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PM won’t quit
DPM defends ad
Blame shifting criticised
Claire’s here for dance and drama
Radical reforms
The 12 reforms
National seats like NZ’s list seats
Kia Orana Air gets thumbs up
CT scan machine gifted to hospital
Makiuti ruled out
Fishing fees slashed
ON THE STREET
Crocombe charts new directions in tourism
PM turns down invite to summit
Lobby group supports PM
Tree climbers back to school
Police force faces restructuring
PM keen on telecommunications reform
Girl bound and gagged
Crocombe on mission in NZ
Wong investigation completed
CT scanner costs considered says health
Police ask for help in Aitutaki rape case
PM won’t quit
Thu
21 Jan
Prime minister Jim Marurai says he refuses to resign despite the calls from the Democratic Party for him to step down now.
Marurai says he is not considering a move to resign as a way to resolve the current political turmoil.
“Why should I resign? What have I done wrong?” he asks.
Late last week on the local airwaves the Demo Party president Makiuti Tongia called for the PM to hand in his resignation now given that 19 MPs no longer support his leadership.
The CIP camp has also called on Marurai to resign, call a snap election or face a vote of no confidence in parliament.
Marurai says the more ‘attractive’ option of the three at present would be a snap election. He says he would only decide to call one
if the party was to give him its support. He’s still completely against the 19 MPs’ call for parliament to sit. Marurai admits there have been no changes to the majority of MPs’ standoff with the new five member cabinet.
While public opinion has varied, many have expressed through the media a view of surprise at the apparent support that former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate still has within the Demo caucus.
The ageing Ngatangiia MP was sacked as a minister just before Christmas following pressure for him to resign after the Toagate scandal hit the headlines. Sir Terepai has yet to accept any blame for the failed fuel farm scheme which has left the country at least $2 million out of pocket in the out of court settlement with the country’s two main fuel suppliers.
Nine of his fellow MPs have been supporting a plan to have Sir Terepai appointed as the head of a caretaker government. This could only be achieved if the MPs succeed in passing a vote of no-confidence in the PM during a sitting of parliament.
Sir Terepai’s reported battle for leadership is far from over – Marurai still faces a forced
removal from office depending on what tack the Demo Party takes next.
DPM defends ad
Thu
21 Jan
Deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore has responded to criticism over the recent advertising of the position of seabed minerals commissioner, which was authorised by his office.
As minister responsible for minerals and natural resources, Wigmore says, through a letter to the editor, that opportunities exist for interested companies to apply for an exploration licence once the seabed authority is established, as required by the Seabed Minerals Act.
“This is not a mining licence,” says Wigmore. “The processing of an exploration licence application is a simple task ... certainly no more demanding than policing tuna fishing vessels ...”
Wigmore believes a Cook Islander can and should perform the initial tasks specified under the act, and it was his intent to tailor the advertisements to encourage and accommodate local applicants.
“Of course any local commissioner will need assistance when it comes to the issuance of a licence ... [and] every assistance will be offered to the commissioner by way of expert advice.
“But we do not see the necessity of having an expensive, international person sitting full time in Rarotonga policing exploration licences that involve no monthly income or special monitoring beyond our existing capabilities.”
As for the ability to be fluent in Maori, Wigmore points out that the commissioner is required to be secretary to the seabed minerals authority advisory board which must comprise five members representing the “island communities of the Cook Islands”.
“Its members will need to be well briefed by the commissioner in a way that they fully understand,” says Wigmore. “A courtesy to the board would be first-hand delivery of important issues for their consideration in their own language by one of their own. I, as the responsible minister, make no excuse for keeping the administrative costs at a minimum, until there is sustainable income and ensuring that our mining industry be as local as possible.”
While the Public Service Commission is named as the advertiser seeking applications for the position, commissioner Navy Epati says that his office has nothing to do with it.
“We don’t have a job description or any other details for the post,” says Epati.
Epati says he advised Wigmore’s office to pull the advertisement. Cook Islands News was asked to stop the advertisement on Tuesday.
A media release at the weekend, quoting former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate and opposition leader Tom Marsters, was critical of the advertisement which lists fluency in English and Maori, having held elected office, and experience in commercial fishing or diving, as some of the requirements needed by the person for the position.
Blame shifting criticised
Thu
21 Jan
The Democratic Party executive say that prime minister Jim Marurai is good at shifting blame, especially when he claims to know nothing of matters that passed under his nose and got his approval.
The Demos, through a media release, say that Marurai claims that the former DPM appointed mediation consultant, Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood.
“It must be pointed out that Sir Terepai took a submission to cabinet to appoint Toogood to negotiate a settlement out of court.
“Cabinet and caucus, including the PM, all endorsed this as all believed that cabinet, including the finance minister, had been given poor advice by the financial secretary and crown law, leading up to the potential court cases against government by Triad and TOA. “The truth needs to be told,” says the release. “The executive is aware that instructions were being given to crown law without the finance minister’s knowledge. The financial secretary acted on many occasions on his own bat without first consulting the minister or cabinet.
“Then when matters came to a head, the financial secretary wanted to opt for matters to be settled in court and for the country to face a possible bill of up to $15m. That risk could not be taken.
“The PM cannot distance himself from the collective decisions that cabinet made, although some of these decisions were made on the poor advice given by the financial secretary and Crown Law.
“The Toogood report states this,” concludes the release.
Claire’s here for dance and drama
Thu
21 Jan
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Clare Waldron with her 5 year old son Gabriel
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Tereora College will receive a boost to its performing arts department with the addition of new teacher Claire Waldron. She’s pictured here with her five-year-old son Gabriel.
Bringing extensive acting and teaching experience, Waldron will be leading dance and drama for NCEA classes.
She has moved here after two years at Gore High School in the South Island of New Zealand where she set up the performing arts department.
“I’m looking forward to setting up something solid and workable, and building the resources,” she said. “Also getting to know the kids and taking my prompts from them and where they’re at.”
Waldron has a long list of film and television work including the 2006 New Zealand drama, ‘Out of the Blue’ based on the Aramoana massacre in 1990.
She also appeared in TV series Mercy Peak, The Table Pays, Serial Killers, Tiger Country and Mirror, Mirror as well as several theatre productions.
Having been brought up in the South Island, she’s lived throughout New Zealand and throughout the world but will now be calling Rarotonga home for the next two to three years.
Waldron is joined by her five-year-old son Gabriel who will be attending St Joseph’s School.
“I love the mountains and the bushes here so I’m looking forward to exploring the island,” she said.
“This is my first time to the Cook Islands but I have friends here so I’m going to enjoy being in a new culture and being with nature.”
Back to school feature –
pages 7-14 today.
Radical reforms
Fri
22 Jan
Main changes – direct election of PM and creation of 5 new national seats
The new 12-point political reform proposal was released by prime minister Jim Marurai yesterday.
The major changes proposed include direct election of the prime minister by all voters, creation of five national seats, limits to the PM’s terms and to the term of parliament, and combining nine of the current constituency seats into four seats.
Marurai says the proposal is based on the economic development taskforce report approved by cabinet late last year.
“When it is presented to the public, I will welcome debate on it,” he says.
And the public is being encouraged to debate and discuss the proposed reform now in the lead up to national dialogue to agree to the best way forward.
In coming weeks, the proposal created by political reform advocates Tata Crocombe and Iaveta Short will be taken not only to the political parties and their MPs but into public consultations and a political reform public conference hosted by the prime minister.
At the presentation to the media yesterday, Crocombe and Short stressed that the proposal should generate public debate and discussion on the changes that the people really want to be made to the current political system.
“The proposal is the starting point for debate and discussion,” says Crocombe.
He says the current system designed 50 years ago just doesn’t suit the needs and population of today.
“It’s healthy to start and look again at what our system is and what needs to be changed. It’s been something that’s been bothering people for a long time. We need a political system that will address our current economic and social development needs.”
“People are looking for more stability and more say in government, a clearer mandate, fairer representation and less of the politics and more of the work in taking the country forward.”
Crocombe says the nation needs to come together to constructively identify a common ground on political reform.
Short agrees saying that the instability in government and its leadership has been demonstrated in the past four weeks where the position of the PM has been challenged.
“The feeling is it’s time for a small nation to select or elect the prime minister for a more stable government. There is also the crying need to correct the imbalance of constituencies in parliament. We also need a system that is streamlined to bring to the fore the best the nation can get to lead it,” says Short.
“I think this (proposed system) is far more representative and democratic than what we’ve got today,” he adds.
Crocombe believes that the proposed direct election of a PM would result in a system where they would be directly responding to the needs of the whole nation.
The second recommended change to the system is allowing the PM to choose cabinet ministers from all eligible voters. This would drastically shift the way government is run and move away from the PM having to appoint ministers from within parliament.
“There would be no need for ministers to have one eye on their electorate and one on their ministerial work,” points out Short.
He believes this step will liberate cabinet to ‘get on with the job’.
INSIDE: The 12-point plan, page 8. PM plans reform conference, page 9.
The 12 reforms
Fri
22 Jan
The 12 recommended reforms are:
1) Direct election of the prime minister by all voters.
2) PM to appoint cabinet from among all voters (currently he can only choose from the other 23 MPs – or more accurately the ruling party).
3) Cabinet appointments approved by parliament (ensures process is transparent, allows for public to have a say).
4) Create five national seats to be voted for by all voters ( to have more MPs with a national focus)
5) National election of the PM (the top five polling candidates for national seats become national members and the top polling member becomes the PM if they win 50 percent of the vote).
6) PM limited to three terms (no person would be PM for more than three terms overall).
7) Reduce the term of parliament from 4 to 3 years (to promote increased accountability to public).
8) Form a permanent Political Review Commission (to determine constituency boundaries for future elections and recommend further changes to the political system to meet future national requirements).
9) Combine the seats of Manihiki and Rakahanga (fairer and more democratic - a total of 271 eligible voters – still under national average of 477).
10) Combine the Mangaia seats of Tamarua, Ivirua and Oneroa (a total of 399 voters)
11) Combine the seats of Mitiaro and Mauke (a total of 334 voters)
12) Combine the Atiu seats of Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua and Teenui-Mapumai (a total of 331 voters).
National seats like NZ’s list seats
Fri
22 Jan
Introducing national seats to the Cook Islands Parliament is one of the more far-reaching and important reforms proposed.
Advocate Tata Crocombe says it would be moving in the direction of other jurisdictions such as New Zealand where half the seats are national or ‘list’ seats, putting a large focus on addressing national issues.
“Most issues we face now are national issues, not local level issues,” he says.
Iaveta Short says having only constituency seats has stifled the freedom of MPs here.
“The constituencies are far too small and have small groups controlling the MP. The MPs are beholden to a few families in the constituency.”
Short wonders how MPs can be blamed for such acts as nepotism based on requests from the often large ‘families’ that vote them into power.
“We need to liberate the MPs so they can start focusing on national issues which is our biggest problem today.”
Crocombe says new national seats would mean for candidates it would be less about the ‘size of your family and more about what you have to offer’.
Combining nine of the constituency seats to form four seats is also one of the major recommendations of the proposal.
While this move would ‘save’ or reduce the number of seats in parliament by five, the creation of five new national seats would mean no change to the current number of 24 MPs.
Both Crocombe and Short stress that the opportunity for political reform is here now and must be taken.
“The danger is that we lose momentum – we lose the chance to make this change,” says Short.
For Crocombe one of the most important issues still remains the 1000 Cook Islanders leaving the country each year.
“What’s the way to address that? It’s time to find what works for us, to make some decisions and move forward.”
Kia Orana Air gets thumbs up
Fri
22 Jan
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The Beechcraft 19-seater Kia Orana Air plans to operate.
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The proposed low-cost domestic airline Kia Orana Air has cabinet excited about better travel options for locals and visitors.
Last week prime minister Jim Marurai said cabinet was supportive of the proposal after being briefed about the application by the airline for an air service licence and its aim to start its operations by mid-year.
Marurai says the proposed airfares are very attractive at half of what the only domestic airline, Air Rarotonga, charges today.
There would be a $260 return fare to any Southern group island and a $1600 return fare to the Northern islands if the operation using a 19-seater Beechcraft 1900D aircraft goes ahead.
This is the second time Kia Orana Air has applied for a licence after delays in its plans to start up in 2008.
Secretary of transport Aukino Tairea says the first public notice about the air service licence application will probably be issued tomorrow.
The public has about 10 days to make submissions on the proposed airline.
Last month CINews spoke to Kia Orana Air managing director Mark Lusby who says the aircraft they will use is known worldwide for its good flight speed, ability to fly at high altitudes, and its ability to operate well on short runways.
The airline would go into direct competition with Air Rarotonga, which in 2007 dramatically increased its airfares to the Northern group islands causing complaints from the public and concern from government.
Fares to the north are still over a thousand dollars each way – the high cost has been blamed on rising operational costs including the cost of aviation fuel.
CT scan machine gifted to hospital
Sat
23 Jan
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CT scan machines are large doughnut-shaped machines which are used to provide three-dimensional images of the inside of a patient’s body.
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Health minister says it will save lives and money
Rarotonga hospital may soon have its first CT scan machine – often described as a super x-ray machine – which could save many lives and reduce government’s spending on patient referrals to NZ.
Health minister Apii Piho said the news that Waikato Hospital is willing to donate a machine it has had reconditioned has put a smile on his face.
“I believe this (machine) will save the lives of a lot of people and reduce the cost that health is experiencing with referrals,” he says.
“These machines usually cost around $3 million so we have never been able to afford one. With it we will be able to do a lot of operations here and reduce the number of referrals. A lot of road injuries relate to head injuries and with this we will be able to address the area of concern straight away and doctors are (then) able to immediately operate on the patient,” says Piho.
He says reducing the high cost of referrals to New Zealand – around half a million each year – will be one of the real benefits of having the machine.
“The machine will cost about $24,000 to install and $130,000 a year to maintain but we are finding funds for this. Right now we want to try and take advantage of the MOU (memorandum of understanding) we have with NZ with Manukau City Council and we hope they can assist with these costs.”
Piho says he’s rapt that the priority to get the machine is now becoming a reality for the people.
The minister says it is thanks to the networking of the ministry pharmacist as well as director of hospital health services Heather Webber-Aitu.
CT or CAT (computerised axial tomography) scans take the idea of conventional x-ray imaging to a new level. Instead of finding the outline of bones and organs, a CAT scan machine forms a full three-dimensional computer model of a patient’s insides.
Secretary of health Tupou Faireka confirmed the hospital has a radiologist (a doctor who operates x-ray machines) who is qualified to operate the machine.
Makiuti ruled out
Sat
23 Jan
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Makiuti Tongia
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The Cook Islands high commissioner’s position in Wellington is still up in the air.
Makiuti Tongia was approved by cabinet last year to take over from current high commissioner to New Zealand, Tepure Tapaitau.
Prime minister Jim Marurai said foreign affairs minister Robert Wigmore is in discussion with secretary Mike Mitchell about the position.
“It looks like Makiuti is not in the picture anymore,” said Marurai this week.
Marurai said it appears that another person may have to be nominated by cabinet for the job.
The PM said he didn’t know why Tongia, president of the Democratic Party, is no longer the preferred candidate for the position.
When contacted recently, Tongia said that he had heard nothing on the matter.
Fishing fees slashed
Sat
23 Jan
Licensing fees are going down to give the local fishing industry a hand up to help overcome the current slump its experiencing and decline in fish stocks in southern group waters.
The revised licence fee structure means that vessels less than 20 metres which are based in Rarotonga or Aitutaki will now pay $2000 for a one year licence – down from $5000.
Deputy prime minister and minister for marine resources Robert Wigmore has approved the slashing of fees by over half in response to representations from the local fishing industry for a review.
“I am aware that the fishing industry is experiencing the ongoing effects of the recent recess-ion, and the detrimental impacts that inflated operating costs continue to have on our local small boat owners,” says Wigmore.
“The government has a responsibility to help ensure the survival of the fishing industry during these tough times; we can assist our small boat owners by lowering the fees that they pay each year.
“It’s the low season for fishermen so we have decreased the annual licensing fees and then we will review the fee structure in a year.”
Wigmore says government needs to help those already established in the fishing business and are finding difficulty.
“We can do this through revising licensing fees, so that’s the obvious step to take.”
The minister says the fee structure will be effective immediately, and the ministry of marine resources will advise of any changes to this policy in the following licensing period.
ON THE STREET
Sat
23 Jan
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Maria Koiatu
Look what’s happening with our country now – we need a change.
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Olly Simiona
Everyone should vote because it should be the people’s choice who leads the country.
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Elizabeth Nelio
Leave it as it is, it seems to be working so far.
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Moe Ina
Just keep it the way it is, it’s done some good for our country.
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Sam Brown
People should pick the PM rather than just the party – let it be the people’s choice.
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Benjamin Maxwell
Elect the prime minister so there’s more changes in the country not just party changes.
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Uirangi Bishop
Leave it the way it is. It’s easier for us to choose the party and then let them choose.
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Junior Epati
Let the people speak, some people don’t know what party they’re with, so it should be up to the people.
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Do you think the Prime Minister should be elected by everyone?
Crocombe charts new directions in tourism
Mon
25 Jan
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe is looking forward to the challenges of taking the industry in a new direction this year.
Following news of a 7 percent increase in tourist arrivals last year – the first year the Cooks recorded more than 100,000 visitors – Crocombe says the number still has to be substantially increased to provide the level of growth needed for overall economic growth.
One of the first steps is to improve marketing and this is why the board has set up a destination, sales and marketing committee – made up of ‘key players’ in the industry. Crocombe says this committee will work with CI Tourism to work with travel wholesalers and airlines to identify opportunities to grow all tourism markets significantly.
This year he wants to look at rebranding the destination with something more effective than the recent ‘Live Differently’ brand – something that reflects the contemporary and traditional Cook Islands.
He believes the focus is still on targeting romantic couple getaways, weddings and honeymoons as well as the family market. Crocombe wants to see other areas such as special interest ecotourism and special event travel developed too.
He sees Aitutaki being developed as a destination in its own right as well as more focus on outer island tourism.
“Atiu was the first to hold its own tourism forum last year on what it has to offer and how it can market that more effectively.”
A new website will be launched by CI Tourism aimed at assisting the small to medium operators in achieving better results through the internet.
Crocombe says new initiatives this year include complimenting the traditional raui (marine reserve) system with legislative support. CI Tourism will back the move to make raui enforceable by law in Rarotonga and the outer islands – there are already five lagoon areas in Rarotonga that are reserves.
An ambitious move will be to look at developing cycleways through the southern group islands and walkways that can attract some of the ecotourism that is already going into NZ.
Aviation efforts are also paying off with the continued Los Angeles flight and the announcement of Air New Zealand’s direct trial flights from Sydney starting in July.
Talks are underway with Air Pacific to reintroduce the Nadi-Rarotonga flight which would connect the Cooks to Australia, Hong Kong and several Asian capitals, 11 capitals in Europe, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
“The key market for the South Pacific – Australia – is seeing significant growth. They tend to be the honeymooners who are typically higher spending longer, staying visitors.”
Crocombe is rapt to see some education developments for
the tourism and hospitality industry with the introduction of the University of the South Pacific’s degree in hotel management.
He says there should be increased focus on locals being able to work in the industry while they study – something that is sure to encourage more young people to stay and help with the growth of the industry.
PM turns down invite to summit
Mon
25 Jan
Prime minister Jim Marurai has turned down an invitation to attend what has been touted as the first major gathering of world leaders following last month’s Copenhagen climate change conference.
The Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi, India, will run from February 5 to 7under the theme ‘Beyond Copenhagen: new pathways to sustainable development’.
It is not known whether Marurai’s trip would have been paid out of government’s Civil List fund or by the host nation.
Marurai’s cabinet has agreed to cut back on overseas ministerial travel this year and with the current political turmoil still brewing away, the PM is also aware that it is better to stay close to home.
India has been lauding its 10th Delhi summit as the first focus on new pathways for climate change efforts post-Copenhagen – but many leaders may still be smarting from the United Nations meeting which was widely acknowledged as a failure with a lack of real commitment coming from developed nations.
Next month’s summit is said to offer a global platform to debate on environmental and climate change challenges facing humanity. One of the issues it will address is financing opportunities following Copenhagen. It is not yet known whether government will send a representative to the summit following Marurai’s decision not to go.
The environment minister has already indicated his huge disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen conference especially after committing himself to attending only last minute.
According to his office, the PM was not keen to travel at the time but he knew that the ‘COP15’ loomed large as a globally significant event.
One upside to the event was that the Pacific rallied hard at a high level and so the continued commitment to the UN framework convention on climate change was important.
What remains of concern to the Cooks and other small island developing states is the 1.5 degree Celcius baseline commitment and new funding for adaptation.
Marurai aims to take a report by the Cooks delegates to cabinet shortly outlining a clearer process for the country in pursuing climate change activities and funding.
Lobby group supports PM
Mon
25 Jan
Aitutaki’s lobby group Te Kura O Te Au is backing prime minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet.
Leader Taraota Tom says the people’s movement is fully supporting Maurai and his team “for their effect in leading this country toward the election”.
Although the group was formed as a result of discontent over Sunday flights to Aitutaki, Tom says it objects to the latest proposal to conduct the referendum on Sunday flights.
It would be a waste of money with the general election to be held in September.
“It is long wait, but we no longer want the referendum, as the man who brought it in is no longer in charge,” says Tom.
“The referendum should have held after the first six months trial.”
He says Te Kura O Te Au is not a political party, but a people’s movement that wants to make an impact and a strong statement for political changes in the coming general election.
“We are a people’s movement seeking real changes. The downsizing of parliament is one of our priorities.”
Tree climbers back to school
Mon
25 Jan
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Takitumu School Students
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By 8 o’clock this morning, these young kids will be in their school uniforms and greeting their teachers. These youngsters were snapped on Saturday playing ‘monkey up a tree’ at the Takitumu school grounds where they said that they were bored and couldn’t wait for their Takitumu school to start.
Climbing out the tree was a short-lived game though as father and cricketer Pare Rongokea explained to the kids that heads and hard ground don’t go together. The kids quickly climbed out of the young paata (flametree) and found fun elsewhere.
The majority of school kids across the Cooks will head back to school today.
Titikaveka College will see only teachers return to school today followed by the year 7 and 8 students tomorrow, year 9 and 10 students on Wednesday and by Thursday all students are expected at school.
Police force faces restructuring
Tue
26 Jan
The Cook Islands police force is facing a major restructure.
Police minister and prime minister Jim Marurai made the announcement last week during a press conference and said it was a move to lower the average age of the force.
“He (police commissioner Maara Tetava) was saying for staff at the top level he was going to try and ask them to accept a lower position or retire,” Marurai said. “He said he had too many older officers in the force.”
However, Teteva denied that they are targeting the more mature police members.
“It is about putting the right people, young and old, into positions where they can more effectively and efficiently contribute to achieving the goals of the organisation and most importantly keeping our people and country safer,” he said.
“All our staff will be evaluated to find the right people for the right positions for a more cost effective delivery of services.”
Tetava said the process will be lengthy and all levels will be affected.
“We will begin by advertising the positions of the top managers and once we’ve selected our successful applicants, we will go down to the next level and so on.”
The sworn police positions will be advertised internally as only sworn officers have the qualified training and experience to be eligible to apply. Non-sworn positions will be advertised both within the force and externally.
“The letter sent to the senior officers and all staff explains the restructuring process. It did not mention retiring older officers or for them to accept lower positions. The selection process will determine that,” he said.
Officers currently holding senior ranks who do not succeed with their application will be given the opportunity to try for a lower rank or take an early retirement.
“But there is nothing stopping them from applying for their current positions or some other position at the same level.”
A selection panel is yet to be confirmed but the commissioner is in the process of arranging for a senior New Zealand police officer and a retired senior Australian federal police officer to provide support and conduct an assessment development centre for all applicants.
“We made good progress while commissioner Tasker was in office, we need to build on that and take it to the next level.
“The restructuring, better planning, continuous improvement in our work practices, better resources and up-skilling of our people should take us there,” he said. “Policing will continue to evolve as society modernises and we will need to be up with the play to better deliver policing services to our people.”
PM keen on telecommunications reform
Tue
26 Jan
Prime minister Jim Marurai has issued a statement saying he hopes to maintain momentum on the proposed reform to the telecommunications sector this year.
Last November the telecommunications minister announced government’s intention to open the market to competition but said it could take until February to formalise the changes under law.
The reform not only means changing the telecommunications act in parliament but also depends on government extracting itself from an agreement over current monopoly holder Telecom Cook Islands which has until now restricted the introduction of competition in the market. Government owns 40 percent of TCI and must negotiate with majority shareholder Telecom New Zealand to end the monopoly agreement signed in 1993.
Marurai told parliament last November that legal advisers were looking at the best way to end the monopoly agreement without huge cost to government.
“We have made it clear that we want to deregulate the telecom, our assets, and our responsibility. Now this agreement is limiting our endeavours to do it as soon as possible. So hopefully, we estimate about February next year it will all be over,” said Marurai at the time.
According to his office, Marurai reminded Telecom NZ last week that he still wants to go ahead with the sector reform as soon as possible.
“Although the prime minister has announced he does not intend to call parliament in the near future, he remains keen to pursue talks with the Telecom Cook Islands’ NZ partners.
The prime minister has been advised that a directors meeting is being arranged for next month and he expects to continue the dialogue process with the NZ board members, in due course.”
Marurai says the government position is focused on how best to achieve an open competitive market in telecommunications with independent oversight. The PM has been gathering advice and has reportedly got a committee reviewing the proposed reform.
The promise of reform of the telecommunications industry has been welcomed, especially by the chamber of commerce and local company Mervin Communications which is still pressing for a licence to operate. The company hopes to launch a high quality, low cost mobile network called KukiCel as the first of its proposed services.
The chamber has said competition will promote new technology, improved pricing, and a greater focus on quality of service, reliability and customer support.
Businesses in particular have voiced concern for years over the rising cost of TCI services and its added burden on the increasing costs of doing business here.
Girl bound and gagged
Tue
26 Jan
A female teenager was taken to Rarotonga Hospital with injuries sustained during a break-in to her Tutakimoa home on Sunday morning.
Police say that the two masked persons entered the girl’s bedroom while she was asleep, bound and gagged her and took her to a nearby plantation.
Police were told by the victim that at some point, she fell asleep and remembers nothing until she was awoken by a family member.
Ambulance assistance was called for and she was taken up to the hospital just before 4am.
Police are still investigating the matter.
Crocombe on mission in NZ
Wed
27 Jan
Chairman of the economic development taskforce Tata Crocombe was headed to Wellington yesterday to pursue discussions with New Zealand government officials on a range of initiatives proposed by the taskforce.
Mac Mokoroa, chief of staff at the office of the prime minister is accompanying Crocombe on the weeklong mission funded by the OPM budget.
Mokoroa said several meetings on the topics of airline initiatives, tourism, health, education, police and immigration and political reform are likely to take place.
Crocombe and Mokoroa also hope to be present at a meeting to take place next week between foreign affairs minister Robert Wigmore and the Chinese ambassador at the Wellington Embassy which is likely to include more talks on assistance from China.
New Zealand government MP John Hayes, the chair of parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee is understood to be planning several of the meetings for Crocombe and Mokoroa.
Mokoroa says the committee may also be helping to fund part of Crocombe’s travel.
Hayes was criticised last November for a statement he made condemning the systems of government in the Pacific saying countries such as the Cooks were an example of failed self-governance.
He said over 90 percent of Cook Islanders and 98 percent of Niueans had fled their islands for New Zealand and this demonstrated what they thought of their governments.
Hayes is understood to be supportive of political reform in the Cook Islands.
Crocombe has recently been tasked by prime minister Jim Marurai with putting together a proposal for political reform with long time advocate Iaveta Short and this was released last week.
It is understood that this proposed political reform will be among the priority issues to discuss with New Zealand officials but Crocombe, who also chairs the tourism board, is apparently also keen to address some tourism concerns as well.
Mokoroa said a proposal for the mission was put together and cabinet approved that recently.
He says cabinet is expecting a report on the outcome of the meetings in Wellington when they return next week.
Wong investigation completed
Wed
27 Jan
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Former tourism chief executive Chris Wong.
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The investigation into former tourism chief executive Chris Wong has been completed.
Detective inspector Mark Franklin said the police enquiry into the former tourism boss wrapped up late last year and is now in the hands of crown law.
“Police have now referred the matter to crown law for legal opinion to establish whether criminal charges will be laid.”
Wong has been under scrutiny since June 2007 after an audit report tabled in parliament alleged abuse of public funds. He later resigned as tourism chief executive in July 2007.
In May last year, Franklin interviewed Wong in New Zealand where he is currently residing. Franklin said he was cooperative in the presence of his lawyer, Tony Manarangi.
“I attempted to engage with Chris again through his solicitor and would like to see him one more time – but it’s now in his hands,” Franklin said.
“Even though the investigation is completed there is always an opportunity for Wong to give further explanation.”
If prosecution is pursued, Wong will need to face the charges in the Cook Islands high court.
“Up to now he’s been cooperative so if there were criminal charges I’d like to think that cooperation will continue in terms of voluntarily coming back to resolve matters.”
Franklin has said the Wong investigation was his “number one priority” as his contract with the police was to end earlier this month.
However, he will continue to work part time with the police fraud office after the police commissioner Maara Tetava extended his contract until June.
CT scanner costs considered says health
Wed
27 Jan
The feasibility of accepting a donated CT scan machine from Waikato Hospital has been given alot of consideration says health secretary Tupou Faireka.
Last week health minister Apii Piho announced that Rarotonga Hospital may soon have its first such machine which could save many lives and reduce the high cost of patient referrals to New Zealand.
The machine is described as a super x-ray machine which can scan the whole body and identify many injuries and medical conditions.
Invercargill-based Cook Island doctor George Ngaei wrote to Cook Islands News this week expressing concern that the ministry was about to ‘buy’ a CT scanner which might be far too costly with the added maintenance costs.
The CT scanner that Waikato Hospital wants to gift to the Cooks was worth around $3 million but has been decommissioned and re-valued at zero dollars to enable the donation to go ahead. Usually the old machines are sold through a tender process, but the district health board allowed the hospital to offer the machine to the Cook Islands at no cost.
The installation has been estimated to cost $24,000 and the annual maintenance for the first year around $135,000 but the ministry is confident it can find funding to cover these costs.
The ministry’s chief pharmacist Neville Puckey says it must be stressed that the CT scanner would be donated and funding to cover the freight to Rarotonga, installation and annual maintenance is still being sought from outside donors and agencies as well as government.
Faireka and Puckey stress that they continue to carry out due diligence and look at the feasibility of accepting the donated machine.
“There is a plan and that has been put to the minister,” says Faireka. That plan will soon go to cabinet for its endorsement.
Faireka admits the advice received in recent years on whether the country needs a CT scanner has been divided.
“Some doctors believe it is needed and some don’t. When the new minister came onboard he was all for taking up the offer of the free machine and we all sat down and agreed with the (ministry) directors that we could source funding for the additional costs. We are still looking at outside funding for installation and maintenance costs,” he says.
Faireka says the project is not being rushed into and there has been considerable time spent in finding the opportunity to receive a donated machine.
Puckey says Ngaei’s comments in regards to efforts to source a CT scanner over 25 years ago for Southland Hospital are relevant to the process the ministry is going through now.
“I guess over 25 years later we’re doing the same thing at this stage. We are looking at all the added costs and the potential benefits of accepting this donation.”
Puckey believes while it is important that the ministry has a financial stake in the ongoing costs of having a CT scanner, the community can also take ownership and help raise funds to cover costs.
“The whole community benefits when patients can get a much faster diagnosis and then can be quickly treated here or in NZ.”
Puckey’s January 15 report to the minister says there is little doubt the machines value in saving people’s lives.
Currently the ministry sends patients for referrals to New Zealand for a CT scan to provide either a diagnosis or to confirm one. About 60 patients a year are referred to New Zealand at a cost of over $400,000 a year to the ministry. The cost of an air ambulance medical evacuation (if a patient can’t be put on a commercial flight) is about $90,000.
Data gathered by Puckey so far suggests that a dramatic reduction in referrals could be seen if there was a CT scanner in the country.
Police ask for help in Aitutaki rape case
Wed
27 Jan
Police are calling on the help of the Aitutaki community with the ongoing investigation into a rape of a young girl last year.
The offence was first reported in April 2009 when the victim was nine-years-old. A review has recently been completed in what areas police still need to work on.
Suspects have been interviewed and a medical examination was conducted on the victim. Exhibits were also obtained which will be assessed for evidential value and may be sent to New Zealand for further testing, detective inspector Aka Matapo said.
However no DNA samples were extracted from either the suspects or the girl as police had previously stated.
“A team of four investigators from the Cook Islands police criminal investigation branch will be continuing with the enquiry and they are likely to travel to Aitutaki within the next two weeks,” Matapo said.
He urged the community in Aitutaki to assist them in their investigation.
“Someone in the community knows the person responsible for this terrible crime. They should come forward either to the local police or contact me directly on 29333 during working hours.”
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