Articles by Utopia Support

Internet charges 'plain outrageous'

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In skimming your website I happened across a letter that stated, “What really concerned me about the TCI bill was the fact that almost $400 of this $500 bill related to the usage of the internet by myself and four, school aged children during the past two months.” A following letter stated that […]

Hitches at Mire Atu explained

Tuesday 15 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to the letters to the editor on the matter of technical issues at the Mire Atu composters competition, I met with my team who were here for the event to discuss the issues raised, mainly what caused the technical problems leading to these complaints. 1. Feedback – overall this was during […]

Intruder caught in the act

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local

An intruder who broke into an Avatiu home early Saturday morning was caught in the act by the home owner who wrestled the intruder to the ground and called police. The Avatiu home owner was woken up when he heard a loud noise in the next room. Upon investigating the noise, the home homer saw […]

High seas

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local

Tsunami surges from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Thursday night continued to affect the island over the weekend. But the surges had no affect on the water activities as pre-sailing Nemo squad members hunted rori in Muri lagoon, sailors navigated their race course and oe vaka paddlers hit the water for their […]

Budget worries in health

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Local

The Ministry of Health has some serious concerns about its proposed budget, which seems to have flatlined. Government is proposing to allocate to the ministry about $10.4 million – the same amount Health has been getting for the past three fiscal years. Inflation rates of 7.8% in 2008-2009, 6.7% in 2009-2010 and 4.4% in 2010-2011 […]

Sea Eagles stop the Sharks

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Features

A last minute surge by the Aitutaki Sharks wasn’t enough to contain the soaring Ngatangiia Sea Eagles on Saturday who put away the Sharks 32-20 at Nukupure Park. The first half of the game was all Sea Eagles as veteran Thomas Toa directed the team around the park with his boots. The Sea Eagles front […]

Sunny Stroll among Pasifika

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Features

A huge sand-pit filled with buried treasure and artificial coconut trees gave added tropical flavour to Auckland City’s 19th Pasifika Festival at Western Springs Lakeside Park on Saturday March 12. While crowd numbers were down on previous years, the annual New Zealand event still proved to be a major Auckland attraction with a steady flow […]

Red wine without the alcohol

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Responding to Saturday’s smoke signal Alcholesterol, CITC Pharmacy manager Shannon Saunders writes: “The Ministry of Health article in Thursday’s paper [page 11] recommended ‘Drink alcohol in small amounts’. I am sure what they meant by this was for people to drink responsibly and consider reducing their alcohol consumption if they have health problems. With regards […]

A tax increase is a bigger threat to the country than Telecom

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Telecom critic going under ‘Gumboot maniac’ (CI News March 8) is aptly ‘non de plumed’. There is something manic in his approach where he tries to show he’s a good analyst with information few other people have, because he fails to acknowledge other relevant issues. He writes that Telecom is the most loathed […]

Grow up

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the leadership and members of the Democratic Party for their decision to support the confidence motion in the new Prime Minister and his government. This is an evidence that our new crop of parliamentarians are showing maturity but I’m sad to see that one of our longest serving members of parliament, […]

Bid for Steve Barrett

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We are dumbfounded, down in the dumps, reeling from shock, to hear that Steve Barrett didn’t win the Island Secretary position for Mauke. Logic told us that as he had been called to represent Mauke at recent meetings planning for the future he must be in. Please tell us this isn’t political. We […]

Our sovereignty was usurped

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have reports of Mr Bruce Ruatapu Mita’s meetings in 2008 and last Thursday night. I also have cuttings of published condemnations and now of Pa Marie’s deprecation of him in your front page story last Friday. I opined that the apparition fibres of all te ‘aka’apa, ‘akakino and scoffing at Mr Mita […]

Kata - March 14, 2011

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Kata

Netball coach for all grades

Monday 14 March 2011 | Published in Netball

All netballers from the six clubs on the island and from all grades are encouraged to take advantage of the netball training series by New Zealand coach Donna Blazey starting today. Donna Blazey works closely with Cook Islands national head coach Marg Foster. As Marg Foster is tied up with her Magic netball team in […]

Tsunami surges in Avarua harbour

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local

Three hours after the tsunami warning for the Cook Islands was cancelled yesterday – the tsunami surges generated by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan began draining the water in the island’s two harbours. Onlookers were stunned to see the effects of the tsunami surges – water draining from the harbour and come rushing […]

Mirage moves

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local

Development of the old Sheraton Hotel site in Vaimaanga appears to be progressing, although New Zealand-based firm Mirage Group Ltd has yet to apply for permits. The company has obtained a lease to develop the abandoned accommodation complex, but still has not applied for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report from the National Environment Service […]

New moko!

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Local

Scientists have aptly named one skink that roams Rarotonga the ‘wandering skink’, a new endemic species that is now cemented into the Natural Heritage database. Last month, researchers named the skink emoia tuitarere – the Maori word for wanderer, stranger, alien or sailor. A DNA study undertaken by a team of scientists last year revealed […]

Passionate jazz and blues at Little Poly

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Features

The Little Polynesian was packed to capacity on both Tuesday and Thursday with diners who booked to hear sultry California blues and jazz singer Diana Harris, who performs on Rarotonga each year. Both nights, Harris sang to over 30 guests with such emotion and feeling that she was much more than background dinner music. Her […]

From stage to Te Papa

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Features

Cook Islander choreographer and dancer Teokotai Paitai has swapped a long stage career for a job at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. Paitai joined Te Papa’s events team of six staff earlier this year as events producer. The team organise all events for Te Papa from exhibitions to special commemorative celebrations, aligning with major events like […]

CI village busy at Pasifika

Saturday 12 March 2011 | Published in Features

Cook Islanders selling local products at the 19th annual Pasifika Festival in Auckland are celebrating a successful day. Of the 40-odd stalls within the festival’s Cook Islands village, 11 boasted traditional and contemporary merchandise made within the Cook Islands. As well as the 11 stall vendors, Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) trade and marketing […]