Articles by Utopia Support

Water project survey complete

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Environment

The initial survey for the $5 million European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project has been completed and the project is now going into its next phase. The Muri Environment Care Group project team began the survey at the end of December. Over a period of four months, 10 surveyors interviewed and collected data on […]

Muri's Eco Warriors adventure next week

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Environment

The Muri Eco Warriors Kids Club two-day school holiday adventure on April 20-21 is a great option for kids who live in Muri. The programme is free for kids aged 4-13 years and is a great way for children to learn about pollution and the environment. The Eco Warriors environmental youth group started last year […]

Jewellery judging to begin soon

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Environment

Lots of waste materials used by kids to make their creations Thirty-three entries have been received for the Te Akatauira recycled jewellery competition with judging beginning this week. “The overall standard is very good,” competition organiser Paka Worthington said. Co-organiser Jacqui Evans says the entrants have been very resourceful in their use of waste materials. […]

Takua time!

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Local

Mauke boy Te Maui William has had a big adventure and a learning experience thanks to an abundant Takua fishing season on his outer island. Men, women and children all have a role to play in the harvest. Get tomorrow’s Cook Islands News for details. 10041427

PDL pays 60c

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Local

Pacific Distributors Ltd (PDL) – the collapsed grocery group – submitted this week before Judge Weston that it has paid 60 cents in the dollar to outstanding creditors. Counsel Tony Manarangi for PDL applied to summons a meeting between creditors to discuss the scheme of arrangement that was set in place in October 2008. To […]

Maggie survives party complaints

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Party says two complaints in relation to George Maggie Angene’s controversial selection as the party candidate for Tupapa-Maraerenga are invalid. On Tuesday the CIP executive met to consider two written complaints about the voting procedure followed at the nominee run-off held last week. The complaints looked to be an attempt by some […]

Tourism industry council supports board's vision

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council says it strongly supports the CI Tourism board in its endeavours to grow the industry. In a press release yesterday, the council said the new board, chaired by Tata Crocombe, has demonstrated a profound vision for the industry and they must now show it is capable of leading the […]

Old photos wanted

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I’ve been trying to hunt down old school photos for 1976 of Avatea School, Kumete Sports, and Primary School Competitions. Likewise for Tereora College from 1977 to 1981. Living overseas doesn’t make it easy to search the archives in Raro. I’ve tried asking friends and old school friends, so far no availability. Are […]

$1 fare no good for small people

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Congratulations to the Cook Islands Tourism Board for devising such a brilliant strategy (like last year’s) which serves your own personal agendas and not the industry as a whole. The recent and ongoing increase in Air Raro flights to Aitutaki per day is only catering for the big resorts at the expense of […]

Top grade ref required for premier match

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not a club supporter of either the Avatiu Eels or the Ngatangiia Sea Eagles. I am, however, a big fan of rugby league. I love the game and reckon that the way it is played in our country is bloody awesome. In fact, the hugely exciting match between the Panthers and […]

Kata - April 16, 2010

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Kata

$1.2m an acre?

Friday 16 April 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

A couple of local websites that have land leases for sale have asking prices for vacant beachfront land that may surprise some people. For example, one beachfront section in Arorangi of 2500 square metres has an asking price of $750,000. That’s a little over half an acre (0.6177 acres) and if it sells for that […]

Minister to Atiu

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Local

Health minister Apii Piho is due in Atiu today to discuss renovations and other plans for the island’s hospital. Yesterday the minister said he had also been planning to visit Mangaia earlier this week but has put that on hold for now. The hospitals on the two islands are part of projects that government hopes […]

Audit happy with Aitutaki accounts

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Local

The Audit Office has finished poring over the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee receipt books and given it the thumbs-up. Director of audit Paul Allsworth presented the committee with an Unqualified Opinion report, which indicates that the books are clean. “We believe that everyone involved in the collection process exercised the utmost honesty and integrity in […]

Broadband speeds explained

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Residential broadband problems are sometimes to do with the age and lack of memory of a computer. This is one comment from Telecom Cook Islands in reply to questions asked by a reader in Smoke Signals about residential broadband. TCI marketing and sales manager Mark Boyd thanks the signaller (on April 14) and says the […]

'I listen to my people'

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to tell Mr Boggs, an Amercian living in Arorangi, that I have always called things as I see them and will continue to do so. I wish to thank him for reminding the public of my previous views which I have never retracted or denounced. I hope he understands what I […]

Timber is better

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On my way home after chatting with a local about concerns of sand removal on Mauke, it struck me that this same concern needs to be considered with the block houses being planned for Aitutaki. I do not believe that Aitutaki’s environment can sustain the taking of enough sand to build so many […]

Poetic justice

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Who are we kidding when we think we can get the general public to change their voting habits and select candidates of a high calibre who are savvy and can make decisive decisions at both village and national level? We can only hope that 10-20 years down the track this may change but […]

Kata - April 15, 2010

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in Kata

League points table to be finalised

Thursday 15 April 2010 | Published in League

Rugby league executives will meet today to finalise the points table and standings of local clubs this season. In the meantime, catch-up games will be played this Friday and Saturday. Takuvaine valley field will be the place to catch some great age grade league action with the Takuvaine Warriors to host the Arorangi Bears for […]