Articles by Utopia Support

CITC takes the lead in industry training

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Environment

Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) has taken the lead in the private sector to provide industry training in the Cook Islands. Last week the Department for National Human Resources Development (DNHRD) director Frances Topa-Apera and CITC general manager Gaye Whitta signed a memorandum of understanding formalising CITC as a training provider under the accreditation of […]

Aust rep named

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Local

CI Tourism has announced the appointment of Wayne Borland as director of strategic development to be based in Sydney, Australia. Yesterday the corporation said that Borland will also be responsible for representing it in Australia. The announcement follows CI Tourism’s decision to terminate Unique Tourism Collection’s marketing contract last month after fallout with one of […]

Suwarrow caretakers chosen

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Local

The national environment service has named the new caretakers for the island of Suwarrow, and the pair will set out to begin their six-month stint at the end of this month. James Mataa was chosen as park ranger and Apii Williams will support him as assistant park ranger. Mataa is a self-employed carpenter who spent […]

PM eyes up first overseas trip in August

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai may soon set a new record for the longest stretch a cabinet minister has gone without travelling overseas. He is currently considering whether he will take his first overseas trip of the year in August. Ministers have in the past travelled frequently, but Marurai put a freeze on ‘non-essential’ ministerial travel […]

Whose money is it?

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor I read in our local newspapers that Tata Crocombe is going to get Government to guarantee the losses of the direct Sydney-Raro flights up to $2.4 million dollars! Hey, why is Government so stupid to do this, it’s not their money, it belongs to the people. Only last month Government paid Brett Porter […]

Kiwi friendship

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Re John Cooper, Vaimaanga, letter re “Reciprocal friendship for New Zealanders” I’m all for it. Would love to be able to spend more than the mandatory 30 days in your beautiful islands. Think about it, I’m one of many Kiwis that think the same way. I might even want to live there then […]

Telecom 'one of the cheapest'

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor In response to Tom Douke’s letter in the paper about the cost of Telecom’s WiFi. Telecom is one of about 10 providers of WiFi service around Rarotonga. Tourists can choose which provider they wish to use, depending on price, convenience, ease of use etc. Tourists can also use several competing internet cafes around […]

Kata - May 7, 2010

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Kata

League semifinals all set to go

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in League

It’s semi-finals time in the rugby league competition with two games scheduled for tonight at the BCI Stadium and three games tomorrow. The Titikaveka baby Bulldogs will face the Arorangi baby Bears in tonight’s first semi-final clash. This game kicks off at 4pm and the winner will go on to meet Tupapa in the under […]

Foul mouth spoils game for others

Friday 7 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

An irate sports fan writes: “I am a league freak and always have been since I was a little girl, from ARL to NRL and now CIRL, it’s like our own little island State of Origin. I love it! But I am so sick and tired of Tupapa supporters screaming foul and obscene remarks at […]

Evans appointed TIS manager

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Environment

With the financial assistance of Birdlife International (BIL) and CEPFund, Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) has appointed Jacqui Evans as its programme manager. Evans, whose position becomes effective from May 17, has been involved with TIS since its inception in 1996, as a volunteer in both technical and practical roles and serving as president of this […]

Cook Islands ranks as top destination

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands was ranked fourth on the list of top 10 beach and sun destinations in the world by TripAdvisor, the world’s most popular and largest online travel community. The ranking came as TripAdvisor announced the winners of its 2010 Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards. And despite being hit by Cyclone Pat two months ago, […]

Tangi staying quiet on Demo conference call

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Local

Hand-delivered letter requests May 17 for party get-together Democratic Party secretary general John Tangi has refused to comment on a request by a ‘majority’ of the party’s executives for him to call a conference of the party this month. The Demo party faction supporting Prime Minister Jim Marurai’s cabinet believe the date of a party […]

'Concerned parent' told to open up their eyes

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor The letter by ‘A Very Concerned Parent’ yesterday is expected of idle hands. For their information, I’ve managed an oil industry built in the midst of a residential and commercial area that distributes over 10 million litres of fuel annually and which has a storage capacity of over 2.5 million litres of petroleum […]

Kata - May 6, 2010

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Kata

A PM for the people

Thursday 6 May 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

On the subject of a nationally elected prime minister, a smoke signaller writes: “Under our current Parliamentary structure the PM calls the shots – if he can control Cabinet, which operates under a system of the most stubborn gets his or her way. What the voting public needs is a PM who will try and […]

Isamaela is Titikaveka candidate

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Local

Police Superintendent Taivero Isamaela has been selected as the Cook Islands Party candidate to contest the Titikaveka seat at this year’s election. Last week the Titikaveka CIP committee receive three nominations for the candidacy one of which was incomplete and declared invalid. The other nominee withdrew to support Isamaela’s candidacy. The committee met on Monday […]

Crew ready to defend

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Local

Officers of the Cook Islands police patrol boat Te Kukupa are training in maritime law enforcement this week to prepare for any dangerous scenarios while out patrolling the Cook Islands waters. The officers have been training under the guidance of Chief Petty Officer Steve Philpott from the Royal Australian Navy and federal agent Nicolle Haig […]

New tourism head excited about industry's future

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Local

Newly appointed CI Tourism chief executive Carmel Beattie will take up the two year position early next month. Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe announced the appointment, saying that Beattie brings to the Cook Islands a wealth of knowledge on international markets, destination marketing and development and a strong international network of contacts that will prove […]

Quiet weekend for police

Wednesday 5 May 2010 | Published in Features

Police say last weekend was a quiet one. An operation targeting drunk drivers found only four people driving with excess breath alcohol, all of who will appear in court this week. Sergeant Paraia Vainerere said that there “weren’t many people out and about (at the weekend), which was surprising”. He said that the hub of […]