Articles by Utopia Support

Appalling invasion of privacy

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear editor, The front page report in CI News on 24 December in regards to Mrs Nancy Simiona’s bank account being raided by over $3,000 by government reveals an appalling lack of judgement and sensitivity by some expat bureaucratic minion in the MFEM hierarchy who didn’t even have the decency to inform the local old age pensioner of the appropriation of her money on behalf of the MFEM Tax Department.

Kata - December 27, 2013

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Aitutaki celebrates Xmas in the park

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in National

Aitutaki residents were out in force for Christmas in the Park this month to enjoy music, toys and plenty of food.

Water safety DVD in the pipeline

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in National

A water safety DVD featuring well-known Cook Islands sports personalities is set be filmed next year and shown in schools throughout the country.

Matariki FM expects better signal

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in National

Local radio station Matariki FM should be blasting into homes more clearly next week after its antennas are hoisted a few metres higher above the tree line.

High speed internet trial wraps up

Friday 27 December 2013 | Published in National

Telecom Cook Islands has completed final testing of its new high speed internet service ahead of the official launch early next year.

Christmas greetings and messages

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna Kia Orana everyone, and on behalf of my wife Akaiti and all the family, season’s greetings! Special greetings go out to all those visiting with us this Christmas. Welcome home. I hope your stay is an enjoyable one and filled with much love and good cheer with your family and friends. […]

Bad apples' leave animals in sun

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Local

A number of “bad apples” have been leaving their livestock tied up in the blistering heat without shade or water, says the Ministry of Agriculture. Tiria Rere, chief livestock officer, said the ministry has been receiving complaints over the past few weeks about cases of animal cruelty. Both locals and tourists have voiced their concerns […]

Two in hospital after car crash

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Local

Police were called out to four car crashes over the weekend, including one in Titikaveka which left the two occupants in hospital. Senior Sergeant Maevarangi Kirikava said the accident in Titikaveka took place near Palm Grove Resort at 3:15 am on Sunday. “The car veered off the road and landed in the ditch. The two […]

Pensioner's account raided by govt

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Local

Eight days before Christmas, the government has gone directly to a senior’s bank account to collect thousands in what it says is unpaid tax, assessed on a New Zealand government-paid pension. Tupapa couple Teariki and Nancy Simiona – who both collect the NZ-paid superannuation – were startled to see on Nancy’s most recent Westpac Bank […]

'Mafia style' treatment of pensioners by govt

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It is with sadness that the government had withdrawn $3014.20 from my wife’s account without consultation – this is purely a mafia style procedure. I feel sorry for the rest of the NZ-paid pensioners because this Cook Islands Party government, which we supported for a long time since its operation is bankrupt and […]

Govt could choose to exempt NZ-paid pensions from tax

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I have been reading the NZ/Cook Islands Allocation of Taxing Rights Agreement signed by John Key for NZ and Jim Marurai for the Cook Islands on July 9, 2009 and more particularly Article 5 which relates to pensions. Nowhere in that Article or the Agreement proper can I see substantiated the claim that […]

Memories of swimming at Arorangi Passage

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The reported comments in your December 19 edition by Mr Bim Tou, general manager of the Ports Authority, regarding the Arorangi passage is most surprising. One of my fondest memories is as a young child, spending several days in a Boys Brigade and Life Boys camp based at Arorangi School. Our daily activities […]

'I salute you for staying united' – Grey Power

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would personally like to thank our Vice President Dennis Tunui for his contribution in establishing the growth of our Grey Power organisation. He has been in, out, around, and through a lot of activities that have given us a steady footing today, and it’s about time that he takes a breather. Job […]

Kata - December 24, 2013

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Aitutaki set for more ANZ junior cricket

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

It may be hot and dry in Aitutaki at the moment, but the weather will be nothing compared to the heat that is about to descend on Aitutaki’s cricketers when their season gets underway this week. Having already introduced the ANZ Under 19 boys to their season last year, a recent development visit by Cook […]

Island spirit alive this Christmas

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

The island Christmas feel is buzzing on Rarotonga thanks to the Tropical Christmas Club initiative. The Christmas Club was started by a group of Rarotonga merchants who came together because of a desire to put the ‘island spirit’ back into Christmas, bring joy to the faces of the children and light up the island. “We […]

Look out for pets this Xmas - Esther Honey

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

With the arrival of the festive season, the Esther Honey Foundation would like to remind everyone that there is no holiday from being a responsible pet owner. Animals need proper care every day, all year round. Animals, just like people, require adequate food, water and shelter from the sun, wind and rain. If you are […]

High-tech gifts for shoppers

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

As the hours are counted down before Christmas, The Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) got into the holiday spirit yesterday by handing out some hi-tech gifts to a handful of lucky shoppers. In conjunction with Fonterra, CITC key brands manager George George handed out two Samsung Galaxy 4 phones and two Samsung X8 notebooks to […]

Xmas prayer for water, youth and Grey Power

Tuesday 24 December 2013 | Published in National

The public is invited to a series of Christmas and New Year prayers beginning today, addressing issues such as water shortages, road crashes and Grey Power tax protests. Pastor Ngarima George, who is currently living in Australia but is back in Rarotonga for Christmas, will be leading the series of four prayers and said “all […]