Articles by Utopia Support

History of greed repeated

Saturday 18 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The news that officials of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee plan a $1.5 million office building substantially for themselves does not surprise,” writes a smoke signaller. “This is history being repeated. A number of the people promoting the new building are also the ones who promoted the Telecom Sports Arena at Nikao […]

Carol night this Sunday

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Church Talk

The annual ‘Christmas in the Cathedral’ carol night will be held at the St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral this Sunday from 6pm. The evening will feature a guest artist performance by Raro Idol contestant Destiny Tara, as well as festive and cultural performances from the ethnic communities including the Filipino, Fijian and Rotumans. The six tapere […]

For to us a child is born

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Church Talk

In our passage Isaiah spoke of the coming Deliverer who will effect the changes in the nation of which the prophet had been speaking. The Messiah’s coming will lead the nation into joy and prosperity, which had been lacking for years. His coming will fulfil the promises to Abraham and David about the prosperous kingdom. […]

Pirates could close Empire Theatre

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Local

“Sooner or later Empire Movies will have to shut down if nothing is done about piracy.” That was the warning issued by Ashley Wichman, the granddaughter of movie theatre owner Harry Napa. She had been away for four years and returned to live on Rarotonga last month. She found that nothing had improved – and […]

New airline deals approved

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Local

Cabinet backs Los Angeles, Sydney and Fiji flights Cabinet has reportedly approved $11.5 million in spending to underwrite and market the Air New Zealand Los Angeles and Sydney flights and the new Air Pacific Fiji-Rarotonga route from next year. On Tuesday cabinet held its first meeting to approve new three-year contracts with the airlines for […]

Aids case surprising

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I remember when we first started visiting Rarotanga, there was a sign that said something like ‘The Cook Islands are Aids free, please help keep it that way’. I remember talking to my wife about how so few countries could display that sign. Then a few years later the sign was gone. I […]

Piracy has benefits

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Piracy has its benefits on an island in the Pacific far away from the world’s major entertainment centres. Pirate movies are a cheap form of entertainment for the whole family; it is accessible to all and the range of movies available is vast. Ever since celluloid was invented, Cook Islanders have always been […]

Kata - December 17, 2010

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Arorangi and Tupapa in women's soccer final

Friday 17 December 2010 | Published in Football

Arorangi and Tupapa senior women’s team will battle out the Knockout Cup finals tomorrow at the CIFA complex in Matavera. The Tupapa senior women’s team has made it to the Knockout finals after eliminating a determined Titikaveka side in a penalty shootout in last week’s semi finals. Arorangi, who has made the cup finals for […]

Olympic House a 'waste of money'

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Local

Sporting codes have criticised plans by the Cook Islands National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) to build a $1.5 million administration building. Brian Baudinet, representing tennis, said tennis was against the building of the proposed Olympic House. “The money would be far better spent on athletes than buildings because of the Telecom Sports Arena,” Baudinet said. “Because […]

Cooks' first HIV case

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Local

Warning issued as Cook Islands detects its first HIV case here The first case of HIV has been found in the Cook Islands. Because of patient confidentiality, which applies to all patients, the identity of that person will not be released. The Secretary of Health, Tupou Faireka, yesterday released a statement which said that the […]

Where's my licence?

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In October I once again visited your beautiful island for what was my third visit in the past four years. As all tourists do, I joined the line to reapply for my Cook Islands drivers licence but this time thought I would have it issued for a five-year period due to the frequency […]

Stop piracy, now!

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, So we’ve all heard now, that the police are looking into the case regarding DVD piracy in the Cook Islands – finally! Harry Napa, a well respected businessman should not need to wait two years for the police to do something about piracy, what a joke! He has been giving our families, especially […]

Govt vehicles

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now that the HOM’s use of a government vehicle is in the news, can the PSC confirm if his vehicle has been in a major accident and if so who was the driver and who is paying for the repairs? All HOMs should not have a government vehicle just to drive. They are […]

Kata - December 16, 2010

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Linking to a 'truly Pacific airline'

Thursday 16 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The government is deciding on three subsidised airline routes into the Cook Islands,” writes a smoke signaller. “This is an important decision as a lot of Cook Islands taxpayer money is involved to fund any airline subsidy. Air Pacific – recently awarded a top airline rating in the aviation world – is where the Cook […]

Seawall problems being fixed

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Work began yesterday to fix some minor problems on the seawall in Nikao. Debris and silt alongside the road curb which was clogging drainage on both sides of the road was cleared yesterday and vegetation alongside the Met Service side of the seawall that was encroaching on the walkway has been cleared. According to acting […]

Scam!

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Telecom is warning customers that a text message scam is being sent to mobile phones. A number of people have rung Telecom to report receiving the unusual text. The message runs “You have won 2mil pounds – ring or email below and claim code number # ….Sender: +447266696687 or email claimlottodraw@rediffmail.com” Mark Boyd of Telecom […]

PSC investigates Tangianau

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati has confirmed his office is now investigating the weekend incident in which the head of infrastructure was stopped by police and forbidden to drive after being found under the influence of alcohol. Acting infrastructure and planning ministry secretary Otheniel Tangianau did not wish to comment on the claim he was […]

Unhappy vendors

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

A number of food vendors were left disgruntled on Monday after the planned Christmas in the Park was postponed because of rain, leaving them scrambling to try and sell all the food they had prepared. While organisers said most vendors understood Rotaract’s decision to postpone the event to today, a number were unhappy with the […]