Articles by Utopia Support

Kata - May 19, 2010

Wednesday 19 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Religion and politics

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing about Bishop Tutai Pere’s rambling rhetoric in last Friday’s Churchtalk column. There is a rather pervasive religious element in our society, but we are still a secular country, and merging religion with politics can create a volatile mix, as is evident in the deadly insurgencies and wars motivated by this […]

Give minority a taste of their own medicine

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, A few months ago, a group of 19 MPs from the Demos and CIP, claiming to have a majority, called on the Prime Minister to call Parliament to resolve any leadership and administration issues within the country. Marurai, Wilkie and Wigmore and their minority group refused and hid behind the country’s constitution even […]

Telecom answers Framheim's allegations

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Telecom would like to make a public statement about the ongoing allegations from Mr Franheim on behalf of Mervin Communications. WiFi pricing First, in relation to Telecom’s ISP network services, I can confirm that Telecom sells a variety of broadband connection plans to businesses and residential customers. Telecom also provides WiFi and cybercafe […]

Kata - May 18, 2010

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Kata

Huge task for netball side

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Netball

The newly selected national netball team have the huge task of maintain the country’s seventh placing in the world at next month’s Pacific Series to be played in Rarotonga. The final national netball squad was selected at the end of what was a productive training camp at the weekend. The training squad of 15, including […]

U19 show class at weekend netball

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Netball

The weekend’s netball games saw just one premier grade clash but that didn’t mean there was any less action on court. As three of the Titikaveka premier grade star players were in New Zealand for the national squad trials, the Titikaveka versus Takuvaine premier clash was not held. The game will be played on Friday […]

Our very own Gilligan's Island

Tuesday 18 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

The safe return of the four from Manuae is fantastic news, but attention now must be given to the investigation into what really happened to ensure there isn’t a repeat of what must have been a costly rescue mission. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that all four men should not have […]

Lagoon Day is on again

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Planning for Lagoon Day is well underway and this year the event is set to kick start National Environment week. Thursday and Friday May 27-28 will see around 1000 school students and the general public converge on Nukupere Park to interact in a hands on learning experience, with booths spilling over with information on the […]

Joint EU visit

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Local

Officials from a delegation of the European Union (EU) for the Pacific and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will visit Rarotonga this week (May 17-21) to discuss current and future cooperation with the Cook Islands. The four-person delegation will meet with cabinet ministers and officials, including the deputy prime minister and minister of finance. Meetings […]

'It's a miracle'

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Local

Friends and family of the four men missing at sea on the run-down Gypsy Trader were calling it miraculous when the foursome returned to Rarotonga yesterday afternoon. They were rescued from being stranded on Manuae, an atoll near Aitutaki, after their old fishing vessel broke anchor and disappeared out to sea. Times and details of […]

Preview tonight

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Features

BCA Artist in Residence Rick Welland will preview a new exhibition tonight at the Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery, Taputapuatea, at 6pm. Fourteen new canvases and a ‘remastered’ series of prints will be on show. This is the first time in this artist’s career that such a large body of his work has been collected and […]

Mervin asks if Telco networks are legal

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Local company Mervin Communications is questioning the legality of foreign telecommunications networks operating in the country. Director William Framhein says it is probable that the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) and cabinet have not given their consent for the foreign enterprises to carry on business in the Cook Islands. He says it is possible that […]

Spider's did it first

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I refer to page 6 in CI News of May 14 and would like to correct the headline ‘Let’s all follow CITC’s example’. This should have read: ‘Let’s all follow Spider’s Aitutaki example’. It was Spider’s Supermarket here in Aitutaki, owned by Savage Lockington, who together with his very able CEO James Wearing […]

Questions and answers

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read the questions that Pastor Tutai Pere is asking of our leadership, and I read the questions that Sean Willis is asking of Pastor John Tangi. When I consider the notion that politics and religion don’t mix, I get to understand just how flawed some of our thinking is. Should pastors only […]

Cruise ships bring 'clean' tourism

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was intrigued with the misreporting that has been occasioned by the intention to construct landing areas around Rarotonga, so that cruise ships may have the opportunity to land more of their passengers. The following is my take on the idea to enable more passengers to be landed and the benefits that will […]

'Intense heat' at airport

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What is Des Eggleton talking about? What is the positive feedback that he is speaking of? I haven’t heard any positive feedback, I have heard however a multitude of complaints from customs and immigration officials about the intense heat in the building. Most comments I have heard from tourists is why did we […]

Forever belittling...

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia orana i te aroa maata o to tatou Atua. I toku tatau marie anga i te leta a Doreen Kavana Boggs kite koe, te kite nakiri uatu ra au i tona tokorua i muri i tona mokotua. As I read Doreen’s letter I have a feeling her husband was just behind her […]

Who got the seat?

Monday 17 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes: “Interesting to read in your paper that a Manihiki woman with a torn Achilles tendon gave up her seat for an emergency case from Pukapuka. I wonder who the Manihiki patient gave up her seat for? Obviously not for the Pukapuka patient. Among the passengers who hopped off the plane when […]

Norwegians celebrate

Saturday 15 May 2010 | Published in Local

Norwegians around the island will gather to remember and celebrate their motherland on Monday, which is Norway Day. Norwegian Grete Marsters has offered to host a function in honour of the holiday at her home on Monday afternoon. “It’s mainly just a get together, we’ll make a couple of Norwegian dishes and hopefully the kids […]