More Top Stories
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Articles by Utopia Support
Rarotonga posting poses new challenge
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Local
The New Zealand Navy’s new technical advisor to the Cook Islands has sailed out of his comfort zone to take up the posting in Rarotonga.
Arorangi back roads get some TLC
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Local
Infrastructure Cook Islands is doing its best to improve the quality of Rarotonga’s back roads after receiving a number of complaints from the community.
Sky looking blue for Henderson
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Local
Telecommunications runs in the blood of the new country manager of Bluesky Phillip Henderson. The born and bred Kuki has returned to Rarotonga to take the helm of the country’s only telecommunications company – and he’s got his work cut out for him. But like many Cook Islanders, Henderson has an air of ease about him, ready to tackle the many, and often highly technical challenges thrown his way. Born in Rarotonga, Henderson and his siblings were immersed in their culture growing up. After attending Tereora College, he completed his seventh form year at Otago Boys’ High School, before returning to Rarotonga to take up at a job at newly-established company Cable and Wireless. “I was ready to come home.” Henderson became an engineer technician and was trained in the UK by Cable and Wireless, before becoming a branch engineer. He stayed with the company until 1990, when the government terminated Cable and Wirelesses’ contract and formed Telecom Cook Islands, of which Henderson became general manager. “Those were exciting years because that was when Telecom decided to build to the outer islands.” This included building nine satellite stations to the Pa Enua, sparking stronger connectivity between Cook Islanders. Then in 2005 Henderson took a punt and moved to New Zealand with his wife and three children. “We went for the kids; they were approaching secondary school and we wanted to give them the best opportunity.” Henderson landed on his feet, and took up a job as a senior project manager for Alcatel-Lucent. “I got thrown into the deep end of rolling out some pretty significant projects.” Then using his understanding of the Pacific, Henderson became the project manager for Alcatel deals in the Pacific Islands including Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati. Henderson said it was important to know the difference when operating in Pacific environments. “Basically when you design in an enviroment like New Zealand, the enviroment is not harsh… but in Vanuatu, they’ve got every known natural disaster you can think of. “You can’t just take a cookie-cutter approach – you’ve got to cater it.” And it was during this work that Henderson met Bluesky Pacific Group chief executive officer Adolfo Montenegro, who was looking for a new country manager for the Cook Islands. Henderson liked Montenegro’s vision and was keen to return home, taking up the position in August. “In my opinion this is the first overseas company that has come into the country and offered a share of the business,” said Henderson. “I can’t think of any other enterprise that’s done that… because I know Cook Islanders can do the job they’ve got the competency and it was about time they were given the opportunity to be able to invest and get some of those benefits.” Henderson said the role had been different to his other work, and he was determined to focus on customer service first and foremost. “We’ve got to deliver what the customer needs, not just what the technician thinks they want.” With government still holding a 40 per cent share of the business, Henderson said the company maintains a “very healthy” relationship with government. And he even has to work closely with his brother, who happens to be the new Financial Secretary, Garth Henderson. Asked about recent talk of changing legislation to deregulate the telecommunications market, effectively taking away Bluesky’s monopoly in the country, Henderson said the Cook Islands government needed to be cautious “If they look at the current operating model and the figures Bluesky is delivering, they need to tread carefully.” But Henderson has his eyes on other objectives, such as bringing the best and brightest young under his company’s wing. “One of the first things we started up was an internship programme. I really wanted to attract the best and brightest.” Bluesky currently has five interns, and Henderson is not ruling out providing future scholarships. “It’s not outside the bounds of our plans to organise scholarships – if you want the best talent you’ve got to pay for it.” Henderson said he was fortunate to be able to go away from the Cook Islands for 10 years before returning with a fresh perspective. “I wouldn’t be the right person for the job if I hadn’t left.”
Former MP stands up for Penrhyn
Monday 18 January 2016 | Published in Local
The former Member of Parliament for Tongareva says on behalf of his former constituency he is speaking out against the government’s purse seine fishing plans.
Experience will be handy
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Football
The first OFC/NZF A Licence was held in late 2015 and among the candidates was the Cook Islands under-17 women’s coach Tuka Tisam, who believes the knowledge gained during the intensive course will boost to his side’s chances on home soil this week.
Has Jesus Christ been cast aside?
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Church Talk
Last Sunday was the official close of the Christmas season in the Catholic church.
'Park' looks in pretty bad nick
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Smoke Signals
“What is happening with the Constitution Park? It’s starting to look like a real eyesore,” a smoke signaller says. Does the government have a plan for this empty space in town? Or is this yet again another example of government splashing mega dollars for a two-day event? Hey Mr Puna, how about thinking about the youth of the nation, and turning it into a skate park or recreational area for all to enjoy? At least when you’re voted out, we can have one positive thing to remember you by.
Modern cellphones become a pseudo-drug
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Perhaps already victims of consumer society, we are seeing the prediction of the future in which we would be hooked to a cellphone that invades our privacy, as does the TV, making it a pseudo-drug, hitching us through life.
Some questions about the prices we pay
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Through your good newspaper I would like to pose a few questions to Government about matters which have a profound impact on the daily lives of people in this country.
World leaders in 'conversation'
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor I want to report a mistake in your paper.
Wearable art show well worth a look
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Cultural Development officially launched their first National Museum Exhibition for 2016 last night entitled “The Rakei –Traditional Wearable Art’s Exhibition.”
Good news for motorists - fuel prices drop today
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
Motorists are finally getting some good news with reduction in the price of petrol and diesel today.
Two beauty pageants ready for more rivalry
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
The country made Pacific history last year when two beautiful, talented young women were crowned as Miss Cook Islands – and judging by the continued standoff by the two separate beauty pageant groups, it’s a trend that’s going to carry on indefinitely.
MCIPA eyes court action
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
Last year, Miss Cook Islands Felicia George was crowned after a successful Miss Cook Islands Pageant run by members of the Miss Cook Islands Pageant Assocation.
Puna reviews EU fishing deal
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
It seems Prime Minister Henry Puna may be bowing to public pressure against the proposed $4.5 million fishing deal with the European Union.
Report is damning
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Local
A government-commissioned report into the public sector cuts no corners, stating many senior positions in government agencies are held by people without leadership and management skills.
Balsa raft expedition faces long haul south at start of return leg
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Regional
HANGAROA – Norwegian adventurer Torgeir Higraff is claiming the first circumnavigation of Easter Island by rafts. He is the leader of the expedition, Kon-Tiki 2, which has sailed to Easter Island from South America on two balsa wood rafts – and is now just over a week into a bold, first-ever modern-day attempt to sail back.
Hospital in dire situation
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Regional
PAGO PAGO – Nurses at American Samoa’s LBJ Hospital say the shortage of medical supplies is affecting the quality of patient care, with nurses forced to use bed sheets as dressings.
FBI probes Tongan immigration scam
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Regional
SACRAMENTO – A Tongan organisation in the United States is being investigated by FBI alleging that an adult adoption programme it claims will allow adults to become US citizens was a “scam”.
Photographer documents tribesman's journey
Friday 15 January 2016 | Published in Regional
French photographer Marc Dozier has captured a stunning series of portraits featuring Papua New Guinean Huli chief Mundiya Kepanga in some of America’s biggest cities.
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