Articles by Utopia Support

Pacific colours at PYSC

Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in National

Around 750 Pacific youth participants witnessed the opening of the second Pacific Youth and Sports Conference in New Caledonia. The conference on December 2 brought together Pacific participants who are passionate about making a change. The contributors to the conference gathered at the Paita Arena to witness the opening, which was conducted with the observance […]

Parliament resumes for unfinished business

Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in National

Parliament will resume mid-week to deal with leftover business and complete what will be the final session of 2013. At the end of Friday and after five days of sitting, it was expected that eleven out of a proposed thirteen bills had been passed by the house. The remaining bills – which include the trustee […]

Seabed minerals advisor upskills at workshop

Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in National

The Seabed Minerals Authority will be better equipped to define the Cook Islands’ maritime boundaries thanks to a recent workshop in Australia. Alex Herman, legal advisor for the authority, has been participating in a two-week development workshop in Sydney which wrapped up yesterday. Paul Lynch, Seabed Minerals Commissioner, said defining maritime boundaries in the Cook […]

Local picked to lead regional union drive

Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in National

A Cook Islander has been chosen to represent workers from more than a dozen island nations in the Pacific region, including New Zealand and Australia. Anthony Turua, head of the Cook Islands Workers Association, will be taking over as chairman of the South Pacific Oceania Council of Trade Union (SPOCTU), a regional trade union movement. […]

Telecom defends 'high' costs

Monday 9 December 2013 | Published in National

Telecom has defended its broadband and phone charges after a recent report described “the high cost of telecommunications” as being a major issue in the Cook Islands. Representatives from Vanuatu, Samoa, Niue and Australia were in the country at the end of October carrying out a peer review, speaking to everyone from political and traditional […]

Elderly man slashed in bush knife attack

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local

A land dispute between two elderly men in Mitiaro escalated into a machete attack on Wednesday, leaving one of them in hospital with severe cuts to his body. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said the incident took place late Wednesday afternoon and police were notified at about 6pm. The victim received two cuts to his head, […]

Tuariki resigns Murienua seat

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local

The winner of the recent Murienua by-election has resigned from his post, pre-empting a court hearing of a petition by his opponent. Cook Islands Party candidate Kaota Tuariki won September’s by-election in the Murienua constituency, defeating Democratic Party candidate James Beer in the bid to fill the seat that was vacated by Queen’s Representative Tom […]

Royal visit

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local

Queen’s Representative Tom Marsters and wife Tuaine hosted the Queen’s Baton and the team accompanying it to mark the start of its Cook Islands visit. The baton arrived on Thursday and after its official visit to the Queen’s Representative’s residence in Titikaveka, it began the first of two relay legs on the island. Papaaroa students […]

Queen's baton passes through parliament

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Local

In addition to the passing of bills, the Cook Islands parliament saw the passing of the Queen’s baton during Friday’s sitting of the house. At roughly midday, a Commonwealth games delegation including Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee president Hugh Graham visited parliament to present the baton to the house. The visit saw the […]

World Cup challenge a game to remember

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Now that the dust has settled somewhat, and the teams are all firmly entrenched back in their boxes, can I just add my comment on what has been a fantastic, well organised, well supported 2013 World Cup over here in the United Kingdom. The levels of rugby have been second to none; the […]

'Conflict of interest': an open letter to BTIB minister

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, This is an open letter to the Minister of BTIB – I would very much appreciate your thoughts on the following. In November 2013, Mr Terry Rangi, chief executive officer of the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) registered ‘Ngapuhi Filmworks Ltd’ with the Ministry of Justice, here in Rarotonga. Mr Rangi holds a […]

A running track but no athletes in Cook Islands

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor Congratulations to Malcolm Kajer for attending the world workshop of tennis coaching. This is one man who has consistently performed in his art as a tennis coach in the Cook Islands for going on to nearly 30 or more years. We have given him little or no support or accolade for what he […]

Kata - December 7, 2013

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Netball selection 'unprofessional'

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in Netball

Dear Editor, I would like to ask the Cook Islands Netball Association to clarify a few things that have been bugging my niece and I. We live on Aitutaki, and my niece was earmarked by the Cook Islands Netball Association in your newspaper in September 2013, saying that she was selected by the association for […]

NRL All Stars jersey to help rebuild schools

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

A signed NRL All Stars jersey will be used to raise money to help rebuild Avatea School and Nukutere College, which both lost classrooms to fires lit by an arsonist in October. The jersey was brought to Rarotonga by Newcastle and Central Coast regional manager of the Country Rugby League of NSW Keith Onslow – […]

New friends made at Motu2Motu Aitutaki

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

A fun day of paddling on the stunning turquoise Aitutaki lagoon was the perfect way to make new friends and end the weeklong Vaka Eiva paddling. Over 100 international paddlers headed to the outer island of Aitutaki for the fast growing Motu2Motu race, earning a reputation for being the most stunning paddling location in the […]

Electronics for Xmas stockings

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and CITC supermarket are spreading the Christmas cheer early among customers. The Christmas promotion has $20,000 worth of Samsung products up for grabs with any three purchases of Anchor, Chesdale or Tip Top products. The first round of winners were announced on Saturday and were presented with their early […]

Travel students pay a visit to Arorangi School

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

Arorangi School welcomed students from the travel industry into the school last month. Students from Sir George Seymour National College of airline, travel and tourism were hosted by students from Year 8 and 9 and Arorangi School, with the visit providing the opportunity for discussions about potential career paths for all involved. Arorangi students had […]

Celebrations at Avarua School

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

Students, teachers and the local community filled Avarua School field on Thursday morning for the school’s end of year prizegiving. Excited ei-wearing students waited patiently for their turn to perform, with Minister of Education Teina Bishop and secretary of education Sharyn Paio present to support the school. Celebrating success of the students was the main […]

Arorangi celebrates success

Saturday 7 December 2013 | Published in National

Apii Arorangi students got into the festive season at their prize giving ceremony on Friday with Santa hats spotted among the sea of beautiful ei katu’s. The Aroanui Hall was packed with students, parents and teachers as they celebrated the hard work and efforts of their students during the year. Principal of the primary school […]