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General News

Week ending Wednesday, 27 February, 2013

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

CITC walks the talk
Second chance with the Bears
‘Unlikely’ boats sneaking in
‘Nu Tapu’ tivaevae unveiled
Turtle project visits Atiu
Dictionaries for students
New SPC science director
No funding causes workshop delay
MP asks about consultant’s pay
Good hygiene safest choice
Panthers vs Sharks?
Budget savings over $700k
Consultant’s fees confirmed
MP Matapo makes her mark
Supermodel sisters
Pukapuka hostel work to begin
Minister ‘doesn’t know’ if former HOM is suing
Empower ownership of development
MMR releases licence list
CIP three members down in parliament
Tourism awards launched
Hydroponics ‘buzz’ fades away
Tourist properties need better security: minister
Volunteering a special experience
St Joseph’s prefects appointed
Young Entrepreneur Scheme begins
Cooks part of Pacific plan review
Lifestyle disease awareness week
Searching for family links
MPs meet on HIV Bill
Training on official information for MPs
Heading back to Uni
Future job cuts?
Guillotine motion ‘calculated’
Health ministry takes the lead
Party bus licenses under review
‘It’s going to blind someone’
Parliament adjourned sine die
Entrepreneurs hard at work
Celebrating our diversity
HOMs give feedback on OIA
Police seek info on bush knife burglary
Pukapuka completes celebrations
Ships get Hawaiian names
Faster response needed
Cold reception on European tour
Support for nurse training
USP launches 6-year plan
Remove levies: restaurants
Plans for Cooks’ laws to go online
Meeting for Matavera community
Volleyball gear for Mangaia

CITC walks the talk

CITC key groups George George leads deli worker Ngametua Torotoro and staff for the first harbour-to-harbour walk as part of the company’s new health initiative. 13022018

Cook Islands Trading Corporation staff swapped their lunch for half an hour of pounding the pavement as they embraced a new work initiative to get healthy.

More than 30 employees were serenaded with yells of encouragement and the occasional wolf-whistle as they took part in the inaugural harbour-to-harbour walk yesterday. Split into two groups they travelled from Trader Jack’s to Avatiu Harbour and back again. The groups were led by CITC key groups manager George George and Administration Manager Darren Piri who departed an hour later.

George said it is part of the Go Green Healthy Lifestyle programme the company has introduced.

“CITC wants to support Te Marae Ora and their non-communicable disease awareness and we certainly like to see our staff live a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

“As I told my group, ‘It’s not a race, take your time, you’re not going to get a $250 hamper if you come first’.”

“But we hope this will inspire them to take up some physical activity.”

He said CITC is a very sociable workplace and it’s easier to be active together than on your own.

Deli worker Ngametua Torotoro agreed.

“I’d probably be sitting down, eating and having a smoke if I wasn’t on this walk” she said.

“If I was deciding to do this on my own, I would probably say, ‘Nah, I’ll do it tomorrow,’ but being in a group is more fun and it gets you into the spirit.

“This helps get you off your bum and do some exercise.”

The walk will take place every Wednesday and staff can assess their progress and weight over three months. A 30 minute ‘Drills and Thrills’ session will also be held twice a week as part of the Go Green programme.

• Dana Kinita

Second chance with the Bears

The Arorangi Bears Rugby League Club is helping prisoners with their rehabilitation by allowing them to play on their reserve and Under 19 teams. 13021041

Prisoners are getting a second chance with the help of the Arorangi Rugby League Club.

Seven inmates are pulling on the Bears’ jersey this season in an initiative to help rehabilitate them back into the community. The prisoners had their first game last Saturday playing for the reserve grade and the Under 19 team.

Prison Superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa said only those who consistently showed good behaviour were allowed to play.

“They have to earn it,” he said.

“We have strict criteria and only those who are meeting the behaviour expectations can take part.”

Tangaroa said they are not considered to be high risk and does not anticipate any problems.

“If they infringe on any of the prison rules, they will lose that privilege.”

The group trains inside the prison walls throughout the week and once with the team outside. They are escorted to and from the game on Saturday by security and are strictly supervised on-field by wardens, who have joined the club as coaches and managers.

“They’re learning discipline and it builds their self-esteem and values,” Tangaroa said.

“This is part of rehabilitating them back into the community and giving back.”

President of the Arorangi Bears, Simiona Nicholas said they approached the Ministry of Justice with the request to use inmates to help boost team numbers.

A lot of our players had migrated overseas for schooling and work and we could see the potential of the prisoners and wanted to support them with sport,” he said.

“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback so far as a lot of the new players are from Arorangi.

“What they’re most proud of is that they’re playing for their village.”

Nicolas said that they want to help with their integration and to show them how to become part of society again once they are released.

“When they sign up with us they become Arorangi Bears, our brothers in sport, they are not just seen as convicts.

“These games are helping them with their self-esteem and teaching them to be part of a team.”

• Dana Kinita

‘Unlikely’ boats sneaking in

Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop said the country’s exploratory programme for big eye is no longer happening as the government is putting efforts into purse seining instead. 13021525

Members of the public at a meeting on purse seining last week were concerned the fishing boats were illegally coming too close to shore and taking more than their fair share of the catch.

Around 15 people attended the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR)-organised meet last Wednesday to hear MMR officials, Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) deputy director general Wez Norris and Talley’s Group operating manager Andy Smith explain a fishing technique that is often surrounded with controversy and misconception.

Conservationist Imogen Ingram asked what the monitoring process is on board purse seiners that come into Cook Islands waters.

Forty purse seiners can fish in the waters of 17 Pacific island countries – including the Cooks – under the US Treaty, which dates back to the mid-eighties.

“Is there any monitoring? Because people in the northern outer islands are saying lights are coming into shore at night.”

MMR secretary Ben Ponia replied all vessels under the US Treaty are required to have an observer on board, so it is unlikely they would come in. “It’s highly unlikely there is illegal unreported fishing happening off our coasts.”

Smith, who as manager of a large New Zealand fishing company was in Rarotonga to advise MMR on purse seining, said it was “unlikely” the boats are fishing at night. “They could be repairing nets for example, and drifting closer to shore.”

Norris told those at the meeting FFA has alerts that come in through satellite tracking, so when a purse seiner is doing something illegal, the crew will be fined. He said the reasons purse seiners must stay a certain distance from land is because of aesthetics and reduce the amount of water purse seiners can fish.

The Cook Islands must see what their fair share of the Pacific’s fisheries is and lay claim to it, said Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop. The country’s exploratory programme for big eye is no longer happening as the government is putting efforts into purse seining instead.

“We’re still consulting with cabinet, then consulting with traditional leaders, and then with the northern group islands about purse seining.

“But it’s important that [people understand] it’s not about trawling, not about dragging the ocean floor – what the public understands is different.”

Bishop asked Norris to explain what impact purse seining might have on yellow fin, which is the target of coastal fisheries.

“Purse seining targets schools of fish and they don’t want to catch yellow fin as it’s worth less,” replied Norris. He said when a fishing aggregate device (FAD) is used, this catches more by-catch and juvenile fish. So there is a four-month FAD closure for purse-seine use throughout the region to allow young fish to grow.

Another meeting attendee was concerned local fishermen were not catching enough for their livelihoods. He was concerned as had seen a boat using nets operate near Suwarrow and it “drags everything out of the sea”.

Ponia said it “sounds like a trawl fisher rather than a purse seiner as purse seiners only work in the north”.

He said there is an “over supply” of fish in the north and showed data comparing Rakahanga catch per hour compared to Mangaia and Rarotonga.

“The fact is Rarotonga is not a productive fishery. That is why MMR employed FADs here.”

Ponia also said he is using license revenue to put back into local fishing clubs.

According to Norris, the fight over “whose fish is it – coastal or international” is not unique to the Cooks – instead, Cook Islands have been a leader in rights of coastal states to control its fisheries.

The deadline for coastal fisheries to stake their claim is December, which is what MMR is working towards, said Norris.

Japan, Korea, United States, China, EU, Ecuador and El Salvador are the main purse seining countries operating in the Pacific Ocean.

• Calida Smylie

‘Nu Tapu’ tivaevae unveiled

An intricate tivaevae displays the talents of the local mama. 13022012

Mama Orometua, the leader of the group, explains the significance of the WATSAN tivaevae. 13022010

WATSAN staff and supporters with their beautiful Nu Tapu tivaevae. 13022007

Friends and family of the Muri-based WATSAN unit attended a special occasion last week when a custom-designed tivaevae was presented to the team at a ceremony on the shores of the lagoon.

A local group, who spent many months practicing their craft at the Muri meeting house, the same place the WATSAN (Water, Waste and Sanitation Unit of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning) office is housed, made the tivaevae.

“It was great to have the mama spend time in the meeting house and we shared many morning teas and chats. After seeing the beautiful tivaevae being sewn, we asked if they could make us something to reflect our connection to the Muri community,” said Tekao Herrmann, WATSAN technical advisor.

The group’s leader, Mama Orometua, from the Ngatangiia CICC took over and spent many weeks imagining and sketching the right elements for the WATSAN design.

Once the design was completed the large tivaevae took three weeks to complete with many mama from Muri and Avana helping to complete the creation.

Reflecting the focus of WATSAN’s work on preventing pollution in the lagoon, the tivaevae was presented at a ceremony next to Muri beach, hosted by Mama Meti.

Attendees included Minister Teariki Heather, New Zealand high commission representatives, many Muri locals and the staff from WATSAN unit.

Following the conclusion of donor-talks, two senior aid officials from New Zealand were also able to attend.

With the sun shining, and many of the beautiful tivaevae completed by the group swaying in the gentle breeze, the star of the show was unveiled by deputy prime minister Tom Marsters and NZ deputy high commissioner Joanna Kempkers.

The tivaevae was christened ‘Nu Tapu’ to reflect the connection to the Muri lagoon, and the shared qualities of the newly started WATSAN unit and the fresh, young nu spring to life.

The lovingly crafted quilt includes colours to reflect the environment, maire to represent the love of god, 15 stars to represent the unity of the Cook Islands and it has the WATSAN logo at its centre.

Deputy high commissioner, Joanna Kempkers, started her words of thanks to the mama by apologising for the absence of high commissioner John Carter, but added she was delighted to attend as she understood exactly how much time and love went into creating each beautiful tivaevae.

“WATSAN’s work in Muri is a great example of a partnership between the Cook Islands government, New Zealand and the local community to achieve very concrete result,” said Kempkers.

Minister Teariki Heather spoke next talking about the significance of the tivaevae, and the importance of the community feeling part of the project to repair the lagoon.

He gave thanks to the government of New Zealand and urged support for on-going work to tackle sanitation issues including replicating the Muri and Avana septic upgrades in other areas around the island.

• WATSAN

Turtle project visits Atiu

CITP science officer Phil Bradshaw and German scientist Theresa Kirchner are off to Atiu and Takutea to survey Cook Islands turtles. 13022003

The Pacific Islands Conservation Initiative’s Cook Islands Turtle Project (CITP), having just returned from a 6-week survey in Aitutaki, is off again, this time to conduct surveys on Atiu and Takutea.

Unfortunately, the planned surveys of Manuae were not accomplished due to the unfavourable weather conditions during the turtle team’s recent stay on Aitutaki.

On Atiu, CITP science officer Phil Bradshaw is joined by German scientist Theresa Kirchner. Theresa’s work includes research on sea turtles and humpback whales, in collaborations with Duke University, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the University of Queensland and the Whale Centre of New England.

Kirchner’s previous experience has taken her to many to different countries around the world including the United States, Australia and Greece.

This is Kirchner’s first time to the Cook Islands but she is very excited to be taking part in the first conclusive surveys of marine turtles on Atiu and Takutea.

The team will spend five weeks conducting nesting activity surveys and measuring reproductive success by performing nest excavations.

They hope to encounter nesting females during night surveys and if they are successful, CITP will attach a satellite transmitter to investigate where the Cook Islands turtles migrate.

The research team will make the most of their time on Atiu by working with the islands children.

They plan to give presentations on turtle biology and their amazing life cycles. Bradshaw, who has been volunteering in the Cooks since March, says he’s always amazed about how knowledgeable the children are with regards to their island’s wildlife.

Both Bradshaw and Kirchner look forward to learning from the children and getting them involved with the turtle work.

One of the teams’ objectives will be to conduct surveys in the wildlife reserve of Takutea which they hope to gain permission for from the Takutea Trustees upon their arrival.

They both feel very privileged that they may conduct these surveys on the only island in the Cooks that has never been lived on and one of the most pristine islands in the archipelago.

• CITP

Dictionaries for students

Radio Australia’s 2012 Pacific Break winner Jaik Berg with a copy of the Usborne illustrated dictionary. 13020734

Rotary plan to gift an Usborne illustrated dictionary to every year 9 student in the country in 2013.

After giving out a copy of the dictionary to most of last year’s year 9 students, Rotary President John McElhinney says they are just finalising freight for the new lot of dictionaries which will be shipped from New Zealand.

The dictionaries are specifically developed for Rotary projects around the world.

When the books arrive, McElhinney says they intend to distribute them to all 293 enrolled students in year nine.

“It’s more than a dictionary,” says McElhinney.

The dictionary has over 1000 colour illustrations, hints on grammar, spelling and punctuation, and has short, easy-to-read lines.

Each dictionary will have a certificate inserted in it which will have the name of the recipient.

McElhinney would like to thank the Rotary clubs in New Zealand responsible for getting the dictionaries together, and Air New Zealand, Westpac, ANZ and the Bank of the Cook Islands for their assistance to date in the project.

Rotary will talk to local businesses so as to help get the dictionaries to the outer islands.

McElhinney says the project is just one of three which Rotary is helping in the area of education.

Senior students providing peer support to year 9 students at Tereora College started up just last month. The project involved bringing up an Auckland counsellor to help train teachers and senior students with the peer support programme. McElhinney hopes that the pilot programme will be taken on by other secondary schools in the future.

Supporting the Titikaveka Growers Association in helping youth get into a more positive frame of mind has also been on the radar for Rotary. Assistance for the project, which involves youth tending to crops until harvest, was initiated by New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter.

McElhinney says the TGA project is one “where you don’t see any buildings but one we hope will be very beneficial for the community”.

Rotary members improve their communities by providing help with education, health and peace projects.

Rotary International is a voluntary organisation made up of more than a million members from 180 countries.

• Moana Moeka’a

New SPC science director

Departing SOPAC director Dr Russell Howorth (left) hands over to Professor Michael Patterson. 13022001

There has been a change of reins at the region’s geoscience and technology facility.

Professor Michael Patterson has taken up his appointment as director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC).

He succeeds Dr Russell Howorth, whose tenure with the organisation officially ended on January 31.

Before taking up the position with SPC, Patterson – who is from the United Kingdom – held a professorship of applied and environmental geosciences at the University of Leicester from 2009.

Before that he was director of science, skills and facilities at the British Geological Survey for five years.

Holding a PhD in geology and a post graduate certificate in education, Patterson is a chartered geologist, a chartered engineer, ellow of the Geological Society of London, member of the Institute of Materials, Mining and Metallurgy, life member of the Association of Geoscientists for International Development, and member of the Society of Economic Geologists.

As well as his career as a geologist, Patterson has published extensively and brings a strong understanding of the SPC SOPAC division to his new appointment, through his previous work in the Pacific region in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. His work has also taken him to South-east Asia, the Caribbean and South America.

Howorth, an internationally recognised earth scientist, will continue with SPC for a further month at the request of its director general Dr Jimmie Rodgers, and will represent the Secretariat as a special envoy at upcoming meetings in New York, Washington and Kingston in Jamaica.

Howorth is the chair of the legal and technical commission of the International Seabed Authority, headquartered in Jamaica.

• SPC

No funding causes workshop delay

Workshops on rules of origin have been delayed due to a delay in the release of funding to the regional organising group.

The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) had planned a five-day workshop in Rarotonga from February 18 to 22 to give rules of origin training to customs and trade officials, and key stakeholders in produce imports such as shipping agents.

Around 20 people from the ministries of marine resources, agriculture, foreign affairs had enrolled, as well as Pearl Authority and Chamber of Commerce members. Private companies such as Kauvai Customs Agency and Excil Shipping had also registered staff.

But the training has been deferred to a date not yet set, due to OCO not being able to get the second year of project funds from donor European Union.

This delayed funding affected all planned activities over the last two months in Pacific Asia-Caribbean-Pacific (PACP) group countries. OCO said once it receives funding the training will go ahead.

The project is to assist PACP members to better administer rules of origin on free trade agreements by teaching about national trade.

The first four days of the training is to train a maximum of 20 customs and trade officials and key stakeholders on the techniques of determining rules of origin. It will also teach requirements set by regional trade agreements such as PICTA to facilitate trade in the region.

The fifth day will be a half day session with importers and exporters only.

Those taking part will be prepared for future free trade negotiations on specific areas such as product specific rules, processing criteria, and value adding.

• Calida Smylie

MP asks about consultant’s pay

The health ministry does not pay the salaries of overseas consultants brought over to help with legislation as they cannot afford it.

During parliamentary question time yesterday Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Health Minister Nandi Glassie whether consultants brought over for health-related purpose are being paid for by the Cook Islands government, and if so, whether it is true they are being paid around $350 an hour.

“According to my source, one consultant takes away from working one day in the Cook Islands the equivalent to what she [the source] gets paid in a fortnight.”

Glassie replied two consultants have been consulted about health-related legislation.

One was an international lawyer paid by the World Health Organisation to help the ministry put together the HIV Bill.

And currently a law draftsman is putting together other Ministry of Health legislation, and has been paid by AusAid to do so.

“I have never heard of a consultant being paid these amounts by the government. The bottom line is there is no way the Ministry of Health can afford to pay consultants at that level.”

Rasmussen then asked whether the minister could come up with information in the next few days that a consultant was paid $9000 for a few days work at the hospital.

Glassie said he would report back to parliament on this matter after asking his staff.

• Calida Smilie

Good hygiene safest choice

No cases dengue of fever were reported last month, although numerous cases are being reported in the Pacific this month. 13022020

The latest in health reports from the Community Health Services was released this month, with high numbers of cases of diarrhoea noted in the Cook Islands.

28 cases of diarrhoea were reported over the month of January, according to the syndromic surveillance report compiled by the Event Surveillance and Response (ESR) Unit, with the assistance of the Acute Emergency doctors.

ESR is advising to follow guidelines of observing good personal and food hygiene such as proper hand washing, saying that aside from the direct consumption of contaminated food or water, the bacteria can be transmitted via hand contact or contaminated kitchen utensils.

They also noted that there have been numerous cases of dengue fever within the Pacific. Five cases have been confirmed in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and an outbreak is continuing in New Caledonia. The total number of cases reported in New Caledonia is 1569, with 966 of these in January this year. Then numbers dropped to 130 for February and only one death has occurred.

There have been no cases of dengue type illness in the Cook Islands.

• Rachel Smith

Panthers vs Sharks?

Cook Islands Party members turned on each other during parliamentary question time on Thursday.

“I feel blue today so I feel like asking a question to the member from Tupapa-Maraerenga,” said Minister Teina Bishop.

“I feel blue because I want the member for Tupapa-Maraerenga to answer the rumour that the Panthers are afraid of the Sharks and they won’t come to Aitutaki.”

“That’s a stupid question,” said Teenui Mapumai MP Norman George scathingly.

“Your question is a watery question,” agreed Tupapa-Maraerenga MP George Maggie Angene.

“The Panthers are roaring to do battle with the Sharks. But because of your law about sharks and not killing them for their fins, we are hesitating to go to Aitutaki.”

The debate provided light relief for politicians after a tough afternoon of being held to account.

• Calida Smylie

Budget savings over $700k

Finance Minister Mark Brown, seen here in parliament, has happily announced budget savings, which will be used to pay other government expenses. 13021424

A supplementary national Budget was presented to parliament yesterday which shows an underlying surplus of $749,000.

Finance Minister Mark Brown presented the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2012-2013 and said at a press conference on Wednesday the savings are due to higher-than-expected visitor numbers and the Air New Zealand LA-Sydney underwrite being reduced from the amount budgeted by $1.3 million.

The underwrite will now cost the country $12.3 million. “It is still a big number, but we have seen good patronage on those flights and a decreased oil price.”

The government will spend the money on other projects, including a new ambulance for the hospital at the cost of $150,000.

“Not all of this is new spending – the government has decided to direct $268,000 to the Emergency Disaster Trust Fund, which brings the money in there up to nearly half a million,” said Brown. “The government’s aim is to have this fund up to $1 million, so at least we have some money in the fund now to respond immediately in the likely case of a natural disaster.”

The government will also pour the unexpected funds into upgrading poor infrastructure. “We’re keen to improve transport linkages in the northern group, and upgrade the Manihiki harbour before the next cyclone season.” Half a million will be spent on the upgrade this year, said Brown.

The Vaimaru water upgrade in Aitutaki will also be completed – it was an unfinished piece of work following the Cyclone Pat devastation.

Ministry expenditure will be increased by $763,187. A further $8.8 million will be seen on financial statements as the first draw down from the Export Import Bank for payments from China to construct the Rarotonga water supply ring main.

The government is also trying to ‘tidy up’ its payments on behalf of the Crown (POBOC) in this supplementary Budget by $793,000, said Brown.

This includes the $153,000 which was spent flying Penrhyn islanders back to their island because they were stranded after Te Maeva Nui last year.

It also covers a one-off payment of $50,000 made to the Rarotonga Golf Club for a long standing claim on work done by the club to prepare greens to an acceptable standard for the Pacific Mini Games in 2009.

Funds of $7000 have also been set aside for new furniture for the Immigration ministry, who are moving from the third floor of the MFEM building to the first. “It was a long standing complaint that people have to walk up three flights of stairs to get to Immigration, so we’ve found them a spot on the ground floor.”

There has been an increase in the civil list to $2.4 million – “which is still significantly less than what was appropriated in the last bill,” said Brown. The civil list was reduced 30 per cent last year but this was “far too drastic” so it has been increased by $175,000.

Brown said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management is pushing all this information out into the public ahead of parliamentary debate.

“It’s so people know what we’re talking about and we don’t have speculations coming out of left field.”

• Calida Smylie

Consultant’s fees confirmed

Health Minister Nandi Glassie confirmed a locum specialist gets paid $350 a day and these are standard rates. 13022125

Health Minister Nandi Glassie revisited a question on high consultant’s fees a day after it was asked in parliament.

On Wednesday, Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Glassie to come back to him with more information on whether consultants brought over for health-related purposes are being paid around $350 an hour by the Cook Islands government and whether a consultant was paid $9000 for a few days work at the hospital.

On Thursday, Glassie answered the question.

“He is right. We have a consultant working here for $350 per day.”

Glassie said it is standard practice to get specialists in from overseas when the Cook Islands’ own specialists are away or on annual leave.

He said a specialist from Fiji is currently here, and the $350 per day covers professional fees, airfares, housing accommodation and transport for the period he is here.

This is a standard fee but sometimes consultants charge higher than this, said Glassie.

“I know the specialist here is so hard working that he doesn’t normally break for lunch, morning or afternoon tea – he just works right through.”

Glassie also answered a question asked to him on Wednesday by Nikao-Panama MP Ngamau Munokoa about whether the government was meant to be paying the fees of a young woman on a midwifery scholarship to Fiji – as her parents told Munokoa her fees had not been paid.

“This trainee is being paid by World Health Organisation scholarship, which covers training, tuition, accommodation, living expenses and airfares,” said Glassie.

“I find it very mysterious that the parents were accusing the ministry for not paying her costs.”

• Calida Smylie

MP Matapo makes her mark

Tamarua MP Tetangi Matapo made her mark in parliament yesterday during question and answer time. 13022115

The country’s newest member of parliament, Tetangi Matapo for Tamarua, asked her first questions in parliament yesterday.

She asked Infrastructure Minister Teariki Heather to answer on telecommunications infrastructure.

“What is happening to the mobile phone system in Mangaia, because at the moment there is none running.”

Matapo then asked about what the government was doing about the potholed, overgrown state of roads on Mangaia and other outer islands.

And she also asked about funding to help Mangaia’s mamas contribute to economic activity.

“Is there funds to help old women with their weaving and shell work...Our young people are not interested in that.”

Speaker Nikki Rattle congratulated her on her ‘very good’ questions in her first debate.

Heather replied a mobile phone network would be set up in Tamarua in March. He is not sure about the whole of Mangaia.

Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown confirmed in a supplementary answer that he had discussed this with Telecom Chief Executive Jules Maher and the telecommunications signal mast would go up in a place where all the villages would get mobile service next month.

Heather moved onto the roads question.

“Yes, I agree it has been a long time for the roads of Mangaia, but I ask you to hang on a little longer.

“In regards to the back roads, that is up to the island council to deal with that in what they call the beautification programme.”

Heather said while the programme was there “at some point” the funding had since been removed.

“I believe since 2008 until now there has been some confusion in the programme and projects for outer islands, and now government has made plans for water and roadsbut you have to realise we have to plan things first.”

Heather said he visited Mangaia during the Tamarua by-election – which was held after Pukeiti Pukeiti died – and examined the roads, but there is a lack of adequate machinery on the island to do the needed work. “There is funding for that project but the problem is getting machinery across.”

He also said the water project, in the pipeline since 2001, would be going ahead as there is funding allocated in the Budget.

To Matapo’s third question he answered, “In regards to the mamas, there is some constituency funds which Papa Pukeiti left behind and it is up to you to request the funds to be used for that.”

Brown gave another supplementary answer to point out the Ministry of Internal Affairs has a ‘social impact fund’ which is targeted towards generating income in the outer islands.

• Calida Smylie

Supermodel sisters

Marito Maoate, who is already a part time model, is one of 25 models including her sister Moana taking part in the Supermodel New Zealand pageant 2013. 13022005

Two Aitutaki sisters are among hundreds of hopefuls vying to be New Zealand’s next top supermodel.

Marito Maoate (24) and younger sister Moana (17) have entered ‘Supermodel New Zealand’ pageant 2013 and have made the cut for the top 25 models to take part in the pageant event.

The stunning sisters are the daughters of Paula and Terepai Maoate of Aitutaki.

Both are students at Waikato University where Moana is in her first year and Marito, already a part-time model, is completing her final year of a Bachelor of Management with a double major of Human Resources and Marketing.

Having made the cut for the pageant – the first part of the competition is the ‘people’s choice’ award and the sisters are seeking the support of the Cook Islands community.

All you have to do is log on to Facebook and go to the Supermodel New Zealand 2013 page and ‘like’ the profile pictures of the two Aitutaki beauties.

The winner of the overall New Zealand pageant will then travel to Thailand to compete in the Miss World Supermodel Pageant 2013 event.

Related article(s):
Model Moana

• Matariki Wilson

Pukapuka hostel work to begin

A schematic drawing of the proposed new accommodation wing of the Pukapuka hostel in Maraerenga. 13021112

A new accommodation wing at the Pukapuka Hostel will soon take shape in Maraerenga.

Construction of the twenty room double story extension, designed by fellow Pukapukan Romani Katoa of Romani Design Ltd, is set to begin in the next week or two.

Rarotonga Pukapuka Community President Makirere Poila says that the community has been fundraising for some time to fund the $500,000 extension project with more on-going fundraising efforts including a monster raffle.

The Pukapuka Hostel was opened in 1992 after construction began in 1986 and Poila hopes that the new extension to the hostel will help generate funds for the community.

The accommodation wing will be available for tere party’s from the island of Pukapuka as well as any traveling groups from the outer island.

Poila adds that they are even considering renting out rooms to visitors to the island.

The new extension will include a ground floor of 10 rooms and second story with a further 10 rooms with both floors including its own bathroom and kitchen.

A website to promote the accommodation wing is also in the pipeline.

Poila believes that construction of the extension will take up until July 2013 when a special opening ceremony is being planned.

Meanwhile the Pukapuka community is selling $50 monster raffles to raise the funds for the project for those wanting to buy a raffle and support the cause can contact Makirere Poila on 21030, Helena Tiele on 76596, Tuakana Marukore on 79265 and Teautoa Peua on 54125.

Twenty fantastic cash prizes are up for grabs with the main raffle prize being $50,000 while second prize is $20,000 and the third prize is $10,000.

• Matariki Wilson

Minister ‘doesn’t know’ if former HOM is suing

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters updates himself on the country’s news before answering a question on whether there is litigation pending against the immigration ministry. 13022114

Immigration Minister Tom Marsters said he does not know whether his ministry is being sued by its former head for unfair dismissal.

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked in parliament yesterday whether there is pending litigation from the former director of Immigration – Kave Ringi – against the government because of unfair dismissal from the role.

Rasmussen originally asked the attorney-general, Prime Minister Henry Puna, the question but he was late to parliament so missed the chance to answer.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tom Marsters answered instead.

He said there ‘may’ be a case being looked at by the Crown Law office to do with unfair dismissal from employment. But he said as ministers cannot be privy to this investigation as it could bias proceedings, he does not know who this case concerns.

CI News recently asked the Immigration Secretary Jim Gosselin the same question, but he said he does not comment on personnel matters when the person in question was no longer an employee of the ministry, and would not say whether it would be going through the courts.

• Calida Smylie

Empower ownership of development

Australian design group Centre of Appropriate Technology (CAT) Project engineer Paul Rodden shows his project team calculations for the solar farm site in Pukapuka last July. 12070424

Freelance journalist Amelia Borofsky is a regular contributor to Cook Islands News.

Borofsky is based in Pukapuka where she spent her formative years when her father was stationed there as an anthropologist for the University of Hawaii. She went back to the island in 2011, lived there last year, and is back again to pursue her dream of writing the new book of Pukapuka. Here she addresses the issue of development as raised by consultant Petero Okotai in his recent series of articles on development and aid.

Petero Okotai’s recent article about development in the Cook Islands ‘An exit strategy for aid’ sheds light on many important issues relevant to upcoming development projects, including solar and water.

It is vital that development be for, by and about the community, using local contractors and local knowledge to ensure the success of projects. Okotai makes an important point about investing in people themselves, in start-up local businesses and focusing on education rather than only infrastructure. In development projects all over the world, more harm than good often happens unless aid agencies use a bottom-up model for development.

The recent solar project set to begin in the Northern Group could become an example of the boomerang aid Okotai writes about. Last September an Australian consultant was hired and flown to Pukapuka. He stayed for only a few days, met with local leaders and proposed what would work best for the island. It was a top-down approach.

The last solar project conducted by the French in the early nineties worked in the short-term but not the long-term, in part because of its top-down approach. Individuals had to purchase batteries and inverters to make the solar power work. People did not learn how to fix and maintain the solar panels. Hurricane Percy in 2005 didn’t help either. The extreme weather conditions in Pukapuka require someone who knows the climate, and its people.

Participatory action development offers another model. In participatory action development, the project is for, by and about the people. It basically offers a bottom-up rather than a top-down process. The community lets the researcher, consultant or development partner know their needs. They have input at every stage about the plans. Whenever possible, local knowledge, local expertise, and local workers conduct the majority of the work. The community offers a constant loop of feedback about the process allowing for future improvements in collaboration. As Okotai suggested, it is not just about building infrastructure but about honouring the human capacity that already exists and building it up.

Participatory action development has been criticised for having higher start-up costs, but research conducted by several agencies (World Bank, CIDA, USAID, IRDP) shows many benefits. Research shows that using participatory development methods makes development projects more sustainable in the long run. Participatory development projects better address local needs compared to top-down projects. People have ownership and know how to up-keep and continue the project over the long-term. In the end, research shows that the up-front higher costs provide longer-term savings and benefits.

Many opportunities exist for bottom-up development. Local ideas for developing the resources within the Northern Group have included investing in a presser to make coconut oil to power motorbikes and generators on island and to export; selling more local crafts (kumete, hats, brooms, mats) to the Rarotonga market if regular transport allowed; coaches for sports training for national and international competitions; and improving transport, healthcare and education. It is about growing the human and natural resources that already exist here.

In Pukapuka and Nassau there is also a wealth of local knowledge on the island and abroad. Pukapukan educators, architects, doctors, athletes, construction workers, mechanics, horticulturalists, plumbers and more live in the Cook Islands and Australia and New Zealand.

They are extremely committed to their community. They have not however, been actively tapped. As Okotai wrote, much of the development projects go to overseas contractors bypassing those that know the language and the intricacies of this community. If they had jobs and projects, many Pukapukans would stay or return to give back to the community. It is about working with and within the community to empower ownership of sustainable development.

As the development awards begin, reviewers must carefully consider Okotai’s points about ‘bomerang aid’ and think more about a Participatory Action Development model. It is vital to the success of all projects, including the upcoming solar projects in the Northern Group that more donor-aid contracts stay in local hands using local consultants.

MMR releases licence list

The Ministry of Marine Resources has released figures on licence numbers and revenue a day after being questioned in parliament on lack of regular and clear updates to the public.

Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop yesterday provided CI News with a clear list of information on fishing licences, number of licences per company and fishing nations per flagged vessel, how many vessels are up for relicencing this year, and licence revenue.

MMR Secretary Ben Ponia put together the information after Bishop said in parliament on Thursday he believed his ministry should be issuing quarterly updates on revenue and licences to the public.

“The ministry do hold this information but they are not disseminating this properly to the public,” he said.

MMR has issued a total of 58 licences which are current. Taiwanese company Yuh Yow holds the most, with 14. Next is Chinese-owned China Southern Fishery with 10 licences, and then Korean company Mike Won for CF Incorporated, CIs Fishing Ltd with seven.

Luen Thai Fishing Ltd holds four licences – however China Southern Fishery is a subsidiary branch of Luen Thai.

Cook Islands-flagged vessels hold the most licences with 20, and then Chinese flagged at 18.

There are 10 vessels due to be relicenced in March or April, seven in May and two in June.

According to MMR, revenue collected on behalf of the Crown (ROBOC) from June 2012 to January 2013 is over $2.8 million. Revenue generated from relicencing during March-June last year was $952,000.

MMR anticipates revenue from new licences and designating the big eye tuna fishery will be nearly $1.3 million.

The ministry’s total forecast for the financial year 2012-2013 is revenue of just over $5 million.

- Calida Smylie

Fishing Licence List

Fishing licences as of January 2013:

Cook Islands fishing licence: 44

High Seas fishing licence: 5

Exploratory fishing licence: 4 (expire April 2013)

Carrier licence: 2

Bunker licence: 2

Total: 58

Number of licences per company:

Yuh Yow (Taiwan): 14

China Southern Fishery (China): 10

Mike Won for CF Incorporated, CIs Fishing Ltd (Korea): 7

Luen Thai Fishing Ltd (China): 4

Ping Tai Rong (China): 4

Remainder: 2 or 1 licence each

Fishing nations by flagged vessel:

Cook Islands: 20

China: 18

Vanuatu: 9

Federated States of Micronesia: 3

Fiji, Singapore, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Taiwan, US: 2 or 1

Vessels for relicensing:

March/April: 10

May: 7

June: 2

Total: 19

Licence revenue:

ROBOC collected from June 2012-January 2013: $2,821,176

Total forecast for financial year 2012-2013: $5,053,176

CIP three members down in parliament

The government will be three arguably crucial members down during parliament’s sitting next week.

Prime Minister Henry Puna is leading a delegation to Queenstown, New Zealand, on Tuesday to participate in a joint ministerial forum (JMF) with the New Zealand government.

Puna will be accompanied by Finance Minister Mark Brown and Marine Resources and Tourism Minister Teina Bishop.

The JMF is being held on Thursday and Friday, with the ministers likely to be back by Sunday, although this has not yet been confirmed due to planning not finished on the New Zealand delegation’s side – led by NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

The Queenstown JMF is the second to be held, the first having been hosted in Rarotonga in 2011.

It was established as a forum to discuss a range of mutual interest issues between Cook Islands and NZ. The agenda this year will cover both national and regional topics including economic development, trade, transport and aid.

Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters will be acting prime minister while Puna is away, and will hold the fort against the Demo side in parliament along with Ministers Teariki Heather and Nandi Glassie.

All cabinet ministers were sitting in parliament last week, and helped push through the Island Government Bill 2013 and the Appropriation Amendment Bill 2013 (supplementary budget) into law.

Ministerial Travel

• Calida Smylie

Tourism awards launched

Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards Committee Chairman Alister Stevic, committee members Peter Hayes, Mousie Skews, Tourism Industry Council president Stephen Lyon, Air New Zealand Manager David Bridge and Chief Executive of Cook Islands Tourism Association Halatoa Fua. 13022241

Tourist organisations again have the chance to be recognised as the best in the country.

The 2013 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards was launched yesterday at a gathering of key stakeholders and industry leaders at Tamarind House.

Organising committee chairman Alister Stevic said they were looking forward to seeing more people take part this year with an emphasis on encouraging the outer islands to apply.

“Last year our applications rose 44 per cent compared to the previous year and we’d like to see that number improve,” he said.

“We’ve been told by businesses, that even going through the application itself has helped them to see where they are going and what they can do to improve. So these awards aren’t just about recognition but playing a part in strengthening the industry.

This year’s theme is focused on customer service with an advertising campaign launched next week proclaiming, ‘All it takes is a simple smile.’

“We’re saying a simple smile can play a huge part in tourism and help keep visitors coming back.” Stevic said.

“It’s not just for businesses but everyone can be a friendly representative of the Cook Islands.”

Applications are available in a month’s time and will need to be mailed or emailed to independent assessors in New Zealand. Businesses will then be visited throughout September and October with the results revealed at a gala night in November.

Last year’s supreme award was won by Pai Chambers and her son Eddie of Heritage Holding Ltd. She said they now use the accolade as part of their marketing which has seen business increase.

“The process of applying was amazing for us. It made us realise that the tourism part isn’t just about getting people in and out. There are things that you focus on and you think you’re doing okay but realise that things can be done better.”

Chambers said it was great to be connected to an internationally recognised brand like Air New Zealand.

“We feel very chuffed and it makes your business stand out and tell the world that we’re the best, so for us it’s been a big drawcard.”

• Dana Kinita

Hydroponics ‘buzz’ fades away

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen wants to know what has happened to the country’s hydroponics plans. 13021428

What has happened to the country’s drive for hydroponics, asked Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen to Agriculture Minister Nandi Glassie in parliament yesterday.

In years gone by the agriculture “buzzword” was hydroponics, said Rasmussen. “It was thought this project could be encouraged for the outer islands, which are mainly flat with not much soil.

Rasmussen said he was aware of a project in Rakahanga, which went well, and there were plans for Tongareva – but this was some time ago and he wondered what had happened to this.

“Are there any future plans by government to introduce this type of planting in the northern group?”

Hydroponics is a worthwhile project which would allow northern group islands to grow all their vegetables, replied Glassie.

He said a number of years ago he visited Rakahanga with then-prime minister Robert Woonton and saw the hydroponic project there working well.

Glassie has talked to the Agriculture secretary about reviving the project but the ministry is still waiting for materials to arrive from China.

He also said the ministry is concentrating its efforts on the southern group but in the future will look at the northern group.

“And not just hydroponics, but aquaponics. The difference is with hydroponics you feed the water through the system. But with aquaponics, fish are fed in the pond and fish waste is diverted into the piping and goes to feed the vegetables and then returned to tank to clean.”

Glassie said if anyone wants to witness this process, go to Tap Pryor’s property in Titikaveka as he has set up such a system and will give demonstrations.

• Calida Smylie

Tourist properties need better security: minister

Police Minister Teariki Heather said accommodation providers need to do their bit to tackle crime. 13021422

The widespread problem of youth crime was discussed briefly in parliament yesterday.

Titikaveka MP Selina Napa asked Police Minister Teariki Heather what measures are in place to sort out the problem of young criminals targeting tourists.

“Crime is actually on the rise. Tourist accommodation keeps on getting broken into and it seems to be ongoing.”

Heather replied plans are in place for the first Tuesday of every month for Rarotonga’s accommodation security guards to report to police about crime they had faced that month.

But Heather said some accommodation providers were not pulling their weight to tackle the country’s crime.

“One of the biggest problems is most motels do not want to spend money to provide security for their property, and that is a big concern.”

Heather said it is up to accommodators to provide security and help deal with the problem as police cannot be expected to be there at all times.

• Calida Smylie

Volunteering a special experience

Roy and Suzie Meyer worked with a group of Grade Six students at Takitumu School during their time with Global Volunteers in Rarotonga. /02 13021401

Volunteer work has taken Roy and Suzie Meyer to many a destination around the globe, with their most recent being working for Global Volunteers in the Cook Islands.

The couple have spent the last three weeks teaching students at Takitumu School, an experience they have greatly enjoyed. “We love doing this,” says Suzie, adding that they feel they get more out of it than they give.

They are part of 14 volunteers who have visited Rarotonga, with volunteers staying for one to three weeks, and many taking annual leave from their work to do so.

The Meyer’s have travelled from their home in the United States to the South Pacific, where they live in the warmth of South Florida during the winter and spend the summer in the north of the country in Minnesota.

Since retiring they have made the effort to partake in volunteer work every year, travelling with Global Volunteers to Portugal, Costa Rica and Peru. They have also visited Tanzania five times, where they work in a school with Suzie’s uncle who is a missionary for six weeks at a time.

Every trip is a new experience and involves using different skills, from helping in an orphanage of 500 boys in Peru, to computer work and construction. The couple have a wealth of experience to share, with Roy having owned a small business supplying building materials, and Suzie having taught Business Statistics and Administration at St Clouds University in Minnesota for 25 years.

Her skills as a math teacher, at primary, secondary and tertiary level have been very useful at Takitumu School, where the couple have been helping with English reading with senior students and taking maths groups with grade 6 students. Suzie prepares maths worksheets for each session, and says that the students have also taken the opportunity to teach them some Maori words.

For their next trip with Global Volunteers they intend to visit Vietnam and hope to take their 18 year old grandson along with them.

• RS

St Joseph’s prefects appointed

St Joseph School prefects and peace ambassadors punch the air in anticipation of a fantastic school year with the support of school Principal Sister Celine, Catholic Bishop Paul Donoghue and Father Freddy Kaina. 13022221

St Joseph School appointed its student leaders in a morning mass on Friday.

In total, 15 prefects were inducted during the ceremony and each has been allocated to be mentors for various grades at the school.

The new St Joseph’s School prefects are Ngatupuna Utanga and Eryka Tommy (preschool prefects), George Taripo and Jolene Monga (new entrants prefects), Isaiah Vainerere and Melita Akava (grade one prefects), Conrad Hunter and Tiare T. Jim (grade two prefects), Robert Moetaua and Kayva Tauira (grade three prefects), Okirua Thompson and Julyn Perla (grade 4 prefects), Andre Tuiravakai and Alofa Kirikava (grade 5 prefects) and grade six prefect Leroy Aiona.

Joining the prefects at the induction ceremony were Tschan Hagai and Flora Burrell Ellery who were named the school’s two peace ambassadors.

• Matariki Wilson

Young Entrepreneur Scheme begins

Tiare Beer, Titania Dyer, Patrene Tua and teacher Stephen Graham brainstorm ideas for a successful new business. 13022237

Young entrepreneurial minds started on their pathway to becoming successful business people on Friday. Business Studies students from Tereora College are taking part in the Young Entrepreneur Scheme (YES) which has been running successfully in New Zealand for over 30 years.

The Cook Islands has been chosen to pilot YES in the Pacific, with Tetuhi Kelly contracted as the regional coordinator by the Chamber of Commerce. The programme is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade project, funded by NZ Aid and backed by the Lion Foundation in New Zealand.

YES is a business programme where secondary students learn to run a new business. This means they will set up a company, create real products or services, develop and implement a business plan, complete an annual report and make real profit or loss. Along the way they will also learn skills in teamwork, communication, problem solving, negotiation and decision making.

Robyn Borne, head of enterprise for YES in New Zealand, made the trip to the Cook Islands to run the first of four special events for the students – this one being Enterprise (E) day.

Borne says that the aim of E day is to focus on the value basis for each company, and to look at resources and sustainability, before they focus on products, target customers and marketing. She was very impressed with the students, who made the most of Valentine’s Day to begin fundraising for their start-up capital for their new business.

Under the guidance of Business Studies teacher Stephen Graham, the students have been working towards their goal of setting up their own business since the beginning of the school year.

Graham says the students have been very keen and have some really good ideas for their new businesses. They have formed themselves into groups that will work together to create the business over the past four weeks.

YES is included in the Business Studies curriculum and ties in very nicely with what has been recognised locally as important skills, says Borne, with the Ministry of Education involved in monitoring the progress of the scheme.

While the morning session of E day was all about brainstorming, the afternoon was set aside for “speed business coaching”.

Kelly has been working with the business community, and requested that a number of leading local business people come and share their knowledge with the students.

Borne says that the speed coaching is “really good – the students need to take on board different opinions,” with of course the final decisions left up to the entrepreneurs themselves.

The YES programme runs over the academic school year, with a number of events planned for the students. Next up will be a version of the ‘dragons den’ where students pitch their business to a panel of business people, followed by a market day and finally a competition for the best business at the end of the year. The winning group will travel to New Zealand to take part in the New Zealand YES competition.

As part of the scheme there is also support and training for teachers so that the academic side of the programme can be delivered with high success, says Borne. The aim is that YES will continue to grow in the Cook Islands, extending to all senior students in Rarotonga, and will be led by Kelly as regional co-ordinator.

• Rachel Smith

Cooks part of Pacific plan review

Cook Islands Smaller Island State officer Harriette Kimiora talks during the consultation meeting with the Pacific Plan Review Team. 13022226

Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and private enterprises had their voices heard in an effort to better shape the Pacific.

A consultation with the Pacific Plan Review team was held at New Hope Church in Avarua on Friday. The event is part of fact-finding mission on what issues matter to each of the Pacific Islands Forum members so that a final report can be compiled and presented to the leaders in September.

The team of five was led by former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta.

“To date, we have consulted with Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu and now the Cook Islands. We are nearly halfway to visiting the 16 countries which are members of the forum.”

He said it was part of a process to provide a platform for prioritising regional co-operation and integration efforts over the next decade.

“Seeking frank, constructive and insightful input from national stakeholders is essential for mapping for my team’s recommendations to Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,” he said.

Morauta said they had strong feedback from the non-government organisations.

“They are saying they need to be consulted more. They want to be included in the process- making rather than just being presented with the recommendations.”

It’s a sentiment that is shared by Cook Islands Civil Society Lydia Sijp.

“NGO’s collectively said that we want a direct voice to the forum. There should be two streams, one between the forum and the government and the other with the NGOs,” she said.

“We do a massive amount of work to support our country and we need to be heard.”

• Dana Kinita

Lifestyle disease awareness week

Working out is detective senior sergeant Roimata Peraua and constable Joe Napa, officers will be showing their regular fitness session to the public as part of NCD Awareness Week. 13022129

Cook Islanders are being challenged to make some positive lifestyle changes during Non-Communicable Disease Awareness Week.

The Ministry of Health has organised an action-packed week, starting today, which aims to promote healthy options in order to prevent debilitating and at times, fatal diseases.

Nutritionist Karen Tairea said NCD diseases such as diabetes and heart disease is the biggest public health issue in the country.

“It’s the main cause of death in the Cook Islands contributing to 80 percent of deaths,” she said.

“Our aim is to reduce this number and in order to do that we need to help people be more aware how serious it is.

“It’s a huge cost on our health system because it’s a chronic disease. Once it’s in your system, you will need treatment for the rest of your life either through diet, physical activity or eventually medication.

Tairea said in worse case scenarios people often suffer from organ failures, have limbs amputated or die.

The week’s theme is ‘Live Smart 5.30 – Step up to the challenge’ which is encouraging people to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables and take part in 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Promotional activities for the week radio quizzes, television documentaries and a NCD awareness carnival on Wednesday.

Avarua town centre will be closed off to traffic to make way for healthy food stalls, information booths, free personal warrant of fitness testing and a sports demonstration.

A Zumba session will be on offer and people can join a fitness class outside the police station from 12pm. Police officers will also be on display with the public invited to what they do to stay in shape.

Tairea said it’s up to the individual to make a change for the better.

“At the end of the day, people need to take responsibility for themselves,” she said. “They can implement small things into their lives like moving more and sitting less, eating more fruit and vegetables and drinking water instead of drinks high in sugar.”

Tairea offers other healthy tips such as removing the skin of a chicken when cooking it, looking at meal portion sizes and putting more vegetables and salads on the table.

• Dana Kinita

Searching for family links

The grave of William Daniel Gardner O’Bryan, who was buried in 1946, in the Avarua CICC churchyard. 13022108

Gordon Holdgate in a churchyard in the UK. 13021707

British man Gordon Holdgate is hoping to find out more about the lives of his great grandparents who were based in the Cook Islands in the early 1900s.

Holdgate, from Brentwood, Essex, has discovered his great grandmother Alice Rosetta (nee Holdgate) O’Bryan, spent her last days living here.

He contacted CI News this month after many years of searching for information and hitting a brick wall.

Holdgate is keen to establish where in the Cook Islands Alice and her husband lived, where Alice was buried, and the names of their children and descendants. He is wondering if any of their descendants still live in the Cook Islands.

Holdgate says Alice, born in 1880 in London, left her 10 year old son William Arthur Holdgate with her sister and migrated to Wellington New Zealand in March 1913.

Two months later, in May 1913 Alice married William O’Bryan, whose address was given as Rarotonga and occupation listed as “wharfinger”an old term for someone who was the keeper or owner of a wharf.

Holdgate found out that two sons and one daughter resulted from the marriage, but he does not know their names or any further details. Alice passed away in 1926 and her husband William’s death was registered by his son ‘S. O’Bryan’ in 1946.

William was buried in the Avarua CICC churchyard, where his headstone is still intact to this day.

Holdgate says Alice never returned to England and the family lost contact with her. Alice’s first son, Arthur married in 1923 and had seven children of whom Edna is the last surviving sibling. Holdgate is Arthur’s grandsonhis father was Arthur’s eldest son Gordon.

Holdgate would love to know whether his great grandfather William O’Bryan had his own business and other information about the family.

“I have come across a brick wall and I wonder if you or your readers have any information on my ancestors.”

Holdgate says he is keen to fill in the gaps on his family tree and would be grateful for any information on his great grandparents. If you can help Holdgate in his search, email gordonHoldgate@yahoo.com or call CI News on 22999.

• Helen Greig

MPs meet on HIV Bill

MPs, civil society members, Ministry of Health officials met on Monday to go through draft provisions of proposed HIV legislation. 13022503

Members of parliament and civil agencies came together yesterday to discuss how Cook Islands law can better support often-stigmatised HIV sufferers and those close to them.

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus which destroys immune system cells that affects an estimated 34 million people worldwide.

Fortunately the Cook Islands does not have a high incidence – but the Cook Islands HIV Prevention, Care and Support Bill is a step towards equal human rights for all living in this country.

In 2010 there was an HIV scare in the Cook Islands after a man from overseas living in Rarotonga was found to suffer from the virus.

“The first thing was we jumped to conclusions and we said, hey, we don’t want this person on our island,” said Health Minister Nandi Glassie at the meeting.

But Glassie said it was fortunate he was given advice to protect that person, not victimise them. “It became a learning lesson for me.”

Government realised it needed regulations in place to deal with this type of situation, so the National HIV STI TB Committee was formed to help put together legislation to help people affected by HIV or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) – the most advanced stage of the HIV infection. The Bill will allow sufferers to have legal protections based on international human rights standards.

Glassie said the work of the committee – co-chaired by Health Secretary Elizabeth Iro and Francis Topa-Fariu of Red Cross – has put the country in good stead with international agencies that would have been appalled should the country have thrown the HIV sufferer out.

Civil agencies such as Pacific Legislature for Population and Governance, Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation, and Cook Islands Red Cross also had an input, along with the Ministry of Health.

The Bill prohibits compulsory HIV testing, but rather voluntary informed consent must be obtained. Counselling must be offered beforehand to those undergoing a test, and also post-test counselling should the result be positive.

Cook Islands must provide access to anti-retroviral therapy – and as long as the drugs have been donated to the Cooks, it will be free to the patients.

It respects the individual’s right to privacy in regards to HIV and STI tests and reporting of results, and makes discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers unlawful. Counselling and testing is confidential.

It also promotes caution and tries to reduce risk of transmission in procedures that carry HIV transmission risks, such as blood transfusions.

Public awareness of the illness is a main purpose of the Bill. Future campaigns will include informing the public on the causes, modes of transmission, consequences, and prevention and cure of the disease. Education will be given to school students, prisoners, workplaces and throughout the community, and will challenge stigma, discrimination and misinformation about the illness.

The Bill has been developed to be consistent with Cook Islands legislation and international standards on gender quality and human rights.

HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person, transfusion of contaminated blood, and the sharing of contaminated needles, syringes or other sharp instruments. It may also be transmitted between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Key populations at higher risk of HIV include women and girls, sexual minorities, illegal drug users, prisoners, sex workers and mobile populations.

• Calida Smylie

Training on official information for MPs

Hosting a series of training sessions on the Official Information Act are: Cook Islands Assistant Ombudsman Jeannine Daniel, New Zealand Assistant Ombudsman Bridget Hewson, CI Ombudsman Tearoa John Tini (back), New Zealand Assistant Ombudsman Leon Donnelly and Cook Islands Senior Investigator Shona Lynch. 13022518

The country’s Official Information Act has turned five this month.

To coincide with its birthday, a series of training sessions are being held jointly hosted by the office of the Cook Islands and New Zealand Ombudsman.

Members of Parliament were the first to benefit from the knowledge of New Zealand Deputy Ombudsman Leon Donnelly and Assistant Ombudsman Bridget Hewson.

Hewson attended the introductory workshops held in Rarotonga in 2009 as the OIA NZ act is similar.

She said yesterday’s session with the MPs was explaining how the act works and sharing some of the lessons and pitfalls that’s been identified with their one over the last 31 years.

“From New Zealand’s experience, it was a very similar, quiet introduction like here but it was around the five year mark that MPs, politicians and media started to use it a lot more,” Hewson said.

She said concerns identified have been the delay in which information has been released and using the act to suit political purposes.

“Some ministries and organisations have also been overwhelmed by a request because it is so broad and are unsure of who is accountable for the decision released.”

Cook Island Ombudsman Tearoa John Tini said he believes this is the first training session for MPs.

“I think this is a good act to have as it gives an individual the right to ask a ministry how a decision is made about them and why,” he said.

“Ministries and organisations are obligated under the act to provide the answers.”

He said it’s important to show the government is transparent and accountable for the decisions they make for the country.

Speaker of the House Nikki Rattle said although the bill is five years old, it’s still important to know the details of it.

“Sessions like these are very helpful because it shows us how the bill works for the members of our communities.

“It also explains reason why the government may withhold information such as security or negotiations may be ongoing and need to be protected,” she said.

“The act gives us a structured way of getting information available without struggle. I think both the public and government need it.”

An OIA workshop will be held with the head of ministries and chief executives today and a workshop for media will take place tomorrow. CI News is also contributing to the workshops through its UNESCO JFIT project which also aims to raise awareness of official information in the Cook Islands.

• Dana Kinita

Heading back to Uni

Peka Fisher and Harriet Tuara enjoy a laugh before leaving Rarotonga for study in New Zealand. /30 13022229

With the new university year about to begin a number of Cook Island students are saying goodbye to their family and friends again. For many it is a return to the studies that they began last year, and a return to change in climate and pace of life.

Peka Fisher and Harriet Tuara left for Auckland over the weekend, both returning for the second year of their Bachelor of Communication Studies, on scholarship from NZ Aid.

Fisher describes the study last year as “full on,” with differences in culture, language and education made easier with the support from fellow Cook Island students.

Having good friends close by made all the difference, with Fisher and Tuara living their first year together in student accommodation, and with plans to find an apartment together this year.

For Tuara the time away from the Cook Islands was especially hard as she left her two year old son, Zephaniah, behind in Rarotonga with her partner Branden Turepu.

Fisher says she has found herself to be quite adaptable in new environments, having previously been away from home for nine months to study in Hawaii. She did however appreciate having Tuara provide them both with some reminders of home, cooking up chop suey, ika mata and chicken curry.

A special orientation for Pacific Island students is held before the general student orientation each year, which they say was a great way to get introduced to university life. They were also part of the Cook Islands Association through Auckland University, which included dance practice for performances, and also support with studying throughout the year.

Both Fisher and Tuara have been fortunate to find employment in Rarotonga over the summer break within their area of study.

Fisher has been working in advertising at Cook Islands News, after working at the newspaper as a cadet reporter during her senior high school years.

For Tuara work at Cook Islands Television is something she is well used to, saying she “grew up in the company”. She has worked at CITV for the last ten years, beginning with interviews for a kid’s news section, and also news reporting and advertising.

Fisher says that they “now know what to expect” for the second year of study that lies ahead. They will have the opportunity to look at a number of speciality areas within communication studies, such as television, journalism, digital media, radio and advertising, before selecting a speciality for their last year.

A return to the Cook Islands, to the faces and places that are familiar, will be in their thoughts until the end of the year.

• Rachel Smith

Future job cuts?

Finance Minister Mark Brown clarifies no job cuts were made to stay within budget. 13022119

There was no job cuts made in order to stay within the country’s budget, said the finance minister in parliament on Friday.

Titikaveka MP Selina Napa asked whether there would be “further cuts” to the country’s personnel budget. She thought there had been 2 per cent job cuts and asked whether this would rise to 5 per cent.

“I just want to clarify,” replied Finance Minister Mark Brown. “No cuts were undertaken in the last budget in terms of personnel. There were no costs, no-one lost their jobs, no downsizing, no reduction of salaries.”

He said the government’s focus is how to grow the economy, not cut it down.

“There are challenges for us in the house, and it is a challenge for any government in assuring a balanced budget. But I can assure you, there will be no cuts.”

On Thursday Brown tabled the Appropriation Amendment Bill, which was debated in the House and passed into law on Friday.

The supplementary national Budget shows an underlying surplus of $749,000.

• Calida Smylie

Guillotine motion ‘calculated’

Parliament guillotined debate on the Appropriation Amendment Bill in a move one politician calls “tactical reversal”.

Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George was concerned right from the start of Friday’s sitting that the government would try to take short cuts with getting the supplementary Budget passed through the House before the weekend.

“Is your government planning to cut short the debate on the Appropriation Bill with a process called guillotining, when standing order 397 prohibits [this action]?” asked George to Finance Minister Mark Brown before the legislative debate started.

A guillotine motion stops all debate despite a certain time being allocated. George said it is compulsory to spend two days debating a bill in the committee of supply.

“Would the minister confirm this rough action will not be taken, or is the government going to follow standing orders for a change?”

Brown replied members were still looking at principles and merits of the Bill at that stage and there was no guillotining motion before the House, “but we’ll see where the day takes us”.

George pressed Brown to “assure this House and the people of the country” debate on the supplementary budget would continue after the weekend.

“Unfortunately there is no way I can give this assurance,” said Brown. “If we get to the end of the Budget and all members have spoken, there is no need to have this guillotine motion.”

The government gave Opposition unlimited time to debate the supplementary Budget, in a move George told CINews was “calculated” to change tactics.

“They extended the sitting [by three hours] then expected the Opposition under pressure to debate the Bill. They knew they would face public criticism for using the guillotine motion, so they extended the time in a tactical reversal.”

George said he tried hard to raise as many points as he could during the debate to make sure the Bill was not rushed through the House.

He said he was disappointed not to receive much help from the Opposition to keep the debate alive.

“The Opposition wanted me to go home as well. The Opposition leader [Wilkie Rasmussen] sat flopping around on his seat. They are all golfers and they just wanted to go to the golf course.”

Parliament moved the guillotining motion at around 4.30pm, and the Appropriation Amendment Act 2013 was passed. “This is a tactic that shows contempt of the Budget,” said George, who is referred to as the ‘grandfather’ of the House as he was first elected in 1983.

“The Cook Islands Party is treating it like a football. Parliamentary process has to be followed and we are not doing it properly at the present time.”

• Calida Smylie

Health ministry takes the lead

The Ministry of Health encourage their staff and family to live healthier lifestyles to prevent non-communicable diseases which are plaguing the country. 13022513

Workplaces are taking a growing interest in their employees’ wellbeing.

The Ministry of Health is taking the lead as they aim to “walk the talk” and support staff to live healthier lifestyles. It is also a way to prevent the onset of non-communicable diseases which are being highlighted in an awareness campaign this week.

Public health nutrionist Karen Tairea said the ministry offer Zumba classes at the hospital for workers three times a week, physical activity for their Tupapa staff and have enforced a ban on smoking at their premises.

She said a nutrition and physical activity policy has been endorsed by executives and applies to all workshops and meetings.

Te Aponga Uira has also been proactive in steering their staff to a healthy way of living.

The company offer health checks every six months, fees are subsidised for fitness classes at the Tupapa Centre and a no smoking policy is in place on the premises which include work vehicles.

Acting Chief Executive Yamanika Cooray said management want their people to bring their best selves to the workplace everyday.

“The obvious benefits is they have more energy, less stress and they take fewer days off work sick, which is good for us,” she said.

“Improved wellbeing gives rise to better attitudes all round and makes work enjoyable and more productive which is good for everybody.

“We feel it contributes to leadership and team building too which is important to a company of our size of 55 staff,” she said.

“The bottom line is we feel that promoting health and well being is a valuable activity for us and helps us to be a responsible employer.”

Rutaki and Takitumu School have realised the importance of educating young people to make smarter food choices.

They start their day with early morning fitness classes and no junk food allowed except once a week on ‘treat day.’

Statistics compiled by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation show the Cook Islands have a high rate of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease and is responsible for 80 per cent of the country’s deaths.

The NCD Awareness Week aims to educate and promote activities that encourage healthy living. A NCD prevention carnival is set to be held tomorrow in the town centre.

• Dana Kinita

Party bus licenses under review

Party buses and the noise they make are copping flack from members of the community while police look into the conditions of the passenger service license. 13022517

While Cook Islands police have not received any formal complaints in regards to noisy party buses, they are working closely with Crown Law to develop regulations for the passenger service licenses issued to transport operators.

Cook Islands News has received several letters to the editor complaining about the noise generated by what they call ‘booze buses’.

According to inspector Arama Tera, who is working with Crown Law, only three companies have been issued with passenger service licenses; namely Raro Tours, Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport and Rehab.

Tera says that police have yet to meet with the bus operators to go over conditions of their licence.

He says that from what he understands – the passenger service licence allows those with licenses to pick up and drop off passengers.

However, he says that it’s come to his attention that some of the bus operators are picking up and dropping off passengers from bar to bar with the concerning issue of some operators allowing those passengers to take alcohol in and out of the bars they visit.

While those complaining via letters to the editor are calling the service ‘booze’ buses – Kevin Cook of Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd in his letter to the editor (page 6), says he considers his service as a nightlife tour bus.

“As the hotels require their guest to have a pleasant and safe evening, we do not consider our nightlife buses ‘booze buses’, but nightlife tour buses. Our buses also carry very substantial liability insurance, which some others do not have,” says Cook.

Tera admits that there are other buses operating that are un-licensed and says that owners of these are currently overseas.

He adds that it is his intention to meet with all transport operators providing such services to clarify the rules that apply to their transport service license.

Meanwhile, he says he will continue to work closely with Crown Law to find solutions to the long standing issue of noisy buses transporting partygoers.

Related article(s):
Booze buses ‘all the way’
Nightlife buses licensed

• Matariki Wilson

‘It’s going to blind someone’

MP Norman George is concerned about motorists losing an eye due to careless roadside workers. 13022124

Roadside cleaning contractors with brush cutters acting irresponsibly around motorists was a hot topic of conversation in parliament on Friday.

Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George asked Minister Teariki Heather with his “twin hats” of police and infrastructure portfolios to look at his “humble” request:

“The motorists on this island have had lots of trouble with roadside workers using brush cutters. You get a lot of metal thrown at your car, sometimes cracking windscreens.

“Can you get the police to talk to them to turn the brush cutter away when they see a motorist? One day it’s going to blind someone.”

Heather replied this was not his responsibility but that of Internal Affairs.

“Some of these young people don’t seem to care, but we will pass on your concerns.”

• Calida Smylie

Parliament adjourned sine die

Parliament has been adjourned sine die, with the next sitting likely to be April.

The 9th meeting of the 47th session of parliament began on February 14 and ran for six days, although 11 days were scheduled.

Parliamentary clerk Tupuna Rakanui said parliament was adjourned sine die as all primary business was finished on Friday. This was the passing of the Island Government Act and the Appropriation Amendment Act.

“There were other bills lined up but didn’t get to parliament,” said Rakanui. This includes papers on employment relations, shark conservation regulations, and customs tariffs.

These will be debated next time the members come together. Rakanui said this is likely to be April.

Yesterday the MPs carried on with parliamentary work.

Members attended a morning session on the HIV Bill, which has been spearheaded by civil agencies like Pacific Legislature for Population and Governance, Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation, and Cook Islands Red Cross. The health ministry is also involved.

The Bill is still in draft form and the civil agencies consulted with the MPs to give them a better understanding of the provisions. The Bill is likely to be passed next year.

An afternoon session was held to inform MPs on the Official Information Act, guided by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“This session will help the members to see how they can best address the provisions of the Act, and can be responsive to queries of the media and the public. It’s important to work better with the media,” said Rakanui.

These sessions were held without the presence of Prime Minister Henry Puna, Finance Minister Mark Brown and Tourism Minister Teina Bishop, who are in Queenstown this week for a joint ministerial forum with NZ government.

• Calida Smylie

Entrepreneurs hard at work

Lisiane Messine, Tikava Atiau, Ngatupuna Moerouru, Turu Tuatai and Tamira Akima have an idea for a new business that they are sure will be a success. 13022238

Coming up with new and innovative business ideas has been part of the school day for the Business Studies students at Tereora College.

Using traditional knowledge to create a new product is the idea behind a beauty oil that Lisiane Messine, Tikava Atiau, Ngatupuna Moerouru, Turu Tuatai and Tamira Akima, plan to produce. Island Beauty is the name for their product, which is to be a coconut based oil that can be used for stretch marks.

For another group, made up of Tiare Beer, Titania Dyer and Patrene Tua, this will mean combining their clothing and technology classes with their business studies learning to design clothing.

As part of the Young Enterprise Scheme, the class of Business Studies students has formed groups who have a passion for a similar business idea. They have also selected five directors among the group that make the most of their individual strengths. These include positions that you would find in any business – CEO, Sales/Marketing, Communication, Production and Finance Managers.

The Island Beauty group describe the first of four YES workshop days, held last Friday, as “awesome” saying that they learnt a lot. All were looking forward to their meeting with local business leaders as part of their afternoon event of ‘speed coaching.”

• RS

Celebrating our diversity

Dr. Amelia Hokule’a Borofsky, who grew up in Pukapuka and Hawai’i, has returned to the atoll to live, listen, learn and write. She holds her doctorate in community and cross-cultural psychology and has taught at aq and university level. She is a regular contributor to CI News and the Atlantic online health channel. She welcomes questions, feedback and community ideas at: aborofsky@gmail.com

I am writing to clear up any confusion regarding the article entitled ‘Myths of Pukapuka’ (Saturday, February 23).

I heard these myths in Rarotonga, these tala wanonga ko ye tika. These myths about Pukapuka are not true. I tried to come up with my own explanations of how they may have arisen but by no means does this represent the only truth.

Every writer, every ‘objective’ journalist has a point of view. I wrote about a sensitive subject and I hope that the article can be read very carefully. Any stories I write about Pukapuka represent my own point of view and experience. I do not represent ‘the Pukapukan view’. Besides, there is no such thing as one Pukapukan view. There is much diversity. I am explaining what I think makes Pukapuka so awesome, special and unique.

Honestly, I heard a lot of negative things said about Pukapuka and felt tired of hearing them. On my first visit back here last year, a woman in immigration said, “why do you want to go to Pukapuka? We don’t recommend that people go there.” A Pukapukan friend born and raised in New Zealand was told at work in Rarotonga, “are you sure you’re Pukapukan? Your English is so good.” I also heard from a government official, “the wives don’t like us to send contract workers to Pukapuka.”

In regards to the last comment, I again want to emphasize that Pukapukan women are like women all over the world. Women are sexual beings and sexuality ought to be celebrated. Perhaps Pukapukan women live less in denial of their sexual power. Outside men also go after Pukapukan women; it takes two to tango. Pukapukan women have strength, beauty and work hard.

Myths about Pukapukans do not differ that much from racist stereotypes about Hawaiians who also regularly get labeled “lazy,” or racist stereotypes about Maoris and Aborigines. African-American women and men, usually from working classes, in the United States also get labeled “hyper-sexual.” To me it is about understanding and celebrating various differences that may, or may not exist, and coming to a clearer appreciation of our diversity. Pukapuka has a special uniqueness in Polynesia as one of the last, thriving atolls that functions on a village and motu system. I hope that the next generation can celebrate the skills they have to offer. The Cook Islands has a lot of uniqueness worth protecting, much of which has been lost in Hawaii. I would hate to see any of this get lost in the name of industrialized “Western values” and “progress.”

Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Sonny Williams, secretary of Marine Resources Ben Ponia and Police superintendent Aka Matapo took part in yesterday’s Official Information Act workshop. 13022614

Head of ministries and government chief executives had their turn to learn more about the Cook Islands’ Official Information Act.

More than 20 gathered at Crown Beach Resort yesterday to discuss and provide feedback on how the act has affected them since it was passed by parliament five years ago.

The workshop is part of a series of sessions jointly hosted by the offices of New Zealand and Cook Island Ombudsman. Cook Islands News has also assisted through its UNESCO JFIT project which aims to raise awareness of the legislation.

New Zealand Deputy Ombudsman Leo Donnelly said it was around this time that the act was starting to gain momentum within his country.

“It took about five years for citizens, special interest groups and media to understand what their rights are.”

Donnelly said issued raised included the ways people can request information from government ministries or agencies.

“There is no need for a special process. You can ring up and ask for the information, it doesn’t have to be in writing,” he said.

“You don’t have to specifically state the act because any request is deemed to be under the OIA.”

He said they also discussed what the act covers which included contractors and the work they carried out for the government department.

Chief Executive of Cook Islands Tourism Association Halatoa Fua said sessions like these are a helpful refresher course on the complexities of the act.

“We had two requests for information last year involving the process of our subcontracting work,” he said.

“We released the information but needed an extension of the 20 working days as many of our staff were overseas at the time, but it was a good learning curve for us.”

Fua said the organisation has set up a process with dealing with OIA requests and he’ll be debriefing staff of what he has learnt from yesterday’s session.

“It’s important to have transparency as there are public funds involved.”

A workshop involving the media, MPs and head of ministries will be held today.

Related article(s):
HOMs give feedback on OIA

• Dana Kinita

Police are seeking information in relation to a burglary on an Arorangi home where $21,000 worth of jewellery and electronic goods were stolen by two culprits.

Two men are believed to be responsible for the burglary on the home of Chris McKinley who says that the men, carrying bush knives, entered his home while his family slept and stole his wife’s jewellery and kid’s electronics and school bags.

Police are asking any member of the public that may have heard information about who may have carried out this burglary to give them a call – your name will be kept confidential and any small piece of information could help solve this case.

The Taio Shipping office at Avatiu harbour was also robbed at the weekend where the front door was smashed in with a rock and cash stolen from the office.

Police are following up on strong leads to apprehend the person responsible.

Meanwhile, police made a number of arrests at the weekend for offences including possession of cannabis, assault and driving while disqualified.

A Takuvaine man was arrested for assaulting his female partner at the weekend while another man from Nikao was arrested for assaulting his mother during a domestic argument.

Two disqualified drivers were also arrested in Nikao and a Nikao man was arrested by police for possession of cannabis after his home was searched.

The Nikao man was remanded in Arorangi prison and will appear in court this Thursday.

A man was lucky to escape serious injury when he crashed into the Nikao sea wall while trying to avoid an oncoming car in his lane.

The driver of the car fled the scene and the motorbike driver was admitted to hospital.

• Matariki Wilson

Kau Wo Wolo (island chiefs) and Island Council. 13022418

Dr. Amelia Hokule’a Borofsky, who grew up in Pukapuka and Hawai’i, has returned to the atoll to live, listen, learn and write. She holds her doctorate in community and cross-cultural psychology and has taught at the college and university level. She is a regular contributor to CI News and the Atlantic online health channel. She welcomes questions, feedback and community ideas at: aborofsky@gmail.com

This week in Pukapuka marks the end of the New Year’s celebrations. The Kau Wo Wolo or Island Chiefs and the Island Council held their annual meeting to review the rules for the upcoming year that govern the island and the fines imposed for breaking those rules. After the Kau Wo Wolo finished, they went to visit each village to share their rules and everyone could ask questions and discuss them. It is a very democratic process.

Each village then held their individual annual meetings over three days to review the rules for the motu, ecological food reserves, for the upcoming year. Each village shared their census and mentioned who had become an akawawine and an akatane of the village passing from childhood to adulthood. Loto village spent an extra day on its meeting in order to come up with new rules and fines for caretaking the new Pukapuka Cyclone Centre. Ngake village announced the closure of the kaveu on Motu Ko for the next two years so that the kaveu could grow undisturbed and the motu can replenish its resources. The fishing on each motu also received careful review and the village reminded everyone that pigs that roam the motu disturbing the delicate ecological balance get shot and the owner fined. The Pules or rotating caretakers all watch the motu to enforce the rules. The protection of the motu involves age-old environmental wisdom that protects and ensures the equal distribution of resources.

Ngake, Loto and Yato then held the celebratory vananga where the men of each village go to the other villages to share the rules for their village motu, have a village feed and dance with the women of the other village. During the all-day affair, everyone can comment on the rules, and playful inter-village banter occurs. “Loto is so slow, taking so long on their rules,” laughed one man. In response to the closing of the kaveu on Motu Ko some of the airport workers asked, “What if we accidentally run over a kaveu with the tractor? Can we take it home or do we leave it?” Long discussions ensued about all the rules that govern the delicate balance of life in Pukapuka. And then, everyone danced.

After the vananga, each village held their annual imukai to celebrate and share food. Yato shared kaveu and birds, Ngake shared over three hundred fish and Loto shared fish and mawu (twice-baked imu taro mixed with coconut milk). The cooking of the mawu took over three days. The first day involved going to the taro patch and peeling and grating the taro. The second day involved gathering coconuts on the motu and making all the fresh coconut cream. The third day involved wrapping the mixture in banana leaves and baking it twice in the imu. Everything tasted delicious.

The end of the village New Year festivities means the motu will now be open after having been closed for the last season. Now everyone can escape the busy, modern life on wale and sleep out in the kikau huts, maintaining the best of both worlds.

A tradition Maori blessing ceremony was held to officially change the Southern Reef’s name to Olomana. 13022607

Vessels formerly owned by Reef Shipping have had Hawaiian name changes by new owner Matson South Pacific.

Last weekend, Southern Reef – which services Rarotonga and Aitutaki – was renamed Olomana.

This means ‘old man’ and also ‘divided hill’ in Hawaiian. It is a name of a mountain range on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

A ceremony for the name change was held in Auckland with a traditional Maori blessing by a Kaumatua and a Pacific Island church minister.

American company Matson – which has a long history of servicing Hawaii from Southern California – took over financially-troubled Reef Shipping at the start of the year. The company acquired primary assets formerly owned by Reef including four vessels and about 1500 pieces of container equipment.

Matson introduced itself to Rarotonga on February 1 with a cocktail party attended by its Senior Vice President for the Pacific Vic Angoco, who will oversee the new venture.

Former All Black Michael Jones – who was an employee of Reef Shipping – has been appointed Matson’s strategic development manager for the new South Pacific service.

Olomana voyage 10 will next be in Rarotonga on March 4 and Aitutaki March 6.

As Matson has taken the Tahiti stop out of its route, Olomana routing will now be Auckland, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Niue, and Auckland with a 21 day turnaround. This service will start from voyage 10 onwards.

The Matson office said the revised port rotation will provide Cook Islands and Niue customers with a more dependable service.

Reef Samoa has also had a name change to Liloa, in honour of a Hawaiian king.

• Calida Smylie

The key to preventing drownings in Cook Islands waters is a faster response from police, said Steve Lyon of Pacific Divers Cook Islands at a water safety meeting at the New Zealand High Commission yesterday.

Following the drowning of two visitors at Avaavaroa passage in Vaiimaanga in December, buoyancy devices and warning signs were installed.

In addition to these developments, Lyon said it is crucial that police quickly help people who get into trouble in the water.

“Unless we get to a stage where we improve the police response, we’re not going to change anything from the last accident.”

Police inspector John Strickland said trained rescuers need to be appointed in each village to help police respond quickly to calls.

“We need to form those relationships. We can’t afford to wait three months or six months. We need to identify those key people now, so we know who to contact if an accident happens.”

New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter said the goal is to have a trial run where police respond to a pretend accident.

“To help police [respond faster], we need to do the groundwork first. It would be great if we could get to that point where we have a dummy run.”

• Briar Douglas

13022617

Members of the tourism industry are currently on tour in a snowy Europe to advertise what the Cook Islands has to offer.

The South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) spearheaded road show is being held from February 25 to 28 and on March 4 – travelling to Paris, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam.

This is the first time for many years SPTO has organised the road show, which targets the three key European markets of France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The Cooks are being represented by Cook Islands Tourism Corporation European marketing co-ordinator Teumere Koteka-Heather, Edgewater Resort & Spa director of sales and marketing Emile Kairua, Air Rarotonga marketing and revenue manager Sarah Mooreland, and Royale Takitumu Villas and Palm Grove representative Paul Rec.

The four did their first presentation to over 50 travel agents and wholesalers in Paris on Monday evening.

“It was great to see some familiar faces last night – some of the wholesaler were in Rarotonga for Kia Orana Cook Islands and were pleased to have the Cooks in the French market again,” said Kairua.

Before leaving Paris, they took time to see the sights of Paris, including a visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

The team arrived into a snow-blanketed Munich for the second show yesterday and will then go to Hamburg where more cold snowy weather is expected. They will spend the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving in Berlin for their last show.

Koteka-Heather will also attend the ITB show – one of Europe’s largest tourism consumer shows.

“Europe is beautiful at this time of the year, especially when everything is covered in snow. It is also the perfect time to sell a warm tropical escape to Europeans,” said Kairua.

Other countries participating in the road show are New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Fiji and Tahiti.

• Calida Smylie

The Cook Islands Nursing School is receiving strong support both here and overseas to help it come into fruition.

Ministry of Health Secretary Elizabeth Iro said the budget is yet to be finalised but the school remains a priority initiative for them. She said the school has been included in their business plan which is waiting final approval from the budget review committee.

“We are working with the Ministry of Education as partners to have the nursing qualification accredited under them,” she said.

“We also have support from the World Health Organisation who has agreed to procure text books and equipment for the school.”

An application has been made to New Zealand Aid to assist with funding.

Iro said there is a great need for nurses in the country.

“We’re wanting to train enough students to cover for our retirees when they leave and also for the high turnover of expatriate nurses.

“We recruit from Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to fill the gap.”

Chief nursing officer Ngakiri Teaea said there is a demand for local nurses with people from the outer-islands and men strongly encouraged to apply for the 12 places on the course.

“We’ve had comments from patients who say they would prefer to be looked after by a Cook Islander.

“A lot of our older people feel more comfortable talking in Maori.”

Iro said they do appreciate the nurses that are from overseas and the job they do.

“But at the end of the day, we’re wanting to have opportunities for our Cook Island people, so they can stay, train and work in the country.”

• Dana Kinita

USP Council Chair Ikbal Jannif, USP Chancellor Ulu-o-Tokelau Aliki Faipule Kerisiano Kalolo and Vice-Chancellor and President of USP Professor Rajesh Chandra at the strategic plan launch. 13022516

The University of the South Pacific launched its new strategic plan for the next six years.

The 2013-2018 plan was launched by USP Chancellor Ulu-o-Tokelau Aliki Faipule Kerisiano Kalolo at the university’s Laucala campus in Suva on Monday.

The new strategic plan was approved by the USP Council in its last meeting in November last year and builds on the previous plan 2010-2012.

The priority areas are learning and teaching, student support, research and internationalisation, regional and community engagement, our people, governance, management, leadership, and continuous improvement, and information and communication technologies.

Under the new plan, the university will focus on its people, quality, regional campuses, postgraduate studies, research, global leadership in areas such as Pacific arts, climate change and oceans, entrepreneurialism – and being a regional exemplar.

Vice-chancellor and president of USP Professor Rajesh Chandra said a key element in the success of any strategic plan is the process by which it is conceived and developed.

He said the new plan was developed in consultation with member countries and stakeholders, including staff, students, development partners and regional agencies.

“This plan is therefore, very consultative and inclusive, and this should make it a successful one, because of its sense of ownership and inclusion.”

The university is expected to spend around $241 million on implementing the new plan, which it hopes will transform USP from “good to excellent.”

“Being good is not good enough in a highly competitive, open, and knowledge-intensive world. We need to lift our vision and stretch our performance, and obtain global recognition in selected fields and a reputation of competence and excellence in everything we do,” said Chandra.

By 2018, USP is expected to grow to a projected 33,000 students, many at postgraduate level. The university aims to have more member countries and regional campuses that are as high-quality, modern, and well-equipped as flagship campus at Laucala, Suva.

When launching the document Kalolo said the new plan is not only USP’s plan for growth and development for the next six years, but it has important ramifications for all of USP’s member countries.

“Its success will be shared and felt throughout the region, in better qualified and prepared human resources, in more readily applicable research, and increased useful dialogue on regional issues and policy-making.”

• USP

The Cook Islands Restaurant Association wants levies on imported seasonal fruit reduced or removed. 13022619

The Cook Islands Restaurant Association has made a submission on tax recommending import levies removed or reduced on seasonal fruit and vegetables, pork products and sugary drinks.

The submission was made as part of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) tax review, and is listed on MFEM’s website along with five others.

The submission says currently during the months of September, October and November, import levies increase to 75 per cent for selected fruits and 25 per cent for selected vegetables.

But the restaurant association thinks all import levies for these goods should be set at zero per cent, due to lack of local supply – the first preference – during these times.

It also says these being a healthy option there is no need to deter sale like for cigarettes or alcohol.

The association wants pork products’ levies to be lowered – currently set at 50 per cent.

“The original reasoning behind the levy was to protect local pig farmers. Today, as such this levy is unfair and therefore the import levy for imported pork should be set at zero per cent.”

The submission says local supply does not cover demand and there are no levies for Aitutaki customers – which puts Rarotonga at a disadvantage.

The association gave an example as of December 2012, where ham on the bone retails in New Zealand at approximately $12 per kilo, but at various outlets on Rarotonga retails at $20 per kilo. Imported champagne ham on the bone retails above $32 per kilo.

It says no figures have been provided by MFEM to evaluate the revenue generated by levies on imported pork.

The association also believes diet drinks, soda and sparkling water should have levies reduced to zero per cent – currently they are set at 75 per cent due to being lumped into the imported carbonated, sugared drinks category. Government put the levies on these up last year as a health policy – but the association points out taxing the healthier diet drink option at the same level as sugared drinks does not fit MFEM reasoning of making unhealthy options more expensive.

The Association’s Secretary, Cafe Salsa owner Gerrard Kaczmarek, submitted the opinion on behalf of independently owned hospitality businesses on Rarotonga, including Bamboo Jacks, Kikau Hut Restaurant, and Tamarind House.

Written submissions for the tax review have now closed.

• Calida Smylie

Australian Legal Publishing and Management Consultant Michael Rubacki wants to help the Cooks get rid of outdated bound legislation and have an online database instead. 13022605

“It’s all wilting like rotten leaves. There are photocopies of photocopies,” says an Australian consultant of the Cook Islands current legislation archives.

A study is being done on how Cook Islands can efficiently start an online database of the country’s laws.

Australian Legal Publishing and Management Consultant Michael Rubacki is in Rarotonga for two-and-a-half weeks to sift through extensive legal archives and report back on how the Cooks can join the rest of the Western world in having a digital database. Rubacki says the Cook Islands must be one of “last places” not to have digital legislation and does not know other Pacific countries that do not yet have a current legislative website.

“The problem is there is no up-to-date legislation,” he says.

The last set of bound legislation was put together in 1994. “The trouble is with the traditional way [of publishing in books], the day of publishing is out of date. It rapidly becomes dangerous rather than useful.”

Since 1994, nearly 20 years of amendments have been published, making the green leather-bound books superfluous.

“It’s got into a bit of a state. Lots of reviewers here have been pressing for a solution.”

Rubacki’s study is being funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, after being asked to get onboard by the clerk of Cook Islands’ partner parliament Western Australia.

The solution is electronic legislation published online, says Rubacki.

“It’s much easier to update files electronically, and people can just download a PDF file and print it off.”

Pulling together almost 20 years of legislative amendments with the original acts will be a big job that could take three years to finish, but once the legislation is all current it should be easy to keep in order, says Rubacki. The project can be done in steps with the most-used legislation to be put online first.

“The Cook Islands only passes about 20 pieces of legislation a year so it should be simple to keep it up to date.”

Legislation is stored in a room at the Cook Islands Parliament, and staff can print off copies for a fee when asked.

“It’s all wilting like rotten leaves. There are photocopies of photocopies,” says Rubacki.

The consultant will recommend in his report for a policy change to make all legislation free to the public online. This follows a worldwide trend, he says.

Rubacki’s task is to scope out a project blueprint and plan how the project could be done. He will recommend a simple technology based on a framework used elsewhere in the Pacific.

He names Nauru as having a good model project. Funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme, Nauru took three years to develop an online database which is now maintained locally.

“There’s no point using an expensive high-tech system that means you have to fly a technology whizz over from Melbourne every six months.”

Funding will have to be found – but Rubacki says it is a “very, worthwhile project” which should attract funding easily.

A decision will also have to be made on who will run the project. Rubacki says this may be a task as there is no legal drafting office in the Cooks and it is unusual to have parliamentary staff doing legislative printing.

While Cook Islands legislation can be viewed at online Pacific islands legislative database PacLII, Rubacki said this is neither consolidated nor up to date.

Since his arrival last week, Rubacki has talked to Crown Law, private law practitioners, government ministers and MPs, parliamentary staff, and public libraries to get an idea on what is needed.

“I intend to meet as many people as I can and really get under the bonnet of what’s happening here.”

He also attended two “decorous” sitting days in parliament last week, which he said was a great introduction.

Rubacki, who has retired from a career in legal publishing but takes on around four research projects like this a year, intends to finish his report the end of March.

• Calida Smylie

Fire chief Nga Jessie. 12030112

Signs directing people to safety in the event of a tsunami are incomplete in Matavera, said local resident and Chief of Fire Nga Jessie.

“At the moment the signs are just pointing inland. It’s incomplete. We need to erect more signs that go to a single point.”

This will be a key project for a new committee, due to be elected by Matavera residents on Thursday, which will be in charge of looking after the needs of the village, he said.

Jessie, who helped organise the committee meeting, said it is important to prepare for such disasters in advance.

“When preparing for a cyclone, we might have three days. But when it comes to a tsunami , we have only a few hours.”

The committee will also address other issues that impact the well being of Matavera, from youth issues to keeping vegetation tidy, Jessie said.

Matavera MP Kiriau Turepu said the general nature of the committee’s duties makes it unique in the Cooks.

“[Other village] have other committees, but they haven’t really combined them under an umbrella.”

Turepu will be attending the meeting, but intends to stay out of the limelight.

“I’d rather as an MP stay away from the committee. Rather than making it a political thing, I want it to be about the community.”

The committee will consist of six management positions, as well as representatives from different groups such as young people and growers in the area.

The committee meeting will take place at Matavera CICC Sunday School Hall from 6pm tonight.

• Briar Douglas

President of Mangaia Sports Association, Poroa Arokapiti (back middle) and members of his committee put on a kaikai to honour CI Volleyball Federation president and CISNOC President Hugh Graham. 13022604

The code of volleyball is set to spike on the island of Mangaia after donations of equipment to the Mangaia Sports Association.

Last week, Cook Islands Volleyball Federation (CIVF) President Hugh Graham, who is also the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee president, presented two volleyball nets, 6 volleyballs and a ball pump to the Mangaia Sports Association.

The donation of the volleyball equipment is all part of the volleyball federation’s plan to assist the outer islands and clubs on Rarotonga with their development programmes.

Graham says that he appreciates that most islands are not able to participate or organised volleyball simply because they do not have the gear.

President of Mangaia island sports, Poroa Arokapiti was on hand to receive the volleyball equipment on behalf of his committee and members.

While in Mangaia Graham was hosted by the Mangaia Sports to a kaikai, where the presentation was made.

Currently, Mangaia islanders are taking part in organised tennis before the netball season and the volleyball season in April and May.

Other outer islands including Atiu, Pukapuka, Manihiki and Mauke have also received volleyball nets and balls just like Mangaia has.

Tereora College also received donation of volleyball gear and remaining outer islands are also set to receive gear as they become available.

Graham also took this opportunity to update the Mangaia Sports Committee on CISNOC affairs, in his capacity as CISNOC president.

• Matariki Wilson

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