Articles by Utopia Support

Young paddlers make their mark

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Environment

A special tree-planting ceremony kicked off yesterday’s junior paddler races at Muri lagoon. Fourteen juniors’ teams from Hawaii, New Zealand and the Cooks planted 15 ironwood trees at Nukupure Park in Ngatangiia to help prevent beach erosion around the foreshore area. The replanting ceremony was led by the Hawaiian team – one member planted the […]

Buoy set to monitor Muri water quality

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Environment

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) this week deployed an automated water quality buoy in the channel between motu Koromiri and Muri beach. The YSI EMM68 automated, solar-powered buoy will enhance MMR’s water quality monitoring programme for water and sanitation projects at Muri lagoon. It will act as an early warning system for harmful algal […]

Fan-tastic!

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Local

Piina Viniki, Tongakura Tonitara, and Mii Tonitara model the hats, fans, ei and flowers they made in Penryhn and brought to Rarotonga for the Vaka Eiva trade day yesterday. Story, page 12. 10112338

Cabinet to step down

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet have decided to make way for the incoming CIP government by resigning as soon as the final result of last week’s election is announced. Cabinet met yesterday to come to a consensus that the ministers would tender their resignations and step down to allow CIP leader and Prime […]

George denies PM rumour

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Local

Atiu MP says he’s offended by suggestions and blames new MP Atiu MP Norman George says he’s offended by the lynch mob approach of the CIP executive in response to a rumour that he was attempting to be appointed as the next Prime Minister. George denies the rumour and blames newly elected Tupapa-Maraerenga MP George […]

George blames Maggie for starting CIP rumours

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I hate to spoil your rumour network, but while I dislike dignifying it with this response, I do so to state my position. The culprit in all of this is the several days old M.P. for Tupapa, George Maggie. I called him last Friday, November 19 having arrived back from Atiu on Thursday […]

Kata - November 24, 2010

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Kata

Coffee from the islands

Wednesday 24 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to the article ‘Cooks’ coffee fix sorted’ in Saturday’s paper, a smoke signaller writes: “The sale of Atiu coffee from a mobile espresso outlet is great. Can Juergen Manske-Eimke, the owner of Atiu Coffee, please assure us that he no longer imports coffee beans that I believe have in past comprised up to […]

Final results due this week

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Local

The final count of votes for last week’s general election looks set to begin today. The Electoral Office is working towards completing the final count by Friday. Yesterday the validating of 417 votes by declaration continued. Today electoral officials will be scrutinizing the main and supplementary rolls to look for any duplication of names as […]

Rumours rock CIP

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Local

CIP leader and PM elect Henry Puna refused to comment yesterday on rumours that Atiu MP Norman George has held some form of coalition talks with members of the Democratic Party. “I’m not going to respond to rumours. I will go straight to the source,” he said. Puna said there was no point adding fuel […]

Congrats CIP

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana. I wish to congratulate all the successful candidates of the General Election and commiserate with the unsuccessful ones. Of course, I’m delighted to see the Cook Islands Party back in power and wish you all the best in serving our people. Ngereteina Puna MANUKAU

CIP needs to take note

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The leader of the CIP and incoming Prime Minister, Henry Puna, is correct to credit much of his party’s landslide victory during last week’s general elections to political infighting within the Demo Party. I think that Puna’s assumption on his party’s emphatic victory is partially correct. However, as a voter I believe that […]

Fired up over Class of '86 lawyer

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have deliberately left responding to Class of ‘86 Lawyer’s letter published November 10 ‘Telecom critics one-eyed’ until now, now that the elections have passed. So I respond as follows. Firstly to Class of 86 Lawyer, front up with your name, you racist coward; attacking me personally behind a pseudonym is gutless and […]

Kata - November 23, 2010

Tuesday 23 November 2010 | Published in Kata

Tourist numbers to double

Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Local

Forum hears CIT’s plan for dramatic visitor growth Tourist numbers are set to double over the next few years if Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) plans work out. “We are poised for dramatic growth,” said Tata Crocombe, chairman of the board of Cook Islands Tourism. He was addressing a crowd of over 150 local tourism operators […]

We can all breathe easy now

Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations CIP we have won the world cup, pushing the forwards to score the winning try, and are waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle for the Pukapuka seat. Now the people of the Cook Islands can wait and see what changes can be made to the constitution. Can I make […]

Lack of choice is apparent

Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you, for responding to my thoughts on, ‘To Vote or Not to Vote that is the Question’. Firstly let me apologise for being anonymous. That was an oversight on my part; my name is Norman Mitchell Ngawaka: Tamatoa. That dealt with, I am sick of it too. The question is what are […]

Accept the blame

Monday 22 November 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

In response to a front page article last week ‘Demos dug own grave’, a smoke signaller writes to TXT188: “Come on Sir Terepai Maoate, accept you are the instigator of the Democratic Party split because of your greed for power and that you created the Toa problem – stop trying to deny it. We all […]

Joyana needs your votes

Saturday 20 November 2010 | Published in Local

Maine Tapairu Joyana Meyer left yesterday for Papua New Guinea to represent the Cook Islands in the Miss South Pacific pageant, which starts this weekend. To show your support visit www.misssouthpacificpng.com then click on ‘contestants’ and click on the fifth star under Joyana’s picture. The pageant offers special prizes, including ‘Miss Internet’ – your vote […]

New budget planned

Saturday 20 November 2010 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Party leader and Prime Minister elect, Henry Puna, says one of the first priorities of the new government will be to pass a supplementary budget for 2010-11 to enable them to carry out election pledges. “We need to revisit the budget, make changes, and pass a supplementary budget in order to implement our […]