Articles by Utopia Support

Tourism showing vision and direction

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last Thursday night, I attended Club Raro for the public launch of CI Tourism’s plans for the next few years. The new chief executive, Carmel Beattie, gave an excellent, informed and passionate presentation and the content was very comprehensive. At last, after years of gloom, drama and dreaming in the leadership of our […]

A heartfelt thanks to you all

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with much sadness and many regrets that I returned to New Zealand last Friday to be with my wife, who is recovering from a series of heart attacks which were related to her heart transplant of 11 years ago. I arrived in Rarotonga some seven weeks ago to join Summerfield Systems […]

Hang in there Norman

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On page 7 in your September 17 edition, the photo and article featuring big Norm’s flip-flop in 2003, I must say that Norm may not be a party pooper, but he is definitely a party hopper and flip-flopper. Originally a Demo, now CIP, in1999 he launched the NAP party which he claimed that […]

Embrace our multiple identities

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Last week, on radio talkback a number of people expressed concern over the announcement that Tim Arnold would stand as an Independent candidate for Tupapa-Maraerenga. Sadly, candidates and supporters from both political parties have used this to their advantage and sprung into action, instilling unnecessary fear into local people, for their own political […]

Kata - September 21, 2010

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Solar panel chasing!

Tuesday 21 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A slightly exasperated smoke signaller writes: “Upon enquiring about the Japanese solar power aid offer I hear that the procedure is that ‘project proposals are put to the Energy Department, which pass them to the Renewable Energy Committee, then to the National Sustainable Development Commission, who send them to Cabinet, who approve and pass them […]

Youths a concern

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Local

Despite a quiet weekend on Rarotonga roads – police were kept busy by excessive noise complaints, thefts and congregating youths. Police received two reports of a group of youth acting suspicious around the Titikaveka CICC church and Kent Hall area. The Titikaveka community have rallied together to watch out for each other’s property after a […]

Tourism taking off

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Local

CIT boss says good growth expected from key markets Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) chief executive Carmel Beattie says that the marketing of the Sydney flight had been a resounding success. “Of the last five flights coming in, two are booked out and three are nearly booked out,” she said. “We are still marketing in Australia, […]

Canada link suggestion

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Early in December my wife and I will be arriving to spend another enjoyable six weeks on the beautiful island of Rarotonga, this will make our fifth year that we have spent Christmas and New Year with you all. My only regret is that we cannot get a direct flight from Canada to […]

Call for integrity

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We call for leaders of ‘integrity’, but what does that mean? I read this description and thought it worth submitting for personal reflection and as we each contemplate who to bless with our vote. Ted Engstrom writes: “The world needs people who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character […]

Challenge issued to Punctillius

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is so great that you, Mr or Mrs Punctillius is quick to respond to my reply to your letter on September 15. The only sad thing is you don’t know what is right or wrong. You don’t even have the balls to reveal your name to the public. Why is it supplied […]

Come visit our islands

Monday 20 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“If you live in Detroit USA and are contemplating an island holiday, would you believe it would be less expensive for you to holiday in the Cook Islands rather than Hawaii?” a smoke signaller asks. “Well it is right now. A couple staying at a nice island location here returned to the USA on Saturday […]

New environment plan

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Environment

The 21st Annual Meeting (21SM) of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme was held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from September 6-10 and concluded with the adoption of a new five-year strategic plan for environment and conservation in the Pacific islands region and renewed commitment by country delegations to conservation of biodiversity. The 21SM was held […]

Finals now at Swamp

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Local

The grand finals of the 2010 rugby union season will be held at the Avatiu ‘Swamp’ today. The last minute change is due to the Cook Islands Rugby Union’s application for a liquor licence for the BCI Stadium being turned down by the liquor licensing authority. The last minute hiccup threw the rugby union into […]

Heading off

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Local

Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen will head to Wellington and then on to Brussels, Belgium on Monday. The minister is set to sign the country’s 13th tax information exchange agreement with the Republic of Korea ambassador in Wellington. Rasmussen will go to Brussels from there to sit on the planning bureau of the ACP/EU (African, Caribbean, […]

Crop theft threat

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Local

The livelihoods of local growers are under threat as crop thieves are systematically targeting whole plantations. The theft of crops is not a new problem for growers but what is new is that whole plots of crops such as pawpaw and taro are being stolen each week to be sold. Stolen fruit and veges have […]

Idol dream

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

Fifteen people have qualified to be the next Raro Idol. Staircase held auditions on Monday this week, and 15 vocalists went into the running to be Raro’s newest singing sensation. The auditions will be televised this weekend, but the competition proper starts at 8.30pm on Saturday, September 25 at Staircase. For 10 weeks afterward, the […]

Windjammer Restaurant changes course

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

Dan Forsyth has been in the kitchen at Windjammer six nights a week for six years and four months. He and his wife Maire have decided it’s time to hand the restaurant back to Crown Beach on September 25. Since opening Prime Foods the couple have been working two jobs, with Dan regularly putting in […]

New book gives poets a voice

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features

The University of Hawai’i Press recently published a sequel to Whetu Moana – a book of contemporary poems penned by Polynesians in English – called Mauri Ola, which features the work of well-known poets from across the region, including a number of Cook Islanders, based both here and overseas. Jean Tekura Mason and Vaine Wichman […]

It's 50 years since the Solent flying boats stopped visiting

Saturday 18 September 2010 | Published in Features