Articles by Utopia Support

Oldies rugby in Ngatangiia

Friday 5 September 2014 | Published in Rugby Union

Due to popular demand, today’s golden oldies rugby get together will return to the picturesque Ngatangiia field.Apparently the Ngatangiia golden oldies are outstanding hosts so are keen to not only put their best foot forward on the pitch but also show their mates a good time.Today’s game will kick off at 5pm and all golden oldies, including those that will be part of the golden oldies cricket competition at the field earlier in the day, are invited to enjoy the golden oldies rugby atmosphere.Word is that Captain Moko will warm up in the cricket competition and will fire up in the rugby before laying on a spread of freshly caught fish from his break in between codes. Visiting golden oldies players are also invited to get along to Ngatangiia and enjoy the golden oldies hospitality. - MW

B-grade begins rugby semi-finals

Friday 5 September 2014 | Published in Rugby Union

It’s semi-finals time in the 2014 club rugby competition which began with the under 19 clash between the Takuvaine Reds and Titikaveka Bulls.

Yachtie in Cooks to promote wind power

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Environment

After seeing and feeling the wind push his sailing yacht thousands of miles across the Pacific, Tracy Hollister has arrived in the Cook Islands to tout the potential benefits of adding wind power to the nation’s electricity generating mix.

CITTI celebrates award winners

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Local

Friends, family, and staff members from the Tertiary Training Institute gathered yesterday to honour three students who recently brought home a silver medal from a cooking competition in Auckland.Culinary arts students Miimetua Noeline Kauvai-Tuaputa and Ngametua Tariau, and food and beverage service student Riana Cuthers-Boxhoorn competed in the 2014 team cooking competition at the New […]

Cooks included in risk-reducing partnership

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Local

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) signed a historic partnership agreement that aims to improve the way in which weather and climate information is delivered, understood and acted on, by communities living with the everyday impacts of climate change.

Merchant Navy Day commemorated

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Local

An intimate ceremony to commemorate Merchant Navy Day was held at the Rarotonga Returned Services Association yesterday where keynote speaker New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers conveyed the importance of remembering those who served in the Merchant Navy during conflict – both the sacrifices and the contribution they made to our security and prosperity.

'Government fully aware that no such liability obligation ever existed'

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear EditorI briefly zipped through Dennis Tunui and Tim Tepaki’s articles dated Monday 1st September 2014, and I was insulted by Tepaki’s labelling our Grey Power metuas as home grown terrorism, that’s a very poor analogy of the organisation if you ask me.It seems to me, that the guy has got a lot of time to waste in a day.I rather comment on facts about this fiasco. The withdrawal of funds out of some Grey Power members’ account was unlawful theft. It is also unlawful persuasion of a private bank to, without the customers approval, or, without a court order from the high court, to remit from these pensioners savings, monies assumedly equivalent to tax alleged to be owing on amounts received as NZ pension payments, those pensions being paid to Cook Islands pensioners, formerly residents in NZ. The disappointing part as far as I am concerned, is with the CIP government, for being at all times fully aware of the terms and conditions of its own taxation legislation, they are knowingly aware that pensions derived from any source, including NZ were until January 2014, were well documented, clearly worded, easy to understand are absolutely non-taxable in the Cook Islands. You cannot get it any clearer than that, maramarama ua te akamaramaanga no runga i teia tuanga o te ture o to tatou basileia. I akapeea ake tetai tangata i manako ei e kia uri mai i ta tatou ture kia tau ki tana uaorai urianga? This is a deliberate act of blatant arrogance, kare atu e autara tau i te akaaite atu i teia tutu apaianga manako?Nonetheless, an instruction was relayed by the Cook islands government’s Tax Collector to the Westpac bank, to illegally remove from certain pensioners’ bank accounts, amounts determined by our government, as money owed on unpaid tax on NZ pensions, received by resident of the Cook Islands. And yet, our Cook Islands government at all times has been fully aware that no such liability obligation ever existed. I am guessing that they are fully aware of our country’s taxation legislation. Therefore in partial compensation for this, was illegal and was an unconscionable act, this was a very poor judgement on our government’s behalf. If so, our government should immediately, together with interest lost, refund all money stolen. And in addition to any other penalties, which might be imposed during a court hearing, pay to each of the affected persons compensation for deprivation of funds, personal suffering and inconvenience.In my view, there should be a full investigation by the government Auditor, Ombudsman and the Banking Ombudsman, into this matter, and all collective outcomes must also be published, accessibly available for public information. Censure of all government and bank officials should likewise be considered a matter of public interest.Considering the gravity of the imposition instigated and approved by the government, and given the effect too by the bank, a public apology published in the local paper should also be consciously considered as an appropriate mirror in this circumstance. This is a classic example of the old axiom “Justice delayed is justice denied”. For in order to be liable for back taxes the tax department must first issue “amended assessment” for each year. But it cannot legally do so as the monies in issue, while taxable in NZ, but by Cook Islands legislation, tax is exempted in the hands of resident Cook Islanders. This then is, but a further example of our government’s unfair treatment of its vulnerable local pensioner residents.Meanwhile, while all this posturing is going on, the question obviously must be asked “where are these funds being held, and what is their ultimate destination? Was it to form a Cook Islands slush fund, or perhaps, a windfall income for the NZ government?In addressing the level of the pensions determined for eligible recipients of the NZ pension, the NZ government made it clear that in setting rates at a reasonable level, it must have wished too at the same time that some of that pension would flow back to NZ in the form of a tax to be imposed on recipients. And while the reasoning behind this decision may appear to some to be strange, it was, it seems nonetheless acceptable by those NZ recipients at the time of processing.Expatriate Cook Islanders formally resident in NZ, and subject to NZ taxation continued to receive the same pension as before, with no tax being deducted, presumably by the NZ government not exercising its right to withhold tax prior to transmission and the fact that in any case pensions, until January 2014, were not taxable in the Cook Islands. With the passing of time, the NZ government eventually complained that it was losing revenue from pension payments being made to former residents who had returned to the Cook Islands, and in doing so, continued to receive their full pension payments with no tax deducted. There must have been an assumption that the NZ government was, and still is mindful of its desire to “get something back” from its pensioners’ payments. It is assumed that after some years of this repetitive activity, in respect of those former expatriates now living in their own country of residence, finally come to realise that it was not in fact getting anything back from these pension payments, as they had not, and still not appear to be exercising their right to deduct withholding tax from each payment.And it is because of that, supposedly “sweetheart deal” of some sort entered into with the Cook Islands government to placate NZ by returning tax otherwise payable under the NZ Tax act to their NZ friends, hence, this deal was hatched. Certainly, Cook Islands had no right at all times to this tax as it was specifically excluded by legislation enacted by their own parliament. So, the only logical conclusion to be drawn from these facts is that the Cook islands government agreed to act as some kind of “procurer” of tax lost by NZ notwithstanding withholding tax rights extant to cover the situation of taxable funds going off shore. It is then in fact persuaded the Westpac Bank to betray its customers by accessing, at the behest of the Cook Islands government, these personal savings and paying predetermined amounts to the government without the owners consents. Clearly, there seems to be a transparency of arrangement missing here, it’s obvious, well I cannot categorise this otherwise.It seems obvious that in order to satisfy the obvious doubt surrounding what appears to be the appalling, despotic act of three bodies, namely the NZ government, the Cook Islands government, and the Westpac Bank, something else needs to be done. Certainly, the legality and probity of the activities of all three needs to be thoroughly tested by; (a) the government auditor, (b) the appropriate Ombudsman of the government of the Cook Islands, and, most importantly, (c) the Banking Ombudsman. This is necessary in order to put to rest the obvious disquiet and lack of trust resulting from this sad and unfortunate occurrence. It will be very interesting, and in the best interest of all concerned, it will be credibly necessary to access comments from the Banking Ombudsman of both, NZ and Australia on this particular case.To my knowledge, the Manager of the Westpac Bank here in Rarotonga hasn’t been very co-operative with the Grey Power’s own investigation, maybe his/her superiors in NZ and Australia may be more approachable, and more accommodating.Taku patianga ua ki a Dennis Tunui, and to our Grey Power members, eiaa e ma’iti’iti ua, e maara rai kotou e, e ta’vaa kua nati’ia ki to koutou kaki, aaere marie e tama ma, tiaki mai, kia papu mai e koai te kavamani, i reira koutou ka akaeta akaou ei i to koutou au tavaa, if you need too? Te akaroa, te akaroa, te akaroa. Teuira Ka Ngatangiia

Kata: A rose bloomms in Atiu....

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Kata

Kata: Lemon thief is sentenced.....

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Kata

Two wins for touring Botany Downs team

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Rugby Union

Botany Downs Secondary College (BDSC) first XV registered a second win on tour this time beating the Tereora College first XV 31-19 on Tuesday at BCI Stadium.

Competing submarine internet cables for the Pacific region?

Thursday 4 September 2014 | Published in Technology

Global telecommunications firm Digicel has announced a proposal for a submarine internet cable linking Pacific nations – an idea that could potentially bring broadband service to the Cook Islands.

Alliance formed to improve Pacific ocean policy coordination

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Environment

An initiative which seeks to bring together a broad range of stakeholders with diverse interests in the Pacific Ocean will be launched today at the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Samoa.

Severity of tax and penalty reaches the northern group

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,While there is no Grey Power movement in the sister Islands, the tax of the NZ pension has a great effect here as well. My Mama Lui in Pukapuka just had her NZ pension cut in half from $1500 a month to $750. This money is entirely spent in the Cook Islands on food and provisions for the whole extended family. She spent some twenty years working in factories in Hellensville, for her hard-earned pension. She returned to Pukapuka to live out her last years in peace with her family but the severity of the tax and penalty makes her, and other Cook Islanders, less likely to return. While I understand that some tax on the pension is needed, having her pension halved is a huge tax especially given that the money stays in the Cook Islands through spending anyhow. I thought we wanted to keep our elderly in the Cook Islands and especially in the Pa Enua? Concerned northerner (Name and address supplied)

“Teach our children that every little piece of non-biodegradable tita is a threat to our sustainability”

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In Monday's (01/09/14) paper you have the front page headline 'It’s in our DNA to conserve the ocean: Puna'. I would like to believe this, but think that it’s more important in this industrial day and age to remember that it’s what practical life skills we teach our children about living here on our Pacific islands that will really matter to our environment.Turning a couple of pages is the very sweet story about the Titikaveka Girl Guides' loom band fundraiser - and then on the next page, a story about the tragic state of our oceans - a marine scientist's report about toxic floating plastic islands which are poisoning & choking fish, birds, sea life. These stories may not seem it - but they are related. We all need to be better at dealing with the waste that is imported daily in packaging and products that can harm this island we live on and its surrounding eco system. This is an environmental issue that should be talked about at every opportunity with children who are using and making loom band jewellery - the new imported craft craze that uses little rubber bands to make fun plastic bracelets.In a nutshell, little bits of plastic and silicone rubber do not bio-degrade completely - and our sea life and ocean environment will suffer directly with every loom band that is discarded carelessly, accidently or otherwise. Some may think picking on the loom band craze is petty stuff - but the proof is there that fish, birds and sea life are consuming our plastic waste and the flow on to us and our own future is threatened. Everything is connected, the same goes with all plastic that is not recycled, and disposed of thoughtfully. It starts at the' micro' level and relates to our own actions and what we teach our children. Please - teach our children that every little piece of non-biodegradable tita is a threat to our sustainability - and ultimately our own future health. We are all linked in a great environmental chain - and need to protect the future of our planet and people we love! So kids - keep making stuff and being creative - but look after our oceans too! Ani O'Neill Ngatangiia

“The song is unfinished and the fat lady has yet to sing”

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,In response to Mr Ka’s article in Saturday’s CI News editorial, I acknowledge his sincerity and “soul searching comments” with regards to the Demo party’s demise.However like most first time aspiring politicians, defeat is very hard to accept especially at times when you think you have beaten your adversary and victory is at hand only to find the battle has been won elsewhere. I do not intend to comment at large regarding One Cook Islands potential relationship with the Demos nor any other political party for that matter as “the song is unfinished and the fat lady has yet to sing” but I do wish to clarify and correct his assumption that One Cook Island’s is a “tired and fractured component.”On the contrary, One Cook Island’s is indeed a lively, active and real political movement with a clear sense of political direction and conscience supported and complemented by a team of dedicated, loyal and enthusiastic people wanting to make a difference where people can actually contribute, make choices and be heard. Our performance at the snap election in July proved that and our increasing popularity and overwhelming support, is further evidence that we are here to stay. His comment is totally out of context and assumes some personal agenda against the leader of One Cook Islands rather than against the movement per se. Experience, depth, political cunningness and astute understanding of the issues were the winner on the day not so called smart, intelligent, waffly, media pschyco, economic armchair wannabe political analysts who ended up creating mistrust, uncertainty and eventually a huge public divide resulting in a last minute turnaround in what should have been seen as a “clear victory for the Demos.” Mr Ka as an “experienced journalist” and others may well learn from this experience to improve his chances in 2018 should he wish to stand again.I suggest from his editorial insinuations that any issues he may have with the leader of One Cook Islands as the eventual successful candidate for Are Nikau in Aitutaki is quickly forgotten and that he should move on and prepare for 2018 just as we’re doing. Better still, it might pay to refrain from making any such assertions publicly in future “lest the hand that feeds you may come back to bite you!” Good luck on his continued soul searching and aspirations to join the future political gravy train. George Turia President One Cook Islands Movement Inc

'Changing the mentality of our justice system starts at the top'

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

I want to comment on a story you ran on your front page, Friday September 29 2014, titled, “Lemon Thief Given Community Service.”I was the one who spotted the thief leaving my family property with the sack of lemons and personally followed him on my motor bike to discover he had sold the lemons to the Anchorage Restaurant in Arorangi. I reported the crime to Puaikura Community Police Department and laid charges against the intruder. By the way, for everyone’s information the thief is in his mid to late 20’s, not 17 as reported in the article.I printed and emailed the police a detailed signed statement of what exactly happened. A day after a police officer came by and had the cheek to ask me not to lay charges, saying he was a young man who deserved another chance to turn his life around. I’m all for giving our youth the benefit of the doubt, but I knew and the Police knew this was not the first time he had been caught stealing. The staff at the Anchorage Restaurant even confirmed that this individual has been supplying them with produce for sometime and were not aware that they are stolen goods. The Police Prosecutor at the High Court knew he was a repeat offender and still recommended community service instead of a jail sentence.Incredibly Justice of the Peace, Pae Tuteru went along with this slap on the wrist. After going through this whole process of doing all of the Police work, investigating the theft and preparing a signed statement, I’m totally disgusted and frustrated with the Police and the whole Justice system of caring more for the criminals than their victims.We the public are doing a lot to try and cut crime, by investing into organising neighbourhood watches, as in Puaikura Neighbourhood Watch Inc., and in the Takitumu Neighbourhood Watch Group, we install bars on our homes and businesses, install security cameras, employ private security firms and still the thieves are a major problem for our community. There a lot of fine and dedicated people working for the Police and the Justice System but it is far too obvious that some of them are not doing their job, they are lazy and incompetent. The lemon thief case is a good example of this, from the police, to the prosecution, to the Justice of the Peace; they all failed to show that they are serious and tough on crime and won’t tolerate repeat offenders to escape jail time.We are all fed up with working our butts off, only to be ripped off by scum-bag criminals who would rather steal from the community instead of work for a living, while the police try and justify not punishing their criminal behaviour.Finally, I have a message for the Police Commissioner, Maara Tetava, Minister of Police, Hon. Teariki Heather, Minister of Justice Hon. Moana Ioane, you better start changing the mentality of our Justice system, it starts at the top, if you can’t get tough on crime and protect and serve our people, then don’t expect much support from the public.Doreen BoggsArorangi

Kata: Election Petitions via Skype to the outer islands...

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Kata

Cookie boys shine as NZ Warriors eye finals

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in League

Cook Islands international Dominique Peyroux and Cook Islander Ben Henry were standout players for the New Zealand Warriors as they dismantled the Gold Coast Titans 42-0 over the weekend.Peyroux, who played at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup for the Cooks, was called into the side for only his fourth NRL match of the season. He has been biding his time in reserve grade and leapt at the chance to play in first grade again.After eight and a half minutes he had made a line break that lead to a try and scored one himself.NZ Warriors coach Andrew McFadden praised Peyroux’s performance and credited him with shoring-up the left-edge defence which was badly exposed by the Sydney Roosters last week. "He [Peyroux] was terrific, I know that on our left-side defence his talk and enthusiasm was great and he certainly added something for us and gave us a spark out there," stated McFadden. Ben Henry, who scored the first try for the warriors, was selected in both the Cook Islands and New Zealand squads for last year’s world cup. A serious injury ended his 2013 season and he missed out on the tournament. This year, Henry has been one of the Warriors most consistent players and is one of their key forwards. Observers say this has been his best season to date and being injury free has been a big part of that. A win this weekend against the Penrith Panthers should see the NZ Warriors make the top eight. Peyroux and Henry will be looking to join fellow Cookies like Dylan Napa at the Roosters, Alex Glenn at the Brisbane Broncos and Tepai Moeroa (whose Parramatta Eels are also looking to scrape into the top eight) in the 2014 NRL Finals.

Second league trial match at the Swamp

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in League

Local sponsors have come on board the rugby league train to help support the build-up campaign towards the end of month hit out against the touring Australia Affiliated States team.

Electoral petition hearings underway

Wednesday 3 September 2014 | Published in Politics

Petition proceedings have begun for electoral petitions concerning constituencies in Mangaia and Atiu.