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‘Look good, play good’ – Turtles
Dog Guru shrugs off ‘shrink’ label
EHF one of world’s ‘best 100’
WYNC works on Sunday solution
Sea Eagles not taking decision lying down
Mobile demo postponed
Voyages of discovery or necessity?
Outer island police officers here to train
Marumaru Atua asail
Pacific culture in Japan
All welcome at Open Mic
3 retail business change owners
New roaming partner in UK
Importers glad about new ship
Solar panels for Pacific – Japan’s new aid
Seabed committee keen to get into schools
Southland father-and-son to appear after touch game assault
Talks look at attracting Japanese to Pacific
Quiz night tonight
Cook Islands officers leave mark in Solomons
Numanga admits to fraud
‘Look good, play good’ – Turtles
Thursday 21: Team Cook Islands will no doubt be one of the best dressed teams at the World Youth Netball Championships and 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
And it’s all thanks to newly signed sponsor for the two events – Turtles Sportswear.
A special launch of the new sponsor was held at the Beachcomber building in Taputapuatea yesterday where Turtles Sportswear was announced as a ‘family sponsor’ of both sporting events.
Turtles Sportswear will in total provide $200,000 worth of sponsorship for the two events in both cash donation and value and kind sponsorship.
Vice chairman of the board of directors for the Pacific Mini Games 2009 Ltd and CISNOC president Sir Geoffrey Henry praised Turtles Sportswear owners Nana and Chris McKinley for their generous sponsorship and for putting their hands up to be sponsors.
“I am absolutely certain they had many sleepless nights when they were making the decision to be a sponsor,” said Henry.
“I’m sure they were thinking of the ‘giving’ but weren’t so sure of the ‘receiving’.
Henry said that Turtles Sportswear’s investment into the two sporting events will have long lasting benefits for the economy of the country.
Turtles Sportswear designer Mahai Daniel spoke on behalf of the company saying that Turtles was honoured to be associated with the Pacific Mini Games and under 21 World Youth Netball Championships.
“Turtles is a local company that has always valued local innovation and enterprise and sees no reason that this type of association will not continue into the future,” said Mahai.
Turtles Sportswear is also the official merchandiser for both sporting events.
Part of yesterdays sponsorship launch was also the launch of the ‘official merchandise’ store located in the Beachcomber building next to the CISNOC office.
Official merchandise ranges from stylishly designed clothing to mini games and youth netball branded bear coolers, key rings and even golf balls that are sure to make your game better – or at least that’s what Team Cook Islands chef de mission George George reckons.
Not only will the company design and supply the playing, training and casual uniforms for Team Cook Islands athletes and officials, they will also supply uniforms for technical officials and volunteers.
“The apparel and merchandise that Turtles is supplying for the two events is ‘cutting edge technology’ and the best quality to be seen in the Cook Islands and South Pacific,” said Mahai.
He said that Turtles is working closely with all sports codes to design on and off field apparel with the support of Canterbury Clothing.
“The look good, play good statement we are introducing is to put more pride and passion into the national uniform,” said Mahai.
Top of the line merchandise will be available at both events with new products to be released over the coming months.
In closing, Mahai, on behalf of Turtles Sportswear, asked everyone to be positive and move forward to make the Pacific Games the best ever.
“We have the most beautiful country in the Pacific, now it’s time to shine on the world stage.” - MW
Dog Guru shrugs off ‘shrink’ label
Thursday 21: There are no ‘magic tricks’ involved in training dogs.
This is according to internationally qualified and recognised dog behaviourist and trainer Simon Goodall who is on the island this week.
Goodall owns Dog Guru, a New Zealand dog training and behaviourist company.
While on the island Goodall, will meet with 18 dog owners to help them learn basic commands to teach their dogs good behaviour.
“Dogs don’t naturally stay on their own property or stay on the leash or even sit,” says Goodall. “People have to learn how to command and control their dogs.”
Apart from having one-on-one sessions with dog owners, Goodall and his team of trainers will be visiting schools on their short visit. They will be teaching kids to identify the stress signals in dogs before they get bitten.
“We will show them how to approach dogs properly and identify stress signals,” says Goodall.
It won’t all be hard work though for the kids as the Dog Guru team promise some fun surprises.
Goodall says that he hopes his team will be able to experience different dog behaviour issues as most dogs in New Zealand suffer from the same conditions, namely being overfed and over-stimulated.
On the island, the most common complaint from dog owners is that their dogs don’t listen to them, or dig holes in the garden and chase vehicles.
Some people may be sceptical about the dog guru’s ability to help dogs behave properly but I for one have seen what Goodall can do.
In just 10 minutes, Goodall helped me to teach my hyper deaf dog Cammy to sit, stay and lie down – all without voice command.
He also reckons that in one hour he can help a dog understand its boundary which will then prevent it from chasing vehicles and people on the road.
“We do cop some flack for being dog shrinks but we do it because we love what we do and we are passionate about it,” says Goodall.
If you would like Goodall to help you achieve a happy and healthy relationship between you and your family dog, then call Karen Galvin at the Esther Honey Foundation in Nikao on 22 336 . - MW
EHF one of world’s ‘best 100’
Thursday 21: Esther Honey Foundation programs were named one of the world’s ‘best 100 volunteer vacations to enrich your life’in travel author Pam Grous’ latest addition to the National Geographic’s 100 Best Vacations series.
Grout said that the fundation, one of the first if not the first organisation to recruit veterinary volunteers to provide ongoing service, was selected in mid-2008 for its Cook Islands and Bora Bora VET TREK
programs ‘partly because of their unique opportunity to give’.
The book, described as a travel guide with a heart, is a rich
resource of ‘ways to use your skills to help out the world and reap some lasting benefits yourself’.
EHF is listed alongside opportunities to rebuild monasteries in Mongolia, pick olives in Palestine and save sharks in South Africa.
The book’s lively text conveys the charm and excitement of each volunteer location with sidebars that also describe nearby places to visit, little-known facts and more, providing depth and variety about the travel destination.
The Cook Islands can expect to benefit from any increase in tourists coming to the country to help with the country’s animals as well as being featured with EHF in this popular travel guide series.
The book will be available after May 19 at the usual on-line outlets, including the National Geographic book store which is linked on the Esther Honey Foundation website at www.estherhoney.org -EHF
WYNC works on Sunday solution
Friday 22: World Youth Netball Championships board director Tina Browne is working through the issues to deal with the matter over scheduling Sunday games for the upcoming event.
Browne, who is also on the International Federation of Netball Association’s board, says that she alerted IFNA on Wednesday of the concerns relating to Sunday play.
But Browne hopes that a “way forward” can be sorted out by the weekend.
It is understood that airline and accommodation bookings, the scheduled IFNA meeting on Monday, August 10, tournament packages, and IFNA’s regulations relating to tournaments, need to be sorted out before any changes can be made to the schedule.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from Tuesday August 11 to Thursday August 20. - Moana Moeka’a
Sea Eagles not taking decision lying down
Friday 22: The Ngatangiia-Matavera Sea Eagles plan to take matters further in their bid for a place in the rugby league grand final – just a day out from the scheduled game.
Yesterday Cook Islands Rugby League turned down an appeal for it to reconsider the complaint made by the club.
The Sea Eagles questioned the eligibility of a Tupapa Panthers player who took part in last weekend’s major semi-final, and who had not played for the premier grade this season.
After the CIRL threw out the original complaint on Tuesday, the Sea Eagles lodged an appeal claiming that the club was not given a fair hearing.
Ngatangiia-Matavera claimed that it is inexcusable for clubs having to abide by the “qualification criteria which has forced clubs to ensure their players played at least one game in the round competition, and you [president Charles Carlson] and Taua [Benioni] have decided that this is no longer necessary”.
Four of the clubs supported Ngatangiia-Matavera’s complaint, and the offer by Tupapa of a rematch conceded, in the complainant’s view, that they had breached the rules.
“The option to replay the match that was offered by Tupapa wasn’t considered by the executive,” said the club in its appeal. The club also said that the two executives did not have the authority to dismiss its complaint without any sound legal advice or clarification on the rules.
“We’re very disappointed,” said Ngatangiia-Matavera president Mann Short yesterday afternoon. “But we are going to take this further.
“We believe we are right and that the rules have been breached – we can’t let this one go.”
In his response to the appeal, CIRL president Charles Carlson says he supports Benioni’s advice which allowed the player to take the field.
“This complaint was tabled and discussed at two meetings with the same outcome. Rule 20 and rule 21 may seem ambiguous and need to be revised or simplified but at the end of the day a decision has been made so we stick to it. There is no need for further discussions on the matter so let’s leave it at that.”
However, Short does not agree with one point in Carlson’s letter which claimed that both team managers were presented with the team sheets on the Thursday and on the day before the game, so as to avoid what the club has been complaining about. “We don’t know anything about that.” - MM
Mobile demo postponed
Friday 22: KukiCel’s plans to demonstrate its mobile phone service today have been postponed until next week.
William Framhein of Mervin Communications said yesterday that consent has been received from Telecom Cook Islands to carry out the demonstration, and that equipment would arrive from overseas by the end of this week.
TCI has also provided frequencies and 10 seven-digit phone numbers to be used.
The KukiCel mobile service will involve linking up with a satellite connection out of Hawaii.
The demonstration on May 28 will be for government and opposition MPs and the Chamber of Commerce. The general public will then be invited to check out the service the following day and Saturday, at the Aquarius Hotel in Panama.
Calls can be made between the phones as well as internationally.
“People will be able to see a small part of the services that we will be able to provide,” says Framhein. - MM
Voyages of discovery or necessity?
Friday 22: Fish poisoning, coupled with climate change, may have led to the migrations of Polynesians to colonise New Zealand, Easter Island and Hawaii between the 11th and 15 centuries.
Teina Rongo, a PhD student at the Florida Institute of Technology, along with his faculty advisors Robert van Woesik and Mark Bush, propose this intriguing theory in the Journal of Biogeography.
Their manuscript has been publicised internationally since its online release on May 18 in major scientific magazines and news articles in countries like Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, and USA including Hawaii. Two top scientific journals, Science and Nature, have contacted the authors to report about the article.
Rongo, who is the lead author, says the theory is based on archaeological evidence, paleoclimatic data and modern reports of ciguatera poisoning.
Rongo says fishing on Rarotonga declined in the 1990s when residents began experiencing symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning.
At the time, fish poisoning appeared to be a new phenomenon. But Rongo says there have been anecdotal reports of fish poisoning in the Northern Cooks in the 1950s, and cases began in the Southern group islands in the mid-1980s.
Currently, many residents on Rarotonga no longer eat reef fish as a regular part of their diet but instead eat processed, imported foods. The large exodus of people from the Cooks in the mid to late 1990s, were attributed to the country’s economic crisis but the decision to relocate, particularly among lower income families, may have been influenced by ciguatera. The researchers suggest that past migrations had similar roots.
The authors propose that heightened voyaging from AD 1000 to 1450 in eastern Polynesia may have been prompted by ciguatera fish poisoning.
Rongo says that ciguatera fish poisoning events in the Pacific may be linked to multidecadal climatic cycles, which coincided with shifts in diet and fishing technology noted in archaeological records post-AD 1450.
“Sudden dietary shifts are not linked to overfishing, but may be a sign of ciguatera fish poisoning and adjustment of fishing preference.”
There are few options but to leave once the staple diet of an island nation becomes poisonous, says Rongo.
He says it is known that past Polynesians were heavily reliant on fish, and he suggests that once their fish resources were inedible, Polynesians voyaged out of necessity.The authors’ approach to the issue of fish poisoning will help unravel the mysteries of ciguatera and will lead to better forecasting and planning for future outbreaks.
A Cook Islands archaeologist based at the Auckland War Museum in New Zealand, Maara Maeva thinks the paper is a revolutionary breakthrough in archaeological paradigms relating particularly to east Polynesia.
“This sort of thinking was not offered nor suggested during my years of study in archaeology at university.
This idea now challenges and pushes the boundaries of Polynesian prehistory.” - Moana Moeka’a
Outer island police officers here to train
Friday 22: Ten southern group police officers arrived in Rarotonga this week to take part in a month long training workshop.
The officers are here until mid-June and will be upskilling in areas such as problem solving, working efficiently in the community and improving flow of information between their island and the police commissioner.
The group will also be visiting government ministries and will also learn more on court prosecution and evidence preservation.
Sergeant Tukua Putu of Aitutaki says he joined the police force on April 13, 1978, and has been posted in Rarotonga before returning to his home island in 2000.
He says the training will reinforce them as they continue to perform their duties and will assist in building a greater relationship with the community.
“We aren’t just catching criminals but are there to support the community because without the people, what is the purpose of us being there?”
Earlier this month, seven northern officers took part in the same course after being brought to Rarotonga on Te Kukupa. An honorary constable from Palmerston and a constable from Rarotonga are also taking part in the workshop.
Police from the Avarua station are deployed on the outer islands to cover for the officers undergoing training. - Dana Kinita
Marumaru Atua asail
Saturday 23: Marumaru Atua, the double-hulled canoe specially built for a voyage between Rarotonga and Hawaii next year, was out on the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland this week for sea trials.
On Thursday, the vaka, with a crew made up of members of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society, sailed under the Auckland harbour bridge on its way to Waiheke Island.
This photo was taken by Jos Scott (who was with Fiona Richards) – proof that the boys are working hard.
Pacific culture in Japan
Saturday 23: It’s a case of Asia meets the Pacific during an exhibition in Japan this week.
"Viva! Pacific Islanders" is a four day programme held in Tokyo showcasing the culture of Polynesian and Melanesian countries.
It is part of the Pacific Islands Trade show where 4000 Japanese business representatives are expected to attend.
On display are live stage performances by island dance troupes from Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, and Fiji, as well as local dancers from Japan. The Japanese troupe is made up of island students studying in Japan.
Cook Islands News political reporter Helen Greig visited the event this week while in Japan covering the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 5). - Dana Kinita
All welcome at Open Mic
Saturday 23: It’s that time of month again when local talent is on full display with Open Mic night.
Held at the Anchorage in Arorangi this Monday, 15 performances are already planned with opportunity still open for anyone to take part.
The entertainment evening is held at a different venue throughout Rarotonga every month.
Co-organiser Chris Musselle says the Open Mic night has grown in popularity every month since starting in February. He says the organisers were hoping to not only attract singers and muscians but stand-up performers as well.
Musselle says highlights of last month’s event at Chillis included Willie Tommy and his band as well as the enthusiastic group led by Nancy Fulton.
Open Mic night this Monday will be held at the Anchorage from 6.30pm. Anyone interested in performing should ring Chris Musselle on 22161 or Nooroa Ruaine on 20544. - Dana Kinita
3 retail business change owners
Monday 25: Long established businesses Raromart, the T-shirt Factory and Rarotonga Flooring and Hardware are going to change hands. The new owners will take over on June 1.
The current owner of these three businesses is businessman Don Carlaw who is also known for his achievements in the sports field in 1980s and early 90s.
He first started the T-shirt Factory in 1987. The T-shirt factory back then was located in the basement of his house in Tupapa.
In 1991 it opened a retail shop in the old Mangiia Ara building beside Trader Jacks. In 2006 it temporarily relocated to the former Marine Resources before shifting to its present location opposite Browns Arcade the same day the hurricane demolished this building.
Up to today it employs six fulltime staff and is well-known for selling a wide range of clothes lines for all age groups.
The stocks for locals are focused on everyday wear together with fancy occasional wear.
Raromart started in 1993. This business was originally located at the Tangaroa Shopping Centre. In 2006 it moved to the current location in Ingram House.
It employs five full-time staff and carries hundreds of household lines.
Rarotonga Flooring and Hardware is a new business just started in 2008. It has the biggest selection of flooring on the island.
“I would like to thank all of our customers and my staff for their support during the past years.” says Carlaw.
He commented that to reduce stock levels as much as possible to make the transaction easier, a final week of 20%-40% sales at Raromart and the T-shirt factory will start from today.
All staff will retain their jobs and shop names will remain the same. - Pacific Apparel
New roaming partner in UK
Monday 25: Telecom Cook Islands will be launching a new roaming partner in the United Kingdom from this Wednesday.
The reciprocal agreement with T-Mobile UK means that post-paid Kokanet customers can roam in the United Kingdom, and vice versa.
From May 27, Kokanet post-paid customers visiting the UK will now have a choice of either Vodafone or T-Mobile to roam in the UK.
TCI’s marketing and sales manager Mark Boyd says thee T-Mobile UK network utilises the Global System for Mobile (GSM) 1800 MHz band, so Kokanet roamers in the UK will require a mobile phone that is at least a dual band.
Boyd says TCI remains dedicated to increasing the coverage for Cook Islanders and visitors travelling overseas – at the same time retaining their own mobile phones and numbers while travelling.
With the addition of T-Mobile UK to the network it brings the number of roaming partners to 31 with roaming capabilities in New Zealand, Australia, UK, United States and parts of Asia and Europe. - TCI/MM
Importers glad about new ship
Monday 25: At least two businesses were pleased to see the Pacific Forum Line’s new boat Forum Avarua dock at Avatiu wharf early last week.
The Bond liquor store’s general manager, Trish Barton, says she is happy to see an “independent shipping company” come back into service for the country.
“I am thrilled to say that with the perseverance of a number of local business people we were able to work with PFL to bring back their service to the Cooks.
“The last three to four voyages were so over-booked that most business missed out on receiving some if not all of their goods. This put a huge amount of pressure on local businesses.”
Barton says last week the Bond received every one of its containers on the ship including the ones that were left behind in Suva.
“I have no fears about the service and will ensure that I give PFL my utmost support to thank them for coming back to the Cook Islands when we needed them the most.
“Talk about a recession free oasis, it’s not just a marketing spin. This is a true testament that business is booming in the Cooks.”
Manea Foods’ James Beer says the shipping minister Tangata Vavia, along with the shipping committee and importers, put in some good work to make this possible.
“I, like many business persons, welcome increased schedules and competition. PFL have made a decision to return to Rarotonga because it was commercially viable to do so. Long may it remain so.”
PFL Rarotonga agency manager Pua Nicholls says that 89 containers and 49 units of break-bulk arrived on the Forum Avarua last Monday. The next voyage is due in on June 2 or 3.
A function at Aquarius Hotel was hosted by the shipping line last Wednesday to celebrate the inaugural voyage.
“It went well, there was a good turnout,” says Nicholls. “We would just like to thank those who stuck by us for the last nine months.” - MM
Solar panels for Pacific – Japan’s new aid
Wednesday 27: JAPAN – Japan revealed plans to provide solar panel systems to the Pacific island countries in a new funding initiative announced last week.
Japan’s prime minister Taro Aso and held a press conference in Hokkaido, Japan, last Friday to bring the two-day Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting to a close and to issue the declaration in which Japan’s new aid to the region is described.
Aso said the meeting he had with 16 Pacific Island forum countries allowed the leaders to talk about the major challenges for island countries.
Aso said on the issue of environment and climate change, he had heard directly from the leaders about the serious situations their countries are faced with.
He said he had advocated the introduction of a ‘Pacific Environment Community’ that will enable Japan to address environmental issues with the island nations.
With the United Nations COP15 meeting approaching, Aso says it is an important year for climate change commitments. He says negotiations over the framework of climate change will go into high gear following this Pacific Forum meeting.
Japan has just committed to provide 6.8 billion yen ($115.8 million) to the island nations of the Forum. Aso says this will be in the form of solar panels for the region.
He wants to share Japan’s leading edge technology with the Forum countries.
Part of this commitment is engaging in human resource development where 1500 environment experts will assist the region over the next three years in the areas of food
security, education, water, health, and of course climate change.
“This is a reflection of Japan’s commitment to nation building and human development in developing countries and relationships will be further intensified,” said Aso.
Aso said Japan would engage with the Pacific at the highest level to do the things it can do to assist the region.
He says in the past Japan has supported infrastructure development in the Pacific, having provided inter island ferries and building bridges in some countries.
Aso said Japan is after all an island country too, and it wants to make its assistance truly useful to impact the lives of Pacific Islands people.
It is hoping its new initiative to provide solar panel systems will make Japan even more appreciated in the region, especially in its efforts to help address climate change effects. - Helen Greig
Seabed committee keen to get into schools
Wednesday 27: What has the parliamentary special select committee on the seabed minerals bill, got to do with the country’s schools?
Committee secretary Puna Rakanui says that the committee is considering an initiative to take information on the bill into the schools.
By taking it into the schools, Rakanui says the committee believes that it will help better prepare our children for the options available to them in this area over the next 20 to 30 years.
“By taking a package into the schools, the committee hopes that it will help our children to look at alternatives, to prepare them to get into areas in the industry like management, marine resources, the environment…
“We should be preparing ourselves now – there is a lot of potential in this area so we have got to make it a success.”
Rakanui says the committee believes that if students can grasp the basics of the bill, then they should see that it will be more meaningful for them to stay in the country and not go overseas.
To date, 14 submissions – two from overseas – have been received by the committee.
Two weeks ago the committee travelled to Aitutaki for an overnight meeting where just over 50 people attended.
Rakanui says that his impression of the meeting was that Aitutakians were appreciative of the information gained during the session.
“Our people need to be better informed about the bill and to better understand the framework involved …”
Rakanui says the next select committee meeting will be held on Rarotonga on Tuesday June 2. He says the committee is also keen on holding overnight meetings on Mangaia, Mauke, and Atiu, beginning in early June.
The committee consists
of Terepai ‘Junior’ Maoate (chair), Winton Pickering, John Tangi, Tom Marsters and Nandi Glassie. - MM
Southland father-and-son to appear after touch game assault
Wednesday 27: A touch player was left convulsing after an opposing player body-slammed him with his elbow, the Queenstown District Court, New Zealand was told on Monday.
Taumauri Arona 44, driver, together with his son Tau
Aaron Arona, 20, were charged with injuring Wayne Elton Clarke with intent on December 15 during a social touch rugby game in Queenstown last
year.
The younger Arona is also charged with assaulting Neil Harrison during the same
game.
In a depositions hearing, police prosecutor sergeant Amelia Steele said after sitting on Clarke and punching him several times in the face, the older Arona removed his shirt, jumped in the air and dropped on to the victim with his elbow.
“The victim was left on the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth,” she said.
The younger Arona also kicked Clarke in the head after he had struck Harrison in the face, she said.
Clarke told the court he could not recall the assault or any of the game because of severe concussion.
Under cross-examination from the defendants’ lawyer, he said he could not remember giving a statement to police which contradicted other witnesses’ accounts.
Harrison said he tagged the younger Arona and was then ankle-tapped and punched by him while trying to get up.
Harrison denied suggestions by Arona’s lawyer Nicole Murphy that he had in fact pushed Arona twice rather than just touching him.
He did not see the assault on Clarke but saw him afterwards: “His eyes rolled into the back of his head and his tongue was lolling out.”
Referee Stewart Paranhi
said he did see the assaults on Clarke but not what started the incident.
Justices of the peace Daphne Stewart and William Townsend concluded there was a case to answer and ordered the pair to appear in the Invercargill District Court on July 27.
Both defendants stuck to their not guilty pleas. - The Southland Times
Talks look at attracting Japanese to Pacific
Wednesday 27: JAPAN – Pacific Forum countries and Japan agreed last Friday to set up a ‘Visit Pacific Forum’ that will look at ways to promote the island nations as a destination for Japanese tourists.
At the conclusion of the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM 5) in Hokkaido, Japan, leaders committed to the new initiative under the Kizuna Plan.
The plan promotes people to people ties between Japan and Pacific Island countries.
Leaders now want to establish the new forum which aims
to talk about ways to attract more Japanese tourists to the region.
Attracting Japanese tourists to the Pacific has been brought up at past PALM meetings in Japan, but there has never been a dedicated programme established for it.
The Forum countries and Japan have until now been promoting the island nations through the Pacific Island Centre set up in 1996 and based in Japan.
The forum will be made up of tourism experts from both the public and private sectors and from the Forum countries and Japan. - HG
Quiz night tonight
Wednesday 27: Tereora College is set to host an evening of entertainment and intellectual challenge.
A quiz night is being held at the Rarotonga Golf Club tonight to raise funds to take the senior geography students to New Zealand in June. Already 13 teams of six have registered with many more welcome to join the ‘nerd’ themed night.
Co-organiser Mona Herman says prizes will be given out throughout the evening for best uniform, funniest answers and for place getters.Plates of food will also be available to purchase.
The quiz starts at 6.30pm and with Tangee as quiz host, it is set to be a fun-filled contest.- DK
Cook Islands officers leave mark in Solomons
Wednesday 27: The Cook Islands’ proud tradition of contributing to peace and stability in the Pacific region dates back to World War II.
In the past decade, it has sent police officers to Solomon Islands as part of the International Policing Monitoring Team, and more recently, as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
There is currently one police officer – Ta’a Tereapii – from the Cook Islands serving in the Solomons with RAMSI’s Participating Police Force.
Just this month Rima Manavaikai returned after spending 15 months on duty.
In 2001, he was a member of an International Policing Monitoring Team which spent five months in the Solomon Islands.
Manavaikai says that working away from home was both interesting and exciting, and he enjoyed it so much that he has returned to the Solomons for another stint.
He returned as part of a RAMSI contingent in December 2007 and was used in his specialist maritime role.
Manavaikai’s passion and specialised experience, and his desire to pass this on to others, made him a huge asset to the Maritime team.
He began his career as a marine engineer, before joining the police force 20 years ago.
At home in the Cook Islands, he works as a detective sergeant, investigating serious crimes including the abuse of women and children.
Despite enjoying the professional challenges of working with RAMSI, Manavaikai admits that he missed his family and friends in beautiful Aitutaki.
He was delighted when his fellow countryman, Tereapii arrived in Solomon Islands last November to work as a Participating Police Force adviser.
Whilst Tereapii worked with the Honiara Criminal Investigations Unit, Manavaikai was out at sea with the Maritime Unit, and the two relish each others company on days off.
“I was very grateful for him being here as my support, and as someone to talk to in my own language” Manavaikai says.
He also found time to enjoy some recreational fishing in the Solomons and recalls the day he hooked and almost landed, a huge black marlin.
It’s a great fishing story to share with his RAMSI colleagues, and one that may get bigger each time it is told.
His mate in mission, Tereapii, made it his ambition as a young school boy to one day work in a law enforcement role. He is now a RAMSI Participating Police Force adviser to the Honiara Criminal Investigations Department of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Tereapii, 48, comes from Avarua on the northern coast of Rarotonga.
He brings a wealth of experience from seven years specialising as a Detective Sergeant in the Cook Islands Police Fraud Unit.
Since serving as a police recruit in 1981, he has worked on murder, rape, serious assault and drug investigations.
Growing up on the island of Mangaia, south of Rarotonga, he enjoys a country lifestyle.
“The way of life here is very similar to the rural way of life at my home,” Tereapii says.
“Honiara is very similar to our capital, Avarua.”
He has enjoyed experiencing the Solomons way of life, and has learned to speak local pijin.
When he returns to the Cook Islands in November, he will recommend to his colleagues that they try RAMSI deployment as “a challenging experience”.
“It is better to feel it, than to hear it from others,” he says.
The Commander of the Participating Police Force, Denis McDermott, said he was very appreciative of the contribution of Pacific Islander members, such as Officers Manavaikai and Tereapii to the mission.
“As individuals they offer unique skills and experience to share with their counterparts in the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force,” McDermott said.“We are very grateful to the smaller Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands for contributing so strongly to the needs of RAMSI. - RAMSI
Numanga admits to fraud
Wednesday 27: Former manager of Cook Islands Tourism office in Auckland admitted to four serious fraud charges last week.
Albert Numanga pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court on Friday for defrauding the government of more than $1 million.
The charges relate to actions over a seven-year period from December 1999 amounting to the fraudulent misuse of $1,001,475.50 in public funds.
Numanga has been charged under the NZ Crimes Act 1961 of false accounting (between December 1, 1999 and September 30, 2003 to the value of $57,355.70); false accounting (between October 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007 to the value of $563,656.04), theft by a person required to account (between December 1, 1999 and September 30, 2003 amounting to $271,950.58), and theft by a person in special relationship (between October 1, 2003 and December 31, 2007 of $108,513.18).
A single false accounting charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
Numanga resigned from the tourism office in 2007 and first appeared in court last December after an in-depth collaborative investigation between the Cook Islands Audit Office and the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office.
Numanga’s charges stem from alleged offending by direct internet bank account transfers and the wrongly coded and reported cashbook details for cheques deposited into his personal accounts. Numanga spent almost 10 years with the tourism corporation.
A report released by Audit this year found the defendant’s actions to be “fraudulent, deceitful and dishonest.
“It is audit’s opinion that he intentionally destroyed all the accounting records to conceal his wrongdoing,” said the report.
It also called for Numanga to be properly disciplined by the appropriate authorities to send a strong message to the public.
Numanga will re-appear in the Auckland District Court on July 30 for sentencing. - DK
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