Articles by Utopia Support

New plan

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

Fewer boats and bigger operations are proposed under changes proposed for commercial fishing in the Cook Islands. The Ministry of Marine Resources has revealed a strategy for new form of fishery licensing that would generate $5 million to $7 million a year within three years. Tomorrow government enters into talks with three major fishing companies […]

Govt agrees to bring family home

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

Cabinet has agreed to evacuate Cook Islander Rena Jonassen and his family out of Chiba if this is what they want, Deputy Prime Minister’s CEO Patrick Arioka confirmed late yesterday afternoon. Arioka said cabinet had made a decision that if the Jonassen family need financial assistance to evacuate, the Cook Islands government would provide this. […]

Japan quake hits noni exports

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands noni industry is facing its largest threat, following the earthquake which has devastated much of Japan. An emergency meeting of noni growers and those involved in the noni juice manufacturing and export industry has been called for this morning, at the Cook Islands Noni Marketing factory in Titikaveka. Teava Iro, a director […]

It's 'terrorism'

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I can’t but agree with recent letters regarding the current ‘pruning’ or should I say, mindless massacring of our trees along Matavera and Tupapa. It’s nothing short of tree terrorism. As I suffered through another extremely hot, dusty and uncomfortable ride into work today, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the […]

Come clean

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am concerned that the Health Ministry is unhappy with their budget. Before I evaluate more on the issue, I must remind the Government that the Ministry of Health is indeed very important because of the health of the people in the Cook Islands, without proper requirements (financial wise). We will end up […]

Kata - March 17, 2011

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Rewarding the govt for airline loyalty

Thursday 17 March 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Air New Zealand is playing semantics,” says a smoke signaller in response to yesterday’s article about the airline not budging from its policy that AirPoints is a reward for individual travellers and not the entity that pays or sponsors the airfare. Numerous Cook Islands governments have unsuccessfully lobbied the airline to allow AirPoints earned from […]

Games training squad in sprints

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Environment

This Saturday’s oe vaka sprint races will see paddlers battling it out on Muri lagoon in the V6 canoes over the course distances of 1000m and 1500m. At the weekend races were over 50m in the V6 division with some great results seen overall. A small but enthusiastic group of paddlers enjoyed the day’s racing […]

Young achievers on the job

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Two of the Cook Islands’ future business marketing and management stars are gaining experience through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) young achievers programme. Rarotonga teenagers Henrianna Savage (18), and Gaston Tairi (19), have been chosen as the ministry’s young achievers this year, and are enjoying their 12-month paid positions within the government […]

NCEA exam issues sorted

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Cook Islands students’ National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) examination results have been correctly adjusted following issues with lost papers. The Ministry of Education took responsibility recently for temporarily losing a box of information management NCEA Level One examination papers. The box did not reach the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Wellington office as required. […]

Fuel prices could double: Triad

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Local

Triad Pacific Petroleum manager Chris Vaile warns the price of fuel within the Cook Islands could double by the end of the year. Vaile says fuel prices have already increased by 10 cents per litre, and they are set to rise again with the next shipment due to arrive in the country at the end […]

Local remembers Hawaiian pioneer

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Features

Herb Kawainui Kane, 83, the celebrated Hawaiian artist, historian, and a founder of the Polynesia Voyaging Society (PVS) who passed away earlier this month, was a pioneer whose work paved the way for many a Cook Islands voyager. He was instrumental in designing the Hokule’a, and passed on the anniversary of the date she set […]

Scenic beauty spoiled

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For weeks, the Minister’s company’s men and vehicles have been removing limbs and whole trees from the main road verge, most recently along the Tupapa stretch. Picturesque and shady flamboyants, ironwoods, eucalyptus, coconuts, and others have been cut and hauled away and the scenic beauty of the roadway generally despoiled. A tree limb […]

Immigration confirms $60 spouse fee

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write in response to the article ‘Time for a fresh start’ that appeared in Saturday’s edition of Cook Islands News. Focusing on what is for Immigration and no doubt most of your readers, the most important point of interest in the above article, may I simply recall that Immigration met with Ms […]

Kata - March 16, 2011

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Primary soccer rivalry grows

Wednesday 16 March 2011 | Published in Football

Today the third round of primary school soccer will be played in the Cook Islands Football Association tournament. Te Uki Ou school boys managed to maintain their 1-goal lead over Avarua in the second round of the tournament, to take the match last Wednesday. Te Uki Ou was adamant to win over Avarua and the […]

Police act being completely overhauled

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

The existing Police Act is being completely overhauled with the aim of a revamped version being ready for parliament before the end of the year. Police commissioner Maara Tetava says the new act will bring policing into the modern era as the existing 1981 act is old and doesn’t accommodate the full spectrum of police […]

No reports of Cook Islanders in zone

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

No Cook Islanders are known to have been amidst the recent devastation of north eastern Japan by earthquake and tsunami, says Foreign Affairs secretary Jim Gosselin. “New Zealand has been checking for us and do not know of any Cook Islanders who have been caught in the tragedy.” Yesterday a letter of condolence was sent […]

Please bring old text books back

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

Old school text books are still valuable to students today – and Tereora College teachers are urging parents and former students to search your homes for text books and return them. This week a parent returned a stack of text books that prompted head of senior mathematics at Tereora College Bryn Parry to put a […]

More pay, less interest

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Local

Raising the minimum wage, lower interest rates and abolishing outer islands taxes are some of the initiatives being recommended by the Economic Summit Task Force committee for the next budget. Removing outer islands company and income tax are being promoted as good outer islands initiatives to increase economic activity. The task force has also identified […]