Lashing out at Beachcomber
Support needed for sustainable energy plan
Taking the first steps
The action plan
Minister’s priority
Half Caste, inspired clothing
‘Aunty’s still here’
Cricketing fun and prizes for kids
New year, new dance group for Joyce
The WeekEnd Crossword
Kiwi movie producer holidays in Raro

The digital installation Lash by world artist Hye Rim Lee (see www.hyerimlee.com) opens today (Friday) at Beachcomber Contemporary Art in Taputapuatea.

Lash features the now increasingly recognised mythical TOKI character created by Lee.

TOKI (Korean for Rabbit and bearing a striking resemblance to the artist), is an evolving female persona, drawing upon the traditions of Japanese manga and Korean animamix with a splash of Barbie and Lara Croft.

In Lash, TOKI, strikingly glamorous, appears in front of a pulsating coloured background.

TOKI moves from adorable to excited.

The colour of her lips mutates into vibrant bright red and her engaging blue eyes and naughty eyelashes accompany a whiplash sound-effect, a sound indicative of submission and control.

To define TOKI purely as a sexual vehicle is questionable. The character is animatronic, a simulated digital creature exhibiting wild animal traits. ‘Her’ features are too perfect and come across as almost cruel.

World visual culture, whether it be modern or traditional, often relegates women to a role of ritualised subservience to male appetites, so it is hardly surprising to be confronted by TOKI, with its proposition of sexual expectation.

Although wildly entertaining, a wonderful sense of unease permeates Lash.

TOKI as the cyber babe, ultra compliant female is an unsettling gender stereotype.

Hye Rim Lee currently resides in New York City and is represented by Starkwhite Gallery, Auckland www.starkwhite.blogspot.com

The exhibition will show from today Friday January 15 and will run for two weeks.

• BCA

National Energy Committee chairman James Beer has recently been prompted to explain more about exactly what the country’s strategy is for alternative energy – and why it’s never as simple as it sounds to ‘go green’.

In a sun-drenched country like our own, there’s even more reason to use solar energy for power generation but the question is how and when we can really take advantage of it as consumers.

CINews on Monday featured a letter from ‘Grandfather of 15’ who was critical of government’s ‘six month durability trials’ for solar energy and suggests it take simple steps to start saving on imported fuels now rather than waiting.

Beer says the letter writer obviously thought long and hard about alternative energy.

“He makes points we largely agree with, and has concerns we share. The more we talk about this, the better we’ll do. I’d dearly love to tap all his passion, knowledge and energy to help with our efforts. Most of the members of the NEC are working as unpaid volunteers, and we could use the help. Any man who has 15 grandchildren must be more-or-less tireless!”

Beer has invited the letter writer to meet with him (as well as others who feel they have something to contribute to the issue).

• Helen Greig

James Beer hopes that alternative energies can be trialled and introduced sooner rather than later. and 15 08072413

There’s been a two-year build up of national consultations and brainstorming by Beer’s committee that has now resulted in the ‘small basket of 15 early, high-gain steps of moderate cost’ initiatives recently approved by cabinet.

James Beer says the 15 initiatives which are starting now are part of a much, much longer and more ambitious energy programme that now has over 130 initiatives and will likely take two decades to carry out.

“The longer programme is, of course, much more difficult by virtue of being more ambitious – but why make the easy steps wait while we figure out how to do the harder ones?”

Government’s energy division is now carrying out a six month trial of four different solar panels to test for efficiency and climate durability. Net-metering – the use of solar and wind energy to offset power used from the national grid – is now possible and the trial will contribute to how households can choose to take advantage of it.

Seeing the benefits through a trial

Beer says there are two reasons a trial is needed.

“The first reason – and by far the most important reason – is that most people aren’t convinced that solar and wind energy are economical or useful. How do we know? Because if they were, solar panels and wind generators would be all over every island, but they aren’t.”

He says right now these are a novelty even though they have been economically feasible for many years now, especially here where we have such high energy costs.

“The primary purpose of the trial is to get people excited about what can happen. We want to put solar and wind power on a high-profile, visible public building, and publish honest, detailed metrics about the costs and benefits of the project on an ongoing basis. People will be able to look at the numbers for themselves, and come visit the installation to look at how it’s done.”

Ironing out technical barriers

The second reason for a solar panel trial, Beer says, is that technical issues need to be ironed out in regards to power utility Te Aponga Uira’s net-metering system.

“Technically, the trials aren’t to see if solar panels ‘work’. But grid-tied interactive inverters are a bit different from the simpler stand-alone inverters connected to batteries: they need to ‘play nice’ with TAU’s generators because excess power will go into the transmission lines to be used by other people ‘downstream’. Minor anomalies in the performance of one inverter won’t make any real difference to the electrical system, but a few hundred misbehaving inverters, working together, certainly will,” he explains.

Beer points out that a bit of ‘Googling’ on the internet can explain the many issues surrounding the grid-interactive inverters and the degree to which public utilities in other countries are careful about what they allow to be connected to their grids.

Another issue is the performance of solar panels in different climates. At the same time, new solar panel technologies are now shipping that promise to reduce panel capital costs from $10 a watt to about $1.20 a watt but these new technologies have varying environmental performance, and may or may not yet be hardened against corrosion in a high-salt environment, says Beer.

“In other jurisdictions, the big barrier to adoption of alternative energies hasn’t been one of technology or of human opinion: it’s been legislative. TAU is to be complimented on its net-metering policies: very few utilities have agreed to allow grid-tied inverters without being forced to do so by legislation. But beyond this, it’s vital that rules are established, regulatory and legislative in addition to policy.”

Monopoly prevention

Beer says his committee wants to make sure that no single individual, corporation, or government can sew up the supply of preferred equipment and hold the rest as economic hostages.

“We aren’t recommending legislation to permit monopolies, but rather to PREVENT them.”

No freebies

Beer says he wishes there were freebies as ‘Grandfather of 15’ suggested there might be in the pursuit of alternative energy introduction.

“There are no free panels or free lunches – somewhere someone has to pay. As chairman (of NEC) I have seen many, many news articles about the billions of dollars that will come out of Copenhagen and the many hundreds of millions of dollars that are being made available for developing countries, but like many things, these stories are just that,” claims Beer.

“To get funding from many of these organisations, including the European Union, you need to fill out hundreds of pages of red tape and hope that you get noticed.”

The dream of energy independence

“As to whether we are dreaming to aim for 100 percent energy independence ... time will tell. Some other jurisdictions have succeeded at this, and we are confident the Cook Islands can get a good part of the way there.”

Beer shares ‘Grandfather of 15’s concern about the intermittency of solar and wind power.

“But we hope that by combining these technologies with clever storage mechanisms and other ‘green means’ of generating power (tidal, biofuel, cogeneration and a few others) that we can get quite close.”

Beer believes the committee also shares another view with those such as ‘Grandfather of 15’ – to wait or worse not to try would be the big mistake.

The national energy committee has managed to get approval for 15 low-risk initiatives for alternative energy use that can start now:

- Adopt net metering and post-production incentives – not only allowing power consumers to use solar and wind energy to reduce power use and receive payment for power produced for the grid, but also to have incentives to help consumers pay off cost of their solar or wind energy generators.

- Determine power cost metrics and funding models – produce a report this year on the true cost of the country’s power production. The true cost of power will be used as the guide for paying consumers who produce more power than they need from solar and wind energy. Funding will be an issue of now to find sources of loans for consumers to install these new power generators.

\- Establish standards for alternative energy generation – Create a list of approved equipment for wind and solar energy generation as well as look at bulk buying to reduce the cost.

- Pass monopolies legislation – before the end of the year pass anti-monopoly legislation for all solar and wind energy equipment and components.

- Adopt an official transportation migration strategy – pass legislation to set the fuel-economy standards for new vehicle imports. Publish a guide for consumers and reward consumers who buy vehicles in the top 10 percent of the guide with tax incentives. Pass a bill to allow low-speed electric vehicles legal and create new incentives for those who own them.

- Begin carbon credit refunds to consumers – find a way to allow consumers to earn carbon credits through alternative energy use.

- Standardise low-electricity models of refrigeration

- Begin demonstration projects – solar, wind and biofuel pilot projects.

- Develop local expertise, awareness and capacity.

- Start a public research library and conversion guide – an online ‘how to’ library.

- Start an alternative energy Bachelor of Engineering scholarship programme.

- Rework national budgets and lines of authority to reflect the coming changes.

- Impose tax on high-consumption electrical consumers – taking a page out of California’s book on taxes for appliances that don’t meet energy consumption standards.

- Institute a ‘carbon challenge” for electrical consumers – a contest for more awareness to reduce energy consumption

- Take advantage of Kyoto protocol opportunities.

New energy minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather says he’s right behind the national energy committee’s recommendations.

“Alternative energy is another key focus for me. It’s a priority on my list.”

While he’s not been long on the job, Heather has had meetings with the members of the committee and he’s encouraged by what he’s heard so far.

Like the committee he is keen to see the country embrace renewable energy options now.

“I want this thing started – I want this to go ahead now instead of later.

“This is something for the people. With the increasing price of oil around the world, it’s no joke – we have to look at alternative energy,” he said this week.

Half Caste clothing design director and Cook Islander Alissa Morgan-Ziogas sports the tattoo designed by her later brother BJ Morgan which also features on some of the Half Caste clothing. 10011410

For some people, being called a half caste is an offence but for Cook Islander Alissa Morgan-Ziogas being of mixed race has helped inspire her new street and team wear clothing design label Half Caste.

“In our family we’ve always laughed about being half castes but for some people it can be a bit rude,” says Alissa.

“But put simply it’s a person who has parents of different races.”

Twenty-nine-year-old Alissa is the daughter of local businessman Brian Morgan, commonly known as the Mat-Man, and Kiwi mother Carina Wilson.

Alissa’s husband Gaki is Greek and together they have a three-and-a-half-year-old son named Zack.

When brainstorming ideas to call her new business Alissa says that half caste just kept popping up – and it became the name of her new business.

When her 19-year-old brother BJ Morgan passed away in May 2009, it ignited her drive to establ- ish the business inspired by her brother.

Setting up the business also became part of her healing process.

Half Caste was launched as an online business in August that year.

Her young brother’s armband tattoo is one of the designs that features prominently on the Half Caste street wear clothing.

Alissa herself has her brother’s tattoo design inked on her arm in honour of him.

“Some family members like our grandma won’t get the tattoo but can have the same design on clothing.”

Alissa admits that she doesn’t have any background in the fashion industry but as the head of the physical education department at Taita College in Wellington and having a sports mad family – she has often had to organise team uniforms.

“I’ve always been in team sports and have often had to organise uniforms or get other people to organise it – so it wasn’t all completely new to me.”

“So as well as our contemporary Polynesian inspired street wear clothing, we also do team wear, especially uniforms for sports that I also love like netball, touch rugby and basketball.

“Sport was always and will continue to be for me, a driving force, having come from a strong sporting family who continue to be a real presence in the Wellington and Manawatu sporting regions.”

And fuelled by the love for her brother and her passion for sports – Half Caste is slowly growing its client base.

Half Caste clothing can only be purchased online as Alissa and her husband Gaki, who designs the art work for the Half Caste clothing, work from their home in the Hutt Valley.

Half Caste team wear also extends to referee and officials uniforms.

In fact, the Tokelau netball team at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games sported uniforms by Half Caste.

Alissa is currently putting up with the Rarotonga heat and catching up with family before she returns to Wellington and to her fulltime teaching job.

But she has plans to relocate her family to Rarotonga next year – including her Half Caste clothing business.

For more information on Half Caste and how they can kit your team out, go to www.halfcaste.co.nz or email Alissa on alissa@halfcaste.co.nz

• Matariki Wilson

This classic news photo by Matariki Wilson shows cabinet minister Ngamau Munokoa giving Maori sovereignty campaigners a piece of her mind in June 2006. 08061232

Nikao MP and former minister Ngamau Munokoa is well, just... Aunty Mau.

This reporter rolls up around 3.10pm to her Nikao home with a good excuse for being 10 minutes late.

But that’s not a problem.

She calls out from inside the kitchen that she has just arrived home with two of her friends after taking them out for lunch. She emerges from the kitchen with a few doughnuts and pours a cup of tea.

“That’s yours.”

As someone who usually refuses food or drink when out on an interview, I find it hard to refuse the cuppa.

I joke to one of the ladies as to why she is eating a doughnut after just coming back from lunch.

Aunty Mau jokes that it was a waste of time taking them out as they didn’t eat anything.

“Apinga tikai te kai, kare raua i kaikai ana.”

I haven’t even pulled out my notebook and told her the reason for wanting to see her. But it appears that she knows what I am after.

She says she got back into Rarotonga on the Tuesday morning before Christmas, after attending the climate change conference in Copenhagen. She slept in and then checked up to see if there was any cabinet that morning. She was told that cabinet had sat the previous day and she remembers thinking that they could have held cabinet early as Christmas on the Friday. Besides, minister Tangata Vavia was due to fly to Mitiaro for his holiday.

Aunty Mau says she remembers that Tuesday morning, driving to her Nikao office beside the golf course, to have brunch with one of her staffers.

She says she was oblivious to what was going on that day.

She didn’t even hear prime minister Jim Marurai announce on radio at 11am that day that he had removed all Sir Terepai Maoate’s portfolios (except health) and the deputy prime ministership.

And when Marurai announced the following day that he had sacked Sir Terepai as a minister, Aunty Mau says she felt obliged to resign in support of the Democratic Party leader.

“I really felt for him because I have a lot of respect for Papa [Sir Terepai] – him and Papa Pupuke – they have always been a metua for me ever since I have been in [as an MP] since 1996. He [Sir Terepai] makes me mad sometimes but I always respect him. That day, I said to myself, what’s the point? I might as well resign.”

And what has changed since then?

“Aunty’s still here, doing her work, getting up and working in the bakery at 5 o’clock. I’m back into my old routine, helping my family, working in my garden, helping my people.

“I’m not missing being a minister. It’s nothing new. I started as an opposition MP so that’s nothing new. Now I have time to see people like these two here – we had lunch together ...”

So what is the way forward for the Democratic Party?

“Go forward, that’s the only way. I can’t speak for them [Jim Marurai’s lot] but the 10 Demos are still there. It doesn’t worry me.

“When I became an MP I told Nikao – I didn’t promise them anything – I said I don’t hold the money but I will always be there for you.

“When I became a minister I had to look at everyone, not just Nikao. As a minister I went to fight for everyone, for all the Cook Islands people, not just for Nikao.”

Aunty Mau says she is pleased to be recognised with an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list, for public services and service to the community.

“I would like to thank those who nominated me for this OBE – I don’t know who you are, but thank you very much.”

However, despite the award, Munokoa maintains that it won’t change Aunty Mau.

“Take the [remaining] doughnut,” she says.

I think to myself as I leave, what would Nikao be like without Aunty Mau?

• Moana Moeka’a

The future of cricket is bright as these future cricketers showed excellent catching skills. 10011314

These young cricket fans keep their eyes on the ball as they wait patiently for their catching skills to be tested. 10011311

While the big boys battled it out on the cricket pitch last Saturday – aspiring junior cricketers were given the opportunity to show off their own cricket skills.

At the end of the first innings between Royal Heat and the Superkings, junior cricket fans were called on to the field to showcase their catching skills.

Around 30 children took up the challenge to win sponsors’ products starting with a warm up routine of sit ups and a lap of the pitch.

Then it was crunch time as the kids concentrated hard to successfully catch the cricket ball three times in order to win a prize.

Some excellent catching skills were seen especially from the smaller children.

With prizes in hand, the kids trooped around the Takitumu Primary School grounds to cheer on the two cricket teams before they returned to the field.

More prizes will be up for grabs today when cricketers and cricket supporters gather at the Takitumu school grounds for the cricket match between Royal Heat and the Storm Chasers.

Kids, make sure you practice your catching skills so you can win cool prizes and be prepared for the cricket programme when you go back to school in a weeks. time.

• Matariki Wilson

Joyce Fortes, spotted at the national library. 10011213

A treasure of Cook Islands culture was appropriately found near the Sir Geoffrey Henry Centre early in the week.

Joyce Fortes –whose Te Mire Kapa 2006 performance has received 92,083 hits on just one YouTube clip – was spotted on a quick break at the local library.

The dancer is considering studying with the USP for 2010.

Fortes says the key to her dancing is the love she has for it.

She advises up and coming dancers to take any opportunity that comes along as ‘you never know where it will lead you’.

The 25-year-old Mauke woman began dancing professionally at the age of 18 with Orama dance troupe. She says watching them made her want to dance, and she remains with Orama to this day.

She lived in Texas for two and a half years, which she says improved her dancing and gave her an extra appreciation for her culture.

“When you are away, you look back and look at your culture from other people’s eyes. Being among other people made me think about how lucky we are to have our culture. We are blessed to be Cook Islanders.”

Fortes has formed a dance group in addition to her Orama commitment. The new group is planning a one-month tour of China in July.

• Edna Takaroka

Film-maker Peter Frahm and his son, the groom-to-be, before the Friday afternoon wedding. 10011503

Up-and-coming Kiwi movie producer Peter Frahm is in the throes of a week-long holiday on Rarotonga. He and his family are here to celebrate his son’s wedding, which took place on Friday afternoon on Motu Koromiri.

Frahm wrote, produced and starred in his first and latest full-feature film, The China Cup, which premiered last year and received what Frahm called a “surprisingly good” response.

Co-directed by Fiona McKenzie, who worked on the popular series Shortland Street for five years, the film combines elements of humour, tragedy and raw wit in what one critic called a “delightful” blend.

Created on a shoestring budget, The China Cup relied on the support of the Temuka community where Frahm lives for its funding.

“Getting the money we needed was the biggest challenge,” Frahm said. “Local businesses really helped out. The hotel we filmed in shut down for two days and a local restaurant gave us 28 meals for $100.”

He said that his tight budget inspired him to play multiple roles in the production project.

Because he authored a book in the past, Frahm had some writing experience but no acting experience prior to the filming of The China Cup.

“I only acted because I needed to. Poverty does the strangest things,” he said with a laugh.

Concerns about his budget also led him to approach casting from an unconventional angle.

“We just dragged people in when we wanted them,” he said. “None of us had ever acted before. One lady in the film was just a reporter who came to cover the filming, and we stuck her in there, too.”

Frahm said that the film more or less paid for itself, as its healthy viewer response allowed it to screen twice a day for 14 weeks in South Canterbury theatres.

He has occupied a number of professional positions, ranging from Baptist pastor to property developer, but a stint in the music industry inspired him to try his hand at filmmaking.

He tired of investing a great deal of time and money promoting concerts that were finished in just one evening. He wanted to create a lasting work of art, and regrets that he waited so long to get involved with film.

Frahm advises aspiring filmmakers to “just give it a go”.

“You’ve just got to do it, if you’ve got the idea in your head,” he said. “I’d never acted in my life but you’ve got to start somewhere. You can do anything if you start at the bottom.”

Frahm is currently in the process of producing another film, which will feature professional actors. The script, infused with humour and Christian undertones, has already been written.

Asked if he has plans to return to Rarotonga, Frahm replied, “I think so. Who knows? Maybe we’ll make a movie about Rarotonga. You never know.”

• Rachel Reeves