Articles by Utopia Support

CIIC has done great work

Tuesday 10 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Despite the adverse information surrounding CIIC, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the positive achievements CIIC has undertaken for the Ministry of Justice. CIIC completed the renovations and refurbishment to the Rarotonga Prison and built another two maximum security cells in record time despite not having sufficient resources […]

Bribery's not real says Henry

Tuesday 10 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The Letter on Saturday by “Keep them honest” is not real, and just a make-up version of the Finbar Kenny- Albert Henry episode. 1. The Finbar Kenny contract with the Cook Islands Government was made and ongoing. 2. A representative of Albert Henry to make a deal with Kenny did not exist. 3. […]

Kata - August 10, 2010

Tuesday 10 August 2010 | Published in Kata

'Better systems and processes must be followed'

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Environment

The recruitment process for a new chief executive of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation started professionally. This is the process described in the new audit report on the background to how John Tini got the job as chief executive. In 2007 when the then CEO Taukea Raui resigned, the job was advertised and he recommended […]

Manihiki's main man on the drum

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Local

Papa Teokotai Ioapa and his Manihiki drummers Te Fuinga o Niva successfully defended their drumming champion’s title at the last day of Te Maeva Nui competitions on Saturday. Report and photos, pages 10-12 today. 10080826

Tini's appointment 'political' and 'biased'

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Local

A new audit report reveals former Cook Islands Investment Corporation chief executive John Tini was actually a political appointment despite the appearance that he got the job on merit. The Audit Office review, dated August 3, has yet to be made public but has been sent to key government officials. The report warns that with […]

Top three cutbacks

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Local

Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen has delivered on his promises to cut the allocations to MPs and Parliament. In the 2010-11 Budget, parliamentary services have been slashed by 24.4 per cent – the largest drop in funding for all the ministries. The cut represents a saving of $178,497. In the budget for 2009-10, parliamentary services received […]

Concerns over Bishop

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, You ran an article in your paper last week regarding the erratic behavior of the Honourable Teina Bishop in parliament along with innuendos of mental instability. Well, since his return to Aitutaki last week his condition has deteriorated. There have been outbursts of swearing and the use of very unpleasant words in public. […]

Telecom charges queried and answered

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After bringing to Telecom’s attention a billing error in our recent telephone account (internet), which was dealt with, the process raised other issues in respect of the landline costs charged by Telecom, including dial up internet access charges. The Telecom website clearly states that local calls are charged at a rate of 15 […]

Still roofless after Pat

Monday 9 August 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Can your paper ask the Aitutaki Raro community whatever happened to the money raised for the island?” a smoke signaller writes to TXT188. “Cyclone Pat hit in February and months later we have people here living in tents and the purpose of that was for it NOT to sit in the bank. Would be nice […]

Rupert moves to Raro

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Local

Not many dogs get a second chance. But this little lion was rescued from the pound and has now started a new life on Rarotonga. Rupert is a new addition to an exclusive club of around less than 20 pedigree dogs on Rarotonga. He is a breed called a Lwchen, which means “little lion” in […]

Budget push

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Local

Parliament resumes on Monday as government hopes to tackle the passage of the supplementary budget and new annual Budget. MPs have met informally for the past two days to discuss the validity of the supplementary budget and how to progress with its passage in the House. Parliament adjourned on Tuesday amid concern that the budget […]

Pacific Sisters perform at Staircase

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

The Pacific Sisters are performing at Staircase at 9pm on Tuesday. Founded in Auckland in 1990s, the group of Pacific artists and entertainers is coming together here on Rarotonga after a 10-year hiatus. They’ll be putting on an hour-long show involving poetry reading, story-telling, fashion modelling, body art, live graffiti art and more, and warn […]

Mo just keeps on drumming

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

Rarotonga man Maurice ‘Mo’ Newport manages a production and marketing company with his wife Glenda Tuaine, but still finds time to drum for a band in New Zealand. For four years, Newport has been commuting between Rarotonga and New Zealand to practice and play shows with well-known Kiwi country-rock band The Warratahs. “When I told […]

Plenty of art to see

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

Though next week’s Pacific Arts Association symposium is not open to the public, anyone is free to attend post-conference exhibitions and functions. Long days of lectures, presentations and panels will end in celebrations both official and unofficial – four of which are open to everyone. On Monday night, Samoan artist Nanette Lela’ulu will present her […]

Voyagers training to be skippers

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

Duncan Morrison, who skippered vaka Marumaru Atua on its journey from New Zealand to the Cooks, is training six local voyagers to be certified skippers. Morrison hails from New Zealand and was earlier this year asked to captain the vaka during her recent voyage. He’s now on Rarotonga and plans to be here until September. […]

New grocery store opens

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

There’s a new one-stop shop in town. Raina Traders has expanded to include Supa Saver, which offers groceries – local fresh fish, local fresh vegetables, dry goods and frozen goods – and home-grown plants. Raina will continue to sell the same products, including black pearls and solar hot water heaters. Owner June Baudinet and her […]

Stunning shows 'raise the roof'

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

While Te Maeva Nui crowds have been small to moderate throughout the week-long competition – the shows on stage have brought on cheers and applause that have almost lifted the roof. And the biggest cheers on Thursday night were for the outstanding Pukapuka team who took to the stage last. In fact, the northern island […]

Ni hao ma – welcome to Auckland

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Features

I heard the other day that 37 per cent of people who live in Auckland weren’t born there. I can hear some of you saying ‘so what’ – well not only were they not born there but according to the source of this information neither were they born in this country; and that got me […]

Bribery's not new

Saturday 7 August 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Sir Terepai Maoate’s allegations that the director of audit was bribed to produce a report that put the blame on him brings to the fore the question of bribery, backhanders and corruption in general and the question: does it flourish in the Cook Islands? Unfortunately by my own recent observations it does. It […]