Articles by Utopia Support

Avatea School re-opens today

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Local

Avatea Primary School re-opens its doors for learning today after a blaze destroying a block of classrooms forced the school to close on Monday and Tuesday.

TIS concerned with public consultation process

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Local

Nukutere College students were brimming with gratitude yesterday as they accepted a donation to kick-start the school’s rebuild after a block of classrooms was destroyed in a fire – an amount that will be matched for Avatea School.

Cabinet shuffle in the works

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands government will be receiving a makeover in the near future, as Prime Minister Henry Puna prepares to shuffle his cabinet.

$2000 raised for fire repair

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Features

The Niue community in New Zealand has raised more than $2000 to help the two schools that were devastated by fires at the weekend.

Well done to tourism awards finalists

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Kia Orana to all the 47 tourism businesses who entered the third Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards this year.

No need for designated fire station

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, The last sentence in the CINews article on Monday 21 on the Nukutere College fire says it is time a designated fire fighting station is set up on Rarotonga, as Rescue Fire Service’s first priority is aviation safety.

Kata - October 24, 2013

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Kata

Air NZ Tourism Awards finalists announced

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

After a record number of 47 entrants into the 2013 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards this year, the confidential New Zealand based awards assessors have completed their evaluations and 21 hopeful businesses have been named as finalists.

A designated fire station not needed

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

Chief fire officer Barry Hill of the Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade says Rarotonga doesn’t need a designated station to improve response to fires.

Community 'role model' on probation for assault

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

A man described as being a role model in the community has been convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ probation for assault on a female.

NZ Governor-General attends war memorial

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

In an emotional ceremony, New Zealand Governor-General Jerry Mateparae was present in full military regalia on Monday for the unveiling of Mauke’s war memorial.

Reunion for first bank in the Cook Islands

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

Over 50 former staff of the National Bank of New Zealand Rarotonga branch will reminisce and share stories of the early days when they gather for a three day reunion starting on November 27.

Pensioners launch demonstration today

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in National

Pensioner activist group Grey Power is poised to hit the streets of Avarua today to demonstrate against the taxing of their New Zealand-paid pensions.

Brown losing the battle?

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

Dear Editor, Minister Mark Brown must be suffering from a mad rush of adrenalin.

Building the Cook Islands

Thursday 24 October 2013 | Published in Smoke Signals

A smoke signaller writes in response to yesterday’s letter to the editor ‘We are the Grey Power of today’: “To your letter writer Cook Islands New Zealand Pensioner, every time someone writes about a ‘sacrificial journey’ to New Zealand and Australia to pay taxes there to rescue the Cook Islands it makes me ask, really? To put it in perspective, unless you successfully marched with banners down Lambton Quay to the Inland Revenue head office in Wellington to demand that ALL your taxes be paid to the Cook Islands while you worked there (which of course they would have ignored, by law), then your contribution is as a New Zealand taxpayer collectively sending say $15 million of much appreciated aid to the Cooks a year, or about $3.30 per person in NZ.

Public meeting on EU fishing deal

Wednesday 23 October 2013 | Published in Environment

The Ministry of Marine Resources is holding a public consultation today on the proposed Cook Islands-European Union fisheries partnership agreement.

Fishing deal worth almost $9m

Wednesday 23 October 2013 | Published in Environment

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is proposing a skipjack tuna fishing deal with the EU worth $8.7 million dollars.

Sheraton investors failed to perform

Wednesday 23 October 2013 | Published in Local

New Zealand-based development company Mirage Group will not be funding the development of the derelict Sheraton Hotel site, says landowner Pa Marie Ariki.

NZ fire investigator on the job

Wednesday 23 October 2013 | Published in Local

An investigator from the New Zealand fire service investigation unit got straight to work sifting through the ashes at Avatea School and Nukutere College yesterday.

Mateparae in Mauke

Wednesday 23 October 2013 | Published in Local

New Zealand Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae were greeted to another ceremonial welcoming yesterday, as the Vice-Regal couple and their entourage descended on the island of Mauke.