Articles by Utopia Support

Give board a fair go

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There has been a lot of recent criticism of the Tourist Authority Board and its chairman but the persons on this board are undoubtedly the most capable and experienced we have available on the island. Some of the criticism is coming from people with a vested interest in seeing change or other people […]

Reciprocal friendship for New Zealanders

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, No country in the whole world welcomes and financially assists the Cook Islands more than New Zealand. So what about some special reciprocation for our Kiwi friends and relations? Give New Zealanders your thanks and encouragement by helping their citizens exclusively, because of who they are, as they do for you. Invite all […]

We're in a 'perilous position'

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Cook Islands has been put in a perilous position by the Tourism Board, as it moved to reprimand Unique Tourism Collection (UTC) over Christopher de Doby’s letter to the industry. The board has acted hastily and incorrectly on many counts. The letter was not anonymous, as claimed. It was directed at Tata […]

A bit bogged out

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am writing in response to “Man with a ‘beef’ lets rip”.Yes, Steve Boggs let rip alright. A big fat smelly one. And I’m a bit bogged out by it. Can he please just get over himself and let the Minister of Finance do his job. Does he not appreciate that there is […]

CISNOC 'circus' claims answered

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Events at CISNOC (Cook Islands Sport and National Olympic Committee) since the Pacific Mini Games have been nothing short of a circus. This outfit seems to have turned into a defacto office for former CIP hacks and has-beens. The grandstanding President is now off to Europe for another junket being a world conference […]

Kata - April 28, 2010

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Kata

League playoff battles loom

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in League

Rugby league action will now head to the BCI Stadium for the next three weeks as teams go through the playoffs to secure a spot in the grand final. In the premier grade the Avatiu Eels and Tupapa Panthers will face off again this Saturday as the number one and two teams in the competition. […]

New jetty questioned

Wednesday 28 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“How can it be justified for $2 million to be spent on a new jetty for cruise ship tender boats that will only be used a couple of times a year?” a smoke signaller asks “What about spending that money on roads and sewerage and other more immediate needs? It’s like a man whose house […]

Rainy weather hangs around

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Local

Despite promises of clearer skies this week the island is still experiencing rainy weather. According to the Cook Islands Metrological Office, a more recent forecast expects the weather to start clearing up by tomorrow with less rain and a hint of sunshine. The reason for the continued weather is the South Pacific Convergence Zone is […]

Four islands keen to revive agriculture

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Local

Agriculture minister Robert Wigmore is keen to see the $3.5 million Te One Kura project take off after holding initial talks with the four islands taking up the challenge. The people of the Nga Pu Toru islands of Atiu, Mitiaro and Mauke along with Mangaia are all keen to take up the offer of assistance […]

Teachers invited to fun music training

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Local

Teachers Eitiare Vano, Merle Pukerua and Maara Scheel with an NZ teacher combining ukulele with keyboards during their Orff music in education workshop in Christchurch. “/> Three local performing arts lead teachers are hoping to share their knowledge of the Orff music system with other teachers this week through a fun workshop. The two day […]

Wigmore can't represent Demos says secretary

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Local

Democratic Party secretary John Tangi has declared that deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore is no longer a member of the party and can’t represent it at the next election. Last week Wigmore’s office issued a press release saying he had been confirmed once more as the Demo Party nomination for the Titikaveka seat. Yesterday Tangi […]

Man with a 'beef' let's rip

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, John Woods is right, I got a beef! I got a beef with anyone who praises Wilkie Rasmussen or any other member of cabinet, both past and present who would front up in court regarding Toagate, but doesn’t blast them all for agreeing to such a foolish idea in the first place. All […]

'Sheraton' detail refuted

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write regarding the letter ‘Sheraton worse than Toagate’ by Jacqui Evans in yesterday’s Cook Islands News. 1. Where on earth did Evans get the b.s. from? 2. I have never been a Minister of Tourism and as a person educated in legal matters would never sign a contract binding Cabinet or the […]

Kata - April 27, 2010

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Arorangi pull out of netball

Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Published in Netball

The Rarotonga club netball season is due to begin this Friday and Saturday but Arorangi is sticking to its decision of not accepting this season’s trial format of playing in the Telecom Sports Arena. Cook Islands News spoke with Cook Islands Netball Association president PJ Hockin on the status of clubs in relation to the […]

$200,000 prison renovations finished

Monday 26 April 2010 | Published in Local

Government officials, justice staff and honoured guests celebrated the renovation of the Arorangi prison at a ceremony on Friday. After ten inmates escaped from custody last year, government and Cook Islands Investment Corporation decided to re-vamp the facility and allocated $200,000 to the project. It was the first time since 1953 that the prison had […]

Wigmore confirms as candidate

Monday 26 April 2010 | Published in Local

Deputy prime minister and Titikaveka MP Robert Wigmore (above) is hoping to be re-elected for a second consecutive term in parliament – as a Demo Party MP – at this year’s election. Despite the Democratic Party split and the question of whether Wigmore is still a member of the party, given prime minister Jim Marurai’s […]

Our hopes are dashed

Monday 26 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Tight Five have been in control for four and a half months. How hopeful some of us were when they took over. How wrong. Except for replacing the Secretary of Finance with a competent person, what have they achieved? They have turned the future of our back-bone industry over to one resort […]

Why the barrage?

Monday 26 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I, like many people with an interest in tourism, went to the public meeting held by the tourism board. I have to admit that when I went in, I was slightly pessimistic as to the outcome. I am ashamed to say that after reading so much in the news about how bad everything […]