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Youth agree to ‘choose life’
Cyber crime war goes into schools
Japan gives $140,000 to Te Kainga
Cuban envoy visits
2 men arrested
Airline tax ‘a national issue’
Forum is for and by youth
20th Pasifika celebrated
Crime on an upsurge
Social welfare changes proposed
Not the PM’s nephew
Public service commissioner appointed
Opposition alleges political favouritism
Tetava elected chairman of regional group
Government supports Women’s Day today
Avatiu seawall the best option
Funding available for civil society groups
Youth agree to ‘choose life’
Wed
14 Mar
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Over 100 young people from Rarotonga and the pa enua gathered yesterday to discuss the topical issue of suicide prevention.
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More than 140 young people from Rarotonga and her sister islands gathered in Vaimaanga yesterday to discuss suicide and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
Discussion centred on the challenges and stressors young people face daily, ways they might react or respond to that stress, and examples of support networks they might willingly turn to for help.
Forum organisers called the function a ‘resounding success’, noting that participating youth were enthusiastic about being a part of the solution.
Acting Prime Minister Tom Marsters opened the forum with a moving speech, in which he encouraged Cook Islands youth to choose life no matter the circumstances.
He urged them to move beyond the valleys of failure and disappointment so as to experience the joy and opportunity that life can offer.
“When you get to my age, you tend to be a bit wiser having gone through many life experiences – some positive, some negative, but always part of the rich tapestry on which one’s life is woven.
“I can guarantee that life is wonderful, life is exciting, and life is bringing rewards and opportunities you may never have dreamed of.
“Life is full of successes that often require that we first learn from our mistakes and failings. But you cannot experience these mistakes and failings and ultimately success if you do not ‘choose life’ – you must begin by choosing life,” he said.
Young people openly shared their perspectives on suicide during intensive discussions broken up by interactive games and art sessions.
“This forum was for young people and they definitely claimed it and made it their own space. Their wealth of knowledge, opinions and views have been heard and will be critical to making policy and programmes that support their wellness and their future,” steering committee chair Vania Kenning said.
Cyber crime war goes into schools
Wed
14 Mar
Pacific police chiefs took a pledge last year to make the rising tide of cybercrime a policing priority. As part of that commitment, senior sergeant Ngatamariki Pouao and information technology officer Aporo Kirikava recently travelled to Brisbane for a Cyber Safety Pasifika conference, administered and funded by the Australian Federal Police.
Pouao was chosen to attend, and to head the Cook Islands Police’s cybercrime education unit, based on the recommendation of two Australian police officers who visited the Cook Islands last year.
Back from the March 1 conference, Pouao and Kirikava are launching a media campaign, and speaking to schools and Rarotonga’s three vaka about what they learned and how it applies in a Cook Islands context.
Today they will visit Nikao Primary School, tomorrow Rutaki School, Friday Arorangi and next week Avatea. Visits to other schools are yet to be confirmed.
When they have finished spreading the word to Rarotonga’s students, the pair will arrange vaka meetings so as to educate their parents.
“Parents need to be aware of these things and monitor the use of the computer,” Pouao said. “We have to tell kids to be smart, be safe and have fun online, but also their parents have to be aware.”
The Cyber Safety Pasifika conference focused on preventing cybercrime, understanding new technologies, and navigating them safely.
Given that the Cook Islands’ internet usage has increased by over 50 percent in the past decade (according to InternetWorldStats), cybercrime is becoming an issue of relevance.
“Cyber crime is here – it has already started. We just have to be aware of it,” Pouao said.
He noted that cybercrime takes many different forms.
Sites like Facebook are ever increasing in popularity – approximately one in 13 people uses Facebook – and Pouao says their growth has led to a phenomenon termed ‘cyberbullying’, which is especially likely to affect young people.
Able to hide behind a screen, internet users might behave differently.
They experience a perceived lack of accountability and act out of character, posting messages or photos that might be inappropriate or malicious.
At the Cyber Safety Pasifika conference Pouao and his colleagues learned that some cyber footprints, or ‘digital shadows’, can never be erased or deleted. In light of that reality, Pouao encourages all internet users to ‘think before they post’.
“We must teach children that the social norms that guide a person in their daily life should still hold sway in their online interactions,” says the Cyber Safety Pasifika manual.
Other examples of cybercrime include child pornography, online ‘grooming’ or procuring of sex and malicious software (malware) distribution. (Malware is script or code designed to disrupt a person’s computer system, so that a scammer can illegally obtain his or her personal information or gain unauthorised access to his or her system.)
In terms of internet scams and viruses, Pouao stresses the following guidelines, which are listed in the Cyber Safety Pasifika manual:
Install and maintain anti-virus software
Use a firewall
Don’t open emails from people you don’t know and aren’t expecting
If an internet scheme sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Pause, think and ask
Know that banks will never contact you via email to confirm details
Pouao says police commissioner Maara Tetava is working with legal advisers to review cybercrime legislation, and to arrange another visit of the Australian Federal Police cybercrime unit later this year.
Japan gives $140,000 to Te Kainga
Tue
13 Mar
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Japanese envoy Kiyo Rokutanda.
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Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre is getting a new ‘respite centre’ building, thanks to funding from the Japanese government under its Grant Assistance for Human Security Projects (GGP) scheme.
A signing ceremony to mark the handover of a $140,775 grant will take place today at Te Kainga from 11am.
Second Secretary of the Japanese embassy in Wellington Kiyo Rokutanda will be present, on behalf of Japanese ambassador Hideto Mitamura.
Rokutanda has extended congratulations to Te Kainga for successfully securing GGP funding, and has acknowledged its “strong leadership and dedication” to the Cook Islands community.
Te Kainga’s project is the first to be administered under the GGP, which was introduced last September following the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Cook Islands in June.
Entitled ‘improvement of the mental health respite centre’, Te Kainga’s project proposal focuses on increasing the capacity of Te Kainga to meet the needs of mental health caregivers and people with mental health problems.
Thomas Ngauru of Te Kainga says a new nursing and inpatient facility at Panama will enable staff to accommodate a greater number of clients and to open the centre more frequently.
Acting Prime Minister Tom Masters extends his appreciation to the government of Japan for providing the means to assist targeted grassroots programmes that are driven by capable Cook Islanders.
Marsters noted that the Cook Islands had only recently established diplomatic relations with Japan – in mid-2011 – and is humbled to see that assistance is now flowing through to the Cook Islands where it is needed most, aligned to the country’s recently released National Sustainable Development Plan 2011-2015.
Rokutanda will meet with various government officials in the margins of the signing ceremony to discuss Japan’s development assistance programme in the Cook Islands. The government of Japan has for decades extended opportunities for training to Pacific countries, through SPREP and the Asian Development Bank.
The Japanese government recently encouraged Pacific countries to address environmental issues including climate change using allocations of up to US$4 million from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) fund, which focuses on solar power and seawater desalination projects.
The Cook Islands was the second country to receive PEC funding of up to US$1,025,200 for the Rakahanga photovoltaic mini-grid project last September. While in Rarotonga, Rokutanda will also be discussing with government officials preparations for the 6th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM6), which the Cook Islands is co-chairing with Japan in May. PALM6 will convene in Okinawa, and will focus on furthering relations between Japan and the Pacific islands.
The GGP provides assistance to non-government organisations, primary schools, hospitals, research institutes and other non-profit community initiatives – all that qualify are invited to submit project proposals to development@wl.mofa.go.jp
Cuban envoy visits
Tue
13 Mar
A Cuban diplomat arrives in the Cook Islands today.
Her Excellency Maria del Carmen Herrera Caserio, ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, will be visiting the Cook Islands from today until Friday.
The purpose of her visit is to present her credentials to the Cook Islands government. A ceremony is yet to be confirmed.
Diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and the Republic of Cuba were established in September 2002, making this year the tenth anniversary of the establishment of relations.
During the ambassador’s visit she will meet with the government to discuss matters of mutual interest in the fields of health, sports and education.
Ambassador Herrera Caserio is based in Wellington and is also accredited to Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration advises that next week a Spanish diplomat will be arriving. Details of the ambassador’s visit are yet to be confirmed.
2 men arrested
Tue
13 Mar
Police arrested two men at the weekend for burglary and excess breath alcohol.
A 27-year-old Tupapa man was arrested on Saturday morning for burgling the Triad Petrol Station in Tutakimoa.
Staff arriving at work on Saturday morning discovered a large amount of cigarette cartons and alcohol was stolen from the shop overnight. Entry into the store under construction was gained from the back of the building where the burglar ripped open a portion of wall.
Thanks to prompt information from members of the public, police arrested the 27-year-old Tupapa man on the same day.
Police report that they’ve recovered a number of the stolen items from the burglar who was held in police custody over the weekend.
Police would like to thank the members of the public who assisted with the arrest.
Police arrested a second man, a 20-year-old of Arorangi, on Friday night after an alcohol breath test read the man was over the alcohol breath limit.
Police also believe the man was involved in a minor motor vehicle accident at the Edgewater Resort and Spa in Arorangi.
The offender has been released on police bail and due to appear in court this coming Thursday on a charge of excess breath alcohol.
Airline tax ‘a national issue’
Mon
12 Mar
Government has not made any concrete decisions about whether or not to tax foreign airlines operating in the Cook Islands, but the opposition hopes to be included in deliberations when it does.
A paper was tabled in parliament last month which authorised the possible lifting of an income tax exemption foreign airlines have enjoyed for decades.
Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says the decision of whether to tax non-resident airlines is a weighty one and should be carefully considered. Above all he is concerned that foreign airlines may choose to cut jobs in the interest of saving money, should they be required to pay income tax.
“The opposition is concerned about the unclearness of the issue about airlines paying income tax here,” Rasmussen said.
“First of all we understand that government has not acted on imposing the tax because after the prime minister and minister of finance and the financial secretary met with Air New Zealand not long ago they were clearly told by Air New Zealand of the implications to impose such a tax.”
Rasmussen says he was not privy to the details of such discussions, but is concerned that the imposition of income tax on foreign airlines may affect jobs locally.
“I can only assume that it would affect employment of quite a large number of people by Air New Zealand here in Rarotonga.
“The part time workers, for example in immigration and customs, apparently Air New Zealand pays for them in lieu of the purported taxes.
“Because we’re unclear about the tax we share some concerns for the viability of those people’s incomes,” he said.
He recalls a letter written by former minister of finance Sir Terepai Maoate to Air New Zealand’s divisional tax manager in 2006.
“That letter put to rest any future thoughts of the Cook Islands government imposing those taxes on Air New Zealand. That letter was written largely because of the need to save the jobs of those people who work down at the airport,” Rasmussen said.
“What we understand is that the current minister of finance the honourable Mark Brown had written a letter raising the issue again and I believe the delegation that went over were unprofessional in the sense that they did not quite realise, I think, what is involved in this.
“The opposition takes the view that first and foremost the priority is Cook Islanders on the ground but we would like to extend to government the opportunity to have bilateral talks about how to approach this issue, rather than the government rushing off on its own to do that.
“If they are prepared to make a concrete decision the opposition would like to be included – this is a national issue with wide implications and not one you can click your fingers and do.”
Forum is for and by youth
Mon
12 Mar
Rather than spending exorbitant amounts of money on outside experts, the youth forum being held on Rarotonga this week will instead honour the ‘expertise’ of Cook Islands young people.
Drawing out young peoples’ views on the challenges they face and solutions that could make a difference to their lives will be the focus of the forum for 140 young people aged 12-25 years from Rarotonga and its sister islands. Youth from the pa enua will start arriving today to participate at the forum to be held tomorrow at the Youth With A Mission base in Vaimaanga.
“We want to reiterate that this forum is for young people to have their say and voice their views on issues that they deem important to their wellbeing. They need the opportunity to talk about what’s going on for them and how to find a solution that is youth-centric and owned by our young people,” said Thomas Wynne, acting chair of the Youth Forum Steering Group.
He said the day’s programme has been structured so facilitators can work in small groups on key questions to draw out their views on the factors contributing to young people deciding to take their lives – and most importantly the types of support and initiatives they feel would make a positive difference and contribution to their lives.
“We firmly believe ‘Ka riro nga te oire e ututu mai it e tama’ and that as we work together we can find an answer. This is just the first part of that consultation and the first step to creating a Cook Islands where more of our young people choose life when things become stressful or difficult.”
He said ideas from the forum would feed into meetings for families and service providers which the steering group planned to hold after the youth event.
“Our aim is to launch this vaka of consultation and then allow our people that have a stake in our youth such as churches, youth groups, the police, ministries of education, internal affairs, health, youth affairs, CYNIC and other NGOs to take this vaka out further then we have gone before. It will take all of us in a partnership to help create the change we want for the lives of our young people and our future as a nation.”
The forum will start at 8am with a welcome by Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters and will conclude at 3.30pm. The forum was initiated by the Prime Minister Henry Puna last month as a means of encouraging young people to be involved in designing strategies that encourage the wellbeing of youth in the Cook Islands.
20th Pasifika celebrated
Mon
12 Mar
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Cook Islands performers Purotu Healy, Tania Savage and Josephine Turepu pulled in the crowds at Pasifika Festival’s Cook Islands village at the weekend. More than 200,000 people explored the ‘villages’ of Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tahiti, Fiji and Aotearoa.
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AUCKLAND – Islands from throughout the Pacific came together in a display of art, music, song, food and dance in Auckland over the weekend.
Western Springs Park was transformed into 10 ‘villages’ representing Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue, Tahiti, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Aotearoa for the annual Pasifika Festival.
Event organisers estimate more than 100,000 attended the event.
This year marks the 20th anniversary for the free event, which is the biggest Pacific cultural festival held in the world.
Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, encouraged Pacific communities across the country to celebrate their diverse cultures and be proud of what they offered.
“Pacific cultures are an increasingly important part of how we express our national identity and it is exciting to see the popularity of Pacific festivals grow from strength to strength each year,’’ said Parata.
The Pasifika Festival began in 1992 and is now the most significant cultural festival in the South Pacific and the largest festival of its kind, attracting over 100,000 people each year.
Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world and 67 percent of all Pacific people, at the time of the last Census in 2006, live there.
“At the last Census, more than one in three Pacific people were under the age of 15 and most were born in New Zealand,” Parata said.
“The Pasifika Festival is significant and provides an opportunity for this younger generation to connect with their culture and heritage, as well as bringing together all Pacific age groups to celebrate and showcase their diverse cultures of the Pacific.’’
Parata says being the Pacific island affairs and education minister presented her with some wonderful linkages and opportunities to help support young Pacific learners lift their achievement levels and reach their potential.
“A critical part of creating strong, vibrant, capable Pacific communities is a successful educational experience and raised achievement,” she said.
“Our government wants to see more Pacific children attending high quality early childhood education centres that provide a strong foundation, so they can smoothly transition into primary school ready to learn.
“We want these students to then make strong subject choices at secondary school setting themselves up for qualifications and career pathways that will lead to strong employment prospects.
“We need to encourage people, young and old, to lead active, healthy lives for the benefit of themselves and their communities.”
The brochure for the 2012 festival read: “Listen out for the resonating sounds of the pandanus strips being woven into mats, enjoy the mouth-watering smells of Pacific foods and the fresh tropical taste of watermelon and pineapple with ice cream.”
Pasifika Festival pulled out all the stops for its 20th anniversary, with a stellar cast of performers, including hip-hop star David Dallas and Australian Idol winner Stan Walker.
Samoan singing sensations The Levites headlined the festival and were accompanied by Fijian soul queen Erakah and Stan Walker.
The festival opened on Friday evening with performances from 10 cultural groups, each representing a Pacific nation.
Cook Island dance group ‘Drums of the Pacific’ showcased their new items at the opening.
Director Jacob Samson said the group had been in full rehearsals leading up to the festival.
“We’ve probably spent 60 hours in practice alone during the past three weeks.”
The festival made a special focus on Samoa this year, commemorating 50 years since the treaty of friendship between New Zealand and the island nation was signed.
Pasifika director Ole Maiava said the festival had chosen one of Samoa’s national birds, the ‘gogo’ or noddy tern, as the theme for this year.
Maiava said he was excited about the range of local New Zealand-based Pacific talent featured this year.
“We’ve gone national in our approach. We’ve got a group from Dunedin, one from Christchurch and a few from Wellington.”
New to Pasifika this year was the Tapac stage, which featured theatre performances by Pacific artists and playwrights.
Festival goers were also able to buy Pasifika merchandise for the first time in the event’s history.
Crime on an upsurge
Sat
10 Mar
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Despite the proliferation of neighbourhood watch groups and their reported success, Muri resident Mii Kauvai is concerned that crime is making a comeback.
Police reported last year that crime had dropped off significantly, but Kauvai believes there has been a recent resurgence of burglary.
She believes the burglars are getting cleverer, and judging by the damage to a Muri property this week, she is convinced they are children or young people.
On Wednesday night her tourist accommodation unit in Muri was burgled of about five thousand dollars worth of property.
The tourist couple was robbed of watches, cash, a carton of cigarettes, two iPhones (valued at $1200 each) and sunglasses.
“This person just cut the screen but when you have a look at the cut it’s so small an adult can’t fit in,” Kauvai said.
She added that the burglar would have been someone who was “keeping an eye on the place” or who “knew the area well”.
As the unit is under the jurisdiction of the Neighbourhood Crime Watch group, it was being supervised and policed. The boys of the crime watch programme had checked on it at 9pm and again at 11pm, and the couple returned home at 1am, so the burglar was either taking a huge risk or knew to strike when the hired help had left.
They cut the insect screen and cleaned out two rooms’ worth of valuables.
“It had to be planned – someone who is targeting tourists knew they left the house, and knew the patrol had left,” Kauvai said.
The couple filed a police report, and Kauvai intends to follow the case up with the Muri police unit.
Social welfare changes proposed
Sat
10 Mar
An Asian Development Bank (ADB) report recommending possible changes to the Cook Islands social welfare system and the 1989 Welfare Act was released yesterday.
The report is available for viewing on the government’s website.
Government says it will consider the recommendations in light of its commitment to supporting and assisting the elderly and most vulnerable.
Minister of Internal Affairs Mark Brown said the 2010 ADB report, which was initiated by the previous government, identifies a number of specific policy considerations including changes to the old age payment, child benefit, newborn allowance, infirm and destitute payment, and other payments.
“Given the range of issues it traverses, government has appointed a multi-sector committee to review the ADB report and develop a response for government to consider. The committee includes the secretaries of the ministries of internal affairs, health, education, finance and economic management, office of the prime minister, solicitor-general of Crown law and representatives of Cook Islands National Council of Women and Cook Islands National Disability Council,” Brown said.
The committee will remain active until August 2013 and is expected to report back to government in June 2013 with final recommendations.
In determining an appropriate government response, the committee will be reviewing feedback from public consultations on the ADB report, long-term forecasts of the country demography and existing government policy intentions.
An actuarial study on income trends, demographic profile and government’s fiscal parameters is currently in development and will inform any responses the government may make in relation to the ADB Report.
Public consultations on the ADB report recommendations have already commenced, with islands in the northern group and some in the southern group since November 2011.
Public meetings in Rarotonga and the remaining southern group islands are expected to be completed by March 30.
The report is available at the Ministry of Internal Affairs or can be accessed on the government website, www.pmoffice.gov.ck. - Release
ADB’s options for consideration
The report identifies the following options for consideration:
- Applying some form of a means test to the age payment, such as non-eligibility for those still in paid employment, with a registered business or have a high income; or
- Maintaining a universal payment but increasing the qualifying age to 65 years; and
- Tightening the residency criteria requiring that Cook Islanders reside in
the Cook Islands for a minimum of 10 years (and non-Cook Island residents
20 years) from the age of 18 years rather than birth; and
- Increasing the allowable absence to exceed six months where longer medical treatment is necessary.
Since completion of the report, government has announced increased support to pensioners aged 70 and above. This policy will be considered by the multi-sector steering committee.
Not the PM’s nephew
Sat
10 Mar
Prime Minister Henry Puna has dismissed opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen’s allegations of political favouritism and nepotism.
Rasmussen yesterday raised concerns that the prime minister appointed his nephew to the position of public service commissioner, in the process ignoring the recommendation of a selection panel.
It is within Puna’s rights, under schedule one of the Public Service Act 2009, to do so – but Rasmussen was concerned that he had ignored other applicants who were better-suited to the position.
Puna has dismissed Rasmussen’s claim, noting that Russell Thomas is not his nephew or even a distant blood relation.
Rasmussen says he mistakenly understood that Thomas was Puna’s nephew, but regardless, his concerns about the prime minister’s rejection of the recommended applicant – reportedly Terry Hagan – in favour of Thomas still stand.
Rasmussen says the opposition believes the other applicants for the position of public service commissioner were more qualified and experienced and better-suited to the job.
“It might not have been nepotism in the full sense of the word but our concerns still stand,” Rasmussen said on behalf of the opposition.
Public service commissioner appointed
Fri
9 Mar
Prime Minister and Minister of the Office of the Public Service Commission Henry Puna yesterday announced the appointment of Russell Thomas as the new public service commissioner.
A former chief executive of the Office of the Public Service Commission, Thomas’s appointment was unanimously approved by Cabinet this week following a decision by the prime minister to exercise his right not to accept a recommendation of the selection panel as set out in Schedule one of the Public Service Act 2009.
Puna said Thomas brings the necessary enthusiasm and years of experience to the position.
“Mr Thomas’s skills and background working at a central agency level, dealing with regional and international issues makes him suitably qualified to immediately assume leadership of the public service.” “His appointment comes at a critical juncture given the recent functional review, the re-advertisement of heads of ministries positions next month and government efforts to continue streamlining and improving policies, systems and the overall performance of the public service.”
Prime Minister Puna said the state sector must lead by example and make real the government’s pledge to build a knowledge-based economy driven by imagination, innovations and advancing technology. “We therefore look forward to Mr Thomas harnessing the creativity and innovations of the workforce to drive the Cook Islands public service and discharging the responsibilities of his new post effectively, efficiently and independently.” Thomas will assume his new position later this month.
Opposition alleges political favouritism
Fri
9 Mar
Alleging ‘nepotism’ and ‘political favouritism’, the opposition is concerned by the prime minister’s appointment of Russell Thomas as the new public service commissioner.
“We’re concerned because as we understand it the prime minister exercised his discretion to overlook the recommendations by the selection panel and appointed his nephew,” leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen said yesterday.
Cabinet this week approved Prime Minister Henry Puna’s decision to override the recommendation of a selection panel and appoint Thomas as Navy Epati’s replacement.
Schedule one of the Public Service Act 2009 stipulates that the Prime Minister is responsible for appointing a selection panel to recommend a person it believes should fill a vacancy for the public service commissioner’s position. The act also gives the prime minister authority to reject the panel’s recommendation. The secretary to Cabinet services is responsible for handling the logistics of the selection process. Cabinet secretary Taivero Isamaela declined to name the members of the selection panel – a right he reserves under the Public Service Act – but the panel included a chairperson, who was recommended by the prime minister, a person recommended by the opposition leader and a person recommended by Cabinet.
The panel reportedly received applications from a number of experienced Cook Islanders, people who Rasmussen believes would have been more suited to the job of public service commissioner than Thomas.
Cook Islands News understands applicants included former secretary of justice Terry Hagan, former auditor-general Paul Allsworth, Cook Islands Investment Corporation chief executive Tamarii Pierre-Tutangata and Dr Jon Jonassen. Epati did not re-apply.
“The list of people that applied and were shortlisted are extremely experienced and what we’re saying is we are very, very concerned that quality people are being overlooked,” Rasmussen said.
“I’m sorry to say it – because I know Russell – but I think in comparison to that list of people, Russell Thomas has very minor experience. This brings about concerns about nepotism and political favouritism – I think this appointment could clearly be interpreted as that, so I could be forgiven for saying so because all the evidence in relation to the experience and the qualifications of the others (applicants) really stacks up against appointing (Thomas),” he said.
Puna has defended his decision on the basis that he has a right not to accept the recommendation of the selection panel under schedule one of the Public Service Act 2009.
Tetava elected chairman of regional group
Fri
9 Mar
Cook Islands Police commissioner Maara Tetava has returned from a meeting in Australia where he was elected chairman of the Pacific Police Training Advisory Group for a two year term.
On March 2, a meeting sanctioned by the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Conference and supported by the Australian Federal Police was held in Sydney Australia.
The purpose of the meeting was to establish the Pacific Police Training Advisory Group, to empower Pacific Island law enforcement agencies to design, develop, deliver, assess, monitor and evaluate law enforcement education and training.
The meeting was attended by chiefs of police and/or their representatives from the Pacific including Australia and New Zealand. The meeting established the Pacific Police Training Advisory Group (PPTAG) and elected Tetava of the Cook Islands Police as its first chairman for a two year term.
PPTAG also becomes a subcommittee of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Committee (PICP).
It has a board of management composed of no more than 10 chiefs of police and a working group composed of police education and training experts from PICP member countries.
The working group is in the process of being selected and as soon as this is done the initial work plan will be implemented and progress reported to the PICP conference in August 2012.
“I am honoured not only for the Cook Islands but also for the Cook Islands Police Service for the confidence shown by the delegates in appointing me as chairman of this most important policing team,” says Tetava.
“We have a lot to do. Developing law enforcement education training that will cater for the needs of Pacific Island countries is a challenge considering the different cultures, laws and practices. I look forward to working with my team for the greater benefit of Pacific policing.”
Government supports Women’s Day today
Thu
8 Mar
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To commemorate International Women’s Day – we profile
Cook Islands women entrepreneurs (from left) Fiona Matutu, Annafaye
Tatuava Newbigging, Joanna Manuela, Marion Howard, Nane Tepai and
Kimberly Vakapora (see links).
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The government is throwing its full support behind International Women’s Day.
“Empowering Women - today’s global theme for International Women’s Day 2012 – is not only a goal in itself, it is a condition for creating better lives for everyone,” said Prime Minister Henry Puna.
Acknowledging events locally and internationally to mark International Women’s Day, he said no one can refute the fact that gender equality and human rights for all are essential to advancing development.
“There is still a lot of work to do to turn this understanding into practice. In the Cook Islands as in every country worldwide, effort is still required to ensure women are represented in decision-making positions, that their work is valued and recognised and that the educational achievement rate of girls in schools supports them to achieve their greatest potential.”
“This day is an opportunity for all of us – women and men – to unite in a cause that celebrates the achievements of women including our own grandmothers, mothers, sisters and daughters - make to improving and advancing our lives.
“That is why International Women’s Day is so important,” he said.
“It spells out our responsibility to work for an enduring change in values and attitudes. It calls on us to work in partnership – governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector. It compels us to strengthen every means of empowering women and girls.
“I join the calls of other Pacific and international leaders to do all we can to ensure that the messages of International Women’s Day continue to reverberate not just today, but every day.”
A special breakfast to mark International Women’s Day will be hosted at the Aquarius Pacific Hotel this morning at 7.30am by the Prime Minister’s wife, Akaiti Puna.
At 10am the Ministry of Internal Affairs will commemorate the day by focusing on the theme “Connecting girls, inspiring futures” which recognises and celebrates women’s contribution to their families, communities and country. The Ministry’s Gender and Development Division have selected two female staff from within the Ministry as guest speakers to share their stories.
Also see:
Mother-daughter team aims high
Fashion a passion for seamstress
Woman turns hobby into money-maker
Demand growing for Matutu’s skirts
Sewing on the side
Fabric painting turns a profit for Annafaye
Avatiu seawall the best option
Thu
8 Mar
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Ports Authority chairman Mike Henry (left) and general manager Bim Tou standing at the construction site for the sea wall.
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Criticism of the Avatiu seawall is off target, says Ports Authority chairman Mike Henry.
“This is the best option. This plan has been developed over the past four years with input from port users, the main shipping companies,” he said in response to recent criticism of the seawall design.
Henry explained the basic concept of the design was to give larger ships the ability to use the current wharf by deepening the channel and the harbour and making room for a turning circle.
The beach where the rock wall is now being constructed can absorb the impact of the waves.
“If we had a hard face, where the beach is, the water would reflect back on the usable wharf, making it less usable,” said Henry.
The rock wall will end at road height and will be grassed and planted with trees. Picnic tables will also be provided, creating a recreational area overlooking the port.
The port also intends to make use of the waterfront area beneath the rock wall.
“We want to create a boardwalk type area which short term boats can tie against, that a floating dock can tie against, and giving 100 percent access that fishermen can use.”
Henry said that fears that the rocks would be thrown into the buildings on the other side of the road were unfounded.
“These rocks have been used for over 20 years during some of our recent significant cyclones. They are the same rocks. There is no argument that we could have a cyclone which could throw these across the road but the fact is that we have had these for a generation.
“A storm moving these four tonne rocks means that you don’t have any town left anyway.”
He also said the town’s coastal protection already used coral boulders that were lighter than the basalt ones used in the rock wall.
“This will absolutely protect us from an average event. These rocks are not ideal, some can break up but we have had them in front of our town for over 20 years and they are still there,” Henry said.
Public consultations have been organised by Avatiu-Ruatonga-Atupa-Palmerston MP John Henry to discuss the Avatiu seawall and will be attended by representatives of the Ports Authority. The first meeting will be held today at Ruatonga Meeting house at 6pm. Other meetings will be held on Friday at the Rangiura Meeting house and on Tuesday 13 at the Uritaua tribal meeting house. All meetings start at 6pm.
Funding available for civil society groups
Thu
8 Mar
Civil society organisations are being encouraged to apply for a final round of community initiative scheme (CIS) funding this month.
Non-government organisations, Cook Islands-based partners of international non-government organisations, community-based organisations, sports organisations and other groups – individuals and business excluded – are invited to submit proposals for funding.
The CIS has $219,000 in available funds, and proposals could potentially receive between $5000 and $50,000.
The board will consider funding one-off events or programmes occurring prior to June 30 of this year. It will also consider applications for small infrastructure projects which will be completed before June 30.
The scheme aims to fund projects with the following areas of focus – disability, the elderly, domestic violence, gender and development, youth, mental health, reproductive health and the environment. It also will consider funding income-earning projects and organisational strengthening projects.
Both the New Zealand and Cook Island governments are committed to supporting civil society groups. Current support from the New Zealand government has been delivered by the New Zealand Aid Programme.
In an effort to provide a single funding mechanism for civil society groups, the New Zealand Aid Programme and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are working together with further support from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. The aim is to roll out a new scheme from July 1 which combines funding from both governments into two streams – core funding for non-government organisations and funding for short-term community-based projects. The new scheme will be called the Social Impact Fund (SIF).
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