Articles by Utopia Support

Te Kukupa to the rescue

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Local

Police patrol boat Te Kukupa was sent to retrieve 11 of 13 people on board the yacht SV Southern Cross after it experienced engine trouble at the weekend. Police received information on Saturday that the 58ft ketch had experienced engine problems near Palmerston island en route to Rarotonga. The yacht was expected to arrive in […]

Mangaia proves a hit

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Local

Though clouds obscured the Sunday morning eclipse in Mangaia, most tourists fell too much in love with the island to let it ruin their holiday. There were some who couldn’t conceal their disappointment, but the majority of eclipse-chasers who travelled to Mangaia this weekend said that the island’s beauty and its people more than made […]

Beer vote may be challenged

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Local

Businessman James Beer has been confirmed as the Democratic Party’s election candidate for Murienua after last week’s run off against Angeline Tuara. But with Beer scarcely past the first post in his ambition to become an MP, Tuara’s supporters were reportedly planning to complain and ask for a recount of the votes. Yesterday, the Demo […]

What have you done to help?

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor For someone like Teuira Ka to brag about his passion for politics is a sick joke. He reminds me so much of an empty vessel that makes so much noise, te pupu vaa koia tikai. The question that come to mind is this, what has he done for the Cook Island people? We […]

Website praised

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor You are doing a very good webpage. Seems that you have found the right format. Good on you. Thank you. Volker Goebel Germany

No racist comments

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Ngereteina Puna needs to stop his racist comments about who should help build the nation. I left the CIP back in the late sixties because of his and others attitudes. All talent and love for the Cook Islands is not held exclusively by Maoris. Consider the best and not the colour. And as […]

Get rid of the confusion

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I don’t know whether I am speaking tongue in cheek, (I thought it was ear in teeth, but it might be foot in mouth, or hole in head), but here is what I have been thinking. We used to have our traditional leaders, our ariki, our aronga mana, but it was decided that […]

Kata - July 13, 2010

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Partial to eclipses

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“People overuse the word ‘awesome’ these days,” a smoke signaller texts to 188, “but Sunday morning’s partial solar eclipse was just that: AWESOME!!” SmokeSignals: Agreed. Adding to the surreal atmosphere was the crowing of a number of island roosters which must have had their body clocks temporarily confused by the sudden darkness! Many viewers watching […]

Women chase soccer spots

Tuesday 13 July 2010 | Published in Football

Training is well underway for the Rarotonga-based players who are trialing for the women’s national soccer squad that will travel to New Zealand to participate in the Oceania Nations Cup from September 28 to October 8. Seventeen Rarotonga based players are currently training three times a week with training at this stage focusing on fitness […]

Cabinet failings detailed

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Local

The Toagate Audit report has pointed out many issues which affected the performance of cabinet throughout the process which lead to the deal. Several members of the cabinet and caucus pointed to a lack of leadership from the Prime Minister Jim Marurai. They indicated that former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Terepai Maoate exerted dominance “especially […]

Mangaia's moment in the sun

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Local

Solar eclipse a heavenly spectacle for 400 visitors Mangaia woke early yesterday to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse tracking across its sky, though it hid behind a thick cloud cover to the disappointment of eclipse-chasers who travelled from as far as Japan and Germany. The Mangaia runway yesterday was loaded with hundreds […]

Step down at 60

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to encourage those current Members of Parliament who are over 60 years of age to consider stepping down and let our young people step up and take your places in the highest court of the land. But whatever you do, keep our legislature for Cook Islands Maori people only. Kia manuia […]

I commit to openness

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Nerys Case has got it absolutely RIGHT! (article Saturday July 10, page 8). Politicians in New Zealand, both at central and local government, are more open and transparent, than we are here in the Cook Islands. Being open and transparent MUST be paramount at all times. Without this we will continue to have […]

Toagate audit falls short

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As expected, the Toagate audit report has again lived up to the audit office’s reputation as an organisation without a sense of direction, fairness, or commonsense. Most of their latest garbage will fall short, should and when it is scrutinised by a proper independent forum i.e the courts. However, after having said that, […]

Really bad reporting

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, We all knew before reading the Audit review into Government’s attempt to nationalise the fuel industry in your newspaper on Friday July 9 that the main architects of the Toagate scandal was Terepai Maoate and Sholan Ivaiti. What was really bad reporting by Cook Islands News was that they were fooled into reporting […]

Give him a fair go

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with astonishment the negative comments made against Hugh Graham standing as the Mauke Democratic Party candidate. I support no party having had left the Cook Islands many years ago. This does not mean however that I am not interested in the goings on back home. People like Hugh should be encouraged. […]

Kata - July 12, 2010

Monday 12 July 2010 | Published in Kata

'Conspiracy' condemned

Saturday 10 July 2010 | Published in Local

The Toagate debacle reveals clear conspiracy, mismanagement and exploitation of public funds, Cook Islands Workers Association (CIWA) president Anthony Turua says. In a release in response to the just released audit review into Government’s attempt to nationalise the fuel industry, Turua said the report is “sickening” especially in reference to the failed strategy, high court […]

All eyes on eclipse

Saturday 10 July 2010 | Published in Local

Tomorrow’s solar eclipse promises to turn eyes skyward – including those that would under normal circumstances be glued to the World Cup Soccer finals. People have already begun arriving to Rarotonga in droves, heavy camera equipment in tow. One tourist arrived with 50kg of equipment tightly packed into a case, only to confront Air Raro’s […]