Articles by Utopia Support

Huge decline in agriculture: census

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Local

A dramatic drop in agricultural activity across the Cook Islands in the last decade is shown by a recently released agriculture census. The findings were revealed at a workshop on Wednesday at the Ministry of Agriculture in Arorongi. In Rarotonga, the census recorded a substantial decrease in agricultural land use, from 1143 acres in 2000 […]

Fuel prices drop

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

Drivers will be pleased to hear the prices of petrol and diesel have come down at retailers supplied by Triad Petroleum. A new price order for fuel imported by Triad means its retailers had to cut their prices at the pump from Wednesday. Across the Cook Islands – but excluding Aitutaki – the cost of […]

TMV – Another watery failure?

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

“Can a mere citizen suggest a field trip for Cabinet?” a smoke signaller writes. “Go up into the hills at Arorangi and see just what remains of the massive failed fresh water reservoir that never supplied a drop of water to anyone. Are you really going ahead blindly with the water project, as blindly as […]

Weekend 'cruises' in govt vehicles queried

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I am concerned to see some of the government vehicles cruising around the island on the weekends. The question I want to raise is who is paying for fuel – the ordinary people. Maybe that is the reason why the government wants to tax the New Zealand pensioners (Grey Power) to foot the […]

Grey Power marches come to an end

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Forty Grey Power members marched quietly into the Matavera CICC Church on Sunday morning without placards, banners and chanting, bringing to an end a series of planned marches to various government offices and sites. For six weeks running we’ve hit the office of the Revenue Management Division, the Prime Minister’s office at Atukura, […]

Kata - December 13, 2013

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Old stars shine for the masters league

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in League

After taking part in the Queen’s Baton relay earlier in the day, the Avatiu and Takuvaine masters of rugby league clashed at the Swamp in the first match last Friday. It began as an even game, until national league president Charles Carlson did his magic together with on-form Pomati Jnr, and exploited gaps in the […]

Tweet brings Australian vet to the Cooks

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

An Australian vet has been busy blogging about the Cooks after a recent visit to Rarotonga. Dr Anne Fawcett, 35, who is also a journalist and veterinary science lecturer at the University of Sydney, booked a flight to the Cook Islands after receiving a tweet from the Esther Honey Foundation Clinic, which suggested she write […]

Locals snap up Christmas prizes

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

The CITC and Fonterra Christmas promotion is spreading the joy of the festive season, with $20,000 worth of Samsung prizes up for grabs. Mama Poko Vaineritua and Bill Rennie were all smiles as they arrived at CITC Supermarket to collect their new Samsung gadgets. Vaineritua says her granddaughter wanted to swap phones when she found […]

Cook Islands signs a tax agreement with Germany

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

The Cook Islands has entered into an agreement with Germany designed to improve the flow of information about specific taxpayers under investigation. High Commissioner Tekaotiki Matapo yesterday put his signature to a document which brings the Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Germany into effect. The agreement enables either government to request information from the other […]

Girls Brigade members share Cooks culture in South Africa

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

Three Cook Islands Girls Brigade members from the Avarua company are sharing the Cook Islands culture at a gathering in South Africa. Girls Brigade officer Teamita Akama, young leader Naomi Manavaikai and pioneer Lucianne Vainerere are taking part in the global week-long Girls Brigade Gathering from December 7 to 14. The gathering, also known as […]

Passing on the light at St Joseph's Primary School

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

Much loved ‘honorary local’ Sister Celine is saying ka kite after 11 years at St Joseph School. Principal for eight years and a teacher for three, Sister Celine is content with the changes and improvements that have taken place at the primary school throughout the years. The humble principal credits the students, parents, Bishop Paul […]

Junior students celebrate at Tereora

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

Junior students at Tereora College took their turn in the limelight this week, when the school held its junior prizegiving. The school and local community gathered to celebrate alongside the junior students with Queen’s Representative Tom Marsters, New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers and Ministry of Education finance director Anthony Turua present to give their […]

Atiu water relief efforts discussed in parliament

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

Efforts to alleviate the water shortage in Atiu were discussed in parliament yesterday. The issue was raised by opposition and Titikaveka Member of Parliament Sel Napa, who asked for details on government’s efforts to assist some of the southern group islands which are experiencing drought-like effects due to poor rainfall. Responding for the government, Atiu […]

Broken pump leaves Oasis out of petrol

Friday 13 December 2013 | Published in National

A broken-down pump at Oasis Energy Centre has left the Nikao business unable to sell petrol to its customers for more than two days. Manager Louisa Poila said the underground fuel pump, which drives petrol to each pump on the forecourt, stopped working on Tuesday at about 7pm. The pump had still not been fixed […]

Prized pupil!

Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local

Young Tschan Hagai was thrilled to be awarded the supreme award of Dux for 2013, and with it the Quincy Manu Tuiravakai Memorial Trophy, at St Joseph School’s prize giving ceremony last week. The day had a bittersweet note for the primary school’s students and teachers, being combined with a farewell to principal Sister Celine […]

One year anniversary for shark sanctuary

Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local

Today marks the one year anniversary of the creation of the Cook Islands 1.9 million square kilometre shark sanctuary. With much fanfare on December 12, 2012, local citizens celebrated the establishment of the zone, which sees a ban on shark fishing and the possession or sale of shark products. Combining the efforts of the Cooks […]

Machete attacker awaits sentencing

Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local

An elderly man who allegedly carried out a machete attack in Mitiaro last week is facing a maximum sentence of seven years in jail if found guilty. The bush knife attack on Wednesday stemmed from a land dispute and left another elderly man with two cuts to his head, one to his shoulder and one […]

Heather announced as DPM

Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Local

Months of speculation ended yesterday in parliament when Teariki Heather was formally announced as Deputy Prime Minister. The announcement by Prime Minister Henry Puna ended over four months of speculation on who would be filling the position. In making the announcement, Puna said he agreed with critics that it took a long time for a […]

'Rational worn out' on Air NZ payments

Thursday 12 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, At $7.7 million annually, the subsidy we pay to Air New Zealand for the Los Angeles/Rarotonga flight equals about $321 per seat on each flight, or $642 per seat on each return flight, filled or not. The Covec report (CINews December 9, 2013) says the flight is presently loss making (to us) but […]