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Articles by Utopia Support

5 August: WELCOME HOME

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller was amused to read that our Cooks team was to arrive in Rarotonga yesterday for the WYNC. “Despite having some residing Cook Islanders in the team – it is a humorous title.”


5 August: RARO SHORTIE LINES

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

Alice: “Get those shorts off!” Kip: “You, me, Raro.” Naomi: “You think I’m going to tell you our precious local (surfing) secrets?” Kip: “Can I walk you home tonight?” Naomi: “Not tonight…tomorrow morning.” $80 TO PRESS A BUTTON? What a rip off, says a smoke signaller, referring to charges of $80 for reinstating a phone […]


5 August: PAGING KIP'N'ALICE

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

It’s been over a week since they left Shortland Street to “choose life” in Rarotonga, but neither has turned up to start work at the hospital’s emergency department. Maybe they got confused and are waiting outside the Outpatients Clinic at Tupapa – as in the episode that’s been shown 2.9 times on TV – rather […]


3 August: BRRRRR!

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

You know it’s getting cold on our little Pacific island when a store in Rarotonga has room heaters for sale!


3 August: ONE LETTER

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

In reference to the article about the new synthetic track at Tereora, a sharp reader from Aitutaki asks: Were the tonnes of used motor vehicle tyres palletised, or where they in fact pelletised? Smokies: Probably both – made into pellets and then loaded onto pallets.


3 August: TOP JOB

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

Nice to see the DPM’s office engaged in employing an office/finance manager, a smoke signaller writes. “But what about advertising the CEO position? Or has someone already been earmarked?!”


3 August: PR QUESTIONS

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller says: “So, a few athletes may get their PR awarded so they can ‘legally’ compete in the Mini Games for a couple of weeks! What about those responsible, hardworking, honest individuals that have been law abiding citizens of this wonderful country for over five years? Not only were their applications ignored last […]


3 August: LOCKED COURTS

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader writes: “Recently, the tennis courts at Tereora College were upgraded, a very good job, they look spiffy. So now someone has padlocked the gates and passed the word that the gates will be opened only for ‘authorised persons’. And all these years, I thought the courts were owned by the taxpayers and all […]


3 August: LAGOON FIX

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader says: “Apparently there is aid money in the pot now to get a sewage system up and running in Muri. Why is yet another environmental report being done? Is this to line the pockets of a few again? We all know that our lagoon is a disaster area. Just fix it before it’s […]


3 August: BIG DEBT

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A reader who says he’s a Cook Islander living overseas writes: “I read with great concern and alarm at the debt currently imposed on the CIs people by a government who at best can only be described as totalitarian with no regard for the long term welfare of its people. Who will pay back this […]


3 August: PAPER PASSING

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

About further public service cuts, a smoke signaller writes: “The first place to start cuts is the over bloated ministerial support offices. Fifteen years ago it was one staff with abudget of $25,000. Now it’s over 10 staff with an average budget of $235,000 each! That’s a whopping $1.6 million spent on passing paper around […]


3 August: Something about July?

Wednesday 5 August 2009 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller suggests an interesting political study would be to investigate why over the past 25 years or so, the majority of attempts to topple a prime minister or government – apart from a general election – have come a week or two before the annual celebration of self government. Maybe some people want […]


Rebuilding your life the way God wants you to

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Church Talk

Friday 24: Last weekend I was reading an interesting book on the failure of economies. While this might have been its focus, what riveted my attention were the references to human suffering associated with these events. But my greater interest was aroused by the allusion to the notable increases in people taking their own lives […]


Still no word on Pukapuka-Nassau MP's fate

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 29: Pukapuka-Nassau MP Vai Peua has nothing to say about his meeting with opposition Cook Islands Party MPs on Monday afternoon. When contacted yesterday, Peua said that he did not want to make any comments to the media. Opposition leader Tom Marsters reiterated what he said after Monday’s meeting that nothing had developed after […]


'Kura' will test cyclone response

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 29: Testing communications and operational capabilities in times of an emergency will be the focus of Operation Kura this week. Emergency Management Cook Islands director Charles Carlson says the exercise will be an opportunity for agencies to test communications and evaluate how well they are prepared for an emergency or disaster. “We want to […]


One burglary and seven thefts reported

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 29: Just one burglary was reported to police last week – Van’s store was broken into between late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Among the items stolen were eight cartons of Winfield red, three cartons of Winfield green, six packets of Winfield green, three cartons of John Brandon cigarettes and several bottles of spirits […]


Flash floods inflict damage

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Wednesday 29: Rarotonga took the brunt of a torrential downpour yesterday which cut power, flooded buildings and closed schools. Meteorological Service director Arona Ngari says 88 millimetres of rain was recorded between 4am and 6am on Tuesday. Rarotonga’s previous rainfall last week had recorded only .2mm. He says the downpour was attributed to the South […]


Driver not at fault

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Tuesday 28: Police say the driver that hit a child two weeks ago was not at fault. At around 4.30pm on Friday March 17 in front of the Convenience Store in Tupapa, a woman was driving towards Avarua when a 20-month-old boy ran in front of the vehicle and collided with the front left corner […]


DPM attends ADB meeting

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Tuesday 28: Minister of finance Sir Terepai Maoate left yesterday enroute for Bali, Indonesia, to attend the 42nd annual general meeting of Asian Development Bank Governors. Sir Terepai, the Cook Islands ADB Governor, is accompanied by financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti, alternate Cook Islands governor. Lady Maoate is also travelling with Sir Terepai. Under the Civil […]


Peua meets with CIP

Wednesday 29 April 2009 | Published in Local

Tuesday 28: It appears that the Pukapuka-Nassau MP’s future may lie in the hands of the opposition Cook Islands Party. Vai Peua met with the CIP caucus yesterday afternoon but it appears that talks had stalled around 3.30pm. Earlier in the day, opposition leader Tom Marsters confirmed that Peua would be at the centre of […]


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