Articles by Utopia Support

Extremely narrow-minded world view

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wholeheartedly support the CI National Aids Committee, in strongly opposing the release of any information regarding any person living with HIV in the Cook Islands. The fact that our newly elected government would even entertain such an idea, displays an extremely narrow minded world view of an issue that has had enough […]

Blaming is wrong

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with deep sadness the statements made by your Prime Minister on the front page of your newspaper on Saturday January 8. It is understandable that the PM wants to protect the public interest and to keep Cook Islanders from contracting HIV. Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, in the early […]

HIV expert issues plea

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is in response to your recently published article about Prime Minister Henry Puna’s concern about the recent HIV positive diagnosis in the Cook Islands. As a certified HIV/AIDS educator and global outreach activist, and as someone who knows and loves your nation like a second home, I am writing to you asking […]

NZ AIDS foundation 'seriously alarmed'

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The NZAF would like to acknowledge the challenges faced by the Cook Islands Government following the first HIV diagnosis in the country. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) is New Zealand’s national HIV prevention and healthcare organisation. The NZAF is a registered charity that grew out of gay community initiatives responding to the […]

Taking the Cooks to the Outback

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in National

Cameron Adams has been teaching Aboriginal people all about the Cook Islands. Adams, whose father is from Mauke, has been teaching for the last 18 months in a remote Aboriginal community, 500km east of Darwin in Australia’s hot and dusty Northern Territory. After training to be a primary school teacher in Perth, Adams applied for […]

'Tiare Taporo' sails soon

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in National

Ketch-rigged vessel will usher in a new era of trading schooners The new inter-island cargo and passenger vessel – to be named Tiare Taporo – is on schedule to be sailing in the Cook Islands within three months. Pacific Schooners Ltd has concluded a purchase and refit agreement with Dawson Moreland Ship Riggers to purchase […]

Firearm imports banned

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands police have put a ban on the importation of firearms to allow them to review their system of firearm control, registration, licensing and storage. Police records show that there are more than 2000 firearms in the Cook Islands. “This number is too high for a small country such as ours,” says police commissioner […]

Burglaries, thefts, crashes at weekend

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in National

A Matavera resident returned home from a three-week holiday in New Zealand to find his home burgled with over $4000 worth of property stolen. Items stolen include two Samsung television sets, a Playstation console and accessories, two Hercules and Numak brand DJ mixers worth $1000 each, three Sea Gate and Sun Bright brand computer hard […]

'A dream come true'

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in National

A Christchurch father was in tears as he walked his terminally ill teenage daughter down the aisle on Saturday. Cook Islander Tangi Rongo said the wedding had made his 19-year-old daughter’s “dreams come true”. Maire Taomia was diagnosed with gastric cancer in October and, as a dying wish, asked her father to give his blessing […]

Leaders' energy a good omen

Monday 10 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

“What a breath of fresh air last week to hear candidly from three of our new cabinet members, who’re obviously full of energy, attitude and ready-to-go thinking,” a smoke signaller writes. “Obviously our new leaders haven’t gone to sleep over the festive season, and their brains have been fully engaged. It’s not just good copy […]

PM voices concerns over HIV case

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna has spoken out for the first time on the first case of HIV diagnosed in the Cook Islands. He said yesterday that he understood the need to protect the person’s identity – but there was an equally compelling case for protecting the public. At next Tuesday’s cabinet meeting ministers will be […]

'Just Desserts' for Joyanna

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Features

About 100 dessert lovers showed their support for Miss South Pacific Joyanna Meyer at a special ‘Just Desserts’ evening on Thursday. The purpose of the evening was to give the people of the Cook Islands the opportunity to see the acts Meyer performed at the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Papua New Guinea in mid […]

Banana-based specialty wines made in Muri

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Features

For over 15 years, Dr George Koteka has been using local ingredients to make his own wine. Now, thanks to his enterprising son, it’s on the market and available for connoisseurs to sniff and sip. Koteka’s son Framhein and his wife Elizabeth have obtained a liquor licence and are selling the local wine out of […]

New beer in Raro

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Features

Problems getting a supplier for Liquorland turned out to be a winner for beer drinkers on Rarotonga. The new liquor store in Arorangi had trouble finding a brewery to supply them with beer when they started up the shop. After a hunt on the internet and a couple of emails, business owners Terepai and Meme […]

Waffle Shack on the move

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Features

If you feel like a crisp Belgium waffle topped with fresh fruit and ice cream – then head to the Waffle Shack. The mobile eatery is normally found parked up at the Avarua harbour serving its now famous Belgium waffles. Between Wednesday and Friday the portable waffle cart is based at the Avarua harbour from […]

Suwarrow's caretakers keen and ready to return

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Features

Suwarrow caretakers Apii Marsters and James Mataa returned in November from a six-month stint on the isolated northern group atoll. Both are keen to return to the island for another six month stint in April or May. Suwarrow is the largest national park of the Cook Islands. The island lies roughly 800 kilometres northwest of […]

Blackrock is full

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Firstly, I’d like to thank your Smoke Signaller for their inquiry. Our centre is completely FULL for term 1 of this school year, so we will be unable to accept any new enrolments. Children attend our centre through first putting their name on our Waiting List. There is often a long wait of […]

Humble apologies

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana Elf. I humbly apologise to you and anyone else who thought I was attacking the Catholic Church. My intention was to ask all churches and Christians to consider the Christmas message they are portraying intentionally or unintentionally. In fact, we were confronted with the Christmas tree at a CICC church and […]

Kata - January 8, 2011

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Rising league star credits family

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in League

Hanging with the right people who have the same goal as you is 20-year-old rising rugby league star Tupuna Albert Boaza’a advice to young Cook Islanders dreaming of a career in sport. Boaza, the son of Matatu Teiotu and Leighton Boaza, is a proud Atiu warrior born and raised on the outer island until he […]