Articles by Utopia Support

'Buy Local' resistance

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Local

The government funded “Buy Local” initiative intended to give cottage industries an airport outlet for their products has stalled. Existing airport retailers believe the Business, Trade and Investment Board driven venture wasn’t planned properly from the outset and would have offered products that were in direct competition to their own. BTIB chief executive Terry Rangi […]

Warriors take on Sharks this week

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Features

The Takuvaine Warriors will head to Aitutaki to play the Sharks this weekend in what should be an evenly contested match. The Sharks had their first game of the 2011 tournament at the weekend against the Panthers and while they gave as good as they got – the Sharks were unable to finish off their […]

Support for Tua Pittman

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I don’t want to be involved in the dispute for the Te Aia Ariki Mataiapo title – as our 7th great grandmother Te Paeru A Teaia, the 1st born child of Teau Ariki and Niniva’s children who married Enua Rurutini the 1st went out of the Takitumu district when she married him – […]

Look back

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Meitaki maata e Bobby Turua for responding to my letter concerning the government workforce. To cut matters short, just cast your memories back to 1999. A committee comprising of Mr Fowlds (from NZ), Papa Ron Crocombe, John Herrmann and Iaveta Short looked into the government’s desperate financial situation. At the conclusion of their […]

Look at Nelson's example

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have read with interest that Minister Heather has had a successful trip to NZ researching methods of recycling that may be appropriate for the Cook Islands. Waste management and pollution control should definitely be a priority for this government. The water quality of your lagoons IS the main driver behind the CI […]

All govt travel must be above board

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Interesting to see that our politics have changed noticeably and the CIP Government should be congratulated for demonstrating the art of “good governance”. One area though they would need to address will be at the ministry level. Those trips that are funded by aid donors which are normally being notified through the Head […]

Kata - February 16, 2011

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Kata

Two thumbs up for Maggie's stance

Wednesday 16 February 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I agree with George Maggie that the $5000 MPs clothing allowance should be used for better things,” a smoke signaller writes following the Tupapa MP’s statements to the CINews on Friday in response to suggestions the government is to reinstate the MP’s clothing allowance which will cost a total of $120,000. “And even better, the […]

Eye lady returns with glasses for studentss

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local

Tereora College graduate Raukura Ellison said she didn’t realise how much she needed eyeglasses until she donned her first pair. “I just kind of ignored it until mum made the appointment (with the eye doctor),” Ellison said. But now her world is clearer – “I can even read that!” she said, pointing to a chart […]

'Agriculture lacks diversification and organisation'

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local

The agriculture industry has only itself to blame for failing to develop fast enough to meet consumer demand here and introducing measures to protect it isn’t the answer, says leading grower and Economic Taskforce member Teava Iro. “Protect them from what?” he replies to the possibility of government providing protective measures that may help expand […]

National hero award merited?

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Local

The government is to give some thought to creating a national hero award, says Prime Minister Henry Puna. Puna, who has yet to be “fully appraised” by police commissioner Maara Tetava of the facts in last week’s boating accident in which three men could have lost their lives at sea, says why and how it […]

Call for league details

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have no idea of the make-up of the Cook Islands Rugby League Association but could one of those involved be responsible for making sure that details of the match fixtures, times for matches of the grades, etc, are passed in good time to Cook Islands News for publication in Saturday’s newspaper. Not […]

Time for renewable energy

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s very interesting to hear our energy division and UNDP consultant talking on TV the other night about installing a $1 million solar power project on Rakahanga. The intention is good but I have other worries. Before proceeding with this project, can government please look at our existing energy division? History can only […]

Plea to subsidise school bus fares for low income families

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is growing concern in the community in regards to the public transportation of school children to and from school. As a parent of four young children who require transportation on a weekly basis to get to and from school, I admit that this is not a cheap exercise for any family with […]

Excellent decision

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Prime Minister Henry Puna’s excellent decision to lift the secrecy surrounding the travel costs of Members of Parliament calls into question the integrity of all past governments that have fought to keep the ban in place. In Saturday’s CINews, the PM said he didn’t know “why these figures have been so top secret…there’s […]

Economic summit must not be all talk

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to offer some personal views on the national economic summit that the new government intends to hold sometime in the near future. Economically speaking, we all know what and where the major problems and challenges lie for the country and where government therefore needs to focus its attention and efforts in […]

Netball start pushed back

Tuesday 15 February 2011 | Published in Netball

The start of the 2011 netball season has been pushed back by one week and is now scheduled to start on Wednesday, February 23, to give clubs more time to prepare for what is going to be a full-on season. The first games will be open grade matches which last season were played on Friday […]

House fire in Arorangi

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local

Police, Rescue Fire Services and the Vaka Puaikura Fire Services responded to a fire in Inave, Arorangi, around 2.40am on Saturday after a passing motorist noticed smoke coming from the house and called 999. Four trucks attended the fire which gutted the first house and part of the house next door It is unclear how […]

Good catch

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local

An Aitutaki tiddler – this 17kg yellow fin tuna was caught by these two boys at the weekend during a fishing trip at the end of a promotion to launch the new Aitutaki Bonefishery. Story, page 8. 11021328

Telecom NZ to hear govt's telecom plans

Monday 14 February 2011 | Published in Local

Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown is scheduled this month to hold his first meeting with the Telecom Cook Islands Ltd board and CEO including representatives of 60% shareholder Telecom NZ. Brown is looking to that meeting to advise of the direction government wishes to take with telecommunications development in the Cook Islands, including tabling his wish […]