Articles by Utopia Support

Election fine says Marsters

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Local

Tom Marsters has disputed the suggestion that his selection as candidate for the Cook Islands Party (CIP) in Murienua was unconstitutional. “I have been in politics for 40 years. The procedure is that all of the committee come together and then I am selected,” he said. This is despite the fact that leader of the […]

Titikaveka hammers Red Divas

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Features

Club netball action was back on again at the Telecom Sports Arena at the weekend after a week’s break for the Pacific Series last week. In the premier grade, the Takuvaine Red Divas were slaughtered 71-35 by the Titikaveka club on Friday night. Not that Takuvaine were too upset by the results, however, they know […]

A rainy night at netball...

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Off we went full of expectation and enthusiasm. Our first visit to the national stadium to watch the Cook Island girls play Fiji on the Friday evening at 6.45pm. We did not expect valet parking but we did think there would at the least be some designated parking! If there is a parking […]

Send a clear message

Monday 14 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s disparaging to read of the political turmoil in the Cook Islands and one cannot help but hope that the people will send a clear message to those that “represent” them of what they expect with regard to that representation. As a New Zealand born of Cook Island descent, I am proud nonetheless […]

Poems and odes to our environment

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Environment

Rarotonga school children played a big role in last week’s ‘environment week’ – drawing, photographing, dancing and writing poems and stories to highlight some of the environmental issues we face in our islands. There were some fantastic drawings displayed in the three banks and during the week’s performing arts competition – Avarua school opened up […]

Revolutionary sewage treatment for all homes

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Environment

THE LOWERING of the water quality in the lagoon is a serious concern to everyone in the Cook Islands. Reversing the degradation of the water could mean that the people of Rarotonga can once again eat fish from the lagoon without fear of fish poisoning. Now help is at hand as Geoff Mavromatis and his […]

Less electors this election

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Local

As general elections draw nearer, the electoral committee is busy updating the electoral roll of each constituency. After the previous elections in September 2006, the ministry of justice records showed a total of 10,181 registered voters. When the rolls were updated in 2008, the number of electors had dropped to 10,025. Now, deputy chief electoral […]

Tangee's back

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Local

Monday’s run-off between Piritau Nga and Tangi ‘Tangee’ Kokaua will decide who will be the CIP candidate for Nikao-Panama. Tangee has been away for eight months recording an album in New Zealand, but says he is back for good now. He said that “The problems in the Demo Party are of course a plus for […]

Tangee to perform at market today

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Features

Local artist Tangee Kokaua is back in Rarotonga after spending eight months in New Zealand recording his seventh album, E Metua Vaine. He launches the new recording at the Punanga Nui Market today and will be performing some of the songs. The first song on the album is the Nikao Cultural Group’s kapa rima (action […]

Tuesday story time

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Features

The Ministry of Education is treating mothers and their children to a nice afternoon outing and supporting literacy at the same time with its Tuesday story time programme. Weather permitting, a group of mothers and children gather outside the Cook Islands Museum and Library every Tuesday afternoon from 4pm until 4.30 to listen to volunteer […]

Football feast for fans

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Features

Keen football fans would have woken up in the wee hours of yesterday morning to watch the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. But it doesn’t stop there, football fanatics will be able to watch all 64 world cup matches on local television thanks to Fiji television station Mai […]

'It works' for new Salsa owners

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Features

Cafe Salsa, home to the only wood-fired pizza on Rarotonga, is in new hands. When former owners Tony and Kelly Bullivant decided to sell the business, New Zealand couple Gerard and Erika Kaczmarek jumped at the chance. “We did our homework and (Salsa) really stacks up,” Gerard said. “It’s a good location and it’s got […]

Title correction

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On June 2, we ran a story which had an incorrect title for Papa Tangaroa Kainuku. Papa Tangaroa’s official Rarotongan title is Ema-Ema-Rangi, which means Kainuku Paramount High Priest, narrator of the Kainuku genealogy and historian for Kainuku Kopu-Tangata. Papa Tangaroa confirmed this is the correct title. Our apologies.

'Letter mine'

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to your article ‘Cut the crap says George’, I am more than capable of writing my own letters thank you Norman. Most often I find myself disagreeing with what Norman says, on this occasion I agree on one thing, it is time for less chat and more work. At the Demo […]

The Good Ol' days

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to correct your Smoke Signal in Friday’s 11 June issue that I, Tupui Ariki Henry challenged Sir Geoffrey Henry for the CIP Leadership and failed and caused the crisis of 1983, ending with another election in November. I challenged Sir Geoffrey in our cabinet meeting because he stripped me of my […]

Make tough call

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Like blue moons it is a rare opportunity that has presented itself to the current Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, William Smiley Heather. Minister Heather holds within his grasp a chance to make the radical sweeping changes within his former stomping ground and appoint a person of calibre and credibility to lead a […]

Kata - June 12, 2010

Saturday 12 June 2010 | Published in Kata

Stewardship and money are not the same things

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Church Talk

Stewardship is an old-fashioned word that basically means "management". And a steward is a manager.

Marsters' selection challenged

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Local

A dispute has arisen over how free and fair the election of Tom Marsters as candidate for the CIP in Murienua was. The Cook Islands Party contacted CI News ahead of yesterday’s paper and stated that sitting MP Tom Marsters was to be the party’s candidate for Murienua. But Andre Tapena was also been nominated […]

High noon showdown for Demos

Friday 11 June 2010 | Published in Local

A lunch meeting is planned today in another bid to set a happy, harmonious course for Democratic Party MPs. Deputy Prime Minister Robert Wigmore is hosting the noon luncheon for the six cabinet members and the nine MPs who parted company when Sir Terepai Maoate was sacked at Christmas. It is understood that some of […]