Articles by Utopia Support

Potholes in sky

Thursday 9 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Onboard the Pacific Blue flight returning home after two weeks abroad in New Zealand, we were experiencing some pretty bad turbulence,” a smoke signaller writes. “The captain of the flight announced, ‘Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we apologise for the unexpected turbulence we are now experiencing. However, just think of it as an experience riding […]

Round 3 at soccer

Thursday 9 September 2010 | Published in Football

The soccer round cup competition moves into the third round of games today between Titikaveka and Takuvaine. In the women’s division there is little to choose between either team and the result could well rest on individual mistakes or individual brilliance. Home advantage favours Titikaveka and this could be a significant factor. Their uneven playing […]

Atiu school offers 'cultural immersion'

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Local

Atiu’s Enuamanu School is proposing a ‘student exchange’ cultural immersion programme. The concept is that Cook Islands parents could send their children to Atiu to take part in the programme for at least one school term where they would attend extra classes in Maori language and culture and be billeted with local families. The school […]

Sure is warmer this year

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Local

Met services director Maara Vaiimene says that this past winter was “much warmer” than the winter of 2009. “We came through a warm winter this year in comparison to last year… our winter months of July and August were not as cold as compared to 2009 even though we experienced a few (cold) nights and […]

Reform talks tonight

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Local

Political hopefuls are being encouraged to take part in the People’s Forum for Change this evening. As of yesterday only a handful of current and intending politicians had confirmed they will take part in the forum on a national referendum and issues of reform. Prime Minister Jim Marurai was also undecided yesterday on whether he […]

Arnold to run independent

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Local

Lawyer Tim Arnold may contest the November election standing on the single platform of political reform. Arnold has yet to declare the possible candidacy as an independent for Tupapa-Maraerenga. CI News contacted Arnold who has confirmed he is thinking about running. “I’m giving serious consideration to standing as an independent candidate for Tupapa-Maraerenga on a […]

Law change needed to protect families

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in support of Moana Rule’s child support petition, which is about time, because it’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed. A law is needed to change attitudes otherwise parents will always get up and go with no responsibility, and in the end, our families and children suffer, as […]

$10m contract not right

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Minister Smiley Heather’s article in the paper last week regarding the roading project going on now allowed us to see what is really going on within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning and the corruption and politics involved. Smiley mentioned that the roading programme is a planned programme with funding coming from ADB […]

Food concerns

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Food + hot weather + germs = diarrhea This is a simple equation I’d like to share with food vendors of the Cook Islands, especially as summer returns. Many cooked food vendors routinely sell food on tables and countertops without any attempt to chill the food, nor cover it from the sun, nor […]

Wake up to it!

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Good on Brett Porter for setting off a panic at the fuel pump by announcing that the country will be out of fuel this week. He claims no one has the ability to purchase tanker loads of fuel; nice. Yesterday Chris Vaile said that government has restricted Triad’s ability to store more fuel […]

Kata - September 8, 2010

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Playing the game

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Wasn’t it just great to see the Atiu Warrior Norman George in action, in relation to the Group for Political Change and Mou Piri ‘waiting until the last minute’ in relation to political reform and consulting the people? Just great, let them have it Norman, they have no right to suggest […]

Women's national soccer squad named

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Football

A 20-member women’s soccer squad has been named to represent our country at the Oceania tournament in New Zealand. Rarotonga, Aitutaki and New Zealand based players have been in contention for a spot to represent the country since July. After recently travelling to Aitutaki to assess the progress of the Aitutaki based players, national women’s […]

Oceania training course for soccer referees

Wednesday 8 September 2010 | Published in Football

Oceania’s referee development officer Massimo Raveino along with referee instructor Neil Poloso and fitness trainer Kader Touati are currently on Rarotonga to run a FIFA referees course from September 6 to 10. Over 20 participants attended the opening of the course where words of encouragement were given by Cook Islands Football president Lee Harmon to […]

Election poll

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Local

Cook Islands News is this week conducting an extensive telephone survey to get a snap-shot of the nation as we head towards the general elections. From this evening, staff at the newspaper will be calling people at home in the evening and asking them four questions about the upcoming General Election. The random poll will […]

Takitumu culture week begins

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Local

Takitumu Primary School in Matavera began their Maori Culture Week yesterday with a traditional turou for their teachers, parents and invited guests. The students will spend this week learning all aspect of the Cook Islands culture from the language to preparing an umu. Yesterday the weeklong programme was launched plus the opening of the school’s […]

No need for panic: Vaile

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Local

Triad says there is enough fuel to last until weekend Triad Pacific Petroleum’s Chris Vaile claims unless people give in to panic buying there will be enough petrol on the island to last until the ship arrives this weekend. Vaile has issued a fiery response to Toa director Brett Porter’s claim the island will run […]

Sir Terepai's 'incredible hypocrisy'

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Sir Terepai’s front page comments in Saturday’s newspaper must be responded to. Sir Terepai and his committee have refused to accept that we have time and again submitted the better argument and have presented a clear cut case how his nomination was improper and therefore invalid. They keep coming back and pestering the […]

People's Forum part of the debate

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The whole idea of the People’s Forum and of asking political candidates to speak up publicly is that we all need to discuss and debate political reform. Our Group for Political Change was asked by supporters to regroup, because of our past work in advocating for political reform. We were asked to again […]

Raro's ego speedway

Tuesday 7 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Every so often we have fuel shortages,” a smoke signaller writes. “Our roads are constantly littered with pot holes. Contributing to this are the modern 4 wheel drive vehicles constantly hooning around Rarotonga Speedway. With the size of this island I cannot understand why the importation of these vehicles available for private use continues. Surely […]