Articles by Utopia Support

Govt continues in caretaker role

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Politics

With court challenges looming, Prime Minister Henry Puna’s newly-elected government will continue to operate in a caretaker role with limited spending powers.

Samoa: Market delays upset vendors

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Regional

Farmers and vendors braving the rain and the boiling sun on the streets of Fugalei in Samoa are slowly losing hope.

Lions may play in the Pacific

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Regional

The British and Irish Lions are under pressure to follow the All Blacks’ lead and play a test in the Pacific Islands on the way to New Zealand for their 2017 tour.

PNG: Churches offer AIDs faith healing

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Regional

Revivalist churches in Papua New Guinea are promoting prayer as a substitute for medication to those with HIV, according to human rights groups.

Samoa: One woman's flight from a life of violence

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Regional

A poignant story of one young woman’s struggle against domestic violence has been told in the Samoa Observer newspaper this week.

News service laments its own demise

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Regional

The impact of recently announced cuts to Radio Australia and other international services of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, is likely to be raised at a Pacific leaders meeting in Palau next week.

Milestone FIFA 'women's league' launches

Wednesday 23 July 2014 | Published in Football

The Cook Islands Football Association will be launching the FIFA support programme for women’s league on Thursday July 24 at the Tamarind House at 12 noon with football club representatives.

QR, please 'take time for a cuppa'

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The Queen’s Representative has some discretion about whether he is prepared to swear in the Cook Islands Party as the new Government, and one hopes he will exercise it.

Smokies: No-one else to blame

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Smoke Signals

Suffer again for another four years? To those who voted CIP give yourself a pat on the back.

Small increase in June visitor arrivals

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Local

Visitor arrivals rose by less than one per cent in June compared to the same month last year, according to latest statistics.

Foreshore rock structure opposed

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Local

A proposal to build a foreshore rock revetment structure to protect two properties from coastal erosion has drawn strong opposition.

Mystery votes due to walk-in electors

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Politics

The appearance of approximately 430 extra votes in the final count of this month’s general election has been attributed to an unexpected surge in declaratory votes.

Demos prepared to form coalition

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Politics

A defiant Wilkie Rasmussen is confident a number of court challenges currently in the works will tilt the results of the election in his team’s favour, ushering in a Democratic Party-led government.

Big seas turn Pacific rower around

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Regional

English rower Elsa Hammond was supposed to be rowing to Hawai’i, but she's rowing towards Mexico.

Rowers welcomed to Waikiki

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Regional

New Zealander Tara Remington’s and her Paralympian companion Angela Madsen ended an epic row across the Pacific Ocean when they came ashore in Hawai’i this weekend.

Australia: Paedophile preyed on Vanuatu children

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Regional

Accused paeodphile Gregory Druery used his position of trust with the church and families to abuse children, Australian police say.

All Blacks test in Samoa confirmed

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Regional

The All Blacks have finally agreed to play a test in Samoa after years of pressure to repay a country which has benefited the New Zealand team so much in the past.

Massage for a good cause

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Local

Want to help animals in need and do something for your own health at the same time?

Kata: Political games

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Kata

Election: No petitions yet

Tuesday 22 July 2014 | Published in Politics

The first of a number of deadlines for filing petitions passed on Tuesday, with no contesting of final results by either major party.