Te reo o te KUKI AIRANI
$2 Monday, January 20, 2014
Account raids a last resort: Neves eration to resolve tax matters.” “It’s a last resort that has been used before,” he said. Beginning late last year, six seniors collecting the New Zealand-paid pension had $30,000 deducted from their bank accounts by Collector of Inland Revenue Andrew Haigh, claiming the funds were owed due to unpaid taxes. After considerable public backlash, the government announced the pensioners would be reimbursed the money, with Neves saying a payment plan for any outstanding tax bill must be in place prior to any returning of funds to
An officiAl with the inance ministry said he is conident of the legality of the controversial deduction notices recently issued to pensioners by the Collector of Inland Revenue. “If anyone wants to contest this, they can take it to a court of law,” said Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) secretary Richard Neves. “We’re conident about our legal capacity to do this.” Neves said the deduction notices have been issued continuously over the past few years, targeting individuals and businesses “... when there is no coop-
the pensioners. Since then, several voices in the community, including Aitutaki Member of Parliament Teina Bishop – have questioned the legality of the deduction notices, with Bishop saying they violate income tax legislation as well as the nation’s constitution. Last week, a local lawyer contacted by CI News said Article 64 of the constitution indicates that there must be suficient due process before an individual’s property rights are interfered with to the extent as has been done by MFEM. In a letter to the editor published on
Saturday, Neves said there is currently a tax compliance issue in the Cook Islands, with total outstanding tax debt assessed at the time of drafting of the 2012-13 budget by Revenue Management Division (RMD) at $30.6 million. Of that amount, Neves said it is believed that around $16.7 million is collectible , representing approximately 16 per cent of the annual tax base. Concerning income tax owed by individuals, $5.1 million is believed to be recoverable, according to MFEM. - Emmanuel Samoglou
richard neves.
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Quick actions prevents a drowning locAl police dealt with 24 in-
cidents over the weekend from domestic violence cases, attack on a motorist and a near drowning in Muri. Police are hailing the quick actions of a Captain Tama’s Cruises staff who resuscitated a 75-yearold woman found loating face down in Muri lagoon on Friday morning. A family member found the woman unconscious in the water just before noon on Friday and the quick action of one of the Captain Tama’s Cruises staff in applying first aid saw the
during the attack. Unfortunately, very little information over the description of the male attacker were given by the visitor. Anyone who may have seen the pair on the side of the road or has information that may lead to the apprehension of the person responsible is urged to please contact the conidential Crime Stoppers line 080022200. Police are investigating the theft of a compressor and tools from a Nikao property worth $900 on Friday. Police are also investigating a
woman regain consciousness before she was transported to Rarotonga hospital. Police report that the woman has fully recovered and is in a stable condition. Meanwhile a female visitor to the island was attacked while on her motorbike parked on the side of the road in Arorangi on Friday night. The woman ran for help where she found a family that came to her aid but the man that attacked her had run away. The woman was left with minor injuries to her face sustained
theft from a tourist accommodation in Tupapa on Saturday. Police arrested a man for assault on a female when a domestic violence case was reported to police on Saturday night. The 41-year-old man will appear in court this Thursday. Police are investigating a second domestic violence case, also from Arorangi, after receiving a distress call. The victim was transported to Rarotonga hospital for treatment and the man was removed from the property by police. On the roads – a special opera-
tion on Saturday night achieved its aim of preventing motor vehicle crashes. The operation targeting drunk drivers, dangerous and speeding motorists as well as unauthorized modiied motorcycles saw police stop over 400 motorists on Saturday night. 1 man was forbidden to drive after being caught for speeding and six vehicles were removed off the road for failing to comply with various sections of the Transport Act 1966. The Saturday night operation was carried out in Avarua and
Nikao and also included checks on all liquor licensed properties. On Sunday a report of a Matavera man brandishing a irearm saw police apprehend a 21-year-old male youth who was detained at the police headquarters for questioning. Police are encouraging the public to help them solve cases by calling police on 22-999 or the Crime Stoppers line 080022200 with any information you may have that will help solve the cases in front of police – you might hold the last piece of the puzzle. - MW
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aitu newbigging (centre) and his tane tini team have kept themselves busy these holiday’s cutting lawns for over two weeks! The young lads have been cutting grass all over the Tupapa village and keeping themselves trim over the summer break – all without any instructions! This is one of numerous fantastic summer photo competition entries received two weeks into the competition. send your best images of summer memories to editor@cookislandsnews.com
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
worldnEWS nuti no TEiA nEi Ao Redeemer has sore thumb A lightning strike has damaged a thumb of Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue. the thumb on the right hand of the 38-metre-high art-deco style statue was hit during a storm on thursday nigh. Oicials from the Archdiocese of Rio, which manages the statue, told Brazilian media that repairs will be made to the statue soon. Brazil’s national institute for Space Research said that the statue is struck by lightning on average between three and ive times a year.
Homes lost to ires
Over 100 ires in SE Australia, ire ighters ‘emotionally drained’ ADELAIDE – Conditions are eas-
ing for ireighters in south-east Australia where over 100 bushfires continue to burn across three states, having already destroyed as many as 15 homes. Crews have been able to take advantage of milder conditions and gain the upper hand. In South Australia, at least 15 houses have been lost in blazes across the state over the weekend and it may take some
world BRIEFS CHRISTIAN MOB BURNS MUSLIMS IN STREET cENTRAL AFRIcAN REPUBLIc – A christian mob in the central African Republic capital Bangui has killed and burned two Muslims in the street, in the latest sectarian clash. The gangs told media they would carry on killing Muslims in their area. French and African Union soldiers are struggling to contain sectarian violence that erupted after largely Muslim rebels took over the country. MPs are due to select a new interim president on Monday, a week after rebel leader Michel Djotodia quit the post. Djotodia became CAR’s irst Muslim ruler after his rebel group Seleka overthrew the government in March last year. The coup helped plunge cAR into sectarian conlict between the majority Christians and the minority Muslims.
CARNAGE AFTER TALIBAN ATTACK AFghANISTAN – Survivors of the devastating Taliban suicide attack on a restaurant in Kabul have told of the carnage and bloodshed as details emerge of the 21 people, including 13 foreigners, who died in the assault. Desperate customers hid under tables when one attacker detonated his suicide vest at the fortiied entrance to the Taverna du Liban and two other militants stormed inside and opened ire. Among the dead were three Americans, two British citizens, two canadians, the International Monetary Fund head of mission, and the restaurant’s Lebanese owner, who was killed as he tried to ire back at the attackers. A female Danish member of the European police mission in Afghanistan and a Russian UN political oicer also died in the Friday evening massacre.
HISTORIC TOWN DAMAGED BY FIRE NORWAY – A night-time blaze has consumed at least 30 buildings in a heritage village in southern Norway, famous for its unique wooden buildings. Scores of people were evacuated as winds fanned the lames in Laerdalsoyri, a village of 1150 people in Laerdal, on Sognejord jord. At least 90 people received hospital treatment but no deaths were reported. Local farmers helped out while emergency services waited for ireighting helicopters to arrive. Prime Minister Erna Solberg was due to visit the village as investigators look for the cause of the ire. Residents expressed shock at what one described as “terrible” destruction. The Laerdal district contains a stave church and many other historic wooden buildings, hundreds of years old, much visited by tourists.
MADONNA APOLOGISES FOR THE ‘N-WORD’ USA – Pop star Madonna has apologised for using a racial slur to refer to her son on an Instagram post. The singer uploaded a snapshot of 13-year-old Rocco Ritchie boxing on Friday night, with the ofensive epithet used in a hashtag accompanying the photo. “I am sorry if I ofended anyone with my use of the ‘n-word’,” she said in a statement issued on Saturday. “It was all about intention,. It was used as a term of endearment toward my son who is white. It was not meant as a racial slur. I am not a racist. There’s no way to defend the use of the word.” Madonna’s comment was swiftly deleted from her Instagram account after some of her 1.1 million followers berated her for using the hashtag “#disnigga”. Madonna deleted the post entirely, and released a statement through her publicist, saying “forgive me”.
days before the total damage is known. The Country Fire Service (CFS) says ive ires are burning across the state but none are threatening lives or property. The fires being closely watched are in the Eden Valley region north-east of Adelaide and at Bangor in the southern Flinders Ranges. CFS state co-ordinator Brenton Eden says it could take more than a week to put all the ires out. “The hot spot activity is tall timber, gumtrees and so forth, which present an enormous difficulty to extinguish when they’re in dificult parts of the terrain and there are so many of them,” he said. Regional commander John Hutchins says crews are already physically and emotionally drained. “A leader of the volunteers rang me up crying, because he’d lost houses,” he said. Nearly 100 ires were raging in New South Wales on Sunday and lames continued to ravage large swathes of South Australia and Victoria. Lower temperatures have helped in the battle with fire crews doing what they can to get the upper hand on the ground and in the air. There are 900 ireighters out across NSW with 93 active ires. Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Vince Rowlands says conditions are looking more favourable. “With the cooler conditions and winds coming from a consistent direction for an extended length of time, it certainly makes the conditions for the firefighters much easier,” he said. “They don’t have to worry about any significant wind changes and dew point, so the humidity is up a little bit, temperature is dropping.” - PNC
With cooler weather conditions forecast for this week ire ighters in Australia are hoping to gain control of hundreds of bushires burning across three states.
Jarkata inundated
JARKATA – More than 30,000 Indonesians have led their homes in the capital after looding that has left at least ive dead. Residents have been using rubber dinghies and wading through waist-deep water to reach safer ground. Many parts of Jakarta were under murky, brown water after days of torrential rain produced the city’s irst signiicant loods of the months-long rainy season. Buildings in some parts of
the sprawling capital, which has a population of more than 10 million and is regularly aflicted by loods, were half submerged, with roads unpassable in many areas. “Yesterday the water was knee deep in my house,” Jakarta resident Yulian Candra said. “There has also been a power cut for the past two days.” The number of those forced to leave their homes jumped from less than 5,000 on Saturday to more than 30,000 on
Sunday after heavy rain deluged Jakarta overnight. People waded through the floods clutching their belongings. The looding was widespread across Jakarta, with the highest number of displaced in the south and west of the city and loodwaters reaching up to three metres in some places. Five people have so far been killed in the past week due to looding, disaster agency oficial Tri Budiarto said. - AFP
Gay marriages caused loods HENLEY – A politician in the UK has blamed the recent storms and heavy loods across Britain on the government’s decision to legalise gay marriage. David Silvester said the prime minister had acted “arrogantly against the Gospel”. In a letter to his local paper he said he had warned David Cameron the legislation would result in “disaster”. Silvester, from Henley-onThames in Oxfordshire, defect-
ed from the Tories in protest at Cameron’s support for same-sex unions. In the letter to the Henley Standard he wrote: “The scriptures make it abundantly clear that a Christian nation that abandons its faith and acts contrary to the Gospel will be beset by natural disasters such as storms, disease, pestilence and war.” He added: “I wrote to David Cameron in April 2012 to warn him that disasters would accom-
pany the passage of his same-sex marriage bill.” He then went to on blame the prime minister for the bad weather: “It is his fault that large swathes of the nation have been aflicted by storms and loods.” He went on to say that no man, however powerful “can mess with Almighty God with impunity and get away with it”. - BBC
Bangui bound
ANTI-US AIR BASE MAYOR RE-ELECTED JAPAN – A Japanese city mayor opposed to a plan to relocate a US military base on the island of Okinawa to his area has been reelected. Susumu Inamine told his supporters that the poll was about one issue – the base – and the people of Nago city had spoken. Okinawa is home to 30,000 US troops. Many residents associate the US bases with accidents, pollution and crime. The US and Japan irst agreed in 1996 to shift the Futenma Air Station from a congested part of southern Okinawa to the port cuty of Nago further north. Inamine’s victory is the latest setback to the long-stalled move. he has vowed to block construction of the new base by denying permits for the project within his jurisdiction.
Today’s Daily Bread On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick
Matthew read: read: Matthew 9:9-137:21-29
Text: Matthew Text:7:26 Verse 12
Central african republican farmers and their families swamp a bush taxi on a road north of Bangui as they try to get to the capital where they hope to sell their produce at the local market despite the sectarian ighting the UN has warned could turn into genocide. AFP
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
worldnEWS nuti no TEiA nEi Ao Fleeing floodwaters
Residents loat on makeshift rafts made from wood and bamboo on the outskirts of Butuan City on the southern island Philippines island of Mindanao. Thousands of people have led rising loods and an approaching storm in a fresh round of evacuations in the Philippines as the death toll from the wet weather rose to 40. AFP
MAN I LA – Heavy rain has poured across the Philippines for the last nine days, triggering loods and landslides. The death toll has now risen to 40 and there are concerns that more severe weather could be on the way. A tropical depression has now formed to the east of Mindanao. The storm has been named Lingling, but fortunately is not expected to develop into a very powerful storm. However, the tropical depression has formed within a wide region of torrential rain, and this is going to continue to pound the region with more heavy rain over the coming days. Already over 160,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Mindanao and have moved into evacuation centres. The area being hit by the torrential rain extends over a huge region, not just the island of Mindanao. It includes Tacloban, one of the cities which was worst hit by Typhoon Haiyan. That storm left nearly 8,000 dead and millions of people are still homeless. More intense downpours are expected over the next few days, but the rain is slowly shifting south. This means Tacloban will avoid the worst of the weather, but Mindanao is threatened by further looding and landslides. - Al Jazeera
Assad has no intention of quitting DAMASCUS – Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad is quoted as saying he has no intention of quitting, and the issue is not up for discussion at forthcoming peace talks. “If we wanted to surrender we would have surrendered from the start,” Assad told Russian MPs in Damascus, according to Interfax news agency. The government, opposition
groups and Western diplomats will attend peace talks in Switzerland from Wednesday. More than 100,000 have been killed and millions displaced in Syria’s conlict. The Syrian presidency later said the comments reported by Interfax were “inaccurate”, without giving further details. But BBC Beirut correspondent Jim Muir said the state-
ments were in line with what government officials had frequently said before. According to Syrian news agency Sana, Assad told the delegation that Syrian people were confronting “terrorism and foreign intervention”. Opposition groups have previously demanded the removal of Assad as a condition of any discussions on a possible tran-
sitional government. But the Syrian National Coalition, the exiled opposition body, announced on Saturday that it would attend the talks. The decision was praised by the US which, with Russia and the UN, is taking a leading role in organising the negotiations. The path to the talks began in May last year when US Secretary of State John Kerry and
Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed to try to bring both sides together. Later, the UN Security Council called for a conference to implement the Geneva communique – a deal on a transitional government agreed at a UN-backed meeting in 2012. Damascus agreed to take part in the talks, but said its delegation would pursue “first and
foremost eliminating terrorism”. Assad is said to have reiterated that point of view in his talks with the Russian MPs. The BBC’s Muir says Assad’s reported comments underline the gaping gulf between the regime and the opposition, and are clearly not going to improve the atmosphere before the talks. - BBC
Protest against law to ban protests KIEV – Clashes have been taking place after large crowds of pro-EU demonstrators rallied in Ukraine’s capital against new laws restricting public protests. Stun grenades and flares were thrown as protesters tried to reach parliament, their way blocked by rows of police and buses. The US appealed for an end to the violence, urging the government to hold talks to resolve the situation. Opposition politician Vitali Klitschko tried to stop attacks on police. His spokeswoman later said the former world boxing champion had gone for emergency talks with President Viktor Yanukovych at the latter’s residence outside Kiev. The new legislation was passed with a quick show of hands on Thursday by M Ps loyal to the president, who then signed it into law. The opposition accused the ruling party of a coup. US and EU oficials have ex-
pressed deep concern at the new legislation. Ukraine’s current anti-government movement began in protest at Yanukovych’s decision in late November to pull out of a landmark treaty with the EU, but has expanded to demand his resignation. Sunday’s rally in Kiev, attended by tens of thousands, heard calls from opposition politicians to disregard the new laws curbing protests that pro-EU demonstrators have been staging for the past two months. Clashes erupted as some people headed away from the main square towards parliament, to vent their anger over the new laws. They ran into police cordons. They pelted police with lares, thunder flashes and petrol bombs, the BBC’s Daniel Sandford in Kiev reports. They overturned a bus used by police and set it alight. Other vehicles were also set on fire. One vehicle was pushed towards the police lines. - BBC
Protesters clash with police during an opposition rally in the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kiev in a show of deiance against strict new curbs on protests. AFP
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
regionalnEWS nuti no TE PA EnUA
Nauru’s justice in disarray government sacks and deports magistrate, bars its chief justice YAREN – Nauru’s justice system
has been thrown into chaos after its chief justice and only magistrate – both Australian citizens – have been barred from the country. On Sunday morning, Nauru’s president Baron Waqa ired resi-
dent magistrate and supreme court registrar Peter Law and ordered his immediate deportation. Law told the ABC he was forced out of the country. “I’d get better treatment in the Congo, you know, because
paciic BRIEFS HACKED US$1.6 MILLION TO BE RETURNED AMERIcAN SAMOA – American Samoa’s member of the United States congress, Faleomavaega Eni, says the federal government is working to have a US$1.3 million illegal transfer to a bank in Vietnam returned soon to the territorial government. The illegal transfer surfaced more than two years ago when an account belonging to the American Samoa government was hacked and the money was transferred to a bank in Vietnam, where the government there has frozen the funds following requests from the territory and the FBI. In a letter last week to governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, Faleomavaega says that the US Justice Department is now working directly with the Vietnamese government to resolve the matter and the money should be transferred back soon.
BETELNUT VENDING LICENCES CONSIDERED PAPUA NEW gUINEA – The governor of Papua New guinea’s National capital District says he is considering introducing licences for betel nut vendors. Powes Parkop recently enforced a ban on the sale of betel nut in Port Moresby as part of plans to clean up the city and clamp down on crime associated with betel nut sales and alcohol abuse. Mr Parkop says he hopes to roll out a system to regulate the sale of betel nut in Port Moresby in about six months’ time. “In the long term we might work on licensing and regulating it so that it becomes a controlled type of activity rather than in the past where anybody can do it anywhere and anytime and the consequences were really dire for us, for our health and for public funds and expenses.”
EARLY PREPS FOR SAMOA’S ELECTIONS SAMOA – Samoa’s Oice of the Electoral Commission has started preparations for the 2016 general election. As part of this, the commission is training staf members about election laws, so they can understand the Electoral Act, which provides for the election of members of the Legislative Assembly. The Electoral commissioner, Papali’i Malietau Malietoa and Assistant Electoral commissioner for Legal and Policy Division, Mathew Lemisio, have conducted a twoday training programme for staf. The training is a development and capacity-building programme, designed to broaden staf knowledge of the Act and associated laws such as the Electoral Regulations, Electoral Amendments, and the constitution of Samoa.
CHINESE VISA SOFTENING EXPECTED SOON FRENCH POLYNESIA – Details are expected to be released about an easing of the requirements for chinese tourists to visit French Polynesia. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, says he has approved changes that will ensure chinese applicants can obtain a visa within two days. This comes after years of lobbying by politicians in French Polynesia, whose economy is struggling in the face of a drop in tourism. The publisher of the Tahiti Paciique monthly, Alex du Prel, says he doesn’t expect a massive increase in chinese visitors because of the distance and costs.
INFLUENZA WARNING IN MARIANAS NORThERN MARIANAS – The Public health Division of the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has warned citizens to immediately vaccinate themselves against inluenza after a spike in patients reporting lu-like symptoms. The Healthcare Corporation says there has been an increase in the number patients complaining of inluenza or lu-like illnesses and says the lu season may continue for weeks. The public health division says the lu vaccine is the irst and best way to protect people from contracting lu and its potentially serious complications. The healthcare corporation says it has enough stock of vaccines to administer to community members.
BOUGAINVILLE PREPARES FOR PM’S VISIT PAPUA NEW gUINEA – The Papua New guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is set to visit Bougainville in two weeks’ time. The Post courier newspaper reports a team is in Bougainville to prepare for the landmark visit. Peter O’Neill will visit Buka, Arawa and Panguna starting on January 27. O’Neill will be the irst Prime Minister to visit central and South Bougainville since the peace agreement was signed on August the 2nd, 2002. he will also be the second Prime Minister to visit since Bill Skate arrived in Arawa in 1998 to broker the ceaseire between the PNG Government and the rebels. The central Bougainville MP and communications Minister, Jimmy Miringtoro, says Bougainville is set to receive impact projects worth $185.7 million US dollars this year.
I seriously was jostled and pushed by the arresting oficer, it was quite unpleasant,” he said. “I was found by the police, they came to my place and arrested me and demanded I be on the irst plane out of Nauru,” he said. Chief Justice Geoffrey Eames, from Australia, tried to intervene by issuing an injunction against Waqa’s deportation of Law, but that was ignored. Not only was Law put on a plane back to Australia, the president then cancelled Justice Eames’ visa, preventing him from returning to Nauru to deal with the matter. “The magistrate was dealt with like a criminal. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Justice Eames said. Law is now back in Brisbane and says Waqa’s actions are clearly in contempt of court. “To not to follow the chief judge’s orders and then to cancel his visa really throws any concept of justice out the window. It’s really outrageous,” he said. “It was a very comprehensive injunction and it speciied the various authorities, including the airlines and the police and there were copies issued to the minister of justice and I believe the president, so it’s hard to imagine why it was ignored.” Both judicial igures say the move is a politically motivated attempt to change the outcome of two cases due to come before the court this week. The cases involve two residents who had been declared “prohibited immigrants” by the country’s justice minister and given a week to leave Nauru. The residents appealed to the courts and Law granted an injunction against their deportation.
nauru’s justice system is in disarray and cases against scores of asylum seekers are in limbo after nauru’s president Baron Waqa (right) sacked its only magistrate and denied its australian-based chief justice, Sir Geofrey Eames (left) a visa to enter the country. PNC Justice Eames says he has had no contact with the Nauruan government, but he believes the timing and comments from the government about the cases are revealing. In a statement he says the actions against Law are “politically motivated, designed to have the decisions overturned by a new magistrate and amounted to an abuse of the rule of law”. Justice Eames says the actions have implications for the Australian government. “A government which has got such close ties with Nauru and has had for many decades– I would have thought they’d have more than a passing interest in such instability in the judicial system in the Pacific region,” he said. Law says he has been given no reason for his deportation, but the president has said it is
related to allegations of misbehaviour against Law by a former member of staff. Law says he had a disgruntled staff member who he suspended because he became abusive, but he denies that is the reason for his expulsion from Nauru. “The timing of this makes it very obvious in my mind what this is all about,” he said. Law says dozens of court cases will now be unable to proceed. “It’s extremely serious. Just this week we have 60 or 70 criminal matters listed, including about 30 or 40 of the asylum seeker defendants,” he said. “Where all this is going to go, I don’t know. “I’m in the middle of judgments, sentences, there’s civil lists, family court matters listed. So it’s just a complete debacle as far as I can see.” Nauruan opposition M P
Mathew Batsiua says the move is a great interference in the independence of the country’s judiciary. “It’s another example of the lengths this government will go to to get its way,” he said. “The letters that they issued to the resident magistrate didn’t spell out any reason, they just basically terminated his contract because they can.” He says there is no plan as yet for a new magistrate or chief justice. “That’s a question for government. How are they going to ill the void?” “ They ’ve lost the plot. They’ve interfered in the media, now they’ve interfered in the judiciary. “By disregarding the independence of the judiciary they are disregarding the constitution.” - ABC
June now a tropical depression NOUMEA – New Caledonia’s
north is cleaning up after the area was struck by Tropical Cyclone June on Saturday. The system caused looding and cut a number of roads. The storm also felled trees and cut power to some communities. An alert has now been lifted, with Cyclone June downgraded to a tropical depression as it continues to weaken and heads south to rattle Norfolk Island. New Caledonia’s President Harold Martin had earlier urged his people to remain vigilant as the storm could still widen, and was estimated to be tracking within 150 kilometres of the capital, Noumea. Continuing heavy rain, coupled with a risk of strong westerly winds, was expected to affect the French territory until Sunday evening. Duty forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service in Nadi, Terry Atalifo, says the windspeed near the centre of the cyclone was estimated to be around 75 kilometres per hour. The northern region of New Caledonia has not reported any major property damage despite
facing strong winds earlier. “We haven’t received any reports in terms of casualties,” Atalifo said. Ex-tropical cyclone June is currently passing to the southwest of Norfolk Island and is expected to continue moving in a southeast direction for the next 24 hours towards New Zealand. Despite the storm no longer being a tropical cyclone the impacts on Norfolk Island were expected to be similar to a Category one tropical cyclone. “Damaging wind gusts to about 100 kilometres per hour are expected to continue on Norfolk Island for about the next six hours. “These winds will ease later this morning as the system moves away to the south,” the Australia Bureau of Meteorology said yesterday morning. “Damaging surf, which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion, and abnormally high tides, which may cause sea water looding of low lying areas, may occur along the foreshore.” The remnants of June will then move into the upper North
Island of New Zealand, however as the storm unravels the worst of the winds are likely to go off kilter and may well miss New Zealand. “Damaging winds are possible in New Zealand but they are more likely to be generated by the geography rather than just the storm by itself” says WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan. “We expect June to continue to unwind as it heads towards New Zealand and will just bring
pockets of severe weather to the North Island early this week”. New Zealand has missed the full fury of a number of tropical storms in recent years– the most recent damaging one was Wilma in early 2011. A number have reached New Zealand waters but have izzled before reaching land. Holidaymakers have been advised to keep up to date with the latest weather news and to be aware of hazardous situations in wet weather. -PNC/sources
Abuse laws updated PAGO PAGO – Lawmakers in American Samoa have approved legislation which further criminalises and expands the deinition of child abuse. The bill from the Lolo Administration also criminalises the act of child neglect and amends numerous sections of the current law. The bills was irst introduced last September. Some senators say they are concerned the bill will conlict with the rights of a parent to
discipline a child. The Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop says the bill does not prevent a parent from disciplining a child, but some parents have abused their children by tying them up and beating them with pieces of timber, as well as denying them food and water. She says this goes further than just disciplining children and that is what the bill seeks to stop. - RNZI
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
regionalnEWS nuti no TE PA EnUA
Samoan has chance at crown Aussie-Samoan boxer Alex lepai to ight for world champion title BRISBANE – Australian-Samoan boxer Alex Leapai says he welcomes the underdog status ahead of his world heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko. Leapai says he expects to this week sign the contract for a million dollar ight against the triple heavyweight world champion on April 26 in Germany. Ukranian Klitschko is the longest reigning IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight Champion in history, and is seen as the clear favourite. Despite being a towering 183cm, Leapai gives up 15 centimetres to his opponent – but he’s told Paciic Beat he’s used to being underestimated in the ring. “To be honest, I ight pretty good when I’m the underdog – I’m pretty much always the underdog,” he said. “Anytime you see a bigger fighter, and then you see me who is just a little ighter – a lot of people go to the big guy and they say ‘this is the guy we’re going for’. “Then they get shocked that I knock them out in one round – so I’m pretty used to it, and it’s
going to be the same story with this guy.” Leapai sent shockwaves through the world heavyweight division when he defeated pre viously unbeaten WBO number one contender Denis Boytsov in Germany in November. The unanimous points win earned him a shot at the world title. A former truck driver who began by training between shifts, Leapai says he’s now training seven-hours a day, six times a week. “I know now that it’s the big fight now, and it’s just a matter of training hard, getting the right sparring partners and doing the little things right,” he said. The last Australian to ight for the uniied world heavyweight title was Bill Squires, who lost to Tommy Burns, in 1908. The 34-year-old from Logan in Queensland, Leapai is hoping to make history for both Australia and his Samoan homeland. He’s expected to visit Samoa ahead of the fight to receive a blessing from the King, and has joked that a win would see
April 26 as a new national holiday there. “It’s just massive,” he said. “I get phone calls from everywhere from my family – down in
Sydney, New Zealand, Samoa – they’re just real supportive and wishing me all the best in trying to make history as well.” - Paciic Beat
aBoVe: australian-samoan boxer alex Leapai celebrates after winning the ight against Russian boxer Denis Boytsov during the WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight championship match at Brose arena in Bamberg in november and is now preparing for a chance to take on Wladimir Klitscko for the heavyweight world championship title in april. AFP
Betelnut ban supported Namah deies PORT MORESBY – A leader and a spokesman in Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands has voiced support for the initiative of Governor Powes Parkop to ban betel nuts in the National Capital District. Alex Kumbamong said many people thought that banning of betel nuts deprived the rights and freedom of the citizens to make a living but he said that there were “other ways to make money”.
“I appeal to the city residents to start looking at other alternatives of making money rather than through the sale of betel nuts to sustain their livelihood,” he said. He said betel nuts were not a cash crop like coffee and tea that the citizens of the country could beneit from. Only a handful chewed and produced unwanted rubbish everywhere in the towns and cities.
“Chewing of betel nuts is harmful to our body where it can damage our gums and can cause mouth cancer,” he said. “I am ashamed of my fellow Highlanders who go around looking at means to sell betel nuts while it is banned.” Kumbamong appealed to all Highlanders living in Port Moresby, Lae and other regions without proper employment to return to their home provinces and cultivate land because the
Highlands region was rich in resources. Kumbamong said money was on the ground and if people worked hard and tilled the soil, they could extract money from it. “Nothing comes out free while roaming the streets of Papua New Guinea for no good reason,” he said. “I recommend Parkop for his ingenuity.” - The National
Regime to launch party soon SUVA – The Fiji prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainiamarama, is reported to be launching his political party on March 1 to contest the election he has promised for September. The date has been reported by the Fiji Sun website, which says the regime leader will quit
as military commander at the end of next month. An academic says the announcement that Fiji’s Prime Minister will stand down as the head of the military in March is a signiicant step towards promised elections this year. Dr Steven Ratuva, from the
University of Auckland, says Frank Bainimarama’s successor is likely to be announced as he steps down, but the regime is being tight-lipped on who that could be, although it is suspected they have someone in mind. Sai Lealea, of the Fiji Pro Democracy Movement in Wel-
lington, says before resigning, Bainimarama has the powers to appoint his supporters to key positions, including his replacement in the military. He say the decision to resign is a long time coming and there is no guarantee Bainimarama will win it. - PNC
arrest attempt
PORT MORESBY – An attempt
by Papua New Guinea police to arrest the Opposition Leader Belden Namah at his Port Moresby residence at the weekend failed after security guards and members of the civil community blocked the entrance. The Post Courier reports there was a near confrontation by a group of about eight policemen travelling in unmarked vehicles, with Namah’s security guards and the activists who arrived at his residence as early as 7am on Sunday. The Papua New Guinea Commissioner of Police, Toami Kulunga, had issued orders on Saturday for Namah to be arrested for making threats. In a letter, Namah wrote that he was aggrieved that Commissioner Kulunga had “taken action to pervert justice” and
requested that he reinstate the four policemen suspended over a high-proile fraud investigation and cause them to be given exclusive use of all police assets to assist them to implement their duties. Namah then wrote that failure to accede to the request would result in unprecedented measures to have Kulunga arrested and charged under the Criminal Code. Kulunga says he is “fed up with the opposition leader’s tantrums”, and that he is acting like an “impatient, insensitive and thoughtless child who does not respect the rule of law”. The Post Courier reports police and defence force soldiers patrolled the street where Namah lives for about two hours yesterday but no arrest was made. - RNZI
Hopes that Black Cat Track can reopen soon MOROBE – The chairman of the Black Cat Track Association is confident that the iconic trail can be reopened after last September’s attack that left three porters dead, several injured and eight expatriate trekkers injured and traumatised. Ninga Yawa said there was a possibility of the track reopening soon. “We are waiting for the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to come and meet us,” Yawa said. “We will then carry out awareness at all villages along the track.
“The awareness is to explain to villages along the trail what tourism is, how we can beneit and how we can participate. “Once we find the thoughts of the villagers from Wau to Salamaua, we will then look at reviving the Black Cat Track. Yawa said that all this would cost money and appealed to the tourism authority, Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and provincial division of culture and tourism for assistance. “Our major problem is funding,” he said. “If the government can fund us more, that’s
okay. We need to appeal to Morobe Governor Kelly Naru that mining is a non-renewable resource.” The track started out in the 1920s and 30s as a trail for prospectors seeking to get rich on the gold in Wau. They travelled from the port Salamaua on a treacherous three to four-day hike through leechinfested territory, a trail that recently has been described as “suitable only for masochists and Israeli Paratroopers”. In 1942 the Japanese made their final failed attempt at
capturing Port Moresby using the Black Cat Trail marching inland from Salamaua on the north coast after failing to reach the capital earlier using the now famous Kokoda Trail. If they had been able to capture the Allied Air Base in Wau, they could have launched an offensive on the capital that possibly would have overwhelmed the Australians, Americans, and Papua New Guinea militia stationed there. In more recent times, seven Australians, a New Zealander and their porters were am-
bushed while trekking along the Black Cat Track in Morobe province on September 10 last year. Two local porters were killed in the attack and another, Lionel Agilo, later died from his injuries in hospital. The leader of the trekking group Christy King said she was deeply saddened by what she described as a “frenzied bloody massacre”. Police in Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Province are preparing inal court iles to serve on nine suspects charged in relation to
the September killings. The men, who are remanded in custody, have been charged with murder and attempted murder – none have entered any pleas yet. The Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Leo Lamei says all nine defendants will be served iles soon, before they are due to appear in the Morobe District Court next month. Lamei says it will be up to state prosecutors to ask for the death penalty if they are found guilty. - PNC
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
lETTERS reta
An outsider’s observation on island life Dear Editor, My partner and I are regular travellers to the Cook Islands. We stay here for two months out of 12 each year. We both pay our share of tax in New Zealand (which beneits the Cooks) and we also spend a lot of money in your community. I would like to make the following outsider observations and extend personal opinion for your readers to consider: 1. We are both "traditional" professionals in our 40's who regularly attend church. We have also regularly/frequently attended the local watering holes in Aitutaki (and love bingo night with the older ladies). I strongly disagree with a letter to the editor published on Thursday January 6, 2014. In particular I fervently disagree that: (a) "the Aitutaki locals are animal like"; (b) "they leave all their rubbish and disgusting left-behinds for someone else to collect"; and (c) "don't bother calling the police... they have gone ishing".
2. It is my direct observation that the Aitutaki locals drink responsibly, they are respectful, warm and welcoming. Neither my partner nor I have ever witnessed any violence or abuse (physical or verbal) on this island. In fact, it is my opinion that the drinks from one local establishment taste so watered down that you would never move past anything more than a happy glow. Certainly I have not seen anyone falling over drunk off their faces - and we go out a lot while we are on holidays. 3. I regularly walk right around the entire outskirts of the island and the inland areas for exercise each morning. I do not see any of the "rubbish" or the "disgusting left-behinds" as alleged by the other writer. In fact we have had several parties at our house and on every occasion our guests have collected and put away all rubbish at the end of the evening, leaving us nothing to clean up. They are wonderful guests and I would
welcome them into my home in New Zealand. I would also like to add that we have the choice of going to a number of different places for our holidays including NZ, the Gold Coast, India, South America, Phuket or Bali - we chose to come here and spend our dollars because it is immaculately clean, safe and friendly. We love you guys! 4. I am repulsed by the writers comments about the local Police on Aitutaki. I have to speculate that the writer may have a personal grudge. What I have seen for myself over the past several years of coming here are kind and compassionate officers, who genuinely care about their community and who fulil their duties with huge mana. They are ever watchful shepherds tending their lock. Both of us have massive respect for the police here and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them and commend them for doing an outstanding job with the limited resources that they have. Kia Kaha guys
you are keeping it real. 5. I would also like to comment upon certain elderly tax dodgers and people sucking up social welfare benefits generously provided by other countries: (a) We all have to pay our fair share of tax whether we are young or old. In return we get a safe community, roads, water supply and great health care benefits. Hobbes called it the "social contract". It is wrong and unfair that certain elders can avoid paying their fair share of tax. Instead of deducting the money from their bank accounts, perhaps an alternative would be to simply pull the plug on their medical beneits and thereby eliminate the problem at the root - saving generous kiwis their hard earned tax dollars; and (b) Whilst waiting for my cheeseburger at Mangos (great food) I overheard an elderly Cook Islander and his wife informing their friend that they manage to get an additional $AUS 200 per fortnight beneit
from Australia's Centerlink by dishonestly informing Centerlink that they are living apart when in fact they are under the same roof. It seems that there is a lack of integrity and respect for the countries who are helping. 6. Unfortunately democracy is all about popularity. It would be sad if both sides of the political spectrum lacked the backbone to execute unpopular decisions despite the fairness of the result. Sometimes we all have to make hard decisions. It would be nice one day to return to the Cook Islands and see strong, independent and accountable leadership taking the bull by the horns and pushing their people to the next level of success and prosperity. Instead of letting a very small minority (who haven't paid their way) hijack the focus of this election year on $30k of back tax - how about taking a serious look at the Muri Beach Lagoon, which is putrid and unswimmable in parts! You can smell
septic tanks as you bike down the road. Once your lagoon has had it, you will loose far more tourist dollars than $30k of back tax. What are the real priorities in the islands? What are you doing to protect your children's future, and what kind of example do tax dodging, social welfare suckers set for the youth of your nation. You have so much potential. Take the ball and run with it. In conclusion, I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Haigh for executing what from the outside appears to be strong and fair actions to benefit his community and again commend the Aitutaki Police for doing a great job. To all the people who have welcomed us here, opened their homes and shown us utter generosity and respect (you know who you are) thank you so much. Thank you all for having us on your beautiful islands. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2014 David Beard
Norm’s not ‘our economy’s saviour’ “OUR HIGHLY respected Papa Tom Davis must be turning in his grave after Norman George’s release in the Cook Island News last Friday,” a smoke signaller writes in response to the Teenui Mapumai MP’s column titled ‘What is missing from our economy?’ “In 1986 Norman was the very person who campaigned against Papa Tom for the Demo leadership so he, Norman himself, could become prime minister. The plan backired and Dr Pupuke Robati became the PM instead. For Norman to claim himself as the saviour of the future of our economy is like the dreamer who built his castle in the air, actually in hot air. Papa Tom warned that (economic) planners who are dangerous are those who plan for products (pigs, chickens, taro, etc) rather than operational means to reach economic objectives. It is looking at the bigger economic picture, not just freeing government control measures, or for government subsidy amongst other things. He has 30 years in Parliament, a good number of years as minister and DPM – why didn’t he practice what he now preaches?”
PARADISE LOST TO DOGS “DIED and gone to heaven in Rarotonga...or so I thought until dogs
woke me up every morning at 4, 5 and 6am without fail,” writes a recent visitor to the Cook Islands. “When out walking they WOULD bound up to me surround me and start furiously barking. Aitutaki has come up with one answer to the dog problem and Rarotonga needs to ind a solution before it becomes Paradise Lost.”
POWER’S PAID, WHY NOT WATER? “WHY ARE people happy to pay for power and the entire infra-
structure that enables them to come home and turn the lights on, but complain about the possibility of a fee to be able to come home and lush the toilet, shower and cook?” asks a smoke signaller in response to Saturday’s CI News ‘On the street’ poll in which most opposed any charge for water. “Water may be free but the infrastructure all the way from the hills to your tap costs money.”
DOGS ‘DAMAGING TOURISM’
A SMOKE signaller texts to 188: “I totally agree with Friday’s front page article ‘Dogs damage tourism reputation’. I work in a resort and dogs roam on two resort units and the restaurant area and we chase them out, but they keep coming back. Incidents with dogs that have happened to our guests have been reported to police but the problem is still here. The number of dogs is getting worse and must be reduced urgently.”
‘BUY SELL LIE’ A SMOKE signaller writes: “Although the Buy/Sell/Swap Facebook
page is a very good idea for the Cook Islands, it would be nice if those that post items for sale stop putting down the local businesses by adding on information to the post that would be found incorrect. I like healthy competition between businesses, but to say a business sells a product at a completely incorrect price just so you can sell yours is not nice. For your information Jaycar sells their 30W LED lood light at $159.90, brand new and with warranty.”
TAX LAW TEST “GREY Power should take the Ministry of Finance and Economic
Management to court, including the bank(s) that allowed MFEM to take Grey Power members’ pension money without their client’s approved permission,” a smoke signaller writes. “This will test the constitutional weight of the law that MFEM is using to legitimise its corrupt, dishonest, and unethical tactics against our poor, frail and sickly pensioners.” Another signaller texts to 188: “Shame on this government for empowering an expat on a work permit to distort our Tax Act to treat our elderly who contributed to this nation to what it is today.”
ATIU ‘NEEDS A MAGGIE’ “NORMAN George is a big pupuva’a [loudmouthed and boastful]” texts a smoke signaller in response to some of his comments in his Friday column. “All this time what have you done for our people in Atiu? I can’t see anything. I feel that the mayor Taoro is better than him – he’s done heaps of work for the people on Atiu. Step down Norm, we need a person like George Maggie. He doesn’t talk much but gets the work done.”
Cook Islands News Building Maraerenga Avarua Rarotonga PO Box 15 Rarotonga Tel (682) 22999 Fax 25303 Email: editor@cookislandsnews.com or adverts@cookislandsnews.com
www.cookislandsnews.com Daily Monday to Saturday
Managing Editor John Woods john@cookislandsnews.com Financial Controller Liz Woods lizw@cookislandsnews.com General Manager Tony Fe’ao tony@cookislandsnews.com Deputy Editor Matariki Wilson matariki@cookislandsnews.com Online & Social Networking Editor Briar Douglas briar@cookislandsnews.com Reporters Emmanuel Samoglou emmanuel@cookislandsnews.com Ben Chapman-Smith ben@cookislandsnews.com Rachel Reeves rachel@cookislandsnews.com Court Reporter Merita Wi-Kaitaia merita@cookislandsnews.com Advertising adverts@cookislandsnews.com Advertising Assistant Peka Fisher peka@cookislandsnews.com oice Manager Tere Joseph tere@cookislandsnews.com Accounts Manager Tangi Tauira tangi@cookislandsnews.com Reception Kura Tauira reception@cookislandsnews.com oice Staf Apii Tua apii@cookislandsnews.com Graphic Design & Layout Mahai Daniel mahai@cookislandsnews.com Adam Tutuvanu adam@cookislandsnews.com Web Developer Daniel Rolls dan@cookislandsnews.com Print Manager Dan Johnston danj@cookislandsnews.com Printers Dennis Campos, Lai Gukisuva
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
Te Mato Vai water consultations generates support and caution THE FIRST week of consultation meetings on the new water system project ‘Te Mato Vai’ have gone well with plenty of questions, but with each of the six meetings held so far giving their support in principle for the project. The purpose of this, the irst instalment of consultation meetings was to discuss the draft master plan for the project prepared by AECOM. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Teariki Heather says he’s pleased with the way the meetings have gone. “It’s clear this project is one people feel very passionate about – and rightly so. It is a big project and we are talking about a large amount of investment of money in it. But, we are also investing in the health of our people for generations to come, and for that I make no apology for wanting to see this project completed,” says Heather. “Having access to clean, healthy drinking water in our homes with the turn of a tap should not be the luxury it currently is. Everyone should be able to access clean drinking water in their own homes. Meetings held last week have been with the House of Ariki and Te Koutu Nui, members of parliament and with landowners around each of the 12 water intakes. The landowners were offered their own meetings as a courtesy ahead of the public meetings this week. Once the project has identiied the particular land parcels proposed to be used for the project, more formal meetings will be called with those land owners. One of the major concerns raised during the meetings last week has been whether or not the country can afford it. The team presenting at the meetings – led by minister Teariki Heather – have explained to participants how it will be inanced. “Whilst the latest draft of the Water Supply Master Plan for Rarotonga estimates the total cost of the project to be in the
region of $72.1m, I’ve instructed my oficials and the project team that I’m not interested in the “gold plated” options and that I want to see the project come in at around a total cost of $60m, which I believe is doable. Of that, we will be borrowing NZ$23m (approximately) from the People’s Republic of China – to inance the ring main. A further NZ$15m will come to us via a grant from New Zealand Aid. The balance will be funded by the Cook Islands government.” Other “cost” issues raised during the consultations included the cost of on-going maintenance, the cost of ixing/ repairing poor construction and any likely costs to be passed on to households. Secretary for Infrastructure, Mac Mokoroa in response advised that each year the Annual Budget appropriates funds to the Water Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure. This appropriation is for the maintenance of the current water system including staff costs. For the current financial year, the allocation to the Water Division is $750,000. This is an annual appropriation, although the amount varies. Minister Heather acknowledged some short falls in other construction projects in the past. “We have learnt from those experiences. The government was not in charge of those projects, we are in charge of this project. And I for one do not want to be associated with any project that falls short and fails to deliver on what we are promising.” The minister made a commitment that no costs would be charged to households within the next five years. After that time he indicated a service or delivery fee would likely be charged to households who used over a set amount each month. Some attendees at the meeting voiced support for the charging of water services – not for water itself – but for the delivery of water to their homes and thought charging should be implemented as soon as the project was completed and delivering as promised. Three public meetings will be
Ui Ariki and Koutu Nui members were the irst to hear presentations on the Te Mato Vai water project through a series of consultation meetings which continues with public consultations this week. 14011305 held this week. They will be at Aroa Nui Hall (6pm on Monday), Sinai Hall (6pm on Tuesday) and Titikaveka CICC Sunday School Hall (6pm on Wednesday). Meanwhile the irst physical signs of work on the 30-month project will begin Friday February 21 to coincide with the Te Mato Vai Project launch. That work will be on the replacement of the present ring main which delivers water around the island. The 38 Chinese workers who will undertake that work, alongside locals, will be arriving in the coming weeks. The pipes, which are as per New Zealand standards and other water fittings they will use to complete the work will also arrive within the next few weeks. The replacement of the ring main is able to proceed while detailed design/planning is inalised for the work to be carried out around the intakes, trunk mains, storage facilities and the level of treatment needed to provide the people of Rarotonga – residents and visitors – with a clean reliable water supply for decades to come. - MW/TMV
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Teariki Heather is leading the public consultation meetings and says he’s pleased with the way the meetings have gone. 14011310
PUBLIC NOTICES
As of Monday 20th January our oice opens from 7:30am to 2:30pm daily for enrolments, stationery lists and general inquiries. ring liz or simon on 23509 or email teukiou@oyster.net.ck. we look forward to welcoming students back to school on monday 27th January.
The general public will get their opportunity this week to air their views and issues on the Te Mato Vai project due to start early next month. 14011309
“Akara Ki Mua – Learning for Tomorrow” - together at Apii Te Uki Ou.
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
O3b launch to beneit local tourism industry www.cookislandschamber.org
Te Mato Vai – Can we afford to run it?
T
he Public have been repeatedly asking during the Te Mato Vai consulation process: how much will the project cost to install; how much will it cost to run and maintain; and how much will each person in Rarotonga need to contribute. These are reasonable questions, which should be answered, regardless of whether funding is from tax now, or from water rates later. We can then all decide whether it is worthwhile supporting. We have now been told the project capital cost is around $63M, of which about half is a grant, and the balance is a loan. So the repayments are likely to cost each person in Rarotonga about $10 per month. However, it has been impossible to get any information on the expected running and maintenance costs for the project. A dozen intakes, reservoirs, treatment stations, pumping stations, testing and monitoring systems, all cost a considerable amount to maintain, especially considering our health, and our children’s health will depend on the quality of that maintenance. Everyone understands that the details haven’t been inalised, but the experts must have offered some professional advice to Government on what the ongoing costs will be. Government has a duty to manage prudently the iscal risks to the country, and to maintain predictability of its costs and therefore taxation, so we can reasonably expect that the cost is known. We hear estimates ranging from $1M to $6M per year. Or somewhere between a further $7 to $42 per person per month. These are guesses - the public has a right to know what the real number is. We have been asked to support un-affordable projects (like the Vaimaanga Hotel) before, without proper planning and accountability. No-one is willing to endorse such an open chequebook again. We’d all like a better water supply, but there are a wide range of options, and we are entitled to look at the price tag before buying, to ask questions, get complete answers, and then to express an informed opinion. That would be real consultation. So can we please have some clear, concise and fact based answers on what the cost to each individual person and each business will be for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of this scheme?
Kia Manuia, Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce
SWITCH I NG on O3b’s new
high-speed internet in the Cook Islands could help attract more visitors to the country, says the head of tourism. Internet provider O3b will soon be launching its new global satellite internet service and the Cook Islands will be irst in the world to receive it. Halatoa Fua, chief executive of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, said he sees O3b’s arrival as a marketing opportunity for the local tourism industry. His team is trying to learn about O3b before its starts sharing stories overseas about how the Cook Islands has improved its connectivity. “The challenge for us is trying to create these stories and convert them into bookings,” he said. “There’s already a point of difference in that we’re the irst to get O3b.” The aim will be to “create hype” in offshore markets about the Cook Islands being the irst customer to get O3b. Last week, Telecom ran an event for customers to meet with O3b staff and experience a trial of the service by watching YouTube footage.
Fua was at the event and said it was nice to see 03b in action, providing top-notch internet speeds. “But it will be good to see how sustainable it is,” he said. The tourism corporation will be having discussions with Telecom to ind out more about 03b and how its technology works. Fua said he hopes the two bodies can work together to offer products, such as free WiFi hotspot cards, as an incentive to tourists.
O3b wants to give broadband speeds to the ‘other 3 billion’ people in the world who cannot access ibre optic cable. The company currently has four satellites in orbit but is waiting to send up another four before it can oficially hit go on its service. O3b marketing manager Melanie Elliot last week said the company is hoping to send the next four satellites up and launch the service between March and May. - BCS
halatoa Fua, chief executive of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, at the Kia Orana Cook Islands event late last year. 14011544
Puna travels to the Middle East
PRIME Minister Henry Puna begins the week in the Middle East city of Abu Dhabi, where he is attending ‘The Blue Economy Summit’. According to a press release issued by the PM’s ofice, Puna’s attendance at the meeting is meant “... to ensure the Cook Islands is well-positioned to contribute to the shaping of the global agenda for Small Islands Developing States (SIDS).” “It’s important for the Cook Islands to contribute wherever possible to the outcomes of major international gatherings like the Blue Economy Summit in Abu Dhabi,” said Puna. The Blue Economy Summit is
described as a meeting that helps island states pursue “more appropriate” models for sustainable development. The summit hopes to address “speciic and unique challenges ... and issues related to ocean resources like isheries and minerals, renewable energy potential, tourism growth, shipping, and transportation constraints and vulnerabilities.” The conference concludes today, with the PM returning to Rarotonga this Thursday. This week, Deputy Prime Minister and minister of infrastructure Teariki Heather continues a series of nine consultation meetings on the $64 million
Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project. The first of a series of stakeholder consultations began last week with Heather meeting traditional leaders and landowners from the various intake sites across Rarotonga. This week, three consultations will be held with members of the public, with each Vaka receiving the opportunity to provide input on how the project should take shape. Finance minister Mark Brown is in New Zealand for a personal trip returning next Sunday, with remaining members of cabinet in country all week attending to their ministerial duties. - ES
WEEKLY TRAVEL DIARY FOR cABINET MINISTERS MINISTER PORTFOLIOS TRAVEL Prime Minister, Attorney general, Energy, Justice, EMcI, Public Service, commission, Marine Resources, Transport, Foreign Afairs and Immigration
Monday, January 20 to Monday, January 27: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, cOOK ISLANDS
Kiriau Turepu
Agriculture, BTIB, NES
Monday, January 20 to Monday, January 27: cOOK ISLANDS
Teina Bishop
Education, Tourism
Monday, January 6 to Monday, January 13: cOOK ISLANDS
Mark Brown
Finance and Economic Management, head of State, commerce, FIU, Pearl Authority, Telecommunications, Financial Supervisory Monday, January 20 to Monday, commission, Superannuation, PERcA, January 27: NEW ZEALAND Financial Services Development Authority, Minerals and Natural Resources.
Henry Puna
Teariki Heather Nandi Glassie
Infrastructure and Planning, cultural Development, house of Ariki, Police
Monday, January 20 to Monday, January 27: cOOK ISLANDS
health, Parliamentary Services, Ombudsman, Internal Afairs
Monday, January 20 to Monday, January 27:cOOK ISLANDS
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
Digicel could offer sponsorship deals COOK Islands sportsmen and women could be in for major sponsorship opportunities if telecommunications giant Digicel buys a majority stake in Telecom Cook Islands. That is the view of Finance Minister Mark Brown and one backed up by Digicel’s track record in other countries, which includes its sponsorship of speedster Usain Bolt. Telecom New Zealand (TNZ) released a statement in late December saying it is considering selling its 60 per cent stake in Telecom Cook Islands (TCI). “No decision has been made whether or not to proceed. Telecom will be making no further comment during these considerations,” the company said. Brown has conirmed Digicel is the interested buyer and an update is expected soon. Digicel has refused to comment on the matter but has issued a general statement about its sponsorship involvement in other counties. Tui Ganilau, who handles marketing operations for Digicel Pacific, said the company sponsors Usain Bolt, “the world’s fastest man”. “Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Paciic sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions.” She said the company also sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel sponsors the Manu Samoa 15’s rugby team and the Vanuatu cricket team, Ganilau said. Brown said Digicel, which
operates in 31 countries, is “more amenable” to providing sponsorship of national teams because of its global exposure. “For them, there’s value in doing that but for Telecom (NZ) there isn’t because they’re not a global company.” However, Telecom has also been active in its involvement in Cook Islands sports. “ Telecom’s overarching sports policy is to support events that bring sports tourism to the island,” said Damien Beddoes, TCI’s sales and marketing manager. “We are long time sponsors of the International Rugby 7s in Heaven Tournament and the Round Rarotonga Road Race.” Telecom is also major sponsor of the new Telecom Netball in Paradise tournament and has been growing its sponsorship of the Vaka Eiva event. Beddoes said Telecom is in discussions to sponsor the upcoming Oceania Athletics Championship to be held here later this year. “During the course of a year we support other sporting events that bring participants to the Cook Islands. It is our view that if we can support good quality events that develop into annual events then we achieve two goals – the development of sport in the Cook Islands, and the low-through beneits to the economy via the tourism industry,” he said. TCI is run as a joint venture between TNZ and the Cook Islands government, with a 60 per cent and 40 per cent split, respectively. - Ben Chapman-Smith
The University of the South Paciic Cook Islands is ofering the following courses in distance mode in Semester 1, 2014 • If you wish to commence studies with the University for the irst time, please complete an application for admission before 31 Jan, 2014. • If you are continuing your studies, please complete reenrolment before 20 Jan, 2014. • Semester 1 will commence February 17, 2014. PRELIMINARY (EQUIVALENT TO FORM 6) COURSE CODE
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Admissions and re-enrolment can be completed at our oice - call in and complete the relevant forms or the forms can be sent to you by email (phone 29415 or email nataliajoseph26@gmail.com) or enrolment can be completed online at http://www.usp.ac.j/index. php?id=12540
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ED 170
LANGUAGE FOR TEACHERS
MA 102
MATHEMATICS FOR SCIENCE
ed 191
EDU DECISION-MAKNG/PROB SOLV'G
Ma 112
CALCULUS II
ED 205
MATHS SCIENCE &THE ENV. IN ECE
Ma 221
Ch P02 PRELIMINARY CHEMISTRY A
LINEAR ALGEBRA II
ED 206
ARTS,CRAFT,MUSIC & MOV. IN ECE
Ma 321
EC P01 PRELIMINARY ECONOMICS
ABSTRACT ALGEBRA
ED 210
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MG 101
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MG 201
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SC & SOC STUD FOR PRIM TEACHER
IS P21
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MG 206
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ED 250
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LL P13
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MG 302
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ED 252
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ed 391
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PS 407
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Is F21
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PH F02
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LL 241
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SW 201
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Pukupuka barge set to leave soon
SO F01
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LM 112
PRINCIPLES/PROB'S:LAND TENURE
SW 301
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SO F01
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LM 311
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TE F02
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LS 101
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TS 108
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LS 204
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TS 207
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LS 205
MGNT LIB/INFO CENTRES
TS 209
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AF 100
INT TO ACTG & FIN FOR NON SPEC
LW 110
LAW AND SOCIETY
Ts 217
FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPRS I PRAC
Solomona said it will probably take the workers “a week or so” to get the runway safe enough to land a plane, at which time the teachers can head north. Pukapuka’s runway was reopened in late December after a member of the island’s community passed away suddenly in Rarotonga. Severe rainfall had damaged the runway but it was urgently mended in order to ly the body of Billy Baniwai Tiro back home to his family. Ewan Smith, general manager of Air Rarotonga, said the pilots who lew Tiro’s body back to Pukupuka were not happy about landing there again until more permanent repairs were made. “It was dried up but the crew reported it was still very soft.” Until the barge arrives in Pukupuka, no flights will be heading to the island, he said. The runway on the outer island is not sealed, but has been created out of compacted coral. Solomona said repairs to Atiu’s airport will be done after the Pukupuka project. - Ben Chapman-Smith
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TS 310
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aG 111
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Ts 311
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AG 124
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UU 100
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UU 114
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DG 100
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LW 392
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Ce e32
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DG 100
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LW 400
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Ce e33
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DG 101
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LW 410
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LW 434
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CE L42
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LW 451
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EC 202
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LW 453
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRON.LAW
EC 301
MACROECONOMICS ANALYSIS
LW 470
COMPANY & PATERNERSHIP LAW I
ED 453
POLICY STUDIES IN EDUCATION
EC 306
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LW 495
SPECIAL TOPICS: CLIMATE CHAGNE
ED 455
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EC 307
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LW 495A ST:INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES LAW
ED 457
ADV STUDIES ED:SMALL IS/STATES
ED 152
ED 461
EDU FOR SUSTAINBLE DEVELOPMNT
ED 153
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT-LIFESPAN APP LW 495B ST:CHILDREN'S RIGHTS LW 495C ST:INTERNATIONAL CRIMAL LAW SCHOOL & SOCIETY
ED 468
GENDER AND EDUCATION
ED 158
INTRO TO NON-FORMAL EDUCATION
ED 491
ADV.STDS IN EDUCATNAL LEADSHP
A BARGE taking workers and heavy machinery to fix Pukupuka’s dilapidated airport is on track to leave in about three weeks. No planes can land on the island until the runway – which has been deemed unsafe by Air Rarotonga – has been repaired. Solo Solomona, from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning, said the barge has just returned to Rarotonga after dropping off materials in Mangaia for a harbour project. “They’re going to make another trip to Mangaia for the same reason and, after that, Pukupuka is next in line,” he said. Weather permitting, the barge will leave for Pukupuka in the last week of January or irst week of February, Solomona said. A group of teachers trying to reach Pukupuka before the school year begins on January 23 will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the barge’s progress. The new principal, two new teachers and returning tertiary programme co-ordinator have been stranded in Rarotonga waiting for the runway to be ixed.
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Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
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PUBLIC NOTICES
tuesday 21 January year 12 & 13 students MuST conirm subject choices 11am – 2pm (please bring your results with you) Wednesday 22 January New students wishing to enrol 9am – 11am thursday 23 January TEACHER ONLY DAY 8am – 3pm Friday 24 January TEACHER ONLY DAY 8am – 3pm Monday 27 January Years 10, 11 & 12 at school in uniform 8.15am – 11am tuesday 28 January Years 9 & 13 at school in uniform 8.15am – 11am Wednesday 29 January All students - Normal School Day 8.15am – 3pm. 76302
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The Cook Islands Canoeing Association will be holding SurfSki/K1 workshops from Monday 20 January to Thursday 23 January, 10-11.30am @ Nikao Beach. If you are interested in trying out these sports, or know of someone who may be, or wanting to develop your skills further...come along. Learn from one of our best cook Islands top junior paddler - Andre Tutaka-george. All welcome. See you there. All enquires to Teina Taulu, Ph: 51249. 76431 / /1889
FAMILY MEETING Meeting is called for the 7 families of Taia and Tarerea namely Tangipurunga Vaine Pivai Tungane Tuaiti Tanieraiti Mamaiti at the Mangaia hostel, Tuesday 21 January at 6pm Agenda: 2014 Reunion in Sydney Requesting all descendants to come Na te Tangipurunga family contact Tearoa Iorangi 28038/50589 76418 /35976 /1931
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
Public notice Te Mato Vai - Consultation Meetings
Date
time
Venue
Monday 13 January
10am
Atupare
Monday 13 January
6pm
Sinai hall
tuesday 14 January
1pm
Oice of the Deputy Prime Minister, Nikao
tuesday 14 January
6pm
Kavera Meeting House
Wednesday 15 January
6pm
Avana Meeting House
thursday 16 January
6pm
titikaveka CiCC Sunday School hall
Vaka Puaikura Public Consultation
Monday 20 January
6pm
Aroa nui hall
8
Vaka Te-Au-O-Tonga Public Consultation
tuesday 21st January
6pm
Sinai hall
9
Vaka Takitumu Public Consultation
Wednesday 22 January
6pm
titikaveka CiCC Sunday School hall
Audience/Stakeholders
2 intake landowners - te-Au-O-tonga 3 4
5 6 7
(tupapa, takuvaine, Avatiu) Members of Parliament for Rarotonga Constituencies intake landowners Puaikura (ngatoe, Rutaki, Muriavai) Intake Landowners Matavera, Turangi, Avana intake landowners totokoitu, taipara, Papua
SERvICES
Personal Man looking for girl born 1982, 1986 or 1988 to settle down in Tahiti. Please write to Van Arii, PO Box 11882, Mahina, Tahiti.
Action Man Mowing Services All jobs big or small, free quote. Give Clint a call on 52074.
Cook Islands Rugby League AGM Date: Monday 20 January 2014 Venue: At the Masters hQ, Takuvaine Time: 5pm Agenda: Presidents report 2013, Financial report 2013 and election of Oicers All club reps must be present at the AgM and meeting is open to anyone interested in getting involved with CIRL 2014. ‘Play League or What’ President cIRL. 76130 /35010 /2016
PUBLIC NOTICE In the matter of the cook Islands Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1986. Take note that under section 57 of the above Act, I, Mr Allister Webb on behalf of cook Islands Motor centre hereby applies for approval as salesperson. The application will be heard after 28 days of the irst appearance of this notice. Any person who desires to object to the application may serve notice of his/her objection to the Motor Vehicle Licensing Authority at the Ministry of Transport, P O Box 61, Rarotonga. The person giving the notice of objection shall also cause a copy of the notice to be served on the applicant within 7 days after giving it to the Licensing Authority.
The aim of Te Mato Vai is to provide clean water via an eicient and reliable distribution system with minimal loss, to the people who either live or are visiting Rarotonga; and to manage that process and the system in a cost efective way. Any enquiries can be directed to either Daryl Rairi 55064 or Jaewynn McKay 55486. 76079
76210 /35057 /2561
Salon de Hermies at Banana Court. hair and beauty services for men and woman including massage and waxing. Hermie’s back. Phone 22278. 76347 / /2164
FOR RENT
Nukutere College is pleased to announce that it will be open for enrolments and inquiries. Thursday 16th January, Friday 17th January. Tuesday 21st January through to Friday 24th January. All Staf are to report to St Paul’s Church, Titikaveka, 8:00 am Monday 20th January. All Students are to report to school 8:00 am, Monday 27th January. All new students are to report to the school oice. Principal and Senior Management 76382 /35207 /1829
Cummings family meeting In Vaimaanga at Kura’s home next to Jehovah witness church Tuesday 21 January 2014. 6pm. Please come all.
Available in March. 3 bedroom fully furnished Executive Home, including bathroom en-suite. Suitable for executive family. Longterm. Located upper Tupapa, backroad. Only interested parties please contact/text Edith: 76424/74238. 76353 /35045 /1931
Beachside house (Matavera) to let. 2 beds, 2 showers, sunroom, can convert to 3rd bedroom/ofice. Available en Jan 2014. Ph 24071. 76426 /36017 /1931
For rent 3 bedroom house for rent, unfurnished, back road Nikao. Available now, $250 per week. Call 55092. 777
3 bedroom nice large house partly furnished Titikaveka $250 per week. Phone 77901. 777
FOR SALE Brand New Rooing tiles 350 tiles Size 300 x1320. Phone 77060.
76408 /34628 /1931
Autism cook Islands
777
vEhICLES FOR SALE
ph 24065/55976
tiateura@oyster.net.ck
PUBLIC NOTICES
When Te Mato Vai is completed in three years’ time it will provide healthier treated water to the people of Rarotonga locals and visitors alike, and will be an encouragement to development on the island too. Water intakes will be refurbished, there will be an increase in water storage capacity, water treatment facilities will be constructed, all trunk and ring mains will be replaced and all piping to the boundaries of properties served by the current network will be upgraded. the inal stage will be the establishing the operation and maintenance of the new water supply. Supplying safe, reliable and afordable water for all is the overarching goal of the water partnership. naturally before any of the physical work takes place the people of Rarotonga, all of whom are stakeholders, will be kept informed through a series of Awareness and Stakeholder communications activities including public meetings. The irst tranche of Te Mato Vai stakeholder consultations will begin on Monday 13 January and conclude on Wednesday 22 January. Hon Teariki Heather, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure will lead these meetings. there are meetings for every group of stakeholders as set out below and all residents of Rarotonga with an interest in the Te Mato Vai project are encouraged to attend a meeting. Ui Ariki/Koutu Nui
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76329 /35030 /1931
76323 / /1916
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Older model Toyota for sale runs well registered and warranted One thousand ive hundred. Must sell cannot drive because of illness. Call Geof on 27651 or 73465. 777
SITUATIONS vACANT
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS (PROJECT MANAGEMENT) 3rd Course ofering AUT UNIVERSITY, School of Business, in conjunction with USP Cook Islands, is seeking Cook Islanders interested in upgrading their project management skills through the Graduate Certiicate in Business focusing on Project Management. This is a professional qualiication so a irst degree is desirable but not essential. if you are involved in project management and/or have practical, professional or educational experience of an appropriate kind you will be actively considered for entry to this programme. The certiicate is comprised of four papers, which can also be taken as independent papers. Each paper is delivered with six in-class sessions from Wednesday to Wednesday delivered after hours. Students complete assignments to pass the course which will be relevant and related to their professional practice. Students will learn an internationally recognized project management process. the course will be taught by Associate Professor Simon Mowatt of the AUT University School of Business. this is the third of four papers leading to the graduate Certiicate, however, new students will be accepted. Cost is $nZ990 per course. the third paper will run from 29 January – 5 February 2014. For an application form and further information, please contact Sheron on 29415 or email sheron.subhasni@ usp.ac.j CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS JANUARY 20, 2014. 76368
Driver/Groundsman 6 days a week Applicants need to be employable, with a good attitude, turn up on time and be smartly presented. Phone 27460. 76355 / /2202
CHEF REQUIRED. Full time position available. Must have at least 5 years experience in a head or 2nd chefs capacity. Applicant must be reliable, honest and able to work unsupervised. A knowledge of food costing and the ability to create and implement menu changes is required. Please email current cV to bullibaise@gmail.com or call 54668 for an interview. 76406 / /2592
Concrete Systems & Mike Rennie Builders Ltd, have a part time position for an Accounts Manager, must have work experience in MYOB & IMS Payroll. hours and rate are negotiable. Ring 20-375 for an interview. 76422 / /2295
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11
Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
IN MEMORIAM
SITUATIONS vACANT
In Memory of our dear sister
A position exists for 2 cashiers to work rotating shifts at Manea Foods. The positions would require a rostered shift at any of Manea Foods 3 outlets. The person would need to have a can do attitude, and be self motivated. Following programme systems and be task orientated would be a requirement. Training provided. Above award pay to start for the right person. Please contact Mum on 29806 for an interview. Application forms available from Manea Foods, Nikao.
Marae Mataroa A
lways a smile instead of a frown Always a hand, when one is down Always true, thoughtful and kind wonderful memories of you left behind we hold you close within our hearts And there you shall remain to walk with us throughout our lives your presence we miss your memory we treasure Loving you always Forgetting you never god has you in his keeping we have you in our hearts forever and ever your tim-tam family husband ken mataroa, son kJ mataroa and daughter gramatea Mataroa
Speed test!
76349 / /1617
WANTED TO BUy Wanted 20’’ or 40’’ shipping container to buy. Please call Deon 57894. 76376 /35110 /1931
Looking for second hand car, good condition, ideally convertible. Budget $7K Please call Bernard on mobile 51951. 76350 /35044 /1931
ngakeUata-te-maraeo-Te-eVANgeLIA ngametUa-mataroa
T
oday we pause to relect upon one year of sadness and pain one year of wishing we had the chance to bring you back to us again your future came unexpected with no farewell words spoken No time to say goodbye and only god knows why our heart was torn in two when you left us one side illed with heartache and the other died with you one year journey is hard and unbearably long If tears could build a stairway we’d walk to heaven and bring you home again But god gave us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change The courage to change the things we can And the wisdom to know the diference
Job 1: 21 - “naketh came i out of my mother’s wound, and naketh shall i return thither; the lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the lord” rest in peace our morning star forever in our hearts - dad & mum rev. tuaine ngametua & mrs ngametua, mr & mrs Julian aupuni, children ken Jnr & moetautua mataroa, brothers and sisters and all the families.
Rarotonga’s future rugby league stars turned out in full force on Saturday for the inal day of the week-long junior league academy. a crowd of parents gathered at the avatiu swamp to watch their children go through well-honed skills and drills before displaying their skills in exciting games. Full coverage of the very successful programme will be highlighted in tomorrow’s sports pages. 14011903
BIRThDAy
IN MEMORIAM In loving memory of our dad & papa dan
Daniel Akanoa DANIeL
who left us four years today (20th January 2010) with loving & cherished memories always in our hearts. sadly missed & forever loved by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, In-laws and families from here and far.
wishing you a happy birthday Loveyoualways! Dre & Mama trish xo SITUATIONS vACANT
SITUATIONS vACANT
SITUATIONS vACANT
Teacher and Support Staf
SALES PERSON FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY IN SALES! The Motor Centre specializes in the sales of Motorcycles, Motor Vehicles, Whiteware & Power Equipment. We require an experienced Sales Person who is motivated, has some computer experience, enjoys learning the iner detail speciications of the products you will be selling, has some ability to efectively display products in a large showroom, and most importantly is able to converse easily with customers. A car and motorcycle license is essential. Remuneration will be based on previous experience. the successful candidate will enjoy working in a happy team environment with bonus incentive. Please submit your CV to: Attention: General Manager Cook Islands Motor Centre Ltd PO Box 74, Rarotonga OR Email: gm@motorcentre.co.ck Applications close Wednesday 22 January 2014 76173
OverseAs AdvertisinG we can place your message in newspapers around the world. we will get quotes for classiied advertisements and pre-billing. contact our advertising department phone 22999 email: adverts@cookislandsnews.com
WEDDINGS & EVENTS COORDINATOR A GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY! We are looking for a dynamic individual to join our Team at Turama Paciic Travel Group to specialise in Weddings and Events. This role requires you to report to the Manager for our Destination Management Cook Islands/Weddings Department where you will be responsible for our weddings and events bookings & enquiries. • You must have excellent communication & computer skills • Strong Sales and Marketing Skills • Friendly & Outgoing with the ability to work under pressure • Must be Reliable • Must be Creative and great interpersonal and public contact skills • Previous experience in the Tourism industry is a bonus; however we are willing to train the right person If you are conident, proactive and want to work in our thriving tourism sector, we would love to hear from you. Interested? Please send in your covering letter and CV to melina@dmck.co.ck by the 24th January 2014 or contact Melina on 23026. 76410
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Applications are invited from experienced and motivated individuals for the following part-time positions to commence in the school year: 1. Avatea School (two Positions) • Teacher Aide (Inclusive Education) • Grounds/Maintenance Person 2. Mitiaro School (One Position): Teacher Aide/Carer Person must be prepared to care for a child in the home and to work closely with parents, the Principal and Ministry of Health personnel. 3.Corrective Services Education Programme, Arorangi: teacher (part time) Working 3 days a week, teaching in the areas of mainly literacy and numeracy, applicants must have high expectations of students and student achievement, strong in behaviour management, able to access and create resources including online; lexible, with sense of humour and identiies well with the programme and its objectives. Applications close on thursday 23 January 2014. Job Descriptions are available from the Ministry or at: www. education.gov.ck Please submit a cover letter with Curriculum Vitae and references to: Director HRM Division Ministry of Education PO Box 97 Rarotonga Cook islands Ph (682) 29357, Fax (682) 28357 or email vacancy@ education.gov.ck 76268
12
Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
Domestic dispute leads to break in at Whale centre value of $29, she was saved from any other form of punishment. Gordon Heather, 23, on a joint common assault charge with Jonathan George, 21, had their matter adjourned to February 13, by which time police said they will sort out how to proceed with the case. A difficult situation had developed during their call-over on Thursday; their lawyer Wilkie Rasmussen was not present and had not told either accused or their parents where he was. Jonathan George's father George George was sworn in to court to explain that he had just called Rasmussen, who apologised and explained he was in New Zealand for a human rights conference. George asked the court, on Rasmussen's behalf, to adjourn the matter for two weeks. How-
THE HIGH Court on January 16
ever, he explained that his son Jonathan George was leaving the next day to a prearranged job in Australia and that Heather was also planning on leaving Rarotonga at a later date, for a week. JP Kenning described the situation as “ridiculous”; George would lose an opportunity if he were forced to stay, but if he left, Heather would be left to deal with the charge. The matter had been set aside to be dealt with on January 10, before Wilkie was due to leave, however nothing had eventuated. An adjournment was made to discuss the matter in chambers, where an agreement was made to let Heather go to Australia and adjourn the matter. According to police prosecutor Kirikava, a withdrawal of the charges may be made.
Jan 20
was presided over by Justice of the Peace John Kenning, who made the following judgements: Siliamoanalulu Lupena, 24, pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful damage, for damaging a fence, sign post, louvers and mirror on the property of the Whale Research Centre in Nikao. Police prosecutor Maevarangi Kirikava told the court the damage was made at 5.30am on December 21, after a domestic dispute between Lupena and her partner. She had smashed a mirror inside by smashing the window louvers of the centre's restrooms and then entering. She was convicted and ordered to pay $30 court costs. As she had pleaded guilty and paid for the damage already, which only came to a
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Elisa Kalina Webb , 20, charged with common assault, was not present in court. No conirmation could be made as to whether Webb had received a summons for the charge or not, the matter was adjourned to January 23. Davinia Webb , 25, also charged with common assault, did not appear to court either. As with Elisa Webb, no confirmation could be made whether Webb had been sent a court summons. The matter was adjourned to January 23. Patrick Arona, 22, pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivation of cannabis. Due to the seriousness of the charge, Arona must wait until the next High Court judge session for sentencing. An adjournment to February 20 was made for a call-over to determine a date. Arona's counsel, Norman George, had no issue with the adjournment, adding that he was conident the judge will take leniency on his client “when everything is explained”. Arona was released on bail on the conditions he releases his passport to the court and report to the police station every Friday. Rima Iotua, 23, charged with possession of a utensil has not yet found representation. JP Kenning told Iotua he would give him the benefit of the doubt as most law irms would be closed during this time of the year. The matter was adjourned to January 30 without plea. Napoua Benioni, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cannabis. An adjournment for a call-over date had to be made, to set a date for sentencing before a judge. Although Benioni appeared without a lawyer he
told the court he is being represented by Charles Petero, who advised police he will represent Benioni on the day of sentencing. The matter was adjourned to February 20. Ngatokotoru Aratangi, 18, appearing for one charge of theft and one charge of burglary, had to have his matter adjourned to January 23 for call-over due to the absence of his lawyer, Wilkie Rasmussen. No plea was entered. Moearo Ponga, 60, appearing for dangerous driving and excess breath alcohol charges dating back to 2008, had his matter adjourned to January 23. Police prosecutor Kirikava advised the court Ponga will be attending a meeting with the victims to the dangerous driving offence, to deal with the damage made to the victims' car. Manoa Mataitini, 35, another client of Rasmussen’s, appeared for sentencing on a charge of common assault. Kirikava described the incident as a workplace dispute. He said Mataitini had an argument with a coworker from the same division, resulting in Mataitini hitting the victim in the face. As this was his irst appearance Kirikava recommended a six month suspended sentence, however the matter had to be adjourned to January 23 due to Rasmussen's absence. Harriet Kimiora, 31, charged with refusing to permit to take a blood specimen, did not appear to court. Kirikava explained to the court that Kimiora had been in New Zealand aiding her mother and only just returned to Rarotonga. An adjournment to January 30 was made.
Young man warned prison will be next A YOUNG man with a history of drug related offences has been sentenced for assaulting his 8 month pregnant girlfriend, over petrol. Maarametua Teritaiti, 19, was sentenced to 12 months probation with the first six months community service on Thursday for a charge of assault on a female, with a warning by presiding Justice of the Peace John Kenning that any new charge will have a dire consequence on his life. “Your drug related activities interfere with sentencing for this charge, the next charge will provide you with a new roof over your head, and not the most comfortable of roofs,”
Kenning said. Defence lawyer, Norman George, told the court his client had beaten the girl out of frustration, saying that Teritaiti “didn’t think she was attentive enough” when he had run out of petrol while driving from Avarua to Titikaveka and had texted her to help him. He said Teritaiti and the girl had reconciled since then and that there was no serious harm done. “He is expecting another child, to send him to prison is not really helpful,” he said. During the course of the procedure, police prosecutor Maevarangi Kirikava described the assault, saying that Teritaiti
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Tangata Taripo, 21, pleaded guilty to driving while under the inluence of alcohol or drugs. He had appeared before on a similar charge two years ago. An amendment was made to his police information sheet, which stated he was 37 when clearly he was much younger than that. An adjournment was made to January 30 for sentencing and a probation report ordered. Teinaki Williams, 17, asked for time to seek a lawyer before entering a plea to a charge of wilful damage. He had been charged with the offence after smashing the window of a rental car belonging to Cook Island Rentals, valued at over $700. He was released at large and must appear to court again on January 30. Iototoro Kioravaru Vakapora, 34, charged with assault with intent to injure and assault on a female, is also being represented by Wilkie Rasmussen. The matter was adjourned to January 23 without plea. Teremoana Tetava , 45, appearing to court on a charge of common assault, had his matter adjourned to January 30. His lawyer Norman George told the court he had just been approached by Tetava and wished to have further discussions with his client. The accused was released at large. Daniel Ahau, 31, appearing on a charge of common assault, pleaded guilty to the charge. When asked by the JP, he said he had been in court before for assault. His matter was adjourned to February 6 for sentencing and a probation report ordered. - Merita Wi-Kaitaia
a young man has been warned that prison will be next.
09081473
had beaten the girl with closed fists resulting in bruising and swelling on her body. He recommended a sentence of 12 months probation with the irst six months community service. He said offending of this nature should not be tolerated. “No one should be subject to physical abuse regardless of the issue.” “The person should be held responsible for their actions, there are other ways of dealing with issues,” he said. George said a probation sentence would be too harsh and recommended a six month suspended sentence. - Merita Wi-Kaitaia.
13
Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
FLIGHT
FROM
ARRIVES
International Flights
MONdAy jAnuAry 20 VA163/162 AKL 11.55PM NZ19 LAx 7.00AM TuesdAy jAnuAry 21 Nz746/748 AKL 2.10PM VA163/162 AKL 11.55PM
TO
DEPARTS
AKL AKL
1.05AM 8.15AM
AKL AKL
3.10PM 1.05AM
Air Rarotonga
Flight Times | Voyage details
Su-Do-Ku
RARO TO ARR MONdAy jAnuAry 20 0800 AITUTAKI 0850 1030 AITUTAKI 1120 1530 AITUTAKI 1620 1800 AITUTAKI 1850 0900 AITUTAKI 0950 0900 MANgAIA 0940 1100 ATIU 1145 1330 MAUKE 1420 1600 MITIARO 1650
DEP
TO
ARR
0910 1140 1640 1910 1010 1000 1205 1440 1710
RARO RARO RARO RARO ATIU RARO RARO RARO RARO
1000 1230 1730 2000 1055 1040 1250 1530 1800
DEP
TO
ARR
TIARE MOANA 19 - ETD AUCk 13/01, ETA RARO 26/01, ETA AITUTAkI 29/01 LILOA 21 - ETD AUCk 20/01, ETA RARO 02/02, ETA AITUTAkI 04/02
Shipping TIARE MOANA 20 - ETD AUCk 07/02, ETA RARO 20/02, ETA AITUTAkI 23/02
1115
RARO 1200
GOT A STORY? text us on
or call us at Cook Islands News
Su-Do-Ku
hard
Instructions
Instructions
Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.
Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.
answer to saturday’s puzzle
answer to saturday’s puzzle
hÄgar the horrible
By Dik Browne
®
the phantom
Crossword
Easy
By Lee Falk & sy Barry
®
DoMesTIc VIoLeNce
Is never ok
man Up and get help.
A COOK ISLANDS NEWS PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE
rotaianga men’s support centre 74687 • alcoholics anonymus 71744
Weather Forecast to Midnight
Forecast Map 2pm Monday
Tides
Issued at 2pm at Rarotonga
Mon high 12.08AM 0.94M 12.31PM 0.94M
Situation: A trough of low pressure lies over Southern Cooks. Associated cloud and rain afect the group. A trough of low pressure also afects the southern parts of northern Cooks. Forecast to midnight for the Southern Cooks: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms over most places. Moderate northeast winds. Moderate seas. Further outlook: Rain continuing. For Rarotonga: Occasional rain and few thunderstorms. Further outlook: Rain continuing. For the Northern Cooks: Some showers about and south of Pukapuka. Fine apart from brief showers elsewhere. Moderate northeast winds. Moderate seas. Further outlook: Brief showers.
20
20
Tue
21
0.8m SW
Low 06.20AM 0.33M 06.40PM 0.35M
1.3m ne
n
Tue high 12.43AM 0.93M 01.04PM 0.95M
21
Low 06.53AM 0.34M 07.15PM 0.36M
26°
Sun, Moon & Arapo
E 10kts new Moon Jan 30 11.39AM
First Quarter Feb 6 9.22AM
Full Moon Feb 14 1.53PM
Sunshine hours
Third Quarter Jan 23 7.19PM
1.1
ArAPo - rAkAu TAi mon 20 Tanu (Planting) Tanu i te kai katoa. Good time for all planting.
Po ika kore. Maata roa te turama. not good ishing nights. Too much light.
0.8m SW
0.8m SW
TauTaI (Fishing) Front Key:
Cold
Warm
Occluded
y
Stationary
Swell direction and size
outer Islands Weather outlook Monday, January 20, 2014
Humidity Mon
Rarotonga Monday, January 20, 2014
Morning
92%
Mon sun rise 6.14AM sun set 7.27PM
night
75%
20
Moon rise 10.21PM Moon set 10.01AM
Morning
90%
Tue
night
78%
Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.
21
sun rise
6.14AM
sun set
7.26PM
Moon rise 10.59PM Moon set 10.52AM
Aitutaki
28° E 08kts
Mangaia
25° E 10kts
Mitiaro
27° E 08kts
Atiu
Penrhyn
27° E 08kts
29° nE 07kts
Mauke
27° E 08kts
14
Monday, January 20, 2014 cook Islands News
Junior league stars shine
tarekareka
SPORT
—FULL COVERAGE APOPO
A bright football future for Edwards COOK Islands Youth footballer
Pekay Edwards will be making his dream a reality after being selected for the Cook Islands Football Association (CI FA) Scholarship to attend Mount Albert Grammar where he will further his football dream and education. The scholarship is aimed at providing educational and football opportunities for youth across the Cook Islands. Edwards, originally from Atiu, was selected from the 2011 National Youth Championship to attend CIFA’s under 16 boys academy in 2012 while attending Tereora College. The academy programme brings talented players together to be coached in preparation for the OFC under 17 men’s preliminary tournament held early last year in Samoa. Through the success of the academy programme, Edwards was the top goal scorer in the 2013 Rarotonga under
17 men’s competition and was instrumental to the success of the Puaikura FC under 17 men’s team winning the round cup, also playing a pivotal role in the Puaikura FC premier men’s team who were crowned the 2013 Rarotonga Premier Men Champions. At international level Edwards helped guide the Cook Islands under 17 men’s team to victory at the irst stage of the OFC under 17 men’s preliminary tournament in Samoa early last year by winning against host Samoa and progressing through to the OFC U-17 Championship in Vanuatu, April 2013. CI FA’s technical director Tuka Tisam believes spotting talent is relatively straight forward, giving that talent a platform to lourish and realise its potential can be beneicial. “Edwards has the capability to increase his football abilities and conidence while
at Mt Albert Grammar,” says Tisam. The Cook Islands Football
Scholarship scheme has been on-going for 10 years and has nurtured the many local foot-
ball talents who now are involved at club level and have represented the country at the
many OFC tournaments in the past years. - CIFA Media
Hash in Arorangi HASH 1743 is set by Alex from
behind the Aroa Nui Hall in Arorangi. All runners and walk-
ers are welcome. Trail starts at 5.30pm, look for the lags and sign.
Pekay Edwards pictured playing a vital role in the Puaikura premier men’s division seen here against Tupapa.
14011708
Badminton holiday programme starts today BADM I NTON is enjoying a
steady growth in popularity and to boost this growth, a holiday programme will be run from today for kids and adults to learn more about the sport. Badminton Cook Islands development officer Eric Gamez recently returned from a camp in Auckland where he soaked up new skills and techniques that he is keen to share with local badminton players young and old. The holiday programme will run for a week starting today at the Princess Anne Hall at Tereora College.
The programme will begin at 2pm today for youth players and start at 6pm for adult players. On Tuesday, the programme will be from 2pm to 5 o’clock for youth players and on Wednesday, it will start at 2.30pm for youth players and at 6pm for adult players. A morning session will be run on Thursday starting at 8.30 and wrapping up at 11.30am. The final day of the programme will be on Friday and this will be another morning session with Eric Gamez. Those keen to take part will learn the basic skills and rules to
play badminton, and of course put those skills to the test with some fun games. The programme will cost just $3 per person per session and this goes towards covering the cost of running the programme. For more information or to ind out how you can be part of the badminton movement – or just to ind out how you can get started in the sport – contact Eric Gamez on 74809. Meanwhile social badminton is played at the Princess Anne Hall every Monday at 6pm and is open to the whole community. -MW
This group of keen badminton players take over the Princess Anne Hall on Mondays for the social badminton programme. starting today, the holiday badminton programme will be run from 2pm. 14011709
Memorieso f sUmmer holidayphotocompetition
r
eaders are invited to send us your summer holiday photos and capture the moment in full colour! The best photos will be published weekly in cook Islands News. A weekly winner will be selected and recieve a blown up print of their photo. All winners will then go into the draw for a digital camera sponsored by cINews. print. so share your happy holiday memories
with us! All you need to do is take your photos and email them to editor@cookislandsnews.com with your name and a caption describing the place, and full name of the people in your picture. print Up to a1 on canvas, matte, vinyl or highgrade poster paper. ph 22999
send us your memoriesosfummer!