Articles by Utopia Support

Tax plan draws flak

Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Published in Local

A number of Cook Islands business owners are unhappy with Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen going in to bat for a company that is being threatened with closure because it hasn’t paid its tax bills. A petition has been lodged by the Collector of Inland Revenue for the winding up of the established clothing business Tav […]

It's do or die on the courts

Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Published in Features

This weekend’s netball games will be a ‘do or die’ match for all teams taking to the courts with the winners to meet those that were victorious during Saturday’s knockout round. In the premier grade, Titikaveka defeated Avatiu to go straight to the finals on Saturday July 3. It was a tough battle for both […]

Rasmussen's tax plan unpopular

Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was astounded to read in Cook Islands News on Monday that Minister Rasmussen in addition to intervening in tax matters is planning on giving a policy to banks which will ‘protect people who are struggling to pay their mortgages’. Who does he think he is? The sole shareholder of Westpac and ANZ? […]

Kata - June 22, 2010

Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Paradise recovering

Tuesday 22 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“Aitutaki is recovering in good spirits from their devastation from Cyclone Pat,” a smoke signaller says. “Around the island a number of families are in tents but still happy to wave and talk to visitors who stop by. With the world in such turmoil, there are a lot of places you would rather not be […]

Palmerston letter calls for Marsters' removal

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Local

A letter from Palmerston has been sent to the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers calling for the removal of the island secretary Tere Marsters. The letter, dated June 16, was sent by Bill Marsters who signs himself family head and leader, Akakaingaro family. In the letter Bill Marsters says that he is writing on […]

Aitutaki second build to begin

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Local

Work on houses which have suffered category three and four damage in Aitutaki is set to begin in early July. There are 160 homes which have suffered major damage or have been completely destroyed. The work will begin when materials arrive on the next ship to Aitutaki in July. In preparation the Aitutaki administration has […]

Minister wants to help firms

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Local

Minister of Finance Wilkie Rasmussen has confirmed that four businesses besides Tav Ltd, each of which employs between five and 10 staff, are being chased by the tax department for unpaid debts. Rasmussen would not name the organisations involved, but said that he is developing a policy to protect businesses which are struggling to pay […]

CIP meeting call

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I have no wish to debate Cook Islands Party (CIP) matters for the RAPPA puna anywhere else but in a meeting of the puna. Again all CIP supporters in the RAPPA electorate are cordially invited to come to the meeting this Tuesday evening in front of Mama Uritaua’s home. That’s where we will […]

Hospital service praised

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Having just returned from a holiday in the Cook Islands, I should like to compliment the doctor and nurses who attended to me at the Rarotonga Hospital. The service I received was excellent from both Dr Voi Solomone and the treatment nurses. I can’t speak too highly of the care from the staff […]

Aito usage questioned

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor What’s wrong with using the Maori language of Rarotonga? While it’s good to see young Cook Islanders getting fit through paddling, can someone please explain the relevance of the term aito to this water sport? Aito in the Maori language of Rarotonga is either an eagle or a nuisance. In Mangaia aitoa means […]

Graham questioned

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, If Mr Graham has to go back and check his previous articles, then he may realise that I was only raising issues that he has openly deemed to have quoted in the Cook Islands News. I am not going to entertain Mr Graham by reminding him what he said in his previous articles, […]

Kata - June 21, 2010

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Special combo pack

Monday 21 June 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Raro sandwich boards suddenly got more interesting as seen in the photo at right! Either someone was having a little fun with a piece of chalk and changed the last letter from K to N (or first letter from C to P), or maybe this shop is advertising that they’ve got an internet caf inside. […]

CIP candidacy disputed

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Local

But Okotai issued a statement which said there was been no opportunity for nominees to come forward. “Confirmation of Peto Nicholas as the CIP candidate for the coming general election is a surprise to executive of the party,” Okotai said. “The executive have been advised by some of the staunch party supporters in the electorate […]

PM balks at support

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Local

The Prime Minister is not buying the offer of support made to him by John Tangi. Jim Marurai is unhappy with statements made in yesterday’s CI News by Tangi, the Democratic Party MP for Tupapa. On Thursday Tangi publicly offered the support of the nine rogue Demo MPs to allow for the dissolution of Parliament […]

Vaka way to go!

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Features

HANDS UP: Araura Primary School were found by CI News waiting patiently by the double hulled vaka Marumaru Atua on Thursday afternoon. The students from Aitutaki, along with students from the southern group islands and Rarotonga schools were taking part in a student conference that ended yesterday. The conference centres on Education for Sustainable Development […]

Maori speech competition on

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Features

Avatea Primary School has taken up the challenge this year of hosting the Rarotonga primary schools Maori speech competition. With 42 students and eight participating schools, the competition is to be completely in Cook Islands Maori including a traditional turou to kick off the event. The competition is an initiative started last year by then […]

New Rarotonga terminal poised to open

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Features

The official opening of the new Rarotonga international airport terminal will be held on Monday at 2.30pm. The $8.5 million dollar upgrade work to the airport terminal began in early 2009 by New Zealand company Hawkins Constructions. Plans and proposals for the renovation of the airport terminal began in 1996 and with tighter security requirements […]

Baker cooks up weight loss plan

Saturday 19 June 2010 | Published in Features

Caf Jireh baker Katie Wilkins knows all too well the health issues that go hand in hand with being overweight. Today, the 49-year-old is fitter, stronger and healthier than she has ever been. But a year ago she received a serious warning from the doctors that her blood pressure was extremely high and that she […]