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Jail break problem not new
Triad ads prompt govt to ask court to allow Toa purchase to go ahead
Govt wants Toa contract validated
Global economic crisis on agenda
Stadium fees still the same: CIIC
Rates of hire for BCI Stadium
New police recruits start basic training
Men’s netball showdown
Island trek for climate action
Next visit definitely on hold
Kiwi MP critical of Cooks set-up
Water works disrupt supplies
Prison issues prioritised anew
17 here to work on dental project
New tax pact signed
$964 from Foodland
Petition calls for political reform
What the petition says...
Shipping line expands
Flower power at Blackrock
Govt turns to legal expert on Toa deal
Jobs to be readvertised
New life for old mission house
NZ men netballers on a roll
Karati competes in China
Rally call for support
ANZ launches new global brand
Low turnout for college athletics criticised
Petition out on Raro
ADB to sign $13.4m loan with Cooks
Competition likely to boost economy, Chamber
Tsunami highlights fragility of region
The one that didn’t get away
Northerners back home
Tight fit at Avatiu
MJ premiere tonight
Northern students prepare for Tereora
Betela to plan for tsunami response
Forum meeting creates disability strategy
Aitutaki power station commissioned
Jail break problem not new
Thu
22 Oct
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People lined the road of Tupapa to see what was left of Gordon Murray’s car after prison escapees stole it from his home in Blackrock.
09102116
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Gordon Murray recalls a car conversion
by inmates and his claim against govt
Breakouts from Arorangi prison aren’t something new, says one local whose car was written off by escapees in December 1976.
At the time, Gordon Murray and his family were living in Blackrock at the bottom of hospital hill. His wife Jennifer and their grandson were about to leave home in their green Toyota Caldina when she realised her purse was still inside.
Murray says after taking their grandson out and retrieving the purse, she returned to see four prison inmates get in the vehicle and take off.
“It was just after they (prisoners) had been to the beach for their Christmas party,” Murray says.
Lawyer and former politician Vincent Ingram and business owner Trevor Clarke were working near the Blackrock store that day and saw the car drive past them, Murray says.
“They said, ‘by gee, Gordon Murray is going somewhere in a hurry.’”
“Augustine Heather (former police officer) chased them on his motorcycle in town to stop the car but it was doing 90 miles an hour and left him behind.”
After ringing the police, Jennifer then rang Tamure Resort (now Club Raro) where Murray was having his “afternoon cup of tea”.
“When I went outside it went past me like an aeroplane. I thought they won’t get very far and went inside again.”
The car then spun out of control and slammed into an iron wood tree near Kiikii Motel. People lined the road after hearing the crash and saw for themselves the carnage caused.
“I finished my drink and went to see the car,” Murray says. “They were all still alive – no injuries.”
The car was written off and had to be removed by the only Hiab electric crane truck on the island at the time. The escapees were later captured by police.
While the car was insured the payout was minimal, so six months after the crash Murray attempted to sue the government for not having a secure jail.
“They eventually paid out and apologised, I think they were sick of me writing letters,” he says.
Murray says the Blackrock area was often targeted by escapees who would break out and steal things before returning back to prison. Their home was broken into a number of times with prisoners taking drinks from his home bar.
“The house we were renting, no one wanted to stay there.”
Murray says prison breakouts have been occurring for decades and action still needs to be taken.
“Something needs to be done to improve the prison and stop these escapes from happening.”
Triad ads prompt govt to ask court to allow Toa purchase to go ahead
Thu
22 Oct
Last week’s advertisements by Triad Pacific Petroleum in Cook Islands News have upset government so much that it has labelled them a contempt of court.
Government filed an application with the court on Tuesday claiming the interim order preventing it from purchasing two fuel facilities should be removed because of the advertisements.
The application filed by Crown Law asks the court to remove the interim order because three respondents in the ‘Triad vs Maoate and others’ declaratory judgement application believe Triad no longer deserves to have the interim relief it obtained in February continue.
The application is by first respondent Sir Terepai Maoate (also the sixth respondent as attorney-general) and the ministry of finance (the third respondent).
In it they claim that advertisements by Triad in CINews are ‘an abuse of the process of the court, and in particular, are a scandalous attack on the second respondent (financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti) when the proceedings are subjudice.’
It states that confidentiality orders were made on the affidavit of Apex Agencies director and main shareholder Brett Porter and on the commercial agreement to be reached between government and Apex to keep Toa Petroleum operational.
The claim in the application is that Triad on the authority of manager Chris Vaile arranged to publish three advertisements in CINews last week which touch on and comment on the discussions between government and Apex.
Government has attempted to keep secret its plan to loan $1 million to Toa Petroleum as well as pay it $158,000 a month and an undetermined amount to cover the cost of 30 days supply of fuel. CINews sources, which include government MPs, have confirmed these details.
The respondents in the case claim the advertisements are contempt of court and in this circumstance the interim orders preventing government’s $5.16 million purchase of Toa and the purchase of the Juhi facility should be set aside.
“These advertisements are in breach of this court’s confidentiality orders,” it says.
On Monday Apex Agencies filed a similar application asking for a gagging order to be placed on Triad and its agents to restrain them from making any further public statements in relation to the commercial agreement being made with government.
Govt wants Toa contract validated
Thu
22 Oct
Government is applying to the court to allow it to honour its contract to buy Toa Petroleum, even if it is declared an illegal contract in the Triad vs Maoate and others judicial review.
The application filed on Tuesday hints that government is very concerned that the heads of agreement contract signed by financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti is an illegal contract.
Government now wants the court to allow relief through an existing law that can potentially validate the contract if it is found to have been entered into illegally.
CINews understands that Under the Loans and Contracts Act 1967, a government contract with any party has to be endorsed by cabinet to be considered legal. There has been much argument whether the $5.16 million contract is indeed legal since the ‘confidential’ heads of agreement was revealed earlier this year through the Triad court application.
It is understood cabinet never agreed for Ivaiti to enter into the contract with Toa and subsequently never approved the contract in any of its meetings.
Ivaiti himself told the public at meetings held at the beginning of the year that the contract was not binding on government. He now believes it is binding but has not explained why he has previously told the public that it was not.
Toa owner Apex Agencies has already threatened to sue government for not honouring the contract.
An interim court order has prevented the purchase since February, but last month the court allowed government and Apex to enter into a commercial arrangement to keep Toa operational.
The application filed this week by Crown Law is on behalf of the first respondent (and as attorney-general the sixth respondent) Sir Terepai Maoate and the third respondent, the ministry of finance.
It asks that as part of the judicial review proceedings that an order be granted that if for any reason the Toa contract is deemed an illegal contract that relief be granted pursuant to section 6 of the Illegal Contracts Act 1987 validating the contract in whole.
Section 6 allows the court to grant relief in the case of an illegal contract and validate it either in part or in whole. The court must give regard in its decision on granting such relief to factors such as whether the parties who entered into the contract did so without the knowledge of whether they were committing an unlawful act.
Another application has also been filed by the same respondents to remove the interim order preventing the purchase of Toa and the Juhi facility claiming Triad’s advertisements in CINews last week were contempt of court.
Global economic crisis on agenda
Thu
22 Oct
Economic ministers of the Pacific Islands Forum will attend the 13th Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting (FEMM) hosted by the Cook Islands next Tuesday and Wednesday October 27-28.
The ministers are meeting at a time when the global economy is facing significant challenges and many Forum Island Countries will experience low or negative growth in 2009.
Export revenue, tourism receipts and remittances have all been affected by the global downturn.
“There is an urgent and ongoing need to develop effective policy measures and practical responses to support Forum Island Countries during this difficult time,” said Tuiloma Neroni Slade, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, on Tuesday.
“This meeting will discuss practical measures which Forum Island countries may wish to adopt in their national responses to alleviate the adverse effects of the global economic crisis and build, strong and sustained, economic resilience in the Pacific.”
The meeting in Rarotonga will also update delegates on the progress of work to date on regional economic issues, including findings of the benchmark study aimed to upgrade country and regional statistical information services systems and databases.
The meeting will hear the findings of a feasibility study to explore ways to improve targeted customs services through sub-regional approaches, and another on a regional financial ombudsman.
Regional initiatives to strengthen financial markets and improve banking service delivery will also be discussed.
“The implementation of the 2009 decision by Forum Leaders on the Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Co-ordination in the Pacific will be high on the ministers’ agenda. The Compact will help Forum Member Countries and donors to better coordinate reforms and aid delivery in order to accelerate progress towards the achievement of long-term regional socio-economic development goals,” added Slade. -
Stadium fees still the same: CIIC
Thu
22 Oct
Hireage rates for the BCI Stadium have been the same for the past two years, according to Cook Islands Investment Corporation.
Lloyd Miles of CIIC says the charges have been in place since 2007 with a two-tier structure in place – one for commercial rates, the other for non-funded users.
“I don’t think that it’s unreasonable to pay for the use of the stadium,” says Miles. “People have been paying for the stadium in the past.’
There has been no charge for the annual Prince of Wales event for primary schools athletics in the past and he says this will continue.
However, Miles says a $500 bond will be imposed on all users and money is deducted if cleaning up by CIIC staff is needed after an event.
He adds that with the use of lights, hiring the stadium at night will be slightly more expensive.
According to CIIC’s rate sheet, it costs commercial users $800 to hire the stadium for a day, before 6pm, and $300 for non-funded organisations.
Evening hire is $500 (commercial) for less than four hours, $250 for NFs, with $400 charged for lights (two hours). $150 is charged for each extra hour.
Those wanting to use BCI Stadium for training are charged $30 (before 7pm, no lights), while it costs $15 to use the new hardcourts for up to two hours.
Miles says they are still working through the charges for use of the different areas at the Telecom Sports Arena.
Rates of hire for BCI Stadium
Thu
22 Oct
Commercial Non-funded
GENERAL CHARGES
Day hire, less than 8 hours (before 6pm) $800 $300
Half day hire, less than 4 hours (before 6pm) $500 $200
Evening hire, less than 4 hours $500 $250 (with lights)
8 hours or more $600 $400
Lights (two hours -- $150 per extra hour) $400 $400
Bond/clean up (refundable or deductions made) $500 $500
EXTRAS
Training sessions $30 (before 7pm)
Security (upon registration)
Ticket box staff, 4 hours $60 ($20 for every hour after)
Clean up during event, 4 hours $100 ($30 for every hour after)
Set up cost $150
Field markings $200
Shop (less than 6 hours) $75
Full day hire (over 6 hours) $100
Utilising grounds for food stalls $50
HARD COURTS
Training sessions $15 (2 hours)
Half day hire $75 (less than 6 hours)
Day hire $100 (8 hours).
New police recruits start basic training
Thu
22 Oct
New recruits are undergoing an 11-week course to become police officers.
From around 40 applicants, seven were chosen to be the next generation of police with training well underway for the new recruits.
Main instructor sergeant Kura Taere with support from New Zealand police trainer Andrew Saunders, will be teaching five from the group what it takes to be a police officer. Two recruits, Barnabus Henry and Paku Poila are based with Te Kukupa undergoing maritime police training.
Ranging from ages 20 to 49, the group will be learning various aspects of police duties such as marching, first aid, identifying different offences, traffic and interviewing.
“They will be the first Cook Islanders trained in video interviewing,” Saunders says, with officers travelling to New Zealand next month to learn how to teach the technique.
Every recruitment wing is named after a patron who is chosen from a respected member of the community. Saunders says former chief inspector Teoroa Tini became the current patron after the decision was opened to the officers.
New recruit Rimamingi Tuavai, 20, says she decided to join the force with the encouragement of her family.
“I want to help my people and the community from anything that may cause trouble,” she says.
If all successfully pass, they will be assigned to front line duties.
Police commissioner Maara Tetava says a lot of quality people had applied for positions but due to finance only seven could be chosen.
“We just had to pick the best,” he says. “They still have a long way to go with passing the exam and improving their physical condition.”
He says if they’re unsuccessful they will be unable to become sworn officers.
Men’s netball showdown
Thu
22 Oct
It will be a trans-Tasman showdown at the Telecom Sports Arena today as Australia and New Zealand face off in the grand finals of the international men’s and mixed netball Oceania cup challenge.
While the Cook Islands put on a good show over the past week of games – they were outclassed and out smarted in all aspects of play across the tournaments three divisions.
The first grand finals today will be in the under 23 division with a super fast and tight match expected between New Zealand and Australia.
The two teams will then meet at 2pm for the grand finals of the mixed division before their last grand finals clash in the open men’s division at 4pm.
The Cooks settled for third place out of the three team tournament which was meant to include Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
Due to the devastating tsunami that hit Samoa and Tonga and political unrest in Fiji, the teams were unable to take part in the tournament.
Nevertheless there have been some action-packed games despite the small number of teams and spectators at the arena.
Entry into the TSA is just $5 so why not take your lunch break at the arena and catch one of the three grand finals games.
Island trek for climate action
Fri
23 Oct
Tomorrow, people from around Rarotonga will gather to trek to Te Rua Manga, also known as the ‘Needle’, as part of the largest global day of climate action ever.
The eventone of more than 3500 rallies in more than 160 nationsis coordinated by 350.org to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action on global warming.
This is the first global campaign ever organised around a scientific data point: 350 parts per million CO2 is the safe upper limit for the atmosphere according to the latest scientific data.
The organisation was founded by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and is the first large scale grassroots global campaign against climate change with support from the governments of 89 countries, leading scientists and a huge number of environmental, health, development and religious non-government organisations.
The trek from Avatiu valley to Te Rua Manga will be led by none other than Pa of Pa’s Mountain Trek.
A photographer and videographer will be present to capture images of the whole journey, and the walk will culminate with a group photo with a 350 banner at the peak of the walk at the Needle.
Simultaneously, people in every corner of the world will be taking similar action, from climbers with 350 banners high on the melting slopes of Mount Everest to government officials in the Maldive Islands holding an underwater cabinet meeting to demand action on climate change before their nation disappears.
If you’d like to join this inspirational trek it will begin at the Power Station on Avatiu Valley Road at 8.15am.
Local 350.org representative Ngariki Ngatae says climate change is a pretty important issue for us here in the Cooks.
“Rising sea-levels means we are vulnerable to losing our islands completely (or at the very least, fresh water sources and growing land becoming contaminated by seawater). More ferocious weather patterns mean more devastation from cyclones - they will occur more frequently, and will be more unpredictable and more violent when they do hit - and more carbon in the atmosphere will result in our coral reefs dying from ocean acidification”.
Those taking part in the trek are advised to take plenty of water, a light snack, mozzie repellant, comfy walking shoes and a spare T-shirt in case of rain.
You can even take your own banner and camera to capture the campaign at The Needle.
Ngatae says the trek will go ahead rain or shine.
To learn more about the trek visit the website for the event at www.350.org/cookislands
Next visit definitely on hold
Fri
23 Oct
Dear Editor,
Our third holiday to the Cooks is on indefinite hold for we are considering alternative destinations in the South Pacific.
My wife and I love the Cook Islands and the warm hospitality of its people, but now we have concerns. We have stayed in hotels in Arorangi and Aitutaki. But is the Arorangi area still appealing and safe as it once was?
What now greets tourists in the Arorangi area is high crime, swarms of flies and a deteriorating infrastructure just to mention a few concerns.
Then the ever higher costs of a Cook Islands holiday is making us reconsider our third visit.
Air New Zealand has a monopoly on the air service from North America and they provide increasingly lower quality service at ever increasingly inflated prices.
The higher departure tax was designed purely to price gouge tourists after they have spent thousands and thousands of dollars contributing to the local economy by staying at hotels,
eating in restaurants, going on tours, and shopping for souvenirs etc.
It appears as if the Cook Islands is doing as much as possible to discourage tourism.
Ron Heckman
Morgan, Utah, USA
Kiwi MP critical of Cooks set-up
Fri
23 Oct
Pacific self governance ‘experiments’ gone wrong
National Party MP John Hayes in a speech this week said self government had failed in the Cook Islands, Niue and the NZ colony of Tokelau.
He said over 90 percent of Cook Islanders and 98 percent of Niueans had fled their islands for New Zealand.
“I think the actions of the majority tell us what they think about governance at home and show us the relevance of sovereignty to them,” Hayes said.
The Cook Islands and Niue are constitutionally “self governing in free association” with NZ but Hayes believes the model has failed to deliver NZ levels of income and social services “though it does work for the political and bureaucratic elite”.
He was critical of the high numbers of politicians the islands have.
“If Auckland was populated with Cook Islands’ ratio of MP’s then Auckland would have 2400 members of parliament,” he said.
Self governance had created inefficient, uneconomic and wasteful governance he said.
Hayes made mention of a ‘law’ in the Cooks making it a crime to report how much MPs spend on travel.
“I understand it is around $5 million, i.e. 5 percent of the national budget. The model has encouraged Niue to employ around 90 percent of its total population from 18 and 60 years of age in the public service.”
“The island of Aitutaki,
a community of 2000, has three members of parliament, a
mayor, three police and a full time harbour master who copes with a once a month ship visit.”
No such law exists, although many are still under the impression that a speaker of parliament ruling in the 1980s to keep this information secret may still stand.
It does, however, remain difficult for the public and the media to get access to the Civil List which details the spending on travel by MPs.
He said NZ provided almost $40 million a year to less than 3000 people living in Tokelau and Niue which is absorbed by dysfunctional systems.
Hayes said some of the leaders of the Pacific countries were acting on the edge of corruption while travelling under New Zealand diplomatic passports.
“Communities in Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are choking on the trappings of pseudo sovereignty which benefit a very few.”
Before becoming an MP Hayes was a senior diplomat and head of the Pacific deck at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a key negotiator in ending the Bougainville war in Papua New Guinea.
Water works disrupt supplies
Fri
23 Oct
Arorangi residents may have to wait until Christmas before they see any improvements to their water levels.
A number of homes in the village have had little to no water for some time while a large majority of the village have at times had their water turned off.
This is largely due to the Project West water pipe upgrade by the water department of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning in the village.
Otheniel Tangianau of the water department says that homes in Arorangi have had to deal with no water for a short time as workers switch the water into the new lines they are laying.
Tangianau says they understand people’s frustrations as there have been numerous disruptions to the water supply while they carry out the project.
He says that work on upgrading the island’s water lines will take until February to complete, with work to move to Avatiu after Arorangi and then on to Tupapa.
Acording to Tangianau, the water lines from Upper Tupapa to Titikaveka and to the start of Arorangi were upgraded in the 1990s and homes in these villages have been enjoying, mostly, consistent water flows.
The final area that will receive water pipe upgrades will be the village of Avarua as works in the village will affect both the homes and businesses in the area.
“We are leaving Avarua till last because this is a high risk area,” says Tangianau.
Tangianua adds that apart from planned upgrade works disrupting water reticulation to homes, old damaged pipes with underground leaks have contributed to the poor state of water reticulation on the island.
Known leaks and damaged pipes are being fixed by the water department.
Even more water pipe upgrades have been planned for next year with new mains from the 12 intakes to be installed and connected to the distributor lines.
Tangianau would also like to encourage the public to conserve water with a number of pig farmers and growers still letting water run all day into their pig pens and plantations.
The water department hopes to complete this round of upgrades by February before more major water upgrades are undertaken next.
This might just be the best time to install your own water tank at home to collect rain water for your home.
Prison issues prioritised anew
Fri
23 Oct
New justice secretary prepares Cabinet paper for urgent work
The secretary of justice has now listed the Arorangi prison a high priority with a report to be drafted this week for Cabinet.
With 12 escapes in the last 11 months, more breakouts are likely unless greater security and overall improvements are made.
“We are prioritising all the issues raised in the review of the prison so we can address this based on what is urgent,” Mark Short says.
With less than three months as justice secretary, Short has inherited a problem that has been ongoing for decades.
“There have been numerous reports and reviews undertaken in the past. I have actual plans and blue prints from previous reviews where the pages are aged,” he says.
“The reality is that no one or nothing has ever been done.”
The latest construction plans propose more cell blocks and a watch tower that has a 365 degree viewing platform.
“However, what is needed in the long run is a commitment from government to spend a lot of money to expand the prison so we can house the juveniles separately from the adult population and those who are mentally challenged, provide training and rehabilitation programmes... the list goes on.”
Short says the Cook Islands Investment Corporation is currently getting quotes for the proposed development and some construction work may be underway before Christmas.
“We have already been to see (financial secretary) Sholan and he has asked for a report on the urgent matters which he will review to see if he can assist in finding extra funding to address the key prison problems.”
Lack of money has been the key issue for not just the prison problem but the ministry of justice as a whole.
Short says the public is not aware that justice is the only ministry that funds all operations through revenue generated from fees and charges.
“I believe we should be focused on providing a service to the general public not a charging agency which is what we have been forced to do in order to function.
“I tried to eliminate the photocopy charges of $2.50 per page until I realised this would affect our ability to pay our running and operating costs such as power, phone, stationery, petrol for our field divisions.”
Many prisoners have in the past complained about the lack of food. In March one offender escaped to be fed by his mother who later drove him back to custody.
Short says again it comes down to finances with the ministry allocated enough money to only feed 25 people “I understand that inmates get 2-3 slices of unbuttered bread and 1 cup of tea for breakfast.
“For lunch, it is common to have one large pot of rice with only 2 small tins of corned beef to feed over 40 inmates.
“This is just not on and I am glad these issues have been brought to the forefront,” he says.
17 here to work on dental project
Fri
23 Oct
Goods worth $100,000 plus training and construction gifted to Rarotonga and Aitutaki
The dental prosthetic labs in Rarotonga and Aitutaki will undergo a makeover – thanks to a project initiated by the Rotary Club of Ballarat West in Victoria, Australia.
The Cook Islands dental project began last year with new cabinetry installed at the Rarotonga clinic at Tupapa.
Training in orthodontic appliances, dental prosthetics, titanium implants and endodontics was also carried out on Rarotonga.This week members of the team have been doing up the prosthetics lab and they will do the same when in Aitutaki next week.
Cabinetry, with stone tops, is being put into the labs, and new plumbing installed. A fresh coat of paint will also be applied.
While in Aitutaki they will also do up the kitchen which will get a new fridge, microwave, convection oven, kettle and plates and cutlery.
“What we leave behind is more important than what we do,” says team leader and dentist David Goldsmith who is a member of the Rotary Club in Ballarat West.
This includes follow-up in the specialist fields and clinical work that the 2008 team did last year.
A container was packed in Geelong, Victoria, with the materials and equipment needed on this trip. Some Cook Islanders living in Victoria helped with the packing.
It was devanned by health ministry staff on the wharf upon arrival in Rarotonga, and the remaining materials were shipped on to Aitutaki.
The Rotary Club of Ballarat South also chipped in with donations and funding, and both clubs helped fill up with books for schools on Rarotonga and the outer islands, , wheel frames for the Creative Centre, computers for Araura College, and clothing for the Red Cross. Other materials include toothbrushes, toothpaste, writing desks, paint, exercise books, dental supplies and toys.
The Rotary Foundation in the United States has also provided matching grants to assist with the project, which is similar to one which the Ballarat West club is currently undertaking in Tonga.
The estimated value of donated goods for the Cooks is $100,000.
Goldsmith says the project has been conducted in conjunction with the Rarotonga Rotary Club and the dental services in the ministry of health.
Chief dental officer George Hosking says he first met Goldsmith in 2006 at a dental meeting and the current project developed from there.
Goldsmith also brought a dental chair set last year which was gifted to the service in Rarotonga.
Hosking says that on behalf of the ministry of health, he would like to offer his thanks for what the team has done and is currently doing in the country.
A total of 17 people – not only from Ballarat – are currently in Rarotonga, and they have been split into three teams – oral health promotion, infrastructure and clinical team.
The clinical team consist of a prosthetist, Bill Davies, who deals with dentures; an orthodontist, Dr Toni McNicol, who is helping in the area of braces; an endodontist, Dr Garry Owen, who has been demonstrating root canal techniques; an implantologist, Dr John Williams, who has been showing, along with a couple of dental nurses Camille Lewis and Kendra Attwell.
Dental equipment installation engineer Peter Copp, engineer Brian Hall and builder Wayne Cooper make up the infrastructure team, with Copp giving instruction on simple equipment maintenance and repairs.
Those involved in the preventive oral health team in the schools include Dianne Brotheridge, Debbie Nunn, Pam Hall and Erika Ohvall (Sweden) and Claudia Gunther (Germany) – the latter two being dentists.
The project plans to give every primary school child a toothbrush and arrange a daily supervised toothbrushing project in the schools.
New tax pact signed
Sat
24 Oct
The Cook Islands’ second ever Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) has been entered into with the Netherlands.
Finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate, on behalf of the Cook Islands, signed the TIEA between the governments of the Cook Islands and the Netherlands.
The Netherlands signed this agreement in Mexico City last month in the presence of the financial secretary, Sholan Ivaiti, and treasurer, Andrew Haigh, while they were attending the 5th Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information.
This second agreement is a result of negotiations that have taken place this year. The first TIEA was signed with New Zealand. Australia will be the next country that the Cook Islands will enter into a formal TIEA with the signing scheduled for Tuesday next week.
In February 2002, the Cook Islands advised the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) of its commitment to international cooperation on tax matters and to the principles of transparency and effective exchange of information.
Sir Terepai says entering into this agreement is further evidence of the Cook Islands’ commitment to the OECD’s efforts in creating a level playing field in the international arena, encompassing the principals of transparency and effective exchange of information for tax purposes.
The finance minister says the Cook Islands will also enter into TIEA’s with eight other countries.
He added this development will further help boost the reputation of the Cook Islands as a safe, well regulated jurisdiction for offshore financial services.
Sir Terepai stressed that the Cook Islands supports recent calls by G20 leaders to take action against non-cooperative jurisdictions.
$964 from Foodland
Sat
24 Oct
Foodland deli supervisor Viriama Taoro (left) hands over a cheque for the tsunami appeal fund to Niki Rattle of Cook Islands Red Cross.
Staff at the supermarket recently held a sausage sizzle and raised $964 which was passed on to help the victims of the September 29 tsunami which struck parts of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
Petition calls for political reform
Sat
24 Oct
Public asked to sign up and support
demand for changes by government
A public petition for political reform has been launched by local businesswoman Teina McKenzie and it’s already gaining traction.
The Ngatangiia resident says she considers herself an ‘average Joe’ and is inviting locals from all walks of life to join her in making a difference by signing the petition.
After attending last Thursday’s economic development task force public meeting, McKenzie was inspired to call for government to make the changes necessary for political reform.
The economic taskforce has recommended that the nation pursue political reform as a key part of ‘right sizing’ government and of injecting life into the economy.
McKenzie came away from the task force presentation with a sense that the time is ripe for significant change.
“I have to admit I have been getting more and more frustrated at the direction our government has been taking our country, but can only admit that I would have myself to blame if I allowed it to continue to happen.
“Now, I can sit back and relax and just ‘hope’ things change for the better, or I can step in and at least try to assist in making necessary changes for the betterment of our country – and ultimately for my children and their children and so on,” she wrote to a growing number of petition supporters.
Speaking to CINews yesterday, McKenzie says the petition is not about ‘bashing’ the current government. “The current system just doesn’t work, so let’s change the system. Even New Zealand sees there is a problem with our political system.”
On Tuesday NZ National MP John Hayes was highly critical of what he called the Cook Islands self-governance ‘experiment’ gone wrong in a speech he gave to the NZ institute of international affairs.
He said over 90 percent of Cook Islanders had ‘voted with their feet’ and fled their home for New Zealand.
“I think the actions of the majority tell us what they think about governance at home and show us the relevance of sovereignty to them,” Hayes said.
He believes the self governing model has failed to deliver NZ levels of income and social services.
And Hayes was critical of the high numbers of politicians the islands have.
“If Auckland was populated with Cook Islands' ratio of MP's then Auckland would have 2400 members of parliament,” he said.
The speech hit home for McKenzie and a growing group of like-minded locals who are already signing her two-day-old petition. McKenzie is approaching members of the task force and the business sector to help with the movement but she wants grassroots Cook Islands voters to be able to voice their concern through the petition.
”Only substantial public outcry will make a change – not our politicians.”
McKenzie admits she’s just one person with a large family and a business to run and doesn’t have the capability to push for change the way she’d like to.
However, she believes the task force has laid the foundation that Cook Islanders can build on and hopes that they will take up the challenge to support the call for political reform too.
Copies of the petition will soon be available in local shops so that every ‘average Joe’ gets their chance to have their say.
McKenzie aims to get at least 4000 signatures (what is suggested as the majority of voters) from those eligible to vote in the Cook Islands.
While the petition movement is still in its early stages,
McKenzie hopes to present it to government in the coming months.
What the petition says...
Sat
24 Oct
To: Cook Islands Government
Our current system of government is not suitable for our nation and therefore needs to be replaced by a more appropriate system. This petition, when signed by the majority of current Cook Islands-registered voters, will ensure such a system is established.
The new structure will allow the people to better control the actions of those we put into government – ensuring they are “of the people and for the people”.
Once political reform is achieved, the Cook Islands community can look forward to economic growth in areas such as Tourism, Agriculture and more.
Cook Islanders will also be able to enjoy a level of social services offered that we haven’t had before and future generations can benefit from the many initiatives that will commence and succeed as a result of our new leaders supporting same.
These exact changes will certainly return some of the 90 percent of our Cook Islanders that currently live overseas, along with making those of us currently living in the Cook Islands much better cared for and much more successful in our endeavours.
Only political reform, now, is the way forward.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
(The Cook Islands Political Reform Petition to Cook Islands Government was created by Iti Tangata o te Kuki Airani and written by Teina MacKenzie)
You can get online and sign the petition now at: http://www.petitiononline.com/ch4ng3/petition.html
Physical copies of the petition will soon be widely circulated in Rarotonga, especially in local shops. To contact Teina McKenzie email her at teinam@gmail.com
What does the task force say about political reform?
Reduce seats
There should be a broadly population based system with 19 seats in parliament (currently there’s 24). Ten national seats would be complimented by nine constituency seats where the MP is also the mayor and in charge of local government. Rarotonga should have three seats – one for each vaka (Puaikura, Te Au O Tonga, and Takitumu) and there should be one seat each for Aitutaki, Nga Pu Toru, Mangaia, Manihiki & Rakahanga, Pukapuka & Nassau, and Tongareva.
Prime minister voted in
The new system would provide that the PM must win 51 percent of the national vote, or a run off between the top two could be held if no candidate achieves this. The PM would appoint his/her own cabinet. There would be a three year term for parliament and PM and a maximum of two terms as PM.
Advantages of a new political system:
- The MP is the mayor and therefore has the mandate and authority to implement the island / vaka development plan
- The island / vaka development plan becomes the fundamental document for local government
- Introduction of nationally oriented MPs primarily focused on national issues
- A balanced parliament of national and constituency MPs
- The prime minister has a 51 percent mandate direct from the people and can advance a clear agenda i.e. national development plan
- The prime minister can choose the team they believe will get the job done from Parliament, NGOs, private sector etc
- More democratic
- Regular reviews to ensure that the system is broadly democratic in terms of population representation
- There is a wide constituency for political reform.
- After more than four decades of self government, changing the system to meet today’s requirements is necessary.
Shipping line expands
Sat
24 Oct
Pacific Direct Line, the leading total logistic provider to the Pacific islands, has confirmed details of its new service to the Cook Islands.
Starting in December, the Southern Phoenix (pictured) will operate a regular 19-day service from Auckland to Rarotonga.
The schedule for the first four voyages shows the Southern Phoenix arriving in Rarotonga on December 16, January 2, January 22 and February 9.
In announcing the new service, chief executive officer Olivier Ravel said PDL offers regular shipping services from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and all ports in Asia to nearly all the Pacific Islands.
“Our long term expansion plan has seen the Cook Islands as an opportunity and we have responded to requests from importers and exporters to provide improved frequency, reliability and service levels to this important Pacific Island market.”
Following the granting of an operating licence earlier this month, Ravel says the company has diverted one of its current vessels on to this trade.
“We are pleased to be able to add the Cook Islands to our schedules. Freight rates will be competitive and we also plan to set up our own local Transam brand shipping agency.”
For more information contact PDL’s local agent or the Transam office.
Flower power at Blackrock
Sat
24 Oct
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Yesterday’s photo session drew all sorts of expressions and reactions.
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After two weeks of learning about flowers and plants, Blackrock Apii Potiki kids finally got to have some fun with flowers during their Kia Orana Day yesterday.
The kids went to school in their best pareau wear and those who had the skills made ei for themselves and their friends.
With head and neck ei on it was time for a big group photo – but some of the littlies weren’t keen to have their photos taken.
After gentle nudges and coaxing by the school teachers – proud parents finally got to snap a few pictures of the kids in their Kia Orana best before the announcement of morning tea break sent the kids screaming with joy and dispersing to find their lunchboxes.
Principal Stephanie Puiri says that the Kia Orana Day was a fun way to end the children’s learning unit on flowers and plants.
Govt turns to legal expert on Toa deal
Tue
27 Oct
Government has announced it has taken on Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood to examine the
entire state of affairs surrounding the purchase of Toa Petroleum and advise the best way forward.
The decision comes as government is under increasing pressure dealing with the judicial review case brought by Triad alleging key government officials and ministry’s breached the law in pursuing the fuel farm scheme.
Deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate says Toogood will assess government’s position on the Toa purchase and provide advice on the best way forward for the country.
The recommendation to commission an independent senior professional with strong commercial expertise to analyze all issues and risks facing government and decide how best to move forward was endorsed by cabinet late last week.
“Cabinet needs to have confidence in the advice that is given on the TOA situation and that the advice is in the best inter-ests of the country,” says Sir Terepai.
“Mr Toogood comes highly recommended and we expect him to commence this task within the next few days.”
Toogood works for the Bankside Chambers group in Auckland of which Cook Islands Chief Justice David Williams is also a member.
Toogood is noted as one of the leading employment lawyers in NZ.
He first practised in the criminal law field as a prosecutor but since 1985 has specialised in employment, sports and criminal law, civil and commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation.
Jobs to be readvertised
Tue
27 Oct
The top government positions which have yet to be confirmed, will be re-advertised.
Except for one.
Public service commissioner Navy Epati says the position of foreign affairs and immigration secretary, along the island secretary (SIA) jobs for Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Palmerston, will be advertised again.
Epati says a decision on the position of health secretary has been put on hold.
Tupou Faireka was appointed in August in the interim as health secretary and Mike Mitchell as acting foreign affairs and immigration secretary.
Both men are currently out of the country.
The SIAs currently in acting positions are Tere Marsters (Palmerston), Andrew Vaeau (Penrhyn), Lazaro Samson (Manihiki) and Nga Takai (Rakahanga).
The six positions have been in contention since the new HoMs and SIA were announced on August 6.
Under the new Public Service Act, a panel will oversee the selection of the heads, put forward recommendations for the HoMs and SIAs to cabinet, which can then give feedback on the posts they do not agree with.
The panel will then sit to consider cabinet’s feedback and either re-submit its original list, add new recommendations, or re-advertise the post – as both parties agreed to do in the case of the island secretary position on Palmerston.
Epati says advertisements should be going out into the media soon.
New life for old mission house
Tue
27 Oct
$1m facelift and new purpose for Takamoa historic building
The Takamoa mission house restoration project manager Iaveta Short said that it was one of the most important historic buildings in the country.
And yesterday, Gospel Day in the Cook Islands, people turned up in droves to check out the 170-year-old building which it shares with the Takamoa Theological College, after a $1 million dollar facelift.
Short said the building of the two-storey structure in 1837caused much excitement amongst the local people, with its raised limestone foundation, consisting of interlocking, purposely-shaped rocks.
And our forefathers, he said in giving a historic background to the building at yesterday’s ceremony, would have marvelled at the building today.
Short said construction of the mission house, which was supervised by the London Missionary Society’s Reverend Aaron Buzacott, was completed in 1842, and it housed all the resident missionaries until the Cook Islands Christian Church was established in the 1960s.
Last year when deciding what to do about its administration offices, the CICC executive council decided there was an urgent need to restore the mission house’s rich history and heritage, and to use it as the CICC’s administrative headquarters.
In arriving at that decision, Short said that the council resolved that there was a need to ensure that the original features of the building were maintained, and that the administration be equipped with modern facilities. It was also resolved that this house not be abandoned ‘until the return of our Lord’.
Mere Maraea MacQuarie, as a representative of the Makea family, was given the opportunity to cut the ei ribbon across the entry to the mission house, and open the main door.
Those present then were given an opportunity to inspect the newly renovated house, as well as the nearby chapel ‘Te Vai Ora’, which is yet to be completed.
The ground floor has a library named after Rev Turaki Teauriki, the last LMS/CICC missionary to go to Papua New Guinea – a tradition which started in 1842 when the first Takamoa students were sent to Samoa. Rev Teauriki went to PNG with his wife in 1964 and returned in 1975.
Also on the ground floor is the Rev John Williams conference room, Rev Aaron Buzacott museum and art gallery, the administration reception, an archive, and newly installed mission caf.
The administration general office, office of the CICC president, Pittman executive room and LMS executive boardroom, are on the first floor.
Following the official opening, the six ekalesia on Rarotonga, along with those from the Takamoa Theological College, put on items in lieu of the nuku (Biblical pageants) which are traditionally held on Gospel Day.
During the dedication service, the Takamoa students and their wives sang two specially composed imene reo metua for the occasion. The men also performed a turou and sang the CICC anthem during the flag-raising ceremony.
The project to date has cost around $1.45 million, with $100,000 going on landscaping and the building of the rock walls within the compound, $250,000 on tarsealing the road and drainage around Takamoa, and $100,000 on the chapel.
NZ men netballers on a roll
Tue
27 Oct
The New Zealand men’s and mixed netball players returned to Aotearoa over the weekend with two trophies, carved mother of pearl medals and a whole lot of memories from the week-long tournament on Rarotonga.
The Kiwi squad had planned a clean sweep of the tournament’s three divisions but the tenacious Aussies didn’t let them.
The Kiwis took out the under 23 (59-47) and open men’s (61-55) division and were bamboozled when the Australian mixed team came from behind to take the gold medal off them.
“Oh well, two will do,” chorused the team during their photo shoot.
The Cook Islands, on the other hand, were just happy to have hosted the event and take the bronze medal in all the divisions.
Karati competes in China
Tue
27 Oct
Cook Islands golfer Sonny Karati is representing the country at the Asian Amateur championships in China along with 117 other players from 30 Asia-Pacific nations.
The Cook Islands was accepted into the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation earlier this year and received an invite to play in the inaugural 72-championships.
The 72-hole stroke championships will be played on the World Cup course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhne, China between October 29 and November 1.
The winner of the championships will receive an invite to play in the 2010 Masters Tournament with the runner up and winner earning a place in the international qualifying final for the Open Championship next year.
All 117 players in the inaugural championships are the top male amateur golfers from their clubs.
Karati won a gold medal at the recent Pacific Mini Games in the men’s team event and he is also the green keeper at the Rarotonga Golf Course in Nikao.
The first tee-off of the competition is on Thursday October 29.
Rally call for support
Wed
28 Oct
Petition organiser Teina Mackenzie responds to John Scott’s letter
First off, I’d like to thank John Scott for his past dedication and commitment for change in the 70s and 80s as I was not aware of his significant contributions. I value John’s suggestions and have received others that are similar.
It is exactly this type of correspondence that I have requested in the last week since my first email out to friends asking everyone to support the Economic Development Task Force initiatives.
My interest in pushing for reform is genuine, knowing that the track record for reform occurring is abysmal in our country.
The technical details of how to ENSURE such reform occurs are trickling in now. I maintain that I, alone, have not taken on a crusade – I have asked any and all to follow me, to provide their knowledge and assistance in any way they can. So far there is success. It’s the old question of which comes first – the chicken or the egg?
I have begun to bring the masses together and rally support – I am counting on some of my fellow Cook Islanders to assist with the technical areas on how best to achieve delivering such a petition to the correct recipients.
I am MOST counting on my fellow Cook Islanders to take up the attitude that, yes, they can make a difference – and sign the petition.
When the reform we seek occurs, we can all rejoice as it was a national effort with benefits for us all.
Please sign the petition at a dairy near you.
Teina Mackenzie
ANZ launches new global brand
Wed
28 Oct
ANZ today launched its new brand identity and positioning in the Cook Islands to support its super regional strategy in Asia Pacific and set a clear aspiration to develop ANZ as a people-focused, uncomplicated bank.
“We have worked with customers across the Pacific for more than 130 years and we are one of only 11 banks globally with an AA rating,” says incoming chief executive officer, Pacific, Michael Rowland.
“Our new brand will build on making life easier for our customers in the Pacific, including providing banking to people in remote regions.
“The brand will also provide a consistent experience for our customers, regardless of where they live or what language they speak.”
Key elements of the brand rollout in Cook Islands include:
• External and internal signage at ANZ branches across the Cook Islands will feature the new brand.
• Internet banking will display the new brand from today.
• The brand will roll out progressively to corporate stationery, marketing and advertising over the next 12 to 24 months.
• A marketing campaign reflecting how ANZ understands what is going on in our customers’ world and is making banking less complicated.
General Manager for Cook Islands, David Dennis, said: “We are determined to make banking less complicated for our customers as we continue to deliver solutions to meet their needs.”
“We’re making good progress on delivering on our brand promise. In the past 12 months, in Cook Islands, we’ve added more ATM’s and EFTPOS facilities, segmented our business to better suit our customers needs and introduced new savings products.”
Customers and staff in the Pacific took part in research to help develop the new brand.
ANZ’s new brand consists of a modernised and simplified ANZ word-mark and a new symbol. The central human shape represents ANZ’s customers and people and the three shapes signify ANZ’s three key geographies - Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific.
Low turnout for college athletics criticised
Wed
28 Oct
Tereora College students will be reprimanded this week for the low turnout at last week’s athletics competition.
Acting principal Vae Unuka says he’ll be doing some serious talking to those who did not turn up and disgraced their teams (houses), when the competition shield is handed over to the winning house this week.
Unuka says around 40 percent of the student population turned up for the event which is usually held during term three.
“It is a case of wrong timing too with the end of year exams right now. Last week I praised the students that did take part in the athletics.”
In the past, under the leadership of former principal Sharyn Paio, this situation would be dealt with properly said one parent this week.
Paio cracked down on truancy in her two years with the college and would put the onus on parents to make sure their children were attending school, said the parent.
PTA spokesman George George says it’s disappointing that the students appear to be using the sports day simply as a fun day.
“It’s not being treated as a competition as it used to be. It seems they are losing the sprit of the competition between houses.
“I certainly thought that coming out of the Pacific Mini Games there would be a legacy left for Tereora students.
“There are athletes around the world who are doing well in sports.”
George believes that the level of student participation in sports comes down to the teachers pushing for it.
“If less students are going to take part then the college may as well cut sports days out and they can have a day in the classroom instead.”
Petition out on Raro
Wed
28 Oct
The public petition for political reform is now available to sign at over two dozen local shops around Rarotonga.
Late last week Rarotonga businesswoman Teina Mackenzie launched the petition calling for reform after being inspired by the economic development taskforce recommendations which were aired at a public meeting.
Mackenzie says on Saturday her family drove around the island to ensure that almost every shop had a petition pack.
The shops with the petition forms include Tangees, Rite Price, Friendly Mart, TexMart in Arorangi, The Convenience Store, Super Brown, Wigmore’s Superstore and Murimart. If you have a shop and would like a copy of the petition Mackenzie can be contacted on 55742.
As the petition gains momentum, she is receiving constructive advice on it everyday from all facets of the community. Support is also flooding in for the online petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/ch4ng3/petition.html which had received 60 signatures yesterday.
ADB to sign $13.4m loan with Cooks
Wed
28 Oct
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) vice-president C. Lawrence Greenwood, Jr. is in Rarotonga this week to sign the bank’s economic support programme with the Cooks.
Greenwood will attend the Forum Economic Ministers meeting, hold talks with senior Cook Islands government officials and key private sector representatives, and take part in consultations on the bank’s assistance to Cook Islands.
During his first official visit to Cook Islands, he will also discuss ADB’s assistance programmes, including the recently approved US$10 million ($13.4 million) economic recovery support programme, and ADB’s climate change initiatives.
Today Greenwood and deputy prime minister and finance minister, Sir Terepai Maoate will sign the programme loan agreement.
The programme aims to give the country a short-term boost in economic activity in response to the global economic crisis, while supporting structural and governance measures that will aid economic recovery. A press conference will follow.
Greenwood was appointed to his current post in December 2005. He is responsible for ADB’s operations in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
A career diplomat for nearly 30 years, Greenwood has extensive experience in Asia and
the Pacific, international finance, development, trade, and investment.
Since the Cook Islands became a member in 1976, ADB has approved 14 loan projects amounting to US$45 million ($60.4 million) and 29 technical assistance projects of almost US$10 million ($13.4 million).
Competition likely to boost economy, Chamber
Wed
28 Oct
The Chamber of Commerce continues to support proposed new legislation which will bring an end to the monopoly that Telecom Cook Islands has enjoyed for so long.
TCI is a majority foreign-owned company, and most of the huge dividends paid by TCI go offshore.
“While the government might be concerned about a potential reduction in its own dividend, this needs to be weighed against the improved tax revenue from a competing operator and the economic boost from competitive pricing which will benefit the country. There is no doubt that service levels would improve also, as is typical when a market operates on a level playing field.”
Locally owned company Mervin Communications’ application for a licence to operate was turned down by Telecom last month, but the company is still in talks with government over legislation that will allow it to enter the market. The company also owns KukiCel which they hope will soon become the second mobile network in the Cook Islands.
Yesterday telecommunications minister and prime minister Jim Marurai announced he has set aside two weeks to consult and receive advice on opening the market to competitors.
The chamber says abolishing the Telecom monopoly would be a sound decision.
“In abolishing the monopoly, government is making a sound decision which will benefit the country as a whole. It will stimulate the economy, create business and employment opportunities, and has the potential to reduce the cost of living – and business overheads – for all. The chamber supports the decision whole-heartedly.”
The chamber says government still has the opportunity to sell its shares in TCI, and apply the proceeds to much needier areas.
“Obviously technical and interconnection issues need to be looked after, and the chamber looks forward to a truly independent regulator being appointed. Legislation requiring equal contributions to outer-islands operations is also supported.”
Tsunami highlights fragility of region
Wed
28 Oct
The recent tsunami disasters in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga have become a subject for talks at the Forum Economic Ministers’ meeting in Rarotonga this week.
Yesterday Forum Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade made mention of the implications of the natural disaster on development plans for the region.
In his opening address Slade said the tsunami disasters are stark evidence of the exposure and fragility of the Pacific region.
“According to the World Bank, natural disasters have cost the Pacific Islands region US$2.8 billion in the 1990s alone. However, it is only at the national level that the true impact of disasters on the economy is visible. The small size of Pacific island economies means that the burden that falls on individual communities is disproportionate beyond measure,” he said.
Slade said at a regional level the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005 – 2015, outlines the major policy imperatives needed in the region to support the management of disaster.
“This regional framework was approved by Pacific Forum Islands Leaders in 2005. Additionally, the Pacific Plan, which is the overarching strategic development policy document for the Pacific region, emphasises the need for improved disaster risk management practices and policies to enhance sustainable development.”
The one that didn’t get away
Wed
28 Oct
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Brendon Nicholas (second from left), gets a hand to show off his first marlin with, from left, tourist Russell Harris, Mark Sherwin and charter operator Junior Ioaba.
Nicholas left Avatiu in Dawn Breaker last Wednesday morning and after catching three small tuna, was on his way back when he hooked the blue marlin just outside the wharf around 8am.
Two-and-a-half hours later, he hauled in the catch on an 80-pound line, off the Edgewater Resort & Spa in Arorangi. “I wasn’t going to let this one go,” said Nicholas who claimed that his ‘first’ marlin got off the hook about 30 metres away from his boat. The fish, which Nicholas sold to a friend, weighed in at 74kgs.
Meanwhile Nicholas has been on a roll, winning the Cook Islands Fishing Club competition at the weekend with the heaviest fish, a 23kg paara. And yesterday he landed two ma’ima’i and 11 wahoo.
Northerners back home
Wed
28 Oct
All but a few Te Maeva Nui participants from Rakahanga and Penrhyn have returned back home.
Cultural development secretary Sonny Williams says that those from Manihiki and Pukapuka have returned by Air Rarotonga, and most from Penrhyn were being flown back last week.
Williams says that final cost for the flights would be worked out once all the participants are returned, as return seats to Rarotonga have been offered to paying passengers.
At the beginning of the month, Williams estimated that the costs to fly participants back home – after staying on for the Pacific Mini Games -- would be in the vicinity of $400,000. The total costs, he adds, will be contained in a final report which will be furnished to the minister of cultural development, Robert Wigmore, in due time.
The ministry then paid an extra $100,000 for five flights to bring 52 people down from Pukapuka to Rarotonga. Those in the Pukapuka tere party refused to board the government-chartered ferry as it could not take its full complement due to extra people getting on board at Penrhyn and Manihiki.
Tight fit at Avatiu
Wed
28 Oct
Harbour master John Fallon has had a busy long weekend planning and sorting out space at the Avatiu harbour for ships and fishing boats.
Fallon has squeezed in 10 vessels at the Avatiu harbour, a task he says is a bit like putting together a jig saw puzzle.
Yesterday, a total 10 vessels were moored in the harbour with a number of boats having to ‘double up’.
Fallon says it’s not normal to have so many boats in the harbour at this time of the year but with a number of boats coming in at the same time they’ve certainly filled up the harbour.
He adds that some years ago there were up to 30 fishing boats moored at the harbour.
On Monday afternoon the locally registered long liner Tom squeezed into the harbour and that same night the sailing cargo vessel the Kwai with the vaka Te Au O Tonga in tow announced their arrival into an already brimming harbour.
By Tuesday morning the regional shipping vessel the Forum Avarua took the last inch of space at the harbour.
The only vessel that didn’t have to be re-aranged was surveillance boat Te Kukupa.
Vaka Te Au O Tonga had to be snugly moored in between Te Kukupa and two yachts.
The Tom had the inter island trading vessel Te Kou Maru rafted next to her with Taio Shippings Maungaroa taking the corner berth of the harbour.
In front of her is the Greenpeace boat the Esperanza with the Kwai rafted next to her and the Forum Avarua completes the line up of vessels at the tightly packed harbour.
MJ premiere tonight
Wed
28 Oct
He may be gone but Cook Islanders have a chance to see Michael Jackson one last time on the big screen.
‘This Is It’ will be shown at the Empire Theatre in Rarotonga tonight joining venues throughout the world to simultaneously premiere the ‘last’ performance of the King of Pop.
The two hour film features interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage as Jackson prepared for his sold-out shows in London before his death in June.
Manager of Empire Theatre, Harry Napa says tonight’s screenings has just about sold out with people flocking to purchase the pre-reserved seats. Those attending the 6pm and 8.30pm sessions, he says, are a mixture of locals and tourists, of all ages.
“We’ve put a lot of promotion into this as we know it will be a hit in Rarotonga,” says Napa.
Pre-show entertainment has been organised with DJ G-Dub to MC the evening. Prizes will be given away for several competitions including the best look-a-like, best dressed and best dancer.
Napa says Rarotonga was able to secure the rights to screen the film when he was in Auckland recently.
“Of course Cook Islands is right down the list as all our films here are pirated on dvds,” he says.
“We got it (This Is It) here last Thursday and everyone is dying to see it. We’ve brought our sound guy in and everything is A-plus.”
The side road next to the cinema will be closed from 4pm as food and drink stalls will be set up for the evening. Those that miss out on tickets tonight need not worry as ‘This Is It’ will be screening for the next two weeks. - DK
Northern students prepare for Tereora
Wed
28 Oct
Ten northern group fifth form (year 11) students are on a month-long careers fair in Rarotonga before taking up their scholarships at Tereora College next year.
The nine students and the programme coordinator Eli David began vocational training at the hospitality and tourism training centre (HTTC) after arriving on Rarotonga two weeks ago.
David, from Tauhunu in Manihiki, says this is the second year the programme has been offered for northern group students.
Last year 15 students were on the programme during the careers expo month. However this year it has been moved towards the end of the school year to accommodate for the difficulties in travelling from the northern group for the beginning of the school year.
David says the four students from Pukapuka will stay on in Rarotonga after the month-long programme to await the beginning of school next year.
Last week the students spent time on a building project at the trade training centre and are spending a week on work experience. Next week they will spend orientation at Tereora College.
The students have taken up work experience placements at Pacific Resort, Edgewater Resort, Motor Centre, Te Aponga Uira, Budget, Island Car & Bike Hire, Telecom, Westpac Bank, Andersons, Air Rarotonga, 88FM, Avarua Primary School, Pacific Divers, Pickering Motors and Rarotonga Hospital.
David says at HTTC the students learnt about customer service and they will put the skills gained into practice during work experience.
The ministry of education has a learning support team to help the students adjust to life and high school in Rarotonga. David says peer support will also be provided by members of the national youth council and youth peer educators.
One of the main problems the northern group students face is having to repeat fifth form the following year because their schools in the outer islands are not NZQA accredited.
David is currently researching different education strategies for secondary students in the northern group to help remove this barrier.
She has also successfully initiated several life skills programmes in the north for secondary students and is hopeful that this will better prepare them for further education and work placements.
Betela to plan for tsunami response
Wed
28 Oct
The Kavera and Vaiokura communities will meet this evening to prepare a tsunami plan for the villagers.
This follows a couple of meetings in Rutaki last week to do the same.
Daniel Apii says tonight’s meeting at the Betela meeting house will endeavour to get the ball rolling in terms of preparing a plan for businesses and those living in the area.
Rutaki School held its meeting last Tuesday and Apii says a test run of its evacuation plan will be carried out sometime this week.
“The sooner we do this, the better,” says Apii who was asked to convene a committee tasked with putting the school’s evacuation plan together.
A site on Poko and Otheniel Tangianau’s property, around 500 metres inland, has been identified as a gathering point for teachers and pupils.
William Tuivaga from Emergency Management Cook Islands, Patrick Arioka and Reboama Samuel from Telecom Cook Islands, addressed the school meeting. Tuivaga told those present that Arorangi school had gone through a test run of their evacuation plan two years ago.
But while Rutaki has an evacuation plan to be carried out while pupils are at school, Apii says there is a need to work out what can be done in the time when children are going to and from school.
The Rutaki school plan was tabled at a community meeting held last Thursday, and it was encouraged that businesses and households in the area should come up with their own plans.
“Everything must start from the home.”
It was decided at the meeting that the committee picked at the school meeting should form the basis of the group to look into this matter. The community group consists of Apii, Rutaki principal Enoa Raea, Glassie Utia, Jeannine Daniel, Tui Mataiapo Teiri Tepa, Bob Taylor (Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa), Patrick Arioka, Mau Raina and Ronnie Forbes.
Apii adds that anyone in the area who wants to make a contribution can join the group.
Tonight’s meeting in Betela will see presentations from EMCI and the Cook Islands Red Cross. It will start at 7pm.
Forum meeting creates disability strategy
Wed
28 Oct
The two-day Forum disability ministers meeting wrapped up last Friday with the creation of a Pacific regional strategy on disability.
On Thursday the Forum Secretariat urged members of the forum to pass appropriate laws and regulations to empower people with disabilities in the region.
In his opening remarks at the first ever meeting of forum ministers on the issue, deputy secretary general of the Forum Secretariat, Feleti Teo said that appropriate legislative and regulatory frameworks must be enacted and supported to empower people with disabilities to lead free and worthwhile lives and to achieve greater equity for all people.
“People with disabilities in the Pacific region deserve the practical concern of the Pacific community, both by reason of their numbers and more especially for their particular human and social conditions,” Teo told the meeting.
“Despite the number of people with disabilities in Pacific societies, there is still a general lack of awareness, not only in terms of what their special needs are, but also a lack of acknowledgement of their very existence as an integral part of society. It is this general lack of disability awareness that serves as a barrier to developments that are inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities.”
He said the meeting underpins the critical role that states and governments must play in providing leadership in the area of disabilities.
New Zealand’s minister for disability issues Tariana Turia stressed her country’s commitment to increasing social and economic participation by people with disability in the Pacific.
“New Zealand continues to build on its leadership with the Convention (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), by working in partnership with disabled people’s organisations at home,” Turia said.
“This leadership also translates to the Pacific where we have worked for a long time to share the knowledge and experience we have gained with our Pacific neighbours and to promote disability inclusive development.
“More than 800,000 people in the Pacific live with a disability and they are among the most vulnerable to social and economic exclusion.
“Our development assistance recognises this and New Zealand is committed to regional efforts to partner with and Disabled Persons Organisations and include people with disability in decisions that affect them.”
Turia said since 2007 NZ and Australia and the Pacific Disability Forum have worked closely to strengthen the capacity of disabled people’s organisations across the Pacific and have committed $1.2 million in support so far.
“Through New Zealand’s Aid and Development Agency, NZAID, we are also set to support the Pacific Disabled Persons Organisation Fund which provides grants to disabled persons’ organisations to help with support and training. I am pleased to announce the first round of the fund will be in November and will be managed by the Pacific Disability Forum.”
The rights of people with disabilities were given universal and global acknowledgement through the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2006. This came into force in May 2008.
At the Asia-Pacific level, the Biwako Millenium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights based society in Asia and the Pacific, was adopted in 2002.
The new regional strategy will provide a framework for collaborative efforts to address the issues of people with disabilities and to improve their quality of life – in line with vision of the Forum leaders espoused in the Pacific Plan for “the Pacific to be a region of peace, harmony, security, and economic prosperity so that all its people can lead free and worthwhile lives”.
The meeting, chaired by Cook Islands disability issues minister Ngamau Munokoa was jointly funded by AusAID and ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) and held at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa.
Aitutaki power station commissioned
Wed
28 Oct
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Inside the control room at the Aitutaki power station. Photo Mata Nooroa
09102342
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Four years after the first report was done on Aitutaki’s power needs, the island’s new power station was commissioned on October 15.
After a number of reports written in 2005 and 2006 – including a wind resource assessment – government committed capital expenditure of $1.65 million in 2006-07 for the power station upgrade
NZAID chipped in with $1.1 million, while Cook Islands Investment Corporation and the Aitutaki Power Supply (APS) put $150,000 towards the project.
CIIC’s Lloyd Miles says registrations of interest were advertised in June 2007, with 19 entities signing up, and 10 being shortlisted in August.
Unfortunately, the project was suspended by government shortly after and it wasn’t until June 2008 that the 10 entities were invited to tender. The five tenders received were evaluated in August last year.
Miles says because there was a shortfall of $1.3m for the preferred tender, an application was made to NZAID for additional funding. The sum of $1.1m was given the okay on October 1 and the government tender committee approved the tender later that month.
Cummins South Pacific New Zealand Limited accepted the tender to construct, procure, supply, install and commission plant and equipment for the Aitutaki station on October 30.
The project was completed on September 21 and the period of defects liability will expire on September 20 next year.
Miles says approximately $2.9m has been spent on the project, with $377,142 going on building renovations and improvements, and $2,522,858 being spent on plant and equipment.
Building renovations include construction of a new switch room and control room, new cladding and insulation of main station building including a new roof, as well as construction and installation of acoustic louvres and fans, concrete work, and repainting.
While all three generators are online at all times and are synchronised for automatic switch on/off, Miles says only one engine operates for most of the time.
“However a second generator will be required at times, and will automatically switch on, to meet peak demand and then automatically switch off when demand falls away.”
Miles says during the night and even a large part of the day the load is fairly consistent and can be met, for the most part, by only one engine.
“However there are periods during a 24 hour day where demand is increased, namely the first three or four hours of each morning, and three or four hours in the evening where load increases.”
Miles says ideally a generator should operate at about 75 to 80 percent load for the most part because that is when it is most efficient.
“If the generator operates efficiently then fuel consumption and consumables and wear and tear are down. All good things as those efficiencies save costs and the engines last longer.”
The equipment at the station includes three Cummins C900D5 generators units with engine QSK23-G3, prime rated at 668 kWe, 835kVA/continuous rated at 514kWe, 643kVA; skid mounted generators; Cummins PCC 2100 digital controller; AC controls with meters; PMG 3 phase sensing voltage regulator; AMP sentry protection; electronic governors; air cleaners; low coolant level shutdown; anti vibration mountings; remote mounted radiators; stainless steel and acoustic upgrade exhausts; double skinned fuel tanks and fuel lines; new control panel and switch boards; ancillary and auxiliary equipment.
The commissioning was attended by deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate, the island’s MPs, CIIC chairman Tapi Taio and NZAID representative Julie Affleck.
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