Articles by Utopia Support

Slush case 'oppressive' says lawyer

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Local

Lawyer Tim Arnold said yesterday that Judge Nicholson’s discharge rulings mark the end of a long, “oppressive” and “burdensome” trial for his client Chris Vaile and for Charles Koronui. “It’s a wonderful result,” he said. “This means effectively that he (Vaile) and Charlie Koronui can get on with their lives with their reputations untainted by […]

Who's counting all the funds?

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This cyclone appeal is certainly a good idea to help our brothers and sisters in Aitutaki. Many people have made cash donations and pledged donations, sales of plates of food, sales of t-shirts and many more. Others have provided materials, containers and equipment. Our concern is whether all the money raised will actually […]

Sounds like a TCI promo

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It’s no wonder that the PM is flip flopping on allowing Telecom’s monopoly to continue. He was wined and dined twice by the Telecom board members last week and wrapped up nicely with a cocktail evening at the Salsa. Everyone knows that the quickest way to get the PM to agree with you […]

We can't afford parliament not to sit

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There are very solid grounds for the argument that five members of parliament, from a total of 24, do not have full executive powers to govern in a country that supposedly holds firm to the fundamental democratic principle of majority rule. Difficult to imagine how a very small minority of MPs, less than […]

Kata - February 26, 2010

Friday 26 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Govt requests Hercules to help Penrhyn

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Local

Last night government was anxiously waiting for a response to its request for NZ assistance to get urgent relief supplies to Penrhyn where homes and infrastructure has been damaged in bad weather. On Tuesday national disaster controller and police commissioner Maara Tetava requested an Air Force Hercules flight with relief supplies from the NZ government. […]

'Slush' discharges

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Local

Vaile and Koronui discharged, George partially discharged Two of three defendants in the longest-running criminal trial in Cook Islands court history were fully discharged yesterday. Justice Colin Nicholson discharged former island secretary Charles Koronui from the two corruption charges against him and businessman Christopher Vaile from the seven against him. Lawyer Norman George was discharged […]

'Stay safe' applies to helmets, footpaths, kids on utes

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was wanting to comment on the road works carried out around the Muri area last week. I must say that I totally agree with the other letter writers who gave their endorsement to the wonderful job T & M Heather and their crew have been doing. Fast and efficient are just two […]

Time ripe to demand new faces, fresh ideas

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, On the one hand government is very much prepared to commit vast amounts of money, time and effort globe-trotting to international meetings and conferences in an effort to highlight the country’s plight on global warming and how sea level rise could make our northern-group, low lying atolls all but disappear. On the other […]

Kata - February 25, 2010

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Kata

Wellington meetings not their job?

Thursday 25 February 2010 | Published in Smoke Signals

One of our readers going by the handle Retired Diplomat writes on the subject of the Crocombe/Mokoroa trip to New Zealand: “How these two fooled Cabinet into agreeing that they hold important talks with some ministerial officials in Wellington, is beyond us. We have a Minister of Foreign Affairs and we have a Secretary of […]

Avatiu netballers on the go

Wednesday 24 February 2010 | Published in Netball

The Avatiu netball association is well underway with its preparations for the 2010 netball season – including a workshop for coaches and a trial for its premier grade players last week. Netball New Zealand Coach Force coach Sue Harris held a four-day workshop with Avatiu netball club coaches last week covering a mixture of theory […]

Muri under survey

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Environment

The first phase of the Muri European Union Water and Sanitation Project is underway with a survey of 329 properties. The five-year project, worth about $5 million ($2.55 million Euro), began in April last year when government, the EU and the Muri community formed a partnership. There are three phases to the project – and […]

Mitchell confirmed

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Local

Mike Mitchell’s nomination as Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand has been accepted as of yesterday by the NZ government. Foreign affairs and immigration minister Robert Wigmore announced that Mitchell will take up the new post in Wellington from mid-March. His new appointment is for one year.

PM on the fence

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Local

Prime minister and telecommunications minister Jim Marurai says government’s intention to open the telecommunications market remains unchanged but it is considering the alternative – keeping the Telecom monopoly. Judging by Marurai’s statements on Friday, he’s more and more swayed toward seeing if a better service can be created with the status quo. “I’ve seen their […]

Tropical depression downgraded

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Local

A feeling of relief rippled around the Cook Islands yesterday after special weather bulletins were cancelled for a tropical depression in the north. At 2am on Monday, special weather bulletins for tropical depression 11F were cancelled. At 8am yesterday the depression was downgraded to a tropical disturbance. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the island of Penrhyn […]

Penrhyn reports damage from tropical depression

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Local

A government delegation is due to head to Penrhyn today to assess reported damage from tropical depression 11F to homes and government buildings on Sunday night. Cabinet approved an Air Rarotonga charter flight worth $19,720 to take finance minister and Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen and three officials to the island to carry out an initial […]

Fresh approach by ANZ sales team

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Local

Fresh air sparks fresh ideas – that’s the idea behind outdoors meetings by the ANZ Bank marketing and service department. The team is pictured during their open air meeting last Thursday morning. Team leader Christian Mani (front right) says that the department holds a meeting at the picnic tables across the road from the bank […]

Message to our MPs

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Every week I stay in touch reading the Cook Islands News (of course, as a former employee) to see what is happening back there at home Rarotonga and our beautiful neighbouring islands. I really do not know exactly what to think of the many political dramas happening there. Whether it’s a good thing […]

Roading is all about funding

Tuesday 23 February 2010 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My sincere best wishes to the people of Aitutaki. Donations have been made, and hopefully all will reach them. I noticed a letter regarding road works. I am amused at the writer’s ignorance, thinking the entire problem was the ‘works crew’. One thing is clear, we do have the capable people right there […]