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General News

Week ending Wednesday, January 27, 2009

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

MP appalled PM never saw Toogood report
Mou Piri asks for wide access to 1998 report
Wigmore defends seabed job ad
19 by-elections?
Dishes donated for prisoners
MPs to see reform proposal next week
Teachers union aims to grow
Optimism abounds for education in 2010
New teachers from NZ
New physed teachers on a mission
New principals appointed around the country
From teaching to auditing
Watch out for the bus and be safe
Trades centre gears up for year
USP 2010 – we‘re open to everyone
Imagine this!
Healthy habits enhance learning
Plea for safe travel
NCEA results improving overall
Te Marauru o te Pae Apii
Understanding NCEA
Show those greedy, overpaid, anti-reformist nutcases
Political reform – an historic opportunity to address a long overdue issue
PM plans reform conference
Proposal aims to change constituency seats
Dean resignation requires an explanation
Flight Centre aims for CI growth
One laptop per child on Mitiaro
Heather unopposed
Mango catcher spotted
Faireka confirmed as HoM
No one wanted job in cabinet: Demos
Take it back to parliament: Sir Terepai
Free light bulbs to launch energy project
Composers called to enter Mire Atu
Minister ‘going to the people’ on infrastructure problems
Vaevae challenge back on
Investment code needs updating
Edgewater names 2 staff of the year
MBE recipient leads by example
Teachers discuss post-grad programmes
Rongo boys ready to go
Bus is cheaper in long run
A parent’s day – it’s a balancing act
Nikao clean up for new school year
We don’t need a new political model: Tongia
Back to Blackrock for preschoolers
Avatea pupils roll up for 2010
International customs day celebrated today
Police kept busy with incidents
Missing girl with relatives
Avarua full at the start
CT scanner not a good idea
Isamaela for Amuri-Ureia
Masseur puts techniques to practice
Te Au O Tonga arrives in Aitutaki
Party politics has to stop
Couple move to secondary

Prime minister Jim Marurai’s receipt of the ‘Toogood’ report a month after it was released to government is appalling, says Opposition MP Teina Bishop.

The December 22 report details government’s $1.75 million out of court settlement with the country’s two fuel distribution companies over the controversial fuel farm scheme.

“The PM should resign – it’s unbelievable that he only just got that report!”

On Tuesday Marurai wouldn’t even hazard a guess as to why no one in government had furnished him with a copy until now and couldn’t explain why, as leader of the nation, he had never demanded to see it.

Government engaged NZ Queen’s Counsel Kit Toogood to act as a special consultant to government on the Triad litigation and the other related issues – his report details the outcome of his review, the mediation and settlement which followed.

Marurai was given the report on Monday by finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen.

But now Bishop and others are asking – if Marurai never read the report then on what basis did he sack the former finance minister and DPM Sir Terepai Maoate last month?

“He should have read the report last month. I’m appalled to know that he’s just received the report now,” says Bishop.

He says Marurai is just as much to blame for the Toagate scandal as anyone else in cabinet or government.

“It was Marurai’s cabinet that gave full authority to the DPM (Sir Terepai) and Toogood on November 30 to settle out of court. What did he expect?” Bishop asks.

Bishop says there’s no new aspect to the new cabinet because it is still a ‘Marurai government’.

“They were all committed to the fuel farm project when the supplementary budget came into the house – what’s changed now?”

He says Marurai’s government should be ashamed of plenty of other bad choices it has made under his leadership.

“Its not only Toagate – what’s that compared to the $13 million wasted on that stadium last year?”

Bishop says he was shocked to read the PM’s latest admission in CINews yesterday, especially since so many others in the political arena have already seen it. CINews obtained a copy of the report unofficially last week.

On Tuesday Marurai said he would not be officially releasing the report to the media.

• Helen Greig

The group for political reform, Mou Piri, is calling on government to provide better public access to the 1998 Commission of Political Review report.

Mou Piri believes the government-commissioned report is an excellent document that provides detailed results from public meetings on all islands, submissions from a broad spectrum of society as well as professionals and international experts.

“The report also presents an in-depth study of Cook Islanders’ wishes on the subject of political reform. The results were clear and simple and recommended a straightforward and clear mandate for change,” says the group.

“Currently, there are almost no copies of the document available. In the interest of public discussion of political reform it is important that copies of the report be made available to all the Outer Islands as well as Rarotonga in sufficient numbers to make it possible for interested people to read it. Venues such as all island councils, schools, churches, libraries, outer island stores and Rarotonga dairies would benefit from having a copy.”

The report was written by Iaveta Short, John Herrmann and the late Professor Ron Crocombe.

The economic development taskforce formed by government last year has recommendations for political reform based on the report.

Mou Piri supports those recommendations and the same reform is currently being suggested to government by a two member team – taskforce chair Tata Crocombe and Short, who have been tasked by prime minister Jim Marurai to work on a reform programme.

Mou Piri says it respectfully suggests to all school principals through the ministry of education that they introduce the review report to their senior students as a serious topic for social studies and discussions.

A digital copy of the report can be downloaded from the Mou Piri website www.cookislandsreformnow.com

• Helen Greig

Dear Editor,

With regard to the position of Commissioner of the Seabed Minerals Authority, I believe that we have to walk before we run.

The Cook Islands have no mining activity and there won’t be any for several years. However, opportunities can exist for interested companies to apply for an Exploration Licence once the required Seabed Authority is established, as required by the Seabed Minerals Bill. This is not a Mining Licence. The processing of an Exploration Licence application is a simple task while policing once exploration has begun is straight forward, certainly no more demanding than policing tuna fishing vessels by my Ministry of Marine Resources.

The issuance of an Exploration Licence requires that the applicant pay a licence fee. I am arranging for expert, international advice with regard to the appropriate licence fees in line with all international standards. We are advised that actual mining and the significant income stream that follows could be three years away. However, the Act requires that there be a Commissioner from the outset in accordance with the Public Service Act.

I believe a Cook Islander can and should perform the initial tasks specified under the Act, which states in 26(2) that “the Commissioner may engage consultants to perform services for the Authority where necessary for the effective performance of any of the functions and powers of the Authority of this Act”. It is my intent to tailor the advertisement to encourage and accommodate local applicants. While we don’t have the technology or the funds to undertake seabed mining, we must do everything within reason to make this our industry from the start.

Of course, any local Commissioner will need assistance when it comes to the issuance of a licence. There is nothing unusual about that if we judge by the stream of consultants that are passing through our working environment. Most certainly 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 an exploration licence that involves no monthly income or special monitoring beyond our existing capabilities.

The appointment of a Commissioner is for three years. If the task requires different skills and experience thereafter, then no doubt a different advertisement could be placed. I recognise that, when we have a sustainable mining industry under way, government will make the most appropriate appointment for that time just as I will for the present when, in fact, the feasibility of mining is not yet proven. I want a Commissioner with good sense who is marine-oriented and experienced in public affairs.

As for an ability to be fluent in both Maori and English, Section 35(c) of Act requires the Com- missioner to be secretary to the Seabed Minerals Authority Advisory Board. This board will be comprised of a chairman, the Commissioner and “5 members representing the island communities of the Cook Islands”. I view this as a very important board. Its members will need to be well briefed by the Commissioner in a way that they fully understand. 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 insuring that our mining industry be as local as possible.

Robert Wigmore

DPM & Minister Responsible for Mineral & Natural Resources

Dear Editor,

The Gang of 19  led by CIP’s Henry Puna is calling for elections. Why do they bother the prime minister and cabinet with this matter when they can have their elections if they want?

It’s simple, Henry. All 19 MPs can resign from parliament immediately thereby forcing 19 by-elections.

Of course, the remaining five MPs in cabinet must not resign because we need stability while the others go to the people.

Henry and Sir Terepai are all for stability, so they will support leaving five to run things.

Think of it, too, as 19 referendums. Each will have to take a position on reform, economic development and such current events as Toagate.

Imagine how that will clear the air!

As a bonus, it will give the five useful guidance in their duties until the national election in September.

If the gang wants democracy, it’s theirs for the asking.

If they refuse to jump at this opportunity now, then they should shut up

Yes to elections

(Name and address supplied)

Prison superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa (right) accepts 50 plates, bowls and mugs donated by Rafeo and Rahiti Tehiva for the inmates to use. 10012003

Prisoners will now have the luxury of eating off plates thanks to the generosity of a couple visiting from Tahiti.

Rafeo and Rahiti Tehiva donated 50 plastic mugs, bowls and plates to Arorangi prison yesterday.

When visiting the correctional facility on Sunday, they noticed the inmates were relegated to eating and drinking from ice cream containers. Lack of funding meant the previous cracked and galvanised dish ware could not be replaced so the prison was forced to use old containers.

“We were saddened to see the boys eat from the ice cream tubs,” Rafeo said through a Cook Islands Maori interpreter.

“We saw a need so we bought them plates from Raromart.”

The couple regularly travel between Tahiti and the Cook Islands where Rahiti is originally from. Rafeo works for the Tahitian government and will help host the Nikao dance group when they visit French Polynesia in June-July this year.

Prison superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa said the 39 inmates will be well catered for with this new gift.

“It’s a great help and they will be able to eat out of a decent plate than from a container,” he said. “I’m sure the prisoners will be happy tonight to be drinking from a decent cup as well.”

• Dana Kinita

Prime minister Jim Marurai’s plan for MPs to see the new 12-point political reform proposal is now likely to take place early next week.

Marurai had hoped to have the two political parties briefed on the proposal this week after cabinet gave it a thumbs up.

He is calling for all MPs to support the new proposal given that they will be responsible for deciding whether to endorse changes to the Constitution.

It is understood the proposed plan for reform is based on last year’s recommendations of the economic taskforce and the 1998 Commission of Political Review report.

Taskforce chairman Tata Crocombe and the chair of the 1998 commission Iaveta Short have been asked by the PM to brief the MPs on the proposal.

Yesterday Crocombe again emphasised the point that all 24 MPs are crucial in the move to change the political system.

Without the support of the MPs, the necessary changes for reform can not be endorsed in parliament.

“We can all say what we want about political reform, but only 24 people in this country really have a say in this.”

Crocombe believes the most contentious issue in the reform process has to be that of reducing the number of seats in parliament.

“The real fight will be around constituency seats,” he said yesterday.

It is understood Crocombe and Iaveta have pitched two options – either cut the number by two or cut it by five. Their proposal also specifies which constituency seats they think should be ‘combined’ to reduce the number.

Crocombe says the proposal also advocates a system where the prime minister is directly elected by the voters. The introduction of national seats is part of the proposal as well.

Another key part of the proposed reform process is the set up of a political review commission which Crocombe says could sort out such issues as the number of constituency seats needed in parliament.

As soon as the MPs have seen the proposal, the office of the prime minister plans to release it to the public through the media.

• Helen Greig

School teachers are currently holding a four-day workshop to discuss how to strengthen their union.

Around 20 members of the Cook Islands Teachers’ Institute (CITI) were based this week at the teachers’ building behind Telecom Stadium Arena.

Leading the workshop were Council of Pacific Education (COPE) secretary-general Govind Singh and former secretary general Krsihna Datt. The pair, based in Fiji, were also on a fact finding mission to assess the strength of unions in the country.

Meetings had been planned with the Cook Islands Workers Association and prime minister Jim Marurai.

President of CITI, Nga Charlie said they hoped to rejuvenate their 120-strong union.

“We’re trying to get our act together and improve and build on strengthening the organisation,” she said.

Issues discussed included identifying the strength and weaknesses of CITI, changes in the education system and the delivery in programmes, the affect of decrease in enrolments and what direction the group were heading in the future.

“There are quite a lot of issues and we intend to hold a council meeting in April during the holidays,” Charlie said.

“Representatives from the branches in the outer islands will be present so we can get to the nitty gritty issues our members are having and from there really have a big picture situation.”

Singh said there were many areas the Cook Islands and other Pacific region needed to improve on.

“We’ve been discussing the need to up skill teachers, to be able to liaise with their government better,” he said. “The ministry of education makes changes without consulting the teachers who it directly affects.”

Singh said there was also poor in-service training in the region with many countries sending a teacher to an island who are then just “left to rot”.

“Teachers should have the opportunity to up skill and the government should improve the status of their teachers.

“Education is dynamic – it changes every year.”

Recommendations were made to the CITI to join the national union in order to have a greater voice. Singh also said the country needed to follow their Pacific neighbours and become members of the International Labour Organisation.

“Unfortunately Cook Islands have not made a definite move in that area, they still need to do a lot more in ratifying conventions of the ILO.

“Once they become a member, they’re eligible for basic training and funding to the government to improve legislation and working conditions. Without it, it’s more difficult for trade unions to practice,” he said.

The CITI workshop finishes today.

• Dana Kinita

Sharyn Paio Secretary of Education 09081202

Schools in the Cook Islands re-open on Monday January 25, 2010. All students are expected to be back at school from Day One although in the case of secondary schools, some may have a staggered start with different year levels attending on different days initially.

A late start puts students on the back foot from day one and so I urge all parents to ensure that their children are back at school from the very first day of school ready to learn. Make sure that your child has had a good breakfast and comes to school on time ready to work.

Optimism abounds for education in 2010.

The cloud of interruption has been removed and I see no reason why schools can’t be carrying out their core function of effectively teaching children from the first day of the school year right through to the last day.

If parents and caregivers are not happy about the standard of education they feel their child is receiving, they must contact the principal in the first instance. Parents are the advocates for their children. Ensure that our young people are receiving the educational opportunities that they deserve and which are available.

Similarly, if students are not turning up for school or failing to behave in a manner conducive to effective learning and teaching, schools must make contact with the homes.

The Ministry of Education is here to support both families and schools. We must all work together if we are to maintain and raise standards of education in the Cook Islands. Set the tone from Day One – we only get one chance to start the year – and let us work together to make it a good one.

Goals for the Ministry of Education this year include continuing the good work undertaken over the past two years in literacy and numeracy.

Preliminary analysis shows a marked improvement in the literacy levels of students in Grade 4 and in numeracy levels of students in Grade 3. We will be working on further lifting these results this year. The raising of standards across all levels of education will continue to be our key focus and I am encouraged by the recent NCEA results which show improvements in most areas.

There is nothing like the joy of success to bring out the best in people. Success is contagious and infectious.

We aim to capitalise on this as we look forward to celebrating continued growth in both the standard of education and the achievement of our students at all levels this year.

The Ministry of Education has worked hard on recruitment this year to ensure that all schools are fully staffed from Day One. There were a large number of vacancies to fill and, with the exception of one vacancy in the area of accounting and ITC at Titikaveka College, our schools will commence the year with well qualified and trained teachers. This in itself is a wonderful achievement, particularly as international trends show increasing difficulties in recruiting teachers.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I wish all teachers and students all the very best for a successful year.

There is no more important time than right now to give our children the chance to receive a first class standard of education.

Let’s work together to achieve this.

Kia manuia.

New teachers have arrived on our shores from New Zealand to take up short-term teaching positions. The island’s new teachers gather with their families yesterday before heading out on house hunting missions. 10012004

The Ministry of Education is proud to welcome its new group of New Zealand teachers keen to take up the challenge of teaching Cook Islands kids.

In total nine teachers have arrived on our shores from New Zealand to fill in various teaching positions from English teachers to Performing Arts tutors.

MOE have compiled mini profiles on each of the nine teachers – some who’ve relocated their families to Rarotonga.

Andrea Panther

Andrea will be joining the Ministry of Education in the Audit Office with Tere Utanga and Ana Katoa. Andrea is joining us from an Area School which is of great benefit to the Audit Team as it means she has experience of both primary and secondary schooling and management. Andrea is accompanied by her husband Lance and two daughters. Their son was made head boy of his school in New Zealand so has chosen to stay behind to take up that role – he already has his first holiday booked in.

Guy Savage

Guy joins the English department of Tereora College from Wanganui Collegiate. Guy’s wife Anna is also an English teacher with a background in Adult Literacy so we are sure she will be put to good use. Guy has played representative cricket for Wellington and coached many school teams in both cricket and rugby. We are sure these skills will be utilized soon too.

Claire Waldron

A very exciting appointment for Tereora, Claire will be teaching Performing Arts (Drama and Dance) for NCEA classes. Claire worked professionally as an actress for many years and has most recently been teaching at Gore High School.

Rachelle Owen-Cooper and Ben Sexton

A returning Cook Islander, Ben will initially be teaching Science at Titikaveka College. Titikaveka College will be offering NCEA Physical Education for the first time, a great opportunity for the school, and this will be taught by Rachelle. Rachelle has most recently been teaching at Greymouth High School and also has a background in Performing Arts. Ben and Rachelle are accompanied by their two young children.

The Science vacancy at Titikaveka has arisen as Teariki Jacobs, Titikaveka Teacher of the Year 2009, is returning to Tereora College to teach Chemistry and Science.

Simon Bragger and Tracey Spiers

Simon, Tracey and daughter Ruby have come to the Cook Islands from Rotorua. Simon and Tracey will both be teaching at Tereora College. Tracey will be teaching ICT and Simon joins the staff to teach Economics. They have travelled to the Cook Islands many times in the last few years to visit friends and are looking forward to living here and joining the staff at Tereora.

Mathew Chapok

Mathew will be joining the staff of Titikaveka College in the Maths Department. Mathew has been teaching for over 20 years and has recently completed a contract as Head of Mathematics at Nauru Secondary School. Mathew will be joined by his two sons who will both attend Titikaveka College.

Poul Laurentzin

Like Tracey, Poul will also be joining the team at Tereora College to teach ICT. Poul has travelled the furthest by travelling from Denmark where he has been teaching for the last few years, spending time with family after many years of working in New Zealand. Poul is accompanied by his wife and young son.

Te reo teachers

The Cook Islands Maori Department at Tereora College also sees some changes. Papa Tangaina Patia has retired after many years of service.

Uriau Teatai George has transferred from Mauke School to join the department.

Papa Ina Teiotu will also be assisting in the department and as a Taunga Korero will no doubt bring great depth to the department with his knowledge and skills.

Uriau and Papa Ina will join Vae Papatua who is HOD Maori.

The Ministry of Education warmly welcomes all new staff and looks forward to their development and contribution to the education of our young people.

Ben, Rachelle and their kids settle into life on Rarotonga. 10012008

For Ben Sexton, shifting to Rarotonga is a case of both teaching and learning.

He and his partner Rachelle Owen-Cooper, who arrived in Rarotonga last Sunday, are new additions to the Titikaveka College teaching faculty.

Ben will teach Science, Rachelle will teach Health and both will teach Physical Education.

Both Ben and Rachelle have been teaching for four years, and spent the last two years at Greymouth High School in New Zealand.

They are looking forward to raising their children on Rarotonga. Keeley, aged nine, and Eva, aged “four-and-a-half,” will attend Takitumu Primary School.

Ben has Cook Islands roots but has visited Rarotonga only once, on holiday at the age of 12, and returning is also a chance to learn about his heritage.

He and Rachelle came to the Cook Islands not only to further their teaching careers by dealing with “new kids and new challenges” but to experience “a new place and a new culture” and to discover more about Ben’s family history, they said.

Ben’s father managed a rugby team here years ago and Ben hopes to get involved with rugby while he’s on the island. He’s also looking forward to taking advantage of Rarotonga’s beaches, while Rachelle is excited about the warmer water temperatures, which will allow her to “surf without having to wrap up.”

And Keeley and Eva can’t wait to go swimming every day, though Eva thinks she’ll have to get used to all the sea slugs lying around.

Ben and Rachelle have already visited Titikaveka College, where Ben’s second cousin is principal.

“I love [the school]!,” Rachelle gushed. “It’s a beautiful color. You just get such a positive vibe from it and that’s a cool feeling. I know it’s going to be awesome teaching there.”

• RR

The 2010 school year is set to get off to a smooth start with newly appointed teachers and principals ready to start work on Monday.

There has been some reshuffling of teachers and positions within Cook Islands schools.

Students at the country’s national college, Tereora College, have already know what to expect from their principal Teaea Parima.

Parima was appointed as the national college principal late last year to replace Sharyn Paio who moved into the Ministry of Education secretary role.

Supporting Parima as deputy principal is long time Tereora College teacher and administrator Teremoana Herman.

Herman takes over from Vae Unuka who has been appointed as the new principal at Arorangi Primary School.

Rutaki Primary School students will be familiar with their new principal Nooroa Ingaua who has been a teacher at the school for some years.

She takes over from Enoa Raea who has moved to Aitutaki to take up the principal role at Araura College – a position left vacant with Teaea Parima moved to Rarotonga to be the principal at the national college.

Northern group island schools will also experience some principal changes with Omoka School on Penrhyn island to welcome Tyronne Weerasignhe who has moved from Tukao School on Manihiki.

Weerasignhe will be supported by Maruata Pureau as teacher.

Atiu teacher Teremoana Ave replaces Weerasignhe as the Tukao School principal.

Former Titikaveka College teacher, Tuhe Piho left Rarotonga this week to take up his new post as Rakahanga School principal.

For the remainder of schools across the Cook Islands, principals from 2009 will continue in their positions this year.

Cook Islands principals Avarua School Gelling Jack, Avatea School Ngatokorua Charlie, Nikao School Rairi Rairi, Arorangi School Vae Unuka, Rutaki School Nooroa Ingaua, Takitumu School Engia Pate, St Joseph’s School Sister Celine Simon, Te Uki Ou School Jason Ataera, Imanuela Akatemia School Jonathan Nand, Blackrock Pre-School Stephanie Puiri, Papaaroa SDA School Gregory Taikakara, Tereora College Teaea Parima, Titikaveka College Ani Piri, Nukutere College Donna Nahu, Araura Primary School Clare Nelio, Vaitau School Michelle Paerau, Aitutaki SDA School Naomi Henry, Araura College Enoa Raea, Enuamanu School Nooroa Teipo, Mauke School Josephine Ivirangi, Mitiaro School Thomas Samuel, Ivirua School Sue Ngatokorua, Tauhunu School Retire Puapii, Tukao School Teremoana Ave, Rakahanga School Tuhe Piho, Omoka High School Tyronne Weerasinghe, Tetautua School Maruata Pureau, Niua School (Pukapuka) Elikana Elikana, Nassau School Poila Poila, Palmerston School Yvonne Marsters (TIC).

• Matariki Wilson

Andrea Panther with her husband Lance and daughters Olivia (7) and Ashley (11). 10012009

Small communities are where Andrea Panther thrives but the teacher is taking a cautious approach to her new positions as an audit officer within the Ministry of Education.

“Mostly I’ll be making sure that teachers are doing the right things and that students are receiving the education they should be,” says Andrea.

Andrea says that this is the first time she’s worked for a ministry as she has spent the past 14 years teaching commerce and enterprise subjects to students.

Before coming to Rarotonga, Andrea was the deputy principal at the Kaitaia Abundant Life School near the top of the North Island of New Zealand.

Andrea looks forward to getting involved in community events from fun wearable arts workshops to church groups.

She is accompanied by her husband Lance and daughters Ashley (11) and Olivia (7) who will also attend school on the island – they just haven’t decided which school they will be going to.

• Matariki Wilson

Buses will be running as usual this school term, and riders and road users alike should make sure to exercise care on and around the school bus.

Kevin Cook of Cook’s Passenger Transport reminds students not to cross the road in front of the bus. He asks parents to cooperate by waiting for their children on the correct side of the road.

“We would like to emphasise that if there are any parents waiting for their children, they should be waiting on the side of the road that the bus will be arriving at. When parents stand across the road waiting, kids get excited and run across the road,” he said.

“We had an incident where a child saw his mother and was excited and he just ran right in front of the bus and got hit. We don’t want that happening again.”

Cook asks that riders abide by all bus rules. Graffiti and smoking are grounds for being banned from riding the buses. It’s especially important, he said, that students don’t do anything to distract drivers.

• RR

The trades training centre (department of national human resources development) in Arorangi is due to have an orientation for students in the first week of February.

Night classes are due to start in February with dates and times to be confirmed by the end of this month.

These classes are as follows:

(1) National Certificate in Electrical – (a) Cook Islands Electrical Service Technician Registration and (b) Cook Islands Wiring Registration; (2) Unitec Carpentry; (3) National Certificate in Motor Industry level 2; (4) National Certificate in Automotive Engineering level 3 & 4; (5) Plumbing/drainlaying – date and time to be confirmed

Full-time courses will start in April. These will run for 11 weeks and will be conducted from 8am to 4pm.

These courses are as follows: (1) Cook Islands Electrical Service Technician Registration; (2) National Certificate in Building Construction Allied Trades – level 2 (carpentry) – BCAT; (3) National Certificate in Motor Industry level 2.

Inquiries can be made to TTC on phone 21471.

• TTC

This year USP Cook Islands Campus will spearhead the introduction of a five-year work and study degree in hotel management to help meet a key human resource need of the Cook Islands main export industry – tourism and hospitality.

This degree will be delivered entirely in the Cook Islands to employees of the local hotel industry, permitting hotel workers to obtain an internationally recognised qualification as a hotel manager, while continuing to work full-time.

USP will also work to complete delivery of programmes to students currently undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Management, the Graduate Certificate in Business (Project Management) and the Masters in Business Administration. All these programmes are designed to provide business people and entrepreneurs with skills to further stimulate the Cook Islands economy.

To enhance the development of future generations of Cook Islands school students, USP Cook Islands will work to complete existing programs in the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and the Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

USP will also collaborate with the Ministry of Education and the Department of National Human Resource Development to deliver (from April 2010) masters and PhD programmes for educators and administrators designed to create the next generation of Cook Islands educational leadership.

Negotiations will continue for local delivery of a Masters in Information Systems degree to meet the country’s needs in this critical area of the new economy and a Post Graduate Certificate in Climate Change to address issues of vulnerability and adaptation to the increasing impact of climate change.

USP Cook Islands will additionally deliver the Post-Graduate Diploma in International Affairs to agencies engaged in aid negotiations and diplomacy, and commence delivery of a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management focusing on human resource development, change management and operations and project management.

While there will be an increasing focus, particularly on Rarotonga, on post graduate studies, the university is committed to extending opportunities to people from all walks of life, no matter their educational background.

The USP is, in very real terms, “open to everyone”.

From 2010, USP will be offering an increased number of adult and continuing education classes focusing on computing, small business and the arts, as well as bridging courses to take people from their current level of education to degree level studies.

USP’s commitment to inclusion also means an increased emphasis on people living in the outer islands.

USP Cook Islands will spend at least 25 percent of its time and resources in meeting the needs of students in the outer-islands, radically increasing opportunities for outer islanders to study for certificates, diplomas and degrees at both undergraduate and post-graduate level.

USP encourages everyone, young and old, to (a) develop their own ‘lifelong learning’ study plan and (b) to come and visit the campus for assistance to help you achieve your study plan.

Enrolments are currently being taken.

Contact the USP centre on 29415 or call in to the Takamoa campus (down from the Avarua CICC church).

• USP

Fishing, snorkelling and playing cricket are among the things new Tereora College English teacher Guy Savage and wife Anna are keen to do when they are not in the classroom.

Three years ago the couple visited Rarotonga and thought, “Imagine living here!”

Now they are here and keen to ease into the island lifestyle.

“We’ve always loved the islands. In fact, Anna’s father was born in Tonga, so we have a love for the islands,” says Guy.

And after just three days on the island, the couple will be welcoming their first visitors to their island home in Arorangi.

And soon their 19-year-old daughter Jen, a broadcasting student in Christchurch, will visit with plans for her wedding while their son Paul (21) is studying journalism at Auckland’s AUT.

Guy has spent the past 16 years teaching at Wanganui Collegiate, a private boarding school for boys, and before that he taught at Kings College in Auckland for 10 years. He says teaching at boarding schools means you are more involved with students instead of just seeing them in the classroom.

His wife Anna is also an English teacher with a background in adult literacy and while she doesn’t have an official position at the moment – she is keen to share her education skills and knowledge here in the Cooks.

Guy and Anna are keen to get involved in community events and activities .

• Matariki Wilson

As parents gear up for the start of the school term, the health department would like to remind them to encourage children to stick to a healthy diet.

According to nutritionist Karen Tairea, eating healthy foods can enhance a child’s ability to learn and improve his or her behaviour and concentration.

Tairea advises schoolchildren and their families to follow a few basic eating guidelines: eat carbohydrates like taro, rice, bread and cereal for energy; proteins like lean meat, fish, chicken, eggs and lentils for sustenance; and fruits and vegetables to boost the immune system.

She recommends eating at least three meals a day, and emphasises that it is always important to eat breakfast and to exercise portion control.

Tairea encourages parents to pack lunches that are both healthy and cost-efficient. Ideal lunch items include sandwiches, fruit, yoghurt, easy-to-pack vegetables like cucumbers and carrots, crackers, oat-based muesli bars, roti and snacks like maniota uki, popcorn and peanuts.

She judges water, nu and plain milk to be the healthiest drink options available.

Tairea urges parents to avoid packing unhealthy lunch items like meat pies, sausage rolls doughnuts, chips, dry instant noodles, Twisties, lollies, fruit leather, cakes, chocolates and sweets, and warns that fizzy drinks, E2 and Powerade are high in sugar content.

She understands that the recent economic crunch might prompt people to consider price before nutritional value, but says that it’s possible to follow a cheap and healthy diet.

Tairea says that an economical way to eat healthy is to grow your own fruits and vegetables, make your own sandwiches and pop your own popcorn. She encourages eating local fruits like guavas, vikavakava and carmbola and packing leftovers in lunches.

She also suggests avoiding “fancy lunch box fillers” and prepackaged goods that are both expensive and unhealthy.

School children should follow a wholesome diet but everyone should remember that it’s not the only component of a healthy lifestyle. Tairea says it’s important to watch less TV and stay active for at least an hour a day.

Parents should ensure that children get enough sleep – between six and eight hours a night – as research shows that insufficient sleep is directly linked to obesity. Children should also avoid stressful situations if possible.

All schools are required to abide by a Healthy Food Policy, which stipulates that students and teachers should be eating healthy lunches and that tuck shops should be selling healthy foods. Still, it’s important that parents play a key role in guiding their children toward healthy habits.

• Rachel Reeves

The beginning of the school term will likely generate an increase in road traffic. Road Safety Council and Cook’s Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd would like to remind drivers, bus riders and pedestrians to travel safely.

RSC chairman Colin Burn asks that students be sure to walk carefully along the side of the road, even in the frenzied excitement of seeing mates after a long holiday. He also urges drivers to use extra caution as the start of the term heightens road traffic.

And while it’s important that bus riders and road users practice caution during the school day, Burn emphasises that road safety should be a priority at all hours.

“It’s 24-hour care that we’re looking for from everybody,” he said. “We had a reasonably safe Christmas. Let’s see if we can make this a better year than last.”

• Rachel Reeves

Last year’s results for students entered in national certificate of educational achievement (NCEA) saw improved pass rates – but 50 percent of final year students are still failing to pass, according to the ministry of education’s statistics.

A total of 503 students from the seven accredited colleges and secondary schools entered level 1 (year 11) or level 2 (year 12) or level 3 (year 13).

Tereora College had the highest number of students sitting NCEA exams in 2009 – about 346 of them.

Of the 71 Tereora students who entered NCEA level 3, just 55 entered in four or more subjects (four being the minimum needed to realistically gain NZ university entrance). The remaining 16 students entered a mix of level 2 and level 3 subjects and there were no full level 3 entries from the outer islands or entries from other Rarotonga colleges which don’t offer year 13.

Of the 55 full level 3 entries from Tereora, only 28 or 50.9 percent gained NCEA level 3.

The ministry of education says although this achievement rate is down from 2008, there has been an increased number of students enrolled in the final college year.

The pass rates for the past years are 48 percent in 2006, 74 percent in 2007 and 60 percent in 2008.

Only 25 or 45.5 percent of the 55 students who took the full level 3 programme qualified for university entrance. The success rate for this has increased over 2008 when just 28.9 percent qualified. 2006 saw a 73 percent success rate for UE which dropped to 64.5 percent a year later.

Although there is an improvement, a number of students did not have the required 14 level 3 credits in each of two subjects from the “approved subjects” list and 14 credits from not more than two additional domains.

The ministry says of note is the achievement of two year 13 students from Tereora College. Pauline Pickering and Alexander Hart-Smith gained their NCEA level 3 certificate with merit endorsements.

These two students also achieved this feat at levels 1 and 2 in 2007 and 2008 respectively. This means that they have achieved 50 credits at a merit or excellence level.

Tereora, Araura College and Enuamanu and Mangaia schools entered a total of 169 students in the NCEA level 2 courses and 74.8 percent passed – the outer island schools had an achievement rate of 82.4 percent over Tereora’s 72.7 percent achievement rate at this level.

The achievement rate has steadily improved over the past few years for level 2 NCEA – in 2006 it was 51.4 percent, 2007 saw 61.9 percent pass and in 2008 that pass rate grew to 66.9 percent.

A number of students took level 2 courses in hospitality, building and construction. These courses were delivered off-site by the department of national human resource development (HRD) with credits from these counting towards the 60 credits the student require for NCEA level 2. Courses in these vocational related subjects will again be offered by the department this year.

Of the 262 students entered in level 1, 57.1 percent of them gained the qualification with students from Titikaveka College, Nukutere College, Mauke School and Mangaia School enjoying the greatest success at this level.

This achievement rate compares very favourably with previous years (43 percent in 2006, 50.2 percent in 2007, 49 percent in 2008).

However, several candidates who gained the minimum of 80 credits did not receive the award as they did not meet the minimum literacy (8 credits) or numeracy (8 credits) requirements.

The ministry says results indicate that strategies put in place by schools at the start of the year to off-set the effects of the expected disruptions caused by the WYNC and the Pacific Mini Games have been successful overall.

These included minimising disruptions to school programmes, getting through the bulk of the work in the first half year, focus on internal assessments, intense exam preparation and greater school/community awareness.

All results at this time are provisional, as some candidates may seek a reconsideration of their exam scripts. The results are for those students who are enrolled in a course which allows them to gain a qualification in the year of entry.

NCEA results for 2009 were released on January 12. Result notices have been mailed and can be expected to be received in the Cook Islands this week.

Students should check the mailing address they stated on their original entry form. Results are also available online. To access these results the student will need his/her NSN number and password.

• Helen Greig

Akamarama’anga no runga i te peapa NCEA Revera Tai

Ka rauka i teia peapa me tere atu te maka (credits) a taau tamaiti ki te varu ngauru, mei roto mai i te au apii e apai ana aia. Ka tare katoa ia te au maka tei rauka iaia mei te revera tai ki te revera toru.

Tuanga o te Apii Reo e te Apii Matematika

Ka anoanoia e varu maka mei roto mai i te apii Matematika, e, e varu maka mei roto mai i te apii Reo Ingariti me kare te Reo Maori Kuki Airani.

Akamarama’anga no runga i te peapa NCEA Revera Rua

Ka anoano’ia e kia tere atu te maka a taau tamaiti ki te varu ngauru. Inara ka inangaro’ia e ono ngauru o teia maka nei, no roto mai i te apii o te Revera Rua. Te toe’anga o te maka no roto mai i te apii o te Revera Tai.

Akamarama’anga no runga i te peapa NCEA Revera Toru

Ka anoano’ia e kia tere atu te maka a taau tamaiti ki te varu ngauru. Inara ka inangaro’ia e ono ngauru o teia maka nei, no roto mai i te apii o te Revera Toru. Te toe’anga o te maka no roto mai i te apii o te Revera Rua.

Tomo’anga ki roto i te Apii Tua Toru (University) o Nu Tireni

Teia te au tuanga te ka anoano’ia i mua ake ka ariki’ia ei koe ki roto i te Apii Tuatoru:

(a) E 14 maka tatakitai mei roto mai e rua tuanga apii o te revera toru, e

(e) Kia tae te tare’anga maka ki te 14 maka mei roto mai e rua tuanga apii o te revera toru, e

(ng) 14 maka mei roto mai i te Apii Matematika Revera Tai e i runga ake, e

(i) 4 maka mei roto mai i te tuanga o te Tatau, e 4 maka mei roto mai i te tuanga o te Tata o te Apii Reo Ingariti Revera Rua e i runga ake.

Sitting end of year NCEA exams last November was only part of the challenge for 500 students who were aiming to gain one of the three qualification levels. 09111812

Information for parents about NCEA qualifications

Students entering NCEA Level 1:

To achieve NCEA Level 1 your child needs a total of at least 80 credits from all the subjects he/she is taking. Credits count from Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 standards

Minimum Language and Mathematics requirements: Part of your child’s total of 80 credits must come from -

At least 8 credits in Mathematics AND

At least 8 credits in English OR 8 credits in Cook Islands Maori

Students entering NCEA Level 2:

To achieve NCEA Level 2 your child needs a total of at least 80 credits, of which 60 must come from Level 2 standards (the other 20 can come from Level 1 standards).

Students entering NCEA Level 3:

To achieve NCEA Level 3 your child needs a total of at least 80 credits, of which 60 must come from Level 3 standards (the other 20 can come from Level 2 standards).

New Zealand University Entrance:

To qualify for entrance to a New Zealand University (NZUE) your child will need:

14 credits at Level 3 in each of two subjects and

A total of 14 credits at Level 3 in another two subjects, and

14 credits in Mathematics at Level 1 or above, and

4 credits at Level 2 or above in each of Reading and Writing.

Dear Editor,

I’d like to take out two birds with one stone in this letter.

First, I commend ‘6-month-6-year-old car’ for pointing out to government the state of Tepuka Road and reminding everyone there’s a world beyond the realm of politics.

Meanwhile, some feel the need to debate the uses of porcelain cleaners and the like while Aitutaki motorists, to say nothing of the rest of the country, must navigate perilous roads near the Pacific Resort hill that were widened half-heartedly in time for the Pacific Mini Games. And Rarotongans think they’ve got it bad!

The other topic, of course, is the chess match that is Cookie politics.

Who would’ve thought such a small country could produce a range of colourful politicians.

Kata’s cartoon in last Tuesday’s paper portrays the situation beautifully. What those 19 dogs/wolves don’t realise is that there’s a lot more than just Marurai and Rasmussen behind that door – just read the other letters.

Hang in there Mr Prime Minister. Show those greedy, overpaid, anti-reformist nutcases what your crew can do!

An Aitutakian

(Name and address supplied)

An historic opportunity to address the long standing unresolved issue of political reform

- The events of the last three weeks have highlighted the urgent need for change in the government of the country

- Political Reform is a long standing unresolved issue

- Political Reform is fundamental to the long term future of the country

- The country could do a whole lot better socially and economically with an upgraded form of government

- Political Reform would offer a much better future for all Cook Islanders–

• More stable government

• More democratic

• The government able to get on with the job of governing with a clear mandate

• Broader based and fairer representation

• Vastly reduces “horse trading” creating factions, personal squabbles, antagonism at all levels in the country etc

1. Prime Minister

- I support the direct election of the Prime Minister by all Cook Islands registered voters.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Clear mandate from the people to the PM

•PM less subject to pressure groups / family / local levels politics

•Reduces political “horse trading”

•Checks and balances through requirement to work with Parliament for supply and legislation.

• Improved political stability

• Allows for a greater focus on national rather than local level issues

Disadvantages

•Too much power in the hands of the PM?

2. PM to appoint Cabinet

- I support that the Prime Minister should be able to appoint his / her Cabinet from amongst all registered Cook Islands voters

Yes / No

Advantages

• PM able to appoint Cabinet Ministers from the best amongst all eligible voters

• Separation of policy making i.e. politics from implementation.

• Cabinet Ministers less subject to pressure groups / family / local levels politics

• Allows for high potential Cook Islanders to pursue a career in senior government service

Disadvantages

3. Cabinet Appointments approved by Parliament

- I support that all Cabinet Minister appointments must be endorsed by Parliament following public hearings.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Ensures the appointment process is transparent

• Allows for public participation in the appointment process

• Allows Parliament to set key performance indicators

Disadvantages

• Need to manage confidentiality and privacy issues

4. National Seats

- I support the creation of 5 national seats to be voted for by all Cook Islands registered voters.

Yes / No

Advantages

• To facilitate more MPs with a national focus, agenda and mandate

• Balance constituency perspectives with national perspectives as many of the key issues facing the country are national not local level issues

• Provides for Cook Islanders to be able to vote for candidates from amongst all 10,000 Cook Islanders

• National MPs would respond to a national constituency i.e. all 10,000 Cook Islanders rather than a local constituency and local level pressures

Disadvantages

•Unless there is a reduction of constituency seats, the introduction of national seats could increase the number of MPs when most Cook Islanders want to see a decrease in the number of MPs

5. National Election of the PM

- The top 5 polling candidates for the national seats become national members of Parliament. The top polling national member becomes the PM if they win 50% of the vote. In the event that the top polling candidate does not achieve 50% of the votes there will be a “run off” between the top two polling candidates.

Yes / No

Advantages

•Allows for the people to give their chosen PM a clear national mandate representing all Cook Islanders

• Facilitates a national perspective

Disadvantages

6. PM limited to three terms

- I support that no person shall be Prime Minister for more than three terms.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Common practice in many jurisdictions

• Reduces the potential of concentrated powerful political dynasties

• With the reduction of the term to three years this allows for a maximum three terms over nine years

Disadvantages

• In a small country, there may not be a lot of candidates suitable for the PM position

7. Term of Parliament reduced from 4 to 3 years

- I support the reduction of the term of Parliament from four to three years. Yes / No

Advantages

• Increased accountability to the general public

Disadvantages

• Possibility of a limited opportunity to implement a programme

8. Political Review Commission

- I support the formation of a permanent Political Review Commission to (a) determine constituency boundaries for all future elections (b) make recommendations for any further adaptations of the political system to meet future national requirements as required over time. Yes / No

Advantages

• Standard practice in most jurisdictions

• Allows for changes to made in the political system to adjust to changing circumstances on an on-going basis

• It stream lines the process of political system change going forward

Disadvantages

9. Combine Manihiki & Rakahanga

- I support that the seats of Rakahanga (2009 -47 eligible voters) and Manihiki 2009 -224 eligible voters) be combined into one seat. This would make a combined total of 271 eligible voters compared to a national average of 477 voters per seat.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Fairer and more democratic

• Lower costs of Parliamentary representation

Disadvantages

10. Combine Tamarua & Ivirua & Oneroa

- I support that the seats of Tamarua (2009 -59 eligible voters) and Ivirua (2009 -103 eligible voters) and Oneroa (2009 -237 eligible voters) be combined into a single seat. This would make a combined total of 399 eligible voters compared to a national average of 477 eligible voters per seat.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Fairer and more democratic

• Lower costs of Parliamentary representation

Disadvantages

• Continued opposite

11. Combine Mitiaro & Mauke

- I support that the seats of Mitiaro (2009 -119 eligible voters) and Mauke (2009 -215 eligible voters) be combined into a single seat. This would make a combined total of 334 eligible voters compared to a national average of 477 eligible voters per seat.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Fairer and more democratic

• Lower costs of Parliamentary representation

Disadvantages

12. Combine Tengatangi & Teenui

- I support that the seats of Tengatangi-Areora -Ngatiarua (2009 -185 eligible voters) and Teenui -Mapumai (2009 -146 eligible voters) be combined into a single seat. This would make a combined total of 331 eligible voters compared to a national average of 477 eligible voters per seat.

Yes / No

Advantages

• Fairer and more democratic

• Lower costs of Parliamentary representation

Disadvantages

Where to from here?

- Democratic Party consultations

- Cook Islands Party consultations

- Public consultations

- Prime Minister’s Political Reform Conference

- Legislative Drafting

- Parliament

Prime Minister’s Political Reform Conference

- Objective: to identify if there is a national consensus for political reform and if so on what basis. To consult widely as to the best way forward for the Cook Islands.

- Early February 5pm to allow maximum public participation

- National Auditorium

- Tata Crocombe & Iaveta Short to chair the conference

- Invited Presentations–

- Political Parties

NGOs

- Written questions from the public

- Maximum public participation through radio, TV, newspaper, internet etc

Conclusion

- Political reform has been a long outstanding issue that needs to be resolved

- Any constitutional changes still require two thirds of MPs support i.e. (16 out of 24 MPs)

- This process of national dialogue will crystallize more clearly what is the best way forward

Prime minister Jim Marurai plans to host a conference on political reform early next month to hear more ideas and questions on the issue.

He wants to know if there is a national consensus for political reform and what that preference would be.

Marurai aims to consult widely on the best way forward for the nation – and he will be maximising opportunities for the public to take part in the debate through the media.

Yesterday he released a new 12-point proposal on political reform that has been put together by Tata Crocombe and Iaveta Short.

Crocombe heads the economic development taskforce which has proposed political reform as a major step toward econo-mic growth.

Short has not only been involved in politics for much of his life but also headed the 1998 commission of political review which first proposed a reform to a new system based on the country’s needs.

Now the proposed reform will be put to the people and the conference is just one way people can have their say.

Crocombe and Short will chair the proposed conference which will invite presentations from such groups as political parties and non-government organisations.

Questions from the public will also be taken at the conference which is likely to be held at the National Auditorium in the evening to provide the public with a suitable time to take part.

Short says the biggest danger in the proposed reform is that it will lose momentum if none of the recommendations is carried out before the next election.

Encouraging more debate on the issue in the coming months will help provide the opportunity to address a long overdue issue now.

Short and Crocombe, like cabinet, don’t want to see the issue dragged out and possibly dropped once more by the next government.

Marurai is clear that he wants as much public support for as many reform measures as possible and in this way he hopes the MPs will also focus on reform as a matter of urgency to make the country’s political system fairer and more efficient. r

• Helen Grieg

Architects of reform Tata Crocombe (left) and Iaveta Short explain their ideas to prime minister Jim Marurai. 10011421

Combining constituency seats to create fairer representation is a major recommendation of the new proposal for political reform.

Prime minister Jim Marurai released the proposal yesterday saying he hoped it would generate public debate and put extra pressure on MPs to consider just how reform should happen.

Under the proposal put together by political reform advocates Tata Crocombe and Iaveta Short, nine constituency seats would be combined into four seats – reducing the number by five. The five seats ‘saved’ in this reform would become national seats under the proposal.

The recommendation is to combine Manihiki and Rakahanga seats; Mangaia’s three seats of Tamarua, Ivirua and Oneroa; the two Atiu seats of Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua and Teenui-Mapumai; and the Mitiaro and Mauke seats.

Crocombe and Short have based the reduction in constituency seats on the voting population.

Based on June 2009 statistics there were 10,007 eligible voters – divide this by 24 and you get an average number of 477 voters per seat. The proposal promotes fairer representation through combining smaller constituencies to get closer to the national average number of voters per seat.

There are currently extremes in the level of representation of each constituency based on the voting population which mean the majority of constituencies are over or under represented in parliament.

For example, last year Rakahanga had just 47 eligible voters – Tupapa-Maraerenga had 1055 eligible voters.

If sister islands Rakahanga and Manihiki are represented by one seat they would have a combined voting population of just 271 – well below the national average but still fairer, more democratic and less costly in terms of representation says the proposal.

Mangaia’s three seats combined still only come to 399 eligible voters but Crocombe and Short say this is much better representation of the people.

The proposed combination of seats and other suggestions for improving constituency representation will be publicly debated in the coming months as the prime minister pushes for decisions to be made on political reform.

• Helen Greig

Opposition leader Tom Marsters fears that tourism head John Dean’s resignation may have a negative impact on the industry.

“Already ripples of concern are sweeping through the industry and the rumour mill is busy,” says Marsters in a media release yesterday.

“All sorts of allegations are being made and are further fuelled by statements made by the principal actors in this drama which do not agree.”

Marsters is calling on the country’s tourism minister Robert Wigmore to step up to the task and “provide a clear explanation and repair what I believe is a retrievable situation”.

“The industry should not be left wondering in this manner. Confidence within the industry must be restored as quickly as possible.”

Marsters says since his employment, Dean has pretty much kept his thoughts out of the public arena preferring to let his work and results speak for him.

“From the beginning he was determined to expand the numbers of tourists from Australia. This has happened. He was determined to have a direct service out of Sydney. This has happened but for a matter of a few dollars.

“Not only has he expanded our tourism numbers for the calendar year 2009, we have passed the 100,000 mark with flying colours – and during a time when a financial tsunami was sweeping the world.”

Marsters asks what could possibly have triggered his resignation when he has performed after only two years into his contract.

“It surely cannot be his age since the tourism board knew that he would turn 65 during the course of his contract.

“The man is possessed of vast experience in the industry and should not be let go this easily. The industry as a whole has confidence in him, which is important.

“I believe that the minister should intervene now and dowse any fires that may be burning within the corporation and effect a resolution to the satisfaction of all, restore confidence within the industry and let John Dean get on with his job.”

Marsters says tourism is the largest industry in the Cook Islands and is without ques- tion the backbone of our economy.

“It contributes by far the greatest to our GDP. It provides job opportunities for some 80 percent of the private sector employees through goods, services and related commercial activities. It provides cash in hand for the mama who sell ei, fruits and artefacts.

“It gives some rationality to our already heavily imbalanced balance of trade. It provides hope of a career for our young people and a very good rea- son for staying in the Cook Islands.

It is at the heart of our future development and the conti- nuing wellbeing of our economy.”

• Opposition Office/MM

Flight Centre’s James Brooker. 10011902

Cook Islands Tourism invited a representative of one of NZ’s largest travel retailers, Flight Centre, to speak at the opening of the industry’s biennial forum on Monday.

James Brooker manages the relationship between Flight Centre and CI Tourism.

The Australian-headquartered Flight Centre is a global company in eight countries and has 13,000 staff – in NZ it runs 30 retail stores and has 900 staff.

Brooker says the company has a 20 percent share of the travel retail market in NZ where there are only two other major retail groups.

He says of NZ’s 4.3 million population, almost half – 1.9 million – are departing the country each year for travel. Brooker says NZ has a competitive travel market with 700 travel agencies and about 370 brokers.

The Cooks saw 56,286 visitors from NZ last year – a 5 percent increase which Brooker says can be further increased with the right strategies.

Brooker says the economic crisis wasn’t all bad for travel out of NZ over 2009. Travel costs got more attractive as airfares dropped, increases in travel to short-haul destinations were seen and that also helped increase travel to the Cooks, he says.

Brooker warns that the travel market is still not past the economic crisis but there have been positive signs that its performance will improve.

He says the Cook Islands was able to buck last year’s trend in declining tourist numbers last year because it had a proactive tourism board, proactive suppliers, sharp market specials and the political instability in Fiji to attract more visitors here.

With Fiji and Samoa still undertaking aggressive marketing campaigns in NZ, Brooker says now is not the time for the Cooks to become complacent.

He says with new tourism products the destination can be ‘reinvented’.

This year Flight Centre plans to carry out three Cook Islands marketing campaigns with CI Tourism – in March, May and August. These campaigns will be crucial for the country as it again targets 100,000 plus visitors for the year.

• Helen Greig

Ian Thomson of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community promoted the pilot projects in the Pacific. 08082906

Every child at Mitiaro School will receive a surprise when they start school this year – a state-of-the-art laptop.

It may have taken more than a year but the One Laptop Per Child pilot project is finally all go.

About 70 of the laptops are now in Mitiaro – secretary of education Sharyn Paio says there will be enough for every student at the school to receive one.

The laptops have recently been checked free of charge by The Computer Man to ensure they are working after the long time they spent ‘gathering dust’ at the ministry. The green compact laptops contain pre-loaded resources – kids can use them to write, chat, take photos, play simple games and, if connected, surf the internet.

The ministry and staff from the ICT division of the office of the prime minister are heading to Mitiaro to oversee the introduction of the laptops in the school which includes the installation of a server.

Paio says the ministry will be looking at different ways to assist the school in using the laptops in the delivery of relevant curricula.

“For the Cook Islands, this is a trial and we will be monitoring its success before consideration will be given to embarking further on this initiative. The ministry is pleased that, at long last, these laptops will be put to use and trust that the children and teachers will find them useful,” she says.

Controversy over the project has gone on for more than a year. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community had threatened to take the laptops back last year if government was no longer interested in the project.

Paio approved the project after taking over the ministry last year. Prime minister Jim Marurai had given his support for the project to go ahead last year but former education secretary John Herrmann had put it on hold due to reservations about its worth and the future costs it could incur.

The SPC pilot programme is part of a world-wide project to have each child supplied with a laptop computer.The special laptops – which cost around US$100 each –were developed by the American-based OLPC social welfare organisation.

The computers were designed specially for distribution to children aged 6-12 in developing countries around the world to provide them with access to knowledge.

About 100,000 of them were purchased for the Pacific region by a financier and given to the SPC to distribute to poor communities in the region. Some went to Papua New Guinea and Kiribati.

The rugged, low-power computers contain flash memory instead of a hard drive. They use only five watts of power, run for about four hours, take one-and-a-half hours to charge off power mains or by solar, and connect with other laptops through a wireless system which is set up in the classroom.

• Helen Greig

Teariki Heather has been confirmed as the Cook Islands Party candidate in Akaoa at the next general elections.

The sitting MP’s nomination was the only one to be tendered at a meeting of party faithful in the constituency on Wednesday night.

The CIP executive is absolutely delighted at the outcome of the meeting which was attended by party leader Henry Puna and president Rau Nga.

A new committee was also elected with Robert Heather taking on the chair from the long- serving CIP stalwart Papa Utia Matata who stepped down due to health reasons.

The CIP executive say that the Akaoa puna has demonstrated the push for a more transparent candidate selection process by opening up nominations from the floor.

Nga said the sitting MP had no hesitation in giving his seat back to the puna for consideration.

He commended Heather and the Akaoa CIP committee and supporters for their acceptance and demonstrated support for the CIP principle that the seat belongs to the constituency.

So far Heather, Mark Brown (Takuvaine-Tutakimoa) and Teina Bishop (Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara), have been confirmed as candidates for the upcoming election.

- CIP/Moana Moeka’a

A potential future Cook Islands cricketer was spotted in Aitutaki recently practising his fielding skills by catching mangoes.

Twelve-year-old Wesley Robert has been holidaying on Aitutaki with his parents Nana Tiamoke from Atiu and Robert.

Wesley has been playing cricket since he was six, and plays for the under 14 Illawara Region back home in Australia.

He is number three in his team’s bowling line up with his uncle Tairi Paulo wishing his nephew could stay a while longer on the island to help out the Nikaupara cricket team.

Wesley actually took out four wickets in three overs at the Nikaupara training session this week.

Wesley said with confidence that his team hasn’t lost a game yet and was practising his catching skills by catching mangoes while his cousin Tairi picked them from the tree.

Wesley heads to Atiu this week to visit his mother’s homeland and vows to return to the Aitutaki one day to help his uncle’s Nikaupara cricket team thrash their rivals Vaipae.

• Rey

Tupou Faireka is relieved he has finally been appointed as secretary of health after three months of acting in the role while government made its decision.

Yesterday health minister Apii Piho officially announced Faireka’s appointment as of this week.

“I believe we have the right guy on board. I have sincere belief in his ability to do the job – he has the capacity and is the ideal person for the job. He was highly recommended by the selection committee based on his experience as former minister of health and his credentials in administration,” said Piho.

Faireka was appointed as acting secretary last August but there has been a long delay in the appointment process for this and one other head of ministry post – all previous three year contracts ended last July.

Faireka, who has been the director of outer islands health services for the past two years, replaces former health secretary Dr Roro Daniel.

He thanked the health minister and cabinet for approving his appointment.

“I’m much relieved but I still don’t understand the delay (in the appointment),” said Faireka.

He believes his long-time political affiliation with the Cook Islands Party may have had something to do with the time it has taken to finalise his appointment.

“They did ask me about what my political ambitions were but I told them that I don’t want to go back into politics. It doesn’t come into my new role either because I’ve pledged to serve the (health) minister of the day and more generally to serve the people.”

But the former politician can’t resist comparing the current talk of political reform to the health reform in regards to meeting the needs of the public by making changes to the system.

The ministry has been going through a reform since 2006 which started at management level.

“The provision of public services has to go into that mode (of reform) just like this ministry has. Seeing the new developments in politics, new changes, I can see politicians are going to have to be tough and politics is going to be challenging from now on. I think it’s time the system should change to cater for the time we are in now. It should be in tune with our youth – the future leaders.”

Faireka, 59, was the MP for the country’s largest electorate – Tupapa-Maraerenga – from 1994 to 2006. During his political career he was appointed minister of health, tourism and justice and even had a very brief stint as the deputy prime minister in 1999.

After moving back into the public service after losing his seat in 2006, he says he believes he’s got a lot to contribute to the ministry of health.

“I have over 20 years’ service in health and I should put that back into the country.”

He is excited about being part of the changes to improve the health system.

“I have seen a lot of changes now and I’d very much like to be part of that change. This year is going to be a challenging year for health.”

Faireka says the hospital has undergone some serious refurbishment over the past two years and now the children’s ward, medical and surgical wards are all fully renovated. He says the next step will be to refurbish the maternity ward early this year and address plans for a new operating theatre.

Outer island hospitals and clinics have also been built and upgraded in the past few years and Faireka says just Mangaia and Atiu facilities now remain to be worked on.

“All the rest are modern and up to date,” he reports.

Part of the ministry reform Faireka wants to pursue this year is to have overseas specialists help draft a new umbrella law for medical practitioners, including traditional healers to control the provision of health care services.

• Helen Greig

The reason for not appointing a sixth minister by the Jim Marurai-led cabinet was not a cost-cutting measure, say the Democratic Party.

“The reality is, despite approaches to both the Democratic Party and the Cook Islands Party, no MP is willing to take up the offer of a ministership in the new minority cabinet,” says a party media release.

The party has also revealed what happened on December 24 while PM Marurai endeavoured to put together his new cabinet.

On the morning of December 24, sacked deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate was visited by Ruaau MP William ‘Smiley’ Heather and his constituency committee to reassure continued support for the party to remain united.

“While Heather was meeting with Sir Terepai, another meeting was underway between the prime minister, Wigmore, Rasmussen and the CIP caucus at the opposition office offering the same deal,” says the release.

“Depending on which group struck a deal, the terms were for the PM to nominate two persons and Sir Terepai (or the CIP) would also nominate two people to form a new cabinet. That cabinet would include Marurai as prime minister and Sir Terepai [or CIP Tom Marsters] as deputy prime minister.

“By the same afternoon, all reassurances were once again out the door. Sir Terepai received a phone call from Wilkie Rasmussen advising that the plan had changed and the PM would make all five nominations for the new cabinet. He further advised in the phone call that Sir Terepai would be sworn-in after new year.

The party say Rasmussen’s statement that an undertaking was given on Christmas Eve by Democratic MPs to support the Marurai cabinet is incorrect.

“The Democratic MPs accepted the offer made by the PM for Sir Terepai to make two ministerial nominations to cabinet, including [Sir Terepai] to be sworn in as DPM.

“The Democratic Party executive, caucus, central committee and supporters remain in favour of a government of the majority. The Democratic Party has clearly demonstrated its commitment to reaching and sticking to decisions that are made by the majority. The Democratic Party philosophy of ‘embrace our future’ remains intact and is the cornerstone of all decisions that have and are being made by the majority.”

• Democratic Party/MM

The two major political parties are calling on the prime minister to follow the correct process with regards to political reform and take the matter to parliament.

Democratic Party leader Sir Terepai Maoate says in the interest of transparency, public submissions on political reforms should be reviewed by a parliamentary select committee.

Sir Terepai says this would ensure that all submissions are given a fair hearing and are properly reviewed.

“The prime minister is now asking the 19 MPs to support political reform. He needs to be quite clear about what he wants to see in terms of the reforms and then call parliament to table this. He can’t expect to have the reforms in place without going through the proper process. ”

Sir Terepai stresses that public submissions should be made to a select committee, not received by the prime minister.

“If the public is expected to table their submissions with the prime minister and this is the process that Jim Marurai is going to use, then we can be sure nothing will be done in the end.”

Sir Terepai says that this is the view shared by both political parties.

“Both parties find it quite bizarre that the prime minister who wasn’t interested in the position of his former cabinet and the existing caucus, has now done a back flip and wants our support.”

Sir Terepai says the party says that Jim Marurai needs to make clear decisions about this issue and take a definite position, rather than throwing this back at the 19 MPs.

“The prime minister is again showing he doesn’t want to take responsibility or make any decisions of value – he is now wanting support from the party which he has ignored.”

The Democratic Party leader says the if the prime minister is serious about political reforms, as he claims to be, then he is urged to call parliament and set up a select committee to deal with submissions and action them.

• Democratic Party/MM

CITC’s general manager Gaye Whitta (left) and minister Robert Wigmore at yesterday’s launch. 10012224

A national project which aims at reducing carbon emissions and domestic power bills was launched yesterday by deputy prime minister and minister for Te Aponga Uira Robert Wigmore.

The project aims to introduce low energy light bulbs into all homes and educate the public on the advantages on using these over the standard incandescent light bulbs.

“If we manage to have all Cook Islands homes switch to energy saving light bulbs, this will translate into a saving of half a million litres of fuel each year,” says Wigmore.

“The success of the project would also mean we would save several hundred tons of carbon emissions across the Cook Islands every year.”

Wigmore says if one makes a $20 saving each month by using the new bulbs, this will save the household around $240 per year and the country in diesel fuel costs.

The joint Asian Development Bank and Te Aponga Uira (TAU) project involves all domestic households receiving a TAU voucher to receive three free compact fluorescent lights (CFL).

The vouchers are redeemed at CITC, which won the tender to supply the energy-saving bulbs.

CITC general manager Gaye Whitta says that they have stopped ordering the incandescent light bulbs and CITC has negotiated a price with the supplier to keep the low energy bulbs at an affordable price for the next five years.

“It’s a good initiative for the country,” says Whitta.

The new 12W bulb, which is equivalent to the incandescent 60W bulb, will retail for around $5.40 which is about $6 less than the normal retail price.

Even before the official announcement yesterday, Whitta says they had up to 30 people turn up to ask for their CFL. Whitta says the stores in the CITC chain will be able to process claims today providing customers turn up with a TAU voucher.

All households in the outer islands will receive free bulbs, thanks to the project which is supplying 12,000 bulbs in total.

Whitta adds that CITC is in the process of putting a system in place to receive used CFLs for recycling.

Unfortunately, commercial users do not qualify to receive the free bulbs which TAU guarantee are high quality with a two-year warranty, have 10,000 hours of usage and are safe against voltage fluctuations.

The minister explained that replacing the high energy consuming incandescent light bulbs (those round ones) in homes by providing free CFLs is the first step in the move to phase in CFLs usage in Cook Islands homes.

Wigmore confirmed that the ultimate aim is to ban the import of incandescent bulbs altogether.

“But we wanted to do this gradually and saw this phasing in as the best way to introduce the new bulbs and educate our people on the many advantages, not just with your own power bill, but helping our environment as well.”

Minister Wigmore said he is very pleased that the project has been launched and the positive cooperation of various sectors of the community in promoting it.

The national project will be administered in the outer islands with the assistance of OMIA.

• DPM Office/MM

With the annual Mire Atu composer’s competition scheduled for Thursday March 4 – all local composers are urged to prepare songs for the first Ministry of Cultural Development event of the year.

This year’s theme is ‘Te au tuatua pakari o toou enua e te Matakeinanga’ (The wise sayings of your island or tribe).

In fact, this will be the theme for all the cultural competitions this year including the dancer of the year and Te Maeva Nui festival.

Entry forms are available from the ministry of culture with registrations for the composer competition closing on February 16.

The competition is restricted to Cook Islanders living in the country and the style and taste of the compositions must reflect the Cook Islands culture.

Only one song per composer will be accepted to be sung by either the composer or a chosen singer.

A maximum of 12 composers will be accepted for the competition with compositions to be no longer than eight minutes and no less than four minutes.

Te Mire Atu coordinator Rutera Taripo says that he would like to see composers use local sayings to inspire their compositions.

“An example of an old saying I’ve used in the past is ‘Ei to rima rae te rapa i to oe’ which basically means that in your hand is your own paddle or your destiny is in your own hands.”

Composers are encouraged to meet with Taripo to organise future rehearsals and to go over some of the rules of the competition.

• Matariki Wilson

New cabinet minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather is taking his responsibility for the waste management facility seriously. 10012211

Talking, smiling with an open door policy at Nikao

Minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather wants to tackle Rarotonga’s water supply, road and waste management issues ‘with the people’.

The Ruaau MP was appointed minister of infrastructure and planning (MOIP) shortly before New Year and already he’s taking a new approach to the way ministers have traditionally worked by putting more emphasis on ‘going to the people’.

“I’m going back to the people in the villages. We have to talk to the community and meet them face to face. We need to listen to them,” says Heather.

Heather’s background as a typical ‘working man’ before being elected in 2006 has helped him form practical views on how he can serve the people.

This Wednesday he spent the day visiting areas of concern – the island’s water intakes, the Arorangi waste facility and areas of roads that need attention. The minister has had lengthy discussions with MOIP secretary Taukea Raui and his staff about some of the huge challenges government faces with water, road and waste management and how to get more of these problems fixed faster.

He wants to talk to the people about water issues such as how every household can get water from the mains system and how to encourage people to conserve water instead of wasting it.

“There are people with pig pens and plantations that leave their water running and we need to stop water abuse.”

He’s currently working on buttoning down the much needed funding to address the Ruaau and Nikao water supply issues and drilling for underground water sources in these villages will probably begin within the next month.

Heather wants to talk to the people about how to reduce the amount of food waste being dumped at the island’s waste facility where large amounts of organic material has caused a serious fly problem over the past year.

And he wants to make sure roads are repaired and that people understand how they can help make this process easier for the ministry.

“A lot of back roads have landowners in dispute over boundaries and in these cases the ministry has had to leave the roads alone even though many residents want them fixed.”

Heather says he has to confront the problems head on by hearing what the people want him to do.

He believes for too long the people haven’t been ‘heard’ by government leaders and have to put up with decisions they may not be happy with. Heather says government has already tried to tackle the issues from many angles but has neglected to engage directly with the people.

“We have to go back to the people because that’s where all this started – in the homes. We are just trying to address the problems so that things will be fairer for everyone. We need to consult with the people on how they feel about the idea of water officers monitoring water use, what they can do with their food scraps, and how they can get their roads fixed faster.”

Heather hopes he can start addressing some of the most pressing public concerns on infrastructure needs while he is in office.

Each month he wants to carry out site visits to areas of concern and to put extra pressure on public servants and contractors to meet the targets for their work.

The minister says as soon as his office budget is cleared by the auditors following his move to the premises in Nikao, he will be placing a giant whiteboard in his office and list every priority, every deadline and every action he plans to pursue.

Heather aims to draw on the years of hands-on experience he gained working for the ministry of works and use that in creating practical solutions now. He started at the ministry as a machine operator and from 1997 to 2006 was the director of road works.

Heather admits his ideas are ambitious but he’s dedicated to doing as much as he can and says he has no problems with asking for help or advice when he needs it.

And his trademark smile comes out when it comes to talking about how his family is coping with his new responsibility and the already long hours he is putting into it.

He and wife Apii still have one of their four sons living at home and he says there’s already been complaints about how much family time he’ll be giving up.

“It is a new way of life and it’s a challenge for us – but we are enjoying it,” he says with a laugh.

Heather is big on ‘family’ and encouraging everyone to do their bit so he’s adopted a family approach to his office, too. The minister says he’s got an ‘open door’ policy to encourage those who want to talk to him to feel welcome and he’s vowing to take a proactive approach to how he engages with the media.

Heather says his new CEO Tere Taio is also on the same page when it comes to encouraging as much communication with people as possible.

“We have to keep talking,” says Heather.

It is understood he will soon announce his strategy for meeting with Rarotonga’s communities to talk more about working together with government to find solutions to infrastructure problems that will suit everyone.

• Helen Greig

Due to popular demand the Vaevae Challenge will start up again on May 10.

May 10 is also World Move for Health Day.

The Ministry of Health initiative is aimed at getting people to be more active and achieve 30 minutes of physical activity on most days.

The programme’s other objectives are to provide individuals with motivation via a theme activity, fostering team and workplace relationships, providing physical activity in a fun environment and of course there is the added bonus of weight loss.

The Vaevae challenge is for teams of between four and six people with points awarded to the team based on the length of time each team member has walked over the duration of the eight-week programme.

Each team is to nominate a team leader charged with collating the team’s points and who will receive weekly notices from the Department of Health on ‘bonus’ walking events that the team can take part in.

The annual Women in Sport Walk is one such event where teams can earn bonus points.

As well as the obvious health benefits from taking up the challenge, there are prizes to be won based on a number of categories including the team with the most points at the end of the programme, best team name and best team photo.

This will be the 4th Vaevae challenge organised by the Ministry of Health.

Since the event is organised by the Ministry of Health, it was decided that the department teams would be judged separately from other teams to avoid any bias.

Contact the Ministry of Health to register your team for the challenge.

• Matariki Wilson

Edgewater Resort and Spa employees of the year Rouvi Auua (left) and Joan Ngati pose for a quick photo before returning to celebrate their achievement with fellow staff members. 10012205

Business Trade & Investment Board’s chief executive believes that it is time to update the country’s investment code.

Terry Rangi, who has been the agency’s CEO for the past eight months, says it is important that the code is updated now after last being reviewed in 2003.

“I think it is time to update the policy now. There needs to be a clear and concise review as to what people need, and to get the views of Cook Islanders out there.

“Once that [policy] is in place, then there is a need to compel BTIB to follow that policy.”

The investment code is a statement of policy by government, pursuant to the Development Investment Act 1995-96, to encourage and guide development investment in the Cook Islands.

Rangi admits that the foreign investment clause in the policy which governs the participation of foreign enterprises in business in the Cooks has attracted a lot of negative criticism in the past.

He says this can detract from a lot of the work the agency is doing to help drive growth through the promotion and development of business, trade and investment in the country.

Currently there are around 300 to 400 foreign enterprises operating in the country. A foreign enterprise generally relates to an enterprise or activity which is owned one-third or more by an overseas investor.

While it is on BTIB’s brief to increase exports, Rangi believes that focusing on inter-island trade and enhancing existing sectors, within the agency’s budget, may help reduce reliance on some imports.

“We changed our focus to inter-island trade and producing what we want on Rarotonga. That’s why we’re keen on the agricultural project [in the outer islands] to get the growers to grow specifically for the importers.

If money can be channeled into adding value to the maire, pawpaw or taro ‘industries’ and there is a return on investment, Rangi says this can help chip into the growing trade imbalance.

BTIB still manages the NZAid-funded outer island development grant fund which offers business assistance to the outer islands.

Rangi believes that there are a number of opportunities that are open to Cook Islanders, and BTIB can offer services to help those thinking of starting up a business.

BTIB also run business development workshops and training programmes for free, or a nominal fee, throughout the year. A mentoring programme will also be set up on a trial basis, to help out existing businesses.

To develop a culture of entrepreneurship, Rangi says they believe that a school-based programme is the way to go.

He says a young entrepreneurs programme (YEP), under the agency’s small medium enterprises strategy, will be launched at Tereora College this year.

The programme will basically revolve around the development of business ideas by students.

The BTIB board consists of James Beer (chair), Charles Petero, Nane Williams, Mataauri Ruta (Aitutaki) and Grant Priest.

• Moana Moeka’a

Two Edgewater Resort and Spa staff were recognised on Friday for their outstanding work by being named as ‘staff of the year’.

Joan Ngati and Rouvi Auua were given the staff of the year awards by the resort’s general manager Chris McGeown in front of their cheering colleagues.

McGeown says that the purpose of the awards is to recognise the achievements of staff throughout the year.

“It’s the staff that people remember.”

“What sets the Cook Islands apart is its culture and people experience.”

“It’s not about the brick and mortar or the rooms – it’s about the people here that make a difference in a guest’s stay.”

The resort, which is the largest in the country, has an employment incentive programme scheme where outstanding employees are identified.

Joan Ngati, who was employee of the month in November, has consistently received positive feedback from guests for her top notch customer service.

Ngati was happy about the award but says she’s just ‘one of the girls’ at the resort’s restaurant where she has been working for the past eight months.

Quietly spoken Rouvi Auua was recognised for his tireless work in the background making sure the resort’s grounds are well maintained and that the waste management systems there are in good working order – a job he has done for seven years.

Auua was also proud to announce that he has twice been the employee of the month.

McGeown added that the resort managers have developed a new scheme where employees can make recommendations to improve their working environment in order for them to deliver better services for their guests.

Ngati and Auua both received as prizes a day tour trip to Aitutaki and a weekend in one of the resort’s deluxe suites.

But after the awards it was back to work making sure that visitors enjoy their stay on the island.

• Matariki Wilson

A seventy-five-year-old man from the island of Pukapuka makes up the list of Cook islanders set to receive one of four New Year’s honours.

Mangere Malo will receive a BEM for services to the public.

The former health inspector and police officer was educated in Rarotonga before being posted to the island of Man-gaia.

He eventually returned to his home island of Pukapuka and was presented with a long service medal in 1981.

Malo is the Kaimanu Mataiapo from the village of Roto and is credited with ‘leading from the front and by example’ in all of his endeavours, including sports, church and family and has never received so much as a traffic fine.

Malo lives in Pukapuka with his wife and now runs a shop.

• Edna Takaroka

About 65 teachers and school administrators met this week to discuss the offer of masters and PhD programmes in education at the University of the South Pacific, starting in April.

The meeting was attended to by education secretary Sharyn Paio, the head of USP’s school of education Teweiariki Teaero, and Violet Tisam from the department of national human resources development.

Paio acknowledged the presence at the meeting of 48 teachers from the outer islands and Rarotonga who had given up their summer holidays to study for education degrees. She was also impressed by the high level of interest shown by school and ministry staff to discuss post-graduate qualifications.

Teaero outlined the various pathways to masters and PhD awards and encouraged students to “shoot for the moon”.

“At worst,” he said, “you will fall among stars.”

Students planning to undertake masters and PhD studies in education have until February 5 to submit their applications. Classes are expected to start in April during the school holidays.

• USP/MM

The Rongo boys proudly displaying their novelty coconut piggybanks 10012204

Last week the boys in this photo – brothers Drejun (10), Tayne (7) and JJ (5) Rongo along with their uncle Teavaiki Toa (4) – just couldn’t wait for school to start on Monday (today).

“The holidays was too long,” said Tayne.

“I miss school,” added JJ.

Over the school holidays the boys have been hanging together and making their own fun.

As the eldest of the boys, Drejun has been helping out in his parents’ shop the Pai Taro store in Avatiu while the smaller trio made their own fun out back.

“We make stuff and play with them,” said Tayne.

The boys were keen to get back to school today and according to dad Apii their uniforms from last year are still in good nick for the new school year.

All four boys attend Apii Te Uki Ou but had no idea what class they’d be in or who they would be in class with.

As well as making their own fun, the boys have watched and helped Apii with some of his crafts which include these novel coconut piggy banks the boys are holding, which are sold at the Avatiu store.

• Matariki Wilson

Cook’s Bus company operator Kevin Cook would like to remind parents of schoolchildren that the bus is “a lot cheaper than running a car to school”.

“A lot of parents think they can do it more economically by taking their children to school in the mornings and having them ride the bus home.

“But we’re not subsidised by the government and the only way we can run is if parents support us. If they don’t support the buses, we will only put out afternoon buses for the kids who go to school with them in the mornings.”

For $13, students can buy a ten-ride ticket. One-way tickets are $3, and a round-trip fare is $4.

This article is a personal reflection of one parent. It’s intended to emphasise how important your role is as parents working closely with your child, whether it’s back to school or end of the school year.

Situations may differ across homes, however common across the board is our striving to provide our children with the best possible care.

Everyday stresses can build up quickly and before we know it, and without even realising it, our children are missing out. - MOE

I check the time, it’s 4.59pm, jeez – daycare closing now. Got to rush and pick the kids.

It’s been a long day. I’m tired, I’m hungry – my kids are playing up, fighting for my attention. It’s a struggle. How do I do this?

We get home safely, I really could do with some quiet time.

My five-year-old is hungry – I sent her to make her own peanut butter sandwich while I unpack the car.

She wants fish and chips from FBI – I’m short of ten bucks. I look at my watch – where is he?

“Mom, where’s daddy?” asks my three-year-old with an honest face.

“I don’t know,” I grumpily answered.

“He must still be at work”.

It’s been crazy at work today. We’ve got a new boss –there’s going to be some changes – I fret over it.

Meanwhile my kids paste butter all over the table...urrrrggghhhh.

I’m tipped over. I raise my voice at them, my neighbours can hear me.

I don’t have time to clean this, my four-month-old son wants his bottle – and now.

If only (sigh).

My friends are out for an after work drink de-stressing from the day – so they say.

I imagine I can hear them laughing, relaxing with a cold one. Baby’s cry brings me back to reality – “Okay son, I’m right here.”

Oh, where’s the time gone.

Need to fix dinner. How about noodles and corned beef, easy fix?

Feed the kids, quick bath and off to bed. Oh my gosh, I’m really so tired now. My children want a bed time story – “I’ll read you a bed time story tomorrow”.

How many times have I said that?

In a minute they’re fast asleep – switch the lights off.

I remain sitting next to them in complete silence. All is still – their small bodies breathing innocently against the pillows.

My son suckling softly on his thumb.

Then it dawns on me – a mixture of guilt, remorse. I want to cry. How could I?

The most important thing in my life lying trustingly beside me. I promise myself, it will be much better tomorrow. I go out into the porch with a cup of coffee – it’s so quiet. Sometimes I hear some parents say “that is why I send you to school, so that you can learn how to do things”. Is it enough, I wonder?

Most times I get so caught up in the frenzy of my career, socialising with other people, marital bickering – what are my kids learning then?

I know I can do better.

I simply must stick to a schedule, switch my mind off work, turn down a business trip – put my kids first, especially when they’re around.

Today I told my son I was here – but am I, really? Is this what they mean by quality time?

I know though, that I need to listen more, play and laugh more with them.

I can do that. Gosh it doesn’t seem so daunting now.

And I am definitely stopping by the library tomorrow to pick up more reading books.

I must.

Nikao Maori School grade five and six students take a break from their cleaning for a group photo. 10012568

It was clean up day on the first day back at school for Nikao Maori School students.

Classrooms were emptied of desks and chairs and floors swept to make for a clean learning environment.

That was the case for the senior students of the school.

Junior students went about making friends as they waited to be assigned to their classroom for the year.

With a number of the schools senior students now in college there was just a small number of kids that turned up to school.

Meanwhile at the school’s preschool it was all about making friends and play time.

Principal Rairi Rairi said that he wasn’t able to confirm the number of school students enrolled into the 2010 school year but he predicted they could have up to 130 students.

Rearranging and cleaning classrooms is on the agenda for the first week of school for students at Nikao but it will be full-on learning come next Monday after all the students have settled back into the school routine.

• Matariki Wilson

Makiuti Tongia presents this opinion piece on the political reform changes being proposed.

Political reform must go hand in hand with public service and business sector reform. The three must go together. I am in support of reduced seats and changing the current political model in parts. But I am not in favour of overhauling the whole political system and adopting a new model altogether.

That the new model will provide political stability and be more democratic compared to the current system is an opinion of those pushing this line of thought. But cast your eyes to the east and west to French Polynesia and Fiji. Both use aspects of the republican political model being pushed here and what do we see?  Political instability!

French Polynesia is going through a difficult stage in government that the colonial government of France is seriously thinking of overhauling their model. Fiji is going through a military government and thank God we don’t have an army.

But Marurai’s recent antics with 10 police staff as special security for Te Atukura recently is a warning bell and dangerous precedent. He has committed a constitutional coup and runs a coup government like Fiji minus the army. So what is to stop him from arming police next time or even this week and ordering them to shoot on sight? Nothing!

The argument that the new model will reduce horse trading is simply outrageous, because the very essence of the twin beasts of politics and business, is horse trading. Both depend on it for their livelihood and existence. The fact that Marurai implicated the chamber of commerce and certain members of the legal fraternity in government and the private sector in horse trading is proof of this.

The events of the last three weeks have not highlighted the urgent need for change in the government model of this country. On the contrary it has merely highlighted an opportunity for those pushing the agenda of political reform. Any reform is a fundamental and essential part of any system – political or otherwise- and Sir Terepai Maoate’s Democratic government had already looked at key areas and recommended it to a parliamentary select committee. Essentially we don’t want to throw out a system that has worked for just over 100 years and replace it with  a completely new system we haven’t tried at all.

Currently we are doing much better than other countries with bigger populations, bigger land masses and natural resources and with similar or different political models. We have improved on our performance since 1965 and have shown the discipline and diligence to do even better at present and in the near future. And we are the envy of some of our Pacific neighbours who are aping aspects of our economic model like GST or turnover tax or value added tax. New Zealand borrowed its GST from our turnover tax from the 1980s when we were the third country in the world after Sweden and America to implement that. But of course the current model is not perfect. No system is.

We have reformed parts of our political system like abolishing the overseas seat and reducing parliamentary seats from 25 to 24. We haven’t always had the political will and courage to implement change but we haven’t stopped talking about it either, which is a positive sign. The current model certainly has a very broad base and fairer representation of most islands in parliament minus Palmerston. Unfortunately, it is an unsustainable system from a financial point of view.

On the issue of the PM appointing his cabinet, this is not a new idea and I don’t see less pressure as postulated, for the PM.  On the contrary, there will be increased pressure from family, friends, legal fraternity, chamber of commerce, non government organisations, Maori business chamber, regional governments and international business partners.

Besides we already have this concept in our current constitution via the seventh minister. We just haven’t applied it yet and we should, as a way of testing this very same idea and see where that takes us. We can test issues of transparency, appointment process and key performance indicators. On the other hand, if the idea of a PM appointing his cabinet from outside parliament is so good one wonders why New Zealand, Australia or any of our neighbours with bigger populations and resources haven’t adopted the idea long ago.

National seats – the new political model will not guarantee reduced pressure on members of parliament, rather the new national seats will guarantee increased pressure on our members of parliament. They will be visited by every Nga and Ta from all over the country and there will be increased horse trading.  Presently  members of parliament are struggling with their three obligatory duties of ara tiroa, ara tipoto and are vananga. And that’s only within one geographical area of walking or a day’s boat travel distance between Manihiki and Rakahanga.

With a bigger national constituency, MPs will struggle with financial and social obligations to the extended political family. Meanwhile they are already struggling with members of the public dropping in at all hours of the day and night, ringing after midnight and demanding immediate appointments at 3 o’clock in the morning.

But shift from the present localised boundaries to national seats is a major paradigm shift from a few hundred voters within one area to a few thousand voters scattered nationally. It will beg the question of an increased constituency fund from the current $8000 to probably $80,000 per seats? Yet the whole idea in promoting this model is to reduce financial costs. Whatever the outcome, the national seats will certainly have more hidden costs – emotional, psychological, financial, health etc -than the current system. It will eat into the savings of the MPs and their families if not already. It will eat into their social life and the health of the MPs – whether young or old. Just look at how quickly the young MPs of the illegal government of Marurai have aged in six weeks.

On the issue of the PM limited to three terms – most voters will agree to a limited term. I do. Both major parties will agree to a limited term also. But I suggest that there be multiple options to allow us voters an opportunity to choose one term, two terms, three terms and even four  terms, rather than be limited to one option of three terms.

Term of parliament from four to three years. This suggestion is  not asking for our views but telling us to embrace their recommendation. This is dangerously dictatorial. Give us some options like five four or three years. But hang on we have done this before in the 1990s referendum where more than 80 percent chose a four year term. So why are we revisiting this issue again?

When we had the five year term in the 1980s, it acted as a time out for families to heal the rifts between them before the next election came along. We personalised our politics back then and it took over three decades for voters to tolerate political differences and appreciate people’s democratic choices. It helped nuclear and extended families come together.

I believe that Rarotonga, and most of the south are ready for the three year term. But I don’t know about the rest of the outer islands. We should consult them. We should not push the three year term down their throat while we know that some members of our national family are still divided politically at the local level come campaign time.

But we have done well since self government in 1965. We have achieved a lot comparatively on all fronts. We have built a progressive, prosperous and peaceful nation of 15 scattered islands within a sea area three to five times larger than some of our Pacific rim neighbours.  And we  have achieved all this with a small, declining and highly mobile population soon to be outnumbered by immigrant labourers  turned permanent residents in five years time.

We don’t need a new political model.  We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just prune and cut the non-productive and old branches of our adopted and adapted model to give it new growth and purpose.

Kua kakara te Kuki Airani

Four year old Benjamin Jessie gets back into the swing of things at Blackrock Apii Potiki. 10012564

Kids poured in through the Blackrock Apii Potiki School gate in Nikao without a tear or tantrum in sight!

In fact, it was the parents who looked sad to leave their children at the preschool with one mum commenting, “I think I’m the one with the problem – look my son doesn’t even know I’m still here!”

One of the reasons for the bright start to the new school year would have to be the fact that the preschool teachers including principal Stephanie Puiri gave each child a special welcome and hug.

Even the little ones who took a while to leave mum’s side soon found friends and made their own fun.

Puiri says that the school role is currently at capacity with 45 preschool children registered for the 2010 school year plus a long waiting list of parents wanting to send their kids to the popular early childhood education centre.

• Matariki Wilson

Boys will be boys – what would school be without the playground? 10012531

Avatea School has seen a boost to its student number this year with just over 300 students already enrolled.

Principal Nga Charlie says last year the school had about 280 students and the increase this year is welcomed.

More students are expected to enroll this week and there have been several new students apart from the new entrants.

The school has had to request a relieving teacher for its new entrants’ class with the class teacher on leave in New Zealand. Charlie says they were lucky yesterday to have two teacher aides volunteer to take the class.

Students got stuck into classes yesterday but they will have a chance to beat the summer heat and hit the beach on Friday when the school has its one-hour swim programme.

Next week each class will have a set time when they will go swimming during the week.

The first newsletter of the year was due to go out yesterday – packed with plenty of reminders for parents including the days for Kia Orana wear and mufti.

Parents who would like to donate their children’s used uniforms to the school can drop them off says Charlie.

And parents who want to take advantage of free or cheap used uniforms can contact the school – this is a great way for parents to help each other save when it comes to all those back to school expenses.

• Helen Greig

Part time customs officer Kurai Foster with some of the goods confiscated by customs. 10012582

Cook Islands customs searched approximately 3200 airline passengers, processed 800 aircrafts, screened 2000 parcels and conducted 500 cargo examinations last year.

As international customs day is celebrated today, our national counterpart has released statistics showing the extent of work involved in protecting the country.

With 10 full-time officers and 14 part-time airport officers, customs collects one-third of government revenue through taxes.

New Zealand customs project manager Brent Litherland along with senior customs officer Walter Tangata have been working to modernise Cook Islands customs service.

Acting controller of customs Phillip Eyre said customs work is more far-reaching than just checking things at the airports.

“Most people see customs at the airport and think that is all they do, however customs has a level of interaction with all goods, crafts, and people that enter or leave the country,” Eyre said. “We searched a ship a couple of weeks ago and also search mail, sea freight and air freight cargo.

“We don’t tend to work in isolation but work together at a strategic level with other government organisations such as immigration, bio-security, police, health and the national environment service.”

Customs monitors the nine points of entry into the country which include Aitutaki, Atiu, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, two at Manihiki and three in Rarotonga – the airport, Avatiu and Avarua wharf.

“We’re looking for anything that crosses the border – drugs, weapons, people, goods that need revenue paid for,” Tangata said.

Customs played a major role late last year that led to two separate interceptions of narcotics attempting to be imported into the Cook Islands.

One resulted with a man being convicted of importing narcotics. The second resulted in a male being arrested after narcotics were located during an examination of sea freight cargo. Customs also seized a quantity of fireworks and a firearm from Avatiu wharf because no permit was held to import these goods. “We also act as a deterrent for anyone that may look at the Cook Islands as an easy target,” Tangata said.

“We work with police drug dog teams during inspections as a warning that we won’t tolerate this narcotics in the Cook Islands. We may be an island in the Pacific but it’s no less well controlled.”

Customs is also responsible for taking revenue from breweries which must be licensed to make alcohol.

Despite international customs day, it’s business as usual.

However celebrations are in order as chief customs officer Ngapoko Ngatamaine will commemorate 36 years working with Cook Islands customs this year. - Customs/DK



It was a busy week for police, dealing with one case of assault, three cases of unlawful taking, one case of theft and six burglaries this past week.

They also made three arrests, visited six motor vehicle accident scenes and received six noise complaints, in the week to Sunday.

Last Friday, tourists hiring a private home in Ngatangiia reported a laptop and three digital cameras missing. The computer was valued at $1000 and the digital cameras were collectively worth about $1150.

“This is really a shame,” said senior sergeant Nga Pouao. “These tourists will go back to their countries and write bad things about the Cook Islands. It’s sad.”

Pouao also had something to say about motor vehicle crashes that occurred during the week.

“I’d like to emphasise that out of the six, four were because of careless driving and one was because of alcohol. Please, when you are driving on the road, consider other people,” he said. “And now with school starting, when you’re driving around the schools, please slow down.”

Just after midnight on Sunday morning, police responded to a call from Rehab regarding the assault of 20-year-old male.

When they arrived at the scene, the man was lying on the ground near the bus stop outside the nightclub with a gash on his head. Police are still investigating the case.

Three instances of unlawful taking were recorded last week.

On Sunday morning, a Kawasaki motorbike was taken from outside a Nikao residence. Police have been unable to locate the vehicle.

A red Honda motorbike was taken from outside a Tikioki residence last Monday and is still missing. Police were, however, able to recover a maroon-coloured Yamaha, which they found near Fruits of Rarotonga.

A 20-year-old was arrested for wilfully damaging the side mirror of a car in Arorangi last week. He was fined $150 in court last week.

A 19-year-old male was convicted and fined $250 plus $30 court costs for excess breath alcohol. He was arrested after being involved in an accident with another motorbike in Nikao which caused injuries to a 12-year-old passenger who was admitted to the surgical ward at Rarotonga Hospital. The child is recovering.

A 16-year-old male was charged with breach of curfew and was remanded in Arorangi Prison until he appears in Children’s court on January 29.

Police documented one case of theft last week when a tourist reported his camera, sunglasses, iPod and $60 cash missing. He had parked at the beach across from the Social Centre at Nikao and the items were taken from under the seat of his motorbike.

Police noted six excess noise complaints and six burglaries reported to them since Sunday, January 17.

Residents of an Avatiu home reported that bread, coke and chocolate bars had been taken from their refrigerator on Thursday. A dvd was reported stolen from an Arorangi family home.

Last Thursday, security personnel found a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old on MFEM premises. The pair had broken into the building.

• Rachel Reeves

The missing person notice featured on Saturday evening television turned out to be a false alarm.

At 11pm on Saturday, a couple reported their nine-year-old granddaughter missing. They also put out a notice on local television. However on Sunday, they told police that she had gone to stay with her uncle but they had not been informed of this at the time.

• RR

The start of the school year at Avarua is always a difficult time for principal Gelling Jack.

Yesterday the principal of the country’s biggest primary school was having to deal with late enrolments, from new entrants right up to the senior classes.

“It’s been very difficult especially as we don’t want to turn parents away,” says Jack. “A lack of teachers is not the problem -- the problem is space.”

Putting up new classrooms is not a solution, says Jack, especially as some schools on Rarotonga still have empty rooms.

The school is already bursting at its seams with its roll up around the 550 mark. Jack says they should have a good idea of numbers after they find out whether pupils who are still off the island will return to school this year.

Late enrolments should be informed by today as to whether they can attend Avarua in 2010.

Jack says there are a number of reasons why people want to enroll their children at Avarua – the high concentration of population in Avarua, and parents who work in town bringing their children into school, are just a couple.

Jack says they may be forced to use part of the library as an extra classroom this year.

If they can keep year level classes to around 60, then Jack says he will be happy.

“Having two classes of 30 pupils is a realistic number – any more and the teachers come under pressure.”

• Moana Moeka’a

Dear Editor,

I am very concerned about the report that the Ministry of Health has endorsed the purchase of a secondhand CT scanner for Rarotonga Base Hospital.

Over 25 years ago, I as Chair of the Southland Hospital Senior Medical Staff Committee, lobbied for the purchase of a CT scanner for Southland Hospital.

We engaged suitably qualified individuals including a health economist and several medical and surgical specialists to investigate the likely costs, benefits and savings from having a scanner.

We then presented a successful submission to our employer who passed it on to central government.

This experience, over 30 years as a practicing surgeon, an extensive experience in acute and trauma surgery and an over 40-year association with Rarotonga hospital, lead me to believe that the comments reported in your edition of Saturday 23 January 2010 supporting the purchase of a scanner at this point in time are medically and financially unsound, if not irresponsible.

It has the potential of another Toagate with the added risk of diverting money from more appropriate and needed services.

I urge the new Minister of Health to take a very deep breath and reconsider his options.

George Ngaei

Invercargill NZ

Amuri-Ureia confirmed Toanui Isamaela as its Cook Islands Party candidate for the 2010 general elections.

Isamaela (41) was the only nomination put forward at a meeting on Aitutaki last Thursday evening, and this was unanimously endorsed by the party members.

The new candidate was announced by constituency chairman John Baxter and secretary Maara Tangianau.

CIP president Rau Nga congratulated the Amuri-Ureia committee for their good work in following through with the party policy on having an open and transparent candidate selection process.

“We are now seeing new, energetic faces emerge to take up the challenge,” says Nga who is urging other constituencies to get their public meetings organised and do the same.

• CIP/MM

Teuvira Upokotea at work during a clinic at Takuvaine meeting house yesterday. 10012614

Takuvaine resident Teuvira Upokotea is back on the island after a year in Auckland, where he is studying for a diploma in Sports Massage.

According to his lecturers at Wellpark College, Upokotea is rated at the top of his class and excels in the practical application of massage techniques.

Upokotea still has six months of study before he completes his diploma but is taking a well-deserved holiday back home with family before classes start up next month.

He will be holding massage clinics over the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday he held a clinic at the Takuvaine meeting house, where he will be again today from 9am until 4pm. There will be no clinic on Thursday and he will be back at the meeting house on Friday.

Upokotea will hold massage clinics in Tutakimoa next week with a rest day on Thursday.

He says that this is an opportunity to showcase what he has learned so far in the various types of massage including acupressure, foot massage, lymph drainage, pre- and post-sports massage and the use of aromatherapy.

Upokotea believes in the power of massage to improve general health. Changes in diet and environment over time, he says, have caused people to suffer from diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

He wants to counter the negative effects of those cha-nges by encouraging people to live healthy lifestyles – to grow their own food and to employ traditional healing techniques, for example.

Upokotea plans to return to the island when he finishes his diploma course and hopes to establish a pilot programme on Rarotonga and the outer islands.

He intends to join together with other practitioners, namely traditional healers and masseurs, in an effort to improve the health of the elderly and disabled throughout the Cook Islands.

But for now, he’s focusing his attention on the upcoming clinics.

“It’s great to be back in the community, knowing I can give back.”

His clinics are free for retired people and the elderly, but available to all. Donations are welcome.

• RR/MB

Vaka Te Au O Tonga being towed out of Avatiu harbour by whale researcher Nan Hauser. 10012561

Voyaging vaka Te Au O Tonga arrived in Aitutaki yesterday afternoon after leaving Avatiu harbour on Monday morning.

When contacted just after 4pm yesterday, Cook Islands Voyaging Society president Ian Karika said the vaka ended up to the east of Aitutaki but theywere outside Arutanga harbour waiting to be welcomed onto the island.

Karika said crew members had been waiting for the right conditions to sail the vaka to Aitutaki, having postponed a number of planned trips.

But on Monday the winds were perfect for sailing.

There was little fanfare at the main Avatiu harbour as the 12 male crew members farewelled their loved ones.

The double-hulled vaka was towed out of the harbour by whale researcher Nan Hauser and her team.

The crew included Papa Joe Vakatini, Brown Apera, Papa Jack, Harry Goodwin, Steak Daniels, Paul Mangakahia, Chad Campbell, Stuart Henry, Garth Broadhead, Peia Tuaati and Faimou Robati.

The vaka will be used to train Aitutaki youth the traditional sailing methods of our ancestors.

The vaka will also be used as a tourist venture taking guests out on the Aitutaki lagoon for day cruises.

There are no plans in returning the vaka to Rarotonga in the near future as a shelter will be built in Aitutaki for the vaka.

• Matariki Wilson

Te Kura O Te Au, Aitutaki’s political lobby group, says it has come together for a common purpose to establish a better government for the people.

‘The people’s movement’ says it is a group of locals who come from different religious denominations, political parties and social standings to unite for the cause.

The group’s leader Taraota Tom has released a statement saying Te Kura O Te Au backs prime minister Jim Marurai and his cabinet for their efforts in leading the country towards the election this year.

But Te Kura O Te Au also says its time to move away from party politics and look to a better system of governance.

The people’s movement vows to actively campaign in the coming election in support of candidates who unconditionally ascribe to a ‘basic philosophy’.

“The first principle is faith in an Almighty God. The second principle is to respect, include and serve all the people of the Cook Islands. These principles underline a respect for community wishes on issues such as restriction on Sunday flights and a major reduction in the number of parliamentary seats. Party politics is proving divisive in our families, communities and country.”

Tom says whether you’re a Demo, CIP, or independent should no longer be an issue.

“Many concerned Cook Islanders want to move away from party politics to avoid family, community and religious division.”

He says Te Kura O Te Au is inviting everyone who also ‘loves the Cook Islands’ to reflect on some of their views and consider joining the movement in its efforts to make meaningful changes.

Tom describes the movement as a people’s ‘open forum’ for ‘action toward what is best for our tiny country and realistic quality of life improvements for the many struggling smaller communities’.

“Te Kura O te Au is a desperate cry for better governance from people across party lines, religious faiths, ethnicities, social back grounds, academic achievements, economic status above all from our tradition leaders. More control on governmental expenditure and travel. More accountability on development issues, land alienation, and immigration; effective safeguards against monopolistic practices and better and affordable political representation.”

Tom claims that since self governance in 1965, Cook Islands governments that have been controlled, by the Cook Islands Party, Democratic Party, or a coalition of political parties, have often been very disappointing, frustrating and at times even confusing with the ways they run the country.

“In several instances, governments have even failed to comply with their own policies.

Many promises made to the people during campaigning periods have commonly been abandoned by politicians after being elected into office.

“A self preservation and self aggrandisement seems to have emerged among many elected politicians,” says Tom.

Te Kura O Te Au which stands for (Te Oraanga Ou) The Messenger of Peace, The New Beginning, The New Dawn or The New Era claims they cherish ‘our island nation and have a profound concern for the future of our children and their descendants’.

“We have formed a movement to pave the way for new directions and to establish a more effective governance system that offers more hope for a better future.”

The movement claims it is not a political party but a ‘political movement’ that is aimed at achieving positive national goals through genuinely concerned individuals from all walks of life.

• Helen Greig

Tracey Spiers and Simon Bragger with their daughter Ruby. 10012010

Having visited the Cook Islands several times, two Tereora College teachers have decided to make Rarotonga their permanent base.

Maths and Economics teacher Simon Bragger will join his partner ICT teacher Tracey Spiers at the college for the next three years.The couple have made the move from Rotoma, New Zealand, with their seven-year-old daughter Ruby. Both taught at Owhata primary school and are eager to take on the challenge of teaching older students.

“I’m also looking forward to learning a lot of the Cook Islands culture, the lifestyle, joining new sports, hobbies and of course the weather,” Spiers said.

Bragger said he was keen to start working with the children after glowing reviews from his predecessor Andrew Burns.

“We’re both primary school teachers, so we’re looking forward to the difference.”

• Dana Kinita

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