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General News

Week ending Wednesday, 23 February, 2011

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

Decision due today on Pukapuka
ANZ’s top brass visit Rarotonga
Cash for clothes vs good causes
MMR starts bonefishing meetings
Pleased to be accredited pearl graders
Sea cucumber: nerves not required
Ways for sea cucumber aquaculture to deliver real benefits to rural communities
New seats means ‘Buy Local’ misses out
Tourism supports Buy Local
Pukapuka election result void
Leaders agree
Tia Barrett knighted
ANZ head sees potential for Pacific food exports
War Bible returns home
New comp in Mauke
Empty seat with Opposition
Dress code topical
Parliament gets down to business
PM plans 100 sitting days
Aitutaki wants fairer water tank distribution
Kainuku’s exchanges – Kupa’s cheeky pe’e
Morrie fine tunes flicks
Matariki FM rated by SHOUTcast
Dual lingo leaflets for parents
Drunk driver assaulted police officer
Bonefish elude all anglers but one
Eco comp judged
Avatea names new prefects
Takitumu selects prefects
Panthers hold out Bears
‘No walk in the park’
Commonwealth forum underway
Regional electoral workshop starts
Aussie fundraiser this Thursday
Guides mark ‘World Thinking Day’
‘Parents For Youth’ conducting survey
Atiu names and salutes prefects
Airport posters promote bonefish industry
Chemical removed from USP
Earthquake survivors hanging in
Firefighters put out Turangi blaze
Opposition warning on marine park
Bonefishing fees go back to island
Mentoring draws 28
Pacific business promo
Mother language day celebrated
Araura College appoints first prefects
Golfers down to business

Justice Nicholson heard evidence and submissions pertaining to the Pukapuka electoral petition in the Rarotonga High Court yesterday, following a court sitting in Pukapuka earlier in the week. Nicholson is expected to have a decision ready to deliver this morning.

His decision will determine whether CIP Member of Parliament for Tekii Lazaro will retain the Pukapuka-Nassau seat (he won by a margin of four votes), or whether the petitioner – independent candidate Vai Peua – will instead represent the constituency.

The court has this week heard evidence and submissions relating to the following issues: an application put forth by Paul Lynch to strike out the petition, bribery allegations against Lazaro and his wife Dresser, and the conduct of the Electoral Office.

Earlier this month, on behalf of Lazaro, Lynch filed an application to strike out the petition on the grounds that it does not comply with the requirements of section 92 of the Electoral Act 2004.

Section 92 allows for any dissatisfied candidate to demand an inquiry into the conduct of the election or an opposing candidate. It says that a petition must be accompanied by a filing fee of $1000 and must be in ‘Form 14’ format.

Lynch in his submissions alleges that Peua’s amended petition does not comply with Form 14, which requires that the petition state by way of a prayer the relief it seeks from the court. He alleges that the deviation from Form 14 cannot be rectified by amendment and that therefore the amended petition is null.

Peua’s petition also makes allegations that Lazaro committed bribery during his campaign. Peua alleges that Lazaro’s wife Dresser gave an elector a Maori massage as an inducement to vote for her husband.

Tekii and Dresser Lazaro gave evidence from the witness box yesterday. Dresser swore in her affidavit that she is indeed a maoro, or masseuse, and that she regularly gives free massages without expecting anything in return.

The final issue the petition raises relates to the conduct of the Electoral Office – namely, chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua, chief registrar of electors Mark Terei Short and Pukapuka registrar of electors Tewoe Luka.

The petitioner says that the Electoral Office removed certain electors of the Pukapuka-Nassau constituency from the electoral roll, but failed to properly notify them of their removal.

The question that arises is then whether the Electoral Office’s non-compliance affected the outcome of the election.

Tina Browne for the petitioner submitted that “it is quite clear that the number of electors improperly removed from the roll would have affected the result of the poll”. Accordingly, she submitted that the court should declare the election void.

Counsel for the Electoral Office Heinz Matysik submitted that the failure of the Electoral Office to strictly comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act constitutes a ‘procedural irregularity’.

Section 97 of the Electoral Act provides for ‘irregularities’, directing that the court should not declare an election void on the basis of a procedural irregularity – in the case that it did not affect the final outcome of the election.

The Electoral Act says that the court must not declare the election void if “...the election was conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in and by this Act and that the irregularity, failure or mistake did not affect the result of the poll”.

Matysik submits that the failure to give electors notice of their removal is an irregularity and did not affect the election result.

Justice Nicholson will deliver his judgment today, as he has heard all the evidence and submissions.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America (APE&A) chief executive officer Alex Thursby arrived on Rarotonga last night – ticking off one more stop on his Pacific tour.

Accompanying him on his tour are South and South East Asia chief executive officer and APE&A chief operation officer Mark Robinson, APE&A general manager of human resources Anouk De Blieck, Pacific chief executive officer Michael Rowland and members of the Pacific Leadership Team.

The tour includes stops in Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, Guam, Tonga, and Manado in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Thursby plans to meet with prime minister Henry Puna and finance minister Mark Brown, and a number of ANZ staff and customers, to discuss growth opportunities for the Cook Islands.

The visit to the Cook Islands follows the introduction of solar-powered ATM machines, the launch of the MoneyMinded Pacific financial literacy programme and a recent upgrade of the ANZ Cook Islands internet banking platform.

“We have big plans for our Pacific business this year. We intend to introduce a faster, lower cost way for people to remit money back to the Pacific, we’ll launch a new level of service for our affluent customers and we’ll continue to explore how we can use mobile phones to improve banking services for people living in remote areas,” Thursby said in a media release.

“I’m also delighted with the progress we’re making to develop local talent, with the recent appointment of our first Pacific national, Ann Steele, to an executive position as Head of Human Resources for the Pacific.”

Rarotonga welcomed the team of executives the Cook Islands way – with dancing, drumming and smiles at the tarmac.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

“This clothing allowance rhetoric should be taken notice of by the prime minister,” writes a smoke signaller as he joins the debate over whether the government should bring back the $5000 clothing allowance for each parliamentarian, at a cost of $120,000. “I see colourful Norman George has now thrown his hat in the ring. For the number of years he has been an MP during the time of clothing allowances he must have, yes must have, one of the largest wardrobes in the islands. I have seen the PM in a very becoming suit and don’t tell me the majority of MPs don’t have very suitable clothing – the whole thing is a rort. Allocate an allowance for a formal outfit to new MPs and/or those that have never qualified. The rest should stand up and be honest about this $5000 allowance that the country can not afford. There’s no taxpayers’ money for these unnecessary and unaffordable luxuries. Please get your priorities in order as you are there to serve the people and paid supremely well enough to buy your own clothes, like everyone else has to.”

THE POLITICIANS’ NEW CLOTHES

“Perhaps if our politicians were dressed in pona pareu, shorts and nice jandals, they would remember who they are and where they come from,” a smoke signaller says. “They might even remember that the people who voted them in dress that way. An ill-fitting polyester suit from the sale rack at the Warehouse, a wrinkled and sweaty white shirt with stains on the collar, a 10-year-old polyester tie with the remnants of countless umukai, and some scuffed up Chinese-made shoes, are anything but dignified. At the end of a long day someone seeing our politicians for the first time might be excused for mistaking them for a reunion of retired circus clowns holding a contest to see who looks sillier. Won’t someone tell them?”

YES TO TAHITI’S PAREU PARLIAMENT

“What the hang is Norman going on about?” was a staff topic of conversation yesterday after MP Norman George said our parliament should keep to the present formal dress code and not have a casual dress code, like neighbouring French Polynesia. “Tahiti has got it right, we are Pacific islanders and jandals and pareu shirts should be perfectly acceptable in our parliament. What’s worse than an oversized islander squeezing into a monkey suit and a necktie that chokes the throat and prevents free expression?”

SIGN POLICY NEEDED

“Why is it that government entities are trying to raise money by allowing large private advertising signs on the roadside at the airport, for example ANZ’s new billboard?” a smoke signaller asks. “Is there a policy or a standard to follow in avoiding overkill with too many signs?”

CHOOSE ME AND SAVE

“Pick me for Speaker!” a smoke signaller cries out in a text message to TXT188. “Why select Sir Geoff for speaker and pay him $85,000 a year? How often does parliament sit? Not much at all! Pick me, Kimi, and I’d only charge $15,000 a year – save $70,000! That money can go towards better things like health, education, roads and so on.”

Keep the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals and interesting island photos will be accepted by e-mail (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), or text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom.

About 40 villagers attended the bonefish awareness community campaign meeting at Araura College in Aitutaki on Monday.

There were a lot of concerns from the general public as to whether they were allowed to gillnet, to fish in the lagoon for kiokio, whether they had to buy a fish permit and where the fees for the Fishing Permits and Guide Licences go.

People asked questions about whether there was an opportunity to change the regulations if they had strong objections to certain portions of them, who would police the areas and who caps the numbers of guides.

These questions were all answered on the night by Richard Story and Rebekah Daniel from the Ministry of Marine Resources.

There were heated discussions, but were calmed down when it was explained that there are steps in place to appease their concerns.

After the meeting Aitutaki mayor John Baxter said: “Now we have a fair understanding about this regulation, we know it is not perfect, but it is a start. We can come together to fine tune certain areas following the right procedure set in the regulations.

“My aim is to help the people of Aitutaki adjust to changes made for the betterment of us all – I love my people and I love my island and will do whatever I can to help the people.”

• RD

Three Cook Islanders have passed examinations which now recognise them as accredited pearl graders under a programme driven by the Pearl Authority to standardise grading in the country.

They are Christine Newnham and siblings Tamuela Karaponga and Mehau Johnson all from Manihiki.

Karaponga, who topped the exams, and Johnson are farmers and pearl seeding technicians. As well as being recognised Cook Islands Pearl graders, Karaponga and Newnham have received certificates qualifying them as Avaiki Pearl graders. The elite accreditation certificate is held by only one other Cook Islander, Raymond Newnham, who set up the training module, course content and exam format.

Cook Islands Pearl Authority CEO George Ellis says for the past two years they’ve been trying to develop a uniform grading system for the country. CIPA has updated a comprehensive classification and grading manual which graders study before taking the exams.

Ellis says local graders need to have recognised accreditation for the standardised grading system to work. “It’s important for quality control and quality control of export pearls, it becomes even more significant since the launch of the Avaiki brand in September 2009.”

Quality control inspector Caroline Tiria says pearl industry workers who are already grading in Manihiki and Rarotonga are encouraged to take the grading exams. Those who have a pass grade of 60% or more receive the top Avaiki accreditation. To date, 12 exams have been held with just one Cook Islands Pearl grading pass by a Japanese grader.

Karaponga says they were motivated to take the accreditation exams because of the Avaiki brand criteria that farmers have to meet and there would now be a big difference to how they grade pearls. “It’s a good feeling to be actually accredited and to have passed the exams, I’m stoked, I’m really happy.”

Johnston says they were first taught grading techniques by a Japanese grader but this was specifically for the Japanese market.

“We would like to promote the Avaiki brand and we would like to be recognised as Avaiki graders because that supports the industry long term and helps farmers and technicians with marketing our product.”

• FSB

A sea cucumber in its natural habitat. 11021603

One of the many products that sea cucumbers are used in. 11021604

It looks like a slimy worm – but it lives in the sea. The common sea cucumber is a sluggish creature, brown and blotchy, designed to blend in with its habitat: rocky reefs and sandy bottoms. It is sub tidal and can be found at depths up to 100 metres, all around the coast of New Zealand.

"They look like a worm crossed with a sausage, and the adults can grow to 20cm and live for five years," says NIWA aquaculture scientist Jeanie Stenton-Dozey.

Sea cucumbers are closely related to starfish. "Imagine the 5 arms of a starfish being stuck together and elongated and then laid on its side with the mouth one end and the anus the other. On the underside there are tiny tube feet and on the back are protuberances that function to look like armour. The blotchy tough outer skin helps with camouflage," says Dr Stenton-Dozey.

More than 100 other species of sea cucumber are found in New Zealand waters.

Sea cucumbers are most active at night when it's safer to crawl around grazing like a little vacuum cleaner on detritus on rocks and sea bed sediments. They move using their tiny tube feet, and the rhythmic contraction of their body wall. They are very important 'cleaners' of marine ecosystems where they turn complex organic waste into important minerals, like nitrogen, that can be used by marine plants for growth.

They have no eyes, although there are various nerve endings scattered through the skin giving a sense of touch and a sensitivity to the presence of light. "Sea cucumbers have no true brain. A ring of nerve tissue surrounds the oral cavity, and from here nerves extend to the tiny tentacles around the mouth, and down the length of the body. If the nerve ring is cut off, the sea cucumber can still function and move about! So it does not need nerves to co-ordinate its body," says Dr Stenton-Dozey.

The sea cucumber breathes through its bottom. It uses its 'respiratory trees' to take oxygen from the water. These 'trees' branch out inside the animal in the region of the anus so when they 'breathe' the water in, it enters and then is expelled through the anus. The sea cucumber's camouflage tends to save it from predators. But, if need be the sea cucumber has a surprising defence mechanism.

Its major defensive action is to expel its digestive organs through its bottom. An action that would frighten anyone! While the would-be predator is distracted by the delicious looking bits and pieces floating about, the sea cucumber makes a hasty retreat. Fortunately, the sea cucumber can regenerate its internal organs within a few weeks.

The natural predators of sea cucumbers are large fish that can eat them whole and starfish. Many are taken as by-catch in bottom trawling.

Sea cucumbers have unique 'elastic' body walls. Collagen in the walls can be stretched or tightened to make the animal long and floppy or short and compacted. This means that the sea cucumber can squeeze through tiny gaps, and once safe in a crevice, it can firm up. This is another way to hide from the jaws of predators!. There is a fishery catch quota for this species of sea cucumber which is sold locally after processing. This processing involves removing the insides and drying the body wall which is the part that is so expensive fetching up to 500 dollars per kilogram. Outside New Zealand, processed dried sea cucumbers are generally traded under the name of bche-de-mer, representing an important fishery in South Pacific and Asian countries.

• NIWA

Sea cucumber aquaculture can deliver real benefits to rural communities. 11021614

NOUMEA, Feb 17 – Stocks of high-value sea cucumber species have been chronically over-exploited throughout the Asia-Pacific region, as elsewhere in the world. They are in great demand, not only for food but also for their reported medicinal and supposed aphrodisiac qualities, particularly among the Chinese.

Collected by divers in deep water and by women and children in the shallows, sea cucumbers are dried before being sold to traders. The market price for dried sea cucumber can top 200 AUD a kilo, which makes them an important source of cash income for many poor and remote coastal communities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

While better overall fisheries management is needed, for a small number of species, farming in ponds and sea-ranching promise to boost production, thereby taking the pressure off wild stocks so their numbers can be restored.

This is the topic of the Asia-Pacific Tropical Sea Cucumber Symposium, held in Noumea, New Caledonia, and funded jointly by the Australia Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). Professionals have been invited from countries which are actively engaged in improving tropical sea cucumber culture technology and developing its potential to deliver benefits to coastal communities.

From February 14 to 17 they will review the current research and technical status of this valuable resource, covering topics such as hatchery technology, release strategies, farming techniques, management practices and post-harvest handling.

Participants will gain an overview and update about the latest developments in the science of tropical sea cucumber aquaculture in order to inform regional and national policy-making and to identify the most promising ways to increase production of this lucrative commodity. Technology for value-adding, supply chains and marketing, policy implications of emerging aquaculture practices and release strategies for sea cucumber (with particular emphasis on the sandfish, Holothuria scabra) are also essential issues of the sector.

The recent ACIAR work in the Asia-Pacific region, together with relevant research from other parts of the world, will be used to identify gaps in current knowledge and generate recommendations for future research or policy work needed to support development of sustainable tropical sea cucumber aquaculture in the Asia-Pacific region.

An informal Pacific Islands session was held February 14 where the participants engaging in sea cucumber aquaculture provided an update report on the status of sea cucumber culture in their country. This provided an overview of the developments in sea cucumber aquaculture from the Pacific Islands countries to the Symposium.

• SPC

The Buy Local initiative missed out on getting an outlet in the departure area for small suppliers of local products because the Airport Authority identified an “operational need” for space.

Commercial operations manager Mark Vaikai says they needed to accommodate extra passenger seating, understood to be an extra column of four seats.

This ruled out the Business Trade Investment Board plan for Buy Local and any other retail outlet or kiosk wanting to set up inside the departures area because operational requirements take precedence over commercial, says Vaikai.

But complaints have been received by CINews alleging that the Airport Authority crumbled under pressure from some souvenir retailers already operating out of airport airside.The retailers are said to have been strongly opposed to competition in the form of Buy Local products.

BTIB was offered alternative space in the departure processing area, but this was declined as stringent MAF NZ protocols affecting export produce (that the outlet would stock) could not be met if the Buy Local shop was set up outside.

BTIB chief executive Terry Rangi says if the MAF protocols could be met they would have been happy with an outside shop. The Buy Local outlet was to focus on selling value-added foodstuffs including pawpaws to departing passengers.

Vaikai denies claims that the authority is applying a different set of rules to BTIB to those current retailers have to operate under. He says as a state owned enterprise, their existing retail clients were first consulted about BTIB’s proposal.

Vaikai says there were some strong views expressed by retailers, but they went through a process of identifying some Buy Local products and services that are in direct competition. These he said were “eliminated” and the remaining have to be considered further.

He did not disclose who was responsible for choosing which Buy Local products should be eliminated. He did confirm that nothing will be signed until all variables are addressed including operational and safety requirements.

• FSB

Cook Islands Tourism has come to the support of the BTIB plan to open an airport outlet dedicated to local products.

The Buy Local shop was to be positioned inside the departure terminal to capture some of the 100,000 visitors who leave Rarotonga each year. But plans have stalled following what the Airport Authority says are space restrictions. Existing retail operations are also said to be unhappy with the added competition.

Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie says the opportunity to showcase truly Cook Islands products should be utilised as much as possible.As for increased competition at the airport, Beattie believes there’s enough opportunity there for everyone and it would be just normal competition if Buy Local were set up.

“I think something that showcases special Cook Islands products that visitors can take home is absolutely essential,” she said.

Having the shop situated inside the departure area also makes sure that visitors who missed the Punanga Nui Market can still pick up an authentic Cook Islands product before leaving here.

• FSB

Lawyer Heinz Matysik (far left), court clerk Penny Barlow (second from left), Justice Nicholson (third from left) and Tehauarii Karatoa (third from right) in Pukapuka for the petition hearing this week. 11021719

Justice Nicholson has declared the election result for the Pukapuka-Nassau constituency void.

After four days of hearing proceedings, Nicholson granted independent candidate Vai Peua’s petition challenging the November election results.

Yesterday he announced his decision in the Rarotonga High Court, but indicated he will give his reasons at a later date.

On November 26 of last year, CIP candidate Tekii Lazaro was declared Member of Parliament for Pukapuka-Nassau by a margin of four votes. Peua got 84 votes and Demo candidate Tai Ravarua polled 77.

On December 3, Peua submitted a petition to the High Court of the Cook Islands challenging the election result and 12 days later, through counsel Tina Browne, he submitted an amended petition.

The petition was based on three grounds – that the votes of seven electors should have been disallowed, that the Electoral Office removed eight people from the electoral roll without properly notifying them of their removal, and that Lazaro committed both general and specific bribery during his campaign.

Through counsel Paul Lynch, Lazaro submitted a counter-petition, alleging that the votes of nine electors should have been disallowed and that Peua and Pukapuka Island Secretary Lewutope Katoa committed bribery in weeks leading up to the election.

On February 11, Lazaro submitted an application to strike out the petition. Three days later – on Monday of this week – the electoral petition hearing commenced in Pukapuka.

Justice Nicholson heard oral evidence from 10 witnesses – including fourth respondent, Pukapuka registrar of electors Tewoe Luka – and considered a number of additional affidavits and documents.

This week in court, Browne applied to further amend Peua’s petition on the grounds that 86 electors were removed from the electoral roll without being properly notified.

Justice Nicholson yesterday granted Browne’s application to amend the petition and dismissed Lynch’s application to strike out the petition.

He dismissed Lynch’s counter-petition altogether and ruled that Lazaro committed “a corrupt practice at the election, namely bribery”. Accordingly, his election was void.

Justice Nicholson also found that the removal of the names of 86 electors from the roll was invalid because the Electoral Office did not notify each person that his or her name had been removed, as directed by section 20 of the Electoral Act 2004.

Justice Nicholson reserved issues of costs.

This hearing marks the last of four petition hearings after the general election. Parliament can sit within 90 days as required under the Constitution of the Cook Islands.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

To avoid future delays calling parliament when a government has a clear majority, prime minister Henry Puna and opposition leader Robert Wigmore agree on one thing – a constitutional change needs to be made.

Puna and Wigmore both feel a new sub-clause should be added allowing parliament to be called by a secure government irrespective if there are outstanding electoral petitions.

Puna describes it as a legitimate issue if the status of a government is beyond challenge and questions – “then it shouldn’t matter if there are one or two outstanding petitions.”

He says the principle being that parliament should not be held up from getting on with its business because of one or two outstanding petitions.

Puna added he didn’t want it to appear that they were being disrespectful of the judiciary in anyway by suggesting a government should get on with calling parliament despite there still being unresolved petitions.

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

Former New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, the late Tia Barrett has been bestowed with the Legion of Honour by the French government for his contribution to relations between France and New Zealand.

Barrett died in 2009 from complications after a heart attack at the Rarotonga golf course.

He had advanced to become the most senior Maori in New Zealand’s diplomatic service, with postings as a high commissioner to Solomon Islands and Fiji after working and living in New Caledonia and France.

At a posthumous recognition ceremony in Wellington, the French ambassador Francis Etienne presented the award of Knight of the Legion of Honour to Barrett’s widow, Theresa.

She says her late husband would have been moved.

“He loved the French people and his life, I think he should have been more French than Maori.”

• Matariki Wilson

The ANZ executive team (left to right) – South East Asia chief executive officer and Asia Pacific, Europe and America chief operation officer Mark Robinson, executive assistant Louise De Gannes, ANZ Cook Islands chief executive officer David Dennis, Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America chief executive officer Alex Thursby, Graeme Woods, Claire Hopkins, Asia Pacific, Europe and America general manager of human resources Anouk De Blieck, Pacific chief executive officer Michael Rowland and Mark Dawson. 11021712

ANZ Asia Pacific, Europe and America (APE&A) chief executive officer Alex Thursby outlined the global economic situation and how it’s relevant to the Pacific region during a brief speech at a breakfast function yesterday morning.

He thanked ANZ customers – some of whom were present – for choosing to do their banking with ANZ, and added that ANZ has 154 branches in the Asia-Pacific region, which service 2.5 million customers and generate $2.5 million per annum in revenue.

Thursby then explained that the world should keep a close eye on Asia’s explosive economic growth, as this is ‘the Asian century’.

“The West should probably not be surprised by this,” Thursby said. He acknowledged that only in the last 400 years has the West “struck a high point” and that economic power is tilting again toward Asia.

Asia, he said, is predicted to experience a 7.5-8% growth rate per annum for the next decade. He was clear that by Asia he does not mean just China, as Southeast Asia and India are also becoming major economic contributors.

Thursby explained that Europe’s economic situation is frail, and that with the exception of Germany, the UK and possibly France, “we don’t see how Europe is going to return to high growth rates”.

As for the United States, Thursby said that while “people like to kick her when she’s down”, America is in fact “getting itself up again”. The financial crisis in America – spurned primarily by overtrading and inappropriate lending – seems to be righting itself, he said.

Dark clouds that do hang over the global economy, Thursby said, include Europe’s debt crisis, the movement of many people back into poverty and the reoccurrence of inflation, caused by rising food prices. In China alone, he said, food prices have risen by 22%.

Thursby told the crowd that the Pacific is becoming ever more connected to the Asian economy, and for good reason.

He said that the Pacific has three sectors binding it to Asia. The first is minerals and energy – he cited the case of Papua New Guinea, which is hosting a $16 billion gas project tied into Korean, Chinese and Japanese markets.

The second is tourism and the emergence of the Asian tourist, and the third and final sector in which the Pacific can tap into Asian markets is agriculture and food production. While this is “the most frustrating area” and “agriculture is not being well-managed in the Pacific”, Thursby acknowledged that there are huge opportunities in the Pacific to export food to Asia.

Because the Pacific climate is conducive to agriculture – because “things grow and grow quickly” – island nations should work on producing food for Asian markets.

Thursby said that food production is particularly relevant in this day and age, as “China will never be able to feed itself if it continues to grow” and will look to foreign markets for food.

In closing, Thursby reassured ANZ Cook Islands customers of his company’s commitment to the country.

“We are dedicated to the Cook Islands – we have a good business here,” he said.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

AUCKLAND, Feb 15 - A fragile Bible carried to war by a young Southland soldier nearly 95 years ago is heading home.

Private Richard Cook took the Bible with him when he left New Zealand to fight in World War 1 with the Otago Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces.

The 26-year-old soldier never returned to his home on Colac Bay, Southland. He died on October 8, 1917, near Passchendaele and is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France.

Pvt Cook lost his Bible in the trenches near Messines in Belgium in June 1917 and it is believed to have lain there for nearly a year until April 1918 when it was found, covered in mud, by British soldier Herbert Hodgson, 25.

He died in 1974 and the Bible was passed to his son Herbert and for several years his family tried to find Pvt Cook's family through his service number written on the Bible's pages.

Last year they were successful and the Bible began its remarkable journey home, where it will be handed over to the Army Museum in Waiouru next month.

Some of Pvt Cook's descendents were at the Etaples cemetery for a short service last year.

• NZPA

After a great start to the new Mauke island cricket competition, teams were certainly looking forward to getting out on the pitch and having more fun during the second round last Friday. In the women’s competition, Education took on the School team who were sent out to bat first with Tracey Terei top scoring with 13 runs.

In reply, team Education lost regular wickets and fell 18 runs short to give the School team their second win of the competition. The men’s draw for week 2, team Admin did battle with the School team in what was a very low scoring affair.

Chasing 39 runs for the win, Admin could only manage 26 runs with Peter Moetaua top scoring with 12 runs.

Telecom sounded out a warning that they meant business taking their second win of the competition with a 40 run demolition job against Education.

Going into week 3, the women’s competition sees the School team out in front with 2 wins with Admin following closely behind in second place.

In the men’s rankings, Telecom is out in front and will face second placed Admin in a top of the table clash this Friday.

Mauke School’s Teata Ateriano is once again thrilled with the great support the island is giving and also would like to thank Cook Islands Cricket for the helmets and cricket balls received last week. - CICA

11021836

Rebel MP Norman George says he was absent from parliament yesterday for two reasons.

One, he was scheduled to appear before the court in his capacity as a lawyer.

“I was required to go to court but (yesterday morning) I was told that there was no court sitting because no judge was available,” George said.

Two, and more importantly, George said his absence was symbolic – “a gesture of quiet protest” against the way in which parliament was called to sit.

He initially refused to comment further, but capitulated and agreed to speak on the record.

“I feel that the way parliament was called was shameful – to suit the convenience of the speaker because he wants to get on the payroll followed by an impatient prime minister who wanted confirmation before travelling (to New Zealand). Both events are not national emergencies,” he said.

George said he was notified of the sitting at 7pm on Thursday, and alleged that according to precedent, members of parliament should be given seven days’ notice.

“That is the shortest notice given for a parliamentary sitting especially for a newly elected government – and it wasn’t justified,” George said. “To put the speaker on the payroll is no justification for breaking parliamentary procedures.”

Prime Minister Henry Puna was clear that he could not call parliament until the court had heard the last electoral petition. Justice Nicholson delivered his decision on Vai Peua’s petition at 3pm on Thursday.

George’s empty seat was next to Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen on the opposition bench.

“I asked to be seated on the opposition side and I will make an announcement about where I’m going to be after I visit my electorate,” he said.

George intends to visit his electorate – Teenui-Mapumai in Atiu – before parliament resumes.

He has pledged to show up and be sworn in at the next sitting, which Puna estimates will be in mid-April.

Of George’s absence, PM Puna said he was “disappointed that he wasn’t there, particularly at the first sitting after the elections”. But, Puna said, he looks forward to seeing George when parliament resumes.

“Norman George was elected as a member of the Cook Islands Party,” Puna said. “He is my member of parliament and I will claim him as my member of parliament and it’s up to him to play his part – to be part of that team.”

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

First time Member of Parliament George Maggie was all suited up for the first sitting of parliament yesterday. 11021827

Prime Minister Henry Puna encourages public debate and discussion around the dress code for parliamentarians.

“We’re certainly not in a rush to make any changes but in the meantime we’re enjoying debate and the discussions going on in the media and we’d like to encourage that,” he said.

Puna said it’s just a question of “arriving at a dress code that is dignified and that everybody can feel comfortable with”.

While he conceded that there is “something to be said” for dressing to suit the Cook Islands climate and environment – “after all, we are a very relaxed, casual people” – he can understand the other side of the debate.

“I’m feeling sort of a bit like a stuffed up chook having to wear this,” he said of the shirt and tie he wore to the parliament sitting yesterday.

“But I think for those who grew up with this sort of dress code, they’re comfortable with it, and being comfortable with it means there’s also a degree of emotional attachment.

But the younger generation, they see things differently, and why not? There’s nothing wrong with it.

There’s nothing wrong with having different viewpoints on anything.”

Finance Minister Mark Brown suggested that a possible solution would be to enact a ‘Casual Fridays’ policy – similar to that adopted in some other countries.

That way, he said, when parliament sits on Fridays, members can show up in a pareu shirt.

At any rate, Puna said, government is “really interested in the public debate and discussions going on – let’s see where we end up”.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

The 47th sitting of parliament in session yesterday. 11021834

Before Parliament adjourned yesterday, a number of papers were tabled before the 22 members present.

Prime Minister Henry Puna said that the tabling of papers at the first sitting is an indication of the way the new government intends to conduct its business.

“We’re off to a flying start – we want to get on with business straight away,” he said.

Members of Parliament re-appointed a select committee to drive the Employment Relations Bill, which involves “quite sensitive issues” like minimum wage and maternity leave, Puna said.

“I’m not saying anything (about it) – but it could well be that the private sector will need to be involved with government in addressing those two important issues. What the nature of that involvement will be, we’ll wait and see,” he said at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

Cabinet Minister Nandi Glassie will chair the committee, which consists of the Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop, RAPPA MP John Henry, Penrhyn MP Wilkie Rasmussen and Nikao-Panama MP Ngamau Munokoa.

Finance Minister Mark Brown presented papers related to the following issues – duties on beer, the child benefit, welfare for destitute and infirm persons and the old age pension – and presented the Cook Islands Investment Corporation annual report for the year ending June 2009 and the Cook Islands Government Property Corporation annual report ending the same month.

Brown indicated at a press conference yesterday afternoon that government has developed a telecommunications bill, which is ready to go through the process of debate, and is looking to table a commerce bill and a new customs bill, which will revive a century-old customs law.

The customs legislation is a “massive document” which has been prepared in consultation with customs agencies throughout the region, he said. It aims to harmonise customs practices and procedures throughout the Pacific.

Puna tabled a paper pertaining to the remuneration of members and the annual report of the Cook Islands National Heritage Trust.

Other papers presented in Parliament yesterday included the Cook Islands Audit Office’s annual report for the period of July 2009 to June 30, 2010, the Aitutaki and Manuae bonefish fishery regulations prepared by the Ministry of Marine Resources, Audit’s quarterly report and a paper related to the appointment of chief electoral officer.

Brown said this will be a “fairly busy year in terms of legislation in parliament”.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

Prime Minister Henry Puna flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters and Cabinet minister Teina Bishop in parliament yesterday. 11021835

As the court finished hearing the last of four electoral petitions on Thursday afternoon, the 47th session of the Parliament of the Cook Islands was able to open yesterday.

The sitting, Prime Minister Henry Puna said, “was really just to tidy up internal issues, to elect a speaker, have the members of parliament sworn in and the other one, of course, was the motion of confidence in the prime minister.”

He repeatedly referred to the willingness of the Opposition Democratic Party to express confidence in both the prime minister and the CIP government.

“The opposition showed a lot of goodwill – very dignified goodwill – on working closely with government and we accept that with open arms,” he said at a press conference yesterday afternoon.

He continued: “For our part, we will be treating them with respect – they deserve no less.”

Member of Parliament for Teenui-Mapumai Norman George was absent from parliament. No one was present to represent the constituency of Pukapuka-Nassau, as Justice Nicholson this week declared the election result for that seat void. Accordingly, Puna said there will be a by-election in coming months.

Barring the absences of George and a Pukapuka-Nassau MP, the 22 other members of parliament were present – 14 CIP and eight members of the opposition.

All took the following oath of allegiance: “I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State of the Cook Islands and her heirs and successors according to law and that I will justly and faithfully carry out my duties as a Member of Parliament of the Cook Islands, so help me God”.

Puna, Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters and the Minister Teina Bishop burst into applause after Matavera MP Kiriau Turepu read his oath.

Puna said by way of explanation that while the applause was perhaps improper, he couldn’t help but show his support for Turepu, who was voted into office in 2006, only to watch parliament dissolve before his swearing-in ceremony.

“So I take particular pride in seeing him take this oath,” Puna said.

Though time stopped at parliament – the clock ceased ticking around 11.35am – the session lasted over two hours.

Puna said he expects to sit “not less than 100 days” this year, as government intends to push new measures during what Finance Minister Mark Brown called “a fairly busy year for legislation”.

“We have a commitment to sitting not less than 100 days,” Puna said. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.”

Puna said he cannot confirm the date of parliament’s next sitting, but estimates it will be in mid-April when the supplementary budget has been prepared.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

The newly sworn in Aitutaki Island Council wants the remaining $130,000 in the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal (ACA) committee’s account to be spent on buying more water tanks.

In its first meeting yesterday, the Island Council said this would make sure everyone on the island who needs a water tank will get one.

The ACA executive was in Aitutaki to hand over 110 water tanks to the council purchased through a major fundraising programme following devastation caused by Cyclone Pat in February last year. The ACA also want the council to assume the responsibility of ensuring that the distribution process is fair.

The council indicated that there were some concerns that the tanks were being given to people whose homes had been completely destroyed during the cyclone and others in need had been overlooked. It was felt if the ACA spent the remaining funds on purchasing another large consignment, the island’s needs would be met. The ACA has agreed to do this.

ACA chairman George Williamson said the committee had come under considerable criticism for buying water tanks, but this had been done in consultation with the government recovery committee and Aitutaki community.

He added that it had also been difficult to work with the former council as the ACA could not get a sense of direction.

Williamson told the council it is important the tanks are distributed quickly as fees are being charged by the Aitutaki Port Authority for storage. According to Williamson, Infrastructure Minister Teariki Heather has agreed that the ministry will be responsible for transporting the water tanks to all private homes.

Aitutaki mayor John Baxter said while the water tanks are a good idea, the distribution has to be re-looked at as “every single household got affected”.

He said there’s a general feeling families who are getting brand new homes for free are also receiving free water tanks. “What about the other homes that need water tanks? I feel with water tanks every household that needs one should get one, not just category four homes.”

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

Maxwell, Katrina, Nane Oaariki, Ngatu Oti, Nane Williams, Pokotea, and Charley stand near Marae Rangi Manuka where Uke, the father of Akatokamanava (Mauke), once had a house. 11021608

On a quick tour of some Mauke marae they hope to see restored, Mama Nane Oaariki shared stories of old.

Marae Maina i te Ata (shadow of a maiden) belonged to Kupa Toa, a chief, warrior and korero.

One day Kainuku from Rarotonga decided to challenge Kupa for best korero.

Basically, they would have a speech contest covering history, land and genealogy.

Kupa had a premonition of Kainuku’s plans so dug a big hole at his marae. The hole was then covered to look like the ground around it and as Kainuku was coming into Mauke, Kupa had a feast prepared, with Kainuku’s eating place set right above the booby trap.

When Kainuku sat to eat he fell head down, legs waving and bottom bared for all to see. At that Kupa chanted this cheeky pe’e:

E Kuriri te manu e rere ana

Ki ruanui o Avaiki

Noou teia

Omai noku te ure

Noou te ika.

The Kuriri bird flies to the big hole of Avaiki,

This is yours, give me your male genitals and you can have female genitals.

Such an insulting prank could have caused an outbreak of battle, but instead Kainuku admitted defeat and gave one of his wives to Kupa Toa.

Marae Arangirea belonged to a warrior named Paea.

Apparently his grave site gives an indication of how very tall Paea was. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to find the grave now overgrown.

According to legend Paea would rest under a big i’i tree near the fork of two roads during the day and watch the maidens passing along each road.

He would entice one to sleep with him and later would boast of his exploits to the other men. The girls didn’t like this and so went to see a Taunga who told them to shame Paea by chanting this pee to him:

To roa, to roa

To nui, to nui

To teitei ki runga

“Eaa koe i tua ei i toku kopapa

mei te raurau manga i toku ika?”

So tall, so big, so high up.

“Why did you describe my body like a basket of food?”

Apparently this insult shamed him enough to deter his habit.

Marae Rangi Manuka is where the infamous explorer, navigator and warrior Uke built a house.

Uke is known as the father of Akatokamanava and the reason this island became known as Mauke.

• June Hosking

Albert ‘Morrie’ Morrison holds a reel of film in Empire Theatre’s projection room. 11021404

Among Pacific theatre owners and sound technicians, Aucklander Albert ‘Morrie’ Morrison is something of a legend.

Morrie, 82, has been in the cinema business for over 60 years. As a young man he started out as an apprentice to an electrician but soon found he was more interested in sound systems.

A job at New Zealand cinema chain Kerridge Odeon Corporation opened up, and Morrie applied. He became the company’s engineer, installing and maintaining sound systems and projectors for Kerridge Odeon’s 130 screens around the country.

Morrie spent his career travelling – to the far rural reaches of the New Zealand countryside and to picture theatres in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Rarotonga, to check and tune sound systems and projectors.

Fiji theatres have since acquired their own technicians and the two screens he serviced in Tonga burned in riots, but Morrie still travels frequently to Samoa and annually to Rarotonga.

He insists he’s ‘semi-retired’ and ‘just picks up the odd (job)’, but he’s still highly sought-after among theatre owners across New Zealand and the Pacific.

“He’s the best man you can get in the South Pacific,” Empire Theatre owner Harry Napa said of Morrie. “There’s nobody on the island that can fix the Dolby digital sound system – he knows his job. We bring him in once a year just to upgrade everything – with these modern sound systems you’ve got to be very, very careful, so we bring him in.”

CINews caught up with Morrie in his element – in the stuffy projection room at Empire Theatre, a crowded crow’s nest packed with film reels as big as tyres and whirring machines.

Morrie explained that tuning and repairing 35mm film projectors is a ‘dying art’, as slowly cinemas start replacing their equipment with digital machinery.

Eventually, he said, theatres will play movies from a hard drive, but until then most of the world – including the Pacific – continues to rely on 35mm film. In New Zealand, for example, only 40 of over 200 theatres are digital.

While digital will be ‘a whole new ball game’, Morrie said, he’s sticking to what he knows best – 35mm films that use 24 frames a second and 90 feet of reel a minute.

But even though movies are Morrie’s passion, he’s not much of a movie buff.

“I seldom see a movie right through,” he said. “I feel compelled to come up and make some minor adjustments, and then I go back.”

He hesitated to name a favourite movie, but said that he admired the sound and presentation of Michael Jackson tribute film ‘This Is It’, which he saw at Empire Theatre twice.

“But the interesting part for me isn’t so much the movie,” Morrie insisted. He’s more interested in the mechanics of showing a movie, and the secrets known only to those working behind the scenes – for instance, that the screen is actually full of holes (to let the sound filter through) and that a two-hour film uses two miles of reel, among others.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

SHOUTcast Radio, an online radio directory, lists local station Matariki FM among its top ‘island internet radio stations’.

Nullsoft, Inc. – a subsidiary of AOL Inc. – provides the free service, which broadcasts over 38,000 radio stations worldwide. Users can download a radio player and click on a radio station to hear its broadcasts.

Joining Matariki FM on the list of top ‘island internet radio stations’ are stations from Paris, the Philippines, Florida and Indonesia, among others.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

These English and Maori pamphlets are both available at the Ministry of Education main office. 11021029

The Ministry of Education has released new educational pamphlets in both Maori and English to aid parents in making the right decisions for their child.

Each pamphlet acts as a guideline for parents teaching them how to ensure their child benefits from their education and knows how to plan for their future.

According to Anna Savage of the Ministry of Education, the purpose of the pamphlets is to provide a helpful take home tool for parents and caregivers.

Savage, who ran parenting workshops last November, found the English pamphlets to be a helpful resource.

“Having seen how helpful they are for prompting discussion, it seemed a logical step to have them available in Maori too.

“Cook Islands Maori is the home language of many of the parents and mamas who come to the workshops, so it makes sense to give people a choice.”

Savage will be running a series of workshops this year using both versions of the educational resource.

“Although I can only speak a little Cook Islands Maori, these pamphlets will do the talking for me! It’s going to be satisfying to give people a choice.”

Parents or care givers wanting the pamphlets can pick them up from the Ministry of Education main office.

Photos illustrating the colour leaflets were provided by Cook Islands News.

Today February 21 is International Mother Language Day, and a special message in Maori is published today on page 5.

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1999 to promote all the languages of the world. It represents an effective mobilisation opportunity for linguistic diversity and multilingualism.

- Peka Fisher

Albert Henry:

Me utuutu meitakiia te peu tupuna (e te reo) i tona akamataanga;

Ka tu to tatou upoko ki runga e ka ngakau parau tatou

I te akaariari aereanga i to tatou tu tikai.

Ina ra, mei te mea e, kia vaio ua ia kia aere ponuiaau ua,

Ka apai mai te reira i te tumu rangi o te akama ki runga ia tatou.

A police officer was assaulted on Friday night during a routine drink driving blitz.

Officers were stationed outside the Beachcomber complex in Taputapuatea when they stopped a male motorcyclist.

Because the man smelled of alcohol and appeared unsteady on his feet police officers decided to conduct an evidential breath test.

While in the process of getting the man into the police truck, the man retaliated by assaulting the constable at the scene.

Two other officers assisted the constable and arrested the offender placing him in the police cells until his court appearance this week.

In total, police attended five motor vehicle accidents over the weekend that were caused by speed, careless driving and alcohol.

Two disqualified drivers were caught driving and four men had the keys to their vehicles confiscated for being under the influence of alcohol while driving.

A man is in Rarotonga Hospital recovering after sustaining serious facial injuries when his motorbike crashed in Turangi.

Police believe the crash was caused by a puncture.

At the Avatiu roundabout a car and motorbike collided when the driver of the car failed to stop for the bike at the roundabout.

Both parties were lucky to escape with just minor injuries.

An 82-year-old motorist was treated for shock after he collided with another car on the main road in Tikioki.

A 25-year-old man was forbidden to drive for 12 hours.

A man backed into a parked car at Oasis and left the scene.

A 42-year-old Tupapa resident was arrested and charged with excess breath alcohol after crashing into the back of a car on the Nikao back road and not stopping.

Tereora College was burgled last week when thieves broke into the Princess Anne Hall, library, some classrooms and the principal’s office.

A house in Aroa was also burgled but the complainant is unsure what was taken.

Police are investigating the theft of a woman’s handbag from her car in Tikioki, a bag containing a wallet and passport taken from the Rehab bar and taro leaves stolen in the night.

Police are also looking for a blue Yamaha Spark motorbike taken from the Avatiu Clubhouse.

• Police

Aitutaki’s bonefish lived up to its elusive reputation on Saturday, when only one was hooked during a six-hour catch and release fishing competition held in the island’s lagoon.

The Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) organised the competition as part of its awareness programme for the newly-adopted bonefish management scheme – aimed at preserving the species.

Four small boats – including the ministry’s new $30,000 compliance and surveillance boat – were used for the event, participants of which were mainly local children and teenagers.

MMR secretary Ben Ponia said it is important to encourage the community – particularly younger generations – to catch and release bonefish on fly rods, as opposed to gill netting.

“The competition was more of a community outreach programme, it wasn’t so much about catching the bonefish. It could well be an annual competition, but this was just the tail end of our public awareness-raising – in particular for the children,” he said.

Pastor Noo Mataiti blessed the ministry’s new boat during a traditional ceremony held at the Tautu Wharf prior to Saturday’s competition, by cracking a coconut on its bow and sprinkling the juice over the vessel.

At 7am anglers, guides, and judges – including keen angler and bonefish ambassador John Hall – departed the wharf in search of the cunning bonefish.

About 20 tried their luck at hooking and landing the silver bottom-feeder, using a variety of traditional and modern methods.

Fresh eke tentacles and hermit crab tails were used to make bait for casting rods and hand lines, while the remaining crab was crushed and mixed into wet sand as berley.

Local angling guide Itu Davey demonstrated an old local method of setting fish traps using coral anchors, rope, and wooden poles – as he had been taught by elders – but his efforts too, proved fruitless.

After four hours without so much as sight of a bonefish, competition judge and master angler John Hall was left on a sandbar to stalk the fish using his fly rod.

Shortly after, he hooked and landed a five-pound beauty, which was released back into the lagoon following a hasty photo shoot.

Despite Hall’s catch, the competition’s first prize of a new fishing rod was won by local 11-year-old Tupuna Mata for his 1.8kg trevally.

A programme wrap-up party and prizegiving at Aitutaki’s fishing club on Saturday night was attended by about 40 people, including the island’s newly-elected mayor John Baxter.

Others involved in the ministry’s bonefish management scheme, island council representatives, and local community members also attended.

MMR staff presented some existing and hopeful fishing guides with boat master and Red Cross certificates, after which a kaikai was enjoyed by all.

The ministry’s bonefish regulations – formally adopted in October – will begin to be enforced in April.

Until then a grace period continues for those not already aware of the new regulations and restricted fishing areas.

• Rosie Manins

Angler John Hall takes hold of his five-pound bonefish, caught on a fly rod in the Aitutaki lagoon on Saturday, and released it after it was weighed and photographed. 11022019

The results have been finalised and winners of the two week water and sanitation project competition have been found.

Over the past two weeks, the European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project in partnership with the Muri Environment Care group and Government have been running a poem, poster and essay competition for all schools within Takitumu.

The purpose of this activity was to promote awareness and education among children based around the theme of “water and sanitation” within Muri.

The response from all schools and students that participated was overwhelming which made it very difficult for the panel of judges to mark at the weekend.

The standard of work produced by students was very high and there was even a second equal for the essay category proving just how hard the marking process really was.

The cash prizes will be distributed to all winners from participating schools in Takitumu today.

The Muri Environment Care Group would like to thank Teina Rongo for his assistance and extend a huge appreciation to all schools and students who took part in this competition.

The environment group hopes that students were able to gain more knowledge on water and sanitation and they would like to acknowledge donors, the European Union and government for the support in making this competition possible and more importantly, a huge success.

The competition results – Poem Category-1st Paeroa Denny of Takitumu School, 2nd Hannah Hosea of Papaaroa School, 3rd Inano of Papaaroa School, Poster Category-1st Taylor Sutherland, Yr 6, Te Uki Ou School, 2nd Erenn Beniamina, Grade 6, Takitumu School, 3rd Mathew Brown, Papaaroa School, Essay Category-1st Teherenui Koteka, Form 2, Titikaveka College, 2nd equal Charles Wicks, Form 2, Te Uki Ou, Rochelle Mareta of Imanuela Akatemia, 3rd Dominique Arthur of Titikaveka College.

The overall winner who receives the special award and an additional cash prize of $100 goes to Teherenui Koteka who placed 1st in the essay category.

• Matariki Wilson

New Avatea prefect Richard Unuka with his mum and Avatea teacher Maine Tereia. 11021855

Maea Richmond with her proud family. 11021857

The Avatea Primary School community celebrated the induction of 27 new school prefects and leaders.

Proud parents and family members gathered at the Avatea School hall for the special occasion which included performances by the various classes at the school.

Miriama Teava was named head girl of Avatea School and Paiere Tangata was made head boy.

Teava will be assisted by deputy head girl Memory Manuela while Tangata has Terekino Vaireka as deputy head boy.

The remaining prefects are (girls) Brienna Solomon, Kayleena Kermode, Mikayla Puiri, Lahaina Syme, Ngapoko Bartrum, Memory Taripo, Maea Richmond, Hoani Gibson, Madancima Makara, Brienna Mouauri, Chelcey Tamangaro, (boys) Ioane Ioane, Noovao Raita, Richard Parima, Jeremiah Porio, Peter Pureau, Paul Pureau, Richard Unuka, Mataroa Maui, Genesis Little, Peter Kureta and Bronson Warwick.

The prefects will stand out as leaders of the school in their special pareu uniforms and will be available to help teachers and students alike throughout the year.

• Matariki Wilson

Takitumu Primary School male prefects (from left) Farearii Taripo, Aporo Taruia, Warren Ngamata and Badila Moetaua are all smiles after their induction. 11021842

With eight new prefects inducted – Takitumu Primary School in Matavera looks forward to a bright year ahead.

The school community gathered on Friday to witness the induction of the school’s prefects.

The prefects main responsibility is to assist teachers and through this the students will gain invaluable leadership skills.

The eight new Takitumu School prefects are Farearii Taripo, Aporo Taruia, Badila Moetaua, Warren Ngamata, Latacia Taringa, Corrine Te-Atai Ariki, Erenn Maui Beniamina and Mariana Opuariki.

• Matariki Wilson

Veteran Arorangi Bears player Pare Rongokea sucks it up after showing the young fellahs in the reserve grade how to score a try. 11022030

Tave Tereapii looks to create play for Tupapa. 11022022

Sharks 26 vs Warriors 26 Eels 34 vs Bulldogs 4 Panthers 19 vs Bears 10

As predicted the match between Tupapa Panthers and Arorangi Bears was a tough and intense affair at Raemaru Park on Saturday.

In the end the visiting Panthers nailed the Bears 19-10 but it was the Bears that started with a hiss and a roar and looked the better team early on.

Penalties were exchanged in the early stages of the game with Bears kicker David Wichman and his Panthers counterpart Turori Matutu showing their prowess kicking two points each for their team.

The Bears then went into attack mode but with two tries disallowed the team were feeling the heat though they still had control of the ball.

A high bomb by the Bears’ Meti Nooroa was collected by Norman Heather and Robert Heather with Norman sneaking past a Panthers defender to score for the Bears and take the lead 6-2.

Another Bears try was disallowed and the Panthers butchered a golden try scoring opportunity before the break to trail 2-6 heading into the second half.

And whatever the Tupapa coach grilled into his players worked as the Panthers returned in the second spell with renewed energy.

The squad camped in the Bears territory for the first 20 minutes of the second half, plugging away until Allan Tuara led a charge for the line slipping in under the Bears defenders and across the white line to score the Panthers first try between the sticks.

The easy conversion for Turori Matutu put the Panthers ahead of the Bears 8-6.

And as the clock wound down the atmosphere at Raemaru Park became increasingly more intense – especially in the Arorangi camp.

The tension was replaced with cheers when the Bears quickly gained yardage spreading the ball from left to right and into the hands of hardworking Steven Willis who made sure he got across the line to put the Bears back into the lead by a narrow two points (10-8).

With 20 minutes left on the clock, fatigue set in for players on both sides but the Panthers’ old work horse Turori Matutu put all he had into charging straight through the guts of the Bears defence and to his surprise he emerged on the other side of the defence line and across the chalk to edge the Panthers ahead 14-10.

In the late stage of the game physiotherapists were on the field more as they dealt with cramped up players.

All games this year are played under the international rules of only four substitutes on the bench and 12 subs during a game – and this was taking a toll on the players.

The Panthers were uneasy with their narrow lead and fought for a final try which came via the team’s young gun Vou who slid into the corner to send the Panthers supporters wild.

His unconverted try gave the team a more comfortable 18-10 lead over the Panthers before veteran Matutu booted a drop kick between the posts to give the Panthers one more point to win the game 19-10.

Standout players in the game were the Bears’ Norman Heather and Robert Heather while Tave Tereapii and Lua Tua were workhorses for Tupapa.

• Matariki Wilson

Priscilla Maruariki, 32, likes the energy and drive in the new government. 11022126

New Acting Finsec faces basic challenge of balancing budgets

Government’s fixed costs are continuing to increase while revenues have levelled off, confirms acting financial secretary Priscilla Maruariki.

Maruariki says the challenge is meeting those ongoing fixed costs with a reduced income base. The fixed costs include the public service salary bill.

Maruariki knows being financial secretary, even in an acting capacity, will be “no walk in the park.”

She also has to examine the proposal made by former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti to increase VAT and PAYE to create more revenue for government coffers.

“Government wants to look at options for growing the economic base and increasing operational income, which is basically tax.“I’ve been appointed at a time when the new government has priorities and initiatives they want to implement, but we have to balance that with the ability to pay for it.”

Finance Minister Mark Brown wants MFEM to implement zero based budgeting, meaning all ministries have to forget about what they each got last year in their budgets and start from zero, says Maruariki.

Her role will be to pull in the central agencies of MFEM, PSC and OPM to come up with providing cabinet with a balanced budget.

She also sees herself as a gatekeeper – “my job is to protect government resources, advise on financial requests and advise the (Finance) minister.”

Maruariki will be signing off on the supplementary budget as well as the 2011-12 national budget.

Ahead of 32-year old Maruariki will be signing off the multi-million dollar Ports Authority loan for the complete overhaul of Avatiu harbour. “I’ll need legal advice and I want details from Ports Authority on what their income generating operations are to pay for this loan because if they default, government has to pay for it as government has guaranteed it.” Maruariki says she is insisting on accurate information as government’s financial gatekeeper and having to put her name to the loan document.

“I want to do my best to make government look good, they’ve been elected to deliver on promises and I want to see how they can achieve that.”

Maruariki says she likes the sense of a new energy and drive existing in the new government.

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

Senior public service leaders from around the region are holding a three-day forum here to identify how the performance of Pacific island governments can be improved.

It has been organised and funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Chairman Max Everest-Phillips says the meeting at the Edgewater Resort isn’t open to the public – to enable frank discussions amongst the top regional officials.

Everest-Phillips is the director of the governance and institutional development division of the secretariat.

Discussions between about 20 public service permanent secretaries and cabinet secretaries will focus on strengthening democratic institutions and improving procurement, says Everest-Phillips.

He explains improving procurement will involve looking at the way governments buy services and goods they need, how to improve on competitiveness and getting value for money. He says this is a “complicated issue for small island states which requires coordination”.

It again brings to the fore the decades old issue of bulk buying by Pacific island countries which the Commonwealth is spearheading with the World Bank and major donors in the region with the aim of formalising proposals.

Cabinet secretaries and public service secretaries are regarded as the top government officials who are responsible for providing “clear leadership and technical skills” to guide governments.

Everest-Phillips says these posts are incredibly demanding and difficult jobs which also have a role in dispelling the confusion and often suspicion that people have for what ministers and officials are doing. Presentations will be made throughout the forum by a number of regional experts.

The forum, the second to be held in the Pacific, is expected to complete a joint statement on ‘strategies going forward’ on Thursday before it officially closes.

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

The Ministry of Justice is hosting a three-day BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) Electoral Management Design workshop, which opens today.

A Cook Islands delegation – which consists of Michelle Aisake, Enua Pakitoa, Tinirau Tupa, Vero Papatua and Iti Takaiti – will join representatives from Tuvalu, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, to discuss election management and administration under the guidance of Erik Scholte and Peita Mamo of the Australian Electoral Commission.

The group will spend three days analysing election management bodies, their roles and functions, and the organisation, financing and management of election administration.

The International IDEA Electoral Management Design handbook (2006) says the BRIDGE programme allows representatives to gather and share “global field experiences in electoral administration” and presents “best-practice solutions in a non-prescriptive and user-friendly way”.

It also highlights “examples of practices which have proved to be successful and of those that have been less successful”.

The module encourages “basic characteristics sought in good electoral processesfreedom, fairness, equity, integrity, voting secrecy, transparency, effectiveness, sustainability, service-mindedness, efficiency, impartiality and accountability”.

The five BRIDGE partners are the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD) – all are committed to promoting good electoral processes worldwide.

The workshop is being held at Edgewater Resort’s Spaghetti House.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

An appeal will be held this Thursday to raise funds for Australians including Cook Islanders living in Australia that suffered loss after the recent floods followed by cyclone Yasi.

The Aussie appeal will start with a six-hour radiothon hosted by Ben Mose and George Paniani on Radio Cook Islands from 12pm.

People can call the radio station on 20100 or 20101 to make a pledge or donation to the cause.

At 5pm food sales will begin outside the National Auditorium which will also be the venue for the night’s concert.

The concert will feature the Raro Idol contestants, Rarotonga’s top entertainers, top dance groups and more. A $5 donation is the entry fee into the auditorium for the concert.

Already the Aussie appeal committee has received $10,000 from the Cook Islands government and government departments have been asked to also make donations towards the appeal.

Organisations that received AusAID are especially encouraged to play an active role in the day’s fundraising events.

Anyone or groups wanting to be part of this fundraising effort are asked to be at the national auditorium on Wednesday for rehearsals between 10am and 6pm.

For more information on how you can be part of this event, contact Dianne Collier or Joe Rae on 20725.

• Matariki Wilson

Members of The Girl Guides Association Cook Islands, which will today celebrate World Thinking Day with a variety of activities at the Ngatangiia Cook Islands Christian Church complex. 11022121

World Thinking Day is being celebrated tonight by members of the Girl Guides Association Cook Islands, at the Ngatangiia Cook Islands Christian Church complex.

Association national commissioner Ngara Katuke says guides throughout the Cook Islands will this year collect money for the organisation’s international fund, as well as food to be given to the local Catholic church.

World Thinking Day is celebrated each February 22 by girl guides and scouts throughout the world.

It was first established in 1926 and marks the mutual birthday of international girl guides founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave, who served as world chief guide.

Katuke says the Ngatangiia guide company is hosting this year’s activities, which will begin from 5.30pm.

The international theme for World Thinking Day 2011 is from the United Nations millennium development goal to promote gender equality and empower women.

“The girl guides have their own saying – empowering girls will change our world,” Katuke said.

All existing and previous guides, association members, and leaders are invited to attend the celebrations.

Each guide company in Rarotonga has been asked to prepare an activity which they think best celebrates World Thinking Day.

• Rosie Manins

A group of concerned Ngatangiia parents has banded together to form ‘Parents for Youth’, which aims to fight crime by teaching kids to respect family values.

Spokesperson Sisi Short said that the group will begin its campaign by conducting three separate surveys – for students over 12 years old, students out of school and parents.

“The survey will then give us a foresight of how we can plan ahead,” she said.

But, she said, the emphasis of the education and awareness programmes will be on ‘getting back to the basics’ and endorsing family values.

“We all agreed that we need to get back to the basics of teaching within our families,” she said. “Being civil, good manners, being polite and having the love in the family and in the community is the base of going forward.”

The survey will be anonymous and distributed through schools, and will pose questions about the way that both youth and their parents perceive family values. The answers will give ‘Parents for Youth’ an idea of where to start and insight into how to tackle the problem of crime.

The group held a meeting last night and plans to call successive meetings in coming weeks.

“I think if we would like to see any changes with the behaviour of our youth and even of ourselves, this will be the time to start,” Sisi said.

For more information, ring Sisi at 22254 or Shona Lynch on 55271.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

Enuamanu School head prefect Ngere Junior Tariu stands proudly between his aunty Terangi Mokoroa and grandmother Mrs Mokoroa. Mrs Terangi Mokoroa has recently joined the staff at Enuamanu as senior maths teacher. 11022107

Enuamanu School on Atiu held a special ceremony for the induction of 10 new prefects for the school.

The prefects are Ngatapuna Tanga, Anthony Vainerere (deputy head boy), Teokotai Pianui, Joshua Jim, Ngere Junior Tariu (head boy), Regina Maaka, Tuainekore Rau, Villiama George (deputy head girl), Metua Kimiora Amiri and Kuraiti Rasmussen (head girl).

Guests and the head prefects of the school spoke about the attributes of good leadership and goal setting for the future.

• Matariki Wilson

11022119

Admiring the Ministry of Marine Resources’ new poster promoting Aitutaki lagoon bonefish angling are (from left) MMR inshore and aquaculture director Kori Raumea, bonefish project officer Rebekah Daniel, and marine minister executive advisor George Turia.

The poster was unveiled at Rarotonga’s airport yesterday afternoon. It will be seen by international visitors as they go through the baggage claim and customs declaration area of the airport.

The bonefishery promotion was designed by NZ brand agency Woods Creative Ltd.

MMR developed a bonefish management scheme for Aitutaki and Manuae to preserve the species. A similar sign was unveiled at Aitutaki’s airport earlier this month. The scheme and associated regulations were formally adopted in October and will begin to be enforced in April.

It is estimated visiting anglers and their families will generate an additional $2.35 million to the Aitutaki economy each year.

Turia says marine minister Teina Bishop will use his positions as tourism minister and member of parliament for Aitutaki to ensure the bonefish scheme is a success. “This is the start but the initiative doesn’t stop here,” he said.

Raumea says bonefish angling in the Aitutaki lagoon is the country’s best kept secret, and he hopes other organisations such as the Business Trade Investment Board will work in partnership with the ministry to develop it as a lucrative industry.

• Rosie Manins

The Rescue Fire team make last minute checks in the manual about dealing with the hazardous situation. 11021859

The Rescue Fire Service was called on recently to remove a toxic substance from the USP Science Laboratory which was later identified at bromine.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) project coordinator Maureen Hilyard  and technical expert Bruce Graham were involved in listing an inventory of unwanted stock from the USP laboratory.

They found a quantity of toxic liquid bromine in a container that was in very poor condition.

Firemen arrived suitably kitted out in protective clothing to remove the hazardous substance from the laboratory.

After padding a suitable container with sand, the bottle of bromine was carefully placed inside, and removed from the USP premises.

It will be disposed of in the appropriate manner according to an emergency management manual for this and other dangerous chemicals.

Survivors of serious poisoning caused by inhaling bromine may have long term lung problems or systemic poisoning (kidney or brain damage).

Bromine is found naturally in the earth’s crust and in seawater in various chemical forms. Products containing bromine are used in agriculture and sanitation and as fire retardants. Bromine is used in universities to study industrial chemistry. It is related to poly-brominated biphenyls which are POPs.

• Matariki Wilson/POPs

With Christchurch-based Cook Islanders so widely scattered and communications down, it’s been difficult to assess how the Cook Islands community has fared following the devastation that’s been inflicted on the city and outlying areas.

Cook Islander Stephanie Oberg who lives in Linwood could only speak to CINews for about five minutes before saying her cell phone was running low on battery and she needed to conserve it in case of further emergencies.

Oberg said at this time they were coping as well as they could. They had only just begun to come to terms with the September 2010 earthquake that caused widespread damage to Christchurch and were still recovering from that trauma.

“Everyone is hanging together as well as we can,” Oberg said.

She didn’t have the energy to go into detail about the terrifying experience or relate how much property damage her own home had suffered. “My house is in a terrible state, the roof is crumbling... I just don’t feel like talking right now.”

She said no one really knows how the Cook Islands community is doing. “Communications are down, there’s no free movement in the city and some areas are completely cordoned off.”

People, not just Cook Islanders, said Oberg, were waiting for word of loved ones – “there’s this family who are waiting to hear about their mum who was walking home from work.”

Oberg had only heard from some Cook Islanders that she’d been able to contact, but there were many others who couldn’t be reached.

“The Tearikis from down the road, we’ve been in touch with them... their house is in a mess and they’re sleeping in their car because it’s too dodgy to be in the house. Cousins have had to move to a friend’s place around the corner but I’m not sure where they are... an aunty and uncle have moved in with a niece because they don’t have power or water.”

With power down throughout most of Christchurch, people were unable to access ATMs to withdraw cash to purchase petrol, emergency supplies and food.

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

Rescue Fire workers putting out the fire at the Turangi recycling yard yesterday. 11022216

The Rescue Fire Service received a call just after 3pm yesterday to a raging fire at the recycling yard on the Turangi back road.

A truck rushed to the scene of the rubbish fire, where flames were leaping ‘halfway up the power pole’, according to the firefighting team.

Rescue Fire was able to get the fire under control and advised all onlookers to keep their distance, as the incineration of whiteware and computer parts was giving off ‘very toxic’ fumes.

One truck ran out of its water supply and rushed to the Matavera hydrant to rehydrate.

Some of the Rescue Fire team said it appeared as if other parts of the recycling yard had been burned in previous days.

They added that at this stage, they cannot comment on whether the fire was deliberate or accidental. At press time, the team was still monitoring the fire and had not reported back to fire chief Nga Jessie, who will decide whether or not to investigate the circumstances of the fire.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

The Opposition Democratic Party is urging cabinet to be careful if it intends proceeding with a proposal driven by private individuals to establish a marine reserve in the Cook Islands EEZ.

While conceding that it was during the Demo tenure as government that cabinet approval in principle was given to establish a Cook Islands Marine Park (CIMP), opposition leader Robert Wigmore says that approval hinged on several conditions being met.

Among those conditions was for wider consultations to take place and greater involvement by the National Environment Service and Ministry of Marine Resources.

Wigmore says they also wanted more guidance on all legal implications.

According to Wigmore, the then cabinet wasn’t comfortable with how a Cook Islands Marine Park Charitable Trust would be set up to source and manage funding for the marine park. Wigmore says without any detail on annual financial reporting or management of finances through proper MFEM procedures, there were too many gaps for comfort.

Wigmore also says they weren’t satisfied with the proposed members of the trust.

CINews understands the trust would seek funding from international non-government environmental organisations and manage these funds that would be deposited in an account separate to public accounts.

The 2010 proposal stated the trust “will develop a strategy dedicated to attracting donors to have sponsorship rights of selected areas of the CIMP”. These areas were to be defined by a survey and provided to government as a record of sponsorship. Terms of sponsorship would be determined by and subject to the CIMP management plan. Whether a management plan was attached to the cabinet submission could not be confirmed.

The proposal further stated that establishing a marine park would serve as a means to protect part of Cook Islands waters, but also be a way of attracting funding environmental protection projects and programmes. It was also promoted as a potential tool to market the country.

It was envisaged the marine park would cover an area 15 degrees longitude and encompass the entire southern group. Fishing, seabed mining and “so forth” wouldn’t be totally banned but would have to be conducted in a sustainable manner.

Cabinet submissions are normally drafted by specific ministries. It could not be confirmed which ministry drafted the cabinet submission presented in March 2010.

Head of Marine Resources Ben Ponia and Environment Services secretary Toti Tupa, both relevant ministries to the marine park proposal, confirmed they had no involvement. Tupa says he had not seen that particular proposal and was astonished that it was apparently signed by Jim Marurai who was named as environment minister. Marurai was not environment minister at the time.

“At the moment there aren’t clear policy guidelines as to what a ‘marine reserve’ concept might look like, mostly it is being driven by individuals,” says Ponia. He could not be sure what benefits, economic or otherwise, would be derived until it could be figured out what the marine park entailed. The Cook Islands marine park concept is said to be based on the Kiribati model.

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

Fishing guide Itu Davey (right) with a client on the Aitutaki lagoon. 11012136

Fees may be imposed on commercial users of Aitutaki’s lagoon, in line with new regulations requiring bonefish anglers to pay permit and licence fees.

The Ministry of Marine Resources’ new management scheme for bonefish in Aitutaki and Manuae has resulted in compulsory permits for anyone wanting to catch and release bonefish in the lagoon.

Guides, who take anglers inside the lagoon’s restricted fishing waters, are also subject to fees.

All money generated by the fees will be used by Aitutaki’s island council for community projects.

It is estimated the council will receive $50,000 annually as a direct result of anglers paying through the bonefish scheme.

That figure is based on 1000 anglers visiting Aitutaki each year.

Newly-elected Aitutaki mayor John Baxter says to be fair to those within the fishing industry, it is likely the council will consider imposing fees on other commercial users of the lagoon.

“Our attraction on the island is the lagoon, and we’ve got to look after it,” he said.

Baxter is also the chairman of the newly-established bonefish management committee, which will select guides for certification and ensure the scheme runs smoothly.

Other members of the committee include existing fishing guides, MMR staff, and island council members.

MMR’s compliance unit will police the regulations.

• Rosie Manins

Twenty-eight people turned up to hear Canadian professors Edwin Ralph and Keith Walker and Victoria University’s Dr Kabini Sanga speak at USP on Monday night.

Dr Ralph is a lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan and together with Dr Walker is doing research to prove that the ‘adaptive mentorship’ model is effective in helping both a mentor and his or her protg to develop.

Dr Ralph geared his talk toward teachers, educators, parents and church ministers – leaders of Pacific communities – and emphasised the ‘AM model’, which suggests that a mentor should adapt his or her support to a protg’s confidence and competence levels. In other words, a mentor should synchronise his or her response and style to a protg’s developmental level.

The model, the lecturers said, can apply to any educational or training context.

Attendees on Monday learned about the mentorship model – what it is, how to implement it and assess its effectiveness.

At the public seminar, the lecturers gave real-life and fictional examples of mentors giving advice and asked participants to evaluate the effectiveness of each scenario.

• Rachel ReevesRachel Reeves

Cook Islands business owners and operators are set to benefit from wider exposure and shared knowledge through a partnership with the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

The New Zealand-based independent trust was established in 2002 to increase cooperation and understanding among people of the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

Its acting chief executive and senior programme manager Chris Cocker is hosting a seminar in Rarotonga on Thursday at the New Hope Centre conference room in Parekura.

All those involved or interested in local business and product branding are invited to attend the free seminar, which will cover topics such as product marketing, distribution, and export.

Cocker – based in Auckland – will be the guest speaker.

He has a background in marketing and communications, and most recently was the trade commissioner for the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission in Auckland.

Cocker will talk about how Cook Islands products can be linked with the PCF’s Pacific brand, which is recognised globally.

BTIB is facilitating the seminar, and will establish a relationship with the foundation during Cocker’s visit.

Trade and marketing manager Danny Williams says the two organisations will develop a memorandum of understanding, which is a mutually beneficial agreement.

“It’s a joint relationship so we can help each other out with initiatives and help drive each others’ goals and strategies.”

Williams says local business owners and operators will benefit from shared knowledge with the foundation, particularly about getting products ready for export.

“All that’s quite valuable, especially for local providers because many need help getting to export stage. They’re smaller in nature typically, and don’t have good quality control processes.”

Cocker and other visiting PCF staff will hold meetings with a few local businesses already identified as potential Pacific brand partners.

Meetings between PCF and key community leaders have also been confirmed, with others pending.

Carl Hunter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Anthony Brown from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Steve Anderson from the Chamber of Commerce are among those confirmed to meet one-on-one with Cocker.

The seminar starts at 5.30pm and is expected to finish at 7.30pm.

• Rosie Manins

A turou kicked off celebrations for International Mother Language Day at Te Uki Ou school yesterday. 11022202

International Mother Language Day was belatedly celebrated in schools throughout the Cook Islands yesterday, due to a Ministry of Education blunder.

The ministry informed schools the international event was to be held on February 22, and plans were made before the error was recognised.

February 21 is the proper date for International Mother Language Day.

Despite the mistake pupils, teachers, staff, and guests enjoyed immersing themselves in the Maori language during a range of activities.

Ministry of Education school support chief executive Ina Herrmann says the timing of celebrations is not important.

“It doesn’t really matter. We went back to the schools about the date, but many decided to stick with their activities planned for Tuesday.”

Herrmann says most schools celebrated with similar activities, including assemblies and performances.

“It’s just in addition to what’s already happening in schools,” she said.

Te Uki Ou school pupils performed a traditional turou as part of their celebrations, formally welcoming acting principal Kathy Nooroa in the process.

Nooroa, who is the founding principal of the school, has stepped back into the role until a permanent appointment is made.

She and others – including two global volunteers and a representative from the Ministry of Education – walked through a singing mass of children during the ceremony.

Maori language teacher Ana Makara organised the celebrations, which included a school assembly conducted entirely in te reo Maori.

She said it was the first time the international day had been celebrated at the school on such a scale.

Traditional Maori songs were performed, as well as the national anthem and school song, and pupils were divided into their four school houses to participate in other activities.

A local version of pass the parcel – tukituki teniteni – involved a coconut being passed around pupils, who had to dance if left with the fruit.

Traditional kikau weaving and drumming were also part of the programme.

Pupils shared a lunch of local food and drinking nu while staff and guests enjoyed a traditional kaikai following the morning’s proceedings.

Other schools celebrating the day with total immersion Maori, as well as traditional dress, food, and songs, included Nikao Maori, Nukutere College, St Joseph’s, and Mangaia.

• Rosie Manins

Prefects Ruanoo Mose, Ake Mauke, Ona Benioni, Dorothy Carl and Tepaeru Toka. 11021872

Thirty Araura College students were recognised on Friday for their excellent qualities when they formally became prefects and student councillors.

In a moving ceremony at the college hall, about 300 students, parents and local dignitaries watched each student receive their badge and be laden with ei by friends and family.

Principal Enoa Raea says the college hasn’t had prefects since 2002 and this is the first time councillors have been ever been appointed.

Raea says all students were chosen for their leadership qualities, commitment to doing well and humility.

He says the prefects are chosen to assist teachers and councilors to give students a voice to express their views and concerns.

Mayor John Baxter sent the message to all students that as the future leaders of the island, school is where it all begins. He urged all to consider each day a new canvas in which they paint with the colours they choose, “but at the end of the day don’t wish that you painted it differently.”

As a former student of Araura College, Baxter said he had a vision, “I wanted to be prime minister...I’m getting there.

“Make sure your visions are big, that vision will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Araura College Student Councillors: Demi Monga, Elizabeth Paulo, Teariki Solomona, Plumber Nicholls, Kathleen Ngatokorua, Tiare Marama Tekeu, Terangi Upokomanu, Dean Tetuaiteroi, Ei Htoo Eain, Leonard Roa, Penelope Charlie, Bouillard Davis, Rebecca Ratu, Bouchard Solomona, Aererangi Pera (treasurer), Moana Riro, Maara Tauu, Rio Kavana, Tapita Toroma (secretary), Strickland Charlie (chairman)

Prefects: Ona Benioni, Alexander Blenkarn (head boy), Dorothy Carl (head girl), Tokoono Jessie (deputy head boy), Aketainga Mauke, Geohnas Ratu, Ruanoo Mose (deputy head girl), Tetevano Tikaka, Tepaeru Toka, George Toka

• Florence Syme-Buchanan

The Business House Golf Finals – to separate the top 24 teams from the bottom 24 – will be held this Thursday and Friday evening. At stake is an Air Rarotonga-sponsored major prize of a return trip to Aitutaki, as well as various dinner packages sponsored by Edgewater, and a variety of other prizes sponsored by local businesses and organizations.

In addition, the BHG committee will top up major prizes with cartons of chicken and a pig carcass, so teams can celebrate their efforts over a long 12 weeks of competition.

The aggregate round net winner over 11 weeks for this year goes to Team Fisherman, under the leadership of Robcop Arama Tera on a mighty 165.90 – winning themselves a return trip to Aitutaki. Runner-up Ziconie, led by Hardman Tere Taio, is eight shots behind with 173.51, and following closely is Te Nira Store – led by Fatboy Junior Manuela with 174.48.

The aggregate round gross winner over 11 weeks for this year goes to Air New Zealand, under the guidance of Prime Minister Henry Puna, on a mighty 279 – winning the team a dinner for six at Edgewater.

Runners-up Air Rarotonga – led by gold medalist Daniel Webb – is four shots behind on 283, followed closely by Edgewater, Island Air Express, Team PJs and Ziconie each on 291.

The most birdies goes to Air Rarotonga, which registered 51, and Air New Zealand on 50.

Air New Zealand also won the most eagles (six), for which the runners-up are Island Air and Team Kura each with five.

CITC Liquor Centre has thrown in extra prizes for the Thursday competition to add to the prizes for the longest drive for non-golfers – a miniature fridge and refreshments.

There will be entertainment and food galore on both Thursday and Friday night to cap 2011’s BHG tournament.

Watch this space for Thursday and Friday draws.

• Hole-In-One

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