|
3 patients being evacuated to NZ
New auditor sets goals in new role
Bernard will handle NZ referrals
Photos of the year - 2011
Sour grapes over dux award
First Pacific branch of NZ group
100 vehicles arriving a month
Tougher warrants coming
On dengue alert
Airline seeks land
Searching for surgeon
Photos of the year - 2011
The year that was - Government
Samoan community celebrates new year
Road transport policy needed?
The 100-year-old curse explained
Lack of faith the problem
Photos of the year - 2011
Summer photo competition
New fishing observers to be trained
Fewer returning locals this year?
The year that was - Letters
Avocado not rated for export
Sixteen new foreign enterprises approved
LEAF concert on track but delayed
Tapi Taio decries fishing situation
Tahiti flights remain
Fishermen meet minister to discuss their concerns
Mama Daniel celebrates 100th birthday!
Water system upgrade for southern Aitutaki
Virgin cancels a few flights
Observers will cover 5% of fishing
Cabinets first meeting of the new year
Tapi Taio answers Mauke concerns
Air New Zealand wins airline industry Oscars
Mama still independent at 100!
Worlds worst population growth
Surplus still at tender
Homes wanted
Pacific Resort Aitutaki sponsors bins
Thu
5 Jan
A Rakahanga youth who fell six metres from a tree and injured his spine
will be flown to New Zealand today to receive further medical treatment.
The 16-year-old was evacuated by aircraft from Manihiki on Saturday with
serious injuries to his back.
The youth had lost feeling in his legs after falling from a tree in Rakahanga.
He was transported by boat to Manihiki before being picked up by a specially
chartered Air Rarotonga flight.
The youth was due to fly out of Rarotonga to Auckland on this mornings 1.30am
Air New Zealand flight.
He is one of three people currently awaiting evacuation to Auckland.
The Ministry of Health will cover the bill for all three patients and paid
for the chartered flight to Manihiki.
Health secretary Tupou Faireka said the flight to Manihiki was arranged
on short notice, departing Rarotonga about 3am on Saturday about 12 hours
after they received the emergency request.
The plane was back in Rarotonga about midday on Saturday.
Faireka said the short notice meant the plane was empty on its northbound
leg to Manihiki, but six patients used the flight to reach Rarotonga on its
return journey.
Faireka said apart from the Rakahanga youth, five other patients in need
of medical treatment and examination unavailable in Manihiki travelled on
the flight.
He said the chartered flight cost about $18,000.
Yesterday, acting director of hospital services at Rarotonga Hospital Doctor
Solomone Voi said the Rakahanga youth was in a stable condition and showing
improvements.
He said the youth had regained some sensation in his legs but further treatment
was necessary.
Dr Voi said evacuations from the northern group of islands involved complications,
with weather conditions and cost being the biggest.
We were fortunate that Manihiki has a nice airstrip and that the weather
had been good, which means the transfers could be made smoothly, he said.
In the other medical evacuations to be made this week, a woman aged about
70 and a man aged over 70 will be stretchered to Auckland.
Faireka said Air New Zealand could only take one stretcher patient at a
time, so the other patients could not be sent on the same flight as the Rakahanga
youth.
The woman, who was injured in a road crash on January 1, will be taken to
Auckland on this afternoons Air New Zealand flight.
The woman was taken to Rarotonga hospital with serious injuries on New Years
Day after the motorcycle she was riding was hit by a car at Ngatangiia.
The man will be taken to Auckland on a later flight this week, also by stretcher,
after falling in his home and breaking his hip.
Faireka said the ministry was currently in negotiations with Air New Zealand
to get him on a flight early tomorrow.
Faireka said it was unusual to have three stretcher patients awaiting medical
transfer all at once.
Its the first time since I became head of ministry that it has happened,
he said.
The Ministry of Health covers the costs of legitimate medical evacuations.
The price of each trip differs, depending on whether flights are full and
whether patients can sit up or not.
For stretcher patients, a transfer to Auckland can cost up to about $2000
once seats are bought for the patient, the person accompanying them and a
nurse.
If people are required to give up their seats for a patient, the ministry
is liable to pay for their new seat, hotel bills, food costs and possibly
other expenses.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| Allen Parker is enjoying his new role as
auditor general. 11122329 |
Changes are afoot in the Cook Islands Audit Office with the arrival of new
auditor general Allen Parker.
Parker spent 12 years working at Audit as the manager of special reviews
before leaving to join the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions
(PASAI) in Auckland for two years.
He is now back in Rarotonga working with old colleagues and happy to be
home.
Parker is of Cook Islands and Tahitian descent.
From his time with PASAI Parker has been able to see how other audit institutions
in the Pacific operate and gain a broader understanding of their relationships
with governments, donor organisations and development agencies.
He says this has enabled him to identify some good practices, such as what
should be contained in an audit offices annual report and how to report to
key stakeholders.
Parker has some ideas for the Cook Islands Audit Office, but he says before
they can be considered staff must catch up with outstanding financial audits.
Im not afraid to say that we are quite behind in our financial audits. Its
a legislative requirement to complete them so we must do that.
I was hoping to come in and start afresh straight away but we have to catch
up and get that work done first.
Among Parkers ambitions for the office is to increase its performance review
output.
That means instead of just auditing financial accounts, staff will work
on identifying if government systems and practices are value for money or
if things can be done more efficiently and economically.
This can be in respect of purchasing ministry vehicles or simply utilising
existing government resources, he says.
Maybe well have to get some direction from the public or government about
which areas they think can benefit more from our performance audits.
Parker says at present Audit is undertaking a performance review on fishing
licences to determine whether there is appropriate legal framework in place
and if potential economic returns are worthwhile.
Performance reviews allow us to identify the benefits of doing things differently.
Performance audit is also an area that makes public officials accountable
because it identifies not only that $100,000 for example was spent, but what
it was spent on and how, and whether it was worth it.
Parker also wants to establish well-documented criteria for when an audit
investigation can and should be undertaken.
He says in the past individual complaints have sparked audit investigations,
regardless of whether they were a result of personal issues.
Parker wants to put in place a standard for audit investigating to ensure
there are valid reasons to spend taxpayers money, and that outcomes will
be in the interest of government and the public.
This will add credibility to our investigations, because sometimes investigations
have been done when somebody has a grudge against someone else.
Despite this Parker says the Cook Islands has a much better auditing industry
than most other Pacific nations.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| Auckland-based Cook Islands radio producer
and journalist Bernard Tairea has been appointed as the Ministry
of Health’s new patient transferral officer. 09092104 |
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the appointment of Bernard Tairea as
its new patient transferral officer.
Tairea is a Cook Islander who has been based in Auckland as a radio producer
and journalist.
His new job was initially offered to Atiu mayor Taoro Brown, who eventually
turned it down.
Tairea was the other most preferred choice of all applicants, health minister
Nandi Glassie says.
He was second on the list. He lives in Auckland and has already been doing
this sort of work helping people, Glassie says.
Tairea has been involved with New Zealands Accident Compensation Corporation
(ACC) as a Pacific cultural advisor since 2007, working particularly with
Cook Islands New Zealand residents with all types of injuries physical and
mental.
I work to support them in their treatment, rehabilitation and recovery and
felt this advertised position with the Cook Islands Ministry of Health would
be an ideal chance for me to support our transferred patients from home seeking
New Zealand medical attention, Tairea says.
He knows all the relevant ministries, departments and organisations in New
Zealand for Cook Islands transferral patients and is passionate about ensuring
all Cook Islanders have the best representation while receiving treatment
in New Zealand.
I hope to give adequate support for our transferred patients being sent
through to New Zealand for further medical attention.
Tairea is in the process of finalising his appointment with the Ministry
of Health.
He has been keeping up-to-date with the latest medical incidents in the
Cook Islands by reading the Cook Islands News and is in constant communication
with health officials in Rarotonga.
Tairea will still be involved with the Pacific Media Network in New Zealand,
hosting a Monday evening programme (Sunday CIT).
My role at PMN is a one night part-time role that helps link our community
through this powerful medium. I believe it to be a positive tool to further
enhance our networking with our people nationwide and hope it will assist
in linking the Cook Islands Ministry of Health with the wider Cook Islands
community living abroad.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| Magical Mangaia! Mangaia mayor Tere Atariki
with fresh crayfish for visiting tourism wholesalers who visited
the island last month as part of the Kia Orana Cook Islands tourism
forum. 11121139 |
A look at 2011 through the lenses of our staff
photographers and some of our reader’s contributions. Here’s
a selection from the 17,000 plus photos catalogued in our archives throughout
what was a photogenic 2011.
See also: Photos
of the year - 2011
and
Photos of the year - 2011
After discovering that chiefs of the Cook Islands
bite off the ear of a pig’s head during their investiture ceremony,
Crown Beach Kings oe vaka steerer Danny Sheard couldn’t help
but do the same while at an umu kai feast put on by the boys of the
Rakei Toa school as part of the adopt-a-school programme of the festival
in November. 11112218
Te Ara Wheke rugby sevens team from New
Zealand rip into their haka at the Cook Islands International Sevens
in Heaven tournament at the BCI Stadium in November 2011. 11110313
Enjoying the fun and razzamatazz at the 2011
Wellington Sevens last February – Cook Islanders (from left)
Ninia Henderson and the Moeka’a twins from Ruatonga Rimaati
and Tekura wore their ei katu with pride at the famous ‘cake
tin’. 11020801 Photo Jane'a Place Photography
Cecilia Herrmann and Chris Raui lead the revelry
at Cafe Ariki, ringing in the 60-Plus Club’s fourth birthday
in August 2011. 11082414
Nukumae Inatea and Michael Heather got right
into the fun of Apii Nikao Maori’s end of year celebrations
last month, blowing some bubbles before blowing off the school year
and enjoying the summer holidays. 1120292
Gorgeous Jade Rous cheered on dad Justin during
the national open water swim race last month from the tyre swing
at Muri beach. 11121101
Thu
5 Jan
The Ministry of Education and Takitumu Primary School have defended the
schools choice of dux at its end of year prizegivings, saying award winners
for all their prizes were selected by a number of people and had to meet
a number of standards and conditions before they were confirmed.
The ministrys and schools comment have been made after a Takitumu school
students mother levelled accusations of favouritism and inequality at the
schools management.
Nana Short said she felt the school had let her daughter down immensely.
She said her daughter had received a number of awards at the schools end
of year prizegiving counting the trophy for all round student for 2011 among
them but not enough to be named as the schools dux.
I was sure that with such an array of awards that my daughter would be successful
in receiving the award of dux. At the announcement of the school dux, I was
shocked to hear the name of another child, Short said in a letter to the
editor of Cook Islands News.
Whether it be a coincidence or not, this student who only received one award
earlier, is from the same island as the principal Mauke.
... So my questions to the ministry are these. What process is followed
to ensure the prizes awarded each year are fair and correct? How is data
collected? Who monitors the accuracy of this data and the reports generated?
Does the principal or teacher have the final say? Is there a right of appeal?
Secretary of education Sharyn Paio and Takitumu School principal Engia Pate
responded separately to CINews on Shorts complaints. Both said they welcomed
community response on this topic and any other but would have rather Short
come to them directly rather than through the media.
Both also said they believed the matter should be handled privately.
Pate rejected the accusation that the school had showed favouritism based
on a students home island and that all its award selections were thought
out and fair-minded.
Pate said the school found its award recipients through ongoing discussions
with the school committee and school management, the opinions of students
teachers who have worked with the students through the year, and with school
data collected throughout including attendance and other statistics.
She said Short was welcome to look over the schools records when it reopened
on January 26.
Paio said she was happy with the schools handling of its prizegiving and
happy with Pates response. Paio said she had nothing to add to the topic.
She finished by saying she would be happy to respond to Shorts complaints
if she wished to formally lodge them with the ministry.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| Multi-millionaire Mike Pero has expanded
his business into the Cook Islands. 11041241 |
 |
| Mike Pero with Prime Minister Henry Puna
in Rarotonga last year during the Economic Summit. 11041212 |
Today Mike Pero Real Estate (MPRE) officially opened a Cook Islands owned
business partnership arrangement between MPRE and Cook Islands Real Estate
Limited (CIRE).
Were absolutely delighted to add Rarotonga as our first Pacific Island office
to our growing base of 23 franchise operators throughout New Zealand and
it is a fantastic way to start the New Year, Pero says.
The Cook Islands was a logical step for Mike Pero, who says being a Cook
Islander had a big influence on the decision to open a branch in Rarotonga.
Seeing how many Kiwis enjoy the island is another factor. Ive been coming
back home since 1972 and can honestly say its my favourite destination, and
I am spending more and more time here each visit.
Carey Winterflood and Peter Heays run an excellent business at CIRE and
have a reputation for their experience, patience and the quality of their
service, explains Pero.
New Zealand currency, a common language and a similar culture make Rarotonga
a very popular Pacific destination for Kiwis.
They also like the idea that an easy four hour flight out of Auckland can
land them in a climate often 10-15 degrees warmer in the winter months. Approximately
65 per cent of Rarotongas 120,000 visitors per year are New Zealanders, Pero
says.
While there are a number of common factors in law and real estate, there
are also a number of differences. The unique challenges surrounding foreign
investment in the Cook Islands are met only with patience and experience,
and CIRE has plenty of both. It is vitally important to pre-qualify potential
investors to ensure they are suitable for the Cook Islands and Carey and
Peter adhere fully with the BTIB (Business Trade Investment Board) rules
and regulations and participate in regular update sessions with them to ensure
that only those applications that show direct benefits to the Cook Islands,
the landowners or business owners are even considered, Pero says.
Chief executive and founder of the Mike Pero Group, Pero explains that the
companys solid foundation of more than 80,000 Kiwi homeowners from its mortgage
book has been a major component in the extraordinary growth of the real estate
company.
We also appreciate the value of our brand, which Kiwis have embraced for
over 20 years. Now were into the next generation of customers, who continue
to use our mortgage, insurance and now real estate businesses.
Winterflood says CIRE has been working for nearly one year on the finer
details of this arrangement and that the professionalism and trust the Mike
Pero brand brings will be an exciting step forward for the people of the
Cook Islands.
Mike is a proud Cook Islander and one of our most successful sons. The extra
marketing reach the Mike Pero brand brings will ensure maximum international
exposure for properties and businesses at all levels.
Too many Cook Islanders are trapped in financial situations not necessarily
of their own making, which can be alleviated by sourcing and locating the
right investment partners. At last we have found the ideal approach for sourcing
these potential investors, he says.
Properties in the Cook Islands will begiwn appearing on the MPRE website
at www.mikepero.com early in the New Year.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| Up to 100 vehicles are imported into the
Cook Islands each month –like these which arrived in Rarotonga
on Christmas Eve aboard Southern Express. But can our roading system
handle the growing load, and are clapped out older vehicles being
taken off the road? 12010415 |
Up to 100 motorbikes and cars are being imported into the Cook Islands each
month.
The statistics division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management
(MFEM) has not yet finished collating data for 2011, but those in the customs
department have a fair idea of what is regularly being offloaded from cargo
vessels.
MFEMs chief customs officer Ngapoko Ngatamaine says that on average up to
20 cars and about 70 motorbikes are imported each month, arriving in Rarotonga
aboard the Southern Express more often than not.
The cargo vessel last sailed into Avatiu harbour on Christmas Eve, with
visible cargo of about 16 vehicles.
One container can hold about 100 motorbikes, Ngatamaine says.
He says MFEM collects import value added tax (VAT) and levies for each vehicle
on behalf of government.
The amounts differ based on a vehicles age, how many kilometres it has travelled,
the size of its motor and other criteria as stipulated in the Customs Tariff
(Vehicles) Amendment Order 2000.
Vehicles with less than 50 kilometres on the clock are deemed to be new
under the legislation and are exempt from import levy and duty.
All others are deemed used and prompt duty or import levies of varying amounts.
For example, a used Japanese import less than 10 years old is likely to
require an import levy of $1000 based on all its specifications whereas one
more than a decade old will likely prompt a $4000 levy.
All vehicles must be registered in the Cook Islands, but determining how
many are currently in use on roads throughout the country is a difficult
task.
The Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) registers vehicles as an agent for the
Ministry of Police.
Police commissioner Maara Tetava is in the process of collating information
for Cook Islands News on the number of current vehicle registrations.
But it appears there is no governing body or general consensus in respect
of how many cars are allowed into the Cook Islands, how many the countrys
road infrastructure can handle, and how many vehicles can be in use before
Rarotonga experiences serious traffic problems.
Don Dorrell of Motor Centre Ltd in Panama says there are no controls on
what comes into the country, but that is common to most countries.
Theres no control on a pound of butter for example no controls on all sorts
of things.
He says there are more motorbikes in the Cook Islands than cars and other
large vehicles.
Most imports are registered as rental vehicles, Dorrell says.
Thu
5 Jan
 |
| A new standardised warrant of fitness checklist
will be introduced in the Cook Islands within the first half of this
year. 12010405 |
Motorists will find it harder to get warrants of fitness for their vehicles
in a few months, when a new standardised checklist is implemented for the
first time.
At present there is no standard of criteria for any vehicles in the Cook
Islands to pass warrants of fitness.
Instead those authorised by the police to issue warrants go by their own
individual systems and not all are as thorough as one would hope.
The lack of standard criteria allows for the discretionary issuing of warrants
and it means there are unsafe vehicles being driven on roads throughout the
country.
The status quo has been causing concern among police, those in the motor
vehicle industry and members of the public for years.
Don Dorrell of Motor Centre Ltd in Panama says he has raised the issue with
every commissioner of police for at least 30 years.
He says the Motor Centre has formatted its own warrant of fitness checklist,
adapted from New Zealand standards to cater for local conditions.
Dorrell says on numerous occasions he has taken draft standard checklists
to police for consideration, but nothing has eventuated.
Theres no standard checking here. Theres nothing in any legislation anywhere
that determines what has to be checked for a warrant of fitness.
The relevant legislation is the 1966 Transport Act, administered by the
Ministry of Police.
It says what people should and should not do but does not refer to any standard
warrant check, Dorrell says.
He and fellow industry member Eric Short, of Eric Short Automotive Ltd in
Avatiu, were involved in a committee formed to help introduce a standardised
warrant of fitness checklist for the Cook Islands two years ago.
It is the work of that committee which has finally resulted in a standardised
checklist system, which is all ready to go, police commissioner Maara Tetava
says.
We have a project to standardise the whole system which is ready to go,
and are just trying to find a way to implement it. Weve been talking to Crown
Law about whether it will require an amendment to the legislation.
Weve even got all the new stickers designed its just that technical aspect
of introducing it because it means the prime minister cancelling all permits
to issue warrants and then people applying under the new system.
Tetava says all going well, he hopes the standard warrant of fitness rules
will be imposed in the first quarter of this year.
If legislative change is required, involving cabinet and parliament, he
says the implementation date may be pushed out to the middle of the year.
Tetava says there will likely be a reduction in the number of permits for
the issuing of warrants of fitness to about four or five in Rarotonga.
That will ensure all certified warrant issuing bodies meet a standard of
criteria and practice.
The police commissioners road safety strategy of late has focused in part
on ensuring all vehicles on the road are registered and warranted.
But Tetava says until the standard fitness checks come into force, there
will continue to be some unsafe vehicles being driven.
We will continue to monitor those vehicles we deem unfit and back-track
to the people who are issuing those warrants of fitness.
Tetava says once the standard checklist is implemented, all new warrants
of fitness must comply.
There will be a grace period for motorists until their current warrants
expire, then their vehicles must pass the standard tests in order to be roadworthy.
Every new warrant of fitness will have to come under the new regime. We
also need to prepare the garages already on the system now for whats going
to happen, Tetava says.
Short says the system has been a long time coming and he hopes it will prevent
warrants being issued to vehicles which have not been thoroughly checked.
Right now some of us are inspecting, some are not. I will inspect a car
and fail it but the owner takes it down the road to Joe Bloggs and next thing
you know I see it being driven on the road.
There are too many cowboys out there who are just issuing warrants of fitness
without checking vehicles for safety Im finding that every day. Sometimes
people get their warrant and end up in my shop complaining about a noise
and we find a steering part is worn down for example, that should never have
gotten a warrant and it annoys me.
I dont want to point fingers at anyone else in the industry but theyre out
there, Short says.
On dengue alert
Fri
6 Jan
|
|
Public health protection officer Charlie Ave with the chemical-free biological control for mosquito lava, which is sprinkled at areas where mosquitoes breed.
12010410
|
Public Health has begun spraying insecticides at the airport, ports and hospital as a precautionary measure against dengue fever, following an increase in the number of cases being recorded across the Pacific.
Public Health protection officer Charlie Ave said the government agency had began precautionary steps to stop the spread of mosquito-borne diseases with a particular focus on dengue fever.
Ave said the service had begun using chemical-free biological controls and some chemical sprays following increases in cases of dengue fever at the Federation of Micronesia, Guam, Fiji and French Polynesia.
Aircraft coming to Rarotonga from Papeete are also required to spray for mosquitoes before disembarking passengers at the international airport in response to the Tahitian spike in cases.
Doctor Rangi Fariu, director of community health services, said the spraying campaign was being used to help prevent the spread of the disease in the Cook Islands.
He said adverse weather had brought the campaign to a standstill between Christmas and New Years Eve, but the drive would renew when better weather set in.
No cases of dengue fever have been recorded at Rarotonga since the last outbreak occurred in 2009, in which 400 people were affected by the mosquito-borne disease.
And were hoping it is not going to come back, Dr Fariu said.
All passengers travelling from Tahiti are given a dengue fever information card upon arrival at Rarotonga and told to find a doctor immediately if they develop symptoms associated with the disease.
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever between four and seven days after infection.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body two to five days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include fatigue, headache (especially behind the eyes), joint aches, muscle aches, nausea, swollen lymph nodes and vomiting.
Dr Fariu said people could help protect themselves against mosquito bites by covering up with clothing, sleeping under mosquito nets, applying insect repellent or burning mosquito coils and citronella candles.
Airline seeks land
Fri
6 Jan
|
|
Mark Lusby.
11031404
|
Domestic airline hopefuls Kia Orana Air will make a bid on a piece of land at the Rarotonga International Airport with the hope of launching its first flight during 2012.
Director Mark Lusby said the aspiring airline was putting in a tender for a section of land in the airport grounds that is currently being advertised for tender by the Airport Authority.
The land, between the Air New Zealand hangar and the heat treatment plant on the town side of the airport, is currently empty and open for development. Lusby said Kia Orana Air would not be able to function until it found some land for a hangar and offices at the airport.
The main thing for us is to push, push, push for this land because if we dont get a hangar it means we wont be able to start up, Lusby said.
The airline is aiming to begin operations mid-year.
Airport Authority chief executive Joseph Ngamata said there was more than one company interested in the land, but would not be drawn on which companies were submitting applications while the tender process was continuing.
He said the land had been open for a number of years.
If the Airport Authority finds an applicant it deems suitable to use lease the land, it will present the applicant to the government agency Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) for approval.
Ngamata said the authority was not required to lease the land if it was not satisfied with the applications received.
Kia Orana Air has been working on getting off the ground for about two years.
Lusby said the company had met a number of challenges during its establishment, but it would continue to work towards a mid-2012 launch date nonetheless.
Searching for surgeon
Fri
6 Jan
The Ministry of Health is searching for Rarotongas next hospital surgeon, in light of Dr Bwabwa Otens departure shortly.
Health minister Nandi Glassie says Dr Otens contract expires in the middle of this month and the ministry is likely to contract a New Zealand or Fiji-based surgeon to work in Rarotonga while a permanent replacement is found.
He (Dr Oten) has to finish his contract because he has to go on whats called a career pathway for surgeons they have to be rotated around. Right now we are looking for a replacement. We havent found one yet but there are quite a few people being considered by the secretary of health Tupou Faireka.
Glassie assures the public there will always be a surgeon available in Rarotonga, as it is a legal requirement.
It is compulsory to have a surgeon available 24/7 so while we are looking for a permanent replacement, well get someone working in the interim.
Glassie says the ministry is considering applicants from throughout the Pacific region, including New Zealand and Australia.
He will make the appointment, on advice from Faireka and health industry professionals already in the Cook Islands.
Glassie says the employment of a surgeon does not require cabinet approval because it is a ministry appointment.
Photos of the year - 2011
Fri
6 Jan
|
|
Vaka Marumaru Atua takes to the high seas in a stiff wind in March 2011. Photo William Tuiravakai/Cook Islands Tourism
11033061
|
A second glimpse at 2011 through the lenses of staff photographers and contributors. This selection is from the 17,000-plus photos catalogued in our archives throughout what was a photogenic year. Some of these images were first published in black and white before we commissioned our four-colour press in July.
Also see: Photos of the
year - 2011 and Photos
of the year - 2011
Young Tere Maoate with his impressive au (wild hibiscus wood) vaka which was the fastest at the Takitumu School boat racing day in July 2011. Photo Matariki Wilson
11071516
Pukapuka and Nassau dancer Pani Vailoa hams it up on stage during the annual dancer of the year competition held in April 2011. Photo Matariki Wilson
11042957
Local craftswoman Mrs Q was photographed by CINews journalist Eric Parnis who since starting work with the newspaper in June has been capturing local scenes and people with his unique style of photography. Photo Eric Parnis
11070170
Friends chat in the shade of the car boot as they waited for the 2011 Te Maeva Nui float parade to pass through Avarua in August. Photo Matariki Wilson 0
110729110
The year that was - Government
Fri
6 Jan
 |
| Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George arrives at
the Parliamentary Privileges Select Committee hearing with his written
submissions defending his absence from parliament on February 18. 11051116 |
January
The office of the Public Service Commissioner plans to introduce a blanket policy on the use of government vehicles.
Government issues its half year economic and fiscal update for the 2010-2011 financial year, which predicts growth in the economy through new investment in tourism.
In an interview with Cook Islands News, Prime Minister Henry Puna says his top priority is a stable and effective government.
Puna describes his new government colleagues as inspiring and says once he has succeeded at creating stability within governments helm his focus will be economic growth.
Government debt is estimated at $114.9 million, and its net debt 19.3 per cent of gross domestic product.
The first cabinet meeting of 2011 is dominated by the nations response to the Cook Islands first reported case of HIV.
The meeting lasts from 10am to 6.30pm as ministers try to hammer out a way forward with members of the National HIV, STI and TB Committee. Eventually Prime Minister Henry Puna decides not to publicly identify the person with HIV and assures Cook Islanders they can be tested in total confidence.
Government forms an economic taskforce committee to identify methods of economic growth, ahead of a national economic summit held in Rarotonga.
February
Prime Minister Henry Puna promises a better working relationship between cabinet and local media.
He undertakes to hold a press conference every Friday afternoon where media can ask questions and be informed of government developments. Puna also invites the media to submit questions before press conferences to ensure the right information can be provided or have the relevant minister present to respond to queries.
Government gives some thought to creating a national hero award.
The first parliamentary session for 2012 begins and former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry is sworn in as speaker of the house.
Rebel MP Norman George decides not to attend the first day of parliament because he is scheduled to appear in court as a lawyer and as a silent protest to the way in which parliament was called to sit.
Prime Minister Henry Puna says his government is dedicated to implementing plans and policies to ensure Cook Islanders are prepared for the effects of climate change, and can adapt their lifestyles to suit. His comments are made during a week-long climate change adaption workshop in Rarotonga.
Clerk of parliament Nga Valoa thanks a front page Cook Islands News article for the new ceremonial robes he and his assistant Tupuna Rakanui receive, after it is reported that decades-old ceremonial robes and wigs are falling into disrepair.
March
Teenui-Mapumai MP Norman George resigns from the Cook Islands Party and says he leaves with no remorse.
George opts to continue his parliamentary career spanning 28 years as an independent MP. He stresses that by going independent he is not the opposition.
Prime Minister Henry Puna says leading the region in the clean and green stakes is an achievable ambition with the onus being on government to set an example for the rest of the country.
He says a starting point could be government adopting a policy that all its vehicles are fuel efficient, possibly even hybrids an initiative Puna says his government would entertain depending on cost.
A complete overhaul of the 1981 Policing Act gets underway, with a view to a revamped version being tabled in parliament before the end of the year.
Government is asked to consider helping noni growers when Japans export market buckles following the countrys devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Cabinet finalises a trust deed to set the guiding principles for the management of a national marine park within the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone. The deed sets out how a marine park charitable trust is formed and how its trustees administer the park in accordance with criteria. This follows cabinets approval of the establishment of a marine park that is expected to extend over the entire territorial waters of the southern group islands.
April
Government encourages all Cook Islanders to attend the national economic summit held at Rarotongas national auditorium.
Finance minister Mark Brown calls the summit a groundbreaking event. It is televised and aired live on national radio. Those in attendance are encouraged to share their ideas about the future economic direction of the Cook Islands.
Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters travels to London to attend a Commonwealth Secretariat forum on natural resources.
Marsters lends his support to a safety box approach to the treatment of revenue generated from seabed minerals.
Major players involved in the national economic development summit meet at the Muri Beach Club to discuss outcomes from the two-day public convention. The meeting is termed the Government of the Cook Islands Inaugural Development Partner Dialogue, and is opened by dialogue chairman and cabinet minister Mark Brown.
Parliament sits for the second time of the year.
Leading the two bills presented is the appropriation amendment (supplementary budget). The supplementary budget seeks a total appropriation of $144,446,888 a reduction of $13.2 million from the 2010-2011 budget of $157,689,887.
The reduction is mostly due to the reprogramming of a Food and Agriculture Organisation grant of $5 million and an Asian Development Bank $9.5 million loan to the next budget.
After two sittings the supplementary budget is passed without amendment.
It is announced that independent MP Norman George will be hauled before a Privileges Committee, which will decide whether he was in contempt of a summons from the Queens Representative when he refused to attend the swearing in of MPs.
The committee is chaired by speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry with members Mona Ioane, John Henry, Kiriau Turepu, Wilkie Rasmussen and William Heather Jnr. In an artful demonstration of political payback, the Cook Islands Party government manoeuvres George into a position where he can not sit nor vote in parliament as an unsworn MP. All MPs are required to take the oath of allegiance before being allowed to sit and speak in parliament. Eventually George is sworn into parliament as an independent MP.
Prime Minister Henry Puna firmly rejects a proposal to legislate the Toa settlement out of existence.
Government appoints a new budget advisory team to inform the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management ahead of tabling in parliament of the 2011-2012 appropriation.
May
It is announced that between $5 million and $7 million will annually be generated for the Cook Islands government through fishing licences if the Ministry of Marine Resources develops three designated fisheries for bigeye and skipjack tuna as well as swordfish (broadbill). The ministrys draft plan for exploratory fishing, which will pave the way for the creation of designated fisheries, is put before cabinet but is not endorsed pending further public consultation.
Government continues work on its draft employment relations bill. Minimum terms and conditions of employment in the private sector are stipulated in new legislation.
If implemented the bill will become a legal employment relations framework to ensure workers are treated fairly and protected from discrimination and any adverse situations arising from employment agreements.
Prime Minister Henry Puna is expected to front to local media following a month-long hiatus.
It is at least a month since Puna gave his last press conference and repeated requests for interviews have been denied.
All government ministers join New Zealand foreign affairs minister Murray McCully and a delegation of New Zealand foreign affairs staff at the inaugural Joint Ministerial Forum.
McCullys delegation comprises about nine people, including foreign affairs staff and one other New Zealand member of parliament. Cook Islands foreign affairs and aid management staff are also present.
Independent MP Norman George faces the Parliamentary Privileges Committee as it decides if he acted in contempt of a summons from the Queens Representative when he refused to attend a swearing in of MPs earlier in the year.
The committee adjourns for time to make its decision.
Cabinet approves a new immigration policy for New Zealand citizens, allowing their stay in the Cook Islands for up to three months. Kiwi retirees are also entitled to a 12-month visa.
Most overseas visitors are entitled to a 30-day visa in the Cook Islands. New Zealand citizens are entitled to come here for three months and if they want to spend more money here well give them another three months. Retirees can come here and stay here for 12 months, no hassles, but subject of course to the usual checks, Prime Minister Henry Puna explains.
Puna says he is proud of the policy change, which marks a turning point in the special relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
I am sure that the New Zealand government will see this as a major step, particularly in our special relationship, because for too long in the past weve spoken about our special relationship but we havent actually done anything concrete about it, Puna says.
Foreign affairs minister Tom Marsters leaves for Tonga to represent the Cook Islands at the 2011 Forum Trade Ministers Meeting. Marsters, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, views the two-day meeting as an opportunity for the Pacifics trade ministers to discuss common trade-related issues.
Prime Minister and police minister Henry Puna applauds Cook Islands police for their arrest of 13 people allegedly involved in the importation and distribution of class A and C drugs.
He says government has a zero tolerance policy in terms of crime and especially drugs.
Government considers the privatisation of its state owned enterprises.
Finance minister Mark Brown says government is looking at all its options to determine the best way forward for the country and its economic growth.He does not think state owned enterprises will be sold but says nothing is sacred.
Brown asked the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, which manages all government assets and property, to review its role in respect of state owned enterprises.
Privatisation is one thing the corporation considers in its wider investigation before reporting to cabinet.
Government approves an additional 20 licences for exploratory fishing in Cook Islands waters.
Prime Minister Henry Puna says cabinet has agreed to administer 10 additional licences for swordfish and 10 for bigeye tuna although the ministry of marine resources has yet to make concrete arrangements with foreign fishing companies. Minister of marine resources Teina Bishop says the licences should pave the way for joint ventures between foreign fishing companies and Cook Islands practitioners.
June
Tupapa MP and self-described action man George Maggie is officially made the parliamentary whip.
Government hosts a state funeral for the late Sir Apenera Pera Short one of the Cook Islands most prominent leaders after he dies aged 96 in his Muri home.
Sir Apenera was one of the countrys first cabinet ministers and its longest-serving Queens Representative.
Canadian banking group Endeavour Financial makes government a $25 million offer for an exploratory licence to mine manganese nodules.
Government says it is serious about deep sea mining, but will not rush any licensing.
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July
Government spends about $20,000 on a ceremony for the official opening of parliament.
Speaker of the house Sir Geoffrey Henry defends the cost against criticism, saying it is essential that government conducts a ceremonial opening of parliament as it is a time-honoured, Commonwealth-wide tradition.
The 2011-2012 national appropriation is tabled in parliament.
Health and education remain the government ministries with the greatest annual operating costs $10.4 million and $10 million respectively.
Despite this they receive less money than the ministries of internal affairs and finance and economic management.
Ministerial support for the seven top parliamentary figures totals $1.8 million.
In total governments ministry appropriations for 2011-2012 exceed $96 million.
The total operating revenue is an estimated $106.1 million, as well as the total operating expense.
Within the Cook Islands Government Budget Estimates 2011-2012 Appropriation Bill is a clause which authorises the finance minister to issue and apply from government accounts any sums which in total do not exceed $172 million.
Finance minister Mark Brown announces governments controversial new withholding tax.
It involves the taxing of 15 per cent on all interest earned on Cook Islands bank deposits and is an effort by government to generate an additional $1.3 million per annum to cover unexpected budget shortfalls from the previous financial year.
Prime Minister Henry Puna sets the ambitious but not impossible target of the Cook Islands becoming 100 per cent reliant on renewable energy within 10 years.
Puna, the environment minister, says government aims to generate 50 per cent of the countrys electricity needs from renewable sources by 2015, and be completely reliant on them by 2020.
Finance minister Mark Brown announces that $50,000 will be spent on establishing a seabed minerals commission to help guide the Cook Islands in developing a deep sea mining industry.
Brown says the commission will be backed with technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Government deploys police patrol boat Te Kukupa to the northern group, to deliver 10,000 litres of diesel to Manihiki and Rakahanga.
The Ministry of Health plans to revive its position for an Auckland-based employee to help those referred to New Zealand from the Cook Islands for medical treatment.
Health minister Nandi Glassie says the position has been successful in the past and about $70,000 is allocated for associated salary and operating costs in the 2011-2012 financial years health allocation.
Government holds three public meetings to include Cook Islanders in discussions about the proposed marine park and the process of establishing it.
Sue Taei, marine programme director at Conservation International, and SPREP marine and coastal adviser Tim Carruthers make presentations at each meeting, and are on hand to address concerns.
Parliament passes into legislation a change in public holidays, eradicating individual island gospel days.
In place instead is Ra O Te Ui Ariki a July 6 public holiday in respect of the countrys aronga mana, its ui ariki, ui mataiapo, ui rangatira and taunga.
Parliament members unanimously adopt without amendment the governments 2011-2012 budget.
Accordingly, government has the ability to spend $172 million in 12 months as planned.
Members of parliament approved the bulk of appropriations during an afternoon session.
Despite criticism from opposition party members and the wider public, the governments controversial last minute attempt to balance its books passes into law.
Towards the end of a parliamentary session, the Income Tax Amendment Bill is considered and adopted without change.
The bill allows government to take 15 per cent of all interest earned on Cook Islands bank deposits as a withholding tax.
Government enters into an agreement with Taiwanese fishing firm Yuh Yow Marine to expand its export industry for fresh fish.
Airfreight export of Cook Islands fish is set to increase to about 200 tonnes each year as a result.
Yuh Yow first trials a five tonne airfreight shipment of fresh fish within a month.
The company has a licence to catch fish in Cook Islands waters and operates 17 vessels in the countrys northern exclusive economic zone.
Under the new arrangement fresh fish will be processed in Rarotonga.
Prime Minister Henry Puna, finance minister Mark Brown, marine resources and education minister Teina Bishop, acting financial secretary Priscilla Maruariki, incoming financial secretary Richard Neves and the prime ministers chief executive Edwin Pittman all travel to Samoa for various conferences.
A lack of government reporting on ministerial travel prompts wide calls for greater transparency.
August
Prime Minister Henry Puna prepares for a one-on-one discussion with New Zealands Prime Minister John Key, in what is described as an urgency meeting before the Pacific Leaders Forum.
Prime Minister Henry Puna declares that the Cook Islands lack of domestic shipping is a major concern.
He says one more day without an adequate solution is one day too long.
The reigning Cook Islands Party elects a new executive to drive the party forward for the next two years.
A CIP conference is held at the Assembly of God (AOG) church hall in Takuvaine.
The Ministry of Health rolls out a nationwide mass treatment programme to help reverse the rampant spread of chlamydia within the Cook Islands.
Members of the ministry visit workplaces, schools, community clinics and community clubs with free treatment during a week-long drive.
Anybody aged between 12 and 50 years old is eligible for the treatment and urged to take part in the national sweep.
Government appoints Tiki Matapo as the new Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, in what is his first diplomatic post.
The justice of the peace leaves behind his pigs and taro patch for high rise buildings and lattes on Lambton Quay in Wellington.
Financial secretary Richard Neves and internal affairs secretary Bredina Drollet are asked to join the executive board of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) due to its financial crisis.
Government considers whether to bail out CISNOC to enable Team Cook Islands to compete at the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea.
Government approves a $126,000 loan to the national sporting body.
It is announced that government ministries overspent their 2010-2011 allocations by almost $300,000 something the Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) starts investigating.
Cabinet also approves additional crown over-expenditure of $620,000.
Prime Minister Henry Puna begins to answer media demands for regular disclosure about his administration and appoints a communications advisor to work in his office.
New Zealand Maori journalist and media advisor Damiane Rikihana starts work at the Office of the Prime Minister accordingly.
Government approves a record-sized delegation of 20 people to attend the Pacific Leaders Forum in Auckland.
The political leaders meeting coincides with the Rugby World Cup.
The Cook Islands delegation is expected to cost government about $48,000 with untold other costs to be met by the New Zealand government.
September
Financial secretary Richard Neves says international airline arguments not to include Cook Islands departure tax in ticket prices are a nonsense.
He makes public governments continued struggle to have the local $55 departure tax embedded in fares with airlines operating in and out of the country Air New Zealand, Pacific Blue and Air Tahiti.
Water infrastructure improvements on Rarotonga should be completed by the end of the month, infrastructure minister Teariki Heather says.
Speaking in parliament, Heather says water works are taking longer than initially anticipated and accordingly the commencement of road development is being delayed.
Government announces the Cook Islands will host the 2012 Pacific Leaders Forum in Rarotonga expected to bring about 400 delegates including the political leaders of 22 Pacific nations to the Cook Islands.
On the last day of the 2011 forum in Auckland, a unanimous decision was made by regional leaders to accept the Cook Islands bid to host the 2012 event.
A Cook Islands government trip to Beijing hinders on whether government has enough money in its Civil List to fund delegates travel and expenses.
There are unconfirmed reports that delegates are due to fly from Auckland to China on business class tickets and that in total the jaunt will cost government about $70,000.
Bishop opts out of the trip due to his plans to visit China later in the year.
Cabinet approves the delegations trip, and Puna says governments expenditure will be entirely outweighed by the benefits likely to be accrued through the visit.
Northern group islands shipping woes are over, Prime Minister Henry Puna says.
He announces a new shipping service to the northern Cook Islands community, to start in November, at a post-cabinet media conference.
Puna says his government has struck a deal with the Samoan Shipping Corporation for a cargo vessel to service northern group islands directly from Apia.
Finance minister Mark Brown says he has concerns about governments Civil List, which has reportedly received a bashing in the three months of the 2011-2012 financial year.
Money for ministerial travel, of which there has been a lot, is drawn from the Civil List.
A special cabinet meeting is held to allow Prime Minister Henry Puna and fellow ministers a chance to talk about the Civil List before its status is publicly disclosed.
Government revels in its success at the Pacific Leaders Forum in New Zealand, through which it has struck various deals with donor organisations and partner governments.
Finance minister Mark Brown discloses publicly the status of governments Civil List expenditure, following calls for greater transparency.
Prime Minister Henry Puna has proportionately spent the most from governments Civil List on international travel of any minister or member of parliament in the relevant financial year.
Since July 1, Punas official international travel to Samoa, New Caledonia, the United States, New Zealand and China has included about $47,000 from the Civil List.
Government leaves no room for excuses in its budget planning for the next financial year, by initiating the process three months earlier than usual.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) releases its timeline for budgetary planning, which is approved by cabinet.
Financial secretary Richard Neves says government has given itself plenty of time to ensure the 2012-2013 budget is well thought out and involves as much community input as possible.
There is no excuse essentially for bad planning or doing anything in a rush. Its about involving the community a bit more in terms of how the government should formulate its budget, he says.
Government says it is determined to create its own niche market for vanilla, and already has loose arrangements in place to export the spice to Japan, China and Australia.
Agriculture minister Nandi Glassie says government has singled out vanilla as a potential cash crop and plans are underway to develop the countrys horticultural production accordingly.
The Cook Islands and Japan governments and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat join forces to send a strong message that renewable energy is no longer an option but a necessity for the Pacific region.
On the lawns of the Prime Ministers Office under a blazing sun, Prime Minister Henry Puna and Forum deputy secretary general Feleti Teo make official a $1.2 million deal to bring renewable and reliable energy to Rakahanga 24 hours a day.
Japanese ambassador to New Zealand Hideto Mitamura watches on, attending the event on behalf of the Japanese government which allocated US$66 million for Pacific countries under the Pacific Environment Community Fund.
October
The Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIFA) is $90,000 richer thanks to the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) and licence revenue from foreign fishers.
MMR pledges $200,000 from licence revenue to Cook Islands fishing clubs and its first allocation is to the parent body CIFA.
Prime Minister Henry Punas vision for parliament to sit during at least 100 days this year becomes an impossibility.
With about 50 working days left in the year, parliamentary sessions total 15 days.
In February, fresh from being elected into office, Puna announced he expected parliament to sit not less than 100 days in 2011, following the previous Democratic governments record low of eight days in 2010.
Government begins drafting legislation to give legal backing to raui restrictions in Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
The traditional restrictions do not have any legal backing and rely on the compliance and respect of a community to its leaders.
Introducing laws to back up raui pronouncements will mean traditional leaders can call on crown law to reprimand people who break raui restrictions.
Government strongly advocates infrastructure investment for the countrys continued prosperity and accordingly $546 million may be spent on infrastructure in the long term.
The figure of $546,565,000 for infrastructure is included within the economic taskforces list of specific actions and programming to grow the economy.
People might think official travel is glamorous but that is far from the truth, Prime Minister Henry Puna says.
He speaks to Cook Islands News about the obligation government has to engage with the international community and the ensuing benefits to the nation.
Puna understands it is easy for people to criticise ministers for their travel, which can be perceived as a perk of the job, but says he would rather stay at home.
Cabinet minister Teina Bishop departs Rarotonga for a three-week trip to China in his capacity as minister of marine resources, education and tourism.
Bishops chief executive, George Turia, says the three-week trip involves government relations in respect of fisheries, tourism and financial services and education.
Financial secretary Richard Neves says government is owed $26 million in unpaid taxes representing 29 per cent of the total tax take.
Neves says the Ministry of Finance and Economic Managements revenue management division needs to work more closely with the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce to try and reduce the amount of unpaid taxes.
November
Governments first quarterly report for the fiscal year is publicly released.
It states government has spent four per cent less than estimated in the first quarter of the 2011-2012 financial year and is in a good position to pay off additional debt if further loans are warranted.
The report provides a snapshot of the money in and out of government accounts in July, August and September as well as information about how much debt government has, its cash reserves and how much is allocated for various expenditure.
Prime Minister Henry Puna participates in high-level meetings with United States officials in Hawaii.
Puna is part of a wider Pacific leaders gathering, co-organised by the East-West Centre.
Topics of discussion at the meeting include intervention and post-conflict rebuilding in respect of regional responses, and regional security.
The programme includes an address by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton titled Americas Pacific Century as well as briefings by members of the United States Pacific Command.
Marine resources and pearl industry minister Teina Bishop receives the support of fellow cabinet members to utilise $1 million of a Chinese grant to purchase floats and ropes for the stimulation of pearl production in Manihiki.
It follows Bishops return to the Cook Islands from a three-week tour of China, in which he brokered various deals and strengthened relations in respect of his many ministerial portfolios.
Government declares it is satisfied with the police inaction in response to All Black Zac Guildfords drunken excursion around Rarotonga.
A three-year access agreement with China for exploratory fishing of bigeye tuna and swordfish is signed by government, netting up to $2.4 million for the Cook Islands.
It allows 17 Chinese vessels access to fish in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the next three years as part of the Ministry of Marine Resources exploratory fishing programme.
Government announces it expects to have a $2.5 million surplus by the end of the financial year, and a national budget surplus of about $6.3 million in the 2013-14 financial year.
That is a projection, based on figures during the financial year to date, in which visitor numbers to the Cook Islands have been strong and accordingly the economy has received a better than anticipated boost through tourism.
Government ministries are performing better than in previous financial years, the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) discovers.
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| Prime Minister Henry Puna and Pacific Islands
Forum Secretariat deputy secretary general Feleti Teo sign an agreement
outlining a $1.2 million renewable energy project for Rakahanga. 11092938 |
December
Prime Minister Henry Puna takes responsibility for a legislative anomaly, in his capacity as minister for justice.
Puna, speaking in parliament, explains to fellow members the need for an amendment bill in respect of the Leases Approval Tribunal.
He tables the bill, which enables the validation of the tribunal and its work in the past year.
Due to an oversight, the tribunal and its decisions have not been formally validated since January.
Puna says the Leases Restrictions Amendment Bill intends to tidy up some mistakes.
Government assures Cook Islanders aged over 70 that it has not forsaken its promise to increase the old-age pension to $400 per fortnight.
Finance minister Mark Brown says money will be allocated by government in the next fiscal years budget accordingly, although he has yet to stipulate how much.
Speaking in parliament, Brown explains that government is currently looking at options for the pension increase implementation.
A significant amount of oil and petroleum is likely to be found in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters says.
In parliament, Marsters tells fellow members he has received unconfirmed reports that Cook Islands waters contain tonnes of valuable minerals including more than 20 billion tonnes of a certain mineral, according to Japanese reports.
The Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Amendment Act is unanimously voted into legislation without amendment, following hours of debate.
The bill enables the Cook Islands to more accurately map and define its territories and borders using modern technology, by effectively updating the principal act passed in 1977.
Benefits are linked to seabed mining, fishing, surveillance and international relations.
The adoption of precise mapping will see about 400,000 square kilometres added to the Cook Islands EEZ.
More than 50 spouses of Cook Islanders, seeking permanent resident (PR) status, are in line to receive a New Year gift from government.
Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters, who holds the portfolio of foreign affairs and immigration, says he hopes to stage a mass ceremony in early 2012 at which PR can be awarded to people married to Cook Islanders.
All outstanding government business is dealt with in parliament.
Ministers and fellow MPs adopt all existing reports on parliaments order paper, including some which date back to 2008.
The parliamentary session is adjourned sine die, with MPs expected to be called back into the house for 2012s first sitting sometime in February.
Government confirms the Pacific Islands Forum will be held between August 13 and 17 in Rarotonga during 2012.
Government signs a deed establishing the Cook Islands disaster emergency trust fund which starts with a $200,000 balance.
The deed is signed by the funds trustees police commissioner Maara Tetava, Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) director Charles Carlson, acting Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) secretary Donye Numa and financial secretary Richard Neves as well as Prime Minister Henry Puna and finance minister Mark Brown.
The Ministry of Education is set to receive a boost of up to $1.5 million in its coffers for the 2012-13 financial year following its merger with the Department of National Human Resources Development.
Prime Minister Henry Puna stops plans to establish a hydrogen plant on Aitutaki for electricity generation.
Puna writes a letter addressed to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) director general Kandeh Yumkella in Austria.
The letter, dated December 22, declines an invitation from the UNIDO for the Cook Islands government to co-finance the establishment of such a plant.
Samoan community celebrates new year
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Rarotongas Samoan community came together on New Years Eve to raise a toast to 2012 and reflect on the year gone by.
About 25 people attended the barbecue night at Titikavekas YWAM (Youth With a Mission) hall on December 31, bringing together Samoans young and mature, and new and old from the local community.
The group shared a few drinks, feast of food and some fun and games during the years final sunset.
At left, food and fun were on the menu, and just sharing common interests.
Road transport policy needed?
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7 Jan
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With up to 100 more vehicles per month arriving in Rarotonga, some believe a strategic road transport policy is overdue.
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It is possible various government ministries may be involved in the development of a transport sector policy, focusing on road transport in the Cook Islands.
Cook Islands News is trying to determine whether such a policy exists.
It appears there is no overarching framework in place which addresses issues of road vehicle numbers, types, use and associated infrastructure.
The reigning Transport Act of 1966 is administered by the Ministry of Police.
That contains direction about legal road use, such as policy on the condition of vehicles, use of safety gear and road rules.
But it is unclear whether government has in place guidelines in respect of future planning for road transport.
That is possibly because such policy would involve aspects of various government portfolios police, infrastructure and planning, and transport.
Ned Howard, of the Ministry of Transport, says as far as he is aware the ministry does not have a road transport policy.
He says his ministry deals specifically with aviation and marine transport, as well as some inherited responsibilities such as liquor licensing.
We dont deal with vehicles coming in. We deal with rental licences for vehicles, but we dont have any involvement in the number of vehicles that come here, Howard says.
Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning acting secretary Donye Numa says her ministry may look at developing a road transport sector policy.
Theres been proper reports done. We wanted to do a sector policy for transport we would have a view to looking at it.
Such a policy would aim to address issues such as the rising number of vehicles on Cook Islands roads.
It may also identify which vehicles are being used, by whom and for what.
Numa says in terms of infrastructure, that data could help determine whether tariffs should be considered.
She says there is a direct correlation between road users and the status of roads.
Our roads have never been designed for some of the trucks we are seeing now. Theres really nothing wrong with our roads, we just need to get the water off.
Numa says it is possible a road tax system could be considered, such as implemented in other countries including New Zealand.
It would see taxes or tariffs imposed on the use of some road vehicles, such as large trucks which put greater stress on infrastructure.
Im not saying that will happen, but it may be appropriate to consider that, Numa says.
She says a policy would likely have to involve many government ministries and departments, including the Cook Islands Investment Corporation which manages government assets including road infrastructure.
The Cook Islands is part of an evaluation study conducted by the Asian Development Bank between 1995 and 2010, focusing on the transport sector in developing member countries.
While the Cook Islands is only part of the wider study, government may find the resulting 183-page document useful in considering a national transport policy.
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Reports/SAPE/REG/SAP-REG-2011-36/in262-11.pdf.
The 100-year-old curse explained
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7 Jan
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A new account of the cursing of the Vaimaanga land where the failed Sheraton hotel was built has been uploaded online, detailing nearly a century of the site’s history since it was cursed in 1913.
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More Taunga Amoa Amoa has shared information on the history of the Vaimaanga property and the curses placed on it.
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A history of a Vaimaanga land plot that some believe is cursed has been added in an online archive, detailing the history of property that has been the site of a shooting in 1911, under dispute for much of the century and now the home of the failed Sheraton hotel project.
Radio station Matariki FM has uploaded the account from the current More Taunga, Amoa Amoa, to the Cook Islands history section on its website www.matarikifm.co.ck
The page examines the curse of 1913 and its renewal in 1990, the land disputes dating back to 1891, the shooting of More Uriatua in 1911, the trial and sentencing of William John Wigmore over More Uriatuas death, and the transfer of ownership to Pa Ariki from 1902.
Matariki FM director William Framhein said the Vaimaanga land history was included with a range of articles detailing Rarotongas history, the languages and traditions of Pukapuka, Cook Islands genealogies, Ta-Tatau or heraldic marks at Aitutaki, and a wide selection of topics.
He said he hoped the page would become a record for Cook Islands history and could one day be used to teach Cook Islands history in our schools.
In the article on the curse of Vaimaanga, More Taunga describes the curse placed on the section of land known as Papua 4 or Vaimaanga 4.
More Taunga and his family claim ownership over the section of land and has helped put together his familys history on the land and the supposed curse on the area through a mixture of written and verbal accounts.
The current land-owner Pa Marie Ariki rejects the idea that any curse is affecting business at the site, saying the failure of hotel plans in recent decades has come down to economics.
In an interview with Cook Islands News on plans to use the site for tourist accommodations, Pa Ariki said she was confident developers would make good on their promise to refurbish the site.
The online article describes how Metua A More, the daughter of shooting victim More Uriatua, carried out an act of sorcery (purepure) by cursing (taumaa) the land in 1913 to make it unprofitable to any business.
The curse itself was simple and direct to the point: no business (kimianga puapinga) activity operated on the land Vaimaanga 4 would succeed unless the land was returned to Ngati More and the rightful owners, any business activity operated on the land Vaimaanga 4 will fail unless the land was returned to Ngati More and the rightful owners, the article reads.
The objective of the curse was not to cause physical harm but to cause financial ruin to any person including body corporate that established and operated any business from the land Vaimaanga 4.
The article goes on to describe how Metuas grandson More Rua reinforced the curse in 77 years later in 1990.
Rua, dressed in Kakau and Rakei Taunga (high priest traditional dress) and fully adorned in warlike regalia, visited the land on May 25, 1990, to reinforce the curse.
With the bottom of his spear, Rua struck a commemoration rock at the site that marked the commencement of the Sheraton Hotel Project between the Cook Islands and Italian governments, cursing the land again.
The point of impact of the spear was to the left of the plaque which caused the rock to shatter at the point of impact and crack from that point all the way down into the earth, the article reads.
... More Taunga today remembers many failures on Vaimaanga 4, those that were told to him by his grandfather Mare and mother Tekura, and those he has witnessed himself.
The article goes on to cite the many failures of business ventures looking to use the site, such as to the eventual failure of William John Wigmore, producers who tried to plant pineapple plantations and then a citrus orchid on the land between the 1950s and 1980s, the failure of the Sheraton Hotel project, two Italian companies contracted for the Sheraton project going broke, the government of the Cook Islands becoming insolvent in 1996, and the many property developers who suffered losses, the last being the Tepaki Group.
The full article plus many more are available to view at the Matariki FM website by visiting www.matarikifm.co.ck and clicking the links.
Lack of faith the problem
Sat
7 Jan
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A warrior performing during Takitumu Day in 2006 when the curse was ceremonially lifted from the ill-fated Vaimaanga Sheraton site.
12010416
|
|
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Bishop Tutai Pere during the 2006 ceremony in which he lifted a curse from the Vaimaanga Sheraton site.
12010509
|
People must overcome their superstitions through faith and conviction, including those who believe a curse placed on the Vaimaanga Sheraton site will ruin their business plans, according to Bishop Tutai
Pere.
Bishop Pere says people must embrace their faith in Jesus Christ and have the belief that they will realise their dreams to overcome any obstacles they face, both physically and mentally.
Bishop Pere took part in a curse-breaking ceremony at the Vaimaanga site in 2006 to try to remove the superstition surrounding the area.
He says the ceremony worked at first, but the ongoing troubles developers have faced in the years since have kept the curse of Vaimaanga alive in peoples minds.
And while it was alive in peoples minds, it will act as a mental barrier to peoples faith in themselves and in Christ, Bishop Pere says.
These sad failures will always bring up those superstitions that the curse has worked and that projects will fail, he says.
But the truth is they just didnt carry out their duties and acted on their responsibilities with faith.
To make a success out of the Vaimaanga site, people simply need to find their faith and the courage to overcome their barriers, Bishop Pere says.
Its not the place, its a matter of faith and conviction.
Photos of the year - 2011
Sat
7 Jan
|
|
Mama Kara and Papa Tuainemeni join Tangata in singing when Mauke couple Papa Tautara MBE and Mama Tekura Purea BEM celebrated their 80th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary. This is one of the many wonderful photos of life on Mauke sent in by resident June Hosking. Photo June Hosking
11091644
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A third and final look at 2011 through the lenses of staff photographers and contributors. This selection is from 17,000-plus photos catalogued in our archives last year. Some of these images were first published in black and white before we commissioned our four-colour press in July.
See also: Photos of the
year - 2011 and
Photos of the year - 2011
Tukao School pupil Hemere Johnson with one of the giant Manihiki donuts that helped early childhood educator Ina Herrmann, who supplied this photo, understand the differences and uniqueness on each of the islands in the Cooks. Photo Ina Herrmann
11080153
Ma Lixin had the packed national auditorium in awe as the slight performer executed this daring balancing act during her hula hoop performance as part of the visiting Quangdong Art Troupe from China’s ‘ode to friendship’ show in August. Photo Matariki Wilson
11080233
Bishop Stuart O’Connell makes his way into St Joseph’s Cathedral for the ordination of the new Cook Islands Bishop Paul Donoghue in July. Photo Matariki Wilson
11071721
Eight-week old Harold-O-Putua is tipped to become a future All Black captain and here he is, tongue at the ready, bracing for his ferocious haka. This photo of Harold was one of the winning photos of the CI News and CITC Rugby World Cup photo competition. Photo Leanne Kiria
11102104
New and unique instruments were all part of the Vaka Puaikura drumming team’s performance during the 2011 Te Maeva Nui drumming competition. The crew even used a chainsaw and steel pipes. Photo Matariki Wilson
11080757
Despite the suit and tie – Infrastructure and Planning minister Teariki Heather showed guests at the beach volleyball soil turning event in April 2011 that he wasn’t afraid of hard work and that it’s the type of work he is used to. Photo Matariki Wilson
11041905
Summer photo competition
Sat
7 Jan
Youngsters and family gatherings feature in this first batch of entries
in our Memories of Summer photo competition. Email your snapshots to: editor@cookislandsnews.com
Boys gossip while the girls do all the work! Teremoana Hardie sent in this photo of PJ, Crawford, Memoree and Jordaan cleaning up the yard in Tupapa.
12010602
On the way to Xmas in the Park! Aniva Maiata Pierre Hallin (8) and her little cousin Lily Faialofa Regina Pierre (4) with their ‘cool’ spectacles at the ready to meet Santa at the recent Christmas in the Park.
12010606
Meeting ‘The Man’! While out for a picnic at the Papaaroa beach in Titikaveka, the Uka family were lucky enough to have flying fish for lunch with Australian boxer Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine!
12010608
Perfect summer family getaway! The Masuda family from Sacramento, California, USA – Judy and Steve, Jamie and Kevin with their daughter Amaya and Morgan, Michael and Tomomi, John and Tracy with Eric (holding the fishing rod) enjoying the perfect summer family getaway in Avana.
12010601
New fishing observers to be trained
Mon
9 Jan
In line with its exploratory fishing programme, the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is advertising a training course for observers aboard foreign long line fishing vessels.
The training runs from January 12 to 26 and is open to applicants who meet certain criteria.
MMR says it wants to ensure those fishing through the programme report 100 percent of catch, but there are suggestions observers will see only a small percentage of the total operation.
Vessel observers are responsible for monitoring what is caught and when, how much is caught, and what the crew does with it.
Observers are commonly used on commercial vessels, as independent and unbiased controls.
They will be the eyes for the ministry while at sea.
MMR is undertaking three years of exploratory fishing in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent international waters to the north and south, to determine if there is enough fish to establish designated fisheries for bigeye and skipjack tuna as well as swordfish.
At present the predominant designated fishery in the country is for albacore tuna, which is landed and canned in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
To date cabinet has approved the issuing of 24 foreign fishing licences for the programme alone. That includes 10 for long line vessels targeting bigeye, 10 such vessels targeting swordfish (broadbill) and four licences for purse seine vessels to target skipjack.
Already MMR has issued 17 of the 20 long line licences available.
Chinas fisheries association has paid the ministry $810,000 for those 17 fishing licences valid for 12 months.
The licences can be renewed for the duration of the programme netting up to $2.4 million for government over three years for those 17 vessels.
MMR has not yet issued any purse seine licences for its exploratory programme.
Marine resources minister Teina Bishop says the Chinese vessels, and all under the programme, will be subject to strict surveillance and catch data requirements.
That includes onboard observers.
Applicants for the observer training programme must have completed secondary education to at least year 11 or equivalent, be between the ages of 21 and 35, be fit and healthy for active sea work, and be able to read and write in English.
Observers will be required to spend between 15 and 30 days at sea, and must be available to travel out to sea at anytime.
Applicants will sit a pre-selection test, successful candidates of which will be interviewed before a final decision is made to recruit them into the two-week training programme.
The programme, conducted to SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community) and FFA (Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency) standards, will include training in communications, first aid, sea safety and fire fighting.
MMR prefers applicants with sea going and fishing experience, although that is not essential.
On completion of training, certified observers will be required to commence immediate work on a variety of long line vessels operating in the Cook Islands EEZ.
Fewer returning locals this year?
Mon
9 Jan
Rarotonga transport operators say the Cook Islands has experienced a slightly quieter than usual festive period this year, with fewer expatriates making the trip home for holidays.
The number of returning Cook Islanders travelling home typically spikes in the month of December, with figures showing up to four times as many Cook Islanders travel here during the month compared to other months.
Last year, about 2400 expatriates returned to the Cook Islands from New Zealand and Australia during December. In the month before just over 700 made the journey.
In 2008, just under 3000 Cook Islanders made the journey during December and about 2750 did so in 2009.
While transport operators are again expecting there was a spike this December, they are saying there would likely be fewer Cook Islanders recorded as coming to the Cook Islands than in recent years.
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.
But the apparent dip was to be expected, she added.
You get a fair idea from locals throughout the year, Strickland said.
A lot of the returning locals come back for family reunions or special events during the Christmas period, but going through the year we didnt hear much about any reunions or events this year, she said.
As a result, Strickland said the festive period had not been overly busy in Rarotonga.
She did, however, predict that the 2012-13 Christmas and New Years break would be busier.
Strickland said she already knew of a number of family reunions that will be held over the festive break at the end of 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.
Cook Islands Taxi Association president Larry Price said Rarotonga taxi drivers would be a decent judge for the number of other visitors making their way to the Cook Islands over the period.
Price said while most returning Cook Islanders would use private transport to move around, tourists were still using taxis in a similar manner to other times in the year.
Put simply busy taxis mean more tourists, idle taxis mean fewer.
Price, who has been in his role for about six months, said the drivers in the association were reporting a slightly busier than normal Christmas period compared to recent years.
He said the wet weather and improved taxi services had helped bring a boost to business, but the period was still similar to previous years and much quieter than peak tourism months like July.
Price said a few of the more hard-working taxi drivers had maintained their business over the quieter summer period, but most were again experiencing a dip.
Its not our favourite time of year, he said.
Price said the taxi industry was working to become more viable, affordable and accommodating to passengers, so he expects drivers to receive more work in future years.
The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation will release its statistics for inbound visitor numbers during December towards the end of this month.
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
| Nov |
Dec |
Nov |
Dec |
Nov |
Dec |
Nov |
Dec |
| CIs living in New Zealand |
664 |
1988 |
569 |
1842 |
533 |
1662 |
481 |
TBA |
| CIs living in Australia |
115 |
951 |
179 |
915 |
178 |
747 |
144 |
TBA |
| CIs total |
779 |
2939 |
748 |
2757 |
711 |
2409 |
625 |
TBA |
The year that was - Letters
Mon
9 Jan
One of the best ways to find the pulse of any community is to open up a
newspaper at its letters to the editor section, and luckily for Cook Islands
News, ours is pumping strongly with public discussion and free speech. CINews
published 700 letters to the editor in 2011 and received thousands of smoke
signals throughout the year. Here is a selection of what was on your minds
during 2011.
NZ AIDS foundation ‘ seriously alarmed’
Dear Editor,
The NZAF would like to acknowledge the challenges faced by the Cook Islands
government following the first HIV diagnosis in the country...
This letter is an attempt to bring to light some of the issues surrounding
HIV and confidentiality and to urge the Cook Islands government to
maintain the confidentiality of any person diagnosed with or testing
for HIV...
Indeed, we know that people refrain from testing in legal and social
environments in which a positive result could be made public. Such
a disclosure is often
accompanied by stigma and discrimination. To have effective responses
to HIV people must feel free and able to access HIV testing and support
services
while being wholly confident that their identity will remain private.
We thank you in advance for making the views of the NZAF known and
we sincerely hope that the Cook Islands government carefully considers
all
relevant
information to arrive at a sensible conclusion.
Jason Myers
Policy Analyst
New Zealand Aids Foundation
January 10
This is our fish pot!
Dear Editor,
In your paper dated March 18 was a news article saying that
the government will be meeting with some of the largest tuna fishing companies
and fish processing
companies globally who are wanting to operate in our waters, to
gain economic growth.
According to the secretary of MMR they want to support the efforts
of these foreign companies to extract the highest value from fish
caught in our
God-given ocean.
Brothers and sisters, this is a life and death issue. It’s talking about
our FISH POT, it’s talking about our livelihood and the livelihood of our
children. This is a national issue and it should be the right of the people to
have the last say.
Do we have to repeat the mistake the African nations are facing
now?
... I would like to ask this nation to stand up and ask the government
not allow any more hands in our FISH POTS.
Concerned grandfather
from Aitutaki
March 22
Tree-cutting ‘terrorism’
Dear Editor,
I can’t but agree with recent letters regarding the current ‘pruning’ or
should I say, mindless massacring of our trees along Matavera
and Tupapa. It’s
nothing short of tree terrorism.
As I suffered through another extremely hot, dusty and uncomfortable
ride into work today, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the senselessness of it. “Why?” I
asked myself. “Why?!”
What is this obsession the current Minister Teariki Heather
appears to have with razing all our trees, many of which
were planted
with care
and consideration
by our forefathers (and mothers) to provide shade for our
people when they walked
to and from the local store, or to Church (in the days when
people still walked to those destinations, of course).
Maybe, I thought to myself as I continued my ride to work,
he considers that trees are merely rubbish making devices,
which
should all
be removed as quickly
as possible...
Joe Public
March 17
Sorry, sold out!
Dear Editor,
First stop, Kai Moana Seafood. I was surprised to see a window
that was empty of fish. The sign read: Frozen New Zealand
Fish Fillets.
Next stop, Ocean Fresh. The sign read: Sorry, we have
sold out!
Next stop, “Fish For Sail” on the back road. The sign read: “CLOSED”.
Next stop, The Wharf. Every single boat was in the
harbour and it was lunchtime. There was activity over
at one
particular sports
fishing
boat. Why? Because
they had caught a fish (yes, a fish.) People were lined
up wanting to buy it. Frustrated
and hungry I went over to Punanga Nui. When I bought
a small tray of
sushi from the cart, I noticed that it was made with
canned tuna fish!
NO fresh fish for the people of the Cook Islands...
yet, ironically, I was buying a meal that was made
with canned
tuna.
I had to sit and think about this. I was eating a meal
that profited the purse seine netting industry and
the big foreign
corporations.
I lost my appetite.
Out of fish
April 20
Tim’s cowering
Dear Editor,
First, let me acknowledge that, blinded by the outrageous
references to “boiler” in
your rag, I did make an inaccurate reference
to the RMS Maitai as “SS”...
I have been cowering in my office, flailing myself
with a damp cloth, awaiting a visit from Don
Silk on that over recent days ... isn’t
it exciting that people are finally acknowledging “The
Engine”??!!!
Tim Arnold
May 9
Competition possibility
worth investigating
Dear Editor,
I’d just like to make a few comments regarding the article ‘Affordable
Telecom plans to offer more’ published
on Saturday, May 7. I think Jules Maher
touched on an important point about the
size of the population of the Cook
Islands being too small to support competition
and to some degree this may be true...
So how do you go about avoiding this duplication
of infrastructure but still encourage competition
and
thus reduce costs?
A solution could be
to get Telecom
to share the infrastructure with other
competitors including its satellite and
O3B capacity...
The tricky part is making sure that there
is a level playing field for everyone and
that
Telecom plays
nicely with the
competition. If you’ve been the
only kid on the block for a long time you’re not going to want to share
your toys with any of the new kids who have come to play. If you are forced to
share you’ll make it as difficult as possible for the new kids to have
the same access as you do.
This raises an interesting question. Who
do the toys, or the telecommunications
infrastructure belong to?
Does Telecom
own
it or does it manage
it on behalf of the government?
Anyway, there’s a business model that needs further investigation
before we make any statements about competition not being feasible.
Ano
Tisam
May 11
Some tourists we don’t enjoy
Dear Editor,
Much as we like having tourists visit our
country, there is one kind of tourist we don’t enjoy having...
On Tuesday May 24, 2011 such a group
appeared at our museum just as we
were closing. They
expressed their disappointment at not being able to look around the museum
because they were flying back to New Zealand that afternoon and would
not be able to come back the next day.
Because we are a generous lot (and perhaps a little naive) we let them in
for 10 minutes, without paying the entrance fee. Like most public facilities
in the Cook Islands we cannot afford electronic surveillance or other
high level security to protect the contents of our buildings.
In the brief time these visitors were in our museum
they were able
steal a painting off the wall.
It wasn’t until afterwards
that it
became clear to us why they
were laughing amongst themselves
(huddling together as they hid
the painting) and why they were in
such a hurry to exit.
Jean Mason
Curator, Cook Islands
Library & Museum Society
May 30
The iniquitous tax inequity
Dear Editor,
I have my hand up to endorse the
comments in Don MacKenzie’s
letter ‘A
bad concept’, published
on July 26. A reader friend
has belatedly prompted me to
write the following ditty in
support of that letter.
The old folk here on the pension
Are ‘Browned’ off and angry with Mark.
He’s caused them much anguish and tension
With his scandalous taxation
lark.
He is, in a manner of speaking,
Fiddling the financial books,
Messing about and just tweaking –
At least that’s the way that it looks.
So Mark, take heed of Don’s letter,
Remove this inequity,
The alternative’s very much better –
Just gently tweak VAT
Les Priest
Matavera
July 30
Don’t blame Jimmy
Dear Editor,
I was interested to read your
court report, ‘Alcohol
blamed for assault’,
published Friday, July
22.
To quote the article,“This is a mother daughter punch-up fuelled by Jim
Beam. We all know who the trouble-maker is, it’s not mother or daughter,
it’s the dreaded Jimmy,’ JP Kenning said.”
How can Mr Jimmy cop
the blame? He looks beautiful
sitting
on the shelf
and these
two people want
a taste of Jimmy,
how can
the JP
blame Jimmy?
Drinking
alcohol
excessively can have
drastic
consequences, like this
unforgettable incident
between mother and
daughter.
They are to blame,
not poor Jimmy.
If you want to have a
bit of Jimmy, you have
to be
smart
as Jimmy,
or let Jimmy
be.
Remi Tumu
Melbourne
August 5
Short-term gain for
long-term pain
Dear Editor,
It seems unbelievable
that despite recent
fish shortages
in Rarotonga
the current
government headed
by MP Teina Bishop has
allowed exploratory fishing
by the
Chinese or any
foreign entity for that matter.
Bigeye tuna for
one is overfished
and
the species
is in danger
of collapsing altogether.
$800,000
in licenses
is
just more
play money
for MP travel
funds and in no
way near what the
Chinese
will rape from
our seas.
Make no mistake:
this is only the
beginning!
Henry Puna should
hang his head in
shame for
this crime
against
the
people of
the northern
group
and the Cook
Islands. It
won’t be long before all the
waters are devoid of fish stocks like Raro.
This is a short-term
gain for long-term
pain. Cook
Islands
fish should
be for local fisherman,
why
doesn’t the government have the political guts to
arm our own people with the tools required to create our own industry?
...Prime Minister
Puna, if you care
about the
future of our
ocean and
primary food
source
you will stop
this madness.
Concerned
Cookie
Sydney
September 9
Is Wilkie Rasmussen
the new Obama?
Dear Editor,
In response to
Deputy Opposition
Leader
Wilkie Rasmussen’s
drivel on September
15, 2011, let
me make these
observations.
Why after four
years of unmentionable
bad performance,
Wilkie has
reinvented
himself into “The great initiator” or “The new giant of Pacific
politics?” Or maybe, the new “Obama?”
One can say
that with so
many
bad falls,
Wilkie is suffering
from
political concussion
and
drifting into
another realm.
Wilkie cannot
lay claim to
having
qualities which
he
does not have;
abilities which
escaped him
and courage
he is
still looking
for...
I suggest you
take a long
look at
the mirror
Wilkie... you
have just finished
four years
as a Minister.
You had the
opportunity
to be a giant
in the Pacific,
but
all
that
I can
see in
you is still
Wee Wilkie,
with giant
ambitions.
Norman
George
Independent
MP for Teenui
Mapumai
September 16
God hates prawns
Dear Editor,
While perusing
my Bible
the other day
I came
upon the
rather
alarming passage
relating
to my diet
and that
of many
others in the Cook
Islands.
In Leviticus
11 God
says: 11:9
These
shall ye
eat of
all
that
are in
the waters...
And all
that
have
not
fins and
scales
in the
seas, and
in the
rivers,
of
all that
move in
them
waters,
and of
any living
thing which
is
in the
waters,
they
shall
be an abomination
unto
you:
11:11 They
shall be
even an
abomination
unto you;
ye shall
not eat
of their
flesh,
but ye
shall have
their
carcasses
in abomination...
Of course
this means
no more
prawns,
mussels,
crayfish,
paua, pipi
, no more “throw
another shrimp on the barbie”, no more calamari rings, and no more curried
eke – a truly devastating gastronomical disappointment...
1. Why
does God
Hate
Prawns?
2. Will
I really
burn
in hell
forever
if I nibble
on another
octopus
curry?
Yours
Questioningly
Bill Carruthers
October
11
‘Fuzzywuzzy crap’ draws flak
Dear Editor,
I refer to your gutless anonymous correspondent who calls his
gutless
self as “No
confidence
in Board”. The name he has given himself tells you
that he is not a member of the CISNOC Executive Board, and
by the tone of the whole of his
vomit,
a member of the few s--- stirring codes who want the board
to do what they want and not necessarily what is in the best
interest of sports throughout
the country.
Your
gutless
correspondent
tells
you all
the
good
things
about
why Baudinet
was
appointed...
I have
told
Baudinet
the reason
for his
appointment
and it
had nothing
whatsoever
to
do with
the fuzzywuzzy
crap
he told
you and
sundry
in his
gutless
letter...
I am
looking
forward
to meeting
with
your
gutless
correspondent
at a
meeting
with
myself
next
week.
He
has had
all weekend
to
make
up his
mind
and
I have
not
received
a reply.
Yours
in the
Wonderful
World
of Sports,
Sir Geoffrey
Henry
President
of CISNOC
November
1
‘Guildford harassed me’
Dear Editor,
I had the unfortunate experience of being harassed by a drunken
Zac Guilford on
Thursday evening.
I was on a
training run at about
5.30pm when Guildford
drove erratically
past me near the Edgewater
Resort. Him and
his friends
then did ‘dough-nuts’ on
their
motorbikes on a vacant section.
Then
Guildford proceeded
to drive slowly
past me,
back and forth
several times,
shouting inappropriate
sexual and
defamatory comments
to me. This
carried on
for about
1km. I
told him
to go away,
to leave
me alone.
But he persisted
in harassing me...
His
behaviour was
totally inappropriate,
to the
point where
I felt
unsafe...
We
don’t
need tourists
like him
on our
island!
Kelly
Pick
November
14
Scott’s 'smell' should
not
be
tolerated
Dear
Editor,
I
do not
live in
the tapere
of Muri
in the
village of
Ngatangiia.
Nonetheless
I am
outraged that
Scott’s
Egg
Farm
is
allowed,
year
after
year
after
year,
to
continue
to
operate
in
such
a way
that
this
farm
churns
out
the
most
awful,
nauseating
smell.
How
this government
and previous
administrations have
allowed Scott’s
farm
to
continue
operating
and
polluting
the
surrounding
environment
with
a smell
that
is
horrible
and
gut-wrenching
to
say
the
least
is
beyond
me...
if
government is
not prepared
to do
anything about
getting rid
of the
foul smell
at farm,
a good
way for
people to
stand up
and protest
against the
problem is
to stop
buying Scott’s
eggs and
stop voting
for politicians
who make
empty promises.
Stop
the rot
December
12
Lower
the departure
tax
Dear
Editor,
Now
that the
departure tax
has been
raised again
I am
issuing a
challenge to
the present
government to
look into
the matter
and reduce
the departure
tax fee
to at
least $35.
A
number of
our elderly
people do
travel overseas
especially to
New Zealand
for medical
check-ups. With
the amount
of money
the pensioners
are receiving
this is
quite unacceptable.
Teariki
Simiona
Tamaiva
Mataiapo
December
14
Thank-you,
Rarotonga, for
an
amazing Vaka
Eiva
Dear
Editor,
This
is overdue
as we
have had
to take
time to
stop shivering
upon returning
to Canada
and a
chilly winter!
The Jericho
Outrigger paddlers,
from Vancouver,
British Colombia,
wanted to
thank everyone
on Rarotonga
for the
amazing event
of Vaka
Eiva.
There
are far
too many
people to
name individuals
(starting with
Victoria Dearlove
who answered
months of
emails!) but
we did
want to
let you
know that
the whole
island made
this trip
memorable for
us. From
our greeting
at the
airport with
leis and
pawpaw to
the support
and access
to canoes
for the
week before
races began
to every
restaurant and
shop we
went into – we were made welcome.
The sponsors and volunteers of the race itself were incredible – the
racing association
that makes
such an
event possible,
Cook Islands
News providing
such great
coverage that
made us
eager to
grab the
paper each
morning...
Your
island is
beautiful and
your people
wonderful. We
all hope
to be
back again
and are
madly spreading
the word
to all
paddlers in
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west coast.
Jan
Chavarie
Vancouver
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Kata Friday 18 Feb
Kata Saturday 14 May
Kata Wednesday 17 August
Kata Friday 19 August
Kata Tuesday 15 November
Avocado not rated for export
Mon
9 Jan
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Cook Islands avocado is not likely to be commercially grown at this stage, but the agriculture ministry encourages locals to plant it for their own consumption.
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Amidst suggestions for the commercial production of crops in the Cook Islands, agriculture minister Nandi Glassie says priority will continue to be given to plants for which there is already a market.
He says while there are many crops which can be commercially grown in the Cook Islands including avocado and jackfruit it is not worth developing business around those until a secure export market can be identified.
In the meantime, the agriculture ministry is focusing on the development of vanilla, coffee, noni and pineapple.
Glassie says those are the top cash crops for the Cook Islands, and are being grown to satisfy an existing demand.
If people are interested in growing other things we still encourage them to do so, but at this stage we are focussing in the cash crops.
Glassie says there is strong international demand for Cook Islands noni, vanilla and coffee, as well as local demand for pineapples grown in Mangaia and Atiu.
The pineapple can be supplied to our hotels and restaurants.
He says Cook Islands avocado cannot commercially compete with the large scale production of avocado within New Zealands Bay of Plenty and elsewhere such as Tahiti.
Similarly, jackfruit is already being grown commercially for sale throughout the wider export region.
I think people are planting avocado mainly for their own home consumption. We havent really tested its commercial value but encourage growers to do one thing at a time and do it well.
Its because of the market we know theres a market for noni, vanilla and pineapple but with avocado at this stage we have to be careful.
Glassie says avocado was traditionally used as a butter substitute in the Cook Islands.
It is considered to be less cumbersome to grow than arrowroot (maniota) because there is no need for weeding and ground management.
An acre planted in avocado is also considered to yield far more nutritional and economic value than the same land planted in many other crops or put to pasture.
Sixteen new foreign enterprises approved
Mon
9 Jan
In the past year a total of 16 foreign enterprises collectively worth $37 million have been approved by the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB).
The board says in 2011 it granted the 16 approvals, of which the bulk of investment relates to harbour developments on Rarotonga and Mauke.
Aside from infrastructure, the largest sector for foreign investment last year was tourism.
BTIB says it approved foreign tourism enterprises collectively worth $4.4 million in 2011.
In the same time the board approved $1.3 million worth of manufacturing-related foreign enterprises, and $675,000 in the retail sector.
BTIB says 2011 was a difficult year in terms of business sales to foreign buyers.
All in all there has been little movement from investors in buying existing businesses or start-up businesses which would reflect the current financial climate, the latest BTIB Gazette states.
BTIB has not factored into its calculations foreign investment in the fishing industry, because the relevant 2011 data has yet to be collated.
LEAF concert on track but delayed
Tue
10 Jan
A planned concert to raise money for a Cook Islands youth centre will go ahead, despite some major setbacks, according to organisers.
The Cook Islands Rock Fest was initially scheduled for December 16, 2011, but organisers failed to sell enough tickets and it was postponed at the last minute. In total just 20 concert tickets were sold including VIP tickets each worth $150.
All ticket buyers have now been fully refunded.
The concert was the brainchild of local group Lend a Hand Foundation (LEAF), spearheaded by former LEAF president Ashley Wichman.
LEAF initially consisted of Miriama Herman as executive chairman, Mike Ponga as treasurer and Tuhilani Hosking as secretary.
Members included Eric Wichman, Lilian Rennie, Deyna Marsh, Donna Apaina and Natua Teururai.
They hoped to raise $50,000 through staging the concert, and establish a youth centre for troubled young Cook Islanders.
Well-known New Zealand-based artists signed on to perform, including J Williams, K-One, Vince Harder, Ben Lummis, Brandon P, DJ Reminise, Young Sid of the popular hip-hop group Smashproof and Pieter T.
The concert was budgeted to cost $30,000 for airfares
and accommodation for visiting artists and was to be funded entirely by ticket sales
and donations.
LEAF did not receive any donations prior to the concert.
Wichman says $1430 was paid to book the National Auditorium as the concert venue, but organisers have not been able to get the money back.
We needed this to refund tickets but then could not get it so I had to refund tickets from my own pocket, she says.
Wichman says it was disheartening for organisers, and accordingly there was also little money to advertise the concert.
The team worked really hard trying to fundraise and attended meetings to try and find ways to make things easier.
Wichman, who is currently in New Zealand, says she is in the process of organising a new concert date to suit all artists.
She had to leave Rarotonga recently to sort out other business ventures, entirely separate from LEAF and the concert, but says she remains involved in the project.
Wichman plans to return to the Cook Islands after she has also sorted out some business in Australia.
Her commitments and the postponement of the concert has seen another member take over as LEAF director.
LEAFs website designer and marketer has also left the Cook Islands for New Zealand.
But Wichman assures Cook Islanders that LEAF is still on track to deliver the Cook Islands Rock Fest.
Tapi Taio decries fishing situation
Tue
10 Jan
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Tapi Taio.
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Local fisherman Tapi Taio says government is ruining the domestic fishing industry by licensing foreign vessel operators to fish in Cook Islands waters.
Taio says the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) three-year exploratory fishing programme, to determine whether commercial fishing can be sustained in relation to skipjack and bigeye tuna as well as swordfish, will be detrimental to the country.
He says the licence fees imposed by government to date, for 17 Chinese long line vessels to operate, are ridiculously low.
Government collectively charged the 17 vessels $810,000 for 12-month licences to fish through the exploratory programme for bigeye and swordfish.
If the licences are renewed for the length of the three-year programme, the 17 vessel owners will collectively pay $2.4 million.
But Taio says that is a pittance in relation to the profit those vessel operators will make selling Cook Islands-caught fish on international markets.
Its peanuts they are giving our fish away. They (fishers) will clean out the ocean.
Taio says his single commercial fishing boat lands between 30 and 40 tonnes of fish each year, which sells locally for
between $600,000 and $800,000.
He says not only is government selling 17 vessel licences for that much ($810,000), but the yearly catch on each of those vessels will be far greater in tonnage and attract a much higher price on international markets such as Japan.
They (each vessel) will take away 70,000 to 100,000 tonnes of fish each year. Japan is the biggest buyer of fresh fish and the main distributor in the world.
Our fish will be sold for the top price in Japan.
Just last week a 269kg bluefin tuna sold in Japan for almost $1 million smashing the previous record price paid for a single tuna.
Other Cook Islands fishermen have given up, Taio says, and he will likely follow suit.
Two of my friends have stopped. Im the only one and I will stop after nearly 15 years fishing because the ocean will be cleaned out.
Look at the effects that will do to the country the worse thing is tourism wont have any fish.
Taio says during this weekend just gone he was contacted by local restaurant owners desperate to buy fish.
He says Rarotonga restaurants and other tourist pro-
viders collectively need thousands of kilograms of fish each week.
If there are no domestic commercial fishing operations to supply that demand, Taio says the foreign fishers will be in a prime position to sell Cook Islands-caught fish locally for top dollar.
Will they sell it cheap? I dont think so. I reckon this will turn around and kill our tourism industry we havent gained anything.
Taio also says the four licences for purse seine vessels available through the exploratory programme should be axed.
He says purse seine fishing is environmentally hazardous and instead those licences should be allocated to long line vessels.
The boats with nets reel in a lot of fish as well as turtles, sharks and dolphins. Wheres environment (National Environment Service)?
Are they sleeping or doing something about it? Are they concerned about it?
Taio says he has shared his concerns with Greenpeace.
To me, it is sad. Its going to kill some of our protected marine species and our oceans will be cleaned out.
Marine resources and tourism minister Teina Bishop has been asked to respond to Taios comments.
Tahiti flights remain
Tue
10 Jan
Delays beset Air Tahitis first flight from Papeete for the New Year, causing confusion for people at Rarotonga awaiting the planes touchdown.
But people who think the late landing and take-off on Thursday are being asked to ignore the issue, with the airlines flight plans for 2012 to resume regular service this week.
No major changes will affect the Air Tahiti flights linking Rarotonga and Papeete during 2012, with the airline set to continue its once-weekly flight for the upcoming year.
The first flight of the year into Rarotonga on January 5 was delayed a few hours, leaving passengers bound for French Polynesias capital waiting in
Rarotonga until late that evening.
The delay had people wondering if the airline had pushed back its weekly flight to a later hour, but officials say the delay was a one-off.
Air Tahiti will continue flying between the Cook Islands and Tahiti once a week each Thursday.
Flight GZ035 is scheduled to fly into Rarotonga, touching down at 2.50pm at Rarotonga International Airport.
After a quick turnaround, the plane will head back to Papeete at 3.50pm.
The schedule is effective for the entirety of 2012 and carries on from the airlines Thursday schedule run in 2011.
Check-in facilities at Rarotonga open at 1.50pm and will close at 3.20pm for the 3.50pm flight.
During the mid-year peak season for travel, Air Tahiti sometimes puts on two flights between Papeete and Rarotonga each week.
The two flights per week schedule is run based on demand and is not a permanent part of the airlines scheduling.
Fishermen meet minister to discuss their concerns
Tue
10 Jan
Rarotonga-based fishermen are meeting marine resources minister Teina Bishop and secretary Ben Ponia this week to discuss their concerns.
A group of fishermen requested the meeting, which Bishop and Ponia agreed to.
Speaking from Aitutaki yesterday, Bishop said the meeting will be held in his office on Wednesday afternoon.
He is not sure exactly what time the meeting will start, and neither is Ponia.
Bishop says he does not see why the meeting should not be open to the general public.
Cook Islands News continues to receive letters to the editor from local fishermen concerned about declining catch rates and governments increased dealings with foreign fishing operators.
Mama Daniel celebrates 100th birthday!
Tue
10 Jan
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Amuri resident Mama Caroline Daniel (above) is now one of a few Cook Islanders to have celebrated their 100th birthday.
She partied with a few hundred friends and family members at Amuri Hall in Aitutaki yesterday afternoon, having been carried in on a paata.
Mama Daniel is the oldest living person on Aitutaki, and possibly the eldest in the Cook Islands.
Mike Henry, who is one of Mama Daniels nephews, says she was born in Mangaia on January 9, 1912, to parents Vaine and John Cameron. This photograph was taken last year at Mama Daniels 99th birthday party.
Cook Islands News will publish a selection of photographs from her 100th birthday celebrations in tomorrows edition.
Related story Mama still independent at 100!
Water system upgrade for southern Aitutaki
Tue
10 Jan
Aitutaki Hospitals water supplies will be strengthened early this year through planned upgrades to the Vaimaru water facilities.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is currently searching for a project manager on its Aitutaki project which will improve the pumping and storage facilities at Vaimaru water supply site.
The facilities supply water to areas in the south of Aitutaki island including residents in Nikaupara and the hospital when needed.
The Aitutaki hospital has two water tanks on site, which holds water from a number of sources including that collected on the buildings roof, but draws water from the Vaimaru supply site when necessary.
The planned Vaimaru water supply rehabilitation project, as it is known, is expected to cost up to $200,000 and improve water pressure for the people of Nikaupara and the area while firming up the hospitals supplies as a side-effect.
The project will improve the facilities at Vaimaru, not replace them.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning has included the project in its 2011-12 budget and has planned for the upgrades since 2010 in the wake of Cyclone Pat, which hit Aitutaki in February that year.
A ministry spokesman said the project was not included in the cyclone recovery work carried out since the beginning of 2010, but one that would compliment all the work included in the wider programme.
Once the project manager is found, the ministry will begin searching for a company to supply materials and carry out the work.
The project is expected to begin in the second quarter of the 2012 calendar year.
The project manager will be responsible for the overall administration and completion of the project, making sure the work is carried out in the agreed timeline and according to approved designs and standards.
Full terms of references and application details are available through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning on 20321.
Virgin cancels a few flights
Tue
10 Jan
Flight cancellations to Virgin Australias Auckland-Rarotonga link this week will not affect the level of long-term services connecting the Cook Islands, an airline representative has said.
A Virgin Australia flight to and from Auckland this week was cancelled for operation reasons with three others in February also cancelled.
The airline, which operated under the name Pacific Blue in the Pacific region until December last year, is bringing passengers from Auckland to Rarotonga five nights a week during the 2011-12 summer period.
An airline representative said that although the period is typically softer for airline travel, it is seeing positive forward-bookings figures for its flights towards the end of the cyclone season.
The representative went on to say the airline has also increased its seat capacity to the Cook Islands by about one-third when compared to last year.
Being the peak of the cyclone season, this is traditionally a soft month for demand. It is important to note we are only talking about three flights across the entire month of February, the representative said.
Any guest booked on these flights will be moved to the closest alternative flight the following day at no additional charge.
We are already seeing good forward demand for flights towards the end of the cyclone season.
It should also be noted that, compared to the same period last year, Virgin Australia has actually increased seat capacity between Auckland and Rarotonga by 30%.
Virgin Australia has been operating flights to Rarotonga since 2005 and that that long-term commitment will continue.
Observers will cover 5% of fishing
Tue
10 Jan
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Andrew Jones.
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Despite claiming foreign fishers will be strictly monitored while operating in Cook Islands waters, the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) is likely to obtain just five percent observer coverage on long line fleets.
MMR is currently recruiting applicants to partake in observer training for positions onboard long line vessels.
The training coincides with the ministrys three-year exploratory fishing programme, which has just begun.
Through the programme up to 20 long line vessels and four purse seine vessels are allowed to fish in Cook Islands waters for bigeye and skipjack tuna as well as swordfish (broadbill).
The programme has proved controversial, with many community members and those in environment groups concerned fish stocks will be plundered.
Throughout the last year MMR has held public meetings and consultations in an effort to alleviate worry.
The ministry promises to impose strict surveillance on foreign fishers licensed to operate in the Cook Islands exclusive economic zone.
But it has come to light that MMR is only obligated to obtain five percent observer coverage on long line vessels, through Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission requirements.
Andrew Jones, of MMR, is organising the observer training programme to begin later this month.
He says the ministry wishes to train five recruits through the workshop, with the aim of holding further workshops in following years.
Government has already licensed 17 Chinese long line vessels to fish for bigeye and swordfish over the next 12 months.
Jones says every licensed vessel should have an observer placement at least one trip per year.
Observers are not required to be on board vessels all the time. The logistics of 100 percent observer coverage for a national programme is realistically unachievable, if not impossible.
He says the training is aimed at introducing more Cook Islanders into the national observer programme, to boost observer numbers and provide employment opportunities to Cook Islanders on foreign-flagged vessels.
There is always some attrition of numbers over time.
Training will focus on data collection, monitoring of regulations and operation of vessels.
Recruits will also be trained to correctly complete all data collection forms, identify species, understand marine pollution rules, and correctly determine vessel operations.
They will also be schooled on species of special interest including whales, birds and dolphins and given training in first aid, fire fighting and sea safety.
Jones says MMR is responsible for observer placement, therefore the ministry will contract qualified observers to work within its exploratory programme.
He says the cost of observer placement will be met by the relevant fishing companies.
This months workshop takes place in Rarotonga, but Jones says future Cook Islands recruits may be sent to training workshops throughout the region.
Cabinets first meeting of the new year
Tue
10 Jan
Cabinet ministers will meet tomorrow for the first time this year. But they will do so without Prime Minister Henry Puna, who has travelled to Abu Dhabi via New Zealand for a couple of business meetings.
Puna and finance minister Mark Brown departed Rarotonga for New Zealand on Saturday and met with the Japanese ambassador to the Cook Islands.
Brown, speaking to Cook Islands News from New Zealand yesterday, said he and Puna discussed a range of issues with the ambassador. Brown is due to arrive in Rarotonga first thing tomorrow, in time for the cabinet meeting.
Puna has travelled on to Abu Dhabi where he is engaging in meetings to do with renewable energy. CINews understands he is accompanied by one or two members of staff from the Office of the Prime Minister.
Puna is due to arrive back in the Cook Islands by Monday January 16.
Tapi Taio answers Mauke concerns
Tue
10 Jan
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More than a year after stranding on Mauke’s reef, MV Te Kou Maru II lies contorted and crumpled into the island’s rock face, having battered and defaced nearly one kilometre of coastline.
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Mauke’s island authorities want the wreck removed.
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Some progress has been made towards resolving issues surrounding the decrepit MV Te Kou Maru II stuck on Maukes beach.
The boat, belonging to Rarotonga businessman Tapi Taio, stranded on the western section of Maukes reef in October 2010.
Since then it has been pushed across the lagoon and on to the islands shore damaging coral and coastline in the process.
The cargo vessel lies in pieces and the Mauke Island Council is concerned the ships rusting metal will adversely affect marine life.
No one knows for sure if fish can be poisoned from the ships rust, but councillors prefer to see the end of Te Kou Maru IIs beach occupation.
Taio says he has salvaged everything he wants from the vessel and plans to have it cut into pieces and removed from Mauke.
But in order to do that, he needs to get heavy equipment to the island and accordingly is waiting for the wharf upgrade to be completed.
That should be in a couple of months and we keep our fingers crossed, Taio says.
He is not sure exactly when the ship will be cut up and removed, but hopes it will be this year.
In the meantime, those on Mauke remain uncertain about the ship and its impact on the island environment.
Mauke mayor George Samuela says he has not recently spoken to Taio, but has asked Mauke environment officer Basilio Kaokao to discuss the issue with government.
We have been trying to get government to do something, but the outcome is still nothing, Samuela says.
The island council wants to get rid of this mess, but we are still waiting for Rarotonga to send the documents for the receiver of wrecks before any work can commence on the removal of the ship. The island council itself has agreed for this wreck to be removed, so it is a matter of who will do it, or who will be responsible for financing the removal.
Samuela says he plans to travel to Rarotonga this month to talk with Tapi and the transport secretary.
Theres no problem as yet with the wreck, like fish poisoning and reef damage, but we dont want that to happen and we are trying to prevent it from happening, he says.
Kaokao has spoken with Taio, but says he is waiting for the vessel owner to contact the Ministry of Transport.
There has been no progress, he says.
The ministrys marine director Ned Howard says he hopes to call a meeting at which Taio, Samuela and Kaokao can discuss the situation and forge a way forward.
Howard says to date there has been no formal decision on whether the ship will remain on Mauke or be removed.
I think its best if Tapi makes that call or decision.
If the vessel is cut up and transported off Maukes coast, subsequent issues of cost and responsibility will come into play.
Cook Islands News asked Taio to explain whether his company will take responsibility for the vessels stranding and cover its removal costs.
Taio says the vessel and whatever equipment or parts are still salvageable belong to him.
He previously told CINews he does not expect government to pay for the boats removal from Mauke, but at the same time he does not have a clear answer about whether he will pay for its removal and if so, when.
Ministry of Transport secretary Aukino Tairea recently said the issue is a complex one and something that needs to be treated with sensitivity.
Tairea tried in vain to appoint a receiver of wrecks, who would ultimately be responsible for ensuring all parties honour their responsibility.
He said without one, it is hard to find an appropriate solution which suits all involved.
Asked whether the ministry has power to prosecute, Tairea said we dont want to go through that process.
Air New Zealand wins airline industry Oscars
Tue
10 Jan
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Rarotonga-based Air New Zealand staff are ‘thrilled’ about the airline winning Air Transport World’s prestigious Airline of the Year award. Here they pose in their new uniforms, which were introduced company-wide earlier this year.
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Air New Zealand has won Air Transport Worlds prestigious Airline of the Year award for the second time in three years.
This is the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the awards that an airline has won the Airline of the Year twice in three years. Air New Zealand has won more Air Transport World (ATW) awards than any other airline in the past decade.
In the eyes of the judges, Air New Zealand was the best airline in the world in the past 12 months.
Cook Islands-based Air New Zealand manager David Bridge says the 58 local Air New Zealand staff are thrilled about the award.
The team here in Rarotonga is thrilled that Air New Zealand is again recognised at the ATW Airline of the Year awards. This is an amazing accolade for our airline and the 11,500 people who make it tick, including the 58 staff based here in Rarotonga.
From a local perspective, Cook Islanders can be proud to have the best airline in the world connecting them to New Zealand, Australia, the United States and beyond, he said.
The ATW judges lauded Air New Zealands industry-leading innovation and motivation of its staff, which had resulted in exceptional performance across the airline in market position, customer service, fiscal management and operational safety.
They described Air New Zealand as an industry trendsetter in a number of areas including product innovation and social media.
Judges were also impressed with the airlines environmental initiatives including its commitment to operating a very young and highly fuel efficient fleet.
Air New Zealand was also commended for the way in which it had dealt with several natural disasters including the Christchurch earthquakes, and had stepped up to assist the communities that were affected.
Air New Zealand chief exe-
cutive officer Rob Fyfe, who
will travel to Singapore next month to collect the award, said todays announcement came as a huge thrill.
Winning ATW Airline of the Year in 2010 was in my view one of the greatest accolades that had ever been bestowed on Air New Zealand in our industry its equivalent to winning an Oscar. To pick up the award again this year is simply outstanding.
The awards ceremony, which will be held in Singapore on February 13, will be attended by hundreds of aviation leaders from around the world.
For Air New Zealand to again be recognised as the number one airline in competition with the worlds biggest and best airlines is testament to the continued hard work and passion of our 11,500 staff throughout the world, says Fyfe.
Fyfe said the award reflected Air New Zealanders commitment to delivering customers with a uniquely Kiwi experience in one of the worlds most competitive industries.
For many years now we have pursued a strategy that recognises that our people, rather than our planes, are the most valuable asset in our business.
The airline industry is volatile and we believe the agility of our people to adapt and adjust our business to changing customer expectations, new competitors and uncertain economic conditions has enabled Air New Zealand to outperform most of our peers both financially and in terms of the genuine service we deliver. Fyfe said the airline continued to be recognised internationally for its innovation, particularly in its marketing approach and products such as the game-changing economy Skycouch seating on its new 777-300ER aircraft.
Mama still independent at 100!
Wed
11 Jan
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On her 100th birthday Mama Caroline Daniel is carried through Aitutaki on a paata.
ALL PHOTOS MIKE HENRY
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Surrounded by four generations of family, Aitutakis Mama Caroline Daniel celebrated her 100th birthday this week.
The communitys eldest resident and possibly the oldest living person in the Cook Islands turned 100 on January 9.
Mama Caroline was born in Mangaia on January 9, 1912, to parents Vaine Tutai and John Cameron a Scotsman.
She partied with a few hundred friends and family members at Amuri Hall in Aitutaki on Monday, having been driven through the islands eight villages and carried on a paata like a queen.
Oro Toroka is usually reserved for weddings, but Aitutakis community decided to make an exception for the special occasion.
Every few metres the truck kindly donated by Vonnias was stopped as villagers gave Mama Caroline their birthday wishes and donations.
She was also carried on a paata courtesy of the Aitutaki Island Council and received a turou (welcome) from Amuri member of parliament Toa Isamaela as well as one of her grandsons.
At a kaikai Mama Carolines genealogy was read out by relative and former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry, who also read aloud her birthday messages from the Queen, Prime Minister Henry Puna, Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin and New Zealand Governor-General Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae.
Families throughout Aitutaki and even some in Rarotonga helped with the catering for Mama Carolines birthday, donating food and money as well as cooking and preparing various traditional dishes.
Amazingly, Mama Caroline continues to enjoy her complete independence.
She chooses to live alone and manages to take care of herself, although she is constantly visited by family and friends.
Mama Carolines favourite activities are sewing and reading.
On her birthday she danced with loved ones, made speeches and recognised everyone by name.
Family members travelled especially to Aitutaki for her birthday from as far away as the United States.
Mama Carolines father was the resident agent of Aitutaki as well as Mangaia and Mauke in his time.
While quite young Mama Caroline had two children to Tanumafili Malietoa the son of a Samoan Ariki.
After returning to Aitutaki following the birth of her children Tutai and Henry, Mama Caroline married Daniel (Dan) Daniel.
Her daughter and Samoan chief Tutai Malietoa was by her side when she blew out the candles on her 100th birthday cake this week.
Mama Carolines son Henry passed away a couple of years ago, but his children travelled to Aitutaki for this weeks birthday celebrations.
Related story Mama Daniel celebrates 100th birthday!
Like a queen, Aitutaki’s Caroline Daniel celebrates turning 100.
PHOTO MIKE HENRY
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Mama Caroline Daniel celebrates her 100th birthday with Helen Henry in Aitutaki on Monday evening.
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Mama Caroline Daniel makes a wish while blowing out the candles on her 100th birthday cake, alongside daughter and Samoa chief Tutai Malietoa.
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Worlds worst population growth
Wed
11 Jan
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Saipan, the Northern Mariana Islands’ capital island, suffered the worst of the commonwealth’s depopulation in recent years.
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The Cook Islands is expected to take ownership of an unwanted title this year and become the country with the worlds worst population growth.
Currently, the Northern Mariana Islands is recorded as having the worst population growth rate in the world, according to statistics gathered in the United States.
It sits at the bottom of the CIAs World Factbook population growth rate chart one position below the Cook Islands with a negative 4 per cent population growth estimated for 2011.
The Cook Islands, at 229 in the lists 230 countries, is estimated to have a negative 3.2 percent growth rate for the year, with the tiny North American French territory Saint Pierre and Miguelon the third worst with negative 0.97 per cent growth.
The Northern Mariana Islands, a string of 15 islands in the western Pacific about a third of the way from the Philippines to Hawaii, has held the bottom wrung of the World Factbooks population growth ladder for a number of years after the commonwealth went through a devastating collapse beginning in 2008.
From an all-time high population of 86,616 in July 2008, the nation shed 46 per cent of its numbers by July 2011, leaving it with a meagre 46,050 people.
The collapse occurred because the United States, tightened immigration and minimum wage laws in the commonwealth, which exists in political union with the US.
Until 2009, the Northern Mariana Islands were exempt from immigration and salary laws that had existed in the US for years.
The loop made the commonwealth attractive to Chinese, Filipino and Thai clothing companies, which could send workers to the islands with only loose formalities guiding their presence and pay.
The companies could also market the clothing made there as being Made in the USA because the Northern Mariana Islands were considered US territory.
All this meant that about one-third of the commonwealths population was made up of foreign workers filling jobs in garment factories, often in poor conditions for little pay.
In November 2009, the commonwealth handed its immigration controls over to the US and the circumstances allowing companies to have such a large workforce in the Northern Mariana Islands disappeared.
Almost instantly, the Northern Marianas saw tens of thousands of its workers leave its shores, leading to the dramatic population decline.
In 2011, the commonwealth improved its depopulation rate to negative 4 per cent and it is expected the level out further and possibly enter positive territory as the workers not tied to the clothing industry remain.
While good news for the Northern Marianas, it means the Cook Islands will be left at the bottom of the population growth table as the only other country or dependant territory on Earth with a population growth smaller than negative 1 per cent.
Preliminary results from the 2011 census carried out in the Cook Islands in November suggest depopulation may not be as high as negative 3.2 per cent as suggested in the World Factbook, but the results would still not be enough to lift the Cook Islands off the bottom of its list.
At November 2011, the Cook Islands had a population of 17,791 a decrease of 8.1 per cent when compared to last census taken in 2006.
The figure shows the Cook Islands has seen about 2.1 per cent of its population leave each year between 2006 and 2011.
The population-sap is, of course, well known in the Cook Islands.
With a New Zealand citizenship granted to every Cook Islander at birth, younger people are likely to leave for New Zealand to find higher education and more economic opportunities.
Due to this, there are about 50,000 Cook Islanders or people of a Cook Islands descent living in New Zealand a high figure when compared to the 17,000 that live in their homeland.
When the censuss preliminary results were released, Prime Minister Henry Puna said the problem of population decline was clearly evident.
Puna said the government was working on advancing the local economy to attract back and retain more Cook Islanders at their home.
He also described the people of the Cook Islands as travellers, historically and in modern times, and said the importance of being able to travel to New Zealand and Australia should not be taken too lightly.
The population loss is one (issue) that stands out. That is a concern, he said.
We are trying to build up our economy so that people can find a good reason to stay here, but theres still some leakage.
But we should not underestimate the attraction of the freedom to travel. Cook Islanders have always been travellers our forefathers got here because they were travelling the ocean. The freedom to travel to New Zealand and Australia adds to that attraction and we should not underestimate that.
| Population growth rate 2011 estimates |
| Rank |
Country |
% |
| 1 |
Zimbabwe |
4.31 |
| 2 |
Niger |
3.64 |
| 3 |
Uganda |
3.58 |
| 4 |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
3.49 |
| 5 |
Burundi |
3.46 |
| ... |
... |
... |
| 226 |
Montenegro |
-0.71 |
| 227 |
Bulgaria |
-0.78 |
| 228 |
Saint Pierre and Miguelon |
-0.97 |
| 229 |
Cook Islands |
-3.2 |
| 230 |
Northern Mariana Islands |
-4 |
| Source: CIA’s World Factbook |
Surplus still at tender
Wed
11 Jan
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Noorua Teinangaro works to repair a category three home in Aitutaki, following Cyclone Pat in February 2010.
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The Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) is still yet to accept a tender for surplus cyclone recovery material on Aitutaki.
Tender submissions closed on December 2 last year.
Rarotonga-based project manager Joe Akaruru says a tender is being considered by an appointed tender committee.
The tender is still with the tender committee and we are still awaiting confirmation as to the outcome of their review of the tender, he says.
MOIP advertised the sale of all surplus materials leftover from a cyclone recovery programme, following Cyclone Pat which devastated Aitutaki in February 2010.
Items include fastenings (nails, brackets, washers, bolts, galvanised wire), damp-proof course bitumen rolls, polythene membrane, primer, building paper, sealing tape, electrical wire, light switches, flush boxes, electrical cable, storm cloud spouting, almost 3000 steel rods, plumbing materials, and almost 500 concrete blocks.
Tenders had to be on an as is, where is basis and cover the whole of materials.
They must include a 10 percent deposit and the successful contractor must then pay the remaining 90 percent within 10 working days of the tender being awarded.
Unsuccessful applicants will be refunded the 10 percent deposit as soon as is practicable.
Successful contractors are responsible for arranging, uplifting and relocating all materials, currently being held at the Orongo Centre on Aitutaki, within two working days at their own cost.
Homes wanted
Wed
11 Jan
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Local animal clinic volunteer Ledaina Tupou with one of the cute puppies up for adoption at the Esther Honey clinic in Nikao.
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Kittens by the dozens need loving homes to go to and you are sure to have a best friend for life when you adopt one of these cuties. /
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Love and adopt a new pet for 2012.
The local Esther Honey Foundation in Nikao has up to 30 kittens, cats, puppies and dogs that need a loving home.
Kittens by the litter are being brought into the Nikao clinic, mostly by tourists, and volunteer vets are urging cat owners to take their pets in to the clinic to be neutered to help control the cat population on the island.
A couple of cute puppies also need homes as well as a couple of friendly old dogs that would make great mates and guard dogs.
Clinic director Gregg Young acknowledges that it takes time to educate people on the importance of neutering and spaying animals for a healthy population and is encouraging locals to take responsibility for their pets.
If youve just picked up a stray animal, good on you but take them into the clinic to be neutered so you dont wake up one morning to a litter of puppies or kittens that you cant look after.
If you are looking for new company this year get a dog or kitten and you are guaranteed they will be your friend for life!
Adopting a pet is not hard all they need besides a healthy diet is lots of love and attention.
To continue helping island animals the clinic is running a quiz night this coming Saturday at the Tang Tapas Bar in Arorangis Crown Beach Resort and Spa from 6.30pm.
It has an animal fancy dress theme and there will be spot prizes for the best dressed, most imaginative answers and smartest team.
Tapas snacks will be provided and alcohol will be on sale with specials throughout the night.
Entertainment is free.
Tickets are $25 per person and teams can comprise between six and eight people.
To purchase tickets or for more information contact Esther Honey practice manager Jess Moore-Jones on 71875, 22336, or by email on jess.moore-jones@hotmail.com or alternatively, visit the clinic in Nikao.
Pacific Resort Aitutaki sponsors bins
Wed
11 Jan
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Proceeds from Pacific Resort Aitutakis first annual community fundraising drive have been donated to the Aitutaki Conservation Trusts Sponsor A Bin campaign.
The staff of Pacific Resort Aitutaki donated money raised toward the purchase of bins, and the Pacific Resort Hotel Group comprising Pacific Resort Rarotonga, Te Manava Villas and Pacific Resort Aitutaki sponsored the purchase of another four bins.
The Sponsor A Bin initiative, run by the Aitutaki Conservation Trust, aims to reduce the litter on Aitutaki and encourage people to keep Aitutaki clean. It survives thanks to strong support from mayor John Baxter and the island council.
Says the Aitutaki Conservation Trust: As you may be aware, our beautiful island Aitutaki does not have rubbish or recycling bins available for public use.
The Aitutaki Conservation Trust would like to rectify this by placing bins for public use at key areas on our island including the Aitutaki Post Office, all sports fields, all wharf areas, Ootu Beach and Base One just to name a few.
We (the Aitutaki Conservation Trust) are seeking sponsors to assist with the purchase and installation of these bins.
Pacific Resort Aitutaki decided to take on the challenge.
Its community fundraising drive was launched at the resort staff party in December with a view to assist with community projects on Aitutaki.
The winner was drawn by Aitutaki deputy mayor Poo Bishop. First prize went to Tearoa Simiona, who won return airfares to Rarotonga courtesy of Air Rarotonga and two nights in a suite at Pacific Resort Rarotonga. Other prizes included a lagoon cruise for four donated by Aitutaki Adventures and a private big game fishing trip donated by Moonlight Charters.
The resort staff have supported this initiative to give back to their community and while the resort does this in other ways through the year, this annual fundraising event enables us to formally contribute to a specific cause each year to improve our community and the lives of our staff. We are delighted to support the Sponsor A Bin initiative (for the first time), general manager Julian Moore said.
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