Articles by Utopia Support

Nicholson new media chair

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Local

Justice Colin Nicholson has been appointed as the new chairman of the Cook Islands Media Council. The appointment was unanimously endorsed by representatives of the media industry and all the current members of the council this week according to a media release on behalf of the council from member Ken Matheson. Nicholson replaces Chief Justice […]

Labour law progress halted

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Local

Parliament’s failure to sit sees committee become defunct Progress on the country’s proposed new labour law ground to a halt this year because of Parliament’s failure to sit. The Employment Relations Bill remains before Parliament and may be directed back to a select committee again next year. The bill went to a parliamentary select committee […]

Al Atas responds to articles

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My name is Michael Cahill, and I am the Director of Foreign Affairs for the Al Atas Group and I report directly to the Chairman of the Group Sheikh Dr Muhammad Adnan Al Atas. I am responding in an open Letter to the Editor to recent articles and comments made in the Cook […]

Carr dumping unjustified

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, From what I’ve been hearing through the coconut wireless, Kevin Carr still has no idea why he was dumped as Acting Financial Secretary. The termination came without warning and without valid reasons why. Very unfortunate for Mr Carr and this country. Surely both Mr Carr and the wider public of this country deserve […]

Tell me what you are about

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am a 27-year-old, and have lived here all my life except for the seven years I spent in New Zealand at Auckland University and then working for an international company to further my education and obtain my Chartered Accountant certificate. The other night I was approached by a candidate of my village, […]

Kata - September 30, 2010

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Loss will see votes cross

Thursday 30 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

The winner of yesterday’s run-off to select a candidate to represent the Democratic Party in the Ngatangiia constituency in the November 17 general election will have a huge uphill battle to consolidate the Demo votes in the next 48 days. The divisions run so deep that prior to the run-off at least one of the […]

Demo's campaign delayed

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Local

The Democratic Party has postponed the launch of its national campaign until next Thursday. Secretary-general Eddie Drollet says the week’s delay is to allow ample time for the Ngatangiia candidate selection to be sorted out. The postponement is also out of respect for cabinet minister Cassey Eggelton’s family following the recent passing of her brother […]

Warrant unlawful: lawyer

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Local

The Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) is now being accused of unlawful entry and seizure following the discovery that its search warrant was not properly authorised. The search warrant itself, signed by the High Court registrar, cites a section of the Development Investment Act 2007 that specifies that a judge must order the warrant. BTIB […]

Board members resign

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Investment Corporation chairman Tapi Taio and Teava Iro Jnr have resigned from the board this month to run as candidates in the general election. Their resignations have been prompted by the 2004 Electoral Act provision that Crown servants are not eligible to be registered as election candidates. Iro’s resignation is complete tomorrow, Taio […]

Job offered to rival

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Local

Minister admits he offered CIIC board position to election rival Cook Islands Investment Corporation minister Robert Wigmore admits he’s offered at least one of his election rivals a spot on its board. The Titikaveka MP says he has considered independent candidate Teariki Matenga for a variety of board positions in government as he believes he […]

Why do our youth leave here?

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Where are our youth today? It looks as though they are all migrating overseas and foreign workers are coming in to replace them. Why is this? It’s because of the low income they receive at the end of the week. The lowest paid New Zealand job wage is five times higher than (the […]

Kata - September 29, 2010

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Spurned habitats 'would be ready'

Wednesday 29 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Following Cyclone Pat’s path of destruction through Aitutaki a little over seven months ago – and with the new cyclone season a month away – a smoke signaller writes: “None of the replacement houses being built on Aitutaki are even close to being finished except for the show house which finally has walls and windows. […]

Harbour gets big clean-up

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Environment

The harbour area is sparkling this week, thanks to the efforts of 103 volunteers who collected rubbish from the seafloor and Takuvaine streams and from the harbour’s edge on Saturday morning. Clean Up The World Day was a huge success, and co-organiser Sabine Janneck says it’s getting bigger every year. In three years, the number […]

Celebrating the right to know

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Local

Today is a day to celebrate the public’s right to access information and the right of taxpayers to know how government is spending their money. Today is the eighth International Right to Know Day, and people all over the world are observing it. Ombudsman Janet Maki said that though she has not received any recent […]

Trust lost

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Local

A tourist who was robbed while she was sleeping at the weekend says she’s “lost trust” in the Cook Islands. Locals robbing tourists is becoming a grave concern for police and community members alike, as it’s driving away tourists and their dollars, on which the Cook Islands economy depends so heavily. Roberta Blumberg of southern […]

Election date official

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Local

The date of the general election – November 17 — was formally announced yesterday. Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin issued a notice officially appointing the election day. The notice was dated September 28 because Sir Frederick is currently in Sydney, Australia for the Golden Oldies Rugby Festival – on the other side of the international […]

Search warrant questioned

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Local

McElhinney asks whether a judge approved the order Questions are being raised on how a search warrant was issued for a raid on a local business last week. Realtor John McElhinney has asked the court, through his lawyer, for the affidavit that prompted the search warrant and whether a judge approved the order. The search […]

Thanks to community, police

Tuesday 28 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, For the last two years I have been a part of the Cook Islands Police as part of a continuing development programme between the Cook Islands Police, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Aid. My time has unfortunately come to an end and I would like to say thanks and make some comments […]