Articles by Utopia Support

Raro stamp planned

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Local

It’s still in the early stages, but Philatelic Collectors Inc (PCI) are planning to design a ‘Rarotonga’ stamp. The new philatelic bureau operator says Rarotonga has never previously issued its own stamp, and the topic was discussed at a meeting of Cabinet back in April. “The reason for this is quite basic,” said PCI’s Peter […]

New approach at national library

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands National Library has been lending out books since it first opened back in 1992 and since then it has had the problem of borrowers not returning books. According to librarian Odile Urirau about 10-20 books a year are not returned. Urirau, who has been working for the National Library since 2001, says […]

Demos off

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Local

Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore is heading a delegation from the party to Mangaia and Atiu this week in the lead up to next month’s elections. It is understood the visit is part of the campaign for its five candidates on the two islands. The party has chartered a plane from Air Rarotonga to visit […]

Burglary affects small operators

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Local

‘Little guys’ hit hard by ongoing thefts from accommodation Small hotel owner-operators have burglary on the brain. While ongoing thefts from tourists and tourist accommodation threaten the tourism industry, it’s the “little guys” – the operators that cannot afford to employ security guards or install surveillance cameras – who are being hit the hardest. Big […]

Kata - October 25, 2010

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Kata

Our elections tame by US standards

Monday 25 October 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

With our general elections a little over three weeks away there have been a few small skirmishes between the political parties over public service numbers, the timing of tractor donations to the constituencies and the amount to be paid for each newborn baby. All healthy debate and handled in a typically measured Cook Islands manner […]

Victims unhappy with police response

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Local

While a number of break-in victims are dissatisfied with police burglary investigations, police insist they are doing everything they can to track down thieves. A Matavera woman who spoke to CI News on the condition of anonymity filed a police report following a break-in a few years ago, and said that the police response was […]

SFO investigates Wall Street Group

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Local

New scrutiny is on the disgraced Wall Street Banking Corporation which was kicked out of the Cook Islands last year after a long legal wrangle with government authorities. WSD Global Markets Ltd, a stock exchange-accredited futures and options company, is coming under fire for allegedly failing to account for a reported $20 million in funds […]

Top TV dad dies

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Los Angeles, Oct 19 – For more than a decade viewers could turn on their TVs and find Howard Cunningham in his armchair, reading the newspaper and providing a fatherly voice of reason to young Richie Cunningham and his friends on "Happy Days." Tom Bosley made the role famous during the long-running sitcom, earning a […]

Martin Freeman set to play Bilbo

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Calling all entertainers ‘Boogieman’ Jay Pita and daughter Credence at a previoust Open Mic Nite at Coco Putt. On Monday it’s OM Nite again and all entertainers, comedians, musicians and singers are invited to showcase their talents at the RSA. All the action starts at 7pm and as always it promises to be a fun […]

Horsing around at Aqua Caf

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

A special event at Aqua Caf will see ladies and gents dressing in their finest race day fashions for Melbourne Cup race day. Chrissy Thomas, the host at Aqua Caf, said, “The last time we had a chance to get really dressed up was the Pink Ball for breast cancer awareness two and half years […]

Business courses back

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

AUT University is again offering Certificate in Business courses at USP next month. Graduates of the course will be able to boast skills to the standard of the internationally-recognised Project Management Institute. Students must complete four papers – which can be taken either individually or together – to qualify for the certificate. Paper One is […]

Pacific Resort Aitutaki celebrates 8 years

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Pacific Resort Aitutaki marked its eighth anniversary since it opened with a celebration this week. Around 40 local dignitaries, tourism operators, community and business leaders gathered at the resort on Wednesday. Pacific Resort Aitutaki has become well known throughout the world as a leading resort property and over the past few years has contributed to […]

Storytelling popular

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Legendary New Zealand Maori storyteller Bradford Haami is coming to Rarotonga to host a two-day workshop on telling and writing stories at USP. The series starts on November 5 and will cover such subjects as screenwriting, publishing, editing, writing a book, storytelling and ancestral writing. The deadline to register for the workshop has passed. All […]

Tony still singing strong

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Rarotonga born and bred entertainer Tony Williams, a former member of the famous Howard Morrison Quartet, is on the island this week. The singing sensation will be performing a few numbers today at his daughter’s Tupapa wedding, and he goes back to Christchurch on Thursday. Williams, whose career has taken him all over the world, […]

ELECTORATE ISSUES What are the three main issues in your electorate and how do you propose to deal with them?

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Angeline Tuara Independent Murienua 1. Water and environmental issues: I am committed to installing filtered water systems placed in strategic areas in Murienua and made accessible to all in the electorate. I will work with the community, NGO and Government Ministries to eliminate flooding, reduce wetland blockages and allow adequate drainage of water soaked areas […]

'Hot mix' ready to roll again

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Features

Triad Pacific Petroleum manager Chris Vaile is firing up his $800,000 hot mix asphalt plant in preparation of a project to re-seal Rarotonga’s roads. Vaile brought the plant to the island from New Zealand this year, following negotiation with the Cook Islands government and its departments over a proposed four-year $30 million project to upgrade […]

Job spec not changed

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

The Office of the Public Service Commissioner has reported that the Head of Hospital Services job should never have been changed so that only a registered medical officer could apply. In the absence of Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati, Chief of staff Priscilla Maruariki responded to question over the debacle. The PSC stepped in when […]

It's not like a resort

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to ‘Fill us in’ on how modern recruitment works in any position, there should be two documents. The first, the Job Description, should describe what the applicant has to do and what they are expected to achieve. The second is an Ideal Person Specification which describes the skills, attributes and preferred […]

Hormone claim backed

Saturday 23 October 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, John Scott (letter October 19) claims that hormones are not fed to his chickens and that my mention of them (hormones) in my letter was “worse than just mischievous”. Playing word games (semantics?) with John will be a real challenge but this point of contention is a matter of definition, so here goes! […]