Articles by Utopia Support

NZ appoints acting envoy

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Local

Linda Te Puni has been appointed as the new acting New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands this month. Te Puni will be in the post temporarily until about June, according to the New Zealand High Commission office. The New Zealand government has not appointed a new high commissioner since the sudden passing of […]

CIP critical of ministerial forum

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Local

Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna says next month’s joint ministerial forum raises concerns over whether New Zealand supports a government which is embroiled in political turmoil. “The concern is that NZ’s presence may be perceived to be showing support for this political situation. Right now with the prime minister’s cabinet of five with no […]

PM self serving – Parties

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Local

A joint statement issued by the Democratic Party and Cook Islands Party warns that Prime Minister Jim Marurai’s refusal to call parliament to sit is ‘irrational and self-serving’. The parties say parliament needs to meet to account for the new aid funds for the rebuilding of Aitutaki and Penrhyn and to pass an extra budget […]

Kids gather for peace

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Local

Arorangi school teacher and peace ambassador Vaine Teokoitu joins Rangi Ina, David Akaruru and Matangaro Manuela in one of their team building exercises. Peace ambassadors from schools across Rarotonga gathered in the peace garden in Taputapuatea for a morning of team building and goal setting to help the ambassadors carry out their roles keeping their […]

The tsunami call

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Our police commissioner has spoken that he will continue to urge all of us into the hills whenever there is a tsunami wave coming our way. If he checks with his counterpart in Hawaii, he would find that for 50 years staff at the centre have made judgement calls to only areas that […]

Consider shipping containers

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Aitutaki Mayor Tai Herman is right to reject the offer of Lockwood Timber Houses. They would not stand up to another ‘Pat’ cyclone. Perhaps consideration should be given to steel constructed homes in the form of shipping containers. I have been involved in the design aspect of these types of homes which are […]

Cyclone Pat may bring Phoenix out of ashes

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, After surveying the damage in Aitutaki via pictures sent to me by friends and family in the Cooks, it’s devastating to see the island in the aftermath of Cyclone Pat. I feel deeply for the people of Aitutaki and my family there. Aid money will come and rescue in part and relieve some […]

Manihikians had same fear

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest sadness Mayor Tai Herman’s letter of Wednesday’s Cook Islands News. However, it was interesting because he expressed the same concerns forwarded by some of us in Manihiki during the planning stages after Cyclone Martin, which were ignored. Sad because it seems that nothing was learnt from the Manihiki experience. […]

Kata - March 19, 2010

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Kata

League at Tupapa, Ngatangiia today

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in League

Today’s two premier grade rugby league games are shaping up to be real thrillers. At the Eagles’ nest in Ngatangiia, the Bulldogs could cause the upset of the season if they beat the Sea Eagles in what is being touted as the Takitumu derby of the season. Word on the underground wireless is that Bulldogs […]

GET OUT OF THE SANDPIT!

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Referring to yesterday’s front page article in CINews, a smoke signaller writes, “I’m disgusted to read about the squabbling within the cabinet/party. I can’t help but wonder what work any of these boys do as all they seem to show us – “the people they represent” – is a whole lot of puerile bickering. I […]

Thank you all

Friday 19 March 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, Thank you, Cook Islanders for an enjoyable two weeks spent on your beautiful island. I love your gorgeous flowers, native fruits, and crashing waves! You Cook Islanders are so friendly! Following the service at the CICC church in Aorangi we were served a delicious lunch and I want to thank all who made […]

Local Fiji group, Red Cross respond

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Local

In the wake of Cyclone Tomas, the powerful storm that swept through northern Fiji, Red Cross and the Cook Islands Fiji Community Association are still waiting to determine the full extent of the damage. Tomas, which packed winds of up to 205 kilometres per hour, hit Fiji on Friday and petered out on Wednesday, according […]

Ultimatum - ministers must resign

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Local

Leave cabinet or leave party say Demo execs The three remaining Democratic Party ministers in the five-member Cabinet have been given an ultimatum by the party – resign from Cabinet or be booted out of the party. Party loyalty issues within the split ranks of the Demos have come to a head following the dumping […]

St Pat's revellers hit town

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Local

St Patrick’s Day revellers and visitors to the island Robert and Elizabeth Smith brought smiles and laughter to many who saw the pair gaily stroll the streets of Avarua yesterday. The newlyweds on their honeymoon from Whangarei, New Zealand take their St Patrick’s Day celebrations serious – Elizabeth is Irish and moved to New Zealand […]

Congrats to mayor

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, I wish to congratulate Tai Herman, Aitutaki’s mayor, for taking a bold stand in rejecting the proposal from Habitat for Humanity to build 70 houses — funded by both the NZ and Cook Islands governments — for those families whose homes were completely destroyed during Cyclone Pat. I reckon that the very last […]

Bribery is unacceptable

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am not surprised that the former head of CICC, John Tini, was allegedly handed a brand new vehicle from the Chinese construction company CCECC a year or so ago. I wonder who else in government may have received such a ‘present’ from CCECC? Whether they be state, public or privately owned, some […]

Kata - March 18, 2010

Thursday 18 March 2010 | Published in Kata

Police boss responds on tsunami reaction

Wednesday 17 March 2010 | Published in Local

Tsunami warnings will never be taken lightly by police, nor would any life put at risk simply because some people are saying that a tsunami will never hit the Cook Islands. Police commissioner Maara Tetava responded to the recent outpour of tsunami theories in a letter defending the evacuation as a measure of safety. He […]

Ships set sail

Wednesday 17 March 2010 | Published in Local

Taio Shipping’s second boat Maungaroa II has just had a new engine fitted in and will join Te Kou Maru II in servicing the outer islands. They will sail to the outer islands this month. Te Kou Maru is expected to sail for Manihiki today while Maungaroa II voyages to Aitutaki, and then onto Palmerston. […]