Articles by Utopia Support

Is this a repeat of 2004?

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A government that cannot recognise and understand democracy and the rights of the people is a country with no status. Mr Editor, I’ve been following the various news articles on the happenings and the fighting among the two political parties, and the injustice that has been accorded to the poor people who put […]

Kata - June 30, 2010

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Kata

New rappa exec making money?

Wednesday 30 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller phoned in these questions yesterday in relation to the Ruatonga Avatiu Panama Palmerston Atupa constituency, understandably referred to as RAPPA: “Why is the new RAPPA executive charging $5 to become a member when the Matavera and Nikao Cook Islands Party constituencies were charging $2 to become a member? What’s the extra $3 […]

Call for women candidates

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Local

Political reform lobby group founder Tiare Mackenzie is offering help and support to women in the Cook Islands who want to run in the upcoming elections. “It is not balanced in our parliament and we need more equal representation,” Mackenzie says. As a result of the national consultation on women in politics which took place […]

Safeguarding our culture

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Local

The national workshop on safeguarding the intangible or living cultural heritage of the Cook Islands officially opened yesterday with the sounds of the pu (conch shell), kaara (drums) and the vivo (nose flute). Noo Tuiravakai (above) is pictured expertly playing the vivo at yesterday’s opening of the workshop. The workshop is being delivered by the […]

3 contest candidacy

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Local

Three people are in the running for the Democratic Party candidacy in Tupapa-Maraerenga, the largest electorate in the Cook Islands. Sitting MP John Tangi has been challenged by Nooroa Tupa and William Framhein, who have both accepted nomination. Tupapa is the largest electorates in the country with 976 people on the electoral roll in 2006. […]

Good on you Wilkie

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Having watched the TV programme ‘Turama’ on Sunday night, I was very impressed with the comments from our Minister of Finance, Wilkie Rasmussen. You rectified a lot of areas of doubt that we as the taxpayers have had, and explained things very precisely giving us all a clearer picture of what is happening. […]

Young blood is what we need in politicis

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to respond to both Teuira Ka and Maukean Heart regarding their comment on Hugh Graham. As a Maukean residing in Auckland, I am saddened, at the same time appalled, by their senseless comments. Their letters confirmed one thing to us all: we live and breathe in a society full of […]

Women called to enter politics

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read yesterday’s Cook Islands News with so much interest – from the classified advertisements taken out by the two major political parties for nominations of candidates by their various puna, to the new transparent process in the Cook Islands Party constitution. It is obvious that the voting public are now moving and […]

Kata - June 29, 2010

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Being a candidate 'a joke'

Tuesday 29 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller going by the name ‘A Victim’ writes on the Cook Islands Party candidate selection issue: “I can see Peto’s (Albert Nicholas’) point as he does not want to go through what the other CIP punas went through when they had their candidate selection where the CIP executives were misleading, confusing and couldn’t […]

Special vaka trip for Rutaki kids

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Local

Apii Rutaki kids strapped on their lifejackets for a day out on the traditional voyaging vaka Marumaru Atua on Saturday. The group of around eight students were joined on their voyage by members of the public and other kids that happened to be at the Avatiu western harbour as the Rutaki kids were getting ready […]

The new party rules

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Local

At its Conference in September 2009, the CIP adopted a new Constitution which contained some significant and far-reaching reforms. One of these is contained in Article 24(2) as follows: “In recognition of the principles of accountability and contestability and the long accepted principle that a Parliamentary seat belongs to the people, every incumbent Member of […]

Youngster shines for Dragonflies

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Features

Soon to be sweet 16 Mati Toru had another fantastic game for Avatiu on Saturday as she smiled her way through her team’s 58-32 win against Takuvaine to head to next weekend’s grand finals against the Titikaveka Pearls. The 15-year-old shooter, who has played outstandingly through the whole season, is set to face Titikaveka’s defenders […]

Open, fair and honest runoffs

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Like most Cook Islanders, I’ve come to believe we must call for a systematic overhaul of the processes by which political parties nominate electoral candidates and that this overhaul is urgent. I am watching the “nomination and runoff saga” with an odd blend of amusement and concern. I admit it’s mildly entertaining to […]

Bikes not safe storage

Monday 28 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Visitors to the island must be educated to the fact that a motorcycle seat is not a door to a secure, hidden safe and valuables must not be left there while the bike renter goes snorkeling or tramping. Some thieves can pop a bike seat off in a few seconds and be off with the […]

New dance studio

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Local

Dance and drama has a new home in the form of a dedicated studio at Tereora College. This was a scene at the official opening this week.

Restructuring

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Local

The ministry of culture is facing a management restructure. According to secretary of culture Sonny Williams, the current leadership consists of ten directors and managers, an arrangement which makes for a ministry that is “too top heavy”. Williams, who was re-appointed to his post in August of last year, has been working with public service […]

Police apprehend wanted offender

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Local

Police located and apprehended 20-year-old Rima Iotua on Wednesday evening. He is being held in custody for contempt of court and faces questioning this week regarding a number of offences committed in the Matavera area, for which he is a suspect. This week, a three-year-old boy escaped serious injuries when he was crossing the road […]

CIP taken to task

Saturday 26 June 2010 | Published in Local

The executive committee for Avatiu MP Albert Nicholas says for now they will continue to campaign as members of the Cook Islands Party (CIP) but are accusing the party executive of double standards. The assistant campaign manager for Nicholas, his son Albert Nicholas Jnr, said if the executive want to quote the party’s constitution then […]