Articles by Utopia Support

Further NCEA problems

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

There are further problems with the National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) exams results with more student results missing. Secretary of Education Sharyn Paio said she has heard from Tereora College, where the bulk of Cook Islands students sat NCEA, who said they have had complaints from students about on-line results. Their results show that […]

Deliberate HIV infection 'rare'

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

The HIV, STI and TB Committee pointed out to cabinet that the person who tested positive for HIV was infected here – and that the best way to limit the spread is to keep all medical details confidential. Proof that naming doesn’t work comes from nations like Africa, which at first tried to name people […]

Peters follows his calling

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

It should probably come as no surprise that Vincent Peters has decided to become a priest. Ten years ago the former Cook Islands Television journalist and news presenter listed one of his long term goals as wanting to become a Catholic priest. “That was one of the things I put down that people probably didn’t […]

Defendant denies robbing old man

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

Noema Kauvaevai appeared in court yesterday on a theft charge, for which he has already spent two weeks in prison. (He allegedly stole money from an older male member of the community.) Through counsel Lavenia Rokoika, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and made an application for bail. Police prosecutor Teinaki Howard opposed […]

Not always 'clean and tidy'

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

“If Teariki Heather is going to get heads of ministries to crack the whip, let’s hope he puts his eye on the tutaka [yard inspections] responsibility of the Ministry of Health,” a smoke signaller writes. “We paid no attention to the most recent announcement of the upcoming tutaka as we know from experience the public […]

Cyclone not a worry

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

French authorities in New Caledonia on Wednesday issued a red-flag cyclone warning to the north eastern Loyalty Islands group, but Cook Islands Meteorological Services director Arona Ngari says the storm will not impact the Cook Islands. As of 2 pm on Wednesday, the cyclone was striking with hurricane-force winds and had been upgraded to a […]

New sirens sound off today

Friday 14 January 2011 | Published in National

As the Cook Islands enters cyclone season, Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) is working to improve its disaster management plan. Part of that plan includes the installation of eight double-sided, electronically-powered warning sirens. EMCI is installing the first siren on top of the police headquarters building in Avarua and will be testing it at midday […]

Eco Warriors go to Koromiri

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Environment

Fun activities are being organised for this Friday’s Muri Eco Warriors gathering at Muri beach to give Ngatangiia youth a better understanding of the state of the environment in their back yard – especially the health of Muri lagoon. The Muri Eco Warriors is an environmental youth group dedicated to engaging future leaders of the […]

PM sends sympathy to Gillard

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna sent a letter of sympathy to Australian PM Julia Gillard this week offering condolences over the loss of life and property in flooded Queensland. “It is with much sadness that my Government and the people of the Cook Islands have followed reports of the disastrous flooding in Queensland and northern New […]

China envoy promoting relationship

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Local

A special envoy from China is on Rarotonga and an announcement about funding is expected this morning. Du Qiwen has been in meetings with ministers to discuss promoting the relationship between Cook Islands and China and increasing cooperation between the two countries. Nandi Glassie, who is acting as minister of foreign affairs and immigration while […]

Kara-Lee 'did good' at NCEA

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Local

Seventeen-year-old Tereora College student Kara-Lee Hunt had no idea when her NCEA exam results would be posted online – so she spent every day this month logging on to the NZQA website until results were released on Tuesday. “I didn’t know when the results would be up so I checked every day,” says Hunt. “I […]

Island elections on today

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Local

The four-yearly outer island local government elections take place today. Every island apart from Palmerston, Atiu and Rakahanga will be going to the polls to elect council members and a mayor. Palmerston has its own customary way of appointing officials which does not involve an election, Rakahanga’s council and mayor are all uncontested, and Atiu’s […]

Name will not be revealed

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna has now come out in support of not revealing the name of the person with HIV. He has assured everyone on the island that they can get tested and their names will be kept confidential. Puna has changed his stance since his statement last week where he put forward the idea […]

Let's launch fundraising appeal

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have no idea whether the Prime Minister is intending to launch a national fundraising appeal to assist those in Australia who have been badly affected by the severe flooding in recent weeks, but I really hope that he and his government take the opportunity to do so. Asides from putting out the […]

Govt brave and courageous

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing to commend the Prime Minister and his newly elected government for the brave and courageous stand towards the prevention of HIV and all other STI, in the Cook Islands. It is rewarding to read that you have all worked together to resolve this issue. I would also like to offer […]

Ignorance is bliss

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’d like to educate a little…. Cook Islands and Proud, you don’t have to have sex to contract HIV. You can contract it from as easy as having a blood transfusion. It is not air-borne, you can’t get it from touching someone like you can get conjunctivitis. I am not an outsider, I […]

It's show time on outer islands

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Today is the DAY to determine our future, in securing a very satisfying and better tomorrow for all Aitutakians. There is no more time for weighing the pros and cons, it is now show time. It is time to look at our pa metua, our mapu, and our children. We are indebted to […]

Kata - January 13, 2011

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Holiday job before uni

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in National

Nineteen-year-old Gaston Tairi’s holiday job has kept him on his toes during the holiday period. What started as a Saturday job in 2007 working at CITC Hardware has turned into full time employment for the teenager, who has just finished his final year at Tereora college, until he decides on a career move. You could […]

NCEA results missing

Thursday 13 January 2011 | Published in National

A problem with National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) Level 1 exams results means a full analysis of the final results is on hold. Secretary of education Sharyn Paio said yesterday that results for Level 1 Maori and computing are missing from the results sent to students and they are currently trying to sort it […]