Cook Is WEEKEND : Saturday
10:
'My night in
jail' - 71-year-old's story
HOT ON THE ROCK - Mangaia student top of the
maths class of 600
Laptop, bank accounts, suitcases and cash won
Restoring Mauke's divided Ziona church
Small Island Voice - Happy Mother's Day!
'My night in jail' - 71-year-old's story
She screams from nightmares
Among the patrons at Whatever Restaurant and Bar on Monday
night were two close friends, Thea and Gisela. As you do at
Whatever, they enjoyed a good meal and shared a single
bottle of sauvignon blanc. A friend who they met up with at
the restaurant also enjoyed a glass from the bottle of wine.
With dinner over, the pair left the premises and returned
home to Avana with Thea driving. As far as she is concerned,
there were no problems whatsoever with the drive home.
Furthermore, Gisela who was sitting in the passenger seat,
was not scared, worried or concerned at Thea's driving.
"No, not at all. We had no difficulties and no accident
or almost accident. Nothing at all," she says.
They arrived home at about 8.30pm. Neither is sure of the
exact time, but they believe it must have been around 8.30.
It was an early night, however, for the pair of them.
Gisela was tasked with preparing the beachfront table for
dessert. Thea, who had changed into a pareu and a t-shirt,
was walking around barefoot, getting dessert ready in the
kitchen.
About half an hour later, Thea says, she was still in the
kitchen when she looked up to see two police officers, a man
and a woman, step on to her back veranda and walk past the
window to her door.
Thea shouted out to Gisela who was still on the beach.
"They (police) said I have to come to the station
because I was dangerous driving. We have been reported for
dangerous driving," says Thea.
The male officer, who was both taller and bigger than her,
took her by the arms and told her she had to go with him.
Angry, Thea says pulled away from him once when he grabbed
her, and she told him not to touch her.
Thea asked for their names about four times and neither
officer would tell her. Gisela had also asked for their
names and the name of the person who had reported them to
the police. None of the names was given.
Thea called them cowards because she was angry and because
neither would give their names. She also says that at no
time did either officer ask her to take a breathalyser test
at her residence.
She was led away to the police truck parked at the front of
her home. They did not drag her. While she didn't go
willingly, she was not pulling away from the officer nor was
she causing any more trouble.
She admits being vocal in objecting to being arrested, and
in her Italian native language she said repeatedly, "Basta,
basta." It means 'that's enough, that's enough.' She
agrees these words could have been mistaken for 'bastard,
bastard.'
Gisela locked the house up and followed the two officers and
her friend out to the police vehicle. "I closed the
house up and went behind because I didn't want to leave her
alone and because I was a witness. I saw everything,"
she says.
In the truck, Gisela sat up front with the male officer and
Thea sat at the back with the female officer. Both Thea and
Gisela say that during the drive to the police station in
Avarua, nothing was said to them by the officers. "Not
one word," says Thea.
At the station, Thea was taken into a room and the male
officer brought a breathalyser machine out. He asked her to
take the test and she refused to. "He said, you have to
make a breath test, and I said, I'm not doing it. Because I
tell you also why, I thought this was a breach of my privacy
because I was at home. I could have had alcohol in the
meantime here (at home)."
Asked if she would have taken the breathalyser test if she
had been stopped on the road by police, prior to arriving
home, Thea says she would have.
After she refused the test, Thea says the officer did not
insist that she take it.
Did he at all tell you that it's an offence not to have the
test? "No, never. I didn't even know that." [Under
the Transport Amendment Act 2007, a person commits an
offence if they refuse to take a breathalyser test.]
He took photos of her and "make me feel like a
criminal, that's for sure. I thought I was in another
country."
Thea was taken into the truck and he told her, "I take
you to prison." Nothing else was said nor was there any
explanation given by either officer.
Gisela was in the truck as it made its way to Arorangi
Prison and she even asked if she could stay with Thea in
prison. "I went, in fact, until the door of the prison.
Then I said I will stay with her (Thea). But I wasn't
allowed and she (Thea) said, no you let it be," says
Gisela.
Throughout all this, Thea says she wasn't scared. "No,
I wasn't scared because I didn't feel I did something. I
didn't even think I would need a lawyer."
Gisela was taken back to the police station. The female
officer took a statement from her and asked her to sign it.
Gisela said she would sign it if the officer gave their
names and the name of the person who made the report.
Because no names were given, Gisela refused to sign the
document.
That officer took her back home to Avana. "And she
became very nice. She said, are you okay? I said I'm not
okay at all, because I am so upset. I have travelled all
over the world, never in [my] life [has such] a thing
happen," says Gisela.
It was late in the night when Thea was put into the cell.
She was upset and told the warden that it was terrible what
was happening to her.
There was a bed of some sort that had a thin mattress and a
cushion. There was no sheet or blanket on the bed.
Lying on the bed in that prison cell, Thea still couldn't
believe what was happening. It wasn't till the middle of the
night when she woke up after a couple of hours of sleep that
things really started to sink in.
In this entire experience, Thea tells of one comfort she
received. During the night, the prison cat entered her cell
and jumped up on the bed with her. This was comforting for
Thea and it helped keep her warm. "It's a very bad
experience, very bad. And very lonely," says Thea.
Gisela, who was back at home, was finding it hard to sleep.
"I went home and I couldn't sleep. And I thought, you
are completely helpless even in your own house when two big
person came, you're helpless. You can't do anything,"
she says.
The next morning at 7.30, the warden came to open the cell
door. Today, Thea can laugh about the fact that the door to
her cell was stuck and the warden had to get help to open
the door. This is the only part of that entire experience
that Thea can bring herself to laugh about.
The rest of the day was nothing to laugh about. She wasn't
allowed a phone call. The female warden made her a cup of
coffee and Thea says she was actually very nice. "She
was very human to me," says Thea.
Waiting for her court appearance that morning, Thea says she
sat in a room with the female warden and the only female
inmate. The inmate is Tiata Robati who is serving a sentence
for murder.
Thea knew that the young woman was in prison for murder and
her history of having children while in prison. Being told
that Tiata had been in jail for the last eight years, Thea
says she felt sorry for her. Those feelings of sorrow arose
because Thea, who had spent just one night behind bars,
could not fathom having to spend eight years there.
In the meantime, Gisela, with the help of another friend,
Les Priest, had gotten a bag of clothes to prison. Thea had
a shower and put on something other than the pareu and
t-shirt she was wearing from the previous night. It also
gave her the chance to put something on her feet because she
had left her home barefoot.
Thea appeared in court and was charged with a single count
of refusing a breathalyser test. She says the charge sheet
itself had to be changed because it recorded her as being
apprehended from Tupapa, rather than from Ngatangiia.
For someone aged 71, the experience is something that will
take a long time to come to terms with, if in fact they ever
do. Thea still hasn't come to grips with what has happened.
Gisela says that Thea has woken up at nights screaming from
nightmares and Thea herself says she is now taking sleeping
pills.
She is also trying to cope with it all during the day.
Gisela says that Thea cries every once in a while. "You
know it's hard... it's hard... it's very hard," says
Thea.
Thea will appear in front of the Rarotonga High Court next
Thursday. She has retained a lawyer and to date is facing
the single charge of refusing a breathalyser test.
TOP
HOT ON THE
ROCK - Mangaia student top of the maths class of 600
Mangaia School student May
Thu Myo Min has picked up top honours in the Australian
maths competition in both the middle primary and outer
island divisions.
The competition, which was held last year, was contested
here in the Cook Islands by 12 schools - nine from Rarotonga
and three from the outer islands.
National competition coordinator Tere Utanga says individual
students attempt to answer 25 multi-choice and five short
answer questions in 75 minutes and all answers are sent to
Australia for electronic marking.
"The questions are not only set to challenge students
but also to provide activities to enrich classroom
learning," says Utanga.
More than 600 students entered the competition, the largest
number yet. However, there was only a 93 percent
participation rate as not all the schools who entered
actually completed the competition.
Westpac Bank is the major sponsor of the event, the largest
of its kind in the Pacific, and their support is highly
appreciated, says Utanga.
The bank sponsors the entry fee, the purchase of a solutions
booklet and the regional awards for those students who
achieve well in the competition.
The regional special cash prizes are awarded to the three
highest achievers in the Middle and Upper Primary Division,
the combined Secondary Divisions and the Outer Islands.
Prizes are expected to go towards supporting the school's
mathematics programmes.
The 2007 overall high achievers are:
Middle Primary (up to grade 6) - May Thu Myo Min of Mangaia
Schools; Jordan Howley of Papaaroa School and Tearoa Paitai
of Avatea School.
Upper Primary (forms 1 & 2 ) - Maruia Willie of Avarua
School; Mariata Pittmana of Apii Te Uki Ou and Komera
Murchie of Avarua School.
Secondary (overall) - Tamatoa Carr and Jacob Pynenburg of of
Nukutere College and Kaota Teiti of Tereora College.
Outer islands - May Thu Myo Min of Mangaia School; Bobby
Nicholls of Araura College (Aitutaki) and Maraea Kimi of
Enuamanu School (Atiu).
The mathematics panel would like to thank principals,
teachers and the major sponsor Westpac for their support of
this annual competition and the students for their great
effort.
All students who take part receive a certificate of
recognition and top achievers are recognised with a prize
award. - Tara Carr
TOP
Laptop,
bank accounts, suitcases and cash won
The 2008 Careers Expo held on
Wednesday was the most successful in the event's nine-year
history with 85 northern group island students attending for
the first time.
More than 700 students visited the expo at the national
auditorium where they met with 39 exhibitors to learn more
about careers and educational opportunities available to
them.
As well as investigating future job opportunities, students
also completed competition entries. Winners of these
competitions were presented with their prizes yesterday at
the Ministry of Education headquarters at the Aitutaki
hostel. They included the major prize of a brand new laptop
computer donated by the Rotary Club of Rarotonga, runner up
prizes of two $500 ANZ Bank accounts and cash prizes from
Rotaract.
The major competition for years 11, 12 and 13 students was a
research based one where students had to decide what their
favourite school subject was and track down a career or job
that involves it and then further research the career to
find out what extra studies or training is needed.
The purpose of the research competition was to get students
to plan a pathway towards their chosen career.
Araura College year 12 student Mattjeri Jubilee was the
lucky winner of the computer. Her preferred career is
working in the airline industry.
Jubilee was not able to pick up her brand new laptop but her
sister-in-law, who lives in Rarotonga, will make sure the
prize gets to Jubilee.
The first $500 bank account went to Rarotonga student Agnes
Parker from Tereora College and the second bank account went
to Penrhyn Island student Tini Joseph who thanked the bank,
ministry of education and the sponsors for bringing him and
his Omoka High School classmates to Rarotonga for the expo.
In presenting the students with their prizes, ANZ Bank
general manage Phil Haynes said they wanted one of the bank
accounts to go to an outer island student and the other to a
Rarotonga based student.
The money in the account is to be used by the students for
educational purposes. This prize also includes a mentor at
the bank who can help the students and give them advice on
their future careers.
Six $50 cash prizes were presented to Titikaveka College
students Marcelia Maoate, Rayla Pokino and Shanice Tuara,
Mangaia School students Kay Myo Min and Victor Reremoana,
and Ngairinga Iro from Tereora College.
Ana Nicholas from Enuamanu College received a dictionary
from Rotary for her efforts.
Competition winners of the Cook Islands News 'yeah right'
competition went to Jay Eliu, Ngamata Taufahema, Otea Tommy
and Kaipo Ingram who all won $50 each.
Petero Teio won the CITC family competition prize of a
four-piece suitcase set while Tangimetua won the $250 food
hamper.
The best booth prize of the Careers Expo went to the ANZ
Bank. - Matariki Wilson
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Restoring
Mauke's divided Ziona church
The uniqueness of the Ziona
Cook Islands Christian Church on the outer island of Mauke
is currently being restored to its original state with the
help of local residents and volunteers.
Built in 1882, the church is famous for having two separate
and distinctive styles of décor and entrances - one for the
village of Ngatiarua and the other for those from Areora.
On Mauke, there is a coastal village called Kimiangatau and
the inner settlement of Oiretumu where the Ziona Church is
located.
Oiretumu consists of the villages of Ngatiarua - which has
its door on the left side of the church - and Areora.
Unfortunately the uniqueness of the church was lost in 1999
when the original colour scheme disappeared under a new coat
of blue and white paint.
One of those saddened at the change in what has been an
iconic part of Mauke life was well-known fashion designer
Annie Bonza.
Annie's interest in the church began with her visit to Mauke
for the first time in 1997 with her grandson Jim. There she
fell in love with the beautiful Mauke church with its bright
and vibrant colours.
And she wasn't the only one. The church is one of the most
photographed attractions in Mauke and appeared in numerous
overseas publications. However, on a return visit in 2002,
Annie saw that the beautiful colours had been painted over.
She wrote a letter to the Mauke MP Mapu Taia and he
explained to her that the change happened when church elders
decided to end a long-running dispute about the decoration
of the church and repaint the interior in blue and white to
signify village unity.
Three years ago a project to restore the colours was
launched with fundraising in both New Zealand and Rarotonga,
along with the continued support of Mauke residents.
Today, that support continues with church members in Mauke
and volunteers working towards repainting the interior in
the original colours of pink, red, yellow, turquoise and
green.
Among the volunteers was Justice Tom Weston and his wife
Margaret who both have a close friendship and fondness for
the people of Mauke.
The pair visited Mauke recently after their wedding on
Rarotonga and spent a lot of their time working away
tirelessly in the church.
The repainting work started last month.
Paint was supplied by the Resene agent on Rarotonga, Arama
& Associates.
The actual repainting project is expected to take several
months to finish.
But with the prospect of the church interior being restored
to its former glory, it's a passion for those involved to
get the task finished. - Tara Carr
TOP
Small
Island Voice - Happy Mother's Day!
Mother's Day is all about
honouring mums for their role in raising children and the
positive contributions they make to society.
Whether mum is near or far, many children pay tribute by
giving her cards, gifts, treating her to breakfast in bed or
even baking a special cake.
Two young sisters from Avatea school won't have mum with
them this Mother's Day - but they will be thinking of her.
Nine-year-old Jacqueline and seven-year-old Temura Shelley
are very proud of the Mother's Day cards they made along
with their schoolmates yesterday.
The two girls farewelled their mum Matapa on Wednesday as
she left for NZ where she will work towards finishing her
degree in education.
Instead of treating mum this year they will be sending the
beautifully written cards they made and calling their mum in
New Zealand tomorrow.
Temura's card says, 'I hope you have a good Mother's Day in
New Zealand.'
The girls say they are going to miss their mum and three of
their younger siblings who went with her until they reunite
at Christmas.
Matapa has been a teacher for several years, most recently
teaching at Avatea and at Tereora College.
The girl's dad Robert says they will call Matapa and post
the cards to her this weekend. - Helen Greig
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