Articles by Utopia Support

Milk for a year

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

It’s a super prize! These were the words of Dennis Ryburn, one of five winners of the recent CITC Fonterra milk promotion. Ryburn along with Tavai Atuatika and Jashnil Sharma were among the five winners that collected their year’s supply of UHT milk as part of a promotion by Fonterra and CITC supermarket this week. […]

Hot bread baking

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

Home baked bread will become the norm in the Short and Nand households after the two families walked away with their own bread makers this week. Twelve-year-old Georgia Short didn’t know her mum had put her name on the entry form for the CITC Weston Milling promotion. But the youngster was definitely thrilled to collect […]

PM opens up on priorities

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

Henry Puna answers questions on key issues and concerns Prime Minister Henry Puna met with Cook Islands News yesterday to discuss his cabinet’s top priorities for the coming year – and map out some of the actions they are planning. After many months of infighting and disputes from the previous Democratic Party government, Puna says […]

4000 tonnes of fish exported

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

The Ministry of Marine Resources estimates that 4000 tonnes of fish was caught in the northern fisheries in 2010. Total fish exports were valued at $3.1 million in 2009-10, and made up more than half (54 per cent) of all Cook Islands exports that financial year. The northern fishing fleet has 34 vessels and lands […]

Some sister act!

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

Twins Rima and Kura Moeka’a live and learn loving their culture It takes being away from home to really appreciate your culture. This is according to twins Rima and Kura Moeka’a who are back home on holiday over this festive season. The 19-year-olds have just completed their first year of university studies in New Zealand […]

CIIC clears up spending on minister's office

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands Investment Corporation has refuted claims that $120,000 is being spent to renovate new Finance Minister Mark Brown’s office. The old OMIA office building adjacent to the Office of the Prime Minister was apparently already undergoing extensive renovations before the minister asked to use it for his office. CIIC acting chief executive Anne […]

Report calls for NZ standards in health, education, law and order

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

The Inquiry into New Zealand’s Relationships with South Pacific countries delivered far-reaching recommendations to the New Zealand government. The first recommendation is to improve key services on the islands by bringing health, education and law and order up to the same standards as New Zealand. The report found that the size of the public service […]

'Decolonisation has failed'

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in National

A report into the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand has given a damning assessment of what they call ‘the decolonisation experiment’. The report entitled Inquiry into New Zealand’s Relationships with South Pacific countries was delivered to the New Zealand House of Representatives in December. It states, “There needs to be an acknowledgement […]

A minister with attitude

Saturday 8 January 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

Infrastructure and Planning minister Teariki Heather hit the headlines yesterday saying that he wants to restructure his ministry to improve the attitudes of his staff, punctuality and bring pride back to their work. A smoke signaller responds: “With regards to what Minister Teariki is trying to achieve with public service attitude, I hope the rest […]

New RAC chairman

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Church Talk

Reverend Tangimetua Tangatatutai, President of the Cook Islands Christian Church, took over as chairman of the CI Religious Advisory Council (RAC) from January 1. He will hold the office of chairman for the whole of 2011. Tangatatutai replaces Pastor Tevai (Bobby) Matapo. He was appointed president of the CICC in 1999 after the former CICC […]

Infection spreading

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Local

An outbreak of conjunctivitis is spreading on Rarotonga and people are being asked to see a doctor if they have any of the symptoms. The first case was diagnosed before Christmas but numbers have been increasing steadily ever since. On Wednesday, 12 people were diagnosed with it. Conjunctivitis affects the eyes causing uncomfortable or irritating […]

21 stand for Mayor

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Local

The list of candidates for the Island Council elections, taking place on January 13, was released yesterday. Nine elections are being held – one for every island except Palmerston. Palmerston has its own system of deciding on island’s mayor and council and does not run official elections. Three heads and three elders are chosen from […]

Minister wants to see pride

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Local

Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Teariki Heather comes from a successful background in business and sees a big difference between the way staff in public service work and those in private enterprise. After a two and a half hour meeting with head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Otheniel Tangianau, he decided that it would be […]

'I had the tress cut down'

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Local

Teariki Heather, the new Minister of Infrastructure and Planning, cheerfully takes responsibility for cutting down the coconut trees along the main road by the golf course. “Yes, I had them cut them down,” he said yesterday. “The thing is, if you do something, you get criticised. If you don’t, you get criticised. I’m willing to […]

Logic must prevail

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana te iti tangata, Just got back from an awesome trip to Raro. The latest buzz words are “Our New Government” and “Video Pirates”. Yes we do have a new government, and a smart looking crew at that. Congrats to all and looking forward to a much brighter future. Video Pirates – […]

Bad signal

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The directors of CITV should be ashamed of themselves by putting out an extremely bad signal on the airwaves. All day and all night nothing but ‘weak or no signal’. It is impossible to watch and is better switched off. Advertisers should consider pulling their slots as there can’t be many people watching […]

Don't point the finger

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To the person who said, when it comes to the real work, Alfred Morris demands the police to do raids and prosecuting and then claims the glory, you must be sick. You are the type that had nothing better to do than write stupid remarks in the paper. I am also surprised that […]

Kata - January 7, 2011

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in Kata

ARL coaches a boost for rugby league

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in League

The skills of local rugby league coaches, referees, managers and administrators will be getting an overhaul before the start of the 2011 season on February 4. Three accredited trainers from Australia lead by Peter Corcoran from the Australian Rugby League Academy will run the three courses over the week before the league season kicks off. […]

French president to attend Pacific Games

Friday 7 January 2011 | Published in National

NOUMA, January 7 – French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office has earlier this week announced a Presidential visit to New Caledonia in late July 2011 for the official opening of the Pacific Games, this year hosted in the French Pacific territory. The visit would be the first to the Pacific for the French head of state, […]