Swine flu case treated in NZ
I will still speak out: Rasmussen
China to give $1m for games
Govt: games all good to go
Side Track rocks tonight
No issue with Peua
‘Cookie Monster’ picks up rubbish, too
Will the roads be fixed in time?
Telecom’s new minder born here
Teen issues opened up
Trade talks hotting up
More time needed for review
NZ PM here next week
Kiwi actress highlights need to reduce emissions
PM finds out via CINews
Full-on programme for annual health conference
Games strain budget
Dr Brooke on Rarotonga streets
HoMs given extra month
Swine flu case treated in NZ
Thursday 25: A young Cook Island boy who tested positive for influenza A H1N1 in Auckland was cleared for return to Rarotonga late last week after completing three days of Tamiflu treatment.
The ministry of health says the local health protection team was alerted by New Zealand authorities about the case.
“A visit to the family was undertaken and information on home quarantine and social distancing, hand washing and cough etiquette, including what to do if they developed symptoms and signs of influenza, was provided,” says director of community health services Dr Josephine Herman. “A follow up phone call early this week confirmed no one else has become ill.”
The ministry is continuing surveillance and response activities.
The cough and influenza clinic opened on June 3. About 15 a day now visit the clinic with most people having symptoms of the common cold.
Tests sent to New Zealand on June 5 confirmed five cases of influenza A which is consistent with the country’s annual seasonal influenza patterns. There have been no influenza A H1N1 cases confirmed.
“Our event, response and surveillance (ESR) unit which has been activated since April 26 is continuing to monitor information from around the world on a daily basis.
“Email and phone contact is continuing with key WHO, SPC and NZ MOH personnel as required.
“Our health personnel have been briefed on processes to follow should we confirm a case of influenza H1N1 and are aware of procedures to follow regarding home quarantine or hospital admission as appropriate.”
“Our message for our people as promoted on TV is for everyone to practise appropriate hand washing and cough etiquette, and to attend the cough and influenza clinic in Blackrock (phone 29667) if they develop symptoms of influenza,” says Herman. - HG
I will still speak out: Rasmussen
Thursday 25: Cabinet minister Wilkie Rasmussen says despite a recent legal opinion that he breached cabinet protocol, he will not be silenced on any issue he believes he needs to speak out on.
“I will still speak out when I need to speak out.”
He now believes the threat to his ministerial post has been avoided.
Earlier this month cabinet asked for a legal opinion from New Zealand constitutional lawyer Dr Alex Frame on whether the minister had breached cabinet protocol.
The opinion related to Rasmussen’s public statements opposing government’s fuel farm scheme and his filing of an affidavit with the high court in Triad Petroleum’s application for declaratory judgement.
Frame reportedly gave prime minister Jim Marurai four options in dealing with the alleged breach of protocol – the first being expulsion from cabinet.
“The matter is at rest. I have talked to the prime minister. The preferred position for all is that the matter is forgotten.”
Cabinet had asked for a legal opinion on the content of that affidavit through solicitor-general Tingika Elikana. The subject of the legal opinion was ‘cabinet collective responsibility’ – a constitutional convention in Westminster system governments that members of cabinet must publicly support all decisions made in cabinet, even if privately they do not agree with them.
Rasmussen says he disagrees with the legal opinion and in seeking his own on the matter was told that he would not be the first minister to speak out against a government decision.
One such recent example is cabinet minister and Aitutaki MP Kete Ioane’s objections to Air Rarotonga’s Sunday flights – which had been endorsed by his government.
Rasmussen maintains that when it comes to his responsibility as a minister and MP to the public and his constituents of Penrhyn, he will still speak out when he feels he must. - HG
China to give $1m for games
Friday 26: Government is to source US$1 million ($1,552,098) from the government of China next week to help cover the cost of the Pacific Mini Games.
The decision to ask the Chinese government to sign over some of the grant funds it has pledged to the Cooks was made this week by cabinet and revealed yesterday in parliament.
The extra funding has been sought amid government’s struggle to present a balanced annual budget in parliament this month.
“And I’d like to let the honourable member (Nandi Glassie) and the opposition know that cabinet is still deliberating on how we can come out with a balanced budget,” said Sir Terepai.
“We want to make sure that we don’t commit ourselves to overspending because this is crunch time, this is recession time.”
Games funding from China already includes a $15.6 million loan for the new indoor sports complex and the upgrade of existing sports facilities. The operational costs are expected to balloon to up to $9.5 million, with just over $3.5 million already budgeted to date.
Finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate told the house that government had been informed through games minister Wilkie Rasmussen yesterday that the Chinese government is now willing to provide an extra million dollars in funding.
Sir Terepai said he had made the request to draw the million from grant funding pledged by China.
Cabinet has approved a proposal for Rasmussen to sign off on the fund next Monday in Wellington with Chinese officials at their embassy.
Rasmussen is reportedly going to be in Wellington on other business and so will be able to complete the new deal.
It is understood that the 2009-10 budget will be tabled on Tuesday, June 30.- HG
Govt: games all good to go
Friday 26: Will the Pacific Mini Games still be held?
This is the question Opposition Cook Islands Party MPs asked of government ministers in parliament yesterday.
The ministers maintain the show will go on, that the games will be delivered and the country will celebrate this sporting event as planned.
Atiu MP Nandi Glassie first raised the question that is probably on every Cook Islanders mind, saying he was confused by reports on the games preparations in the media recently.
“I’m so confused I want to ask some of the basic questions to the minister of finance.”
Glassie wanted to know how the $15.6 million soft loan from China had been used.
Sir Terepai Maoate told him half has gone on the almost completed indoor sports complex and half will still go towards the upgrade of sports facilities on the island.
Games minister Wilkie Rasmussen was also put in the hot seat and asked by opposition MP Norman George what the situation with the mini games really is.
“Is it going to proceed? Are we good to go?”
Rasmussen said yes the games are all good for go.
“In fact it is a super-charged vehicle that is full speed ahead. All the infrastructure work is on track. The remaining things are simple things.”
Rasmussen assured the house that government has the budget to produce and deliver the games.
“As I said before, the only problem is the (Pacific Games) Council is confused as to who runs this country.”
Rasmussen said the council wants to impose what it thinks the mini games should be like on government.
And for now it looks like government will resist the threats of the council to pull the plug on the games as it charges forward to complete the preparations for the biggest event on the country’s calendar this year. - Helen Greig
Side Track rocks tonight
Friday 26: A new five-piece band with a big rap is set to rock the stage at Aquarius tonight.
Side Track will make their debut at the Panama bar and restaurant in a live act that should appeal to everyone, lead vocalist Mary Harsley-Hamer says.
“We’ll play whatever the crowd will want to hear,” she says. “Some jazz numbers, a bit of blues and definitely rock and roll – we’ll pretty much cover all aspects.”
Harsley-Hamer says all members are seasoned musicians.
“My husband Steve Harsley is from the UK and is a wicked lead guitarist,” she says. “He’s played professionally and was originally in a heavy metal band. He’s been on MTV and has played in front of thousands.”
Likewise, Steve Harsley is quick to point out that his wife has performed with some of the best musicians in the world such as the Eagles and the Little River Band.
“So I would like to think we are a few levels up from your average corner pub band, he says.
Side Track has just formed and will use tonight’s free live show to “gel as a unit”.
“As the band matures, the diversity of our music will mature as well and will start showing the source of our musical influences” Harsley says.
“There is no leader in the group or anyone who dictates direction – it is completely democratic.”
The free event is to be held at the Aquarius from 8pm.
“It’s a really nice venue and ideal for a live band performance. I congratulate the owners Dorothy and Cameron Robertson for being astute enough to recognise the need for this level of entertainment,” Harsley-Hamer says.
“We’re hoping to get a good crowd tonight. We are passionate about our music and we’re keen to share it with others. - DK
No issue with Peua
Friday 26: The Democratic Party has no problem with Pukapuka-Nassau MP Vai Peua going back to the Cook Islands Party.
On Tuesday Peua told the speaker of parliament Mapu Taia by letter that “as the Cook Islands Party caucus have agreed to welcome me back into the fold, I would like to advise you that I am no longer an independent member of parliament, or in coalition with the Democratic Party government”.
“As I am now a full member of the Cook Islands Party opposition caucus, I ask that a seat be made available to me to be with the opposition benches.”
Democratic Party president Makirere Poila said they had no problem with Peua returning back to the CIP.
Poila said that as Peua was an independent MP, and not a Demo MP, there has been no loss to government. All government did, said Poila, was to help the MP do the best for his constituency. - Moana Moeka’a
‘Cookie Monster’ picks up rubbish, too
Saturday 27: Only on Rarotonga will you see a professional rugby player bent over and picking up rubbish along the main road.
Ireland based Stanley Wright is back home for what he calls a ‘working holiday’ and took time out from picking up rubbish outside his parents’ store – Tuki’s Pareau in Avarua – to have a chat with CINews.
“Every time I come back home there’s always a big list of jobs for me to do,” joked Stan.
“It’s an annual thing when I come home.”
His distinctive and contagious laugh coupled with a big grin was a magnet for local rugby players who upon seeing the six-foot one prop, pulled off dodgy u-turns to share an energetic hand shake and a joke or two with Stan.
When asked whether we would see him in the Titikaveka scrum this weekend, he let off another roaring laugh saying, “I’m a professional now!”
Professional or not – mum Tuki Wright still needed the hedges cut and lawns mowed.
And in between helping out at the family home, Stan has been helping out some of the local clubs and sharing some of his skills – so watch out for what should be a much improved Takuvaine and Titikaveka front row this weekend.
His skills are rare indeed as he is able to play both sides of the scrum whereas many top class front rowers are only able to play at either loose head or tight head.
His strong scrumming work, heavy tackling work rate, runs off the base of the ruck and powerful frame have certainly made him a popular player in Ireland where he plays for the Leinster club and has earned the nickname ‘Cookie Monster’.
In late May, Stan’s team won the Heineken Cup, the most prestigious trophy in European rugby union, in an epic 19-16
victory against the Leicester Tigers.
Stan reportedly had a blinder of a game although he spent 10 minutes of the match in the sin-bin – but that was soon forgotten when the team won the match.
So did you party hard?
“The team partied for a week after the match but I got on a plane the next night after we won,” said Stan.
He left the party to fly to New Zealand for his wedding. He and Cherie exchanged vows on June 6 in the Wairarapa, north of Wellington.
With him on his working holiday is his new bride and infant daughter Ayla plus his Heineken Cup medal.
“I thought I’d bring it with me and show the Raro crew,” said Stan. “I’m taking it back with me though, to get it framed.”
In the meantime if you want some tips from Stan the Man – you might be able to catch him today at the Titikaveka vs Avatiu match at Titikaveka starting at 3.50pm. - Matariki Wilson
Will the roads be fixed in time?
Saturday 27: Acting infrastructure and planning minister Sir Terepai Maoate says a temporary approach must be taken to fixing Rarotonga’s roads.
The minister blames a ‘lack of energy and drive’ from ministry officials for the sad state of the roads.
Yesterday he was asked in parliament by Opposition MP Norman George if government will fix the ‘horrific conditions of the roads’ before the two major sporting events of the year begin in August.
“When is government stepping in to cure the pain and agony of driving on our roads?” asked George.
He said some of the potholes on the island are like swimming pools on the side of the road.
Sir Terepai said he phoned the head of ministry Taukea Raui yesterday to ask him to take an urgent approach to mending the potholes on the roads.
“Some of them are very deep and filled with water. It’s very dangerous.
“There was a youth from Ngatangiia who drove, he was not drink driving, and his front wheel went into a pothole and it turned the wheels of his truck – he hit a coconut tree and died.”
The minister says ministry officials are to blame for not getting the roads tar sealed properly, despite recently being given a $2 million budget for road works.
“I have always maintained we should privatise this kind of work, but governments have been reluctant to because the people working in them (ministry) have been our supporters.”
Sir Terepai says the lack of energy and drive from officials, a recent deal on bitumen from Fiji that went horribly wrong and ordering the wrong machinery have all contributed to road conditions not being addressed fast enough. - Helen Greig
Road works a shambles, letters page 4.
Telecom’s new minder born here
Saturday 27: Jules Maher (above), who was born in Rarotonga, has been appointed as acting chief executive at Telecom Cook Islands.
Maher has been seconded from Telecom NZ where he holds the position of group insurance and risk financing manager in Wellington. He will be in Rarotonga for a period of three months until a permanent CEO replacement has been appointed.
Maher was born while his family was based on Rarotonga from 1949 till 1953. His father was working as a radio operator
Maher is looking forward to his stay here as an opportunity to return something of value to the land of his birth by strengthening Telecom Cook Island’s commitment to improved customer service.
“We will not be happy in Telecom until our customers are happy with our service” he said.
Maher graduated from Victoria University with a law degree in 1976. He joined the Post Office legal department in 1986. Shortly after the formation of Telecom New Zealand out of the NZ Post Office, he was appointed company solicitor and company secretary to Telecom South Ltd. He has been based in Telecom’s head office for the last 16 years in a variety of roles.
He and his wife Katie have four sons and one daughter.
A keen road and mountain cyclist, Maher is aiming to break five hours for the Lake Taupo cycle challenge in November.
While in Rarotonga he plans to keep fit by cycling and exploring the back roads, and playing the occasional round of golf. -TCI
Teen issues opened up
Monday 29: Concern over student health and social issues is behind a series of community meetings to be held this week.
Strengthening the relationship between the country’s national secondary school, Tereora College, and the community is the aim of three public meetings.
The college will be holding a meeting in each of the vaka on the island starting with the first tomorrow evening at the Sinai Hall.
The focus of the meetings will be on how the school community can work together in partnership with the community
to promote the wellbeing of young people.
The meetings will also look at ways on encouraging students to keep safe and make informed choices for both their personal and academic futures.
Contributions will be made by representatives from the Religious Advisory Council, Cook Islands Family Welfare and Public Health plus representatives from the Cook Islands police.
Each of these organisations will share how they can support parents in raising teenagers, and explain the services and health clinics available to youths.
Several youth issues will be discussed in the meetings including truancy, drugs and alcohol and unwanted pregnancies.
The meetings are not a ‘finger pointing’ session, but rather an avenue for parents to find out what youths get up to and how they, the college and the community, can work together to deal with youth issues.
Communication is a powerful key to solving issues, especially youth issues, and parents are encouraged to ask questions and share their views at the meetings.
All three vaka meetings will start at 6pm.
The Vaka Te Au O Tonga meeting will be held at the Sinai Hall tomorrow while the meeting in Vaka Puaikura will be held at the Calvary Hall on Wednesday July 1 and on Thursday 2 July the Vaka Takitumu meeting will be held at the Ngatangiia Club house. - Matariki Wilson
Trade talks hotting up
Monday 29: Foreign affairs minister Wilkie Rasmussen says the controversial PACER Plus free trade agreement between the Forum island nations, Australia and New Zealand is likely to be one of the major talking points at the Forum leaders meeting this August.
The minister recently attended two Pacific trade meetings in Apia, Samoa – the Forum Trade ministers meeting and the Pacific ACP (African, Caribbean, Pacific) trade ministers meeting.
Rasmussen says the controversial and hotly debated issue at both meetings was the proposed PACER Plus free trade agreement.
Pacific trade ministers gave their support to recommend to the Pacific forum leaders, who will meet this August in Cairns Australia, that PACER Plus negotiations begin this year. In a joint statement ministers from the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand said their vision is for PACER Plus to be a truly innovative trade and economic agreement that takes account of the different stages of development of each nation.
Pacific civil society groups are disappointed in the decision and have pledged to take their campaign to delay negotiations directly to the region’s leaders.
Last week one Samoan NGO warned that Samoa stands to lose $10 million in tariffs currently collected on imports from NZ and Australia if it signs up to PACER Plus.
Rasmussen says even ministers at the trade meeting were concerned about the haste of the push by NZ and Australia for PACER Plus negotiations to start and the intrusion of the agreement into the sovereign rights of each Pacific country.
The Forum trade ministers meeting was also controversial because of the exclusion of Fiji’s officials says Rasmussen.
A legal opinion produced for the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) says discussions of PACER Plus, that do not include Fiji, are legally questionable.
Fiji can no longer attend Forum meetings of any kind since it was suspended at the beginning of May after it failed to meet election deadlines set by Forum leaders at their meeting in Papua New Guinea in January.
Professor Jane Kelsey’s legal opinion concludes that it is not lawful for the parties to PACER to make a decision to launch negotiations of the agreement in the absence of Fiji’s government.
“I’ve agreed with some things she (Kelsey) said. The Cook Islands is part of the process, but there are some reservations
I have as minister,” says Rasm-ussen. - HG
More time needed for review
Tuesday 30: The parliamentary select committee tasked with reviewing the Seabed Minerals Bill has asked for another time extension to complete its work.
The committee’s second report to parliament was tabled by its chairman Terepai Maoate Jnr yesterday.
The bill has been introduced to provide control over future mining activities relating to the country’s valuable manganese nodule resource.
The report recommended that parliament approve the withdrawal of the bill from parliament to be redrafted with amendments suggested by the committee and that the committee be re-established to work for another ‘week or two.’
Committee member Tom Marsters told parliament that it needs more time to tidy up loose ends before the bill is introduced in the house again.
He said Maoate had been working day and night on the review of the bill and that while it is keenly awaited by the world, the committee needs time to complete its review.
The committee was set up on March 19 and reported back in April asking that it be allowed more than the two weeks allocated for the review.
It was then asked to report back to parliament by June 30.
Since then the committee has continued to take submissions from the public as well as visiting Aitutaki to inform the island about the bill.
The committee had wanted to have similar meetings in the other outer islands as well as with communities in NZ and Australia, but that did not eventuate.
The report says earlier this month lawyer Joshua Brien and economist Daniel Dumas from the Commonwealth Secretariat held a two day consultation with the committee.
“Apart from the many issues of concern raised, the dialogues probed into the factors and concerns raised by 14 public submissions,” says the report.
The committee reports that issues of concern to the public centre around such factors as the environment, cultural impacts, legal capacity protection methods, operation management, reliable financial systems, and disbursement of benefits.
It says the Commonwealth Secretary representatives have cautioned against fast-tracking the bill through parliament in view of the global downturn in demands, diminishing interest from potential investors in deep sea mining and the continued search for appropriate technologies. - HG
NZ PM here next week
Tuesday 30: New Zealand prime minister John Key will lead an official delegation of around 70 to Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cooks next week.
Key is expected to arrive in Rarotonga next Wednesday – the last port of call on his four day Pacific tour.
According to the New Zealand high commission, Key’s delegation includes a leading hip-hop band and a media delegation of 17 journalists.
NZ’s Voxy News reports Key says the purpose of the visit is to reinforce the already close links New Zealand has with its Pacific neighbours.
“The impact of the global economic crisis on the Pacific
and priorities for the Pacific Island Forum in Cairns in August will also be under discussion,” says Key.
Key will meet with the King of Tonga, His Majesty George Tupou V, Tongan prime minister Feleti Sevele, Samoan prime minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, Niue’s premier Toke Talagi, and Cook Islands prime minister Jim Marurai.
Marurai is expected to host the visiting media while they are in Rarotonga.
Joining Key on the RNZAF flight will be Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples, minister of Pacific island affairs Georgina Te Heuheu, and members of the foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee.
Also in the delegation will be Manukau mayor Len Brown, Porirua mayor Jenny Brash, Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey, and Pacific Island youth and sport representatives including Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala.
Key’s delegation leaves New Zealand on Tuesday July 7 and returns on Friday July10 (NZ time). - Helen Greig
Kiwi actress highlights need to reduce emissions
Tuesday 30: New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes (at right) speaks with prime minister Jim Maruai at an official lunch last week.
Castle-Hughes was in Rarotonga to join the Greenpeace’s Our Climate, Our Future Pacific ship tour which began last Tuesday.
Her visit also coincided with Greenpeace Pacific Climate Voices campaign which will highlight the need for industrialised nations to significantly and urgently reduce carbon emissions to reduce the impact on low lying communities in the region vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate damage.
New Zealand actress and Greenpeace Ambassador Keisha Castle-Hughes documented her experience on board the MY Esperanza and its visit to Aitutaki last week.
The ship has visited Aitutaki and Pukapuka and is heading to Samoa and Vanuatu later this week, before proceeding to Cairns for the Pacific Island Forum in the first week of August.
Castle-Hughes is one of a range of high profile climate ambassadors working with Greenpeace New Zealand on its sign on campaign (www.signon.org.nz).
The campaign calls for the New Zealand government to adopt a 40 per cent emissions reduction target by 2020.
“I get really upset over situations that are morally unjust. Pacific Islanders have hardly contributed to climate change, and yet are bearing the brunt of the problem,” says Castle-Hughes.
“I’ve always been interested in the region. I grew up with a lot of Pacific Islanders.
“I attended at one point a church in the Tongan language and lots of students at my high school were from the Pacific.”
You can check out her reports on the Pacific tour at www.signon.org.nz - HG
Read more… Castle-Hughes reports on Aitutaki experience
PM finds out via CINews
Tuesday 30: The prime minister Jim Marurai admitted that he only found out yesterday about $14,771 being paid out for a conference dinner last year, through an employee of his office.
The audit office investigated the expenditure of PacINET funds for its conference dinner last September – citing that it was “excessive”.
Marurai made the admission after being questioned in parliament by Atiu MP Nandi Glassie who said that when he was chief of staff, he put together a manual to stop this kind of thing happening at the office of the prime minister.
Marurai replied that like Glassie, he first found out about the spending yesterday morning, after reading the article in CI News.
He added that the employee involved – eGovernment project manager Maureen Hilyard – claimed that because the dinner was for officials from overseas, that they needed “special treatment”. - MM
Full-on programme for annual health conference
Wednesday 1: The 12th annual Cook Islands health conference begins today at the National Auditorium with an opening address by health minister Sir Terepai Maoate.
The conference will be held in Rarotonga until Friday and then move to Aitutaki on Monday and Tuesday for another session next week.
Called Kaveinga Ora – ‘the future is in our hands’ will include representatives from the Pasifika Medical Association and the Cook Islands Health Network.
Sir Terepai will be here for the first part of the conference before departing for the Pacific health ministers meeting in Papua New Guinea to be held on July 6-7.
Secretary of health Dr Roro Daniel says the conference will be much larger this year as at least 300 health workers are expected to attend. He told Radio NZ last week that he expects the conference to help raise the standard of health care Cook Islanders receive. “A lot of the information that we will be getting will be very very recent so it will be a really good opportunity for our staff to hear this from the people who know best,” said Daniel.
He says the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic will probably be discussed at length.
Dr Joe Williams, president of the Cook Islands Health Network, will deliver a presentation on the association.
“It is unique in that it is the only Cook Islands New Zealand-wide organisation. The association began in the late 1990s to address health issues of Cook Islanders in New Zealand.”
About a dozen members of the association are attending the conference.
Williams says the conference will bring together health professionals from across the Pacific in the hope that they benefit from the knowledge shared.
He says he hopes Cook Islands health workers gain the most out of the conference so that in the long term the people they care for will benefit.
Key talks will revolve around mental health, drugs and alcohol, research, strengthening health systems and traditional medicine.
Waitemata District Health Board’s clinical director of Alcohol and Drug Service Dr Francis Agnew will deliver the first presentation titled ‘There is no health without mental health.’
Dr Rangi Fariu from the ministry of health is expected to make a presentation tomorrow on ‘mental health Cook Islands style.’
This evening a welcome reception for those taking part in the conference will be hosted by Sir Terepai at the Auditorium.
Tomorrow a fun run has been planned before the plenary session on mental health, drugs and alcohol and wellbeing begins.
Traditional medicine and healing will be discussed at the afternoon session.
The conference in Aitutaki will include a career expo for school students and more talks on the career pathways in the health workforce.
Sponsorship for the conference this year has increased with the Pasifika Medical Association and CI Heath Network contributing as well as William’s Health care clinic in Mt Wellington, Auckland, providing $10,000 and the AuckPac Health Trust Board giving another $10,000. - Helen Greig
Games strain budget
Wednesday 1: Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti says it has been a difficult year for the government in trying to juggle its priorities for budget funds.
“There are many competing interests for limited funds available to government.
“So government has to weigh all its priorities against available funds,” he says.
Cook Islands News asked Ivaiti to explain what budget items are putting extra stress on the next annual budget.
He says commitments from previous years, and in particular the financing of the mini games, has put the most strain on the budget.
“There is also request to give more operating funds towards the hosting of the mini games in 2009.”
Despite this, MFEM has yet to be asked to make cuts to ministry budgets.
While cuts are not likely right now, increases to ministry budgets are not expected to increase much in the coming financial year.
Ivaiti says some one-off revenues will not be received again in the 2009/10 budget year resulting in a reduction in revenue sources.
Levelling off of tax revenue due to the challenging global economic crisis has also been a factor in decreasing government revenues says Ivaiti.
“We are not immune to this, as our main revenue stream is tourism.”
Ivaiti says cabinet has yet to finalise the proposed budget and return it to the ministry of finance (MFEM).
Cabinet has received the proposed budget recommendations from the budget committee and is now considering its options to finance key initiatives.
“Once cabinet returns a fiscally responsible budget to MFEM, the ministry has two weeks to process necessary documents. Tabling in parliament is dependent on when cabinet can return a fiscally responsible budget to MFEM.” - Helen Greig
Dr Brooke on Rarotonga streets
Wednesday 1: Shortland Street actress Beth Allen is nothing like her vixen character Dr Brooke Freeman.
For a start – Dr Brooke would never be seen dead in a pair of jandals, a Havana straw hat and admiring the quilts at Mareko’s in downtown Avarua.
Casually dressed in TAVs, Beth was happy to chat to admiring fans yesterday in her easy and down to earth manner – a stark contrast to the manipulative and aloof Dr Brooke.
“It’s been great to lie in the sun here – Auckland is horrible and wet,” says Allen.
“It’s been wonderful to escape.”
Beth and partner Charlie have been mixing up their holiday adventures on Rarotonga between the ‘touristy things’ and hanging out with the island’s own mini celebrity Clee Marsters.
However with this trip being the third for Beth – she pretty well knows the islands little secret spots.
“This is the only island in the Pacific I’ve been too and really I don’t want to go to any other island,” says the actress.
In fact her brother got married here on the island two years ago and Rarotonga is the official holiday destination for her family.
She says she doesn’t get much slack for her sassy role as Dr Brooke but adds that she gets recognised on the streets more by young teenage fans.
“I suppose because I’m so small in real life – I don’t walk around in high heels like I do on set.”
While she wouldn’t spill any Shortland Street secrets she did say that Will Hall (aka Dr Kip Denton) is back on the rock for a bit of sun as well.
Allen reckons that we should see the Rarotonga episode of the soap in about three weeks times after a crew filmed on Rarotonga in March.
The talented 24 year old actress has been acting since she was about 14 and has an impressive list of credits under her belt including a core cast role as ‘Amber’ in the internationally acclaimed children’s series The Tribe, roles on Power Rangers and Outrageous Fortunes to name a few. - Matariki Wilson
HoMs given extra month
Wednesday 1: All contracts for heads of ministries and island secretaries have been rolled over for another five weeks.
Public service commissioner Navy Epati said yesterday that the three-year contracts were supposed to expire on June 30. However Epati said that they were able to sign a variation to the contracts which enable HoMs and island secretaries to stay on until August 5.
Epati said the delay associated with getting the budget passed and cabinet being unable to go through the new Public Service bill, has led to appointments not being made for the next three-year period.
He said that the next few weeks should allow time to make the appointments under the new legislation.
Epati said that the appointment process under the new legislation should be more transparent and contestable.
Under schedule 2 of the proposed bill, if cabinet does not agree with any of the names put forward by the selection panel, it must be referred back to the panel for reconsideration.
The panel can then resubmit the original names or add a new recommendation to the list, from which cabinet must appoint the successful applicant. - MM
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