Articles by Utopia Support

Debate over traditional medicine preservation

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Local

It emerged at the Public Health Conference yesterday that experts disagree on the best way to preserve traditional medicine for future generations. The debate hinges on whether knowledge of traditional medicine should be passed down through generations as it always has been, or should be brought together and made available to the wider world. Master […]

No suspension for Allsworth

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Local

Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen says it is premature to consider suspending director of audit Paul Allsworth following allegations of ‘criminal misconduct’ levelled by former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti. Rasmussen, also minister for the Public Expenditure and Review Committee and Audit (PERCA), responded to CI News questions on Tuesday saying he prefers to wait and see […]

Nothing to do with league

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, To answer Papa Simiona’s letter yesterday in regards to rugby union, the answer is very simple. Invest the $120,000 plus the Cook Islands Rugby Union receives annually from IRB to develop the local competition instead of spending it on their high flying executives and so called overseas coaches and TAs (technical advisors). The […]

Kata - July 2, 2010

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Finals time at netball

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Netball

Its grand finals time in the Rarotonga club netball season and action packed games are expected today and tomorrow. The open one and two grades will play their grand finals matches tonight at the Telecom Sports Arena with Avatiu taking on Titikaveka in the open 2 game at 4.30 while Titikaveka will face Takuvaine in […]

First flight 'not full'

Friday 2 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Responding to a statement yesterday that this Sunday’s inaugural direct Sydney-Rarotonga flight is fully-booked, one of our readers reckons the new Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie is exaggerating. “As at this morning I can still get two seats Sydney to Rarotonga this weekend on direct flights in all classes.” The Cook Islands is underwriting the flights […]

Community rallies behind Aratoa

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Those who know 12-year-old Aratoa Mana can vouch that he’s a fighter with strength beyond his years. The Titikaveka youth has been in New Zealand since early this year, battling leukemia and gritting his teeth through painful chemotherapy treatments. But the light at the end of the tunnel is the outpouring of support from his […]

Wristbands for travellers

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Local

Travellers arriving on the first flight from Sydney will be given a green and yellow wristband (like the one below) which entitles them to special offers. Visitors will get a map which shows where the restaurants and shops offering discounts are. Outlets will track how much the wristbands are used to see if the promotion […]

First Sydney flight fully booked

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Local

The new direct flight from Sydney has taken off with a bang, according to Cook Islands Tourism (CIT) chief executive Carmel Beattie. The first direct flight from Sydney lands in Rarotonga on Sunday and is fully booked and flights all the way through July have “strong bookings, Beattie said. She said that there has been […]

Toa appeal confirmed

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Local

The Toa appeal hearing has been confirmed for Monday, July 12 in Auckland. Both government and Toa lawyers will make submissions before the appellate court at the Auckland District Law Society Building. The hearing is predicated on government’s desire for appellate judges to review Justice Weston’s May decision, which declared Toa the victor in a […]

Dire warning about diet

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Local

Dr Wame Baravilala, the keynote speaker at the 10th annual Cook Islands public health conference, delivered a stark warning about diet. “We need to stop overeating our way to an early grave,” he said at yesterday’s opening at the national auditorium. Baravilala told the conference that in many Pacific islands, obesity and the illnesses it […]

A job for life

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor James Beer doesn’t understand anything about being an MP in the Cook Islands. When you are elected as an MP, it is just like becoming a titleholder, just like when you bite the pig’s ear. This position is yours for your life, it doesn’t matter if you get a bit loose upstairs or […]

Do something for our rugby

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Last Saturday, while I was watching the Tupapa vs Avatiu rugby union game, I was told that Tupapa could only field two teams because of the shortages of players. But in the end the coach managed to select a team from the reserve and the under 19 players to make up the A […]

Full investigation needed

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Re: Allsworth v Ivaiti, It may well be a “cheap parting shot” but we don’t know that. A full, independent and transparent investigation needs to take place. You see, five years ago, a high flying lawyer/politician also said words to the same effect. The likes of Allsworth, Ivaiti, Tetava, Franklin and Elikana paid […]

Don't get lost in debt

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The time is now for bringing the Cook Islands out of debt. A lot of tourists were asking me, “Do you think that the Sheraton will ever be built and finished?” and as always my answer is “yes”. They ask when, and I say to them when I run for parliament. “How is […]

Kata - July 1, 2010

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Kata

Accident could have been serious

Thursday 1 July 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Just wondering if tourists are still being allowed to hire bikes before proving they can actually ride one and obtaining a bike licence?” a smoke signaller asks in a message to TXT188. “On Tuesday afternoon at the Island Car and Bike Hire beside Raro Cars we had a close encounter with a tourist who lost […]

Annual health conference opens today

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Local

The 10th annual Cook Islands Health Conference opens this morning at the national auditorium and runs through until Friday evening. A shorter conference will also be held on Aitutaki on Monday. The conference has a double theme – it will focus on ‘Women & Child Health’ and ‘Traditional Medicine’. Local doctors and health workers as […]

Election sparks rumours about CIIC board

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Local

Crown employees wanting to chase their political dreams at the elections this year must resign from their posts to be eligible candidates. Already rumour is rife that two members of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation board of directors – chairman Tapi Taio and Teava Iro Jnr – might soon join the ranks of those contesting […]

Allsworth accused of misconduct

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Local

Audit director says allegations are just a cheap parting shot Hot on the heels of the completion of the Toagate audit report, former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti has accused the director of the Audit office Paul Allsworth of misconduct. Allsworth has labelled the allegations a “cheap parting shot” as Ivaiti heads to Australia. It is […]