Articles by Utopia Support

'The processes were corrupted' - Colagate

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In response to Tim Tepaki’s letter to the editor (‘An illness called jealousy’ – Colagate, CINews December 17): He thinks he can write rubbish to your paper and expect people to believe that it is credible. Charles Pitt writes about Colagate and says that CITC employs Cook Islanders. Who are the managers at […]

Masters rally for final showdown

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in National

The masters of rugby league games played at Tupapa’s Victoria Park last Friday were physical and evenly contested. The Takuvaine Koura Vai was first up against the master Panthers, in a game where the minister of sport Mark Brown came head to head, physically, with the leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen. While Rasmussen was […]

Trailer donated to Aitutaki youth

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in National

A multipurpose trailer on Aitutaki will remain as a tool to help support youth and youth projects on the outer island. Last year Kea trailers chief executive officer Tony Head met with principal of Araura Primary School Gene Bartlett to look at how the company could support some of the various building projects at the […]

Alcohol-fuelled parties out of hand

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in National

It’s the season to be jolly but a number of parties became a little too jolly at the weekend, resulting in noise complaints to the police. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said police received five complaints about loud parties on Friday night and Saturday night. “I know most of those incidents will be fuelled by alcohol […]

Telecom considers purchase offer

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in National

Telecom New Zealand is officially considering a sale of its 60 per cent stake in Telecom Cook Islands. The Auckland-based company released a statement to the New Zealand Stock Exchange yesterday, notifying its shareholders. “No decision has been made whether or not to proceed. Telecom will be making no further comment during these considerations,” the […]

Family ties and touch

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Touch Rugby

Members of the Kautai and Ngapoko Kinau family spent a day bonding over sports at the Tupapa field yesterday. The family reunion wrapped up on Thursday with a sports day that included volleyball, touch rugby and novelty games including three legged races.

Duty free a VAT thief?

Friday 20 December 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in to ask a question about the increase in the personal duty free allowance for arriving passengers, which increases from $250 to $750 on January 1. “Can the Minister of Finance or the opposition please explain why we are giving away a potential value added tax content of $5.5 million (100,000 […]

Environment staff asked to explain actions

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Environment

Environment staff who gave permission to cut down more than a dozen trees on a beachfront property in Rarotonga are being asked to explain their actions. Contractors felled numerous old ironwood and coconut trees on a section in Vaimaanga two weeks ago, leaving only the stumps remaining. The land leaseholders were given approval from staff […]

Govt revises numbers, forecasts $2m deficit

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Local

After previously forecasting a small surplus, the government is now predicting an operating deficit of nearly $2 million for the current 2013-14 fiscal year. During his $196.5 million budget speech to parliament last June, Minster of Finance Mark Brown said the government anticipated an operating surplus of $46,000. That number has been revised due to […]

'Tis the season of giving

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Local

Santa’s little givers Lily, Saoirse and Jade Tierney presented Annie Fisher of Hospital Comforts with a cheque of $350 raised during a fun kids’ Christmas class organised by the team at Le Bon Vivant in Muri. Fifty kids gathered at the Muri eatery to create their own unique Christmas cards, bake and ice Christmas cakes […]

Kata - December 19, 2013

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Fishing comp becomes annual holiday event

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

The junior fishing competition sponsored by CITC and Coca Cola is set to become an annual event, kick-starting Christmas holidays for Rarotonga kids. Over 80 young anglers gathered at Avana coast last Saturday for the fishing competition which also happened to be the first day of the Christmas school holidays. Youngsters and their parents made […]

MP visits Mangaia's community Telecentre

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

Tamarua Member of Parliament Tetangi Matapo made a striking impression as she reflected on technology both past and present. Tetangi was among the first to view the new Telecentre equipment in the newly renovated Community Tourism and Information Centre surrounded by large photographs of times past on Mangaia. At the opening ceremony, Tetangi spoke of […]

Communication steps up on Mangaia

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

Mangaia residents recently celebrated the opening of the island’s new Community Centre, dedicated to the advancement of the people. The mayor of the Mangaia island council Teremoana Atariki took great delight in applauding the persistence of the island’s tourism officer Taoi Nooroa to do something with the old resident agent’s residence that had been sitting […]

French naval vessel visits Rarotonga

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

French naval vessel Prairial was recently in Rarotonga as part of a routine visit to the Cook Islands. The vessel’s presence coincided with visit of French Ambassador designate Laurent Contini to the Cook Islands, who presented his credentials to Queen’s Representative Tom Marsters on Monday during a morning event at Government House. The 93.5 metre […]

Telecom offers a taste of O3b internet

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

Telecom is giving customers a taste of its new high speed internet service ahead of the official launch of O3b next year. The company has been testing the O3b global satellite service since late last month, initially switching it on at few WiFi Hotspots to iron out any issues. It has now been rolled out […]

Burglary accused reoffends immediately after bail release

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

A man released on bail after being charged with burglary is back in jail for committing another offence the day he was released. Teremoana Saddler, 23, after being arrested for a spate of burglaries, was supposed to appear in last Thursday’s criminal court for a call-over. When the matter was called he was not present; […]

Arorangi passage dangerous before building jetty – Ports

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

Arorangi passage had strong underwater currents and was a dangerous place to swim long before the new jetty was built, says the Ports Authority. Construction of the $2 million jetty, which opened with much fanfare in November last year, involved deepening and widening the nearby passage. A letter published in the CINews yesterday said the […]

Open letter to the Mangaia council

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in National

I am a former resident of Rarotonga who lived there from mid-2007 until medical problems forced us to move back to Canada in late 2011. My medical concerns now behind us I have recently read the story in the Cook Island News Saturday December 7, entitled “Parliament discusses pine trees on Mangaia”. I wanted to […]

Digicel moves to buy Telecom

Thursday 19 December 2013 | Published in Technology

Global telecommunications giant Digicel is “kicking the tyres” and making another play at buying a majority stake in Telecom Cook Islands. Finance Minister Mark Brown said Digicel Pacific is currently looking at buying out Telecom New Zealand’s 60 per cent shareholding in the local company. “Digicel is back on the beach, they’re kicking the tyres […]