Articles by Utopia Support

Business as usual for Cabinet ministers

Monday 1 December 2014 | Published in Politics

This week sees Ministers come back down to earth with business as usual and a Cabinet meeting set for Tuesday.

Rogz for Dogz donate $32k of gifts to Esther Honey

Monday 1 December 2014 | Published in Local

Christmas came early for the staff and furry lodgers at the Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic on Saturday when the Rogz for Dogz paddling crew donated 32,600 worth of donated goods and animal food.

Cook Islands sign tuna pact

Monday 1 December 2014 | Published in Environment

The Cook Islands is one of seven countries that have added their signatures to the new pact that aims to put the southern albacore tuna fishery on a sustainable footing.

Ten minutes of your time Minister

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Ministers of the crown need to be reminded that they are public figures; like celebrities that they’ve got to make time and attend duties related to their portfolios.

Pitch heats up with knock-out football

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Football

Today’s football knock out elimination rounds at Raemaru Park and Takitumu School Field heats up as football teams from the various clubs on Rarotonga play for a place in next week’s knock out semi-finals.

Solar energy on Pukapuka edges closer to completion

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Local

Solar energy is also taking off on Pukapuka with the project near completion.

Lights to go on in Palmerston

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Environment

The lights may soon be on at Palmerston as cargo to begin solar energy construction has arrived.

Cook Islands power plans turning heads

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Technology

The $24.28 million fund which aims to deliver renewable energy to all Cook Islands by 2020 is gaining attention overseas.

Eco-police on the job at Vaka Eiva

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Environment

Around 600 paddlers are on the island taking part in the11th Vaka Eiva event generating a large amount of waste.

Mitiaro back to recount

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Politics

The Cook Islands’ Chief Justice has struck off a vote in the Mitiaro electorate and ordered a recount.

Kata: Mitiaro election drama continues...

Saturday 29 November 2014 | Published in Kata

Smokies: Travelling Ariki

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals

Why does Pa Ariki who lives 90% in Auckland think she should appear on media every time she visits to give her views on how things should be.

Crude oil prices fall, price at pump stays

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recent international media reports have highlighted that the price for crude oil has fallen by a whopping 30 per cent since the beginning of the year.

State of Arorangi road an 'embarrassment'

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Mr Editor, The state of the road through the main residential section of Arorangi is an embarrassment to this country and the way it is managing the Te Mato Vai project.

The realities of our future is brighter with Jesus

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Church Talk

I had in mind to write about the exams students are undertaking presently or either violence against women and children.

Graduation after self-development programme

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Local

After two weeks of intense self-development training with the Cook Islands Police and New Zealand Defence Force – 30 local boys will graduate the youth development programme this morning.

Cook Islands to join global climate change talks in Peru

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Environment

he Cook Islands will be joining over 15,000 delegates at the 20th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Lima, Peru from 1 to 12 December this year. The annual gathering that brings together all Parties to negotiate a global agreement on climate change is of strong significance for the Pacific islands who collectively contribute to less than 0.03 per cent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions however are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts. The Cook Islands is amongst these. "We have several key agenda items that we will be following," said Ms. Ana Tiraa, Head of the Climate Change Division and the Cook Islands delegation attending the UNFCCC COP 20. "This coming conference is very complex with many different agenda threads all being negotiated at the same time, but for us we have very specific issues to follow, issues which impact our nation directly." Loss and Damage, Climate Change Financing, Adaptation and the Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action will be followed by the Cook Islands delegation. The members consist of Ana Tiraa, Office of the Prime Minister, Amelia Fukofuka, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Lavinia Tama, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management residing on Rarotonga. They will be joined by Cook Islanders residing in Samoa working for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) - Diane McFadzien, Ewan Cameron and Nanette Woonton. Also to make up the delegation is Linda Siegele who has provided technical assistance to the delegation for many years. "These agenda issues we will be negotiating on behalf of the Cook Islands may just seem like technical terminology however they have real implications on our people. Loss and Damage for example looks at impacts from extreme weather events and slow onset events such as sea level rise and ocean acidification," said Tiraa. "These are impacts we feel but we are not the cause of them, so we are negotiating how best we can be accommodated for our loss caused now and losses that are to come as well as how to stop it from happening." Another important agenda item followed by the Cook Islands is the Ad hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action also known as the ADP. This is a new body under the climate change Convention to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force applicable to all Parties that will help slow climate change. This new agreement will be considered for adoption by Parties at the 21st Conference of the Parties to be held in Paris 2015. The upcoming negotiations in Lima are important as it sets the foundation for Paris. "Having the Cook Islands in the room when these issues are being negotiated is important for our survival, we must persevere and be hopeful. “While the results aren't immediate you must remember that climate change isn't immediate also - the impacts we are feeling now are from greenhouse gas emissions from over a hundred years ago. “We must persevere to negotiate favourable outcomes for us all." The 20th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is hosted in Lima, Peru from 1 - 12 December. For more information please visit www.unfccc.int

Cooks hot holiday pick for Aussies

Friday 28 November 2014 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands has been named one of the hottest tourism spots for Australians, according to a new list published last week.

Football clashes at Raemaru Park

Thursday 27 November 2014 | Published in Football

Today at Raemaru Park, football clubs will play for a place in next week’s semi-finals.

Smokies: A good citizen

Thursday 27 November 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals

Saw the husband of Nikao Member of Parliament in the rain pick up rubbish on the side of the road – that’s what you call action speaking louder than words, all MPs should learn from this papa.