Articles by Utopia Support

Arorangi jetty danger 'obvious from the beginning'

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I see from the letter to the editor on Wednesday December 18, and the reply by Bim Tou on December 19, that the Ports Authority is once again telling stories, and playing the game of “shoot the messenger” instead of addressing the problem. The Ports Authority manager’s statements that “the area has always […]

Kata - December 21, 2013

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Netball development camp an eye opener

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in Netball

A recent netball development camp in New Zealand attended by Cook Islands under 19 players and officials has been described by the team as an eye-opener.

British lifeguard warns about strong currents

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

A professional lifeguard currently on holiday in Rarotonga says the local reef passages are as dangerous as anything he’s ever experienced. Casey Burgess, 22, is a senior lifeguard from Bournemouth, a large coastal town on the south coast of England. He runs a team of eight lifeguards for six months of the year and then […]

Bags with a message

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) is now in full swing with its disaster awareness programmes as preparations begin for the cyclone season for 2013/2014. The NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (NZ-MCDEM) donated boxes of bright yellow cloth shopping bags to assist with its awareness programmes. The idea was raised by Keith Evans, […]

Third quarterly catch data for commercial & artisanal fishery

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

The strong seasonality in the commercial fishery and a wide variability in the local artisanal fishery are the two main features of the third quarterly report issued by the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR). The report shows that the commercial fishing season has peaked early during the winter months of April to August with a […]

BTIB concerned about Beattie's shareholding

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

Former head of tourism Carmel Beattie is being accused of setting up a company in the Cook Islands without approval. Terry Rangi, chief executive of the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB), contacted CINews this week after hearing Beattie had been appointed to represent one of Australasia’s biggest travel wholesalers in the Cook Islands. Based at […]

193 gifts for children in need

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

The Internal Affairs office was piled high with Christmas gifts for children in need on Thursday. The gifts were part of the ‘giving tree’ promotion, run through Westpac, which sees tags labelled with the age and gender of an underprivileged child hung on a Christmas tree for people to take away, and bring back an […]

Bishop drives push for political reform

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

Education and tourism minister Teina Bishop has put the topic of political reform back on the table. On Tuesday, the Aitutaki MP presented a proposal and recommendations to cabinet that have the potential to significantly alter the makeup of the Cook Islands parliament. The essence of his proposal is to affirm the government position that […]

Westpac launches first in-store bank

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

Westpac customers can now transfer money between bank accounts, pay bills and check their balance, all from the counter at Manea Foods in Nikao. The bank yesterday launched its first ‘in-store banking’ system, which is an enhanced Eftpos terminal allowing people to access basic banking services without visiting the branch. Using their handycard, customers can […]

Reducing food imports key in NCD fight, says official

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

A visiting agriculture policy official from the United Nations was recently in the Cook Islands to offer insight and ideas into reducing food import dependence. Reducing the amount of food consumed by Cook Islanders grown and processed overseas was included in the Cook Islands National strategic development plan 2011-15. Policy officer Tim Martyn of the […]

'Apii Nikao' school in the pipeline

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

The principal of Apii Avatea said she is pleased to hear the government plans to merge her school with neighbouring Nikao Maori School. Cabinet has supported a proposal by Minister of Education Teina Bishop to construct a new school called ‘Apii Nikao’ to serve the area, accommodating students from both schools. This comes after a […]

Round two in Murienua set for February

Saturday 21 December 2013 | Published in National

Dates have been set for the by-election re-run set for the constituency of Murienua. Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua has confirmed February 19 as the by-election date, and both Kaota Tuariki of the Cook Islands Party and James Beer of the Democratic Party have signalled their intention to run. Nominations close on January 9 at […]

Home for Christmas –a season of rejoicing!

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Church Talk

Christmas time is a wonderful and beautiful time of the year. Trees are draped with sparkling lights, the stores glitter with dazzling decorations and the streets bustle with crowds of shoppers seeking gifts for those they love. All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting. We […]

Xmas in the Market a big success

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Church Talk

Hundreds of people turned out for a fairy tale-themed Christmas fundraiser event at Punanga Nui market wednesday night, which raised about $13,000. Rotaract Club’s annual Christmas in the Market offered the crowd a smorgasbord of different food stalls, plus face-painting, entertainment, fireworks and a visit from Santa Claus. Vice President Pauline Dean said the event […]

Santa's little helper!

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Local

Five-month-old Maria Bruno was dressed appropriately for the festive season at Wednesday’s Christmas in the Market, and enjoyed taking in the sights with mum Joy Poila. Hundreds of people flooded into Punanga Nui market for the fairy tale-themed Christmas fundraiser, which saw kids dress up as fairies, Santa’s helpers and even Superman. The event raised […]

Xmas bonus paid to beneficiaries today

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Local

All beneficiaries can expect to find some extra cash in their bank accounts today. The payments of $50 are part of an annual Christmas bonus paid by the government. Minister of Internal Affairs Nandi Glassie announced the bonus yesterday, which is expected to be paid regardless of the type of benefit people are receiving. This […]

Young man loses life in motorbike crash

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Local

A young man killed in a motorbike crash last weekend was on his way to church when the incident happened. Exham Constantine Nga, aged 24, was taken to hospital soon after the crash on Sunday morning but died that afternoon. The incident was reported to police at 10:40am, said detective inspector Areumu Ingaua. “This man […]

Police get 'significant' information on arson

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Local

Two members of the public have come forward with “significant” information about the arson attacks that shocked Rarotonga two months ago. On October 20 an arsonist burned down six classrooms, three resource rooms, a canteen and a small side room at Nukutere College. Later that day, another act of arson left six classrooms and a […]

'Permission for tree felling not granted in 1989' - Scott

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Your smoke signaller got it wrong. It was the Conservation Service back then in 1989, by the way, not the National Environment Service, and it never did give us permission to remove the trees which impeded our development. In fact it threw everything in its arsenal at us to prevent their removal. We […]