Articles by Utopia Support

Exit review by tourism marketing director

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

My five years as Director of Marketing and at times Acting CEO have been years of great enjoyment and professional development. In that time I have seen the corporation expand in incredibly positive ways. It has been a challenge and as we all know, we have had highs and lows. As colleagues we have not […]

Four tourism questions:

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Note: these are my personal views and do not include all of my concerns, however these are the main four I have at this time. This latest, very serious revelation from Australia leaves much for you to answer. I hope you and the board take it seriously instead of denouncing the comments and attacking the […]

Sunspots positive

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been following along the recent changes in the Tourism Corporation and have stood by while reading a variety of negative comments in regards to the recent changes and I feel like I cannot stand by anymore without adding my perspective. I have personally worked with the Tourism Corporation for over 20 […]

Stop the Titanic

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It amazes me just how blinded Tata is about the clear conflict of interest he has holding his private hotel ownership and the tourism chairmanship. Tata, since becoming the chair of tourism, started all these problems by introducing a vision that doesn’t exist and getting rid of capable and professional staff. I don’t […]

It's a comedy of errors

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’m getting tired of the countless letters streaming in from overseas bemoaning the fact that the Cook Islands are on a path of destruction at the hands brutal dictators, inept politicians and a local population that is too stupid to act. Politics in the Cook Islands is no different from other countries worldwide […]

Kata - April 21, 2010

Wednesday 21 April 2010 | Published in Kata

Cooks to be promoted at World Expo

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Local

A team of four Cook Islanders are heading to Shanghai, China this month to promote tourism, trade and foreign investment over the next six months at the 2010 World Expo. The Expo runs from May 1 to October 31 and is the largest event of its kind in history. About 75 million visitors are expected […]

Carr gets to grips with Government finances

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Local

Kevin Carr is back. The newly appointed acting financial secretary aims to get a grip on the state of government finances and to start using a financial model as soon as it is created to help with problems, such as budget deficits. He takes up his position after the government allowed former financial secretary Sholan […]

It's treachery

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Was it worth your while printing rubbish from Steve Boggs? I wonder whether attributions to me by Boggs require you to check authenticity. Or is it the case that you don’t care? How disappointing. Anyway, I called Steve Boggs an American because he is. That’s not being a bigot. It’s telling the truth. […]

Cancel the direct Aussie flights now

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I tried to find Christopher de Doby amongst Australian travel wholesalers without success. His damming report on Tata Crocombe may have some legs, however we should be made aware if he is in a position to be so scathing and if he does indeed represent Australia wholesalers’ thinking. Australians have a wide choice […]

National netball squad named

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Netball

After a rigorous day of fitness tests and ball skill drills – 15 players have made the cut for the Cook Islands national netball team. But the trials are not over for the successful 15. A final selection for a squad of 12 will be conducted two weeks out from the Pacific Series to be […]

Stress relief!

Tuesday 20 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“The audacity of the man!” exclaims a smoke signaller. “Brett Porter somehow got an agreement with ‘government’ to buy his failing company – with now just two years left on the troubled Toa Petroleum land lease – and now he wants taxpayer money to help him buy stock in order to stay in business, pay […]

Police search for young offenders

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Local

Police were yesterday still searching for two young offenders after they were found to have breached their probation conditions. Senior Sergeant Ngatamariki Pouao said that during a routine check on Saturday night, police found that three young offenders had not obeyed their curfew. One offender was tracked down while the other two are still at […]

Toa 'bombshell' before the court

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Local

Apex director claims settlement payment vital to avoid going into receivership Apex Agencies director Brett Porter claimed in an affidavit to the court last month that the fuel distributor may have gone into receivership if government did not honour its multi-million out of court settlement by the end of March. In February government informed Apex […]

Big weekend looms

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Features

After a tense 24-20 win over the Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles at the weekend, the Avatiu Eels will now prepare to take on the Tupapa Panthers this Saturday with the Edgewater minor premiership trophy and $2000 up for grabs. The clash will be at the swamp and along with a trophy and cash to play for […]

Stop acting like children and blaming everyone

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, What is the problem with these Politicians who are acting like little children? Is this how you behave in your family circles blaming everyone else and not yourself. Those of us who are supporting our families in the Cook Islands through monetary ways are ashamed of what is happening in the Cook Islands. […]

Just wondering where the law balance is

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor A recent Turama program went hard on the law regarding alcohol licensing and stuff. The interview was regarding laws put in place for every owner of a business where alcohol was to be purchased and was very firm on their stance about what the law requires now if they have such a strong […]

Good on George

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to publicly congratulate George Maggie on his selection as CIP candidate for the next election. Like a lot of Cook Islanders my wife and I and children and grandchildren left our beautiful home island of Manihiki for Australia and NZ. We left because of our country’s failed ability to govern […]

Act now Mr Wigmore

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

On a recent marketing trip to NZ I had an extremely worrying conversation with one of our largest NZ travel wholesalers. The wholesaler in question voiced concerns to me that reflected that of the concerns of Australian wholesaler Christopher de Doby outlined in Saturday’s paper. I have voiced these concerns to several of the Tourism […]

Just get on with it or please go away

Monday 19 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Reading this morning’s (Saturday) news on tourism and the Aussie comments of an imminent collapse of the industry I can’t help reflecting on the long list of failed projects over the last 30-40 years, from the simplest and smallest to the intricate and largest, from copra, bananas, pineapples, coffee and vanilla beans plus […]