Articles by Utopia Support

Outer island applicants not up to scratch

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 7: Some of those applying for island secretary positions have obviously not gained favour from cabinet. Public service commissioner Navy Epati says he has had to appoint acting secretaries for Penrhyn, Manihiki and Rakahanga – in place of cabinet not making decisions on these posts. And the position on Palmerston will be re-advertised, with […]

Big changes in HoMs

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Friday 7: The naming of some of the heads of ministries will surely raise eyebrows in the community. Gone are experienced heads like Terry Hagan, Nga Mataio, Tamarii Tutangata and John Herrmann. And in come former Business Trade & Investment Board chief executive Mark Short (justice), Anthony Brown (agriculture), Bredina Drollet (internal affairs) and Tereora […]

Go for gold Cook Islands!

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 6: The Cook Islands under 21 netball team paid a visit to Raromart yesterday where they were gifted towels, bags and mini Cook Islands flags by their eager supporters there. The team arrived on Tuesday night to polish up their game before their first World Youth Netball Championship game against Wales on Monday August […]

Who's listed

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 6: The 15 Team Cook Islands athletes who look likely to miss the 2009 Pacific Mini Games and the passports they hold are: – Boxer Mathew Titoa (Samoa). – League players Bilsy Gukisuva (Fiji), Andrew Iroa (Fiji), Ailaoa Samania (Samoa) and Lulua Tua (Samoa). – Rugby sevens players Duane Gukisuva (Fiji), Sailosi Naisausau (Fiji), […]

7 new HoMs to be appointed

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 6: There could be up to seven new heads of ministries today – depending on whether the successful applicants accept or not. Public service commissioner Navy Epati says the seven have been contacted and will be put on ‘transitional arrangements’ until the terms of their three-year contracts can be negotiated. Unsuccessful applicants, says Epati, […]

15 athletes not eligible

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Local

Thursday 6: Up to 15 athletes will be chopped from Team Cook Islands because of an eligibility rule that was not communicated. Pleas to the Pacific Games Council for flexibility to allow non New Zealand passport holders to represent the country at the Pacific Mini Games have failed. This means that Team Cook Islands will […]

ENTERTAINMENT - New CD for Andre

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: Entertainer Andre Tapena releases his fifth CD since returning to Rarotonga this morning, Saturday at the Punanga Nui market. ‘Where’s the road to Pape’ete?’ is Tapena’s new album and it is based on the experience of a Cook Islander who asked this question to a Tahitian resident while in Pape’ete. The main title […]

KIDS PAGE - National pride

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: The students of Avarua Primary School were a highlight at this week’s Constitution Day celebrations. Their cultural dance group proved that it was a day of festivities and remembrance for all generations. This week’s Kid’s Page features the students’ cultural pride on show at the National Auditorium on Tuesday.

Gilbert rep on a mission

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: Saturday 8: Gilbert brand manager Hellen Manufor will be looking to the Pacific for future sponsorships deals. Gilbert is the sponsor of the netball balls that will be used during the World Youth Netball Championships and is the favoured brand of sports balls for many champion teams. Just as Turtles is the sponsor […]

Imanuela eyes smile for the Irish

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: Saturday 8: Imanuela Akatemia turned it on as hosts for the Northern Ireland under 21 netball team yesterday. And with Paul Lynch as MC and his father Paddy wearing his lucky green shoes, one couldn’t have asked for a more Irish setting for the school’s guests. The 60-plus students welcomed them into the […]

Get back to the 70s

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: Saturday 8: Get the seventies dance fever! Te Uki Ou School invites everyone to share their fever at tonight’s ‘Island 70s Style’ fundraiser. Organiser Melinda Morris-Ponga (pictured) says the evening will be a lot of fun with great decorations, excellent company and an awesome supper. The social event is to raise money for […]

Tents pitched

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: Tamarumaru Tent Hire is pitching its products to customers on Rarotonga. David Akanoa says the idea to set up a tent hire business was his son’s idea – who lives in Hawaii. Akanoa says they will be hiring out tent-like structures for functions and events, rather than the marquees which require poles to […]

Original volunteers return to friendly isles

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Features

Saturday 8: It’s been 11 years since American global volunteers Dr Patrick and Charlotte Scanlan visited Rarotonga last, and the one thing that hasn’t changed is the friendliness of the people. Pat and Charlotte were part of the first global volunteers group to come to Rarotonga in 1998 and today they are part of group […]

Wednesday 12: Naai e tutaki?

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

E te Etita, Kia orana i te aroa maata o te Atua. E manga manako uiui ua teia no te manga ekoko i te ingoa o te ngutuare tarekareka (WYNC) i raro i Nikao. Iaku e akara uatu nei e kua kite au i te ingoa e ‘Telecom Sports Arena’. Te uiui nei te manako, […]

Wednesday 12: We'll be back!

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I was asked to submit some thoughts and reviews of my recent trip to Raro. I live in San Francisco, California, USA, and travelled to Raro the first week in July with my girlfriend. We had the time of our lives in Raro. We went to many of the bars and shops in […]

Wednesday 12: Don't allow cabinet reshuffle mockery

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I read with interest the comment by ex-Minister Wilkie Rasmussen in regards to Sir Terepai, our current Deputy Prime Minister. I have a lot of respect for Sir Terepai who I believe has been a good minister and may be an honest politician too. But recent events that have transpired in the past […]

Friday 7: Dear Editor,

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Letters to the Editor

The Bible refers to Michael the Archangel five times. Mix these references with others, mash them, squish them or squash them, and not a single one of them can be made to say that Jesus is Michael. If Jesus is Michael and all of the angels worship him as we’re told in Hebrews 1:6, the […]

PNG back after 13 years

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Netball

It’s been 13 years since Papua New Guinea has stepped on to the World Youth Netball Championship stage, and the young side isn’t looking back. They have turned their lack of youth netball experience into driving their ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and according to team assistant coach Boe Lahui-Ako, his team will rise to the […]

Draw - TODAY AND TOMORROW

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Netball

Kia orana, Botswana!

Wednesday 12 August 2009 | Published in Netball

Monday 10: The Botswana under 21 team is hoping to learn a lot more about netball and the Cook Islands during the week-long World Youth Netball Championships. Assistant team coach Oteng Masole says that the girls have settled after a long haul from Botswana and they are looking forward to the championships. Masole was certainly […]