Articles by Utopia Support

Walkers saddened by defaced sign

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Mataiti Mataiti set out last Saturday for a pleasant cross-island walk with his daughter, who will soon be flying out to New Zealand to go to school. But their day out was ruined by some thoughtless vandals who decided to deface the signs at the summit of the walk. Air New Zealand’s green team gave […]

Benefit bonus

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

About 5690 welfare recipients are expected to receive this year’s $50 Christmas Bonus payment. The payments will be made between today and Friday. People receiving the old age pension, child benefit, destitute allowance, infirm allowance, and caregiver allowance will get the Christmas bonus. Cabinet and Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin, collectively known as the Executive […]

Eclipse disappoints

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Monday night was a disappointing one for stargazers as rain and cloud prevented the people of Rarotonga from getting a view of the lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipse fans will have to keep their fingers crossed for clear skies on June 4, 2012, when a two hour long partial lunar eclipse may be seen over the […]

Island justice

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Most of the hearings for the four electoral petitions will be heard in the outer islands early next year. This was confirmed after Chief Justice Tom Weston had a telephone conference with counsel for the petitions yesterday to confirm further details for the hearings. It was decided that the Court will travel to Pukapuka to […]

Webber-Aitu plans to sue

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Local

Former hospital head says she will take legal action against Faireka The former Director of Hospital Health Services, Heather Webber-Aitu has confirmed she intends to sue Secretary of Health Tupou Faireka for an alleged breach of her employment contract. “As provided for under the Public Service Act, I have attempted dispute resolution but that has […]

Market days change

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Features

The Punanga Nui Market will not be open this Saturday or the next due to Christmas Day and New Years Day falling on those days. Instead the marketplace will be open on the Fridays before – this Friday and Friday December 31. It will be the same as regular Saturday market days with entertainment if […]

No excuse for DVD piracy

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana to Mr/Mrs Anonymous.If you’re cheap, good on you, you’ll never get any better than being cheap. As for the unlucky one man cheering squad, who are behind fighting for their rights – maybe you should understand we are a massive family so we stick together as a family, which means we […]

Is the CIP government safe?

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, When one does some strict analytical assessment of the current political situation, it will jolt the present government away from their series of celebrations since election-day. Picture these scenarios – the Demos win all four of their electoral petition and with Vai Peua allied to the Demos. That gives the Demos 11 parliamentary […]

Kata - December 22, 2010

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Pirates of the Pacific

Wednesday 22 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I don’t hire pirate DVDs because not only is it wrong, but the quality sucks and I feel I have been ripped off,” a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. “I agree with Movie Lover’s letter ‘Bring back originals’ [see Monday’s CINews, p6]. Anyway, what’s the point having a huge high definition flat screen TV with […]

Snow strands tourists

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

Two Swedish tourists on their way to the Cook Islands for a Christmas break have been stranded by the ice and snow in Europe. Managing director of Island Hopper Robert Skews predicts that more people on their way here will be prevented from travelling by the snow and ice which has closed three major European […]

Birthday bash bribery alleged

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

The counter-petition for Aitutaki’s Vaipae-Tautu was filed in the High Court last week with respondent Mona Ioane Kake (the elected MP) throwing allegations of bribery back at former MP Kete Ioane. He alleges Ioane gave four voters food, money or other assistance for a birthday party in return for their votes as well as committing […]

Industry welcomes LA flights

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Local

Father Freddy Kaina was kept busy selling sausages to the hungry crowd at Sunday evening’s Christmas in the Cathedral. Story, photos – pages 10 and 11. 10122005

Kata - December 21, 2010

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Copying local stuff ok?

Tuesday 21 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The advocates of pirate DVD’s, please answer one question,” asks a smoke signaller. “Is it all right for a local to go to town and buy up legal copies of Cook Islands music CDs and DVDs of cultural events, and make pirate copies of those and sell/rent them out?” AIRLINE COOKILEAKS Prime Minister Henry Puna […]

ANZ launches new global corporate wardrobe

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Environment

ANZ today launched a new corporate wardrobe featuring Pacific designs in the Cook Islands, as part of a global launch that brings a consistent look to staff across the 32 countries where the bank operates. The Pacific’s distinct style has been incorporated into the wardrobe design, with staff having the option of incorporating ‘Pacific Friday’ […]

John Carter for Raro Highcom post?

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Civil Defence Minister John Carter (above) has reportedly been nominated to be the next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully says he is now waiting on the approval of the ‘nominee’ by the Cook Islands cabinet. “The nominee is somebody who I regard highly – someone who I think […]

Pleased with Aitutaki progress

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully said he was pleased with the progress made on the Aitutaki cyclone recovery programme after visiting the island at the weekend. The NZ government put about $5.5 million into the programme earlier in the year and McCully revealed it recently topped up its contribution by another $900,000 to cover the […]

Valuable visit: McCully

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully says his brief four-day visit to the Cooks was a valuable one. “I’ve found this a very valuable visit because we’ve managed to shape up a work programme, particularly on some big picture issues that are really important to the future of the Cook Islands where we now need to […]

Norm's the scapegoat

Monday 20 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Regardless of the flamboyant perfomances by the fearless, self-motivated, generous at heart, approachabile, dedicated worker and academically well placed Norman George, the anti-Norman clowns are always negative and like running him down, even though they have no direct dealing with the ATIU WARRIOR, but love to speculate provided they write or say bad […]