Articles by Utopia Support

Rain snuffs out fires in Aitutaki

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Local

Aitutaki residents had their prayers answered on Wednesday night when rain finally arrived to snuff out scrub fires burning on the island. The downfall was a huge relief for locals, who have been battling numerous fires since a huge blaze scorched acres of land in Amuri on Saturday night. Miimetua Blenkarn, head of the Airport […]

Parliament pays tribute to Mandela

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Local

Parliament began on Thursday with a solemn tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. Described in the house as a “great man", Speaker Niki Rattle said the South African Nobel Prize winner and peace activist “should be dignified in this house”. Addressing parliament, acting PM and finance minister Mark Brown said it was a “sad occasion […]

Fish huggers

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Is there no limit to the irresponsibility of the Cook Islands News? Week after week you run these scare headlines about our collapsing tuna fishery. Tuesday this week being a perfect example – ’Too many boats, too few tuna’. How on earth can Ben Ponia ignore the facts if you keep printing the […]

WATSAN response to Muri septic tank query

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Thank you to “Very Concerned” for your letter to the editor (22/11/13) and (29/11/13) regarding the installation of a septic tank in Avana under the WATSAN project. We welcome your interest in this matter and provide the following in response. Under the Waste Management and Sanitation Improvement (WMI) programme, WATSAN has worked closely […]

Summons issue 'more than a procedural error'

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I listened with interest, and some amusement, to the damage control emanating from the Speaker and the government side of the house on my innocent observations published in your paper. It is perfectly correct that I was down at parliament, as I frequently am and as any member of the public is entitled […]

Kata - December 6, 2013

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Kata

Netball in Paradise heats up the TSA

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in Netball

Netball lovers were treated to thrilling and physical netball games at the TSA yesterday as teams returned to the court for day three of the Netball in Paradise tournament. Teams will play their final games today as the tournament draws to a close, wrapping up with the closing ceremony tomorrow. The Aitutaki under 15 team […]

Ei day before Santa walkabout

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

It’s ei katu day at Foodland today so show your tropical Christmas spirit and be in to win. Wear an ei katu or any ei, spend $5 or more on Christmas products and you could win one of three fabulous Lindz chocolate prizes. The draw for the ei day initiative will be done on Saturday […]

Te Kainga gives thanks for new van and building

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

A building on its last legs and one old car prompted the community into action to help the Te Kainga Mental Health Trust. A van was gifted to the trust in September with the aid of the Indian government’s India Grant and the trust is grateful for the use of the vehicle. “When we started […]

Sixth mental health training workshop in Raro

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Mental health professionals came together to discuss mental health this week, with a focus on how to reduce anxiety disorders and depression in the Cooks. Anxiety forms 60 per cent of all mental health illness reported in Rarotonga and depression comes in second at 20 per cent. These are statistics that the Te Kainga Mental […]

Resort owners gather for tourism trade day

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Local resort owners put their best foot forward yesterday to strike new contracts with dozens of travel wholesalers from offshore markets. About 65 wholesalers from 15 different countries are in the Cook Islands this week to meet with members of the tourism industry at the Kia Orana Cook Islands event. Now into its fourth year, […]

Free fun at wildlife centre

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

It’s all fun and games at the Cook Islands Whale and Wildlife Centre today, and everyone is welcome! After a fantastic year with lots of support from locals both on Rarotonga and in the outer islands the centre wants to say thank you with fun, games and discounts on products. The fun begins at 2.30pm […]

Who will wear the crown?

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Tonight’s the night for contestants in the ‘Carpenters Miss South Pacific 2013’ including our very own Miss Cook Islands, Teuira Napa (20). It’s been a busy week for the lovely ladies who’ve been engaged in activities leading up to the crowning tonight including the official photo shoot, a tour of the Vilu War Museum and […]

Cook Islands seeks fishing ban in high seas pocket

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

The Cook Islands is seeking a ruling from the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting being held in Cairns this week for a complete ban on longline fishing in its adjacent eastern high seas pocket. The high seas pocket which sits between the exclusive economic zones of the Cook Islands, Kiribati and French Polynesia […]

Cook Islands 'stands up' to big fishing nations

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Regional media reports are painting the Cook Islands as a leading force in standing “up to big fishing nations on conservation” at a regional meeting in Australia. A local delegation is attending the weeklong Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in Cairns, and pushing for a complete ban on longline fishing in the eastern […]

Bonny cash could pay local officials

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Money found aboard the infamous yacht ‘Bonny’ could be used to pay local authorities and a private company that incurred costs when the vessel was towed back to Avatiu Harbour nearly two years ago, says a police investigator. Inspector John Strickland said Cook Islands Police have been consulting with the Crown Law office on what […]

Outer islands MPs voice concerns in parliament

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Pointed questions have been thrown at the government by outer islands members of parliament during the first few days of parliament sitting. On Tuesday, Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka asked the government about their perceived failure to appoint an island council member on the island for three years. “As the PM promised, when everything has been […]

Arson investigation passes six-week mark

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Police have executed three more search warrants in their efforts to solve an arson investigation that has now been running for more than six weeks. People in Rarotonga were shaken when an arsonist burned down six classrooms, three resource rooms, a canteen and small side room at Nukutere College on October 20. Later that day, […]

'The future for this government is being limited'

Friday 6 December 2013 | Published in National

Dear Editor, Geoff Stoddard has made a statement in your paper (Wednesday December 4), and I hope there will be many more. Geoff Stoddard may, and I mean “may”, have a better recollection than me three or seven years ago but I do recall two things: 1) I was satisfied with his answer and the […]

'Rookie' enjoys Warsaw climate negotiations

Thursday 5 December 2013 | Published in Environment

Amelia Fukofuka describes herself as a newbie to the UN climate negotiations in her story below. She is attending the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention to Climate Change for the first time, however, she has attended an ‘intercessional’ meeting which are talks that take place during the year. Fortunately […]