Articles by Utopia Support

Air NZ won't ticket tax

Friday 20 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Yesterday’s letter ‘Sort out departure tax’ which suggested the country’s $55 departure tax should be included in the price of an airline ticket to avoid any grumbling at departure time, drew two responses: “The reason we do not have the departure tax in the airline ticket prices is simple: Air New Zealand refuses to do […]

Muri meeting house reopened

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Environment

The Muri community celebrated the opening of the newly refurbished Are Uipaanga O Muri Enua (community centre) and Health Clinic on Saturday. The refurbishment was made possible with $35,000 of funding from environment organisation Seacology and two and a half months of weekend working bees. Muri Tapere Inc committee member and Muri Environment Group member […]

Factions at odds

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Local

The Democratic Party’s Ngatangiia committee is confident it can steer supporters away from the planned candidate run-off by another faction of the party next week. On Tuesday evening the committee held a meeting at chairman Tu Tutai-Purua’s residence to talk to party supporters. Tutai-Purua said the meeting went well and gave the committee a chance […]

Catching up 31 years later

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Local

After a 31-year hiatus, one of the first managers of The Rarotongan is back on the island. Anita Reid, who together with her late husband Jim managed the Rarotongan resort from 1977 to 1979. They took over from a construction manager after the opening ceremony at which both Sir Albert Henry and Robert Muldoon were […]

The Aussies are coming

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Local

Tourist numbers from Aust broke records last month Australian tourism numbers reached record levels last month, the first month of operation for the revived Sydney-Rarotonga flight. In total there were 1584 Australian visitors to the country in July, which compares with 972 for the same month last year – an increase of 612. Cook Islands […]

Support for Rule's call

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It takes great courage for any deserted partner to initiate a driving force petition, calling on the New Zealand and Cook Islands governments to establish a much needed reciprocal agreement for absent parents to pay child maintenance. Rightly so, Moana Rule is sadly being driven by a painful shackled down desperation call for […]

Arise talented people

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Arise you talented young men and women of the Cook Islands and vote your tropical paradise in line with other major countries around the world. John Key Prime Minister of New Zealand, David Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Britain, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, Julia Gillard Prime Minister of […]

Sort out departure tax

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Okay, here’s the proof (see left). $89 departure taxes from Australia, with at today’s exchange rate, that’s approx NZ$115. Why then do all our visitors complain about $55? It’s not the amount so much, it’s about peoples purchasing habits. Have $55 included with the ticket purchase upfront (usually on a credit card) and […]

Festschrift for Crocombe praised

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Not having had the privilege of meeting the late Papa Ron in person, last week’s Festschrift for Ron Crocombe conference certainly provided me with a strong feeling of meeting him in spirit, a thriving and alive spirit, and getting a glimpse of a very wise heart. As a social anthropologist and a ‘fresh […]

Horse complaints a worry

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have just read the letter to you posted Saturday, August 7 entitled ‘Horse lover’s plea’ regarding the Aroa Horse Riding. Have you had other complaints? I have read a few reviews on Trip Advisor with similar complaints, last time I was in Rarotonga I did try to have a trek, I was […]

Real reform debate needed

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It has been encouraging to see the growing discussion, debate and consensus in the community regarding the fundamental need for political reform in the Cook Islands. The key concern is that since self government over 90 per cent of Cook Islanders have voted with their feet and left the Cook Islands and yet […]

Kata - August 19, 2010

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Kata

Plea from Aitutaki

Thursday 19 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Could one of your great reporters investigate what has happened to all the money so kindly given by so many to help the people of Aitutaki after cyclone Pat please?” asks a smoke signaller. “We have not seen any of it here and the sad part is that many people are still living like little […]

Police target black markets

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Local

Police have announced a plan to crack down on the local “black markets” – the illegal sale of alcohol. An Arorangi resident this week reported a Rutaki house was selling alcohol on Sundays to make extra money, and police warned the male resident of the house that selling alcohol without a liquor licence is against […]

Shapeshifter on way

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Local

Award-winning New Zealand band Shapeshifter is performing with Tiki Taane in Rarotonga early next month, and the island’s buzzing. The band will travel to Rarotonga on a Pacific Blue ‘Shapeshifter flight’ they’ve chartered specifically for the occasion. The flight departs Auckland on August 30 and the show is scheduled for September 2 at 7.30pm at […]

'Plastic Maori' a threat to MPs

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Local

A new generation of ‘plastic Cook Islanders’ could destroy the concept of the village Member of Parliament warns Atiu’s Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George. His statement comes as political reform is becoming more topical. George borrowed a line from the late David Lange, a former NZ Prime Minister and MP for Mangere known as an impressive […]

Coup not credible: PM

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Jim Marurai doesn’t believe talks of an aborted coup on his government are credible. His office told CI News yesterday that Marurai had not heard about a plan by members of the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party to raise a vote of no confidence in the PM and cabinet in Parliament […]

Election date too late

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter with great frustration and concern as to when we are heading into the next general election. I believe the best thing for the people is to hold the election sometime in September or early October at the latest, well before the holiday season is upon us. Every year […]

Judging candidate suitability

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The suitability of a candidate to represent his/her people should not be measured by how well they wield a grass cutter or how often they are seen at church or how much food they provide at funerals. While these are good characteristics to have in a person, they should not be used as […]

Time to step down with dignity

Wednesday 18 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I agree with the growing number of disenchanted voters in Ngatangiia that the time has come for Sir Terepai to step down as the MP. This is exactly what Sir Terepai promised the voters of his constituency many times in the past. Unfortunately Sir Terepai has again failed to live up to his […]