Index | Top Stories | General News | Sports | Court News | Environment | Letters | Features | Archive | Subscribe | About Us

General News

Week ending Wednesday, 8 February, 2012

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

18 in Aitutaki to get PR status
Seas remain high from cyclones
Poultry farm standards in the wind
Beach thief caught by police
Punanga Tauturu lends an ear
2 Virgin flights cancelled
Mexican encounters by Marumaru Atua
Business mentors give free training
10 CI projects seek $325,000
Funky Fitness mixes it!
Health team thrilled with turnout
‘So close – yet so far away’
Weather warning
Good reasons to be happy new citizens
Police: don’t leave keys in motorbikes
Puppy love
Text banking on 8 islands
2 police officers trained in cyber crime
5 back from rights of child convention
School is cool!
Tourism GPS for road shows
Banking on a good thing
Parliament to address odour
Pearl authority takes in a gem
Survey results: no connection
Nukutere College appoints new leaders
From developing to developed
Another dimension to the aid industry
2 new stamp series for 2012
Bonny high and dry after ordeal at sea
Beach bonding for Avarua kids
Gun laws under police review
Cooks could go either way: bank manager
ADB warns not to rely on tourism
Accommodators urged to register forward bookings
Stray cat in Nikao
Call for national youth forum on suicide
Church leader urges young people to open up
New EU ambassador welcomed
Australian Cook Islanders lead the charge
Pacific Forum boss ‘impressed’
Gill-net ban enforced in Aitutaki
Marumaru Atua down Mexico way

Cabinet will add four more people to the list of Aitutakians who are set to receive their certificates of permanent residency this week.

Eighteen people from Aitutaki have been confirmed to receive their permanent residency status during a ceremony in the island tomorrow.

Fourteen people had already been confirmed for the ceremony and cabinet yesterday met to consider adding four more Aitutakians to that list.

All four people were approved to receive a certificate of permanent residency. Their names were not available at the time of publication yesterday.

Like the 74 who received their certificates in Rarotonga last month, the people in Aitutaki are spouses of Cook Islanders or permanent residents of the Cook Islands.

Kave Ringi, the immigration director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, yesterday said cabinet would consider adding four more people to that list when they meet today.

However long the list of Aitutakians is, there will also be three people from Rarotonga who will travel north to join the ceremony.

Those people, from the four Rarotonga-based residents who could not attend the recent ceremony held at the National Auditorium, have indicated they would like to travel to Aitutaki for this week’s ceremony.

Two other people from the pa enua who were selected to receive their permanent residency status, including one from Atiu and one from Mangaia, have not indicated they will join the proceedings in Aitutaki.

Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin will attend the event alongside Deputy Prime Minister and immigration minister Tom Marsters, and Aitutaki’s three members of parliament, Minister Teina Bishop (MP for Arutanga/Reureu/Nikaupara), Mona Ioane (MP for Vaipae/Tautu) and Toanui Isamaela (MP for Amuri/Ureia).

Ringi said Aitutaki was abuzz with anticipation ahead of the ceremony this week and the people of Aitutaki were looking forward to hosting the first such ceremony there since 2008.

“It will be a fantastic day for them – a number have been wanting this to happen on their home island and they have been anxious for the reception to be held in Aitutaki,” he said.

• Eric Parnis

The pounding surf forced flying fish into the Avatiu harbour last week. 12020398

High seas on the Panama coastline of Rarotonga last week. 2 120203102

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has removed all strong weather warnings, but encourages people in Rarotonga to keep a careful watch on the seas until tropical cyclones Cyril and Jasmine have either dissipated or moved further south into a region of cooler sea surface temperatures.

Seas are expected to remain high throughout the week. From today to Friday, the southern Cook Islands can expect moderate northwest winds, moderately rough seas and clouds with some showers.

Cook Islands Meteorological Service operations manager Maara Vaiimene says his office is keeping close watch on two tropical cyclones that have developed in the region.

As of yesterday afternoon, tropical cyclone Cyril was located 690 kilometres to the southwest of Rarotonga and continuing to move southeast at 37 km/hr.

The Fiji Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre dubbed it a category two storm. Average winds close to its centre were 92 km/hr, and the sea surface temperature in the area around 27 degrees Celsius.

At press time the cyclone was headed toward an area of cooler sea surface temperatures and was expected to accelerate and then dissipate as it continued moving. By 8am today the cyclone is expected to be located about 650km to the far south of Rarotonga. It will continue to cause high seas to coastal areas of Rarotonga throughout the week.

Tropical cyclone Jasmine has reached category four classification and is being referred to by Brisbane’s and Fiji’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres as a ‘severe tropical cyclone’.

It has a central pressure of 945hpa, with average winds close to the centre reaching 166km/hr.

The cyclone is continuing to move in an east-southeast direction toward Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service assures the Cook Islands that the cyclone will not majorly impact local weather patterns.

However, it will continue to keep watch on the sea for signs of high swells or large waves that the storm could generate.

• Rachel Reeves

Acting on legal advice from Crown law, the Ministry of Health has drafted poultry farm standards to address public complaints about odour coming from Scott’s Farm in Muri.

Responding to public complaints about the smell, public health officers conducted a survey amongst Muri residents last month to determine whether people living in close proximity to the farm believed they were experiencing ill health because of it. Community health services director Dr Rangi Fariu reports that 76% of those surveyed said they were bothered by the Scott’s Farm smell, but did not feel it was making them sick.

Twenty-six percent of people surveyed indicated they believed they were experiencing illnesses because of their proximity to Scott’s Farm.

Dr Fariu says that most of the 26 percent were reluctant to provide names, meaning the Ministry of Health was unable to check its records to determine whether those people had received medical attention in the past or were taking any medication.

“But (people said that while) it’s a nuisance it’s not really a health hazard,” Dr Fariu said of the survey results.

The ministry also surveyed employees of Scott’s Farm, most of whom have been working onsite for at least three years.

“No one was complaining about respiratory problems or skin irritation or rashes,” Dr Fariu said of the employees’ responses. But to properly address the issue of the odour, the ministry sought legal advice and went to work constructing its own set of poultry farm standards.

With no precedents, legal or otherwise, to consult, the ministry conducted some research into farm management and farm legislation overseas.

Dr Rangi Fariu met with Scott’s Farm owner John Scott on Monday afternoon to go over the ministry’s recommendations and draft standards.

“He had a quick look and wasn’t pleased with the standards we had drafted and that’s fine because being a draft we welcome his opinion,” Dr Fariu said. “There were areas he wasn’t happy with and wanted to contest and consult his lawyer. There were parts of our standards he (Scott) thought were impractical.

“We gave him about a month to get legal advice and come back to us and say ‘yes, I’m willing to work with you to develop poultry standards for the Cook Islands and here are the areas I don’t agree with’.”

Dr Fariu acknowledged that other legal advisers might interpret Cook Islands law differently than Crown counsel, and says he is open to suggestions.

He says he hopes Scott will be willing to work with the ministry to develop a set of appropriate standards for Cook Islands poultry farmers, but if he is not the ministry will contract an independent consultant to finalise the standards.

“If we don’t hear back we are going to get an outside consultant to come and do standards for us which might make things more difficult for all poultry farmers on the island,” he said.

“We think that we can work with him in terms of minimising the problems that we are having, but if he doesn’t play ball we will just go ahead and draft.”

Dr Fariu confirmed that the draft standards do address issues of odour.

He says a period of one month is also ample time for Scott’s chickens to process a microbial culture he has been adding to their food, which is meant to cut the odour of their waste.

“By then he should be able to see whether it’s working or not,” Dr Fariu said.

Cook Islands News was unable to reach John Scott yesterday.

• Rachel Reeves

A police pursuit has ended in the arrest of a man accused of carrying out thefts against tourists this week.

The man was arrested on the back road at Titikaveka after trying to dodge a police roadblock in Titikaveka. Police pursued the man for some time.

The man is accused of stealing personal items from two visitors to the Cook Islands on Monday morning. He will face court this week. Cook Islands Police commissioner Maara Tetava said two tourists were the victims of theft on Monday, when personal items from their vehicles parked at Blackroack went missing. A police patrol identified two persons known for being involved with theft from beaches in the area at the time the offending took place.

A Cook Islands Police tasking team and vaka constable who were carrying out vehicle checks and target patrolling in Titikaveka became aware of the information and managed to apprehend the man who is now accused of carrying out the thefts. Tetava praised the swift work of his team in making an arrest and returning the missing goods to their rightful owners.

“I am pleased that the good team work and commitment shown by our teams, led to the quick apprehension of the offender and the recovery of the stolen properties even before the second complaint was made to police,” he said.

“I am however concerned that there are still people targeting our visitors while they are enjoying our island and our country.

“If you are one of those people, watch out, we will get to you sooner than you think.

“To our visitors and our people, please do not make it easy for these people to steal from you by leaving your properties unsecured.

“If you are at the beach, lock your properties in your cars, or have someone look after them while you are in the sea, do not leave these exposed.

“Do not leave properties locked under the seat of motorbikes. These are not secure places to store properties as seat locks are easy to pick and unlock.”

• Eric Parnis

Punanga Tauturu is in the listening business.

The organisation creates a comfortable space for victims of domestic violence and abuse to tell their stories – and based on her experience, Punanga Tauturu manager Kairangi Samuela believes in the power of listening. She says that often it is the only way to defuse a person’s tough emotions like anger, frustration and desperation.

It is for this reason she supports the proposal floating around to establish a national suicide hotline, and believes that suicidal people would greatly benefit from connecting with a person who is simply willing to listen.

She also suggests a help-line be accessible to people in the outer islands.

“We’re a society that focuses on advising and telling – churches tell you how you should be living, teachers tell you what to do, parents, sports groups tell you what to do, but where do you go when you need somebody to listen? We need to be a society that listens,” she said.

“Just by being available, letting people know you’re there to listen – not to advise or blame or judge, just listen and say ‘it’ll get better’, you are making a difference.”

Samuela shared one client’s story to illustrate the power of lending a listening ear.

Her client, a young teenaged girl, had attempted suicide by overdose, not because she wanted to die but because she was desperate and wanted to escape her circumstances. She just didn’t know how.

“She shared that she didn’t want to die but she was in despair and didn’t feel she had anywhere to go,” Samuela recalled. “She was angry and wanted to punish whoever had caused her harm.”

In this case, an incident with her father had sparked her emotional turmoil. He was trying to punish her; she felt he was going about it the wrong way by humiliating her in front of her friends.

“Her phone was taken away so she didn’t feel she could talk to her friends, her parents weren’t listening. She didn’t know what to do with her feelings and she just wanted someone to listen.”

Samuela noted that in this particular case, the father perhaps could have acknowledged his daughter’s frustration, even as he was punishing her.

“There’s something about hearing the other side of the story and discussing the appropriate punishment. Maybe he could have said, ‘I hear what you’re saying, but I still have to discipline you and this is why’.”

Because she felt no one was listening, the girl felt isolated, frustrated and confused.

“She didn’t know how to make her father listen, so she wanted to make him feel bad,” Samuela said.

That’s when she made the decision to attempt to take her own life. She came out of the ordeal alive, but Samuela acknowledged the ugly truth that not everyone does.

Samuela adds that the community needs to break the stigma around suicide by talking openly and honestly about it – what causes it and what the Cook Islands can do to arrest it.

“Families don’t talk about it as to the effect it has on them. It’s seen as a shameful thing – as ‘something must be wrong with that family if their child is suicidal’. In terms of domestic violence, no one used to talk about it and now people are talking about it. We’re breaking the silence, whereas suicide is still a taboo subject.”

Samuela suggests that the government consider offering training for young people on how to use a helpline, and says the Cook Islands’ ultimate goal should be changing its approach toward communication.

“It’s about time the government paid attention,” she said, noting that worldwide statistics show that one in every 10,000 people commits suicide per year.

The Cook Islands’ rate is higher.

• Rachel Reeves

Virgin Australia has removed two of its scheduled flights to Rarotonga for the month of February, citing operational requirements for the decision.

Flights arriving at Rarotonga at 11.55pm on Saturday, February 11, and the same time the following day, Sunday, February 12, have been removed from the scheduling.

Last month, the airline also dropped two inbound flights from its scheduling for similar reasons.

Virgin Australia, as Pacific Blue is now known along with all the company’s other operations based out of Australia, says it is committed to the Rarotonga route.

The company flies five flights in to Rarotonga each week, connecting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Rarotonga via Auckland.

The company is returning to normal operation in March, flying into Rarotonga five nights a week from Thursday to Monday.

There are no inbound flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

On each night, the flights are due in at 11.55pm and depart just over one hour later at 1.05am.

Check in facilities open at 10pm and close at 12.20am for departures.

Virgin said anybody booked on the cancelled flights will be moved to the next day’s flight at no additional charge.

Virgin has been operating flights to Rarotonga since 2005 and says it has increased its seat numbers flying here by 30 percent this summer season when compared to last.

• Eric Parnis

A photo snapped by Marumaru Atua crew member Alex Olah of whale skeletons in Mexico, where the vaka is currently sailing. 12020628

On board Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua, Alex Olah has been updating the crew blog. She is currently in Mexican waters heading south toward Cabo San Lucas. When Olah penned the following update, the vaka was just departing Punta Belcher, Bahia Magdalena, Mexico.

Kia orana tatou katoatoa from the crew of Marumaru Atua!

It has been a slow week for us sailing-wise with many lulls in wind, and on the occasion when we have gotten some fair winds for us to start moving at a decent pace (5 knots or so), it has been short lived. This has meant that this leg from San Diego down to Cabo San Lucas that was originally estimated to take approximately six days has now taken us 13 days so far...and we are still about 200 miles away.

However, we have also taken our time by meandering in and out of a few major bays along our route in search of great pods of whales to witness and film (ie over 700 grey whales rumoured to be in one bay).

Although we never actually encountered the 700 we were searching for, the other whales and marine life we have seen along this sail so far have been incredible! Blue whales at about 60m away, scores of grey whales (only slightly smaller than blue whales) with some surfacing within 15m from us, humpback whales breaching, porpoises and hundreds of common dolphins hunting together and others just cruising with us for miles, several sea turtles popping up to look at this strange Polynesian vaka passing by...

We even sailed past and disturbed a couple of strange looking sunfish lounging on the surface. The waters along this coast are indeed very rich and we feel privileged to be experiencing its beauty firsthand.

Apart from the sightings of these many sea creatures, some other highlights:

Coming across the bones of a grey whale on the shore just outside a small fishing village. Our whole fleet anchored and everyone went in to see it. For many of us it was our first time seeing a whale skeleton and seeing exactly how large whales really are...as the view of a whale’s fluke or head in the water does not really give one the clearest idea of their awe-inspiring bulk.

A close encounter with the Mexican Navy, fully armed with automatic rifles, coming very close to each vaka and even boarding our escort vessel Evohe just to make sure we were not transporting anything illegal or conducting any illegal fishing. We got through this smoothly with the help of one of our newer crew members on Haunui who was able to converse with the sailors in Spanish and make sure everything was okay, but we were all a little nervous for a bit...

We had a pretty dramatic close call with a wayward fuel tanker a few days ago. The watch on duty spotted this guy on our starboard side from many miles away as it was a very large vessel....when we noticed it and checked its course, its heading was going to take it far clear of us. However when it came within about four miles it suddenly started turning to starboard and heading straight for us! With the speed this thing was moving at (approx 14 knots), it came very close very quickly! Captain tried to contact them to alter course over channel 16 with no response (because the ocean rule is that motor vessels must give way to sailing vessels)! We then noticed that he was actually attempting to turn and cut in front of us rather than ramming us (thank goodness!)...however he was still going to hit us on his current course as he had started his turn too late and with too much speed! Captain Peia gave the order to take evasive manouevres by jybing to starboard and dropping our Genniker which was up at the time....the watch and other crew on deck rallied and performed this quickly while Captain took the helm. After we successfully jybed, the tanker roared by on our port side at full speed and still turning (ie doing a sort of sideways skid) at only 100 metres away! Still no response from them when we tried to contact again! We still don’t know what caused this guy to almost ram us...a lapse in concentration? Autopilot malfunction? The boys all agreed to keep an eye out for him in Cabo just in case we see him, so we can...ahem...’ask’ him nicely in person about his steering skills.

One morning, however, some of our crew also witnessed a very sad sight. We anchored overnight outside a small fishing village (a good spot from where to continue our whale filming search). Most of the crew went ashore to explore a little. What they found was a poor fishing community surviving on catching sharks and finning them for export to China for shark fin soup. There were hundreds of shark carcasses littering the beach and while they were ashore a small boat came in (and we had seen about a dozen such boats skimming around) and unloaded about 20 sharks onto the beach, of which they seemed to be primarily common reef sharks, and one man promptly began to fin them. When asked, the fisherman said that they do make use of all the rest of the shark also by drying the meat in slabs and selling in La Paz. So it is not quite the wasteful slaughter of all these sharks just for their fins...but it is still a huge number of sharks being killed every day mainly driven by the demand for their fins. Definitely an eye opener for our fleet of Pacific Voyagers to see firsthand one of the major controversial issues of our ocean and our cause.

Dozens of local businesspeople are this week taking advantage of free training sessions at the Chamber of Commerce, which are being run by New Zealand trainers as part of the Pacific Business Mentors Programme.

Chamber of Commerce executive director Lynne Samuel says between 18 and 23 businesspeople representing about 20 businesses are registered to attend each session.

Trainers Lorraine Hoggard and Lorraine George opened the week of seminars and meetings with a ‘foundation day’ on Monday, giving businesses new to the mentors programme an overview of basic business skills.

Yesterday, businesspeople pre-booked two hour one-on-one appointments with either Lorraine.

From today through Friday, Hoggard and George will be delivering more in-depth training modules targeted at people who have attended past training sessions.

An interactive workshop focused on business planning and growth will run from 9am to 4pm today, and tomorrow’s all-day session will focus on financial management. A second session from 5pm to 7pm tomorrow will deal with time management.

On Friday, the trainers will run an interactive workshop on ‘getting the best out of your staff’.

All training sessions are free, as the Pacific Business Mentors Programme is footing the bill. This is the second training session to be offered in the Cook Islands.

The Pacific Business Mentor Programme began in the Cook Islands over two years ago, and has since moved into the wider Pacific. About 55 local businesses have met with business mentors, who visit the Cook Islands to offer advice and discuss how best to weather the day-to-day challenges of running a business.

The mentors return every six months to follow-up and in between, they send trainers to keep the momentum going, ensuring that participating businesses have a chance to meet with a trained consultant every three months.

If your business is already part of the mentors programme and you are interested in attending training on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday contact Samuel at 20925 or chamber@commerce.co.ck

• Rachel Reeves

The Cook Islands Prison is applying for UNESCO funding to fund prison vocational and life skills development programmes. 09081473

The Cook Islands will submit 10 projects to the United Nations in an attempt to score about $325,000 from the organisation’s UNESCO branch.

The United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – more commonly know by its acronym UNESCO – is offering grants of up to US$26,000 (NZ$32,500) to participating countries.

The Cook Islands UNESCO National Commission has found 10 applicants to put forward to UNESCO to possibly receive funding.

Their selection at this stage of the process is not a guarantee of their success for receiving funding – UNESCO is yet to do that.

Included in the list are proposals from the ministries of cultural development, education, justice and marine resources.

There are also applications from the Cook Islands National Youth Council, Maungaroa Restoration project being run by Highland Paradise, Bluewater Adventures and the Cook Islands Internet Action Group.

There is also an application being submitted by the Cook Islands UNESCO National Commission itself. (See breakdown for full details of funding.)

The ministry of education took over control of the Cook Islands UNESCO National Commission this year.

The commission was contacted by UNESCO in mid January with a request to have applications to it this month, leaving the body scrambling to take in applications within two weeks.

On February 1, it met under secretary general Sharyn Paio, who is organising the body’s matters until it can formally elect members by July this year.

Paio said the commission considered 18 national proposals and one sub-regional proposal requesting funding from UNESCO under its Participation Programme for the 2012-2013 biennium.

“For the first time for many years, the Cook Islands has submitted 10 proposals – our full quota,” she said.

“The sub-regional proposal seeks funding of US$50,000 for the Cook Islands to participate in the Festival of Pacific Arts to be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 1-14 July 2012,” Paio said.

“I am awaiting further information from the Ministry of Cultural Development and upon its receipt I will submit this to other member states for support, as is required under this programme.

“Confirmation of which of our proposals are accepted is expected to be around the middle of the year.

“Due to the current tight financial constraints of UNESCO at the moment, we are not optimistic of having all projects approved but will wait and see.”

Paio said the criteria for awarding funding is alignment with UNESCO’s 2012-2013 Programme Priorities.

For this biennium, that means global priorities, in particular Africa and gender equality, and priority target groups comprising least developed countries, developing countries, countries in post-conflict or post-disaster situation, small island development statements and countries in transition.

• Eric Parnis

If your New Year’s resolution is to get that body into shape – then grab your exercise gear and head to the National Auditorium for a ‘Funky Fitness’ workout tomorrow starting at 12 noon.

The funky fitness class is a mix of various cardio programmes designated to burn fat while having fun.

The new fitness initiative is a partnership between Fitness Revolution and the Ministry of Health aimed at taking the gym to the community.

The message for this new initiative is “Let’s embrace the change towards a better and healthier living lifestyle.”

Funky Fitness classes will be run every Tuesday and Thursdays at the national auditorium where there will be a $3 door entry – a small price to pay for a healthier lifestyle.

Everyone is encouraged to bring water, a hand towel and lots of attitude to the national auditorium.

Fitness Revolution also begins its Jump Start programme this week with the popular X-treme fitness programme set to return in mid March.

Congratulations to those that joined our JumpStart programme, which gets underway this week.

So jump start your New Year’s healthy lifestyle resolution at the national auditorium tomorrow at 12pm.

• Matariki Wilson

The men of Mangaia attended one of three men’s health clinics put on by a four-member team of the Ministry of Health last week. 12020606

The team in Mangaia, from left – men’s health coordinator Rangi Aitu, tobacco cessation coordinator Maina Tairi, nutritionist Nana Cuthers and director of community health services Dr Rangi Fariu. 12020607

A four-person team from the Ministry of Health travelled to Mangaia last week to run a free men’s health clinic in each of the island’s three villages.

Team leader Dr Rangi Fariu was impressed by the turnout – of the 181 men in Mangaia, 117 made it to a session.

Joining Dr Fariu in delivering the clinics were men’s health coordinator Rangi Aitu, dietician Nana Cuthers and tobacco cessation coordinator Maina Tairi.

Aitu says while in Mangaia the team was able to diagnose ‘quite a lot’ of non-communicable diseases and 14 cases of erectile dysfunction.

“We did a full health screening and picked up quite a lot of NCDs among the lot – obesity, hypertension, diabetes,” he said, noting the health issues were similar to those that arose during previous men’s health clinics on other southern group islands.

The men’s health initiative started on Rarotonga in 2010. Since then the Ministry of Health men’s health team has visited Atiu and Mitiaro, and intends to run a two-week clinic in Aitutaki at the end of March.

Clinics in the northern group will run subject to funding.

“We started running this clinic because men weren’t going to see doctors early enough,” Dr Fariu said.

The clinic on Mangaia focused on NCDs and how to treat them, tobacco and alcohol abuse, dietary patterns, prostrate and urological health and erectile dysfunction.

The team screened participants for NCD risk factors and in some cases prescribed medication. It allocated about half an hour for each patient, which proved sufficient time to conduct a full health check, draw up a person-specific healthy eating plan and talk about issues like tobacco and alcohol use.

Concurrently the team ran educational sessions about the Tobacco Control Act.

Mangaia island secretary Helen Henry reports that the clinics were a huge success, adding that Mangaia health official Geoffrey Tangatakino and senior charge nurse Mataiti Matamaki were thrilled with the turnout.

“Mataiti expressed her delight and pointed out that our people are very reserved and come from a culture where personal issues are not discussed outside the family arena. Seeing the majority of the participants were 40 years and over confirmed that the attitude amongst our male population towards health was definitely changing,” Henry said in an email.

Mangaia health professionals look forward to further visits from health experts, as “our males will be more agreeable to having outside professionals screen them at least once per annum as the health professionals are too closely related or known to the people here”, Henry quoted Matamaki as saying.

Henry reports that already, the men of Ivirua are making use of donated gym equipment and others are choosing to walk to their taro plantations instead of relying on their motorbikes.

One smoker reported having the self-restraint to say no to a cigarette during a social Friday night.

“To me it indicates that our people are ready to take our lives and health seriously, the question I would like to pose to our Ministry of Health is: ‘Are you?’” Henry said.

She extended a big meitaki ngao rava to the four-person team, the Ministry of Health and funding agencies. The World Health Organisation is funding the men’s health initiatives.

• Rachel Reeves

The Mauke harbour being lashed by winds and high seas. 12020630

The Maungaroa is forced to wait in idyllic conditions on Mauke’s SSE for days as the wharf on the NW battled lashing winds and high seas. 12020629

The Mauke harbour being lashed by winds and high seas. / 12020632

It’s not another ship on Mauke’s reef, but a reminder of the frustrations of interisland shipping, and the vulnerability of small islands dependent on imports.

Taio Shipping’s MV Maungaroa had a bit of a rough time, I was told, getting to Mauke resulting in some cargo shifting en-route.

Things only got worse as Thursday’s arrival at Mauke’s northwest wharf side was met by heavy seas and winds and a warning that it would be a while before cargo could be offloaded.

It wasn’t an option to return to Rarotonga against such weather with heavy cargo jostled enough already, and not needing another offload-reload episode.

Besides, Mauke’s desperately needed wharf upgrade requires some of the precious cargo, as do many Maukeans eagerly awaiting imports and managing with yet another fuel shortage in the meantime.

So, hoping the weather settles soon there’s nothing for it, but to take shelter and wait.

Three days later, on Saturday, February 4, they’re still waiting at Anaraura on Mauke’s south-south east side, gently bobbing in bright sunshine with not a breeze to cool off, so menacingly close to shore that two days earlier Maukean passenger Daniel decided he’d had enough, dived in and swam ashore.

And all the crew can do is watch locals fishing over the reef and, in the dark, torches flashing in all directions gathering from the near dry lagoon.

It’s hard to believe such stark contrast is possible from one coast to another on an island only 18km around.

So after being informed by a friend, who had come to our side to get away from the weather, that the ship idling nearby couldn’t get into the harbour, we hopped on the bike, camera in hand, and headed for the wharf.

Seven kilometres later we’re walking the rest of the way due to a tyre blow out and it’s worth every step to hear stories of high seas washing past a coconut tree that is metres away from and above sea level, and heading towards their office.

In fact, one of their water tanks now lies as a testimony to the turmoil, roughly torn from top to bottom by smashing waves that threw it down into the harbour from where workers later retrieved it.

Pacific Marine engineer Thakur Ravinesh Singh shared photos and film footage he had taken on Thursday and contractor Noel explained that although the seas were now beginning to settle, still the ship could not come in because a temporary boulder wall had collapsed and filled the harbour mouth.

With Sunday being a rest day, and in the words of one worker, the weather having turned ‘evil’ again, there is no choice but to hope Monday would allow them to dredge the mouth and bring waiting to an end for the Maungaroa and crew who sit ‘so close and yet so far away’.

• June Hosking

The Cook Islands Meteorological Service is issuing a strong wind and high seas warning for the southern Cook Islands, including Rarotonga.

An active, slow-moving trough of low pressure means clouds and showers for the southern group, though weather conditions are expected to improve from tomorrow.

At the weekend the low-pressure systems that developed around Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga intensified. Tropical depression 10F (10th recorded this season, ‘F’ denoting it is within Fiji’s area of responsibility) was upgraded and is now being referred to as Tropical Cyclone (TC) Jasmine.

The storm is now the Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre’s responsibility and continuing to move east.

Tropical depression 11F over Tonga was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Cyril at 8am yesterday. Now within Fiji’s area of responsibility, the storm is moving in an east-southeast direction at 36km/hr.

The cyclone has a central pressure of 987hpa and has moved into a ‘Category 1’ grading.

Winds close to the centre are averaging 83km/hr and gusting to 92km/hr.

At 2pm yesterday, Tropical Cyclone Cyril was located 160km east of Tonga and by 2pm today is expected to lie to the far southeast of Tonga and Niue and the far southwest of Rarotonga.

The storm is moving rapidly in a southeasterly direction and entering into an area of cooler sea surface temperatures (26 degrees Celsius and below). Once it reaches 25 degrees latitude, the storm will become New Zealand’s responsibility.

At that point, the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre there will issue updates and warnings until the storm dissipates.

The cyclone poses no major threat to the Cook Islands, Cook Islands Meteorological Service operations manager Maara Vaiimene said yesterday.

The storm has, however, been generating high, rough seas for Rarotonga since Sunday. The seas are expected to abate from tomorrow.

“The swells will be more from the northwestern side of the island with an estimated significant wave height of 3.5 to 4.5m especially during high tide, as the TC moves away to the southwest of Rarotonga around the Arorangi and Titikaveka side of the island,” Vaiimene said. “However all residents along the coast of Rarotonga are to be aware of the high seas and hours of high tides. The Cook Islands Meteorological Services will continue to monitor the development of TC Cyril.”

Tropical depression 09F, for its part, is moving away from Rarotonga.

Weather conditions are expected to improve from Wednesday to Friday. The meteorological service expects fine weather apart from brief showers, and calmer seas.

• Rachel Reeves

David Hoeflich receiving his certificate of New Zealand citizenship from High Commissioner John Carter. 12020618

Though they came from different pasts and different backgrounds, all four people who received their New Zealand citizenship yesterday had a few things in common.

In every case, the new New Zealanders were married to Cook Islanders and have been living in the Cook Islands for many years.

Each of them also has children, born in the Cook Islands and New Zealand passport holders.

In fact, each of the four is the only person in their immediate family not to have New Zealand citizenship.

In those regards, each of the people had good reason to be happy about finally receiving their New Zealand citizenships at a special ceremony at New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter’s Ngatipa residence.

Eunice Vaikai

Eunice Vaikai, who was born in Tahiti and holds a French passport, has been living in the Cook Islands for 30 years after returning to the country of her heritage.

Vaikai is a second-generation Tahitian from Cook Islands family and she has been living at Rarotonga, the home of her ancestors in Ngatangiia’s Tamarua family.

She now lives in Titikaveka with her husband Mark and three children including the two who joined her at Ngatipa for the naturalisation ceremony.

Vaikai’s mother Marie-France Cowan/Garnier is also living in Rarotonga.

Vaikai said she experienced some difficulty gaining the New Zealand citizenship because of her circumstances in the Cook Islands. Being of Cook Islands descent (and a landowner here) but not technically a permanent resident put her in a grey zone.

But her application was approved with some explaining and now she is very appreciative to have been given the honour.

“Now I find I am completely united with all my family who are already New Zealand citizens,” Vaikai said.

Each of the other three people to receive citizenship originated from Samoa.

Two, David Hoeflich and Itumalo Tia Makikiriti, were born in Samoa’s capital Apia.

David Hoeflich

Hoeflich has been living in the Cook Islands for 33 years now and last year decided the time was right to apply for New Zealand citizenship, which all of his children and grandchildren already have.

Hoeflich is married to a Cook Islander and has all of his seven children and two grandchildren living at home with him. He laughed when asked if it was busy at home, saying it definitely was.

Hoeflich moved to the Cook Islands with his mother when he was 13 years old. He received his permanent residency status in 1998.

Itumalo Tia Makikiriti

Makikiriti has been living in the Cook Islands for more than 20 years and raised two children at Rarotonga with her husband Nga.

She and her nine-year-old daughter still live in Rarotonga, where Makikiriti works at Island Car and Bike Hire, though her husband and 21-year-old daughter live in New Zealand.

Makikiriti said she decided to apply for New Zealand citizenship to make trips to Auckland to visit her husband, who requires dialysis treatment, easier for her and her family.

“I’m more than happy,” she said when asked if she was pleased about receiving her citizenship, “I’ve been waiting for a long time for this. This will make it a lot easier for me to see my husband now.”

Tine Faasili Ponia

Fellow-Samoan Tine Faasili Ponia met her Cook Islands husband Ben Ponia while studying in Australia.

She travelled to the Cook Islands with him for the first time in 1997 and has spent time on and off the island since, including a stint in New Zealand working in law.

Faasili Ponia, who hails from the tiny village Saoluafata, is now back in the Cook Islands full time working with the Southpac Trust.

Faasili Ponia has two children in the Cook Islands, Maka and Tui, and says she now has here eyes set on the next addition to her passport – a permanent residency stamp for the Cook Islands.

• Eric Parnis

Click to enlarge

Itumalo Tia Makikiriti taking her vow during a New Zealand citizenship ceremony on Monday. 12020612

 

Click to enlarge

Cecile Marten with her friend and now New Zealand citizen Tine Faasili Ponia and New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter. 12020624

 

Click to enlarge

Eunice Vaikai and New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter surrounded by Eunice’s family, from left, Marie-France Cowan/Garnier, Timothy Vaikai, Vaea Vaikai and Mark Vaikai. 12020626

 

Click to enlarge

New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter with new New Zealand citizen David Hoeflich and his family, from left, Mousie Skews, Selita Hoefilch, Robert Skews and Luisa Lupena. 12020625

 

Don’t leave your keys in your motorbike, even if it is parked right outside your door at home.

That’s the message Cook Islands Police are urging the public to take on after two motorcycles went missing at the weekend. It’s a persistent problem facing police and the public. Though there are only ever one or two incidents a week of motorcycles being unlawfully taken, police say the public could be doing more to help prevent the crime occurring.

Inspector Tere Patia said there were two incidents of unlawfully taking a motorcycle reported over the weekend and both motorcycles were still missing. One motorcycle went missing from a house in Matavera on Saturday and the other from a resort in Arorangi the same day.

A resort worker was the victim of that incident, and police are still searching for a black Honda motorcycle with the number plate AAL811.

The motorcycle that disappeared from Matavera was blue and had a number plate AAN811, according to police reports. Patia urged people to be security-conscious with their motorcycles when leaving them unattended. He said people should park their motorcycles in well-lit areas rather than dark areas, lock the bike when the leave it and take their keys with them when they park – even if it is at home.

In the weekend’s other incidents, police were called to two Arorangi parties to investigate two cases of assault.

Patia said one fight involved female suspects and the other male suspects.

He said alcohol was involved in both incidents and police were continuing their investigations into both. Meanwhile, one motorist was asked to leave his motorcycle in town after police banned him from driving about 1am on Sunday.

The man was caught at a roadblock on the Avatiu end of town.

Police also received one report of theft from a Titikaveka tourist accommodation. The complainant said the burglar had ransacked their unit and removed a handbag from the site about 1am on Saturday.

The bag was found outside the room once the sun rose.

Patia said there was no major loss of personal effects in the incident because the tourists had stored their goods in a safe at their unit.

Cook Islands News also understands two tourists were targeted by thieves at a beach in Black Rock yesterday.

The thieves took goods from the tourist’s car and motorbike as they were swimming, claiming no one warned them not to lock valuables under the seat.

• Eric Parnis

Nine-year-old Eryka Tommy was left thanking God for her good luck when her new puppy Petals was returned to her yesterday. 12020633

Nine-year-old Eryka Tommy’s dream of owning a puppy finally came true last week, when her parents collapsed to two years of wishing and gave her one for her birthday.

But a dream that took years of pleading to come true only needed days to unravel.

Eryka was left heartbroken on the weekend when her new friend which she called ‘Petals’ disappeared from her house.

Luckily, the story does not end on a sour note for Eryka who had her puppy returned to her yesterday afternoon.

The nine-year-old and her family were away from their Matavera house for half an hour on Saturday when the dog disappeared.

“Petals was only six weeks old and did not walk very far so I think someone carried her off. I really miss her and can’t understand why anyone would take my puppy without asking first,” Eryka said in an emotional plea to Cook Islands News earlier yesterday.

“I waited two years for a puppy and in the first week of getting her someone has taken her from me.

“I pray that who ever took Petals will return her to me.”

Thankfully, the very fluffy, black and white Petals was returned to Eryka late yesterday afternoon.

Eryka and her family were left thanking God for their good fortune and thanking a young girl from the neighbourhood for returning Petals to its rightful owner.

• Eric Parnis

Westpac customers can now do their banking on the go.

The bank last week launched its ‘mobile phone banking service’, which allows registered customers to take care of their banking wherever they are.

“Mobile banking is Westpac’s new banking channel that gives customers the option to manage their day-to-day banking needs from their mobile phone,” said Westpac Cook Islands general manager Carmel Butler.

Convenient, secure and simple to use, customers can check their account balance, transfer funds between their own existing Westpac accounts, view recent transactions, request a cheque book or statement and report a lost or stolen Westpac Handycard.

Customers do not need to have access to the internet, but can simply text a 220 number and receive a text containing the requested information.

“Mobile banking offers customers the convenience of accessing their bank account wherever they may be,” Butler said.

“We think this service will be of great benefit for customers living in remote areas. As long as there’s mobile coverage, you can do your banking.”

Currently the islands of Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, Mangaia, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Pukapuka have mobile coverage. Westpac has a view to one day release an upgraded version of its mobile banking service, which will target customers with internet capabilities on their mobile phones.

Mobile banking is part of Westpac’s suite of e-initiatives developed to make it easier for customers to do their banking. Westpac operates in seven Pacific countries through its network of more than 50 branches, 100 ATMs and online banking services.

• RR/Release

Two Cook Islands Police staff are joining police forces from across the Pacific to talk cyber crime with the Australian Federal Police and, perhaps surprisingly, the NRL.

A Cook Islands police officer and IT worker are currently in the Gold Coast to improve their skills in protecting children from online predators and in fighting cyber crime.

The Cyber Safety Pasifika programme, as it is known, combines the efforts of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and players from the NRL to help young people understand the risks the face when they go online.

The AFP warns as internet use in the Pacific increases, so does the risk, particularly for children.

The Cook Islands representatives, along with people from police forces in Niue, Samoa, Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia, are taking part in the first cyber safety ‘train the trainer’ course launched this week. The AFP’s Commander Grant Edwards says teaching children throughout the Pacific islands about the dangers of the internet is a big job, reports Australian news service AAP.

“Astonishingly, the Pacific area has the highest uptake penetration rates of internet usage in the world – it’s approximately double the global average, sitting at about 60 percent,” he told reporters.

Edwards said the Pacific is relatively untouched by cyber crime at the moment, and the new programme will help prevent predators and criminals establishing a foothold in the region.

“Samoa has a phenomenal rate of internet uptake,” he said.

“Over the past 10 years their uptake has been somewhere in the vicinity of 1700 per cent – that’s astounding.

“Niue has the highest rate of any country in the Pacific, and that includes Australia, at 85 percent.”

Commander Edwards said the old maxim that crime follows opportunity is no truer anywhere than in the digital world.

“What we’ve seen in Australia in recent times is a huge increase in the number of offenders who use the internet to exploit children.

“We can’t afford to underestimate the impact cyber crime has on us as a society,” he said.

• EP/AAP

The Cook Islands work in ensuring the rights of a child needs to improve. 12020373

The Cook Islands’ adherence to international laws governing the rights of the child has come under scrutiny at a United Nations gathering in Geneva last month.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is currently holding its 59th session in Geneva, Switzerland, to review the situation of children’s rights in eight nations from across the world.

The Cook Islands was one of those, along with Niue, Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar (Burma), Madagascar, Togo and Thailand.

Minister of Health Nandi Glassie led a five-person delegation from the Cook Islands to attend the convention.

Joining him were representatives from internal affairs, foreign affairs and the association for non-government organisations.

The delegation returned to the Cook Islands on Monday this week.

Glassie said the Cook Islands’ work in ensuring the rights of children was well received at the conference, but he admitted there were areas in which the country needed to improve.

He said the delegation would be preparing a full report on their travels, which would be made publicly available and forwarded to the media.

• Eric Parnis

Arorangi primary school students. 12020394

Arorangi primary school students were smiles on their first week back at school last week. Their grins were even wider on Friday when the school headed out to a beachside property for a day of fun in the sun. The school wasn’t the only one that had a school picnic on Friday when kids from Avarua Primary School enjoyed the lagoon in Muri while students at Tereora College made the Social Centre in Nikao their class for the day. After a week of settling back into school life, students can now expect full on learning and plenty of homework to grow their brains.

Our unique Cook Islands culture, traditions, products and places to go will be the highlights of a series of planned road shows over the coming few years. 11080436

Tourism industry members have received a sneak peak at what the Cook Islands will export when it hits the road in the coming year and a half.

The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation detailed its plans for a series of road shows to major markets across the world.

The nearest is in the United Kingdom and is planned to coincide in May with some of the celebrations marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The most distant is the 2013 Australia road show, which is being considered for either March or May of next year.

Between those two events, the corporation is also planning for a European road show to be held immediately after the UK event, a North American road show in September this year and a New Zealand road show in February or March next year.

At the moment, sales and marketing manager Karla Eggelton said the corporation was focused on finalising the details of the quickly-approaching UK and European road shows.

The tour will focus its attention on cities in the UK, northern European and southern European markets for tourism to the Cook Islands.

Those cities include London and Manchester in the UK, the French capital Paris, the Netherlands’ largest city Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Switzerland’s largest city Zurich, and Barcelona in Spain.

Sales and marketing manager Karla Eggelton said the corporation was considering a number of options for the road shows, including a ‘village concept’ that would show off the cultures and traditions of the Cook Islands alongside some of the products, places and experiences on offer here.

She said the road shows were proving a challenge to the corporation, which was trying to fit about $200,000 worth of expenses into a $100,000 budget.

As such, she said the road shows would not be possible without support from the tourism industry as a whole.

The corporation is aiming to finalise information surrounding the road show by February 15.

In September, the North American road show will roll out over 11 days from the middle of the month.

The tour will focus on the west coast of the United States and Canada, where a large majority of the tourists travelling from those countries to the Cook Islands originate.

Eggelton said the total budget of that road show will be about $90,000. Participants such as private businesspeople are being asked to bring around US$3500 to join, and to cover the cost of their airfares on top of that.

In New Zealand and Australia, plans for the early 2013 road shows are still very much in their infancy.

Eggleton said corporation offices in both countries are open to a range of ideas and will consider bringing the ‘village concept’ to their markets.

With the North American, New Zealand and Australian road shows falling within the next financial year, Eggelton said more detailed information will have to wait until government finalises its budgetary allocations.

• Eric Parnis

Vaine Wichman with her mum, Tamakeu Mataiapo. Vaine has worked extensively throughout the Pacific and the Cook Islands as a development economist. She began writing these monthly columns for Cook Islands News at the request of women and men asking her to explain the working of their economy. Views in this column are Vaine’s. vai and mum vai-and-mum

Big-Banker toon Big-Banker-toon

Community murmurings during the festive season reflect a tightening in spending. Evening stories with friends and family gloss over the cuts in family and personal budgets. Some mention the banks revising repayment amounts.

The history of banking in the Cook Islands dates back to 1969 when the National Bank of New Zealand opened a branch in Rarotonga. Then in 1986 NBNZ sold its banking license to the newly-incorporated European Pacific Banking Company Ltd. (EPBC). In 1988 Westpac purchased the operations of EPBC and ANZ moved in as well to establish a branch that it still maintains today. In 2001 we oversaw the establishment of the Bank of the Cook Islands, through a merger of the Cook Islands Development Bank (est. 1979) and Cook Islands Savings Bank.

Today all three banks provide developmental loans for local businesses as well as a personal and commercial banking service. The general economic functions of our banks’ include: issuing money in notes or cheques for customer use; settling payments for customers, and providing credit to business and personal borrowers.

Our banks can generate revenue in a variety of ways, through interest, transaction fees and financial advice. In general the trend is to make money depending on the needs and strengths of loan customers and the health status of our country’s economic growth path.

Banks have experienced risks. Some of you will remember the early nineties and the run on deposits which triggered a liquidity risk and made our financial institutions revert to New Zealand dollars.

The credit crunch experienced in overseas economies has been playing itself out here as the numbers of customers who owe money to the bank are not being able to repay it or are not being able to pay on time.

During our years of rapid economic growth, there was a boom in lending. The evidence from that period suggests that borrowers may have been less creditworthy than earlier assessed or that rosy projections were a bit too rosy. Over the last few years the banks have been involved in assisting their clients restructure, refinance, or shed assets and capital to fit these uncertain times.

Banks, like businesses, have to make some money. I think they are edgy about raising the interest rate or increasing charges. But if they don’t then they will have to skim back on their staff and operations too, like our business community has been doing for some time now.

So sound advice to my dear friends and family. Unfortunately I’m going to quote another economist! John Maynard Keynes observed in 1931 during the Great Depression: “A sound banker, alas, is not one who foresees danger and avoids it, but one who, when he is ruined, is ruined in a conventional way along with his fellows, so that no one can really blame him.”

Kia mau te selenga. Kia mau!

Atatoa Herman. 10111770

Ngatangiia member of parliament and associate environment minister Atatoa Herman says public complaints around the odour coming from Scott’s Farm are a matter of ‘urgency’ for him.

“For me there is urgency to address this issue – the laws need to be amended as soon as possible,” he said yesterday.

He says he has met with health minister Nandi Glassie and secretary of health Tupou Faireka to discuss potential amendments to the Public Health Act 2004, which might give the Ministry of Health greater powers of prosecution against those people carrying on ‘offensive trades’. (The act classifies poultry farming as an offensive trade.)

“Some amendments and clauses need to change,” Herman said. “I know there is a major review of the public health act being (undertaken).”

Ministry of Health compliance advisor Tevita Vakalalabure says the review of the Public Health Act 2004 was not motivated by public complaints about Scott’s Farm, but was scheduled in 2007 because the World Health Organisation (WHO) changed its international health regulations.

Herman expects that the issue will be addressed in parliament next week.

“I’d like to address that as soon as possible, but keep in mind the process of government takes awhile,” Herman said yesterday.

• Rachel Reeves

Cook Islands Pearl Authority’s Alexis Napa Wolfgramm, George Ellis and Tevai Fadzien with the $1.5 million cash injection supplied to the authority by the New Zealand Aid Programme. 12020392

Ever wondered what $1.5 million looks like? It’s actually not as dramatic as you might think.

The Cook Islands Pearl Authority happened to take receipt of just that amount this week, the funds from a New Zealand Aid Programme contribution coming through for the agency.

And, no, the delivery wasn’t made in one dollar coins carried by a dump truck or any similar fashion.

It came as almost any other contribution would – in the form of a cheque.

The money, which has been previously announced, will finance the pearl production credit scheme being launched in the Cook Islands to help revitalise the pearl farming industry.

The cash injection is part of a $3.1 million package from the New Zealand Aid Programme to help the Cook Islands develop a sustainable pearl farm production capacity, implement strategic marketing and sales promoting initiatives, and develop key stakeholder capacity towards managing an integrated pearl industry.

• Eric Parnis

The Ministry of Health has finished analysing the results of a survey it conducted in the Muri area last month to determine whether residents felt there was a connection between their proximity to Scott’s poultry farm and any health issues they might have experienced.

Community health services director Dr Rangi Fariu is currently in Mangaia running a men’s health clinic, and release of specific results to media awaits his return to Rarotonga on Monday.

However, Cook Islands News understands from the ministry’s compliance advisor Tevita Vakalalabure that the survey suggests there is no correlation between the Scott’s Farm odour and the health of neighbouring residents.

“Our clinical survey reveals that there is no connection whatsoever,” Vakalalabure said. “It’s not a health hazard within the context of the Public Health Act.”

The Public Health Act 2004 stipulates that if a member of the public complains about an odour or offensive smell, the ministry is required to investigate the complaint.

“If our investigation discloses that this person is just complaining about the smell and there is no connection to health it’s a simple nuisance and not a health hazard within the context of our act – we cannot do anything because of section 55,” Vakalalabure said.

Section 55 provides that where an activity has been carried on for a period before any people have made use of any place, and such people find that activity offensive, the activity must not be regarded by reason only that it is offensive to those people.

In other words, the act defines who can and who cannot register a formal complaint.

“But that does not stop us from instigating our own investigation not based on any complaint – for example, if it’s in our view that the sorts of farming practices Scott is using fall below the standard that is required in the act we can investigate and we will advise him of what to improve on,” Vakalalabure said.

A review of the legislation is being undertaken, but was not motivated by public complaints about Scott’s Farm.

An amended version of the Public Health Act 2004 was drafted in 2008. Its drafting was motivated by a World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting in 2005 during which experts drew up international health regulations with which WHO signatories are required to comply. The Cook Islands is a signatory.

In 2007 the WHO paid for foreign consultants to analyse the Cook Islands’ legislation. The consultants conducted a review and recommended that the Public Health Act be the first to go under the knife.

“The public health amendment came about because the government of the Cook Islands has international commitments it needs to meet,” Vakalalabure said.

The draft bill maintains the contentious section 55.

• Rachel Reeves

Nukutere head boy Ford Henry the centre of attention for his family including, from left, dad Tere Henry, Aunty Jacqui Evans, mama Mary Evans, and mum Jane Henry. 12020388

Helena Strickland and Ford Henry have been named the heads of Nukutere College for 2012, officially taking on their leadership roles at an assembly yesterday.

The pair is leading a group of 12 prefects for the year as head boy and head girl.

Like Henry and Strickland, their deputies Edmund Tupuna and Silveria Wulf were covered in eis during the special mass as their fellow students, teachers and parents lined up to congratulate them on their selection for the roles.

Alongside them were the school’s other prefects, Tevi Vano, Imelda Vakai, Junina Arioka, John Punua, Anastasia Maher, Hereani Amo, Teremoana Matai and Murray Wilson.

• Eric Parnis

Click to enlarge

Nukutere deputy head girl Silveria Wulf covered in eis at a special assembly in the Catholic Church. 12020389

 

Click to enlarge

Prefect Anastasia Maher with parents Jules and Katie Maher and uncle Michael Maguire, at back. 12020387

 

Click to enlarge

Nukutere student Murray Wilson being congratulated for his selection as a prefect. 12020391

 

If you thought there was a lot of talk about development going on this week you’d be right – but that’s what this week was all about. The Cook Islands’ major development partners were in country to discuss, debate and deliberate on all things development in the country. But New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter says all the talk should mature into much more for the Cook Islands.

While this week’s development partners roundtable meeting held in Rarotonga is being hailed as a success by government, it is undoubtedly the action going on behind closed doors that will really help further the Cook Islands’ ambitions.

As is to be expected, there was much more to the event than has already been covered in the media.

Aside from a day’s worth of bilateral meetings on Monday and the well-attended roundtable meeting on Tuesday, there was a slew of formal and informal meetings held over the two-day forum and in the days around.

Domestic and international representatives from governments, inter-governmental organisations, businesses, banks and other bodies have used the event to meet with each other, discuss business, talk strategies, find common ground and visit projects funded by donor money.

It’s a rare chance for the representatives – who travelled from as close as Fiji, Australia and New Zealand and as far as Europe, China and India to attend the event – to do all this with a relative ease while having firsthand access to the Cook Islands.

For John Carter, the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, the event had an enormous value for the Cook Islands.

As a former politician, Carter said that the event would have positives not just for the Cook Islands government, but for the visiting governments as well.

As someone who mulls over donor projects in the Cook Islands on a day to day basis, Carter said this week’s event provided a great chance for the Cook Islands’ donor partners to find ways they can combine their efforts.

Perhaps more importantly, the visitors get the chance to see the bigger picture that is development in the Cook Islands.

The politics

Minister for Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown said the government wants to strengthen its relationships between itself and its development partners, and between its development partners in kind.

One of the best ways to do this, he said during the opening of Tuesday’s roundtable meeting, was through constructive dialogue.

Brown and the government certainly got what it wished for at the roundtable meeting – the day was filled with presentations, question and answer sessions, and conversations that were a bit more private during the day’s breaks.

On the face of it, it might seem like there was only talk during the event.

And while it is true that no new agreements were announced during the event, that should come as no surprise.

The meetings were more about setting a foundation for future agreements.

They were also about showing off what the Cook Islands has done with the money already handed to it and that in turn will help attract more money in the future.

Governments and donor bodies like to see their money is being used effectively and with good practices governing it along the way.

Carter said the Cook Islands was excelling in this regard, especially when compared to many of its Pacific neighbours, and with the Pacific Leaders Forum due to descend on the country in August he expected more praise to be coming.

“When the forum comes here, the Cook Islands will be able to show that it is using its donor money well,” he said.

“It gives the forum leaders confidence that their taxpayers’ money is being well spent... it’s exciting because in a lot of places that isn’t so.”

Donor partnerships

While the politics of this week’s event played a central role in its proceedings, the visiting donor bodies also used it to get in touch with their projects in the Cook Islands and the projects of other bodies.

Carter said by gathering all these various representatives from across the world, the Cook Islands was providing them with a chance to gain knowledge and find commonalities that they would probably not have been able to otherwise.

Donor providers often work in their own bubble, supplying money and watching a project develop.

By providing the aid money, the donor group is left with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside (or as close as an organisation can get to that feeling) but that may not be in line with what the donor recipient necessarily needed.

Meetings such as the ones held in Rarotonga this week give the donor organisations a chance to line up their work with each other and government wishes, working in parallel and in cooperation with each other rather than separately.

For Carter, this is one of the differences between giving a country aid and helping it develop.

“Donor bodies can so what they’ve always done and give out their bit and work in a silo. If they do that, they can say they’ve done their project, say they’ve contributed,” he said.

“Or instead, they can share their contributions around and even look at the total development of the country as a whole.

“It’s those days off the camera where they talked about that, it was the sort of thing they were looking at.”

What’s next?

Carter said the challenge now is to make all this come together and build on what was discussed at the roundtable meeting and bilateral meetings.

Now that they have happened, Carter said they had laid a foundation ready for future projects to be considered in light of the Cook Islands’ development as a whole nation and not just as one donor-funded project at a time.

What is needed now is for the Cook Islands’ development partners to continue talking to each other and the government on the wider picture, to ensure that aid projects are truly aiding the people of the Cook Islands.

The government at least feels like the Cook Islands is currently making the transition between being a developing nation and a developed nation.

But it stressed that it cannot do the job alone and still needs its partners to make that leap.

• Eric Parnis

The recent round of discussions between the government of the Cook Islands and its development partners prompted me to write this piece as an attempt to show an observable fact in the business of providing and receiving aid.

I believe it is a timely reminder to Cook Islanders or readers of the Cook Islands News in view of the Pacific Forum being hosted here in the Cook Islands in this coming August.

While the government of the Cook Islands may congratulate itself for scoring the right to host this celebrated organisation that demonstrates Pacific unity and that symbolises the entrance door for foreign countries to pitch their plans to assist “developing countries”, one may well ask, what is this all about?

Well, while the Forum is about discussing and making resolutions issues on regional political relevancy and acting collectively by the member countries to address such issues, a large aspect of its make-up is about portraying to the world, in particular to countries with interest in the Pacific, the developmental needs of individual Forum member countries. It is here for instance “partnerships” between donor countries and organisations materialise and grow. Such partnerships also take shape out of diplomatic relations that are signed between for example the Cook Islands and the European Union.

For a start there is a pre-determined status. In the case of the Cook Islands, we are a “developing small island state” characterised by lack of money, poor infrastructure, questionable financial systems, somewhat backward laws and legal system, inadequate health and education systems and suffers some form of poverty namely “poverty of opportunity”. With that summation, the Cook Islands meet the criteria of assistance by donor countries and organisations.

However, the Cook Islands being a self-governing country in full association with New Zealand is a somewhat almost independent country in all aspects of governance and political autonomy. Therein lies the first port of interest for development partners. For all of these partners there is always a payback. There is no such thing as free lunch for the Cook Islands that is.

With ADB, it provides low interest loans (not free money). With China it’s about grants that get converted into loans and infrastructure work projects for Chinese nationals and it’s about its expansion into the Pacific displayed competitively against Taiwan. With the European Union, it could well be the future potential of trade involving the bounties of our ocean or it harbours the paternalistic notion of maintaining a stable and peaceful Pacific region. For the United States it’s about its perception of security in the Pacific and maintenance of allies from previous wars. For our longest existing partners, New Zealand and Australia it’s the maintenance of influence and presence in their former “territories” where they make themselves obligated to keep the peace, stability and good order of the Pacific. Of course Fiji is the exception here.

However, the Cook Islands also falls within the category of countries with indigenous people that must be allowed to grow and mature politically, economically and constitutionally. In other words the Cook Islands within the ambit of the principles and mandate of the United Nations must be encouraged to become a “self determining” country and its unique cultural identity as a people and country must be protected and enabled to be free to determine its destiny.

At meetings where countries are represented by the political leaders of Pacific countries that I have attended in the past including meetings by the Forum, by the ADB, by the EU, by members of parliament from Africa, the Caribbean’s and European countries, by Australia and by New Zealand, there are always large components of time in those meetings taken up by pleasantries and the participants permeate behaviour sensitive not to offend the Pacific Islanders. Either these partner representatives feared being accused of being politically incorrect or they view the open meeting formats as instances of pleasantries and generalities where they then deal with the hard stuff behind closed doors.

I for one, as a former minister of foreign affairs when involved as part of a group of Pacific Ministers engaged in trade negotiations accused the EU Trade Commissioner of being culturally insensitive towards the Pacific delegation because his style of negotiations was blunt and to the point. He was so effective, that he in my view exposed our weaknesses. But in fact what he had exposed was that we were caught up in a style of negotiations and discussions that was overshadowed by protocol and various Pacific Island cultural values.

The Chinese of course is another story when it comes to negotiations.

I guess my point is that there is a complex web of values and ideologies operating in the business of aid provision and implementation and these can frustrate people with nothing more but the simple philosophy of getting things done. These interlocking values or philosophies can also delay and can also be demeaning for well meaning people. Sometimes one can be compelled by the environment and context of meetings to say things that one may not mean but just not to rock the boat.

The sad thing is, because we have committed so much energy towards harnessing and attracting aid money that we fall behind in driving the principle of self determination with the exception of the hardworking individuals who does not rely on such handouts. These are the heroes of the Cook Islands – the self made people who started with small capital and built it up into a viable economic activity.

We have also become so dependent on aid that we develop our economic policies with a hope that a donor country will rescue us. The latest direction is that the European Union and most probably New Zealand and Australia wants to inject cash directly into our budgets. This is considered along the lines that we know best what we need and so the donor country puts money in the budget to alleviate our shortfalls. I was one amongst others who directly lobbied for this with the EU and I believe it is a good thing but it perpetuates reliance and the partnership between the Cook Islands and its development partners.

Look, I don’t have the answer; mine is simply an academic exercise to point for those interested another dimension of the aid industry.

PCI produced a set of stamps last year in commemoration of the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. Some of the proceeds were donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. 12013104

The Cook Islands wildlife series, printed last year. 12013105

Stamps produced at the end of last year in celebration of Christmas 2011. 12013103

Already this year the Philatelic Bureau of the Cook Islands has issued two new sets of stamps.

The Cook Islands’ stamp bureau was sold in August 2010, and is now owned and operated by New York-based postage stamp agency Philatelic Collector Inc (PCI).

PCI was registered with the Companies Office in March last year, procured a licence to print Cook Islands stamps and went straight to work. The company issued 10 new sets of stamps last year, and already this year has produced two new series.

This year’s issues pertain to two subject areas – the beatification of Pope John Paul II and Anzac Day.

The Pope John Paul II stamps commemorate the religious leader’s beatification on May 1, 2011. Cook Islands, Aitutaki and Penrhyn versions of the Pope John Paul II stamps are in circulation.

The 2012 Cook Islands Anzac Day stamps acknowledge the 2010 observance of the holiday, and are overprinted with text recognising Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and the 22nd World Scout Jamboree.

Last year new Cook Islands issues included a Christmas series, a set celebrating the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton and another celebrating their wedding, a ‘perfect pearls’ series, and a series of ‘flower definitive’ stamps featuring Cook Islands flora individually valued at between $26.90 and $31.10.

A Cook Islands stamp series commemorating victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami was also produced last year. Proceeds were donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society under a ‘Stamps at Work’ initiative.

Philatelic Collector Inc has indicated it intends to set up a stamp museum inside the old Kenwall Gallery in Avarua. Its vision was to install Apple iPads in order to facilitate the viewing of inventory.

PCI directors were this week unavailable and thus could not confirm the status of the project.

Aileen Piri of the local bureau says that in the meantime, some issues are available at the Philatelic Bureau building for perusal.

Some of the museum issues on offer are stamps from the 1985 South Pacific Forum, Aitutaki stamps from Christmas 1990, a series of sailing ship stamps from 1980, Captain Cook stamps (1968) and Sir Rowland Hill stamps (1979).

• Rachel Reeves

Like threading a needle, workers dodged the wharf front at Avatiu harbour when they pulled out the yacht Bonny. 120203115

The yacht Bonny was one of a few small boats lifted out of the Avatiu harbour yesterday as heavy tides and high swells assailed Rarotonga’s north coast on Thursday afternoon.

The 36-foot sloop has been under police control for a month since the man skippering it went missing in Cook Islands waters in early January.

Police made the decision to move the yacht out of the harbour on Thursday when it risked being damaged in the heavy swells.

Police patrol boat Te Kukupa has been providing some protection for Bonny until this week, but with Te Kukupa currently out on patrol Bonny was left to bear the full force of the ocean.

A heavy crane was called in to lift the Bonny out of the water about 5pm on Thursday.

Workers were able to carry out their task without any major incident, despite the yacht rocking dramatically in the chopping sea.

Cook Islands Police have made contact with Bonny’s owner to arrange for it to be returned to New Zealand.

The man who skippered it to the Cook Islands did not legally own the yacht when he fled New Zealand from accusations of committing 26 sex-related offences including the rape of children.

Cook Islands News was unable to make contact with Cook Islands Police yesterday to put questions forward on who will pay the bill for pulling Bonny out of the harbour.

• Eric Parnis

Click to enlarge

Harbour Master Captain John Cornwell watching over Thursday’s proceedings in which the yacht Bonny was lifted out of the Avatiu harbour. 120203110

 

Click to enlarge

The yacht Bonny was pulled out of the Avatiu harbour as heavy weather and high swells set upon it. 120203118

 

Click to enlarge

Workers prepare to lift the yacht Bonny out of Avatiu harbour, strapping a harness underneath the boat and lifting it with a crane. 120203108

 

Having a ball at Muri beach yesterday, all Avarua School students were let out of class for a day of fun and bonding to start the new school year. 12020384

The tamariki of Avarua School gathered at Muri beach on Friday along with their parents and teachers as part of a community-wide bonding session.

The beach fun day was aimed at helping the school and community of Avarua get back in touch with each other after the summer holidays.

The fun day included plenty of swimming and soaking in the sun, with a kai or two definitely on the menu.

New principal Teremoana Herman said the day was planned as a launch pad for the rest of the year, coming at the end of first week of term one.

And it seemed to work, Muri beach was packed with kids playing on the beach, mums and dads chatting in the shade and teachers milling in between.

• Eric Parnis

Click to enlarge

Kings of the castle, the boys of Avarua School at Muri beach. 12020385

 

Click to enlarge

The boys from Avarua School were kicking in to a bit of fun during the school’s beach day on Friday. 12020383

 

Click to enlarge

Avarua School students were out of the classroom and on the beach yesterday for a bonding day with classmates, parents and teachers. 12020382

 

Cook Islands Police will soon begin examining the laws governing gun ownership.

The police force is bringing together a committee of people including representatives from the Returned Services Association (RSA) and an aspiring small-bore firearms club, to examine and hopefully update the laws.

But members of other groups are being encouraged to join the committee and have a say on the future of firearms ownership and licensing – and some of them are from more surprising sections of the community.

Henry Wichman, an ex-serviceman who has already joined the committee, said he’d like to see a representative for people who collect firearms join him and RSA president Denis Dwanye in the group.

He’d also like to see a builder in the committee, to give perspective from those who work with nail guns, which are likely to be included in the new legislation.

“We need more than just people who use firearms on their farm,” Wichman said.

Police inspector John Strickland said the review would take in licensing laws, rules surrounding licence applicants, how a gun is stored in the home and how firearms are brought into the country.

The laws will also aim to cover rules and regulations for firearm clubs.

Strickland said there was no major problem with firearm ownership in the Cook Islands, but that the laws needed to be modernised nonetheless.

“It’s all about safety,” he said.

Strickland said he would like to see members from each of Rarotonga’s vaka in the committee and encouraged anyone interested to get in contact with him through the police station on 22499. Alternatively interested parties can phone Denis Dwayne on 20213 or Henry Wichman on 55790.

A blanket ban on importing firearms continues to restrict the importation of firearms to the Cook Islands.

At present no one is allowed to bring a gun into the Cook Islands, even if it is one registered locally but previously transported out of the country.

Police estimate that there are about 2000 firearms in the Cook Islands. With a population of just under 18,000 reported in the 2011 census, that means there is about one firearm for every nine people in the country.

• Eric Parnis

With less emphasis being placed on the traditional work week, the Cook Islands should not be majorly disadvantaged by choosing not to move to the other side of the international date line, says Westpac Cook Islands general manager Carmel Butler.

In fact, she said, the increasing flexibility of working hours means the Cook Islands is well placed to trade with businesses on both sides of the date line.

In December last year, Samoa skipped a day to align itself with Australia and New Zealand.

According to Samoan President Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the country was effectively losing out on two working days a week by being on the other side of the date line from its main trading partners.

Butler said she could see positives from both sides of the argument of either following Samoa’s lead or sticking with the Cook Islands’ current time zone.

She said modern business practices, in which the traditional working week was playing less importance, meant that the Cook Islands would not lose out by staying where it was on the calendar and the clock.

“I would see that there are positives to both situations. A key point is that large businesses overseas are now operating with greater flexibility in their work hours perhaps over a six or seven day week as opposed to a more traditional 9 to 5 Monday to Friday work pattern,” Butler said.

“This approach may be more beneficial for the Cooks as we continue to have strong business working relationships with our American and European connections as well as other Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australian businesses.”

Westpac’s main office is based in Sydney, Australia which, along with a regional office in Fiji, offers the Cook Islands branch its main source of support.

Butler said being across the date line had only minimal impact on the Cook Islands branch’s business thanks to the processes the company had in place.

“As a global company, Westpac has very successful processes in place to take into account the various time zones where we operate,” she said.

“At Westpac Cook Islands, we do everything to ensure there is minimal impact to our business with the current dateline situation and we would foresee that we would be able to continue to operate successfully in either situation.

“We believe we have strong support from the Westpac Group overall to ensure operations are maintained in either time zone.” If the Cook Islands does one day decide to follow Samoa’s lead, Butler said she would not expect Westpac’s operations to be overly affected.

Westpac has four branches operating in Samoa, and Butler said they have reported no major disturbances resulting from the change.

“We’ve successfully transitioned our Samoa business through the recent change and didn’t experience any major disruption so if a switch should happen, we’re well positioned to handle the change,” she said.

• Eric Parnis

The Cook Islands needs to find ways it can diversify its economy and help bolster its protections against international upheaval, according to the regional director of the Asian Development Bank.

Adrian Ruthenberg, who is in the Cook Islands to attend a summit of the country’s main development partners, said the Cook Islands was vulnerable to international economic strife unless it diversified its economy to sectors beyond tourism.

Currently, the Cook Islands relies overwhelmingly on its tourism industry for income. Estimates place the industry as representing about 85 per cent of the Cook Islands economy.

Ruthenberg said that the Cook Islands economy was left vulnerable through this dependence on a single industry.

“The biggest problem the Cook Islands has is its vulnerability to external shock,” Rutherberg said.

“Right now, tourism is doing well, but let it drop and you might see some trouble. You need to be prepared for when times are not so good.”

Rutherberg acknowledged that the Cook Islands faces a difficult and possibly expensive task in expanding its economy – all small economies do.

But he said the Cook Islands should focus on its specialties in trying to find new branches for its wealth.

He also said more development was needed in the outer islands to help spread the wealth around the nation.

Rutherberg said while the people of Rarotonga enjoyed a high standard of living, the outer islands were lagging behind in their development.

He said he could understand why people were moving away from their home islands to Rarotonga, New Zealand and Australia.

From an economic point of view, Rutherberg supports the population’s right to move about the country and abroad.

“People should be allowed to move to where there are better opportunities,” he explained, while adding that depopulation was a concern from a social standpoint.

Rutherberg said the answer to depopulation was in development and to this end he welcomed the Cook Islands government’s moves to strengthen ties between itself, its development partners and between those partners.

• Eric Parnis

Cook Islands accommodators are again being encouraged to register their forward bookings figures with the tourism corporation to help it direct funding and organise campaigns.

The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation needs about 75 percent of all tourism accommodation providers to submit their forward booking figures to make the scheme worthwhile.

At present, 25 per cent of Rarotonga’s resorts have submitted their future numbers, with far fewer in other categories – which include budget accommodation, units and other types of lodgings – filling out their details through the online tool.

Tourism’s sales and marketing manager Karla Eggelton said 17 accommodators from Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu (none of Mangaia’s accommodators had given figures) had submitted their occupancy status.

Three of those chose to remain anonymous, she told a gathering at Sails Restaurant during tourism’s ‘Global Marketing Breakfast Update’ on Wednesday.

Eggelton said the corporation hoped to see more businesses using the tool in the future.

“We’re encouraging people on the 20th of every month when they’re putting in their VAT to also do this so that on the first or second of every month we can collate the details and send it through for analysis,” she said. Eggelton estimated it would take about 10 minutes to complete the online form.

Once gathered, the figures will give an indication of periods in the upcoming 12 months when visitor arrivals appear to be lagging.

“We want to get a feel for the high and low period and get the airlines pushing their initiatives during the low period,” Eggelton said.

“In order to be efficient, we need to get (responses of) 75 per cent or more across all accommodations.”

People attending the breakfast meetings said they had looked at the tool and sometimes found it difficult to estimate forward booking numbers.

There were two points raised as being difficult, specifically.

First, there was confusion over what a ‘room night’ meant for unit accommodations.

Second, some businesses who still relied on a pen-and-paper manual booking system found it difficult to collate numbers for upcoming months.

Eggelton said the corporation would take on these complaints and find ways to clarify and streamline their system.

• Eric Parnis

Missing Aitutaki cat Pear Bear is believed to be wandering around the Nikao area. 12020207

A feline patient from the Esther Honey Clinic in Nikao has escaped and needs urgent treatment.

Residents in the Nikao area are being asked to look out for a tabby cat with patches of orange, white and gray that went missing from the clinic yesterday. The cat, named Pear Bear, has a wound and significant fur loss on both sides of its body.

The cat was brought to Rarotonga from Aitutaki for treatment. If you see the cat, both Esther Honey and the cat’s owner would appreciate it if you call the clinic on 22336 or 75310 to report the sighting or return her to the clinic.

• Matariki Wilson

Education secretary Sharyn Paio is putting together a proposal for government funding to organise a national youth forum on the tough topic of suicide.

Paio met with Prime Minister Henry Puna and other concerned members of the community on Monday afternoon, and agreed to coordinate the project despite her workload in the back-to-school frenzy.

“We’re looking to hold a youth forum as soon as possible of young people not just from Rarotonga but also from the sister islands,” Paio said yesterday.

“That way we can actually sit down together and try to find a solution – and stop it (suicide) sooner rather than later.”

While she has no specific timeframe in mind, the forum is a matter of urgency and priority for her. “It’s really important that we move on this,” she said. “Education sees they definitely have a role in this, but we want to bring together as many agencies as possible. We need everybody to buy into this.”She has some ideas for tackling the issue of suicide, but says that the first step is bringing together youth and concerned parties from all over the nation and facilitating productive discussion of the issue that’s been on the nation’s mind this year.

“We’re coordinating a meeting of representatives so we can plan for the next stage,” she said. “It’s got to be a combined thing – let’s share our ideas.”

Paio says she is grateful that the prime minister is passionate about doing something to stop suicide.

“It’s really good to have the support and commitment of the PM on this – it is an issue and we all have to take responsibility for it. We can’t just sit back and wait for the next one.”

• Rachel Reeves

Bob Williams. 12013129

Suicide was a poignant topic of discussion at last year’s Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) general assembly in Aitutaki, and in the new year remains at the top of the church’s list of priority issues.

CICC youth director Bob Williams says that church leaders and parents have a role to play in educating young people about suicide – about God’s promises for their lives, the hope they can find in the scripture, and where to turn for help.

Williams says that in his experience dealing with young people, he’s gleaned that often their depression stems from “persistent feelings of dissatisfaction, jealousy, rejection (and) peer pressure”.

He says it is important for parents to be involved in the lives of their children, to understand the challenges they are facing and know the people with whom they are associating.

Williams says that sometimes life can be difficult for young people, but encourages them that God has a plan in store.

“(It) is important for us to know that (God) has given every living being hope and life through his son.

“Even God’s chosen people in the Bible have faced overwhelming depression and sometimes wrote that they wished they have never been born such as King David (Psalms 13:2-4), the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:  14-18), and Job (Job 7: 15-16).

“(When) they all reached the lowest point of their lives, they never gave in and in the end God blessed them. God made a promise to his servant the prophet Jeremiah – ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).

“God has a plan for every human being in the same way that he promised his servant the prophet Jeremiah. You will never know of God’s plan for you unless you live to see and experience it yourself,” he said.

He urges young people struggling to cope with the storms of life to open up about what they are feeling – to get it off their chests before it becomes a burden too big to bear.

“Someone said that sharing is caring, therefore I encourage the young people that when in depressed situations, share with someone that cares about you.”

• Rachel Reeves

The new non-resident Ambassador of the EU to the Cook Islands, Doctor Abdoul Aziz Mbaye. 12020109

The relationship between the Cook Islands and the European Union has further advanced this week when the union’s non-resident ambassador officially presented his credentials while visiting Rarotonga.

Doctor Abdoul Aziz Mbaye met with Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin on Monday to deliver his credentials as the new non-resident Ambassador of the EU to the Cook Islands.

Mbaye, who is based in Fiji, now represents the EU to 11 Pacific nations and the Pacific Islands Forum. He set to soon expand his role further, taking on the ambassador’s position for French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn and Wallis and Futuna.

Mbaye has been visiting the Cook Islands this week as part of a roundtable meeting for the Cook Islands’ development partner.

After a scientific carrier at the French National Centre of Scientific Research followed by higher studies on economics, Mbaye joined the European Commission in 1988.

He has held the position of political adviser in both South Africa and Guinea and served as Chargee d’Affaires of the EU in Solomon Islands until September 2011, before being appointed ambassador.

The EU has enjoyed friendly relationships with the Cook Islands government since Cook Islands signed the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Partnership Agreement in 2000.

The last cycle of the European Development Fund (EDF), the 10th EDF provided an envelope of 3.3 million euro from 2008 to 2013 to Cook Islands in the form of official development aid, mainly devoted to the water and sanitation sector.

Following the good performance of the Cook Islands in the implementation of its development cooperation with the EU, the mid-term review of the 10th EDF has provided an additional allocation of 600,000 euro, as announced in Cook Islands News on Tuesday.

During his visit to the country, Mbaye also held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Henry Puna and Minister of Finance and Economic Management Mark Brown.

“The European Union appreciates the increased efforts made by the government of Cook Islands over the past years to coordinate development partners’ work and believes that the development partners roundtable is a great opportunity for a more effective development cooperation aligned with the national priorities, as identified in the recent review of the country’s National Sustainable Development Plan 2011-2015,” Mbaye said in a release given to CINews.

“The European Union is very encouraged by the work undertaken and reiterates its support to accompany the government of the Cook Islands in the transition to budget support as the most efficient way to support government’s commitment to structural and financial reforms.” said Ambassador Mbaye during the meeting he attended on Tuesday.

During his meetings this week with the government, Mbaye has also had the opportunity to address issues of common interest between the EU and the Cook Islands, in particular environment and climate change.

The EU is encouraging the government, as incoming chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, to bring its best practices to the attention of the international community as a good example on how the Pacific is contributing to addressing the challenges of climate change.

• EP/Release

Cook Islanders living in Australia have led the charge for visitor figures during December – returning Kukis from the wide brown land numbered just under 1000 for the month, making a 27 per cent increase on last year’s effort.

The number is impressive when compared to the typical number of Aussie expatriates that make it home for other months in year, which usually see somewhere from 100 to 150 Cook Islanders living in Australia return home.

New Zealand Kukis have done similarly well, sending 1600 expatriates home during the month.

Although the number is slightly down on last year’s figure for December, it is about three times higher than the average throughout the rest of the year where about 500 NZ Kukis travel to the Cook Islands.

Month on month, the Cook Islands also recorded a 20 per cent increase in visitor numbers from New Zealand, a 13 per cent increase on visitors from Australia and 7 per cent increase from continental Europe.

The United Kingdom recorded a 6 per cent decrease for the month, while the United States and Canada recorded a 5 per cent decrease and a 19 per cent decrease respectively.

The worst drop went to the Pacific Islands, however, which sent 61 per cent fewer people, from 400 to 100, for the month.

December is typically the month where the New Zealanders make up the smallest percentage share of the marker. In 2011, this was no different.

New Zealanders made up 39 per cent of the market for inbound tourists during the month. They typically make up about 70 per cent through the remainder of the year.

Australia maintained its typical figure of about 15 per cent market share, although that percentage had risen to all-time highs of about 20 per cent during 2011.Cook Islanders returning home from New Zealand and Australia represented a combined 28 per cent of the market for December. Tourism operators in the Cook Islands described this year’s Christmas and New Year period as appearing to be a little slower than normal.

Early this month, Raro Tour operations manager Maryanne Strickland said the company had perceived a smaller number of Cook Islanders arriving at Rarotonga International Airport than previous years.

She said the sluggishness of the period was expected, though, because there were a small number of family reunions on during the holidays.

Strickland said this year’s festive period was expected to be busier than that of 2011.

Strickland said she already knew of a number of family reunions that will be held over the festive break this year and, with a couple of the larger families included on that list, she expected there to be many more Cook Islanders making a trip home.

• Eric Parnis

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade outside his Edgewater Resort & Spa hotel room yesterday. Slade left the Cook Islands early this morning. 12020111

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade says he is ‘impressed’ with what the Cook Islands has to offer as host of this year’s Pacific Islands Forum.

Slade spent the week in Rarotonga, attending roundtable discussions and meeting privately with the prime minister and senior officials in hopes of working out the details of the August gathering.

This was not his first visit to the Cook Islands, but it was his first since the secretariat announced the Cook Islands had won hosting rights for this year’s meeting of Pacific leaders.

Slade came to the Cook Islands to determine whether the country is prepared to host over 30 Pacific leaders, their security detail and senior staff, and over 100 regional and international journalists.

“This is part of our visit – to begin the process of making sure there are adequate provisions from the side of your own government and the side of all participants,” he told Cook Islands News yesterday.

“Clearly at this stage there is no accurate count of the numbers attending...but delegations will vary from small member countries to those accompanying leaders of larger countries.”

The Cook Islands hosted the Forum in 1997, but Slade says this time around the function is likely to be much bigger.

“It’s been a long time since Cook Islands had the opportunity to host such an important gathering of Pacific leaders – Cook Islands is an initial signatory and founding member of the Forum and it’s entirely appropriate.

“Pacific leaders are delighted and honoured to be returning – the Forum has expanded somewhat in its membership since the early years,” he said, adding that the growing support of development partners will translate into more people representing more organisations at the August gathering.

Slade is confident that the Cook Islands can absorb and accommodate that expansion.

“With the type of economy you have geared to looking after visitors and tourists – hotels and accommodators are obviously quite impressive...the range and type of accommodation is impressive.”

Final dates for the Forum have been set, but he is not prepared to release them to media until all participating governments have been notified. Slade was apologetic, noting that the secretariat is “not keeping anything”, but merely has to observe proper procedure.

Taking into account the leaders’ retreat on Aitutaki and a possible trade showcase to run alongside the Forum, the event is likely to span one week.

Slade confirmed the secretariat does envision running a trade showcase to coincide with the Forum, in keeping with its commitment to promoting regional trade.

“We are going to be involved in one respect or another – we have a responsibility in promotion of trade and trade opportunities,” he said.

It will be similar to the Pacific Showcase which ran concurrent with the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland last year.

“Something of that sort will certainly be staged – the precise format is something we will be determining.”

By the same token, regional trade will be a matter of priority for Pacific leaders during Forum discussions.

“These are very important, key activities that support the work of the forum and the type of initiatives which Forum leaders consider essential for the economic growth and sustainable development of all Forum member countries and therefore of the region as a whole,” he said.

In terms of what the Cook Islands can expect to gain from hosting the Forum, Slade says the obvious flow-on effect is economic activity.

As the Forum is a “major Pacific event” which will attract hundreds of people to the Cook Islands, economic benefits are an “entirely legitimate and natural result”.

Aside from attracting tourism dollars, the Forum is likely to encourage discussion amongst trade partners, and enable tradespeople to share contacts and information.

The other side of the coin, of course, is that the Forum will be costly.

While he could not give a specific figure, Slade acknowledged that the Forum is “not a small event”.

“Obviously there will be significant costs – it’s a long way to come for leaders and security and care is a fact of life these days,” he said. “There will be a burden-sharing (between) the host country and others including the secretariat and other forum governments. That is part of the usual arrangement.”

Slade says that all the details have yet to be confirmed, a process that will require close consultation between the secretariat and Forum member countries.

“It remains a very consultative business,” he said, noting that Forum Secretariat staff will be visiting Rarotonga in coming months to finalise arrangements.

“Many bureaucracies are just beginning from the new year – we will be getting on with that work.”

He added that the secretariat stages a routine briefing with Pacific media ahead of the Forum to give them an idea of the major issues likely to arise in leaders’ meetings.

• Rachel Reeves

Rima Manavaikai and Joe Katangi. 12020124

Fisheries officers are cracking down on the use of gill-nets in Aitutaki lagoon.

Following a recent visit to Aitutaki, senior fisheries officer Rima Manavaikai has asked that the public take note of the restrictions on the use of gill-nets in the bonefish reserve pursuant to the Marine Resources (Aitutaki and Manuae Bonefish Fishery) Regulations 2010 and export of paua pursuant to the Aitutaki Fisheries Protection By-Laws 1990.

Manavaikai was on hand to assist with an investigation into the use of gill-nets in areas prohibited for such activity.

Aitutaki fisheries officers had already intercepted the fishermen in the reserve and seized their gill-net, which is still in the custody of the Ministry of Marine Resources awaiting the outcome of an investigation.

Information received during the investigation shows that this is not an isolated incident, but there appears to be widespread disregard for the restrictions.

Investigations are continuing.

Two areas have been set aside, namely Motu Papau and Motu Takitaki, to protect the spawning of the bonefish and the other as a nursery for the juvenile bonefish.

A third area near Motu Rapota is designated as a controlled fishing area. Those carrying visitor’s fishing permits in these areas must be accompanied by a licensed guide.

Netting is banned at all times, but other fishing methods such as line, spear, and rod fishing are permitted.

A random luggage inspection at the Amuri Airport was also conducted following numerous complaints that had been received of people taking paua out of Aitutaki, especially during the festive season. After a thorough search, a container of paua was found amongst the cargo and a warning issued to the offender.

The Aitutaki bylaws prohibit the export of paua without a permit from the Island Council.

“We will continue to enforce the gill-net restrictions and random baggage checks at the Amuri airport and wharf areas,” said Manavaikai, who heads the MMR compliance unit.

“The general public should take note of the restrictions. If you do, you risk the possibility of confiscation of fishing equipment, goods and/or prosecution.”

MMR minister Teina Bishop, secretary Ben Ponia and director for the legal division Peter Graham will be meeting with the Island Council in Aitutaki on Monday February 6 to review and discuss the fisheries regulations and Aitutaki by-laws.

If you require more information contact Rima Manavaikai at the MMR Office on 28721 or email r.manavaikai@mmr.gov.ck

• MMR

Marumaru Atua flies her sails proudly. 12013110

The Cook Islands vaka conquering miles of Pacific Ocean. 12013109

The voyagers aboard Cook Islands vaka Marumaru Atua are exploring the streets and eats of Mexico.

The vaka – flanked by her sister vaka – departed the California coast on January 24 and set sail for the Sea of Cortez. Crew member Alex Olah, who has been updating the vaka blog, said it was smooth sailing out of San Diego and south of the border.

“Everyone performed well though and got all the cobwebs out, and the new crew members followed orders well and started to pick up on things already!” he enthused.

The Sea of Cortez is reportedly an ancient feeding and breeding ground for gray whales, blue whales and humpback whales.

Noted captain Magnus Danbolt, part of the Pacific Voyagers project and a marine biologist who has researched whales extensively: “Since we left New Zealand last year, we have basically followed the old routes of the canoes which were (connected) to the big mammals and their routes. Our mission down here in Mexico is to film the whales together with the canoes to show the connection between them.”

Marumaru Atua arrived at port in Ensanada, where the crew explored Mexico and spent some time getting acquainted with a dense fog.

“Sounds were muffled and it is hard to tell what direction it’s coming from....there is an extra bite to the cold and condensation from the fog soon had us and the vaka covered in moisture....we posted watch sentries in the bow on each side to keep a lookout for new contacts or floating debris...but theirs was a difficult job as the glow from our navigation lights (red to port, green to starboard) reflected off the mist and made it even harder to penetrate the glare,” Olah wrote.

He noted that a whale sidled up to the vaka to say ‘hola’, and that about 150 dolphins surfaced, swimming and jumping out of the water in a linear fashion.

The vaka is scheduled to leave for the Cocos Island on February 4.

• Rachel Reeves

Index | Photo Gallery | Memory Lane | Cooks Info | FAQs | Subscribe | About Us |