Articles by Utopia Support

Chiropractor donates funds to schools

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Two thousand dollars will be donated to Nukutere College and Avatea School by chiropractor Dr Mac Rastkar. The funds should go some way to getting the schools back on their feet after the October 20 fires that left them short of classrooms and a library. “I want to be able to help the schools however […]

Give the taxi drivers time - president

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Getting information out to the public and allowing time for drivers to adopt changes will further improve the taxi service on Rarotonga, said the president of the Cook Islands Taxi Association. The CITA has been undergoing a makeover in recent months to standardise the service and improve the image of taxis on the island – […]

Puna in China for development conference

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Fresh from re-shuffling of their portfolios, cabinet members in the week ahead will be attending various duties both in and outside of the Cook Islands. Prime Minister Henry Puna departed for China yesterday to attend a regional economic development conference – the 2nd China Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Guangzhou, which […]

Long awaited cabinet shuffle announced

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna officially announced a long-awaited cabinet shuffle to government on Friday. The reallocation of portfolio responsibilities comes after significant changes to government, including the departure of Tom Marsters – a 20-year-plus veteran of parliamentary politics who was inaugurated as Queen’s Representative in August. Additionally, Matavera member of parliament Kiriau Turepu was sworn […]

Aid review offers recommendations

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

The Cook Islands peer review team today shared their preliminary findings with a wide range of stakeholders based on the team’s consultation in country. At the invitation of the government of the Cook Islands, the team had successful consultations and generated good discussions with sector groups like health, education, private sector, employment, climate change, culture, […]

Looking to the future of gender equality

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Advancing women and gender equality is key to progress the Pacific region. This was the message of the 12th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women held from October 20 to 24 at the National Auditorium. Over 200 delegates attended the conference from across the Pacific region, including 26 delegates from the Pacific Young Women’s Leadership Alliance. […]

BTIB 'serves no purpose'

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

A smoke signaller writes in response to Friday’s two front page articles: “The most recent Business Trade Investment Board can of worms enforces the belief that many hold that this is just one of multiple agencies of government that actually serve no purpose except to let us pretend that most government jobs are not just […]

Rasmussen blasts PM travel after weekend fire

Monday 4 November 2013 | Published in National

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen has lashed out against Prime Minister Henry Puna over his current trip to China in wake of the latest fire over the weekend. “I am bitterly disappointed that the prime minister has again left the country,” said Rasmussen, speaking in his capacity as the opposition leader and Democratic Party spokesperson of […]

Girl Guides celebrate 85 years of service

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Church Talk

The Cook Islands Girl Guides celebrated 85 years of service on October 15 at a ceremony held at the Nikao Sunday School Hall. The association celebrated the occasion by holding a week-long national camp for all members on the Islands of Rarotonga and those from the outer islands. The theme of the camp was, ‘believe, […]

Pawpaw treatment ready

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Local

The heat treatment facility to treat pawpaw before export is ready for action, says the Ministry of Agriculture. Previous technological issues have been solved, and the ministry has said the recent oriental fruit fly outbreak has had no effect on quarantine treatment process – approved and certified by the New Zealand government in December 2012. […]

FinSec speaks out on BTIB process

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Local

The Ministry of Finance secretary is concerned by the process used by the Business Trade Investment Board regarding a firm seeking to do business in the Cooks. KEW Consult Limited, the company selected by government to manage Te Mato Vai, is currently waiting to be issued a foreign license by BTIB. Decisions by the board […]

380kg blue marlin a record breaker

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Local

Just six days after landing two monster yellow fin tuna that narrowly missed being record breakers – the young crew of Akura Charters stamped their names in the fishing history book with this monster catch of a 380kg blue marlin – originally believed to have been a black marlin. Akura Charter crew (from left) Evaraima […]

Vaka Eiva closing party to fundraise for Nukutere College and Apii Avatea

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Features

The Cook Islands Canoeing Association, Vaka Eiva and Motone Productions is banding together to support the school communities of Nukutere College and Avatea Primary School. Recent fires at local schools Nukutere College and Avatea Primary School have set the community back, and drivers of the paddling family and creative team at Motone Production know that […]

Saying farewell to the islands

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Features

It’s never easy to say goodbye. For Judith Kunzle it is a farewell to nearly three decades of living and creating works of art in the Cook Islands, and to the many people she has met along the way. What began with work as a graphic designer 27 years ago ended with Kunzle’s year-long portrait […]

Art supplies for student artists

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Features

Aspiring artists at Tereora College were given inspiration and valuable art supplies last month, by well-known artist Judith Kunzle. “This beautiful woman has gifted us some lovely paper,” said art teacher Charlotte Cousins, with the donation also including brushes, clips and mixing pallets. Kunzle will be leaving the country in a few weeks’ time and […]

'Doing a great job to raise awareness'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I just hope that a fair compromise eventuates regarding NZ and Aussie pensions being taxed when returning back to the Cook Islands to work or retire. That is what I am planning to do when my children are capable of fending for themselves. I’m a NZ born Cook Islander who was educated at […]

Silence on the stench

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Why am I not surprised that on the one hand the owner of Scott’s Farm is awfully silent when it comes to addressing the horrible stench permeating from his chicken farm, which has undoubtedly affected the quality of life for countless of folks who have been subjected to the smell over many decades, […]

'I'll go to jail rather than pay'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Recently I received a threatening letter from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) that if my wife and I did not file our NZ Pension tax form we will be prosecuted. This is utterly absurd. We (Grey Power) have spoken to the Minister of Finance a few times previously without luck. […]

'MMR, something doesn't sound right'

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, There is something that doesn’t sound right to me about the MMR secretary’s continuous presentation of his ‘facts’ to the public. It raises in my mind several questions: 1. How does he arrive at these facts and figures, as I recall the old adage, “if you say something enough times, it becomes established […]

Kata - November 2, 2013

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Published in Kata