Articles by Utopia Support

College ends with junior prize giving

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

Tereora College ended its school year in celebration, holding their junior prizegiving on Thursday morning. There were smiles all round as year 9 and 10 students enjoyed the rewards of their hard work over the year, supported by their families and the school community. Year nine and ten students took to the stage in their […]

Creativity, ingenuity light Christmas trees

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

Rarotonga was lit up bright on Thursday evening for the community Tropical Christmas ‘light up your tree’ competition. Village and community groups got right into the Christmas spirit and decorated their trees with tinsel and colourful lights that showed their creativity and support for the cheer-inducing Christmas campaign. Organisers of the community initiative were impressed […]

From Maine Kuki Airani to Miss South Pacific

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

Maine Kuki Airani Teuira Napa is taking a well-deserved rest after the young Cook Islands woman was crowned Miss South Pacific in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Making 10 new friends for the rest of her life was one of the top highlights at the pageant for Napa who described being crowned as overwhelming. She also told […]

Parliament concludes final sitting of 2013

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

Parliament concluded a busy two week sitting on Friday with the passing of a sweeping income tax amendment bill. The changes are described as “…the most significant series of changes to the Cook Islands taxation system since 1997” and include decreases in income tax rates and the elimination of import levies on certain consumer goods. […]

Decision pending on merger of Avatea and Nikao

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

A proposal to merge Apii Avatea and Nikao Maori School is awaiting a decision by the Minister of Education, amid widespread opposition from the parents of one school. The proposed idea is to replace the two schools, which are situated next door to each other, with a single new school. This follows extensive damage to […]

Police up the ante for festive season

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in National

Police will be stepping up their efforts to stamp out incidents of burglary, domestic violence and drunk driving during the Christmas season. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said the amount of crime always spikes at this time of year, with more people on the island and homes stacked with presents. During the last festive period – […]

Tupapa Maraerenga crowned soccer champs

Monday 16 December 2013 | Published in Football

The Tupapa Maraerenga Premier Men’s team have won the CIFA Knock-out Cup final by defeating Puaikura by two goals to one on Saturday at the CIFA complex in Matavera.

Atiu airport to close because of disrepair?

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local

The state of Atiu airport was questioned by the leader of the opposition in parliament yesterday, following concern about Pukapuka’s airport being closed. Democratic Party leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Atiu MP Nandi Glassie about the status of the island’s airport, saying a source had informed him that if nothing is done to repair its runway, […]

Parliament concludes final sitting

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local

Parliament concluded its final sitting of 2013 yesterday with the passing of a sweeping tax bill, season’s greetings, and a festive lunch for the nation’s lawmakers. Covering two weeks, it was a busy session with the passing of at least 11 bills and the presentation of parliamentary papers on a diverse range of issues. A […]

Ready to ura!

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local

Holly Johnston, Hanalei and Lahaina Wong at the ready to take to the stage for their performances at Takitumu School’s prize giving on Wednesday.

Puna slammed for missing parliament

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Local

Prime Minister Henry Puna was put on the defensive yesterday after missing out on the first week of parliament’s current sitting. Puna was absent after travelling to Fiji to attend the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, where he delivered a “keynote address” at the conference. “You were absent from parliament […]

Ruamanu student top Manihiki logo comp

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Features

There were smiles all round at the presentation of a logo competition in Manihiki, which saw Ruamanu School student, Toka Toka, walk away with top prize. Toka went home with $500 in his pocket for his winning logo design, in the competition held by the Manihiki Pearl Farmers Association (MPFA). Toka says that the prize […]

Carving work exhibited at Io Marama

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Features

A selection of stunning carved pieces made the journey from New Zealand to the Cook Islands, for an exhibition at Io Marama last week. A group of five students from Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Palmerston North, including local artist Stormy Kara, travelled to the Cook Islands to exhibit their work and to learn from […]

'Worst to come for agriculture'

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, ’Huge decline in agriculture’ screamed yesterday’s headline. Well, you haven’t seen anything yet. Just as soon as this Cook Islands Party government proceeds with its ill-advised import levy removal programme, you will need to find a stronger adjective because ’huge’ will not describe it. John M Scott

Parliament is a circus

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This current government are a bunch of clowns who belong in a circus not in parliament gathering revenue by taxing mamas and papas and the list goes on, shame on you CIP. I can only hope the people can see what this party has done and how deep this hole will get if […]

WATSAN septic tanks questioned

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, In reply to the unconvincing dribble from the acting manager of the WATSAN project relating to the installation by Raro Plumbing of a fully-funded septic tank on the site where the Ngatangiia Packing Shed once stood, one can only conclude that there has been a clear breach of the WATSAN project criteria/guidelines. As […]

Kata - December 14, 2013

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Online learning reaches across the Cooks Islands

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in National

Hard work and international expertise will see a new learning programme at the Ministry of Education ready for use at the beginning of next year. Te Kura Uira (TKU) is an online educational programme that will be providing access to excellent learning opportunities to students across the Cook Islands in 2014. After a successful pilot […]

Affordable garments snapped up by shoppers

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in National

Affordably priced plus-sized clothes, pre-loved garments, new fashionable dresses and men’s wear and accessories make for a satisfying shopping experience at the new House of Rangihuia co-op store in Arorangi. Owned and run by Christine Panoho with Mereana Hutchingson as manager, the store in Arorangi next to Rite Price carries a wide range of products […]

Tereora College produces DVD for 2013

Saturday 14 December 2013 | Published in National

Tereora College has decided to do away with the paperwork this year, and replaced their annual school year book with a DVD. “The magazine is great,” said principal Bali Haque, “but we thought we’d try a different way of doing it.” Economics played a large part in the decision, with the year book very expensive […]