MAIN STORIES

Task force to tackle pearl industry threat

Government has a task force lined up towards working on short and long term measures to deal with the urgent situation concerning the pearl oysters dying in the Manihiki lagoon.
Marine Resources Minister Dr Robert Woonton said a meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate and Marine Resources Under Secretary, Dr Pupuke Robati, yesterday resolved that he (Woonton) would be the task force chairman. Other members would include the Financial Secretary Kevin Carr, Secretary of Marine Resources Navy Epati and PM's Office Chief of Staff/aid official Eddie Drollett in consultation with various other people.
Woonton said the task force would be meeting to work out its terms of reference.
The minister along with Dr Robati were among the representation that flew up to Manihiki and other northern atolls from Rarotonga last Friday and returned at the weekend.
Minister Woonton said so far it's been confirmed that pearl oysters are dying for a number of reasons including a rise in the lagoon temperature and over-crowding of oysters.
It appears that a strand of the vibriosis organism, which is naturally in the lagoon, have under those conditions flourished and affected the oysters, he explained, particularly in the Tukao Bay area where there are a large number of small and large farms.
The minister said his ministry is still cross-checking tests of oyster samples sent to New Zealand with other overseas expert sources to be more certain about the vibriosis organism.
The Marine Resources Ministry along with the Manihiki Island Council is ensuring that management controls are in place.
Minister Woonton says marine officer Ian Bertram has in Manihiki already taken steps to move oysters into deeper waters and there's signs of the oysters recovering in some parts of the lagoon.
He explained that government is very concerned with what is happening, and with the threat posed to one of this country's top economic sectors, the pearl industry, with regards to the affects out on the farms and in the wider economy.
Woonton said government is doing all it can to help with the situation.
The minister said Marine Resources is helping farmers remove excess pearl oysters out of the Manihiki lagoon to allow others to survive.
Government will also find markets for pearls shells removed from the lagoon, and may even have to buy the shells off farmers.
As for an estimate of the damage caused so far to the pearl industry, Minister Woonton said it was too early to say at this stage.
He said that calm has been restored among pearl farmers on Manihiki. - Alex Sword

Tiaki Wuatai to be sworn in today as new MP

Government's Democratic Alliance Party candidate Tiaki Wuatai is expected to be sworn in today as a new Member of Parliament, Marine Resources Minister Dr Robert Woonton yesterday told Cook Island News.
That is despite an electoral petition lodged by the Cook Islands Party still pending.
Dr Woonton said last year the Cook Islands Party did the same thing, with Inatio Akaruru.
Wuatai was flown down to Rarotonga from Pukapuka at the weekend as part of a government charter flight that tied in with the delivery of experts to Manihiki Atoll to investigate the deaths of pearl oysters.
A final electoral count delivered on November 17 gave the second Pukapuka/Nassau by-election of September 28 to Wuati 210 as against CIP candidate and long standing MP Inatio Akaruru.
Wuatai gives the present coalition government 17 seats in the 25 member Parliament - just over two-thirds majority support. - Alex Sword

Former bank manager found guilty on 4 charges

A jury in the High Court, Avarua, last night found former Cook Islands Savings Bank manager in Mauke, Basilio Tutai Kaokao, guilty on one charge of intend to defraud and three charges of theft.
Koakao was found not guilty on a charge of stealing $500 on July 29 1998.
After about three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury of ten women and two men returned guilty verdicts on the charges that Kaokao:
- falsified documents between 1995 and 7 April 1999 with the intent to defraud $41,768.86
- stole $2,050 from the CIs Savings Bank on December 15 1998
- between 8 July and 5 December 1997 stole $10,430
- on March 15 1999 stole $1,420 from the CIs Savings Bank.
Chief Justice Laurence Greig told the court shortly before 8 o'clock last night that Kaokao would be remanded in custody until his sentencing this Thursday at 9am.
WRONG CHARGES?
During yesterday's trial, Chief Justice Greig told the jury that wrong charges may have been laid against Kaokao.
"Did he take the $5,000 or did he just make a book entry without actually doing anything with the cash?", questioned the chief justice over part of one of the four charges of theft against Kaokao.
"If it's the latter then he wouldn't have stolen the money. He may have had to face some other charge but not here and not today before you."
Similar questions must be asked of the other three theft charges, Chief Justice Greig said.
It was a surprising end to six days of evidence from more than 20 witnesses and 40 exhibits for the prosecution and defence. Kaokao was not accused of "taking" the money, said CJ Greig.
"He's accused of stealing, like someone who walks into a shop and takes something off the shelf and walks out without paying for it - or reaches his hand into a till and walks out with a handful of notes."
Jurors had to ask themselves whether Kaokao actually moved money around or just made notes in books, said Chief Justice Greig. Or if he really did make the money from fishing as he claims.
Another question faced jurors with regards to all five charges and that was whether he did so dishonestly with the intent to defraud the Cook Islands Savings Bank. Or was Kaokao just trying to hide a shortfall he knew nothing about?
Crown Prosecutor Tingika Elikana told jurors in his summing up that "I'm sure that there's no doubt in your mind that the false accounting took place." He also pushed for a guilty verdict on the theft charges. At one stage he laid out a series of withdrawals and deposits apparently aimed at buying bicycles on Rarotonga.
"Maybe you should ask why these bikes will be sold in Mauke when they have already been paid for in Rarotonga? We know why: it was to replace the money that he took from the bulk money" section of the Mauke savings bank.
Defence counsel Sean McAnally echoed Elikana in stating: "This money can't just have walked out."
But he referred to evidence from a defence witness called yesterday morning, locksmith Victor Rivera, who visited Mauke in 1990 and later made keys for two safes on the island. One of the safes was in the savings bank.
"We know that there were three keys to that safe - where were the other two? You just don't know. You will recall that the former Government Representative was adamant that there was one key and he couldn't have it."
"However you heard Victor Rivera say this morning that he stayed with the Government Representative and that when he returned the three keys they either went to him or to the manager of the Post Office."
Kaokao was also on the stand earlier in the day, saying he did not understand what the brackets were in his Savings Bank passbook. "I don't know", said the former branch manager under cross examination from Elikana. - Jason Brown/Alex Sword

OTHER LOCAL STORIES

New school next year for Palmerston island

Palmerston's Island Secretary, Lydia Sijp, is optimistic about rebuilding and opening a new school for the atoll next year after fire destroyed "Lucky School" in May last year.
A small boost in that direction recently came about with Canadian visitors to Rarotonga, Henri and Judy Leonard, presenting Sijp with a few plastic bags of children's books and stationery supplies collected by both the Leonards and a friend of theirs at the Ottawa Public Library.
The Leonards, who are teachers, have in the past donated supplies to Palmerston's school and were saddened this time around to find out that the school then headed by Canadian teacher Alex McManus was totally destroyed in the 1999 fire.
Sijp thanked the Leonards for their latest donation and introduced them to Reverend Tere Marsters who has been recruited to take on teaching duties for Palmerston. Rev. Tere Marsters recently returned to the Cook Islands after tertiary level studies in Australia.
Last year the Palmerston school had about 13 pre-schoolers and graders, and 15 adult students.
Sijp puts the number of students for next year to be around 20. - Alex Sword

AESOP company directors course certs

Nineteen successful participants of the three-day Expert Service Overseas Programme (AESOP) training course for company directors received their certificates last week at the Pukapuka Hostel.
Under Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Tapi Taio, on behalf of his minister and Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate presented the "New Directors Program 2000 certificates to the following: Elizabeth Tere Tai, Sam Brown, Stephen Wearing, Ngatokorua Strickland, David Smedly, raina Piniata, Eruera Nia, Hugh Baker, Tauei Napa, Rau Nga, Nan Noovao, Iro Puna, Veia Mani, Tony Iotua, Manongi Latham, Helen Kirikava, Francis Garnier, Upoko Vaiimene and Mark Brown.
Australian presenters were Martin Soutter, Paul Lightfoot and Roger Hayhurst supported through AusAid, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and AESOP Business Volunteers Ltd.
Local presenters were Mere Fiore of the Wood & Co accounting firm amd Karen Harvey of Clarkes PC.
This is the third time the course has been held. For the first two courses local presenters were solicitor Paul Lynch (AESOP's Cook Islands representative), Mike Carr & John Tini (not Tierney as mentioned in CINews earlier this week) of KPMG, and barrister/solicitor Tim Arnold.
"The New Director Program" provides an introduction to the duties and role of a director and board of private, not-for-profit organisations, and government boards. AESOP's Cook Islands rep. Paul Lynch extended thanks to "The caterers, the AOG Ngatangiia Church, and everyone else who assisted in making the course a great success." - Alex Sword

Half-way house now fully opened

The Are Pa Taunga in Turangi, Ngatangiia, officially opened its doors at the weekend to a community service that will cater for victims of abuse as well as be a focal centre for treatment of the mentally ill.
Running the new service is Australian volunteer Barbara Scott who also doubles as resident counsellor.
Psychiatric nurse Mereana Taikoko will continue her work with mentally ill patients from there. And she assures the regulars who attend the elderly Are Pa Metua (Elder Citizens Centre in Nikao) under Sister Clara's care that the services will still continue at the Are Pa Metua every week.
The Are Pa Taunga is the result of almost six weeks of house hunting and a 'beg, steal or borrow' focus which drove Taikoko and Scott to the family house of Amoa Amoa in the back roads of Turangi, a short distance from Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate's residence.
Permanent staff are Mereana Taikoko, Barbara Scott and Nurse Kathy Paiti.
Last Saturday's opening was attended by over 70 guests.
COMMUNITY
Addressing last Saturday evening's opening, Mereana Taikoko, the occasion marked the beginning of "what we hope will be a community working together to nurture and promote good mental health and emotional well-being in all its members.."
She thanked Pa Ariki, the aronga mana and people of Ngatangiia for accepting such a much needed service on their soil and she asked for their continued support in "our work in making this house a positive and a truly healing experience for those who use the services."
Taikoko said "Our immediate neighbours, it's good to see you all here today. Please be reassured that you have nothing to be afraid of. I know that when there is something new or different that we don't understand, we may feel fearful and threatened by it."
She said involved in the background to the Are Pa Taunga have been the need for a Community Rehabilitation Programme, and Support for Caregivers and Temporary Accommodation for the homeless such as those with family conflicts and who are victims of abuse.
HEALING
Barbara Scott told the gathering that "It appears that Are Pa Taunga has taken on 'life of its own' and both Mereana and myself have been busy in just keeping up the pace, as each step seems to unfold naturally for us."
Scott said that Are Pa Taunga loosely means 'place of healing for many,' and has the potential to being together everyone who has had and is having a stressful, and emotional time in their lives.
She said "As the rest of the world infiltrates on this beautiful island known as 'paradise', there is a movement towards the opening up to some of the issues that have been dealt with within the family."
"So what is mental illness?," Scott asked, adding "Mental illness covers the different types and degrees of disorder which affect the mind and lead to changes in emotional moods."
"A person suffering from mental illness is not someone who is to be feared, fear only compounds the problem - instead mental illness should be looked upon as any physical illness and nothing to be ashamed of."
Thanks were extended all round to those who have helped with the Are Pa Taunga to date, and will do so in the coming months. - Mona Matepi.

The luck of the draw: Te Uki Ou fund-raiser

Aitutaki resident Keu Rae with ticket has a nice surprise in store when she gets back from a trip overseas this Thursday.
Her raffle ticket #2295 landed first prize at the Punanga Nui Market Place during the drawing of the Te Uki Ou "Dream Come True" fund-raiser on November 22 - and with luck on her side she won the first prize of $50,000!
Fund-raising committee member Karen Harvey told Cook Islands News that although the winner seems to be on holiday in New Zealand her husband was contacted in Aitutaki with the news.
According to Harvey, Te Uki Ou school raised $68,000 from the raffle, after expenses, which will all go towards the operational costs of the independent school.
It also seems that the raffle could have made the record books as it was drawn a day before originally scheduled - all the tickets sold, and there were still people keen to find out whether any un-paid up ones were available.
Apart from the raffle, $4,000 was made for the school from various food stalls on the day. The launching of the school's celebrity cook book was also a success with over 100 copies sold on the day at the special first-day price of $12.50.
Harvey said that the cookbooks are avaiable from the school for $15 if anyone is interested in having a taste of what our local celebrities simply love to cook up. - Tara Carr

LETTERS

Customer's convenience

Dear Editor,
Re: Public Relations
Nobody believes the old adage "the customer is always right"any more. It belongs to a bygone era.
A more appropriate saying these days would be "the customer has already left". He could not wait any longer.
Right or left, public relations is a very relevant concept in today's world, especially where monopolies of any kind are a significant factor in everyday life.
Telecom Cook Islands is a case in point where the phrase "public relations" probably has a connotation quite contrary to what the average guy means with the expression.
Another case has popped up recently where a new slogan being festooned all over one of our banks must be a laugh - or an insult? The slogan says "spend less time banking." Before its advent that particular bank provided fairly good teller service - up to six or seven tellers simultaneously - cutting down on the time customers had to wait for service, but since, the bank is down to one or two tellers most of the time. This fact gives the queuing customers ample time to contemplate the intriguing message in the slogan displayed all around them. Should the word "less" be substituted by "more", or is it possibly an encouragement to the customers to switch over to the other bank where five or six tellers seem to be attending efficiently to the queuing public?
So, in order to "spend less time banking" go to the competition. Weird.
John T Damm
Tupapa, Rarotonga.
EDITOR'S NOTE: In response ANZ Bank's General Manager, Paul Murphy, comments - "ANZ apologises if the writer has experienced delays in teller service recently. There has been no reduction in teller numbers and we make every effort to ensure that we schedule staff to accommodate peak periods, however we acknowledge there are occasions where prolonged delays occur."

POLICE ROUNDUP

Incidents reported to the Department of Police, Rarotonga, on November 20 2000 are as follows:
MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER:
4.10pm - A 14 year-old boy was apprehended for a burglary at a Vaimaanga house. Under investigation.
5.45pm - Four (4) wheel trims were reported stolen from a rental vehicle. Under investigation.
5.55pm - An 18 speed mountain bike was reported stolen from the Ngatangiia Pre-school. Under investigation.
6.20pm - An indecent assault on a girl under the age of 12 years old at Kiikii. Under investigation.
9.42pm - A dangerous dog in Muri, Ngatangiia, was reported. Under investigation.
9.50pm - A domestic dispute at Tikioki between two women was reported. One was warned to keep off the other's property.
[More reports in tomorrow's newspaper].
Anyone with any information that could help with unsolved cases should contact the Police Department on telephone 22-499.
TOGETHER FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY

SPORTS

Cooks league to host Pacific Cup 2002

The Cook Islands will host rugby league's Pacific Cup in 2002 - 16 years after the tournament was revived in Rarotonga.
Noora Samuela, a Cook Islands representative at the 1992 and 1994 tournaments, says one of the objectives for attending this month's Pacific Cup in Australia was to bring the tournament 'back home'.
"There were two reasons for going to Australia - to try and win the Pacific Cup and to put a strong case for the Pacific Cup to come to Rarotonga - that's where it all started," says Samuela who coached the mainly New Zealand-based team at the 2000 tournament.
The team, which included six home-based players, won four games out of six - defeating the Australian Colts team 30-24 in the plate final with 12 players for most of the match, after one player was sent off.
One of the games lost was against Samoa 22-24, the Samoan team which eventually went on to win the Cup.
"This is the most successful team ever to go to a Pacific Cup as it is the first team to win some silverware. They really played out of their skins in the plate final."
DISCUSS
Samuela, who is currently holidaying on Rarotonga with the Ellerslie premier side from Auckland, has met with officials from the Cook Islands Rugby League Association to discuss issues arising from the last Pacific Cup and the coming tournament in 2002.
Samuela, who is also the CIRL(NZ) Association chairman, says he would like to see all the financial groundwork put in place and preparations begin now for the next Pacific Cup.
"It's important that the Pacific Cup also be utilised as a development tournament for our boys."
Samuela says the six players from Rarotonga all performed well - adding that youngsters like John Kaukura and Timothy Anitonia have a big future in the game. - Moana Moeka'a

Handball's first Olympic solidarity course here

The Cook Islands Handball Association (CIHA) is holding its first Olympic Solidarity Course at the Avatiu Sports Clubhouse next week.
The vice-captain of the Australian National Women's national team Kristina Shinfield will spend a week in the country to conduct the December 4-8 course.
CIHA president Makiroa Mitchell told Cook Islands News that apart from up to 25 Rarotonga-based participants, there will be six outer islanders flying in for the course.
There will be a participant from each of Mauke, Atiu and Mitiaro, and two participants from Mangaia.
Some viewers on Aitutaki and Rarotonga may have caught a glimpse of the sport during the recent Sydney 2000 Olympic Games coverage but never really knew much about it.
All participants will spend time looking at the sport and learning the basic skills of how to play it.
There will also be opportunity for participants to practice their coaching skills with visits to selected schools to work with children.
The programme begins next Monday with an opening ceremony scheduled for 6.00pm.
Anyone interested in taking a week off to participate in Cook Islands Handball's first Olympic Solidarity programme can contact secretary-general Tara Carr on (ph) 22-999 or (ph) 29-818 after work. - Too Hot To Handle

Mustangs in top touch form

CITC Mustangs come out on top during last Saturday's one-day Mixed touch football tournament at Avatiu.
The Mustangs defeated Harbour Light 5-3 in the competition which attracted 11 teams.
Meanwhile registrations will close today at 1pm for the men's and women's open competition, which begins tomorrow, Wednesday, at Avatiu -- contact Walter Tangata or Maharata Napara.
The regular mixed competition season kicks off on Friday afternoon. -- Swampthing

Soccer Round Cup appointments

The referee appointments for today's and tomorrow's matches in the Round Cup soccer competition are as follows.
Please note the corrected draw for today's women's game at Titikaveka -- the game will be between Titikaveka and Takuvaine.
Tuesday 28 November --
At Nikao:
5.00pm Senior B. Nikao vs Avatiu. Ref -- Lai Gukisuva (Terry Paniani & Toru Mateariki)
At Titikaveka:
5.00pm Women's. Titikaveka vs Takuvaine. Ref -- Paul Lynch (Kamal Ngametua & Teariki Goodwin)
Wednesday 29 November --
At Nikao:
5.00pm Senior A. Nikao vs Avatiu. Ref -- Teariki Goodwin (Nii Arona & John Paul Wilson). -- GA