Articles by Utopia Support

Tourism growth key: report

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Local

Investment in tourism predicted to drive economic revival Government’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2010-11 issued on Friday, predicts growth in the economy through new investment in tourism. The economic update provides an overview of the economy’s performance in recent years and going forward. The last update, the pre-election economic and fiscal update, was […]

Do not name

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, No one should have the right to play God with the person who has been diagnosed with HIV and they should not be named. It is shocking that the minister is even contemplating this or “getting legal advice” as he keeps saying. If the person is named it will open up so many […]

Don't blame fish traps

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I recall years ago when the Te Avarau Harbour at Avana was dredged. Much sand was taken out of it. Not long after that, two tourists were swept away by the fast current that occurred at high tide. To remove the fish trap as suggested is to allow swifter current through the lagoon […]

Publishing name 'irresponsible'

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am deeply concerned at the thought of this person who has contracted the terrible disease of HIV being disclosed for the public to persecute and believe this would be heinously irresponsible. HIV/Aids is a terrible affliction by itself to deal with, let alone having people who you do not know condemn you. […]

Catholics aware of Xmas meaning

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, June Hosking’s letter about the true meaning of Christmas (December 30) is really a thinly veiled attack on the Catholic Church in the Cook Islands. She presumes to suggest that: 1. Catholic Cook Islanders are unaware of the Living God; 2. Catholic Cook Islanders are not practicing Christians because they use, among other […]

Kata - January 5, 2011

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in Kata

Pathfinders week inspires kids

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

The 900 kids on the Seventh-day Adventist’s Pathfinders camporee had a great week, and go back to their normal lives full of confidence. Denzil Puna said that there is a real difference between the kids he has met at Pathfinders to those he meets in his day to day life. “They are friendly and welcoming […]

Housie donates to charities

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

Munokoa Purea, Apii Phillip, Mou Tokorangi and Ake Mateariki of Cook Islands Disabled Persons Housie have been holding two housie nights a week all year. This week they donated $6000 dollars they raised to three of the nation’s charities. Purea said that they normally wait for requests for funding, but the organisers decided that this […]

Dedicated nurse honoured

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

Outstanding Manihiki nurse Moeroa John Koteka has been recognised with a British Empire Medal. But when she was contacted at the hospital for comment, this humble and committed nurse didn’t want to talk about her work, instead referring CI News on to ex-Cabinet Minister Apii Piho. Piho was full of praise for this dedicated professional […]

Making a difference

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

Mauke’s Tekura Purea’s decades of hard work for the community is being rewarded with a British Empire Medal, Civil Division. And Purea says that after all that effort, she’s happy to accept the medal. “I really want the award if they want to give it to me. I think I deserve it – I’ve been […]

Ready for career take-off

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

Halley Kairua Atama wanted to make something of his future and he’s found his calling in the clouds. The son of Emile and Ngariki Kairua, Atama has been studying to become a licensed commercial and private fixed-wing pilot at Nelson Aviation College (NAC) in Motueka. “It’s pretty hard but if you get into it and […]

'Doc' touched many lives

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

Dr Paul and Barb Kipp were due back for their ninth annual trip serving with Global Volunteers in Rarotonga. If they got their wish, most of that time would be spent by Paul, better known as Doc, at Apii Te Uki Ou and Barb at Takitumu School, both bringing a wealth of life to their […]

Come on down to our casinos

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

A smoke signaller writes: “Responding to your smoke signaller regarding the casino planned for Niue and the dangers to locals, I think this is a legitimate concern. A solution is offered by the Singapore experience where to discourage locals from gambling, the government collects casino entrance fees – $70 for a 24-hour period or $1,400 […]

Number lover plans return home

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

“I always want to come back home”, says university student Amiria Wuatai who is home for the Christmas holidays. With a few more years of study ahead of her yet, Wuatai is determined to return home permanently and work her way up the ladder in the accounting field as opposed to visiting twice a year. […]

National HIV committee opposes naming

Wednesday 5 January 2011 | Published in National

The National HIV Committee has issued a statement strongly opposing the release of any information regarding the person living with HIV in the Cook Islands. It now seems new Health Minister Nandi Glassie and Secretary of Health Tupou Faireka have done an about-turn on the plan to seek further legal advice on naming the person. […]

Providing a path

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Originally from Tanzania in East Africa, Dr Baraka Muganda has been World Youth Director of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for 15 years. He is based in Washington, but this week he is at the SDA’s Camporee all week giving inspiring talks to the 900-plus young people. In his own words, Muganda says that he […]

Promises for a prosperous new year

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Totou no tetai mataiti manuia We are almost at the threshold of another New Year. Is it really going to be a real Happy New Year or is just another carry on over and through of the same-old, same-old, to actually nothing new at all but just a repeat of the same conduct, attitude and […]

Glassie supports re-opening of nursing school

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Local

Health Minister Nandi Glassie says he supports plans to re-open the School of Nursing, but is concerned where government will find the funding for it. “I support the school of nursing. My only concern was that the preparation was not properly done. There is no certainty of funding, especially from NZAID.” It’s understood those working […]

Local government elections next month

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Local

Ten mayors and 55 island councillors will be elected through the Outer Islands Local Government Election on January 13. Acting Secretary of Infrastructure and Planning Otheniel Tangianau says the elections must be held two months following a general election. An amendment to the Outer Islands Local Government Act in 2004 saw the term for island […]

Medical clearance questioned

Friday 31 December 2010 | Published in Local

The growing furore over the Cook Islands’ first case of HIV has raised questions over whether the individual in question underwent the same stringent heath testing process that other foreign workers undergo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration says that the new medical checks for foreign workers began in 2008. The new system involves […]