Articles by Utopia Support

Kata - November 28, 2013

Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Kata

Purse seine consultations conducted on Mauke

Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in National

Tension on Mauke concerning purse seine fishing has been lifted following a meeting with the public and the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) on Thursday last week, according to an MMR release. Held at the church hall, the meeting was attended by around 50 people and chaired by the Mauke Island Council. Ministry of Marine […]

2014-2015 budget up for discussion

Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in National

Ministers, secretaries, and an assortment of public service officials gathered earlier this week as a prelude to the 2014-15 budget process. At a retreat held at the Edgewater Resort and Spa on Monday and Tuesday, government officials from the various ministries discussed their priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Finance minister Mark Brown said the […]

Muri market upsets local businesses

Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in National

A number of restaurant owners in Muri have expressed concerns that a regular night market in their neighbourhood is putting the health and safety of tourists at risk. There are also fears that the market vendors have an unfair competitive advantage through not having to pay tax. Debbie Hunter began running a day market at […]

NZ firm wins solar energy project

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Environment

A New Zealand company has been given the lead role in helping the northern Cook Islands become almost 100 per cent reliant on solar energy by the end of next year. Beca, an engineering firm based in Auckland, will oversee the installation of solar power systems in Manihiki, Rakahanga, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Nassau and Palmerston. Energy […]

Gifts galore at trade days

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local

BTIB trade days at the Vaka Eiva festival will get underway at the end of this week, offering up the chance to see the creative processes behind ribbon weaving. Irai Wilkin will be demonstrating her Polynesian ribbon woven art, and is very keen to share her knowledge with anyone who is interested. “Polynesian women are […]

Plaintiffs weigh in on superannuation case

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local

Day three of the superannuation case saw the focus shift to the plaintiffs, who began to present arguments that fund legislation is in line with the Cook Islands constitution. In court, the superannuation fund’s legal team – led by solicitor general Kim Saunders and NZ-based lawyer Mike Ruffin – began presenting arguments for the court […]

Clarke used regularly for tax advice

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local

Prominent businessman Trevor Clarke acted as a regular legal tax advisor for the Inland Revenue collector during a period of nearly four years, court documents reveal. The details were most recently disclosed last week by the Court of Appeal, which issued a judgement on a tax appeal by Tata Crocombe, the managing director and shareholder […]

The thrill of giving

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local

Kylie Young (right) and fellow members of the Australian Rogz for Dogz oe vaka team gush over the thank you note made for them by tamariki at Blackrock Apii Potiki to thank the team for their massive donation of books, sports gear and toys. The paddling team visited their adopted school and were the bearer […]

Prime Foods opens new doors

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Food shoppers are enjoying a more spacious version of Prime Foods – just in time for Christmas. The business has recently moved into a new, larger space in a different part of the same building – allowing room for a new range of dry goods, and making space for even more chilled and frozen products. […]

MFEM 'bullies' harm pensioners' festive season

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The routine, polite letter sending exercise carried out by the revenue management division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MFEM) to Grey Power members to furnish tax return forms has turned nasty all of a sudden. After eight months of pussy footing, the hammer has come down with the ‘final reminder’ […]

Colagate complaint 'ignored' by Audit

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I would like to accuse the Minister of Finance Mark Brown of political expediency and putting his own reputation ahead of the interests of the country. I would also like to call for the resignation of the director of audit on the grounds of dereliction of duty. Fourteen months ago I lodged with […]

'Stoddart has to go'

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Minister Mark Brown must terminate Geoff Stoddart’s membership from not only PERC (Public Expenditure Review Committee) but also FSC (Financial Services Commission). There is no need for a review by the minister; it has to be instant dismissal. PERC and FSC are important oversight organisations responsible for government’s internal and external audit and banking regulations, […]

Call for inquiry into Colagate

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Currently we hear and read about the damages that Geoff Stoddard has done to this country by the “Colagate” scandal and recently Tata Crocombe’s tax assessment. However, the issues here that I am concerned about are the irresponsible action (according to reports) that he did years back in approving the Colagate scandal, which […]

Kata - November 27, 2013

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Kata

Sixteen days of activism against gender violence

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in National

The Cook Islands has joined a 16-day world-wide campaign against gender violence. November 25th was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and also marks the first day of the ‘16 days of global activism against gender violence’. The United Nations invited governments, international organisations and non-government organisations to organise activities to […]

Giving child offenders another chance

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in National

When a child comes to the community relations division of the police, they are offered a second chance. Community policing constable Martin Iro said they get a chance to work with the police, the victim and their families. “We give the child another chance before he goes to the juvenile crime prevention committee or the […]

Police training stresses community involvement

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in National

Community involvement was the focus of a recent police training programme. Constable Martin Iro underwent eight weeks of pre-deployment training in preparation for his services in Regional Mission of Solomon Islands (RAMSI) starting October 8. The training is in Canberra, Australia, but due to medical reasons he had to come back to Cook Islands earlier […]

Animal lovers unite and donate!

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in National

Christmas has come early for staff and animals at the local Esther Honey animal clinic in Nikao with a whopping $22,000 donation of food and pet equipment by the visiting Rogz for Dogz Vaka Eiva team. This is the sixth year the visiting Australian paddling team has donated so generously to the local animal clinic […]

New 'persons of interest' in arson cases

Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in National

Police are investigating new ‘persons of interest’ who may have played a part in the arson attacks on two schools, a bakery and cafe in Rarotonga recently. There have been no breakthroughs in the case though, and $20,000 in reward money has failed to entice information from the public. Detective inspector Areumu Ingaua said police […]