Articles by Utopia Support

Lights out at the Eel swamp

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Local

Ever seen the swamp by candle light? Tomorrow the Avatiu Sports Club – in support of the Earth Hour initiative – will be turning out its lights, piling the drinks from the bar fridge into a chilli bin and partying under the stars. The club will be hosting an ‘earth happy hour’ at the Avatiu […]

No comment by tourism executives

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Local

CI Tourism NZ office manager Chris Ingram says he prefers not to comment on the reasons for his resignation last Friday other than to say it was regrettable and that he remains committed to the people of the Cook Islands. Questions remain over what the industry has labelled ‘interference’ in the running of the corporation […]

Budget blowout 'exaggerated'

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Local

Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen has issued an assurance to the public that government will produce a realistic and responsible budget for 2010-11. “The government is well aware that 2010 is an election year but it will take actions that will strengthen the economy, limit the expenses of the country and maintain its tax base while […]

New minister meets the staff

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Local

Newly appointed environment minister Cassey Eggelton told staff at the National Environment Service yesterday that she was a minister who liked to work. “And if we all collectively work together, we can make things better,” she said. In her second day on the job, the minister made an informal visit to the environment office in […]

Plea for small operators

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The recent resignations at Cook Islands Tourism Corporation are not a good thing. Both Glenda Tuaine and Chris Ingram were very competent in their respective roles, delivering the outputs expected by both Cook Islands Tourism and the tourism industry as a whole. As dedicated tourist ambassadors for this country, it is widely known […]

Jobs for 'boys'

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, With the appointment of Cassey Eggleton as a Minister, the coconut wireless has been running hot with talk of inducements and lolly offers from on high. All for the purpose of inducing some MPs to swap sides in order to further bolster their numbers. Watch this space for the creation of new posts […]

TV quality a turn-off

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Could the management of CITV please advise when the quality of the TV reception received around the island of Rarotonga will be improved? For the past few weeks the quality of CITV’s reception at my home in Turangi has been poor to say the least. In fact, it is getting worse by the […]

Kata - March 26, 2010

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in Kata

League heads under fire

Friday 26 March 2010 | Published in League

A vote of no confidence against Cook Islands Rugby League Association president Charles Carlson and vice president Navy Epati was tabled at Monday’s executive meeting citing poor administration and management by the pair. The letter of no confidence was presented at the meeting by the Arorangi Bears Rugby League Association who have had enough of […]

Fish poisoner convicted

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Local

An Atiu man, Tangata Metuangaro, pleaded guilty to charges of breaching fishing regulations in Atiu waters earlier this month,. He was convicted and instructed to pay a fine of $500, which was handed over to the Atiu Island Council to be used for environment management. The maximum penalty for breaching fishing regulations is $50,000 or […]

Tourism people 'extremely concerned'

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Local

Tourism council calls on board to explain new strategies to industry Local tourism industry operators want answers on staff resignations and the future strategy. The tourism industry council is calling on the tourism board to outline its forward strategies to an urgent general meeting of industry members. The council executive met yesterday and resolved to […]

Cabinet asked to 'reign in' tourism board

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, ‘Changes needed in tourism’ is a great headline and in my view is the best decision by the so-called tourism board. They should start with a mass resignation for the good of the industry and country. Tata, Dorice, Ewan, Robert, Thomas, Theresa, and Iaveta – get rid of your personal interests at these […]

Tourism brickbats and bouquets

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor A bouquet to Sir Terepai. Well done for exposing this tourism tragedy which is what it is. A brickbat to the Tourism Board for allowing this to happen. When we are all in favour of “locals” for “local jobs” how do we allow two extremely talented and competent people to be lost to […]

Kata - March 25, 2010

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Water wasting

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

“I’ve just been watching the local news asking us all once again, not to waste water, to use it wisely and with thought for those living on higher ground,” a smoke signaller writes. “The thought crossed my mind when I went to town last Saturday morning where I noticed two organisations offering car washes as […]

Soccer strategises for future

Thursday 25 March 2010 | Published in Football

Soccer is mustering up a long-term strategy for continued development of the sport in the country. FIFA representative Glenn Turner, deputy general secretary for Oceania Football Confederation Greg Larsen and Win in Oceania project manager Vairani Davio are currently on Rarotonga holding a three-day workshop. The workshop with Cook Islands Football Association staff and Rarotonga […]

Matavera MP among women leaders for Earth Hour 2010

Wednesday 24 March 2010 | Published in Environment

With just five days to go before the people of the planet switch off for Earth Hour, prominent women across the globe are leading the way to encourage the people of the world to show what can be done to fight climate change. The voice for Earth Hour in the Cooks is the newest member […]

Hotels must preach water safety: police

Wednesday 24 March 2010 | Published in Local

After the rescue of four tourists from the Rutaki passage on Saturday, police say it’s time to re-visit some water safety initiatives. “We need more awareness programmes, especially for tourists,” senior sergeant Nga Pouao said. “We need hoteliers to tell our tourists not to swim and snorkel around the passage areas and to swim at […]

She hopes to heal rift

Wednesday 24 March 2010 | Published in Local

New cabinet minister Cassey Eggelton (above) hopes her appointment will help heal the Democratic Party’s deep divide. “I don’t want to see this country in turmoil,” she said at her swearing in at Government House in Titikaveka yesterday. She said the move should help bring some stability to government and heal the rift between the […]

Cassey joins cabinet

Wednesday 24 March 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister Jim Marurai welcomed the appointment of Matavera MP Cassey Eggelton as the sixth minister of his cabinet yesterday. He says the addition of Eggelton adds a new dimension to cabinet, which up until now has been dubbed the ‘tight five’. Mararai says it’s not simply because she represents another milestone for female cabinet […]