Articles by Utopia Support

Cabinet meets

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Local

The country’s new cabinet held their first official weekly meeting yesterday. The main business of the day was the airline deals to extend the Air New Zealand Los Angeles flight, the new direct Sydney flight and to consider the proposed Air Pacific weekly Fiji service. It is understood no decisions were made as cabinet has […]

Stand tall my brother

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to all the negative feedback against Norman George, I would like to convey my congratulations on a job well done Norman, because it goes to show that with your extensive background you won with flying colours. We all knew that you are capable of doing the job right but we know […]

Crackdown needed now

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Yay! Now the police commissioner says they will be pushing the case that was handed to them by Mr Morris the chief censor – but when? You have to hurry up because by the time you tie your shoelaces up these crooks will be one step ahead of you and it’s easy – […]

Kata - December 15, 2010

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Contribution more than $200M

Wednesday 15 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller calculates that the Cook Islands’ contribution to the New Zealand economy is much higher – by more than a factor of 10 – than the already large amount indicated in yesterday’s Kata cartoon. The cartoon shows NZ Green Party MP Keith Locke ranting about how the country should reconsider aid to Niue, […]

Event postponed

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Local

Yesterday’s planned Rotaract Christmas in the Park at the BCI Stadium had to be postponed because of the wet weather. The popular community event was to have started at 4.30pm but organisers decided to move the event to Wednesday due to rain. Wednesday’s event will follow the same format as planned for yesterday, including fun […]

McCully to meet govt

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is due to arrive in Rarotonga for a four day visit from Thursday. McCully is to hold talks with the new CIP government on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Tom Marsters, announced McCully’s visit yesterday. “The […]

Idol win still sinking in

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Local

Emile Rima is reeling. It’s been just three months since he worked up the courage to sing in front of a crowd for the first time, and now he’s Raro’s newest Idol. On Saturday night, a panel of judges handpicked the ever-smiling, charismatic 19-year-old to be Rarotonga’s next rising star. Emile and runner-up Marama Terekia […]

Public service size concerns

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Local

New Zealand MPs have raised concern about the size of the public service in the Cook Islands, but Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati doesn’t believe the concern is warranted because there hasn’t been a significant rise in the number of public servants since the 1996 reform. Yesterday, Radio NZ International reported that a report by […]

Thanks

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, May I extend to you, the staff and management of Cook Islands News a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. Your online edition of Cook Islands News has served us, Cook Islanders living abroad, very well indeed during this year. I wish you all the best in the new year and look […]

Investiture not supported

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Kia orana eTama Etita! To the Editor Akataoanga anga o Ngapare Samatua i oti ake nei ite Ruirua. About the Investiture of Ngapare Samatua held last Tuesday Kare au, Potikitaua Taunga Tako Ariki -kauono o TeAriki Taraare Mataiapo Tutara o Koutu Arai-te-tonga i tae ki teia akakoroanga, no taku angaanga. Inara kia tika ia au […]

Kata - December 14, 2010

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Kata

Netball gets development boost

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Netball

Netball development in the Cook Islands is set to get a boost when the positions of netball development officer and development manager are filled. The Cook Islands Netball Association is currently advertising the new positions locally as well as in New Zealand and Australia. CINA president Patsy Hockin says that this is the first time […]

For whom the road tolls

Tuesday 14 December 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“It appears that our country is not only in the 10 most dangerous places in the world to drive but in actual fact is the second most dangerous place in the world to drive!” a smoke signaller writes after reading an online slideshow ‘The 10 most dangerous countries to drive in’ (see link at end […]

Sweet treat

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Local

Dress up in your most creative Christmas Candyland outfit for tonight’s Rotaract Christmas in the Park at the BCI Stadium. The event starts at 4.30pm and it should be a fun outing for the family. Fun activities and games, plus face painting will keep the kids occupied before Santa Claus makes his entrance between 5.30pm […]

Proud principal says goodbye

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Local

It was a bitter sweet day for Te Uki Ou school’s principal Jason Miro Ataera as he sat amongst the audience at last week’s school prize giving ceremony. After three years of teaching at Te Uki Ou primary school, Ataera and his family are moving back to Wellington. Ataera is hopeful he will return in […]

School moves

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Local

There are 20 teachers starting afresh in February and two new advisors at the Ministry of Education. These include six teachers coming from schools all over New Zealand to take posts at Araura primary school in Aitutaki, as well as Titikaveka and Tereora colleges. Two experienced teachers from NZ are also joining the Ministry of […]

Police stop top official

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Local

A government head of ministry was stopped by police at the weekend and forbidden to drive after police found him under the influence of alcohol. Police said the senior government official was driving a government vehicle along the main road in Arorangi when police stopped the driver and forbade him to drive for 24 hours […]

Thanks to campaigners

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I simply want to say a big meitaki maata to our climate change campaigners in Mexico. Diane, Mii, Ulamila, Luana, Mona and Myrah – we are so proud of you. Thank you for not giving up on the Kyoto Protocol. Thank you for asking all countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (especially the […]

Confused over George ommission

Monday 13 December 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been strongly campaigning for CIP to win and govern our country due to the failures of the past government but now I am confused as to why one of the most vocal members of your party is not a cabinet minister in your cabinet. When you guys were in opposition the […]