New cafe in town
Ken launches Treddlecat in NZ
Big birthday cake shared at St Jo’s
Women’s wear always island style
Vaka series brings Tangaroa to life
Mitiaro kids take Rorouira apaipai on camp
Jail sounds with a message
Open Mic night starts up again
Kodachrome moments - 1968 performance comes to life
The WeekEnd Crossword
It’s Polyfest time in NZ

Reefside Rarotonga, the island’s most portable coffee house, is parked on the main road at the Punanga Nui Marketplace. 10022304

There’s a new cafe in town, and it’s on wheels.

Tuesday through Saturday, Simon and Sharon Stott will be squeezing juice and foaming cappuccinos in their portable cart that’s currently parked on the main road at the Punanga Nui Market.

Reefside Rarotonga will be open from 7.30 to about 5 for a month or so while Scott and Sharon get settled, and after that they’ll establish regular business hours.

Their menu centres on coffee, which they roast themselves ‘for freshness’ and because it’s ‘better than the stuff that’s flown in from New Zealand’, Sharon said with a smile.

The cart sells ice cream infused with real fruit in homemade waffle cones, smoothies, juices and thick shakes, and nothing costs more than $5.50.

Scott and Sharon, who moved to Rarotonga in January, have been asked to wheel their coffee house to weddings, something Sharon said they are ‘definitely open to’. As the cart is fully self-contained – equipped with a water tank and a power generator – Sharon said they are considering driving it to major community events.

Their slogan – ‘Serving you with our environment in mind’ – hints at the nature of their eco-friendly business venture.

For bringing your own mug you’re rewarded with a 50 cent discount on drinks, ice creams and shakes. Scott and Sharon are also selling their own re-usable mugs to cut down on excess waste, and their takeaway cups are biodegradable.

They’re mulching the waste they generate at work and to cut down on plastic waste, they’ll refill your water bottle for a small fee.

“We’re passionate about this stuff,” Sharon said. “We’re really passionate about taking care of Mother Nature.”

Scott and Sharon use local produce and local products. With the exception of berries, they buy all fruit ‘from the mamas at the market’, Sharon said.

They’re applying at CIIC for a permit to relocate their mobile business to Social Centre but for now, while they’re juggling the responsibilities of running a business and a family and renovating Sharon’s grandfather’s home, Reefside Rarotonga will stay put.

• RR

Big ideas come naturally for Rarotonga inventor and boat designer Ken Kingsbury.

The former Ashburton man, who is credited for the creation of the town’s man-made Lake Hood, was to return to the lake this week to launch his latest invention.

Kingsbury’s pedal-driven boat, the Treddlecat, uses swinging hydrofoils angled towards the water instead of a paddle-wheel.

It has cost $10,000 to develop.

The design meant the boat could reach speeds of more than five knots, he said.

“The foils stay in the water, moving side to side and tracking forward, taking the boat with them.”

Kingsbury, now based in Rarotonga, worked on the design for more than nine years after being asked to build plastic pedal boats for a tourist operator.

“I started to think about making something better, and every time I thought I had come across something better, another idea cropped up.”

The first prototype in 2004 used the same drive system as the Treddlecat, but was unsuccessful because its complicated layout made it vulnerable to damage.

Kingsbury said it took him three years to get the courage to make a revised model.

“I got used to failure and I was expecting this to be another project my wife would scold me for spending money on – but when it worked, it exceeded expectations,” he said. “It was more reliable, more user-friendly and it went faster.”

Kingsbury said he would be unable to make more Treddlecats because of the $10,000 cost to make the first one. “You learn in life that the people who put the effort into inventing have never got any money left to do anything with it ... I’ve got to find a manufacturer and investor to mass produce.”

However, he was confident the idea was a winning one.

“I’m always optimistic when I invent something and after the first successful trial, my conviction has strengthened. I'm sinking the last of my retirement money into it, so it’s got to work. Otherwise, I’m living under railway arches for the rest of my life.”

• stuff.co.nz

Cook Islands Girl Guide centenary ambassadors Ngara Katuke and Tutu Mare visited St Joseph’s Primary School to celebrate 100 years of guides and scouts.

On April 10, Girl Guides and Scouts around the world will celebrate 100 years of guiding in the world.

Katuke and Mare encouraged the boys and girls of St Joseph’s to be part of the guide and scout movements.

The ambassadors will visit schools across Rarotonga to involve the schools in celebrating the centennial.

A celebration day will take place on April 10 with a specific theme.

This year’s theme is plant, 2011 the theme of grow will be celebrated and in 2012 the theme will be to share.

The morning function including a birthday cake, lighting of candles and singing brought joy to the students and teachers of the school. - MW

Multi-media artist Kay George exolores women’s attire in her exhibition at The Studio in Arorangi. 10022546

Through a series of life-size prints, Kay George chronicles the change in the attire of local women over the years.

The prints track the evolution of women’s adornment in the Cook Islands, marked by the impact of the London Missionary Society in the early 1800s, influences from New Zealand and Tahitian neighbours, the advent of tourism and international travel and the Internet.

Her exhibit suggests that though local women have incorporated elements of modern style into their dress and have begun wearing international labels, they retain their island style in the form of jewellery, a flower behind the ear or the markings of the tattoo.

George has overlaid photographs of women, young and old, to create pictures that are vibrant and complex. She’s screen printed snapshots of women in traditional and modern dress on to canvas, in bold and vivid colours that she said reflect the colours of a local woman’s attire.

George’s exhibit at The Art Studio in Arorangi will be open to the public until Monday, March 8.

• Rachel Reeves

Kimi Enua - vaka on display at the BEachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery 10022542

Reynolds brings Tangaroa to life in a series of canvas paintings and on two painted vakas with vivid oranges, yellows, blues and greens interlaced with black.

The centrepiece of her exhibit at the Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery is a painted life-size vaka, emblazoned with the words ‘Kimi Enua’ like its painted paddles. On its bow sits a carved Tangaroa, resting on his haunches and prepared to protect the vaka voyage.

Next to the vaka is another vaka, an illuminated scale model, smaller but just as brilliantly decorated and shaded in whorls and stripes.

On the walls surrounding the vaka and its counterpart hang a series of painted panels, picturing Tangaroa surrounded by motifs of sea birds, flowers, weaves, people and spear heads.

Her project represents “an artistic voyage that encompasses past, present and future,” she said.

Reynolds’ exhibition will be open to the public until March 5.

• Rachel Reeves

Students Martein Taia and Leilani Aupini work on a paint activity on their laptops. 10022537

An overnight camping trip for a class of Mitiaro students was another chance to put their ‘Rorouira apaipai’ or XO laptops to use.

Principal Thomas Samuela says students had to write in their journals on the laptops while they were at camp.

He reports that the One Laptop Per Child durable state-of-the-art laptops, which have been in the school for just four weeks, are becoming a very useful tool for students.

Because the students get to take the laptops home with them, they have become a community-wide responsibility.

Students are even using the laptops to take home electronic copies of CI News stories every week as they explore a new world with the technology.

- Helen Greig

Four prisoners bare their

souls in 13 original songs

After ten months of recording beats tapped out on walls and wooden benches with rudimentary equipment, four Arorangi prison inmates have released their first CD.

The 13 original tracks are written and performed by the prisoners who said their record was about “change and changing our lives”.

“It was to help the younger ones, by telling them our stories,” one inmate said.

The group of four calls itself “KMITS” (pronounced commits) – each letter signifies the first letter of each of their names.

In 2008, they approached Sister Margaret during a prayer meeting and asked her to locate someone ‘on the outside’ who could help them produce their hip-hop record.

She approached local music teacher Frank Sabatano, who plays sax, guitar, keyboard, drums, bass and clarinet and gives lessons out of his home.

“Sister Margaret is just the type of person you can’t say no to,” Sabatano joked. “So I went up [to the prison], but after my first meeting with the boys I was really impressed with what I heard.”

From then on, Sabatano would visit the prison weekly to record the inmates’ music with some “very basic” equipment. He remembers holding a microphone while an inmate drummed a rhythm on a piece of wood.

“It’s a very raw record because we were recording inside the prison visitors’ room,” he said. “It’s not a soundproof, high-tech studio and you’ve got chickens and dogs and machine noise in the background.”

Still, the tracks came out edgy and catchy and clean. Some are overlaid with pre-recorded beats, but most the prisoners tapped out themselves.

Sabatano said he added some sax and a bit of bass guitar, but otherwise the inmates did all the work with their hands, their voices, an acoustic guitar and a ukulele. Sabatano said that most of them had no recording experience and little musical background, but “they sure have rhythm,” he said.

“It’s nothing fancy, but something about the record’s rawness draws you in,” Sabatano said.

The tracks are raw and emotional, describing the pain the prisoners have endured and inflicted on other people, and asking God for direction and guidance.

It’s a positive message, a musical apology to those they’ve hurt and an avowal that they’ve become new men.

“When you do something like a record, you’re putting your heart and soul out for people to look at and examine,” Sabatano said. “It’s an exposure of your inner self and I’ve got to give these guys credit for having the courage to do it.”

The recording process spanned ten months. Last year a friend of Sister Margaret’s, Therese Ireland-Smith, took the finished product to the NZ Maori Performing Arts Centre and had 100 copies produced.

She donated them to Sister Margaret, who has been selling the records for $20 a copy and saving the profits to give back to justice secretary Mark Short or superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa.

Sabatano said that he hopes the money can be used to create a little studio at the prison, where well-behaved prisoners can go to record their jam sessions.

“None of these guys were involved in escape attempts and none got in trouble. It just goes to show you that doing this kind of reform project, keeping them busy instead of letting them sit there and go crazy, is a good thing,” he said. “It’s about letting them get some anger and aggression out by writing and singing about it.”

Sabatano said he’d like to see some more community support for the inmates’ efforts.

“These guys have done a really great thing,” he said. “It shows through, and the message is there. They really put out what was on their hearts.”

To buy a copy of the record, contact Sister Margaret at Sisters of Charity in Titikaveka or find her at the market on Saturday mornings.

• RR

Open Mic night is back. The first OM Night of the year will be held at Waterline Beach Bar & Grill Restaurant in Arorangi this Monday, March 1, at 7 pm.

Anyone who is interested in singing, playing an instrument, jamming with a band, telling stories or telling jokes in front of a live audience can pop on over to share their talent.

Chris Musselle of Waterline said that OM Night aims “to encourage people that don’t otherwise get the opportunity to perform in public”.

Nooroa Ruaine, who launched OM Night in early 2009 along with music teacher Frank Sabatano, said that the event focuses on “budding musicians” and “people who want to express themselves”.

He said that last year, OM Night had a very strong following.

“Music is a big part of the island life but the new [musicians] are not always advertised. They don’t always have an opportunity to perform,” Ruaine said.

After Monday, OM Night will be held on the last Monday of the month at venues all across town.

“We look forward to seeing our regulars again this year, and newcomers are always welcome,” Musselle said. “Don’t be shy, just come along.”

Open Mic night is free and open to all performers of all ages. If you are interested in performing, ring Nooroa on 71216 or Chris at Waterline on 22161, or just show up on Monday.

“If you’re not sure about it, just turn up,” Ruaine said. “Bring your guitar, your mouth organ, your didgeridoo – whatever.”

• Rachel Reeves

a beautiful young lady amidst the singing and dancing group.’ The photographer invites readers to come forward and identify the performers 24 Rarotonga 24 Rarotonga

Cook Islands ei for sale aboard the SS Monterey, November 1968. 25 Rarotonga 25 Rarotonga

Tens of thousands of photos would have been taken by the tourists who travelled the Pacific on Matson ships in the 50s and 60s. Most of the pictures were Kodachrome colour slides. After countless showings to “those back home” the slides were put away in boxes and never heard of again.

For the past eight years I’ve been in (so called) semi-retirement in Bandung, a city of over 4 million people nestled amongst startling volcanic peaks in West Java Indonesia.

My travelling days are over after a long stint in Europe as a correspondent for the BBC, the US CBS radio network and a host of other news outlets of the English speaking world. I guess a fondness for the tropics was the lure to Bandung, coupled with the temperate climate...and elevation of 1000 metres above sea level means “no winter and no summer” – temperatures which even our two Husky dogs can tolerate.

In late 1968 I was asked to come along on a seven-week cruise of the Pacific – to accompany my mother who needed a break from the chores of being an Australian Naturalist’s wife. (David Fleay my father had an animal reserve on the Gold Coast of Queensland).

At the time my work involved presenting news, and playing Hammond Organ for country television based in Orange New South Wales. What a change this was to be – well, no pay for seven weeks...but “Mum was paying the fare” and I needed a break too. TV life was hectic. As well I did gigs around country New South Wales on my Hammond Organ. I’d never been outside Australia.... this was a chance not to be missed.

Late October we departed Sydney, a night sailing on the SS Monterey. One of two Matson “White Ships” with circa 300 passengers and an equivalent number of crew. The Monterey and her sister Ship the Mariposa were on the round the pacific route for much of the 50s and 60s. Mostly elderly American retirees were on board. A 26-year-old Australian was termed “a young man”!

After calling in to Noumea, Suva, Pago Pago, Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the return voyage first took us to Tahiti, and then Bora Bora, but rough seas prevented any visit to this island and so there were high expectations for the Cook Islands.

The Monterey’s purser usually briefed the passengers on island history a day before the scheduled visit. Rarotonga beckoned – however we were not to visit the island, the island came to the ship!

Residents of Rarotonga came in several (what we were told were) old whaling boats. They climbed aboard the Monterey and delighted the passengers with songs and souvenirs. All this while the 26,000-ton white ship circumnavigated Rarotonga.

I must have seen more of the performance through the camera lens than the real thing – and whether to look at the island’s changing vista or those who were paying us a visit was confusing. There was colour all around us, the lush greenness and white sand beaches of Rarotonga and the colourful costumes and eis brought on board by these most welcome visitors! This all lasted around two hours, and so these memories have been brought back to life with the scanning of a collection of nearly 1000 Kodachrome transparencies. More than a few were taken as we cruised around Rarotonga.

Thanks to computer technology, dust and scratches and colour fading can be taken care of by software and a good scanner. I’m seeing into the past “in living colour”!

No sound was recorded, but I can still hear the drum beats of the musicians of Rarotonga. A young drummer, only a boy then (he must be slightly over 50 now) was putting his all into the beats. Some of the ship’s younger passengers sprang into a “twist” type of dance around the Monterey’s swimming pool (it’s a wonder no one fell in). With a telephoto lens there was a good close up shot of an elderly Rarotongan (hope this terminology is okay) who appeared to be a village leader or chief..... and there was a beautiful young lady amongst the singing and dancing group (well all were and hopefully still are beautiful people)... I wonder where this lady is now?

“Curioser and Curioser” as Lewis Carrol once wrote.

www.mycrosswords.com/842/ProfessorDavidRussell/NorthernStorm.html

Auckland’s Pacific Island communities will come together next month for the annual Polyfest celebration.

Running from Wednesday March 17 to Saturday March 20 at the Manukau Sports Bowl, Polyfest celebrates the heritage of Pacific Island communities through music, dance, speech and art.

A record 90,000 people attended the 2009 festival with more people expected to be part of this year’s event which celebrates the 35th anniversary of the festival.

Polyfest is organised by Auckland Secondary Schools and is now sponsored by the ASB bank.

The entertainment is spread across five main stages, each representing an island community - Maori, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoan and Tongan.

A sixth platform, known as the Diversity Stage, provides a performing space for Auckland’s other ethnic groups, such as Indian and Chinese communities.

The host school for this year’s Polyfest is Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, who were also the hosts of the first ever festival in 1976.

Located in the Manukau suburb of Otara, the school was founded by New Zealand mountaineer and explorer Sir Edmund Hillary.

The three-day festival is a colourful and vibrant celebration of all things Pacific.

• Matariki Wilson