Articles by Utopia Support

The system is not fair

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you Tupui Ariki Henry for providing the same argument we are using going back to 1996. Information on how the decisions were made regarding the number of seats in Parliament, back in 1965 and 1984. You stated that at the time it was pointed out to the Self Government Committee (quote): … […]

Hospital 'not up to scratch'

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am one of the many Cook Islands women living here in Rarotonga and I just want to say free of speech of course that our hospital up at Arorangi is really not up to scratch, equipment and service wise. I don’t mean to be nasty in anyway but I am speaking from […]

I'm a warrior, not an old man!

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to your letter published on Thursday September 2 titled ‘Questions over Titikaveka contract’ by Papa Chief, I believe, Papa Chief, you already know the answers to your “question”. First of all, you are right, it is not surprising that the Titikaveka Beautification Contract has once again been awarded to a private […]

We just want change

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Grassroots Voter, civil and political rights are interconnected. These groups of rights protect individuals from unwarranted action by government, private organisations and individuals to ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of that country, without discrimination or repression. We are able to live in this country […]

Kata - September 4, 2010

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Kata

Commonwealth netball team named

Saturday 4 September 2010 | Published in Netball

The national netball team has been selected and is gearing up for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games in India in October. A final trial was held last week in New Zealand where the three local based players – Luciana Matenga, Curly George and Nana Manuela – were in attendance. From a pool of talented Cook […]

New building for New Life

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Church Talk

New Life Church in Aro’a is holding a ceremony for the opening of its new building tomorrow at 10.30am. The church celebrates its fourth anniversary on Sunday, but until now has been meeting at Rutaki Primary School. Now it’s got a building to call its own – on a back road in Arorangi, signs clearly […]

Finding the peace of Christ

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Many of us have grown up hearing that phrase as part of our church culture, but we never stop to ponder what it means. The words are found in Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Even after we have professed our […]

Wigmore responds to threat

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Local

Democratic Party leader Robert Wigmore has issued a veiled warning in response to the threat against the party made by Aitutaki MP Terepai Maoate Jnr this week. Maoate has threatened to cross the floor if his father is not confirmed as the Ngatangiia candidate. “With regard to the issue with the Democratic candidate in the […]

Going to arbitration

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Local

A legal row is brewing over the PMG per diems money. Vaine Teokotai’s efforts to resolve the dispute over $300,000 of per diems money from the Pacific Mini Games (PMG), which is being allegedly held by the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC), have been thwarted. Both the head of Pacific Mini Games […]

Shapeshifter after-party

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Local

Following a sold-out show at Club Raro last night, Shapeshifter will be at Rehab from 10pm tonight – Tiki Taane will perform an acoustic set and Shapeshifter’s lead vocalist P-Digsss will be on the DJ tables. Tickets are $7 from 88FM, Deli-licious in Muri, Rehab and Summerfield Systems at Cooks Corner today, and $10 at […]

Get it right

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Grassroots Voter needs to read the paper properly. If he/she read Monday’s paper he/she would have seen that GPC is not suggesting the PM be elected by everyone. Clearly from Monday’s article the only thing GPC is calling for is for a reduction in the number of seats and a binding referendum to […]

Getting ugly

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As a demo party supporter in Ngatangiia I resent that my democratic right to choose my representative is being usurped my emotionally coercive petitions, bully tactics, threats and counter threats. Cut the crap and by secret ballot let all the demo supporters of Ngatangiia decide between Terepai and Mann not lawyers, judges or […]

Reform suggestions 'destructive'

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to make some comments on these individuals and groups pressing for some form of so-called process of Parliamentary reform: The election, nationally of the Prime Minister, other Parliament Members, PM to select his Cabinet from anywhere, and to reduce the number of member representatives. These are not reform proposals, but destructive […]

Kata - September 3, 2010

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Kata

3 KM PER MP

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller looks at a map and asks: “Would there be another country in the world where there is a highly paid Member of Parliament every three kilometres of road on under populated land, which is what we appear to have here on Rarotonga? Unbelievable! And three MP’s for the almost deserted island of […]

Soccer on

Friday 3 September 2010 | Published in Football

Tereora College students will lace up their boots today for the school’s annual soccer tournament. The tournament will be held at the Nikao field next to the college starting at 8.30am. The tournament will include junior, intermediate and seniors teams including two mixed teams per grade per house making for an action packed day. Games […]

Mirage demand ring road

Thursday 2 September 2010 | Published in Local

Auckland-based developers Mirage Group Ltd are reportedly pressuring government to complete the ring road around the old Sheraton which could cost in excess of $1 million. Infrastructure minister William Heather confirmed yesterday that Mirage representatives have approached members of cabinet to engage in talks about the ring or loop road. About four years ago government […]

Clashing continues

Thursday 2 September 2010 | Published in Local

Mann Short’s Tuesday night meeting with Ngatangiia MP Sir Terepai Maoate failed to result in a resolution on who will be the Demo candidate for the elections. “It got nowhere. We went to the meeting expecting something to happen – maybe for him to step down. There was nothing new – they still insisted that […]

Test for candidates

Thursday 2 September 2010 | Published in Local

Election candidates will be put to the test over their commitment to political reform if they accept an invitation to take part in a national forum next week. The Group for Political Change in collaboration with Mou Piri is planning a series of public forums and issued a press release yesterday about the first in […]