Articles by Utopia Support

Acting Finsec first woman

Monday 21 February 2011 | Published in Local

Office of the Public Service Commissioner chief executive Priscilla Maruariki has been appointed acting financial secretary. She will serve in the position until a permanent appointment is made – as the first woman ever to hold the post. “We have come to the conclusion that Priscilla Maruariki is the most experienced professional we have – […]

Kata - February 21, 2011

Monday 21 February 2011 | Published in Kata

Culture damages lagoon health?

Monday 21 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller responds to those opposed to the removal of the fish trap in the Muri Lagoon who say it would be cultural vandalism. “Here are some good examples of cultural vandalism: when certain Ngatangiia fishermen catch ature [Bigeye scad] via the fish traps and take off home without the usual tradition of sharing […]

Sir Geoffrey back in parliament

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Local

Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry was sworn in as the Speaker of the House in Parliament yesterday. Prime Minister Sir Henry Puna nominated Sir Geoffrey as speaker, a motion which Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters seconded. Puna said he did not anticipate any “violent objections” to the nomination, as he considered Sir Geoffrey “one […]

Opposition back confidence vote

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Local

Members of Parliament – including those occupying the bench of the Opposition – yesterday expressed their confidence in Prime Minister Henry Puna during the opening of the 47th session of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters told parliament that he and other members present have known Puna for a while […]

Harking back with 'Whateva Treva'

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Features

Music buffs who have tired of trendy radio hits and Akon remixes can look forward to ‘Groovin’ on Sunday afternoons – a three-hour 88FM show that takes its name from The Young Rascals’ 1960s hit ‘Groovin (on a Sunday afternoon)’. ‘Groovin’ in the studio is disc jockey ‘Whateva Treva’ – Polynesian Tax Free Ltd owner […]

New reps for Vara Nui

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Features

World Resorts of Distinction have been appointed the overseas representative company for Te Vara Nui Village. World Resorts specialises in sales and marketing services and strategies for niche luxury products. Servicing the Australia, New Zealand, and North America markets, World Resorts of Distinction guarantees their clients innovative and comprehensive sales and marketing services and professional […]

The love beach

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Features

Koe Teritaiti (below) goes the extra mile in preparing the Muri Beachcomber beach for a guest’s wedding one recent Saturday afternoon. Koe used red hibiscus and yellow bird of paradise flowers to mark out a heart on the white sand because she wanted to do something special for the bride and groom. The Cook Islands […]

Pampering is a party

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Features

Sometimes getting pampered can be a lonely pursuit – but at Marama Salon in Nikao, that’s not the case. At Marama, groups of women can turn a salon outing into an evening soiree. The salon provides wine glasses – customers can bring their own wine – and an outdoor patio venue, and four nail technicians […]

Mauke caves and marae explored

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Features

“I feel sorry for these kids because they don’t know their history, everything is being lost.” This worry expressed by Nane Oaariki is a sentiment shared by a number of Mauke mamas who have decided to start the ball rolling before history dies with the elders. “We must restore our marae for our mokopuna,” says […]

Grass kerbs ruined

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hope someone at Ministry of Works (Infrastructure and Planning) can tell the public what they are doing to the grass kerbs of Rarotonga? Are they preparing for something major? How about letting the taxpayers of this country in on it? Or, is it a way for the contractor to get free soil […]

Where's all the good music?

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

What’s happened to good tunes? (Here we go!) When I was a kid you could nearly always hear kids humming, whistling or actually singing the current popular tunes or songs and what’s more, they were easily recognisable. It seems that this little enhancement of life has virtually disappeared. Something negative has happened to popular music […]

Asia's food basket, yeah right

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, So the CEO of the Asia Pacific branch of ANZ sees a potential for food exports to Asia. I will start listening to the advice of a banker when I have become so senile I can no longer remember the recent world financial crisis. In all of these major development projects be they […]

Kata - February 19, 2011

Saturday 19 February 2011 | Published in Kata

Building a life of purpose

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Last time I wrote this column I talked about what happens when I don’t understand the purpose of life. That life seems useless, tiresome, unfulfilling, insignificant and uncontrollable. Then we made the statement that the purpose of life is preparation for eternity. The question is, how do you do it? Four ways: 1. Get to […]

PM delays NZ departure

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local

A meeting that was to be held tomorrow between Prime Minister Henry Puna and the Cook Islands Taokotaianga Trust in Auckland has had to be cancelled. In order to be present for the opening of parliament today, Puna has had to reschedule his New Zealand departure until early tomorrow morning. Trust members had wanted to […]

Banker sees potential for food exports

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local

ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America (APE&A) chief executive officer Alex Thursby speaks to local ANZ customers at a breakfast function yesterday. He believes the Pacific has potential as a food supplier to Asia. Report, page 9. 11021715

More pay for a foreign Finsec

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local

If a new Financial Secretary is recruited from overseas, that person will be paid a higher salary than someone hired locally. The position of Financial Secretary commands a salary of about $120,000 for a local appointment. A salary top-up offered through the NZAid programme for an overseas recruit means the salary package will be considerably […]

Demos threaten parliament boycott

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local

The Opposition Democratic Party opposition is threatening to boycott today’s sitting of Parliament if their MPs don’t receive written notices from the Queen’s Representative summoning them. Opposition leader Robert Wigmore says he’s discussed the matter with his team and they believe government should do the right thing and what has been practiced in the past […]

Parliament opens today

Friday 18 February 2011 | Published in Local

The 47th session of parliament was scheduled to get underway at 10 o’clock this morning now that the High Court has handed down a decision on the Pukapuka petition. Prime Minister Henry Puna confirmed yesterday that as soon as a Pukapuka decision was confirmed, parliament would go ahead today. The Opposition Democratic Party has been […]