Tuesday 4 March by Cook Islands News

Te reo o te KUKI AIRANI

$2 tuesday, march 4, 2014

A chip off the old block Ten-year-old angler Maeva robati continues to prove he’s a chip of the old block and, maybe better than his legendary isherman father Pupuke Robati. The mini-angler bettered his father’s catch on saturday morning reeling in a 55 kg yellow in tuna bigger and longer than him. His dad could only manage a 27 kg tuna but, no doubt, had shared his ishing secrets with his son. Thank you to Richard Baltrop for sending in the fantastic photo. 14030310

Opposition slams shark in let-off

Democratic Party leader Wilkie rasmussen has blasted the response of officials after shark ins were recently discovered by police during the inspection of a foreign ishing vessel. Details were disclosed by the ministry of marine resources (M M R) late last week of an incident where officers with cook islands maritime Police discovered roughly eight kilograms of wet shark fin aboard the Chinese-lagged longliner. No carcasses were found aboard. Despite strict shark conservation regulations under cook islands law – which prohibits the possession, transfer, or storing of any shark or shark part – no charges were laid by maritime police, who were instructed by oficials in Rarotonga to allow the boat to proceed to its destination. the chain of command that led to that decision has not been

oficially disclosed by MMR. “I can see no reason why no action was taken,” said Rasmussen. “Those who were involved in not laying charges are complicit in the betrayal of the country.” “the establishment of the shark sanctuary was hailed to be a milestone, and now we seem to have contradicted what we were saying,” said Rasmussen. “It’s a terrible indictment. It makes us a hypocritical country.” “it seems to facilitate free access to our waters.” Prime minister and minister of marine resources Henry Puna – currently on leave in New Zealand – has not responded to requests for comment on the situation. MMR Secretary Ben Ponia said he would not make any further comment on the incident. - Emmanuel Samoglou

Super Brown’s owner charged SuPeR Brown owner and Mayor

of Atiu George Taoro Brown has been charged with allegedly receiving more than $13,000 worth of stolen cigarettes. cook islands Police say they arrested a 46-year-old man on Friday for receiving stolen property. a spokesman for the ministry of Justice said the man arrested and charged was George Taoro James Brown, who allegedly received assorted cigarettes worth $13, 597.50, knowing they had been “dishonestly obtained”. the cigarettes had been stolen from cook islands trading company (CITC), the spokesman said. Brown appeared in court on

Friday and has been released on bail, with his case adjourned to March 6. He was told to surrender his passport and advised to seek legal support. Police said the arrest was a result of investigations into a recent spate of burglaries in Rarotonga. They did not name Brown but made reference to their presence at the Super Brown store in Tupapa last Thursday. “the allegation that has been circulating in the community about a robbery or violent crime having occurred on the Super Brown store in upper Tupapa is incorrect. The store was tempo-

rarily closed to allow the police investigation team to interview the owner and employees of the store in relation to this ongoing police investigation.” it is anticipated that more arrests will follow, police said. Brown spoke to CINews on Friday morning about the police operation at his store. He said he received “a few” cartons of Winfield cigarettes for resale from an individual on Wednesday, without paying for them. When police arrived at the store on Thursday with a search warrant, he immediately directed them to the cigarettes, and said

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if they were stolen goods to take them away, Brown said. He said his store can often be a lurry of activity, with various vendors coming around to sell goods and prepared foods. “How are you supposed to know?” asked Brown. “You never know what’s legit these days. If it’s stolen stuff, I would have never taken it,” he said. According to Atiu Island Government, Brown has been Mayor for about three years. Anyone with information that could help police with their investigations is asked to call the station on 22499 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 222 00.- BCS

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

worldNeWS nuti no teia Nei ao Close, but not quite ... An elderly man had no clue he had picked up the wrong great-grandchild from school – until he got home and his wife eyeballed the little boy. The 79-year-old was filling in for his granddaughter and went to pick up his greatgrandson from the school. When the boy refused to get out of the car after the man pulled into his driveway, he dragged his wife out to investigate. “So the man goes into the house and gets his wife, who took my son’s hat of, and said ‘Hey you have the wrong kid,’ then they called the school,” the boy’s father said.

Crimea in stranglehold russia sets Ukraine agenda with blend of diplomacy and threats KieV – Russia has called for the

adoption of a national unity deal in ukraine as it tightened its stranglehold over Crimea, an audacious combination of diplomacy and escalating military pressure. The uS and the european union are floundering for solutions — while global markets panicked over the prospect of violent upheaval in the heart of europe. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said ukraine should return

world BRIeFS GUNMEN ATTACK PAKISTAN COURT PAKISTAN – At least 11 people have been killed in an attack at a court in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, oicials say. Gunmen burst into the court complex and opened ire before at least two suicide bombers detonated explosives, at a time of the morning when crowds gather. A judge and several lawyers are reported to be among those killed and at least 24 people were wounded. A group called Ahrarul Hind said it carried out the attack - one of the deadliest in the capital for years. It comes after a weekend in which the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) pledged a month-long ceaseire and the government said it would suspend air strikes against militants. Both are moves aimed at reviving the stalled peace process.

EVEREST CLIMBERS TO REMOVE RUBBISH NEPAL – All mountaineers and support staf climbing Mount Everest must bring back at least 8kg of rubbish each on their descent, Nepal’s government says. The new rules will come into efect in the spring and apply to those who climb above the Everest base camp at 5300m, an oicial told the BBC. It follows widespread concern over rubbish on and around the world’s highest mountain. Everest is particularly crowded in the climbing season, which starts in April. The government already requires climbers to return all their rubbish or risk losing a $4000 deposit. But oicials have tightened the rules now with the requirement that all climbers – and not just groups of climbers – must bring back 8kg of litter, not including oxygen cylinders and human waste.

GATES AGAIN WORLD’S RICHEST MAN NIGERIA – Microsoft founder Bill Gates has regained the top spot as the world’s richest person, according to Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of global billionaires. Gates’ total net worth was estimated at $76 billion this year, up from $67 billion in 2013. His rise in wealth knocked Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim of the top spot into second place. In total, there were a record 1,645 billionaires, according to Forbes. The funds needed to make it into the top 20 ranking are now $31 billion, up from $23 billion last year, Forbes said. Gates has been top of the list for 15 of the last 20 years, according to Forbes. The world’s largest economy, the US, continues to have the most billionaires, with 492.

NORTH KOREA FIRES MORE MISSILES NORTH KOREA – North Korea has test-ired two more short-range missiles into the sea of its east coast, South Korean defence ministry oicials say, amid ongoing South Korea-US military exercises. Oicials in Seoul said the missiles lew more than 500km. Pyongyang also test-ired four similar missiles late last week. North Korea often carries out short-range missiles tests to show its anger at military exercises involving its southern neighbour. South Korea and the US began the annual joint exercises on February 24. The drills, which involve thousands of troops, continue until the middle of April. Pyongyang is opposed to the drills and has previously called them “exercises of war”.

to the February 21 agreement signed by pro-russian President Viktor Yanukovych aimed at ending ukraine’s crisis. Yanukovych led the country after sealing the pact with the opposition and foreign ministers of France, German and Poland to hold early elections and surrender many powers. “instead of a promised national unity government,” Lavrov said, “a government of the victors’ has been created.” There have been dramatic claims from ukraine that Russian troops had given ukrainian forces in Crimea until dawn on tuesday to surrender or face an assault. Vladimir anikin, a russian defense ministry spokesman in Moscow, dismissed the report of a russian ultimatum as nonsense but refused to elaborate. On Monday it was clear that Russia had effectively turned Crimea into a protectorate. russian soldiers controlled all ukrainian border posts as well as all military facilities. troops also controlled a ferry terminal in the ukrainian city of Kerch, just 20 kilometres across the water from Russia. That intensified fears in Kiev that Moscow will send even more troops into the peninsula via that route. Border guard spokesman Sergei Astakhov said the Russians were demanding that ukrainian soldiers and guards transfer their allegiance to Crimea’s new pro-Russian local government. “The Russians are behaving very aggressively,” he said. “they came in by breaking down doors, cutting off every communication.” He said four russian military ships, 13 helicopters and 8 transport planes had arrived in Crimea in violation of agreements that permit russian to keep its Black Sea fleet at the naval base in Sevastopol. - Associated Press

Moscow has put 150,000 troops on high alert near Ukraine’s border as the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said he will never give up Crimea. AFP

Sanctions threatened

BRuSSeLS – european union leaders have called a special summit for Thursday, where they are expected to freeze visa liberalisation and economic cooperation talks with Russia if Moscow hasn’t taken steps to calm the crisis in Crimea. eu foreign ministers said they also have stopped preparation for the G8 summit which is set for June in the russian resort of Sochi. eu foreign policy chief Cath-

erine Ashton said the eu would give Russia until the Thursday to show clear signs of goodwill, including a willingness to open talks and a withdrawal of Russian troops to their barracks in the Crimea. “the ambition is to see the situation improve. If it doesn’t, then the course is set,” Ashton said after the foreign ministers’ meeting. The ambassadors of NATO’s 28 member nations were to hold

a second emergency meeting on ukraine today. At the eu meeting, many foreign ministers stressed the immediate focus should be on diplomacy and promoting direct dialogue between Russia and the new leadership in ukraine. “economic sanctions would hurt all sides,” said Dutch Foreign minister Frans timmermans. “Those consequences will be bad for everyone.” - AP

Knife attack suspects caught KuNMING – Police have captured the three remaining suspects in a slashing rampage at a train station in southwestern China that killed 29 people, state media said Monday. authorities say the attack in Kunming city that also wounded 143 was carried out by separatists from the far-western region of Xinjiang. Clashes in Xinjiang between authorities and ethnic uighurs over the past year have left scores dead, but the assault Saturday evening occurred more

than 1,500 kilometres to the southeast in Yunnan province, which has not had a history of such unrest. Xinhua News Agency said that a “terrorist gang” of six men and two women led by a person identiied as Abdurehim Kurban was responsible for the attack. Xinhua said police shot and killed four of the attackers, who used knives to slash at crowds of people, and captured an injured female suspect at the scene. the brief Xinhua report did

not identify the ethnicity of the eight or say how the inal three suspects were identified and captured. Xinjiang is home to a simmering rebellion against chinese rule by some members of the Muslim uighur population, and the government has responded there with heavy-handed security. another attack attributed to uighurs occurred last October in Beijing. Three assailants and two tourists were killed in the attack at Tiananmen Gate. -AP

Nice day for a carnival

ERUPTION PROMPTS EVACUATIONS GUATEMALA – A volcano has erupted in Guatemala, prompting the authorities to consider the evacuation of some 3000 people living in the area. The Pacaya volcano began spewing ash and lava after a powerful explosion on Saturday afternoon. New explosions were seen on Sunday, with ash clouds reaching a height of at least 4km. Flights have been diverted from the area, some 50km south of the capital, Guatemala City. The Pacaya is one of three active volcanoes in the Central American nation. The other two are the Fuego and the Santa Maria. The Guatemalan authorities have issued an amber alert, the third highest. It means people must remain alert and be prepared to leave the area at short notice.

Today’s Daily Bread eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Matthew 7:21-29 Read: Read: John 20:19-29

Text: Matthew 7:26 Text: Verse 26

Dancers parade during the Nice Carnival in Nice, southeastern France which runs from February 14 until March 4, 2014. The Nice Carnival is one of the world’s major carnival events held annually on the French Riviera. AFP

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

worldNeWS nuti no teia Nei ao

Protests spread across Ukraine Thousands of pro-russian Ukrainians refuse to acknowledge new leadership Ukrainian riot police stand guard around a regional state administration building in the Black Sea city of Odessa to prevent pro-Russian activists from storming the building. AFP

Thailand no closer to solution

BaNGKoK – Anti-government

protesters in Thailand have retreated to a central Bangkok park, freeing up traffic after blocking big intersections for more than a month, but thailand’s four-month political crisis looks no closer to a solution. The protesters, who moved to Lumpini Park on the weekend after orders from their leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, are banking on judicial intervention from courts, widely seen as hostile to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, to bring down her government. Demonstrators seeking to overthrow Yingluck took to the streets in November and have since blockaded ministries, occupied government ofices and, in January, set up camp at major trafic intersections in Bangkok. although tension has eased on the streets, there was a reminder of the danger when two grenades were thrown at a Bangkok criminal court on monday, although only one

exploded and no injuries were reported, police said. Critics have accused the criminal court of siding with demonstrators after it rejected several government requests for arrest warrants to be issued for certain protest leaders. the confrontation broadly pits Bangkok’s middle-class and southern thais against supporters Yingluck who mostly hail from the poorer, rural north and north-east. The protesters rejected and disrupted a snap election called by Yingluck for February 2, when her party almost certainly won the most votes. Fresh elections were held in five provinces on Sunday and passed off peacefully. But there is still no date set for elections in nine southern provinces, where there was no voting on February 2, meaning it is still impossible to get a quorum to open parliament, elect a prime minister and get a government with full powers.

Yingluck heads a caretaker administration with only limited spending and borrowing powers, which has complicated the rice scheme problems and other aspects of government business. She has kept away from the capital for much of the past two weeks, but on Monday she went to the centre for maintaining Peace and order, the body set up to oversee a state of emergency imposed in January. She spent several days last week in the north, a stronghold of the ‘red shirt’ movement loyal to her brother Thaksin. Thousands of Thaksin’s supporters have gathered in Nakhon ratchasima, northeast of the capital, and some of their leaders have threatened to come to Bangkok if Yingluck is removed from power, adding to fears of civil strife. Some Yingluck supporters have called for Thailand to be divided along north-south political lines. - ABC

Bangkok protesters have moved of the streets to Lumpini Park as the political crisis shifts from the streets to the courts. AFP

ODeSSA – Thousands of people across eastern and southern ukraine are looding the streets of major cities, urging local authorities to disobey Kiev’s orders. Local populations are calling the government in Kiev illegitimate and demanding that their local governments refuse to take orders from it. Dozens of people were hurt in clashes when pro-Russia activists stormed the regional government’s headquarters in the eastern ukrainian city of Kharkiv and raised the Russian lag, local media said. The uNIAN news agency said thousands of people had gathered outside the building during a protest against the country’s new leaders who ousted President Viktor Yanukovich a week ago. elsewhere at least 2000 people demonstrated with Russian lags next to the regional administration building in odessa, the third-largest city in western ukraine. Protests against the new authorities also took place on Saturday in other cities, including odessa, Dnipro and Donetsk, Yanukovich’s home town and power base. The Russian flag was raised over the regional government building in Donetsk by several thousand pro-Russia activists waving the Russian tricolour and chanting “russia! russia!, witnesses said. Donetsk authorities issued an appeal for a referendum to be called on the future status of the region. Donetsk is the capital of the coal-rich Donbass region in eastern ukraine. The violence in cities outside of the capital Kiev were a marked escalation of conlict between the two countries, which started when ukraine’s proRussian president was pushed out by a protest movement of people who wanted closer ties to europe. The spreading violence signalled that ukraine’s new leaders could face a challenge in mainly russian-speaking regions that oppose the largely pro-Western course charted by the newly-installed government. Protests were also held over the weekend in Lugansk, Melitopol, Yevpatoria, Kerch and Mariupol. - PNC

Neighbour heard screams before gunshots

Reeva Steenkamp.

Pretoria – A neighbour of South African athlete oscar Pistorius has told a court in Pretoria that she was awoken by a woman’s “terrible screams” in the early hours of February 14, 2013. Pistorius has pleaded not guilty at the start of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He shot dead the 29-year-old model and reality tV star at his home, saying he mistook her for an intruder. the neighbour, michelle Burger, said cries for help were followed by shots. “She screamed terribly and she yelled for help. Then I also heard a man screaming for help. Three times he yelled for help,” witness Burger told

the high court in the capital. She said she called security and then heard four gunshots. For the first time in South Africa, parts of the trial are being televised live, although Burger’s testimony, in Afrikaans, was only relayed in audio. The BBC’s Andrew Harding in the courtroom said Pistorius looked calm, or at least neutral as he arrived in court – a far cry from the emotional wreck he seemed at the bail hearing last year. Pistorius’s uncle, brother and sister were also in court. Next to them on the relatives’ bench sat the family of Steenkamp, including her mother June. Pistorius pleaded not guilty to all

charges, including the “wilful and intentional murder of Reeva Steenkamp” as the trial began. His lawyer read out a statement from the athlete, giving his version of events of how Steenkamp died, saying he believed his girlfriend was in bed when he shot at the toilet door in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year. Burger told the court she lived nearby on a neighbouring gated estate to Pistorius in Pretoria and she and her husband were sleeping with the windows open. “It was very traumatic for me. You could hear blood curdling screams,” she said. State prosecutors say Pistorius

planned the killing and shot Steenkamp after an argument. if found guilty of premeditated murder, he could face life imprisonment. He has also been charged with illegally possessing ammunition. There are no juries at trials in South Africa, and his fate will ultimately be decided by Judge Thokozile Masipa. Much of the case will depend on ballistic evidence from the scene of the shooting. On the anniversary of the shooting, Pistorius released a rare statement saying: “The loss of Reeva and the complete trauma of that day, I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” - BBC

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalNeWS nuti no te Pa eNUa

‘Frenzied, out of control violence’ G4S employee contradicts leaked police report on Manus violence LOReNGAu – An Australian employee of the G4S security irm on manus island says PNG police stood back and allowed locals to break into the compound last month, did nothing to stop them beating detainees, and in some cases participated in the violence and intimidation.

His claim, made on condition of anonymity, contradicted a leaked PNG police internal incident report into unrest at the detention centre on February 17 that describes the deadly violence as a confrontation solely between G4S security guards and asylum seekers.

paciic BRIeFS CAUCUS MEETING ADDRESS PARTY ISSUES SAMOA – Samoa’s ruling Human Rights Protection Party is expected to have a caucus meeting this week that will address the issues surrounding members threatening to leave the party. Last week the MP for Siumu constituency, Tu’uu Anasi’i Leota, conirmed that he, and other members of parliament, intended to leave the HRPP and set up a new party. This followed dissatisfaction with the inance minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, over allegations of abuse of power and mismanagement. However, local media have now quoted Tu’uu as claiming his comments were made in jest.

BIG SEAS SWAMP MARSHALL’S CAPITAL MARSHALL ISLANDS – A high tide energised by storm surges has looded many parts of Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, and weather oicials have warned of more looding to come. The oicer in charge of the Majuro weather station, Reginald White, says a weather system east of Japan is generating swells that hit the Marshall Islands on Sunday night. Some parts of Majuro Atoll are barely 30 centimetres above sea level, and are often looded during the February and March period when the region is afected by the annual cycle of king tides. There have been no reports of injuries, but many homes have sustained some damage, and roads were littered with garbage, rocks and sand tossed up by the surging tide.

NUN PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLUAGHTER SAMOA – A Samoan woman who traveled to the United States late last year to study to become a nun has pleaded guilty to killing her newborn son. 26-yea-old Soseina Amoa arrived in Washington DC in early October and stayed at the Little Sisters of the Poor convent, where she gave birth ive days later. Prosecutors say Amoa smothered the child, and cleaned her room to hide the birth. They say she irst told police she found the child outside the convent, but later recanted that story. During her plea hearing in a Washington DC court, the defendant pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter under a plea deal and prosecutors say they plan to ask for at least four, and no more than ten years’ jail, when Amoa is sentenced.

FIJI’S ELECTION RULES OUT BY END OF WEEK FIJI – The Fiji government says its Electoral Decree will be inalised by the end of the week. The government has come under criticism for not earlier releasing the rules and regulations surrounding the elections it has promised by the end of September this year. The decree was originally expected at the end of February but Fiji’s Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has told Fiji media the delay is due to last week’s adverse weather conditions. He says the Fiji government would rather get it right as the decree addresses many practical election issues.

ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR STILL NOT NAMED FIJI – The Fiji Labour Party says the continuing delay in the appointment of a Supervisor of Elections appears to be part of a planned strategy to delay the election scheduled for September. The chairman of the Electoral Commission, Chen Bunn Young, has been quoted in local media saying the appointment is not urgent, but Labour’s Mahendra Chaudhry says it should be the irst priority of the commission. Chaudhry says without a Supervisor of Elections senior staf cannot be appointed and that delays logistical preparations for an election a little over ive months away. He says this seems like another excuse to allow the postponing of the poll.

TUVALU DISMISSES ITS SPEAKER TUVALU – The speaker of Tuvalu’s parliament, Sir Kamuta Latasi, is reported to have been ousted from his position. On the irst day of the irst parliamentary session for the year, Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga moved a motion to remove the speaker for not being with the government. The motion was reportedly supported by two thirds of the members of parliament. Sir Kamuta acknowledged the support and cooperation of the country and fellow members of Parliament during his seven years as speaker.

INQUIRY INTO DEATHS OF TOP OFFICIALS PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The Papua New Guinea government is probing the deaths of its two highest ranking correctional services oicers who died just two days apart. The services Commissioner, Martin Balthazar, who was 58, died in Port Moresby in late February. His deputy David Melange collapsed and died at a conference in Goroka on Wednesday the preceding week. The Post Courier reports the Correctional Services Minister, Jim Simatab, says the cabinet has allocated about US$320,000 for the investigation which he says is aimed at ending dangerous speculation. The paper reports the autopsies on the two men point to death by natural causes.

Some expat G4S staff have since left the island suffering from serious post-traumatic stress. The Australian G4S employee witnessed “a frenzy of out-ofcontrol violence”, telling the aBc that after a second night of protests at the detention centre, G4S staff under attack from rock-throwing asylum seekers asked to withdraw from the facility and agreed to hand over security to PNG police. the source says PNG police then fired five or six warning shots and stood back as enraged locals poured into the compound over a back fence. “Our guys were sheltered behind a container and when it came to a point when they couldn’t do any more, someone said we needed to withdraw,” the guard said. the decision to hand the situation over to local police was made by hand held radio. “‘Do you just want to hand over to the PNG police?’ they were asked,” the guard said. “The answer came back over the radio: ‘Yes, hand it over to them.’ “And the person who had asked said: ‘Are you sure? Do you know the consequences of that?’ “And they said: ‘Yes, hand it over’.” Local G4S staff were the irst in, followed by local contract staff. “We saw them going in with machetes. They had anything they could pick up – rocks,

‘a day later you could still see guards and staff and cleaners walking around with blood on their boots.’ sticks, the poles from the exercise weights,” the guard said. “once they knocked people to the ground, they were stomping on their heads with their boots. “a day later you could still see guards and staff and cleaners walking around with blood on their boots.” One of the injured asylum seekers has also detailed what happened to him in an interview recorded from hospital a few days after the attack. He told the ABC: “Six people were on top of me hitting me. At the end I was holding my hand to my face to protect my face from being hit. Then (name blanked out) came. I know him personally. He kicked me with his boots in my face.” contrary to the PNG police incident report that describes it as a confrontation between G4S guards and transferees that saw guards being seriously assaulted, the G4S employee says that once the violence began, PNG police did nothing to try and control the situation and some even joined in.

“The police went from room to room as well and held guns to people’s heads and said, ‘If you don’t give me your cigarettes, we’re going to shoot you’,” the guard said. Some locals and expats were also inside trying to get transferees out and protect others with shields. One expat guard lay across a transferee to prevent him being shot. The eyewitness the ABC has spoken to says locals and police went systematically through the compound from room to room. “There were guys who wet themselves and s**t their pants out of total fear,” the witness said. “there are handles broken where they’ve tried to get in and the transferees have been holding the doors closed and they’ve snapped the handles off and they’ve tried to get in with machetes. “There was blood everywhere, faces kicked in, noses – it’s all head injuries. I just remember blood everywhere I looked. Blood everywhere.” The wounded were taken to the wharf. “The wharf was full from one end to the other and there were puddles of blood everywhere,” the witness said. “they did an emergency tracheotomy out in the open ... there were people moaning – it was terrible. everyone pitched in to do what they could, you just needed every single person

who was there.” The G4S guard says the transferees now feel so unsafe that when they tried to bring in local cleaners the day after the incidents, it just about started another riot. The asylum seekers want nothing to do with any of the locals. The expat staff say the atmosphere is so tense that it will not take anything much to kick off another round of unrest. “the asylum seekers are asking them who they can trust. Who’s going to keep them safe? You just don’t know if it’s going to happen again,” the witness said. a spokesperson for immigration Minister Scott Morrison says there are three investigations underway into the Manus island incident, including a full independent inquiry headed by former senior public servant Robert Cornall. “These investigations seek to establish the events on Manus Island that evening and we will await the outcome of these reviews,” the spokesman said. “The government has taken steps with the PNG government to ensure there is information sharing, cooperation and convergence as appropriate to get the clearest possible picture of what occurred that night.” Meanwhile, one staff member told the aBc the situation is so tense that asylum seekers are refusing to have anything to do with local PNG staff. - ABC

War zone-like video emerges Footage from makeshift hospital shows scale of violence on Manus LOReNGAu – Chilling video footage has emerged of war zone-like scenes during last week’s unrest at the Manus Island detention centre, showing dozens of asylum seekers – most unconscious or semiconscious and many with serious injuries – receiving treatment from frantic staff tending to them by torchlight. The video, obtained by Guardian Australia, was ilmed at the makeshift hospital created on a concrete wharf next to the loating accommodation block used by australian detention centre staff. It is the irst footage to be seen from the disturbance that left one man, Reza Barati, dead, one shot, and dozens wounded, 13 seriously. The video, shot in the early hours of Tuesday – after G4S personnel “lost control” of their local riot squads and Papua New Guinea police were observed in violent altercations with asylum seekers – shows the injured

brought in on a ute, one after another. The events occured in near darkness, with only a soft green light, torches and headlamps from the vehicles illuminating the makeshift hospital. Some asylum seekers being treated at the scene can be heard groaning in pain. At one point a staff member shouts out the words “gunshot wound” and a body is rushed through. No asylum seekers can be seen at any point resisting staff, and one witness told Guardian australia that at least one patient was observed with a plastic handcuff on one hand during the night. “It was like a war zone,” a witness to the filmed events told Guardian Australia. “People were covered in blood – so many people came in half an hour.” The video was ilmed between 12.41am and 1.06am on Tuesday. Almost immediately afterwards, witnesses say, all staff on the floating accommodation

block, Hotel Bibby, were asked to help, whether or not they had medical training. at this point the number of casualties increased. “The medics were short of staff. It was chaotic,” a witness said. The wounded asylum seekers were separated into three areas – an assessment area, a critical area and a non-critical area, according to the witness. At 12:58am one asylum seeker, a tall, muscular, young man can be seen being brought in for assessment and then moved instantly off for further treatment. His body is limp, hanging off the end of the stretcher. Guardian australia has contacted a family member of Reza Barati, who said they could not identify the young man in the image. “People were moaning , ‘Papu, Papu’ – meaning local people,” said the witness to the ilmed events. Pools of liquid can be seen on the concrete. Blood and bruising is visible on many of the patients. a line of unused chairs rests in the assessment area, but all

patients are treated on camp beds or blue mattresses. On February 18, the day after the unrest began, Guardian australia reported witness accounts of the scenes at the staff accommodation block. one contractor told Guardian Australia: “Transferees were carried in on sheets. Blood everywhere, crying. There were 30 or 40 clients down there. We had gunshot wounds, some with head injuries.” the contractor took notes on what patients told her. One iranian said: “i did nothing, i wasn’t involved in the protests, I was in my room, being good, trying to sleep. “they came in my room, they dragged me out of my bed and beat me. They had huge rocks in their hands and they hit my head and my body with them.” An interpreter working for the immigration Department, Azita Bokan, also said she saw asylum seekers with “massive head injuries” at the makeshift hospital and said she saw one patient with a slashed throat. - The Guardiain

Fijians appointed to Nauru’s judiciary YAReN – Nauru’s new resident magistrate and new registrar, both recruited from Fiji, have oficially been sworn in. resident magistrate ropate Cabealawa has worked as resident magistrate for Fiji’s in-

terim government since 2009. He has also worked as a research assistant with the Fiji Law Reform Commission. The Nauruan Government has appointed Graham Leung, a former president of the Fiji

Law Society, as the country’s new registrar. Leung has not worked as a lawyer in Fiji since declining to re-register – a requirement of an interim government decree. Both positions are for an ini-

tial six-month period. the position of resident magistrate became vacant after the controversial sacking and deportation of australian Peter Law in January. - ABC

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalNeWS nuti no te Pa eNUa

Media challenged on Manus Island An Australian Fairfax reporter and photographer say they faced “challenges” reporting from Manus Island in the wake of last week’s violence that left one man dead and many injured. rory Callinan of The Age, Melbourne, iled this report: LOReNGAu – I have seen some censorship in my 20-plus years as a journalist reporting from Australia and various countries in the Asia-Paciic region. But what I saw on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea has made me uneasy about press freedom in the Pacific and the Australian government’s approach to reporting on the detention centre. Last week photographer Nick Moir and I were on the island to report on the aftermath of the riot at the detention centre, which left one asylum seeker dead and about 70 injured. Within hours of arriving, staff from G4S, the private security company employed by the Australian government to manage the centre, had manhandled Nick, confiscated his camera and forced him to delete photographs in order to censor news. this occurred after Nick and I visited the island’s hospital more than 14km from the detention centre and supposedly under the jurisdiction of the PNG government. We had gone to the hospital in order to check if appropriate procedures were being taken in relation to securing the body of Reza Berati. When we arrived at the hospital, we quickly established that G4S, whose staff are suspects in the death, were still in control of the body in the hospital morgue. They had their own guards – Papua New Guinea nationals – posted all around the morgue and were controlling access despite the fact the hospital has its own independent security personnel. Later, as we were about to leave the hospital and were explaining to the G4S morgue guards that we were journalists, a G4S bus carrying several injured asylum seekers arrived in the carpark. they appeared happy to be photographed but as soon as Nick started taking shots, the G4S staff pushed Nick up against a car and took his camera. they refused to return it despite being asked to do so by an Australian G4S employee. They also said we could not leave and had to remain at the hospital until we spoke to their boss, who would attend shortly. When their boss, a PNG national, arrived, he yelled at Nick, telling him that he should not be taking photos. He only agreed to hand back the camera after Nick had deleted the photographs in front of him – something he did quickly and we left. Nick was later able to recover the photographs, which were published. Later, reports surfaced that Nick had been “arrested and de-

‘I was only able to get the items back hours later after agreeing to delete all photos from the camera and the article on the laptop about the visit. I also had to listen to a lecture from the commander about how he controlled information on the island.’ tained”. This was plainly wrong, as it is the police who have the powers to arrest and detain – not Australian taxpayer funded private security companies – or so you would think. The next day I was the only member of the media present when the Australian government’s riot investigator, Lieutenant-General angus campbell, arrived to see the cage that doubles as a jail cell at the Manus Island Police station – the same building where six asylum seekers were locked up with alleged murderers and rapists after the riots. This time it wasn’t a security guard but an Australian taxpayer-funded immigration Department oficial who intervened. As Lt-Gen Campbell and the local police commander moved to inspect the cage, the australian Immigration oficial physically tried to block me from entering the space to photograph and observe the visit. Realising that I was ignoring him, the oficial scuttled over to the police commander and said words to the effect that I should not be allowed to take photos. The police commander seized my camera and phone. Later, as I waited for their return, he physically prevented me from writing in my laptop. It should be noted that Lt Gen campbell approached me and said he had nothing to do with the seizure of the equipment but nor did he arrange its return. I was only able to get the items back hours later after agreeing to delete all photos from the camera and the article on the laptop about the visit. i also had to listen to a lecture from the commander about how he controlled information on the island. the photos and the article were recovered and published. The following day it was the ABC’s turn. The public broadcaster’s PNG correspondent, Liam Cochrane, did a piece to camera with the hospital in the background. a short time later a carload of police arrived at his hotel and ordered him and the ABC’s cameraman to report to the police station. cochrane did as asked and soon returned, saying he had been given another lecture that

the police commander forbade any filming of the police station and the hospital without his permission. We joked about what would be left to ilm. While all this poses something of a nuisance for australian journalists and did not involve any severe physical violence, it represents a highly disturbing trend of censorship in a delicately poised third world country. PNG, like many nations in the Paciic, has an enthusiastic and vibrant press but its journalists are already prone to dangerous threats and censorship. Journalists in its highlands often get death threats or worse during election campaigns. elsewhere others have been attacked for reporting on some of the serious crime and corruption that takes place in the country or have faced vexatious defamation claims directed at terrorising their editors into censoring critical copy. Illegal logging is a major issue – and one of the country’s two newspapers has been owned by a controversial logging company.

Photographer Nick Moir has his camera taken after taking shots of injured asylum seekers arriving at the Manus Island following the violences at the detention centre. NICK MOIR/FAIRFAX Now PNG authorities are learning from Australians how to restrict the press. reporting about police is a serious business on Manus Island. it should be remembered that some of the Mobile Squad police (not the police commander) posted to the island are themselves suspects in the killing of Berati during the riot. and that last year, officers from the same heavily armed

unit beat to death a young manus island man in the main street. the australian immigration official who sought PNG official involvement to restrict my reporting doesn’t have to worry about such scenarios or the long-term impact of his actions. For the locals it’s a different story. a free press is central to democracy in the Pacific and de-

mocracy in the region is vitally important to Australia. One only has to look to Fiji to see how badly things can go wrong. Australian journalists grappling with a lack of information over boat arrivals is one thing. restricting fair reporting on the ground is quite another matter. Rory Callinan is a Fairfax Media Investigations reporter. - Fairfax News

Refugees not welcome on island LOReNGAu – Manus Island will

not welcome asylum seekers as permanent settlers, the island’s governor has warned, blaming the threat of climate change and rising sea waters. Charlie Benjamin, one of two members of parliament on Manus Island, said his province already had “its own problems” including the threat of climate change, that would limit its ability to resettle permanently asylum seekers if they were found to be refugees. “In Manus they will only be processed,’’ he said. “They will not be resettled in Manus. We are prepared to process, but we are not prepared to accommodate them. “The government’s problem is how we can settle these people on the islands if they go

underwater. That is our main concern.” Benjamin said he had also been caught by surprise that PNG would have to resettle asylum seekers, as well as process them, as stated in the memorandum of understanding between the PNG and Australian governments, signed in September under then prime minister Kevin Rudd. “Most Papua New Guineans have no problem with processing, but they have a problem when it comes to resettling, when the asylum seekers don’t want to come to PNG,” he said. “They don’t want to be resettled here. They don’t want to come to PNG. They have been forced to. This is why we have this problem.” Benjamin could not say why

there had been a delay in processing the 1332 asylum seekers in the detention centre, but said the so-called PNG Solution had become unpopular among island residents, especially after the violence that killed 23-yearold Reza Barati last month. “it is unpopular because it is not right that people resettle here when they want to go to Australia,” he said. “It’s not right for us to force them to be here when they don’t want to be here. It is going against our own conscience.” Immigration Minister Scott morrison told aBc radio he had established monthly meetings with the PNG authorities to accelerate the processing of asylum seekers. It was also likely PNG legislation would have to be changed,

Morrison said. “there already are quite a number of cases which are almost decision-ready, and that’s something we want to see progress,” he said. “There may be some legislative changes, and they’re some of the details which are yet not completely nailed down.” But he conceded it would take months for the processing to be completed. “The key thing here is – we’ve got to get this processing moving and we’ve got to get the resettlement in place,” he said. “After all, this was a resettlement arrangement, not just a processing arrangement.” under the MOu, Papua New Guinea is solely responsible for the processing of the asylum seekers. - SMH

MP’s brother pardoned for crime YAReN– the president of Nau-

ru has granted a rare pardon to a convicted arsonist, prompting claims of government interference in the judiciary. Melvin Dube was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2009 for burning down Nauru’s main police station, a prison block and partially destroying a phosphate cantilever. Dube is the brother of a prominent Nauru mP, milton Dube, who has given his support to President Baron Waqa. Nauru opposition mP Kieren Keke says Dube’s early release was part of a deal to shore up support for Waqa. “milton Dube, the brother of the convicted person, is one of the last political supporters of the president,” Keke said. “You seriously have to ask the question as to what was the motivation for the pardon and whether it was purely political,

and I believe it is. “There’s been no public information, no statement from government, and it’s been done very quietly.” Presidential pardons are rarely granted in Nauru. in a submission to a constitutional review in 2007, Nauru’s former justice minister Mathew Batsiua said: “there must be limitations on this power”. although there had not been a pardon granted in Nauru for many years, they had been used previously “as a campaigning tool at the expense of justice”, Batsiua said. under Nauru’s constitution,

a president can pardon someone convicted of a criminal offence, or reduce the length of their sentence. Nauru’s Government has not provided any explanation for Melvin Dube’s early release. A government spokeswoman would only conirm that he had left prison. Nauru’s justice system has been battered this year after the government cancelled the visa of its Australian chief justice Geoffrey eames. When Nauru magistrate Peter Law tried to place an injunction on the deportation order, he too was forced to leave

Nauru. There are more than 70 matters listed for mention in Nauru’s magistrate’s court on Tuesday. among those cases are the charges against 85 asylum seekers over the riot that caused $60 million dollars worth of damage to the island’s immigration detention centre last year. opposition mP Kieren Keke said he had little faith in the court’s ability to properly deal with such matters. “Anything that’s marginally complicated is being adjourned and put off indefinitely,” he said. - ABC

News from the Paciic region ‘Making a splash in a big ocean’

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

Study’s outcome will be to reduce domestic violence

A family health and safety study found that emotional and physical violence afects over half of Cook Islands women and their families. 14030322

ReSuLTS from a year-long family health and safety study is set to mobilise support working towards eliminating violence against women in the Cook Islands. the study found that emotional and physical violence affects more than half of cook islands women and their families. ministry of Health), the cook islands National council of Women and the united Nations Family and Population programme has been completed. the second stakeholders meeting was held yesterday and provided an opportunity to present some of the key outcomes and possible recommendations to begin to address the issue of violence against women in the Cook Islands. The report was undertaken to be able to assess the extent of domestic violence against women and what the associated health

and socio-economic issues that affect the victims and families. The study also provided report documents and compares the strategies and services Cook Islands women use to deal with the spectre of domestic violence. Secretary of Health Liz Iro in her presentation advised that: “The results from this study will mobilise support to working towards eliminating violence against women in our country.” the findings of the study are extracted from a year-long quantitative exercise that saw more than 35 interviewers moving through homes throughout the country interviewing a sampling of 1000 women using a tested questionnaire system that provides confidentiality and anonymity to the women selected in the sampling. Physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse was captured in the study and those

results formed the bulk of the report that Te Marae Ora now has in its data iles. It is envisaged that the report will be launched this Saturday timed alongside the celebration of “International Women’s Day 2014” as a fitting tribute to the Cook Islands women who diligently, in their own words and privacy of their homes, explained how or whether they felt threatened in their own homes. Going forward, nationwide, violence against women and children impacts their health and social wellbeing. “Finding ways to stop the violence will require support and understanding to help our women (and men) work and move away from the norms identiied by the study report,” says National council of Women President Vaine Wichman. - Matariki Wilson

LetterS reta

Not a job for school kids Results from a year-long family health and safety study is set to mobilise support working towards eliminating violence against women in the Cook Islands. 14030323

I was very, very angry (along with other grade six parents), when my son told me on Friday after work that all grade six boys of Avarua school spent their sports period cleaning the stream in between Avarua School and the Auditorium. This is unheard of. The stream is dry and dusty and these kids were expected to

clean it in the hot sun with no protective gear at all. Automatically this poses a health risk to our children. Does the Avarua School principal realise what passes through that stream? Well I can tell her, human waste (tutae tangata), animal waste (tutae manu), agricultural waste (maniva) etc. i understand the order came from the principal to the grade six class teachers, to get all the boys in these classes to clean the stream. The stream is the responsibility of the ministry of Works and if she thought it needed cleaning, then all she had to do is pick up the phone and ring them. But to get the children from grade six of Avarua School to do it is uncalled for. In my view this is a sign of arrogance and warrants automatic dismissal. But don’t bother, MOe will just put it in their “no

care” basket for filing. These children are loved and belong to a family. She, herself should get out there with her children in the hot sun and clean that stream out with no protective gear on and then she will understand the anger us grade six boys parents are going through when we were told by our children of how they spent their Friday afternoon. Cleaning a filthy stream that is infested with bacteria. What will it take to stop this kind of arrogance, for one of our children to die? Is the school willing to compensate the health of our children? I don’t think so. We sent our children to school to be educated not be sent to clean streams as the principal sees it. You cannot comprehend the anger that we are going through right now. Get out and stay out before you damage our children’s health. really angry Parent

Pension tax Dear editor. Can someone please explain why we suddenly have 12.5% deducted from the pension when

we go to collect from BCI? Now $250.00 goes down to $218.75 – $31.25 deducted?? Kurt Scheel

Letters to the Editor

Readers are welcome to write in with their views and opinions, but letters may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Writers are encouraged to stick to a 500 limit word count or less. Real names will be kept conidential if requested but anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. Write to: The Editor, Cook Islands News, PO Box 15, Rarotonga. or fax to (682 ) 25303. Email: editor@cookislandsnews.com

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

Publisher John Woods john@cookislandsnews.com chief executive Oicer Liz Woods lizw@cookislandsnews.com General Manager Tony Fe’ao tony@cookislandsnews.com Editor Mark Ebrey mark@cookislandsnews.com Deputy Editor Matariki Wilson matariki@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 Online & Social Networking Editor Briar Douglas briar@cookislandsnews.com Sales and Marketing Manager Susan Tealby susan@cookislandsnews.com Advertising Assistant Ledua Vivian Engu vivian@cookislandsnews.com Advertising adverts@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

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

Henry Ah Foo Taripo will be performing as HENZART at this coming weekend’s Pasiika Festival at Auckland’s Western Springs Lakeside Park.

PHOTO JULIE SMITH 14030330

Locals turnout for Pasiika

cooK islands artists, craftsmen and women as well as some of the island’s famous eateries are set to spread the tastes and talents of the islands at the annual Pasiika Festival in Auckland. The popular annual festival will once again be staged at the Western Spring Lakeside Park and already locals taking part have begun to stream into Auckland to prepare for the two-day festival. this year local participants have sponsored their own way to the popular festival that was once subsidised by Government. The annual Pasiika Festival is a celebration of the music, food, arts and dance of the Paciic Island communities, and is the most signiicant cultural festival in the South Paciic. The two-day party features a concert of the Paciic’s songs, dances and stories, followed by the festival day which sees Auckland’s Western Springs Park transformed into 11 villages – Aotearoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, tahiti, tokelau, tonga and Tuvalu.

Here Aucklanders and visitors to the City of Sails can experience the vibrant hospitality of Auckland’s Pacific culture and revel in the coming together of the Pacific communities as they celebrate their unity and diversity. New Zealand’s biggest city is also the most multi-cultural and is the world’s largest Polynesian city. Visitors are encouraged savour the vibrant Polynesian lifestyle in the city. the popular mooring café crew in Avana will be selling their mouth-watering fresh ish sandwiches at the festival among other Cook Islands food stalls. Cook Islands Mr Lavalava Petero Teio is also expected to turn on his charms for the crowd as he is already in auckland competing for the ultimate Mr Lavalava talent competition. Also showcasing Cook Islands contemporary music will be local talent Henry ah Foo taripo performing under his stage name HeNZART. Taripo has funded his own trip to be part of the massive Pasifika festival vibe where he

is keen to showcase traditional cook islands songs and music with a contemporary twist. Taripo is also keen to network and showcase what the Cook Islands has on offers as a destination for similar performers and artists. No doubt Taripo will indeed promote the Cook Islands with his own lare which he is known for as a barman and entertainer at the Vaima restaurant in Vaimaanga. He says that the Pasiika Festival is a fantastic event as it has been and will continue to be the platform for many Paciic artists to “make their mark” and launch their careers. Taripo will be performing on the cook islands stage at 10.45am on Saturday, March 8 and at 12.45pm on Sunday 9. He will be among 50 other Cook Islands artists that will share the spotlight on the cook Islands stage. Taripo would like to thank the support he has received from family and friends as well as Mareko’s for sponsorship. - Matariki Wilson

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Mr Lavalava Petero Teio is set to rock the Cook Islands stage during the Pasiika Festival.

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

The students have been assisting locals with food preparation, including killing and preparing a pig for a Sunday umu. 14030303

Four of the students went ishing for reef ish in Atiu. 14030302

Kiwi students begin Licence time programme on Atiu POLICe are reminding vehicle

WorKiNG with elderly and disabled atiu residents has been a focus for a group of Kiwi students since arriving on the island last month. The six Otago Polytechnic students are in their inal year of study to be occupational therapists – a health profession concerned with helping people to participate in the activities of everyday life. They are spending six weeks on Atiu helping to implement projects previously selected by locals. Student Lindsey Coup said the group “hit the ground running” in their second week on the island, including working alongside a Mama’s group, a meals on Wheels programme and individuals who have a disability that impacts their daily living. The students will also be working with young people in enuamanu School and assessing learning dificulties, among other projects. coup said being an occupa-

tional therapist on the outer island has taken some adjusting to. “With limited resources, we had to make use of the local mechanics to revive and repair an old wheelchair into the latest speed machine on atiu! “We took to delivering meals on wheels in the pouring rain, where we were able to practice our newly learned Maori language skills on the elderly. the group has been filling their non-working hours by immersing themselves in island life, she said. “Papa t (teaukura isaia) took us on our weekly coconut run and taught some of us to husk, open and grate our first coconuts. We all got so excited about this new skill that we ate too much coconut in one day for our bodies to deal with and have since laid off eating coconut to the point of sickness! “Four of us spent a day ishing for reef ish at the coral garden and Mata’i landing in which

we successfully pulled up one ish each. “ the group has also been helping locals with food preparation, in between moments of relaxation. “While four of us basked in the sun with a nu in our hands the other two girls were off killing and preparing a pig for our Sunday umu. Our inal task was to gather and prepare taro, banana and hibiscus leaves from

Seabed Minerals Policy from 2008 has now been fully reviewed, updated and released to stakeholders and the public. The policy was reviewed and re-drafted with technical and funding assistance, approved in September 2013, following an application by the cook islands Seabed Minerals Authority, made to the cook islands technical Assistance Fund (CITAF). The approved CITAF arrangements were then coordinated by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals authority and, as usual, are being supervised by the Office of

the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) and the Ministry of Finance and economic management (MFeM). Initially, a comprehensive Issues Paper was developed by the external expert legal technical advisor employed under CITAF. The Issues Paper, which was based on the old policy and our national Seabed Minerals Act 2009 then led onto the drafting of this revised Policy. A copy of the revised Policy is available from the Seabed Minerals authority and also can be viewed on its website http:// www.seabedmineralsauthority.

car or station wagon up to 2600cc costs $38. Vehicle checks and inspections will commence sometime in the month of April, Strickland said. Those operating rental, taxi, and bus tour services are also being reminded to renew their transport licences. The Secretary to the Ministry of transport has sent out application forms, which need to be promptly completed and returned. Strickland asked owners to ensure records and details of vehicles are correct and in order. Inspections will be carried out before applications are approved. - BCS

Avatiu Stream to be unblocked HeAVY SWeLLS have created a

build-up of sand at the entrance to Avatiu Stream, causing the water to turn green and stagnant. infrastructure cook islands (ICI) says it will be sending workers in to unblock the stream, which runs beside Punanga Nui Market. “We will attend to it. We’re just waiting for some machinery to come free,” said ICI Secretary

Seabed minerals policy revised THe COOK ISLANDS national

the Mapumai village swamp ready for Sunday morning.” The group’s time on the island has been a learning curve, she said. “it has been action packed and would not be complete without mosquito and wasp bites, over expensive toilet paper, a spot of volleyball with the locals and some synchronised bombs in the harbour.” - Briar Douglas

owners that it is time to renew their annual vehicle registrations. “everyone is encouraged to update your documentation to avoid any inconvenience in the upcoming months when stopped by the police,” said Inspector John Strickland. Members of the public have until March 31 to get along to Bank of the cook islands and renew their registrations, after which time they will be handed an instant ine if caught. costs for the annual licence vary; a motorbike up to 100cc costs $26, a motorbike more than 100cc costs $62 for, and a

gov.ck The final revised Policy will then be submitted to Cabinet for approval. This will then help prepare for the next step in the steady development of our national seabed minerals sector, as highlighted in the Act, the SBMA Business Plans and the revised policy. The next required step is the drafting of the effective, international standard regulations for the licencing of exploratory blocks in the mineral rich manganese module zones in our large exclusive economic Zone. - Seabed Minerals

Authority release.

Mac Mokoroa. CINews received a complaint about the stream from a member of the public last week. Joseph akaruru, also from ICI, said recent high surges have pushed sand up on shore, blocking the mouth of the stream. “It usually happens when there’s big heavy swells. It’s not only there. It happens all around the island if there’s high surges.” He said there has been a similar build-up of sand outside Trader Jacks in Avarua.

“If we get heavy rainfall it will open the stream with the amount of water coming off the island. In some cases we might need to come in and open it out.” akaruru said the blockage at Avatiu Stream has nothing to do with the major Punanga Nui land reclamation project in 2012. The problem existed long before that work started, he said. Vavia Tangatataia, from the National environment Service, said one of his inspectors has

been to look at the stream and take photos. “there surely needs to be some work done. It has to be dug out to let the water low.” tangatataia said the stagnant water can lead to death of local aquatic life and a bad smell. He is also concerned about the amount of rubbish in the stream. most of the rubbish appears to have been thrown in there by people who have bought food from Punanga Nui market, he said. - BCS

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‘Beach Day Out’ on Good Friday ORGANISeRS of the annual “Beach Day Out” music festival have confirmed that the event will once again be held this year at the Safari Tours beach site in Nikao on Good Friday – April 18. The festival concept is to provide visitors and locals with an eight-hour showcase of top cook islands entertainment in a relaxed family friendly picnic at-

mosphere by the beach on a public holiday when restaurants and entertainment venues are closed. this is the one day in the year when local musicians can get together and enjoy performing together in an outdoor arena with excellent sound and lighting as well as technical support explains founding organiser mark Franklin.

Secretary of Internal Afairs Brendina Drollet signing of on a contract for SIF project funding last year. 14030332

SIF open for applications from groups SeRVICeS for vulnerable groups can apply for a slice of a $260,000 civil services fund. The Social Impact Fund (SIF) is now taking proposals for yearlong projects that target one of the fund’s priority areas: Children and youth, gender equality, disabilities, the elderly, domestic violence and mental health. manager of the fund angeline Tuara said the new round of funding is an opportunity for those who missed out last year to re-apply, and added that she encourages all interested organisations to contact her as soon as possible to discuss their project. “It’s to their advantage to meet with me to talk about it, early in the application process,” said Tuara, who co-ordinates the applications before they are considered by the SIF board. SIF Project Funding is aimed at short-term, one-off initiatives that cost between $5000 and $50,000 and offers funding for 12 months. Organisations that were previously successful can re-apply, but other organisations are also encouraged to look into whether their project meets the criteria. “It’s very important to read those guidelines,” said Tuara. “It’s also helpful to be seen. The board do read the paper, they do watch TV. That can help when you’re explaining who you are and what you do, and they say, ‘I remember you’.” Also key are projects that target areas that are not already covered by other projects. “We’re trying to avoid doubling-up,” said Tuara, who added that if organisations do make

similar applications, she will put them in touch with each other to see if they can work together. Two priority areas, gender equality and youth, were not applied for under the last round of funding, so Tuara said projects in these categories may be of particular interest. “i think these are areas that need to grow.” Successful organisations are required to report on their progress, with reports from 2013’s round of the funding due in June from the 11 organisations that received between $5000 and $50,000 each. “A lot of us just do the work and don’t look at the impact of the work on the community,” said Tuara. “But the impact is very important to the fund.” While the application forms will be available in Maori from internal affairs to aid understanding where required, Tuara said ultimately the application and subsequent reports need to be done in english. “That can be an advantage of working with a group, because you’ve got others to help get the level of detail needed.” Another part of the SIF – programme funding – offers longterm funding between $50,000 and $165,000. Applications for this part of the fund will not reopen until the end of the threeyear contracts signed by successful organisations last year. interested people can contact angeline tuara at the ministry of Internal Affairs on 29378 or email angeline.tuara@cookislands.gov.ck Applications close April 24. - BD

“one of the features of the festival is that not only does it attract visiting international musicians but it also provides a platform for up and coming young talent to perform.” Over the past five years the festival has continued to grow in popularity with more than 400 people gathering at the Nikao beach site last year to experience and watch the wide variety of performances in the chilled out beach-side environment. A diverse programme of acts is now being scheduled and an invitation open for musicians interested in appearing to discuss possible performance options. Boogie at his burger bar at the Banana Court in Avarua is the contact point. For this sixth festival the management are striving to ensure a community, family friendly occasion where people can relax, eat and experience the best of Cook islands entertainment in an idyllic setting. if you or your band are keen to be part of this fantastic event – get along to Boogies and register your interest. - MW

Brave Karmah Royale was a sight on last year’s Beach Day Out stage where she sang beautifully while playing her uke in front of an appreciative crowd. 14030326

Beach Day Out organiser and musician Mark Franklin (left) and local lad Ian Wheeldon on his banjo warm up the crowd at last year’s ‘Beach Day Out’. 14030325

Albacore made up most of local catch

THe MINISTRY of marine resources (mmr) has released its last quarterly catch data of the commercial and artisanal ishery for the 2013 calendar year. For the fourth quarter of 2013, a total of 1100 tonnes was caught by 34 licenced longliners. About 70% of the catch was albacore tuna. The trend over all quarters displays a strong seasonality with peak catches in the winter months. For example, the catch per unit effort for all species, measured in kilograms per hundred hooks (kg/hhk), peaked at 70kg/hhk in June but declined to a low of 10 kg/hkk in December. Fourth quarter data for the local artisanal and game charter ishery was collected in eight islands. The total catch in the quarter was 70 tonnes with 30 tonnes recorded in Rarotonga. Yellowin tuna was the dominant catch. the trend for all quarters in the artisanal ishery shows that

the catches peak during the summer months. The catch per unit effort, measured in kilograms per hour ishing (kg/hr), increased with each quarter and peaked at 10 kg/hr in the fourth quarter compared to 5 kg/hr in the irst quarter. There have been 233 active fishing vessels reporting to MMR in 2013 with 103 reporting in the fourth quarter. Trolling is the common ishing method for high powered boats. Handlining-dropstone is the preferred method for small powered boats and canoes, particularly in the outer islands where petrol is costly and limited. MMR notes that the 2013 catches on rarotonga totalled 110 tonnes which was twice the amount of total catches for 2012 which was between 4060 tonnes. The uncertainty for 2012 catches was due to lower coverage. the ministry attributes the

improved catches on Rarotonga to the increased number of ish aggregate devices (FADs) which have been deployed around the island and the increasing number of local ishers and game charter operators. The FADs help retain fish and increase catch rates. oceanography and climate change variability are thought to play an important part in how the ish are distributed and caught. During the winter months the deep ocean thermal layer stabilises and catches of albacore tuna increases. During the summer months the sea surface temperature rises and the artisanal and game ishers whom are trolling on the surface have increased catches. according to mmr the results are consistent with previous trends. the last quarter is traditionally a low season for the commer-

cial fishery and longliners will often return to port for repairs and maintenance. On the other hand the catches by the local artisanal and game charter ishers tend to peak in the last quarter summer months. the artisanal catch data is compiled based on log sheets provided by fishers, fishing clubs and isheries oficers in the outer islands which are analysed by MMR staff. The ministry is hoping to extend its coverage of local catches to all 12 inhabited islands in the near future. mmr secretary Ben Ponia would like to thank the ishers whom contribute their catch data. “There are many complex factors to consider in managing our commercial and artisanal ishery. Having access to good scientiic information is critical,” says Ponia. - MMR Release

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

Smooth ride soon in the pipeline MOTORISTS are one step closer

to being treated to a smooth drive from Nikao to Tupapa with the commencement of a tender process. As part of Project City 3, Infrastructure cook islands (ici) is inviting interested parties to submit tenders for the improvement of the road network – including resurfacing - in areas from Panama, through Avarua, and to tupapa, ending roughly at Chilli’s Bar. Project engineer and Manager Tenga Mana with ICI said the winning bid will be announced this month, with construction beginning possibly in late April. At least two tenders have been

We deliver.

received by ICI from interested parties. The 2013-14 government budget has allocated $5 million for the project. The upcoming work follows Project City 2 - the upgrade of distribution infrastructure for the new water network spanning 25 kilometres of road in the town area – which was funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of $2.5 million. Also included in the work was the trenching and laying of trunk mains, sub mains and branch mains, with new power cables installed by te aponga uira. - Emmanuel Samoglou

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Shown here completing Project City work, a worker digs beneath the road to get to new pipes that were connected to the water supply in July. Government has recently begun a tender process for road improvements from Panama to Tupapa. 13071603

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PUBLIC NOTICES MInISTry OF FInAnCe And eCOnOMIC MAnAGeMenT & THe MInISTry OF InTernAl AFFAIrS GOVernMenT OF THe COOK ISlAndS

PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING VAT PRICE IMPACTS On 1 April 2014 the VAT will increase from 12.5% to 15%. This may cause the prices of some goods and services to rise. Most Cook Islanders will have received a personal income tax cut, minimum wage increase, or increase in social welfare payments on or before 1 April. On 1 April 2014 the import levies on pork, eggs, seasonal fruit and vegetables, and ice cream will be eliminated. These reductions are larger than the increase in the VAT – prices of these goods are expected to decline. In regards to VAT, retailers are advised that the maximum price change they can attribute to the VAT change is 2.2% of the previous retail price. An example using a $10 purchase is illustrated below:

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retailers may choose to not pass on the full cost of the VAT change, and some retailers may have already increased their prices in anticipation of 1 April, so their prices may not change. Other retailers may increase prices by more than 2.2%, but any increase above 2.2% is at their own discretion and is above and beyond the expected impact of the VaT change. The VAT is a value added tax and does not accumulate from one vendor to the next. Vendors registered for VAT can claim VAT on expenses as credits, and hence, do not incur VAT if they are purchasing goods from other VAT registered businesses. still unsure about how much VaT will impact on prices? A simple spreadsheet has been made available at www. mfem.gov.ck/tax for consumers to estimate what price changes may be due to the VAT, and for suppliers/ retailers to estimate the impact on their revenues if they choose to absorb some of the rate change. 69221

1pm sharp. Material deadline for display adverts 24 hours prior.

PUBLIC NOTICES

hulanesian Fitness, Kavera meeting House Monday, 5.15pm - Wednesday, 12pm, $2 MT Kickboxing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 5.15pm Wednesday, Friday, 6.30am March Special $2.

due to a staf bereavement, the Ministry of Justice oice will close on Wednesday 5 March 2014 from 8am to 1pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding. Tingika Elikana Secretary of Justice

77336 /36615 /1931

77331 / /1796

SITUATIONS VACANT

TAX ADVISORY OFFICER

MInISTry OF FInAnCe And eCOnOMIC MAnAGeMenT GOVernMenT OF THe COOK ISlAndS

A vacancy exists for a Tax Outreach Oicer in the revenue Management Oice. Applications are invited from persons interested in assisting taxpayers meet their accounting and tax obligations. This position will involve the promotion of good record keeping and tax practices within the business community through assistance and public engagement. Persons who are computer literate, analytical, good communicators, and have a good commercial understanding, along with the ability to work with minimum supervision, are welcome to apply. A drivers license is also essential for this position. A job description can be obtained from our website www.mfem.gov.ck or email: tessa.vaetoru@ cookislands.gov.ck Applications should be forwarded by Friday 7 March to: Tessa Vaetoru revenue Management division P O Box 120 Rarotonga, Cook Islands /

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Casual ads must be prepaid. Cancellation fee $6.40 incl. VAT. Quotations on request.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Annual General Meeting (2014) of St Joseph Parents/ Teachers Association. To all parents, caregivers and supporters of St Joseph School, please be advised of our AGM on the 11 March 2014, 6 pm, at St Joseph School. Agenda • Minutes arising from AGM 2013 • Chair Report 2013 • Treasurer Report 2013 • Principal’s Report 2013 • Election of 2014 PTA Oice Bearers Other matters. Kite i te Atua e te Kite Pakari Chair/Carl Glassie. 77295 / /2210

ROBERT/KAITARA NIChOLAS FAMILY MEETING AVANA MEETING HOUSE WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2014 AT 5.30PM AGENDA: NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF MANAVAROA/TUPAKAU TITLE Notice by Phillip Nicholas Komono o Manavaroa. 77324 /36612 /1931

Tereora College AGM Tuesday March 4, 5pm in the Princess Anne Hall chairperson’s report Principals Report Financial reports Election of oicers Food festival 2014 General business. 77073 / /2299

PUBLIC NOTICES

TE MATO VAI PROJECT SOCIAL & ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENTS The BTIB are undertaking two assessments in respect of the Te Mato Vai project. The assessments are in two parts, one being a social impact assessment & one an economic impact assessment. The purpose of the assessments is to determine the impact the project will have on the wider community. The assessment will be carried out by way of written & verbal submissions given to the BTIB oice. To all members of the community, businesses & NGOs. Tell us what you think. What are your concerns? How will the project afect you both in a positive or negative way? For further details please contact the BTIB oice. Submissions may be sent to btib@ cookislands.gov.ck or delivered to the oice. Deadline for submissions Friday 14 March, 2014. 77349 / /2306

SERVICES Penno Builders NZ qualiied Free quotes New homes Renovations/repair container homes Gib stopping Painting All work considered. Phone Zane Penno 58493 or jumpshipzp@gmail.com 77230 /36564 /1931

FOR RENT Partly furnished old family home in Atupa, $200 per week, negotiable. Good location. Phone 27300. 77332 /36614 /1931

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

Gut busting inal workout for CrossFitters CROSSFIT athletes had to flip

truck tyres, carry sand bags and run up a steep hill in their last gut-busting workout of the Summer Games. three days of gruelling sessions culminated in a brutal test of strength and fitness at the head of Avatiu Valley on Saturday afternoon. Facing sweltering conditions, each team of four had to run from Te Aponga Power Station to a point high up the valley, stopping to complete a number of challenges on the way.

those challenges included carrying heavy kettle-bells, flipping a truck tyre 15 times, lugging medicine balls and sand bags up a steep incline, and a back-breaking final climb to the top. Competitors were exhausted at the end and many lay gasping for breath on the ground. earlier in the day, the teams met in tikioki and competed for time in a 300-metre swim, twokilometre run, 300-metre swim and another two-kilometre run. crossFit founder Geoff

Halston was a standout in the swimming section and teammate Raniera ellison was quick on his feet. emerging victorious in the 2014 Summer Games were Team Like-A-Boss, led by the inspirational Jamie Gotty and including battlers Sheryl John, Olaf Rasmussen and Steven Boggs. Despite feeling sore and exhausted, crossFit members are now hanging out for the Winter Games later this year. - Ben Chapman-Smith

Vikki Henderson and Ed Exam performing one of 15 lips of a truck tyre. PHOTO PAUL LYNCH 14030327

Gordon Heather and Curly Taripo muscle their way uphill carrying a 25kg sand bag and 10kg medicine ball. PHOTO PAUL LYNCH 14030329

SITUATIONS VACANT PACIFIC ISlAndS FOrUM

REGIONAL GOVERNANCE ADVISER

FOR RENT

SITUATIONS VACANT

2 bedroom partly furnished home in Upper Tupapa $200 per week. Contact Helen 55717.

Assistant Sales person needed at The Dive Shop Female at least 25yrs old, honest and reliable, customer friendly, must know how to sell surf clothing, indent ordering, Please send CV to P.O Box 418, Applications closes 17 March 2014.

ShOP MANAGER 3-5 yrs work exp.in retail business to oversee the full operation of the shop but not limited to shopkeeping, cashiering, banking & stock inventory. Important qualities: reliable, trustworthy, polite,honest, customerfriendly, non-smoker and nondrinker. Please email your CV to ciral09@yahoo.com and application closes 17 March 2014.

77335 / /1935

about the Paciic Islands Forum secretariat The Paciic Islands Forum was founded in August 1971 and comprises 16 independent and self-governing states in the Paciic. Its Leaders meet annually to develop collective responses to regional issues. The Forum’s administrative arm is the Paciic Islands Forum Secretariat, based in Suva, Fiji. It acts as the Secretariat for Forum-related events, implements decisions by the leaders, facilitates the delivery of development assistance to member states, and undertakes the political and legal mandates of Forum meetings. The Forum Secretariat is also mandated to coordinate the implementation of the Paciic Plan for strengthening regional cooperation and integration. The Forum Secretariat is an equal Opportunity employer. About this Opportunity due to unavoidable circumstances, the Secretariat is re-advertising the position of regional Governance Adviser under the Secretariat’s Political Governance and Security Programme. reporting to the director of the Programme, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the good governance agenda of the Forum is carried forward through collaboration with other colleagues at the Forum Secretariat and its development partners. Securing and building partnerships and new alliances is central to the success of delivering on the governance initiatives. Responsibilities will include (but not limited to): • Supporting Oversight and Integrity Institutions; • enhancing Good Governance Mechanisms; • Supporting Participatory democracy, Consultative decision-making and electoral Processes; and • Partnerships for Good Governance Initiatives Applicants should have a post-graduate degree in the social sciences in one or more of the following ields: politics, economics, sociology, administration etc and with extensive relevant work experience with policy advice and coordination preferably in the regional context. Applicants with sound knowledge of and experience with Paciic institutions, processes and issues (development, economic, social and political) would have an advantage. about the Beneits The appointment will carry a competitive remuneration and beneits package including medical and life insurance. The salary will be in the range of Sdr34,026 to Sdr51,040 per annum. At the 1 February 2014 exchange rate this salary range was equivalent to FJd99,259 to FJd148,891. For non-Fijian nationals, this salary may be tax-free. Any travel required will be at economy class. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through our website: www.forumsec.org where an information package containing the job description and remuneration details is also available. To be eligible for this position, the applicant must be a national of a Forum member country.* deadline for applications is 28 March, 2014 at 5pm, Fiji time. * Member States of the Paciic Islands Forum: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 77298

rooms from $70 including Power, hotwater. Suitable female, sober habits. Arorangi Ph 20201, 9 - 5pm 77352 / /1917

2 bedrooms fully furnished lat, Ruatonga. Phone 23756 777

SITUATIONS VACANT La casita & rickshaw. Muri Positions available: Supervisor with Bar skills, POS skills & Front of House experience Friendly, Well-spoken and welldressed essential. Waiters & Waitresses - experience preferred, training can be given Kitchen hands - experience preferred Please phone: 26487 between 9a.m. - 2p.m Ask for Komera, Sue or Julie. Email refrences to tamarind@ oyster.net.ck 77300 / /1697

housekeeping Full time position available - on the job training provided. Immediate start Front Oice Receptionist Full time position available for an honest, reliable, bubbly personality to join our team. Shift work available - evenings/ weekdays/weekends (roster rotates). RoomMaster knowledge an advantage. Ph: 23000 speak to Daena or Liana Email: info@muribeachclubhotel.com 77323 / /2162

Bartender wanted for busy bar, nights from Tuesday - Saturday. Apply in person or phone 24516 or 50498. 77116 /36502 /1931

Has your drinking got out of control? Call 71744

777

Looking for a kitchen hand & counter girls to work in a takeaway cafe soon to open. Phone 76017 or 74345. 77118 /36497 /1931

Experienced Pastry Chef Experienced Bar Tender seamstress/housemaid We require the above experienced staf to join our team. Please send up to date CV to P O Box 1050. 77129 / /1939

Driver 6 days a week Applicants need to be employable, with a good attitude, turn up on time and be smartly presented and of sober habits. Phone 27460 or 55464.

77217 / /1933

Paciic resort hotel Group a Great Place to Work... We are currently seeking the following: • Guest Service Agent • Porter / Security • Restaurant & Bar Staf • Chefs and Cooks • Team Leaders & Supervisors To apply email:rarotonga@paciicresort. com or contact Nan on 51724. 77225 / /1866

77138 / /2202

cafe staf wanted. Ph28465. 77322 /36616 /1982

All AROUND BEAUTICIAN- at least 5 yrs work exp.in a salon, reliable, hardworking, honest, customer-friendly and able to work with minimum supervision. Please email your CV at korana@oyster.net.ck Application closes 17 March 2014. 77216 / /1933

Nanny required Non smoker/non drinker, honest, reliable. Cleaning and cooking required. Mail CV to Marcelle_rossouw@ hotmail.com 77221 /36572 /1931

Classiieds • Phone 22999 • adverts@cookislandsnews.com

ACCOUNTS PERSON Castaway Resort is looking for a Part-time Accounts person. Quickbooks experience is essential. We are prepared to pay a top hourly rate for a suitably qualiied person. Flexible hours of work: Monday - Friday (approx 20 hours per week) Please e-mail your application and CV to: pash@oyster.net.ck Please call Michelle on PH:21546 or 57104 77258 / /1873

FOUND Notices are FREE to encourage honesty and good citizenship. A Cook Islands News public service.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

International Flights

FLIGhT

FROM ARRIVES

tuesdAy MArCH 4 NZ748/749 AKL 12.30AM NZ746/745 AKL 2.10PM DJ163/162 AKL 11.55PM tHursdAy MArCH 6 NZ46/45 AKL 4.10PM VT035/034 PPT 2.50PM NZ748/749 AKL 12.30AM

DEPARTS

AKL AKL AKL

1.30AM 3.10PM 1.05AM

AKL PPT AKL

5.25PM 3.50PM 1.30AM

Air Rarotonga

Flight Times | Voyage details RARO TO ARR WEDNESDAy MArCH 5 0800 AITUTAKI 0850

DEP

ARR

0910

RARO

1000

1030

1120

1140

RARO

1230

1530 AITUTAKI 1620 0900 MANGAIA 0940 1100 ATIU 1145

1640 1000 1205

RARO RARO AITUTAKI

1730 1040 1250

1410

RARO

1500

1300

AITUTAKI

MAUKE

1350

1410

MITIARO 1500

DEP

ARR

TIARE MOANA 21 - ETD AUCK 2/03, ETA RARO 09/03, ETA AITUTAKI 11/03 OLOMANA 24 - ETD AUCK 08/03, ETA RARO 20/03, ETA AITUTAKI 22/03

Shipping

1310 ATIU

1355

1520 RARO 1610

TIARE MOANA 22 - ETD AUCK 22/03, ETA RARO 30/03, ETA AITUTAKI 1/4

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Weather Forecast to Midnight

Tides

Issued at 2pm at Rarotonga Situation: A northeast wind low prevails over Southern Cooks. A northeast wind low prevails over northern Cooks. Meanwhile, a trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers is approaching the group from east. Forecast to midnight for the Southern Cooks: Fine. Fine apart from brief showers. Moderate north to northwest winds.Moderate seas. Further outlook: Brief showers. For Rarotonga: Fine apart from brief showers. Further outlook: Brief showers. For the Northern Cooks: Some showers and thunderstorms east of Manihiki. Fine apart from brief showers elsewhere. Moderate northeast winds. Moderate to rough seas. Further outlook: Some showers.

Tue high

Low

12.03PM 1.08M

5.55AM 0.24M 6.21PM

wed

1.3M Nw

0.21M

1.1M Nw

wed high 12.28AM 1.02M 12.47PM 1.06M Low 6.38AM 0.26M 7.05PM 0.24M

29°

Sun, Moon & Arapo

Ne 05KTS New Moon Mar 30 8.45AM

First Quarter Mar 8 3.27AM

Full Moon Mar 16 7.09AM

Sunshine hours

Third Quarter Mar 23 3.46AM

ArAPo - iro Tue 4 Tanu (Planting) Tanu i te meika. Plant bananas.

1.3M Nw

TauTai (Fishing) Po ika. Kua marama roa. Fishing nights. Moon is long, far away.

Humidity Tue

Rarotonga Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Forecast Map 2pm Tuesday

Front Key:

Cold

Warm

Occluded

1.1M Se

Swell direction and size

Stationary

Outer Islands weather Outlook Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Morning

82%

night

76%

Morning

80%

night

77%

Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Tue

sun rise

6.37AM

sun set 7.04PM

Moon rise 10.01AM Moon set 9.45PM

wed sun rise 6.38AM sun set 7.03PM

Moon rise 10.58AM Moon set 10.31PM

Aitutaki

29° Ne 06KTS

Mangaia

27° Ne 04KTS

Mitiaro

28° Ne 04KTS

Atiu

Penrhyn

28° Ne 04KTS

30° Ne 05KTS

Mauke

28° Ne 04KTS

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 cook Islands News

tarekareka

SPORT

Home of sports launched tHe ‘ OLYMPIC HOuSe’ that houses the national sports body and a number of national sports federations was oficially launched in an intimate ceremony at the Nikao site yesterday. The occasion was a double celebration as monday also marked the 27th birthday of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC). CISNOC staff and national federations have been based out of the Nikao ofice, formerly the teachers college building behind the ministry of education, for more than a year. CISNOC chief executive officer and team cook islands chef de mission robert Graham says the delay in launching the Olympic House was due to the team’s desire to have it coincide with the national sports body’s birthday. The national sports body was formerly located in taputapuatea. In his address, CISNOC president Hugh Graham spoke of the drive and commitment of a number of key people that resulted in the old teachers college being obtained for the national sports body headquarters. He paid homage to the vision of the late CISNOC president and former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry. He recalled that Henry’s vision was for an Olympic House to be constructed on the site behind the current ofice. The dream then, one that CISNOC wishes to see materialise in the not too distant future, is to turn their current ofices into a sports academy to grow and nurture talented athletes right at home, especially talented athletes from the outer islands. He also paid special homage to former CISNOC Secretary

General Rosie Blake for her drive in obtaining the facility for CISNOC to operate out of. Minister of Sport Mark Brown acknowledged the presence of Nikao member of Parliament Ngamau Munokoa who was the Minister of Sport for many years and was one of the driving forces behind the construction of the nearby telecom Sports Arena. In fact, Brown commented on the apt location for the olympic House which not only overlooks the multipurpose sports arena but also the Bci national stadium and the national college. He also acknowledged the “vaerua taokotai” (spirit of unity) between landowners the Cook Islands Christian Church, government and the national sports body which resulted in a lease being obtained by CISNOC for the old teachers college to be refurbished and turned into the sporting headquarters of the Cooks. Looking ahead, Brown commented that sports will play a major role in the golden jubilee celebrations next year when the national celebrates 50 years of self-governance. Among the invited guests was Oceania National Olympic Committee Secretary General Ric Blas who is also the Guam sports and national olympic committee president. In his address he explained the funding that was available for CISNOC to either refurbish or build a new home for sports. He commented that the local sports body was at risk of losing a significant amount of funding as it looked for a new home, however, with the united spirit of the government, the CICC church and sports body – funds were able to be directed and used to refurbish the aban-

The sports family gathered yesterday to celebrate the launch of the Olympic House and the 27th birthday of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee. 14030315 doned teachers college that was the previously used as the labour quarters for Chinese workers that constructed the TSA multi sports stadium for the 2009 Paciic Mini Games hosted by the Cooks. Blas and Hugh Graham were given the honour of unveiling the “Olympic House”’ signboard at the entrance to the offices while Minister Brown, MP Ngamau Munokoa and CICC Reverend aratangi cut the ribbon to the main building before invited guests were ushered through the building and ofices. The CISNOC staff are currently working towards preparing team cook islands for the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by Scotland later this year. - Matariki Wilson

Sailing numbers soar

Sports Minister Mark Brown, CICC Reverend Aratangi and Nikao MP Ngamau Munokoa cut the rauti ribbon at the entrance of the Olympic House. 14030313

Gut busting workout!

13030324

tHe rarotoNGa Sailing Club

in Muri is currently enjoying an inlux of children participating in sailing which is always great for any sport. However the club has a limited number of sailing boats and the children’s sailing programme on Saturday mornings has been reworked to relect the increase in numbers. there are four categories for junior sailors with three sailing time slots.

each Saturday from 7.45am the Green Fleet get ready and rigged for 8am start and inish their activities at 9.30am. From 8.45am the Bronze Fleet get ready and rigged for 9am start. They will be using plastic and ibreglass Optimist craft and inish their programme at 10am. From 9.30am the Silver and Gold Fleet sailors get ready and rigged for a 10am start. They will be using ibreglass Optimist

boats and Bics. Parents of any new sailors aiming to start should see Junior Charlie or Anne Tierney to ind out about the introductory Learn to sail courses, and details of joining Rarotonga Sailing Club. Junior charlie can be contacted on junior22@hotmail.com or on mobile 70858 while Anne tierney can be contacted on anne@jta.co.ck or by telephone - MW on 28243.

Mike Crouch leads the way as Theresa Taiarui, Vicki Fortes and Benjamin Henderson struggle their way up a steep hill in Avatiu Valley during the inal gut busting CrossFit workout of the Summer Games. Full story on page 12. PHOTO PAUL LYNCH 14030328