Aitutaki lime, and […]

Bernard represents Cooks at Poly events

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

For New Zealand-based Cook Islands radio producer and journalist Bernard Tairea, volunteering at Auckland’s annual Pasifika and Polyfest cultural events is a highlight of the year. Tairea, who moved to New Zealand from the Cook Islands in 2002, hosts the Cook Islands programming on various Auckland-based radio stations, announces the news in Cook Islands Maori […]

Three firms combine in new Muri outlet

Saturday 19 March 2011 | Published in Features

A unit in the newly-constructed Pacific Village complex is offering pearls, perfumes and holiday packages – the amalgamation of already-existing businesses Cook Islands Tours, Polynesian Tax Free Ltd and Farm Direct Pearls. Temu Okotai of Farm Direct Pearls and Cook Islands Tours is sharing the space with Polynesian Tax Free Ltd owner Trevor Richards, and […]