Thursday 6 March by Cook Islands News

Te reo o te KUKI AIRANI

$2 Thursday, March 6, 2014

Digicel is BTIB says no back on the island to foreigners

DigiCel representatives are

back on the island this week to talk with the government about buying shares in Telecom Cook islands. Telecommunications Minister Mark Brown said Frank O’Carroll, Vice President of Business Development for Digicel in Asia Paciic, was due to land in rarotonga yesterday with other Digicel staff. he said the group will be updating the government on its negotiations with Telecom new Zealand (TnZ), which owns 60 per cent of Telecom Cook islands (TCi). “We’ll have a sit down and find out where they’re up to. We’ll wait and see what happens, whether they’ve made a irm offer to Telecom New Zealand.”

Digicel has also expressed interest in buying some, or all, of the government’s 40 per cent share in TCi, a matter which will no doubt come up again this week. “They probably want to raise the issue of buying some of our shares out,” Brown said. TCi has been run as a joint venture between TnZ and the Cook islands government since 1991. Brown said Digicel may also want to talk this week about some aspects of that Joint Venture Agreement. O’Carroll was in rarotonga last month taking a closer look at the regulatory environment, fees, taxes and levies in the Cook islands. - Ben Chapman-Smith

Outbreak could be zika, not dengue The MinisTry of health believes rarotonga could be dealing with an outbreak of zika, rather than dengue fever. The results of 12 blood samples sent to Tahiti last month show one tested positive for the zika virus and the other 11 were weak positive for dengue. Director of Community health services Dr rangi Fariu said the dengue and zika viruses are from the same family and present similar symptoms, although zika is less severe. specialists from the World health Organisation (WhO) and around the region have been called on to look at the 12 samples. “They all believe it could be zika. But we are still going to test for dengue and zika and our clinical management and preventative measures will be the same because it’s more or less the same virus,” Fariu said.

Another 100 blood samples were sent to Tahiti last Friday and the results should come back in the next week, he said. Fariu said the symptoms being shown by patients in rarotonga appear to be more consistent with the zika virus. “This one is less severe and the recovery is much shorter than for dengue fever.” Those with zika will typically suffer from itchiness, rashes, swollen glands and a fever much earlier than those with dengue. Both viruses are spread by mosquitoes and are from the lavivirus family. Fariu said the WhO is satisied with the Ministry’s preventative measures and has asked it to continue. The health Ministry has now received 104 reported cases of the virus, three from Aitutaki and the rest from rarotonga. - Ben Chapman-Smith

FOreign companies hoping to

win contracts to work on the Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project have been advised by the Business Trade and investment Board that they will not be given approval to operate in the Cook islands. “Don’t even entertain the idea of giving contracts to foreigners,” warned BTiB chairman George Pitt to Government oficials. “We will not accept them.” Providing rationale for the announcement, BTiB chief executive Terry rangi said government, project stakeholders and donor partners associated with the $60 million project have publicly indicated preference for work to be undertaken by local contractors. “The board’s position is that

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rarotonga’s ring mains. rangi said CCeCC’s registration will not be subject to the zero-foreign involvement rule, as the company’s involvement in TMV was conirmed early in the project’s planning and will also be using a substantial level of local participation in its work. BTiB has recently commenced social and economic impact assessments in an attempt to gauge the effects of construction related to TMV on the general public. The board will be using information gathered during the assessments, along with the outcome of an ongoing environmental impact assessment application, in its decision making process for CCeCC’s pending registration. - Emmanuel Samoglou

araura College male prefects will stand out in their pink leaders’ shirts following their investiture last Friday. Full story – page 9. 14030542

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Thursday

decisions granting foreign enterprise registration to at least two overseas irms. last October, KeW Consult limited – a new Zealand-samoan company selected by government tender to manage the project – had their application deferred by the government agency at the request of traditional leaders. The company was eventually given BTiB approval after intervention by Minister Kiriau Turepu, who oversees the agency as part of his ministerial portfolio. More recently, BTiB’s board has deferred a decision on granting registration to the Chinese Civil engineering and Construction Company (CCeCC) – which has been contracted to replace

Prefects in pink

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the work should be carried out 100 per cent by locals,” he said. “The skills and technical expertise are available in the country to carry out the work, but too often we engage overseas contractors.” An exception to the rule would be if the TMV project committee could prove that designated work can not be undertaken by local firms. in that instance, rangi said BTiB would consider a foreign-service provider. “The board has always had a policy of supporting local businesses under the broad umbrella of supporting the ‘go local support local’ brand,” said rangi. The BTiB has played an active role in the early planning stages of TMV, and has deferred

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

worldneWs nuti no TeiA nei AO Hope it all works out ... A TexAs woman got back at her husband for apparently cheating on her with another woman by taking out an ad in a local newspaper. Tameshia Brown’s congratulatory message starts of nice enough –until she puts her signature on it. “I would like to say congratulations to shara Cormier and Patrick Brown. They are expecting a baby. Hope you both are really in love and I hope it works out. Always, Patrick’s wife, Tameshia Brown,” the ad reads.

Talks amid the crisis Diplomats seek Ukraine solution, Russia denies troop deployment PAris – russian Foreign Minister sergei lavrov is holding talks in Paris with counterparts from the Us and key eU states to try to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. The Us accuses Moscow of deploying troops in Ukraine’s Crimea region, describing it as an “act of aggression” – a claim denied by the Kremlin. Despite the sharp differences, both sides have hinted they

world BrieFs ISRAEL SEIZES WEAPONS SHIPMENT ISRAEL – Israel says it has seized a ship carrying advanced Iranian weapons made in Syria that was heading towards Gaza. The Panamanian-lagged vessel was boarded by Israeli naval commandos in the Red Sea of the coast of Sudan. They found M-302 surface-to-surface missiles that were lown to Iran before being loaded onto the ship, it added. Hamas, the militant Palestinian Islamist movement that governs Gaza, strenuously denied any involvement. It accused Israel of concocting a story to “justify the blockade” of the coastal territory. Israel tightly controls its border with Gaza, restricting what is allowed in for what it says are reasons crucial to its security. It also maintains a naval blockade. Egypt blockades Gaza’s southern border.

SCHAPELLE CORBY COULD GO BACK TO JAIL BALI – Indonesian authorities considering sending Schapelle Corby back to jail are now closely monitoring her behaviour, after she apparently took a knife to her wrist during an interview. Bali’s parole boss Sunar Agus says Corby twice grabbed a knife and tried to harm herself, a claim the Corby family denies. Five oicers had visited the high-proile parolee to discuss the Seven Network’s program about her release from Kerobokan prison last month. Agus says an “unstable” Corby reacted badly when he raised the prospect of the interview resulting in a breach of her parole, but she was stopped from harming herself by her sister Mercedes and his colleagues. He says the decision about the TV program could still go either way, but speculation that Corby will be re-arrested is mounting.

AUSSIE NAVY FINDS FISHERMEN ADRIFT PAKISTAN – The Australian Navy ship HMAS Darwin has rescued 13 ishermen found clinging to wreckage of the coast of Pakistan. The Navy says the men – who claimed to be Iranian – said they had been drifting for ive days after their boat was hit by another vessel. Navy personnel gave the men food, water and minor medical care before they were transferred to the Pakistan Maritime Authority and returned to shore. HMAS Darwin is in the area as part of a US-led international maritime force, known as the Combined Maritime Forces , conducting anti-terrorism operations. The Darwin was only 10 days into her operational deployment when the men were discovered on March 1, the Navy says. The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Ship MSS Nusrat was also involved in the rescue.

qantas lay-offs start in the middle AUSTRALIA – The Australian airline Qantas has started sacking middle-management staf in the irst round of cuts in its plan to axe 5000 workers. The job losses were revealed as unions met Qantas management over the cuts, announced as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting exercise after it posted a $252 million half-year loss. Qantas spokeswoman Sharna Rhys-Jones said “a couple of dozen” management staf had been informed they would lose their jobs at the airline’s head oice in Sydney. “People have been notiied today they no longer have a role with the company,” Ms Rhys-Jones said. She also conirmed union claims that the airline was moving many employees from full-time to part-time work.

would prefer to start a dialogue. Moscow remains in de facto control of Ukraine’s southern autonomous region. The tense stand-off continued overnight in Crimea, but there were no reports of any violence. earlier this week tensions escalated further over russia’s warnings that it could also move into eastern Ukraine to protect russians there. The move has triggered wide condemnation across the globe. Kerry and lavrov are expected to meet on the sidelines of a long-planned conference on lebanon in Paris. But the gathering is now being seen above all as a chance to test waters for a dialogue about Ukraine. Moscow has strongly condemned the recent change of government in Ukraine which ousted President Viktor yanukovych, a russian ally. speaking during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Tuesday, Kerry said there was no indication at all that russian citizens or russian-speakers were in any danger in post-uprising Ukraine. “it is clear that russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further,” he said. Us President Barack Obama accused russia of “seeking through force to exert inluence on a neighbouring country”. Putin denied the heavily armed troops in Crimea were russian. he said they were “local selfdefence forces” loyal to Moscow, protecting the bases from “nationalists” and “anti-semites”. Putin said he reserved the right to act to protect russian citizens and speakers anywhere in Ukraine. however, his decision to end military exercises near Ukraine’s border were seen as encouraging by some analysts. - BBC

russian forces have seized partial control of two ukrainian missile bases in Crimea as Western and Russian leaders stepped up eforts to defuse the region’s worst crisis since the Cold War. AFP

Singapore in need of rain singAPOre – February was singapore’s driest month since 1869, according to singapore’s national environment Agency. During the month, there were only seven days of short showers, with some areas receiving as little as 0.2mm of rain. Drought has hit the wider region in recent weeks, threatening to raise food prices and slow economic activity. Officials in Kuala lumpur,

Malaysia’s capital, started rationing water in February and forest ires have broken out in indonesia’s riau province. While singapore relies on Malaysia for about 60 per cent of its water imports, experts say that the country’s recent efforts in desalination and recycled water technology have made it much less reliant on neighbouring countries. singapore’s Minister for the

environment and Water resources Vivian Balakrishnan has said that those new technologies can provide around 55 per cent of the country’s demand for water regardless of rainfall. nonetheless, singapore’s public water agency has started a campaign to urge residents to conserve water, as the dry weather is expected to persist into March. - BBC

Venezuelans on the march

CA r ACAs – Thousands of protesters in Venezuela have marched through the streets of Caracas shouting slogans against the socialist government of nicolas Maduro. They also demanded the release of dozens of activists detained since demonstrations began a month ago. Tension is high ahead of planned events to mark the irst anniversary of President hugo Chavez’s death later on Wednesday. Chavez died of cancer after 14 years in ofice.

Opposition demonstrators, wearing predominantly white, marched towards working-class districts loyal to the government. “Dictatorship,” read one the banners. “There is enough tear gas to make Venezuela cry,” read another one. As it has happened over the past few weeks, groups of activists clashed with riot police in eastern Caracas opposition strongholds. Chavez was succeeded by Maduro, who won a tightly con-

tested election against opposition leader henrique Capriles last April. Maduro promised to give continuity to Chavez’s programme of social reforms, or the “Bolivarian revolution”, as the late president called it. The government has planned a number of ceremonies to mark the date, but opposition demonstrators have vowed to return to the streets during the day. At least 18 people have been killed since the unrest began. - BBC

The dancing never stops!

ADVENTURERS PADDLE BASS STRAIT AUSTRALIA – Australians Zeb Walsh and Brad Gaul have crossed Bass Strait on paddleboards in what they believe to be a world irst. The duo, along with American Jack Bark, left Wilsons Promontory in Victoria on February 25 and arrived at Cape Portland in Tasmania’s north-east on Tuesday. The 300-kilometre journey was often hampered by Bass Strait’s notorious weather conditions. Walsh says it was an amazing experience and he is relieved, but tired. “We copped a lot of head winds, the winds weren’t as favourable as we thought they were going to be,” he said. “It was like a constant race every day just to try and beat the tides so it’s deinitely lived up to its name as a gnarly piece of water.” They have tackled rough seas paddling up to 70 kilometres a day, switching between kneeling and lying on the boards.

Today’s Daily Bread not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Matthew read: read: Philippians 2:1-47:21-29

Text: Matthew 7:26 Text: Verse 4

a reveller of the aguia de ouro samba school performs during the second night of carnival parade at the sambadrome in sao Paulo, Brazil, as carnival season in Latin american gets into full swing. AFP

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

Brazil's love-hate with the World Cup

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Brazilian youngsters play football at the beach in natal, Brazil. natal is one of the 12 cities to host the FiFa World Cup Brazil 2014. AFP riO De JAneirO – With just

98 days left until the start of the 2014 World Cup, the host nation Brazil has an image problem. For all the complexities it faces as a developing country, with 200 million people living in vastly differing circumstances, it finds itself reduced frequently to its most famous assets – football, carnivals, beaches and women. There will have been little surprise outside Brazil when sports brand Adidas launched two World Cup T-shirts that focused on the curves of the female form. One of them carried the slogan “lookin’ to score” next to a cartoon of a bikini-clad girl on a beach; the other read “i love Brazil” with a heart resembling the upside-down buttocks of a woman wearing a thong. The Brazilian authorities responded indignantly, and the company withdrew the T-shirts from sale last week. yet there are contradictions in the national image at every turn. While appearing horrified at the sexism perpetuated by Adidas – the government denounced the designs as playing to sexualised stereotypes – the same country celebrated carnival this week with the main TV network, globo, using a naked female samba dancer as its muse. The “globeleza” – based on the network’s name and beleza, meaning beauty – is elected by viewers annually, her modesty protected only by some body paint and glitter. And while the four-day bacchanal was celebrated on the streets of rio de Janeiro with the usual fervour, stereotypical images of a colourful and vibrant party overshadowed a street cleaners’ strike that left a tide of rubbish across the city. But holding the World Cup in Brazil ought to be the perfect match, the event that unites the nation and heals the cracks. This is the country that has won the World Cup ive times, that gave us the talents of Pele, Zico and ronaldo, and where football is often described in religious terms. “Brazil is the mecca of football,” Jerome Valcke, Fifa secre-

tary general, said last week after a local organising committee board meeting. Moreover, when the decision to make Brazil the host was announced in 2007, the economy was booming, with annual growth of more than five per cent. Under the then president lula da silva, the Bolsa Familia welfare programme was lifting millions out of extreme poverty and the country was thriving, grouped with russia, india and China as one of the fast-developing Bric economies. But as the World Cup edged closer, the economy stalled, growing by just 2.3 per cent last year. Preparations for the tournament have fallen so far behind schedule that Fifa has considered moving matches away from one of the 12 host cities. Two of the World Cup stadiums are unlikely to be inished until mid-May, a month before the event starts, throwing into chaos plans for test events, and transport projects have been delayed or cancelled. “From what i hear abroad, they are talking about our very same doubts, delays, demonstrations, security – all this is very natural,” said ronaldo, the former striker and Brazil’s World Cup poster boy, who is a member of the lOC board. “ There was uncertainty around the Winter Olympics and sochi and we know the event was very successful. We hope the same will happen here, it’s a lot of work. Until the end of the World Cup, i’ll keep on ighting to convince people that it is a wonderful project for all of us in Brazil.” But for all ronaldo’s optimism, the World Cup has caused divisions within a rapidly changing and growing country. last summer’s Confederations Cup, which acted as a dress rehearsal and should have been the starting gun for the countdown to the biggest footballing party in the world, was instead the backdrop to the biggest protest movement in a generation. The demonstrations that flared in cities across Brazil were sparked by a 20 centavos (six cent) rise in bus fares, which

coincided with massive investment in the World Cup, a slowdown in the economy and a rise in the cost of living. Among the demands from the protesters were free public transport, greater public spending on education and health care, and better security. And they soon became targeted at the World Cup: banners reading “Fifa go home” and “There Won’t Be a World Cup” became a familiar sight. There are concerns within Fifa that protests will start again during the World Cup, testing the security operation that will see 170,000 troops, police and security staff on the streets. Many of the upgrades to transport infrastructure and stadiums have been carried out to meet Fifa standards, a requirement that has annoyed many who believe it comes at the cost of other priorities such as health care and education. Among the grievances are the evictions required to make way for infrastructure, often affecting some of the 11 million people who live in favelas, or informal shanty-type communities. “it’s very clear that the human rights legacy was not a real concern,” says raquel rolnik, Un special rapporteur for Adequate housing and a professor at the University of sao Paulo. And the perceived legacy of the World Cup could prove decisive when Brazilians go to the polls in October. President Dilma rousseff is expected to seek a second term, with her approval rating currently at 55 per cent after dropping to 30 per cent during last summer’s protests. she has dubbed this year’s event the “Cup of Cups” in the hope of using a successful showpiece as a springboard for election success. Meanwhile in rio, “imagina na Copa” – which translates as “imagine this during the World Cup” – has become the catchphrase of taxi drivers, directed at all manner of shortcomings, including road works and trafic jams. They will take some persuading that a football tournament can change a nation’s fortunes. - The Telegraph

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalneWs nuti no Te PA enUA

Bainimarama leaves the army Regime leader becomes civilian in preparation for Fiji elections sUVA – Fiji’s regime leader and out-going military chief Frank Bainimarama has called on the nation’s soldiers to stand behind their new military commander. Commodore Bainimarama has handed over control of the country’s defence forces to land Force Commander Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga.

Ceremonies were held in suva on Wednesday to mark the oficial end of Bainimarama’s 39year military career. At a church service, Bainimarama thanked the troops he has led for 15 years and called on them to carry out their future duties with honesty. Bainimarama is stepping

paciic BRIEFS NEW ZEALAND WELCOMES HANDOVER NEW ZEALAND– New Zealand has welcomed the handover of military power by the Fijian regime, with the foreign minister calling it a step towards democracy. Murray McCully says at the end of the day Fiji has to take its own decisions but New Zealand regards the move as signiicant. “I think it’s a key milestone on the way towards the holding of free and fair elections in Fiji. Separating the military from the government processes is a key development that needs to take place in Fiji and the decision that’s been made today is therefore very, very welcome indeed.” McCully says he hopes Mosese Tikoitoga will maintain good standards as the process of separating the military and government takes place.

SENATE INQUIRY INTO MANUS VIOLENCE PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Asylum seekers at the Australian detention centre on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island will be invited to give their accounts of recent violence which left one asylum seeker dead as part of a parliamentary inquiry. Fairfax media reports that the Green Party has managed to convince the Labor Party to back the senate inquiry, which will be dominated by non-government MPs, and chaired by Greens senator Penny Wright. Under its terms of reference, the inquiry will also review the conduct of the Immigration minister, Scott Morrison, “before, during, and after the incident.” Witnesses will be covered by parliamentary privilege to speak openly, and contractors and public servants won’t be bound by conidentiality terms in employment contracts. The inquiry will take evidence in April, after a government inquiry has concluded.

FIJI FEMINIST RECEIVES COURAGE AWARD FIJI – A Fiji feminist and aspiring politician, Roshika Deo, has received an international award from America’s irst lady Michelle Obama. Deo was one of the winners of the US Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage award. The annual award recognises women who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership advocating peace, justice and human rights and women’s empowerment. Deo described earlier this year how she has been subject to rape threats after announcing her decision to stand for election in Fiji. Among those receiving the award were politicians, activists and lawyers from Tajikistan, Guatemala and Ukraine.

Co-oPeration Key to eXPort sUCCess THE PACIFIC – The head of the Paciic Islands Private Sector Organisation says business leaders need to change their thinking about competitors and work better together to increase export opportunities. Mereia Volavola says a recent meeting in Fiji funded by the European Union, highlighted the idea of forming business clusters. She says business leaders from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu met and each of the four nations is hoping to target speciic industries where the model can promote economic growth. “For example we receive quite a number of requests from overseas importers wanting to import bulk virgin coconut oil.” Volavola says it’s time for businesses to stop ignoring and shying away from competitors and start learning to co-operate.

PoWer restored to CyClone-hit islands TONGA – Power has now been restored to all properties not destroyed in the cyclone-hit islands of Ha’apai in Tonga. Almost two months ago, the category-ive storm killed one person and injured 14 others, displaced 4000 people, lattened food crops and destroyed infrastructure. The chief executive of Tonga Power, John van Brink, says 400 out of the 1000 properties on its grid have not been re-connected as the houses were completely destroyed. But he says it has done all it can in immediately restoring supply as of this week, and the next stage is to build a more storm-resilient network. Van Brink says rebuilding a more resilient Ha’apai network will cost US$3.7 million.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SHIPPED OUT AMERICAN SAMOA – Chemicals and other hazardous material from the American Samoa shipyard at Satala are to be shipped of island for disposal. A team from the US Environmental Protection Agency has inspected what is at the shipyard, and will pack it in containers and ship it of island. The director of the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, Ameko Pato, says the shipyard had asked for assistance in getting rid of paint thinners, fuel and chemicals which have been stored there for years. After the shipyard clean up the team will visit laboratories at the college, high schools and the LBJ Hospital to identify any other items that need to be disposed of.

down from his military post to focus on forming a new political party and campaigning ahead of this year’s national election, which he has promised to hold before the end of september. he led the military coup against the government of laesenia Qarase in December 2006, and was appointed as interim prime minister in 2007. Under Fiji’s new laws governing political parties, members of the republic of Fiji Military Forces are not permitted to be members of political parties, and must not engage in political activity. Brigadier Tikoitoga is considered a staunch supporter of Bainimarama, but he says the army will accept the outcome of the election even if his former commander does not win. he said there will be no need for the military to intervene to change government after planned elections in september. he says the military’s major responsibility is to protect the new constitution which provides for equal citizenry for every Fijian as of these elections. “And when that happens there should not be any segment of society that feels that they need to do something different. “And the royal Fiji Military Force will support that constitution. And under that constitution there is no thinking of going back to the coups. i think we’ve gone past that era and we’re not revisiting it.” “Definitely. We accept that verdict under the constitution.

Fiji’s prime minister Frank Bainimarama and the new military commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga during the military handover ceremony in suva. ABC We will protect the constitution to the letter,” Brigadier Tikoitoga told Paciic Beat. “you can be guaranteed there won’t be any more coups. There’s no reason that we will go back to that history.” Dr steven ratuva, a specialist in Pacific studies at Auckland University, says Brigadier Tikoitoga is seen as a good choice to succeed Bainimarama. “Brigadier Tikoitoga is kind of soft-spoken, he’s a humble kind of gentleman type,” Dr ratuva said. “he’s had very intensive military training in Australia and Malaysia and other places.” in his speech at the ceremony, Bainimarama said the handover marks the beginning of a new

era for the royal Fiji Military Force and the country. he admitted a feeling of regret on leaving a job that he dearly loves, but says he’s intensely conscious of his duty to continue the revolution that he and the military began with the 2006 coup – “to create a new Fiji, a better Fiji for ourselves and for future generations”. he described the 2013 Constitution, which requires him to relinquish his military career if he is to contest the forthcoming election, as the supreme law of the land and the blueprint for the new Fiji being built. The prime minister emphasised that the r FM F is the guardian of the nation and the protector of every Fijian and

Fiji’s constitution, which he urged all soldiers and citizens to do their utmost to uphold. Meanwhile, Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has welcomed Bainimarama’s decision to step down as Fiji’s military leader. in a statement, Bishop said the move is the latest in a series of positive developments in Fiji as the country returns to parliamentary democracy. she also congratulated Brigadier Tikoitoga on his appointment as military commander. “Colonel Tikoitoga is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force staff College and i look forward to Australia restoring full defence co-operation with Fiji.” - ABC/RNZI

Islanders still living in tents nUKU’AlOFA – The Tongan

government says up to 300 ha’apai families are still living in tents or evacuation centres following Cyclone ian almost two months ago. The category-five storm in early January killed one person and injured 14 others, displaced

half the population of 8000, lattened most of the food crops and destroyed infrastructure. The director of the national Emergency Ofice, Leveni Aho, says Cyclone Koi, which passed near ha’apai last week, further complicated the situation for those who had lost their homes.

“We had another cyclone approaching. Our advice to the people in the ha’apai group then was to put down their tent and try to move back to the evacuation centres which is much more safer than the tent. “Luckily Cyclone Koi did not generate much wind, so we es-

caped remarkably from that.” Aho says most of those people will move back from the evacuation centres to their properties this week. he says construction of transitional housing, funded by the government, will begin in the next few months. - RNZI

Nauru beset with problems from start yAr en – Documents show Australia’s asylum seeker detention centre on nauru was beset with serious problems from its opening in 2012, despite denials from nauru officials and Australia’s immigration department. The Transield Weekly Trend report, obtained by the Australian broadcaster sBs, contains a

timeline of events, risk proiles and incidents by nationality. Transield holds the contract for security and welfare at the camp. The report says between January and October 2013, there were 99 medical incidents involving self-harm, 227 cases of aggressive behaviour and 248 cases of bullying and harassment, which matches claims

made by the refugee Action Coalition. A timeline of significant events shows there was a riot involving 14 asylum seekers in september 2012 - just after the camp was re-opened - as well as mass hunger strikes and suicide attempts in the following months. in some cases hunger strik-

ers needed medical treatment in Australia. The report says the situation calmed once asylum seekers were moved out of tents and into permanent accommodation in April 2013, but this was wrecked in riots that destroyed much of the camp three months later.” - RNZI

Church offers to care for refugee children syDney – The Uniting Church

in Australia has made an offer to the Australian government to care for unaccompanied children being held in offshore immigration detention centres. The government’s border protection policy mandates that all asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors, who arrive in Australia by boat, must be sent the offshore detention centres for processing. The Uniting Church says it wants to stop children without parents being sent to facilities

on Christmas island and nauru. reverend elenie Poulos says children sent to the facilities are at risk of serious and permanent harm. “The Uniting Church has a long history in caring for asylum seekers and we have made an offer to the government to provide sanctuary for all of those child asylum seekers without parents,” she said. “We’d like to see them in our care where they can get the best care possible.” reverend Poulos says the

Church believes there are around 30 unaccompanied minors currently in detention on Christmas island. “It’s very dificult to get confirmed statistics and numbers from the government,” she said. “it is our understanding that there are around 30 children without parents in detention on Christmas island, the youngest of whom is 12.” The Australian government is yet to respond to the Church’s offer. last month the immigration

Minister scott Morrison stood by the government’s policy of placing children in offshore detention in nauru and the way he carries out his responsibilities as the legal guardian of unaccompanied minors. “i do that by ensuring that the facilities are in place in nauru and when my guardianship responsibilities are transferred to the justice minister in nauru, that’s how i do it and that’s what i’ve been doing,” he said. - ABC

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

regionalneWs nuti no Te PA enUA

Political warrior set for last stand

nUKU’AlOFA – An old political veteran is about to make this year’s parliamentary election in Tonga a final staging for perhaps the most radical challenge to the powers that be concerning power sharing and democracy. At age 72, ‘Akilisi Pohiva – founding member of the human rights and Democracy Movement and Democratic Party of the Friendly islands – is probably one of the most well known politicians and resilient reformers in the Paciic region. he is an old warrior that simply won’t give up until he gets what he believes is god’s destiny for his home country, writes Kalafi Moala, publisher and managing director of the Taimi Media network in nuku’alofa. Moala says what Pohiva believes in for Tonga is the reform of its government into a fully ledged democracy, not like the current one which he says is incomplete and will never work. he points out the fact that the current government, the irst under the 2010 reform regime, is facing all kinds of challenges, and has been unable to make things work. There is still incredible injustice in the system, he says. The minority is still ruling the majority. Power sharing, separation and balance of power, is the same as it ever was, Pohiva says. Add to that continually rising corruption, a public debt crisis, and the recent cyclone devastation of the ha’apai islands, and you’ve got an economy in trouble and a political leadership crisis looming.

What really changed in the 2010 reform? The focus of that reform was that the Monarch laid down his power to appoint the executive – the prime minister and cabinet ministers, which was something Pohiva’s pro-democracy movement campaigned for over a period of over 20 years. The constitution was amended in 2010, giving parliament the power to elect the prime minister, and the prime minister the power to then appoint his own cabinet. The Privy Council, the highest executive authority then, which consisted of the cabinet with the king presiding, was reconfigured into an advisory council of “law lords” with no political power, appointed by the Monarch to advise him. The prime minister has the chief executive power to run the government with the ministers he appoints. But the difficulty, says Pohiva, is that even though seats for people’s representatives were increased from nine to 17, the number of seats for nobles remained the same. And that’s where the problem lies. The nine nobles’ seats represent 33 nobles, and the 17 people’s seats represent 108,000 people. The maths here is not right, according to Pohiva. The power of representation is not balanced. “how can you have a democratically elected parliament when nine of the 26 seats are assigned exclusively for just 33 nobles?” in other words, if the nine

nobles, who are often united in their stand, could persuade just ive people’s representatives to join them, they will have a majority, and will be able to select whoever they want to be prime minister. Most likely it would be a noble. And those he selects to be on his cabinet, in other words, the government, would be nobles or those who sympathise with the nobility. This is of course what happened in the last election, the irst under the new reform regime. lord Tu’ivakano, a noble from Tongatapu, was elected as prime minister, and he then formed a government of 12 ministers that will end its term by the end of the year. This could not have happened without ive of the people’s representatives choosing to side with the nobles. These were either moderates or anti-democracy people’s representatives. Pohiva who was elected with an overwhelming majority from his no 1 district in Tongatapu, and who was leader of the Prodemocracy Party, should have been the prime minister if it was not for the domination of parliament by the nobles. Pohiva’s supporters could not believe that a system that was supposed to have been changed ended up with a noble and a minority representation still ruling Tonga. That opportunity to have a pro-democracy government ruling Tonga was missed, but Pohiva is now campaigning more than ever for a strong majority of pro-democracy party mem-

bers to occupy the 17 seats for the people. Pohiva is still robust in his reform thinking, and is about to stand as parliamentarian candidate for the ninth time over the past 27 years, having never lost an election. in fact he has won every election with overwhelming majority, including the most recent in 2010 in a partially reformed structure. he is Tonga’s longest serving parliamentarian – for 28 years by the end of the current parliament’s sitting in november. if the history of Tongan elections would repeat itself, there is the strong likelihood, he would be Tonga’s next prime minister, and his government would be the first fully pro-democracy government for the island kingdom. The hot conversation going on in nuku’alofa today is that the nine noble seats must be abolished. Why have nine seats for 33 nobles? Why can’t all the members of parliament be people’s representatives elected by the people? if a noble wants to enter parliament he will need to run as a people’s representative. This change may not happen before november’s election but it promises to be the key issue for political reform in the next several years, deinitely before the 2018 election. And this is why Pohiva and his party must win the majority seats for parliament in november. Only then would there be hope of further reform to make

Political warrior ‘akilisi Pohiva is preparing to stage his last battle for a true democracy in Tonga. TAIMI MEDIA NETWORK Tonga become truly democratic. The same reason for the abolition of nobles’ seats in parliament would apply to the proposal for special seats assigned to women. if a woman wants to run, she will need to be a candidate as a people’s representative. some of the women who have entered parliament in previous years won elections, not as women but as people’s representatives. As it is with the nobles, there should not be special seats set apart for women, or for any other special group. everyone runs as a representative of the people, elected by the people. This is the stand made by Pohiva and his

pro-democracy party. it is interesting that the nobles are in support of women getting their own assigned seats in parliament. Pohiva believes this move, which is most unlikely to be accepted, is simply an attempt to justify the nobles retaining their own assigned seats. Pohiva was named man of the year by islands Business Magazine in 1990, and was awarded in 2013 the international Defender of Democracy Award, presented to him in Columbia. This article was republished on Paciic Media Centre Online and Paciic Scoop. - Paciic Scoop/Taimi

Party defections labelled as a ‘joke’ APiA – There was no press conference as such. samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa sailele Malielegaoi took only ive minutes to tell a radio audience that things are “okay” in his ruling h r PP caucus after Tuesday night’s six-hour-long closed meeting. A source in the party says

Tu’uu Anasi’i leota told the meeting that what had been reported in the samoa Observer was a “joke”. But Tu’uu did not ask the daily newspaper, who first reported the breakaway of some hrPP MPs to form a party, for a retraction. in the five-minute radio in-

terview, Tuilaepa referred to former Cabinet Minister Tu’uu Anasi’i leota as someone “gifted with wit and humour”. “like comedian sumeo,” he said. he was dispelling Tu’uu’s much publicised dissatisfaction against the minister of inance and his media outburst that

he was forming a new political party – a situation which is now labelled as a “joke”. But Talamua sources said the closed meeting was intense and some strong words were spoken. The prime minister moved a motion to sack his former cabinet minister Tu’uu. Talamua has been informed

‘A minority in their own land’ geneVA – Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses, has told the United nations human rights Council in geneva that he fears indigenous Papuans will become a minority in their own land. in his address Carcasses called for international action and outlined the human rights chal-

lenges that have affected West Papuans in the far eastern part of indonesia since 1969. he noted roughly 10 per cent of the indigenous population have been killed by indonesian security forces since 1963. in 1961, people of Papuan ethnicity made up 96 per cent of the population of the former

Dutch new guinea but they are now roughly 50 percent, the other half being composed of non-Papuan migrants from other parts of indonesia. he says human rights issues in Papua must be brought back to the Un agenda. “i call on the human rights Council to consider adopting a

resolution to establish a country mandate on the situation on human rights in West Papua. “The mandate should include investigation on the alleged human rights violations in West Papua and to provide recommendations on a peaceful political solution in West Papua.” - RNZI

Life exists in the deepest Paciic The PACiFiC – scientists from new Zealand and scotland have had their irst glimpse of life in one of the deepest parts of the Paciic Ocean. remote cameras were sent to the bottom of the new hebrides Trench, south of Vanuatu, in the Paciic Ocean where there is no light and temperatures are freezing. Footage recorded 7200 me-

tres beneath the waves shows that life thrives. giant grey cusk eels slink through the water, mingling with large, bright red prawns scrabbling around on the sandy sea bed. It is the irst time that this underwater canyon lying 1500km north of new Zealand has been explored. Alan Jameson from Aberdeen

University in scotland says the diversity of life differs from other ocean trenches – suggesting that each underwater canyon has its own ecology. “We’ve been targeting specific trenches based on their location and based on their environmental setting. This is the eleventh trip that we’ve done and we’re starting to really hone in on what it is that’s driving

these differences.” There are more than 30 deepsea trenches around the world, and most of these narrow fissures in the sea loor lie in the Paciic Ocean. Aberdeen University collaborated with new Zealand’s national institute of Water and Atmospheric research in the exploration. - BBC

that when the motion was put forward, a very senior MP intervened and pointed out to the prime minister that the longstanding case involving the minister of inance must be dealt with irst. The MP said that was the basis of many MPs dissatisfaction – including Tu’uu’s media outburst where he was reported to have challenged the prime minister to a ist ight. it was decided the matter would be decided by a vote. Adding to the soap opera of the event, in order to take part in proceedings Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Pierre lauofo had to be excused from court where he is currently answering police charges relating to the infamous “breathalyzer incident”. he reportedly told the caucus: “i’ve just left the dock meant for criminals and murderers for a charge that government did not lose two dollars over– why hasn’t anything been done about the lost money under the minister’s charge?” According to sources, after the night’s six -hour-long meeting, Tu’uu was forgiven. The meeting also discussed

grievances within the party over the minister of inance who several MPs are unhappy with. Before the MPs expressed their views, the prime minister told caucus of Faumuina’s achievements as a minister. sources told Talamua that all MPs present in the meeting were given the chance to speak freely on the issues and the majority was against the finance minister remaining in ofice. The fate of the inance minister now lies with what parliament does with the Parliamentary Committee’s report that detailed mismanagement and corrupt practices within the samoa land Corporation when Faumuina was the minister in charge and its recommendation for legal action against those involved. The report is to be debated when Parliament resumes on March 18. That debate should give MPs their chance to question and provide further detailed information on the issues pinpointed in the report. it will also give the minister the opportunity to answer and defend himself. - Talamua

News from the Paciic region “We’ve got the Paciic covered’

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

leTTers reta

The intake bed and chamber.

Flush out – did some of this mud make its way into people’s homes?

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14030503

Water for life a problem for the people of Ivirua Dear editor, Tangi Ke i Te Aroa Maanaana O iehova. Water for life! The phrase is embedded in our minds as it is frequently used to advertise water products or projects concerning water, or conferences and workshops run to promote sustainable water management systems. The phrase says it all – water is so vital for all life (animal/ lora/fauna). On Mangaia Island however, this does not appear to be the views of the local governing authority. Water is vital only for some and not for all. it has been raining frequently since the festive season and in the past two weeks especially, Mangaia has received heavy rainfall almost daily. it’s raining as i write this, while one should be overjoyed, it actually saddens me watching this natural but precious resource fall to the ground, knowing that for ivirua and Tamarua residents, this water will not make it to the homes through the mains network. ivirua and Tamarua village residents make up an estimated 40% of the total population of Mangaia, and since April 2013, the majority of

homes have not had water running through the lines. in september 2013, homes experienced total exhaustion of rainwater in the household water tanks. The water authority on Mangaia made an effort before the festive season to clean out the Karanga intake (which feeds the network for ivirua village). The aggregate in the filtration bed was removed and the area surrounding, cleaned and cleared. The quarry crusher plant has been dormant for some time and so no new aggregate product was available during the works, to reconstruct the iltration bed. With all this glorious rain, the bed is illed to the brim with chocolate water, feeding into the water chamber, without a simple mesh ilter. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to calculate the kind of mixture that will pour into the lines from this situation. Few homes in Karanga (closest to the intake feed), get a trickle now and then, while the majority of the village get zilch. The Karanga community were smart enough to install water tanks and a pump to their community hall to capture the trickle and offer a

UV filtered source open for the people to ill up bottles and containers. The few with pick-up trucks get to maximise on this resource, while the remaining residents make do with carting bottles and containers on their motorbikes. The elderly or weak, will not beneit at all. During the extreme shortage, the Council endorsed for the local authorities to cart water from the spring source (Vai roronga) in Oneroa, to the homes of ivirua and Tamarua at no cost to the receiver. After just a few months of this temporary arrangement, the managers of the Mlg Divisions passed an “executive” decision to impose a $40 fee per trip (regardless of the size of container or tank) to deliver water to both Tamarua and ivirua. it seems as though the management of Mlg have little understanding of the new Act which gives higher authority to the Council combining the former Administration and Council into the Mangaia local government. it seems to be “okay” for this body to execute a $40 fee to the ivirua residents, despite the fact that they destroyed the Karanga

intake which now does not send water throughout the lines of ivirua. On the other hand, it is also okay for the same body to endorse electricity costs to pump water from the spring in Tavaenga to all the homes in Oneroa, at a cost to the taxpayer of an estimated $2000 per month (nb: this was declared by the Manager for Public Utilities at the ivirua Community “Pu Kuru” meeting in January this year). initially, the ivirua residents were told to explore alternative water sources and the local authorities would look at options in getting this water to the people. A village community working bee was carried out to clear trees and brush so the government machinery could access a water spring (Vai Tiria) at the end of the village. Machines came to clear the accessway further and Council, with the ivirua support, endorsed that water would be pumped from the spring and delivered to both ivirua and Tamarua residents to reduce costs for cartage. This never eventuated. now the local water authorities have submitted a preliminary proposal to the sriC Climate

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Change funding scheme, bypassing Council, to introduce a centralised water system, that most probably originated from the hills to the spring by the sea, to be pumped up the hills to the centre of the island into proposed new water tanks, and released back into the three villages. Already residents from Tamarua and ivirua are against the suggestion because of fear of what the future issues may arise from saline water running through the lines. Concerns raised by some are: if there is a time when the spring cannot supply water, the whole island will be affected at one time – will the local authorities be able to deal with such a dilemma? if the supply is limited – who will be the first affected, most likely ivirua and Tamarua lines will be turned off because more people live in Oneroa? What will salty water do to the homes with solar water units, washing machines and metal pipes or ittings? if ivirua have found an alternative source, why has this option been ignored? surely there are other water sources in ivirua and Tamarua, why then do these two villages need to be a part of the extended centralised water system proposal – is it because the other 40% of the population are required to help pay for the power used to run the pumps? Already $12,000 of electricity (taxpayer resources) has been incurred to provide Oneroa residents with the luxury of 24 hour water supply. Meanwhile, scanty assistance is offered to the remaining 40% of the Mangaia population. Alas, a concerned Tamarua resident sent their plea to the rarotonga authorities and so 14 water tanks have landed on the island for installation to the most severely affected homes, whilst another 20 tanks have been rumoured to be on its way due to spats amongst the community

over who is entitled to the initial 14. The Veitatei intakes which formerly serviced the Tamarua lines, have been prohibited for further project upgrade, by the District leaders and so the $90,000 preapproved funding from the sriC climate change fund to help Tamarua residents, is now on hold. This behaviour, to some, may appear selfish by a small community who should be working together instead of against, in times of crisis, but in fact it is actually a clear sign of desperation – natural human behaviour when society is forced to struggle and compete over resources for survival. it’s pouring down with rain again as i conclude my personal account of my own family’s strife in the almost year-long battle to try and get the authorities to take notice of our dilemma. i attended Plunket care for my little girl this morning and the mamas were complaining why their little welfare clinic has no water for so long. i wanted to scream at them and tell them you are complaining to the wrong forum, no one in this room can do anything about it, go and visit your MP, ring Cabinet Ministers in rarotonga, call the Prime Minister’s Ofice who now oversees the governance of the Pa enua. i came home with a mission: what we are going through is no new news, but no one has bothered to do anything about it for 11 whole months. The school in ivirua has to cart water for the students to use, the designated disaster evacuation building (Queen Mary hall) has no water, the welfare clinic has no water, homes have no water and it’s raining and raining gloriously. so i write this to the whole nation and maybe to those abroad, in the hope that somebody out there will come and help us ind a solution to regain “Water for life” for ivirua village. helen M henry ivirua resident and Parent

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

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

Big swell brings Boiler to life rArOTOngA’s ickle surf break The Boiler turned it on yesterday when a solid swell rolled in to town. A handful of surfers and body-boarders paddled out over high tide to catch a ride on the long, peeling left-hander outside of Trader Jacks in Avarua. The big swell battered the island’s north–west coast and sent surges high along the

shoreline. it even threw plumes of spray up over the seawall in nikao, to the delight of onlookers. Cook islands Meteorological service observer Manea Maretapu said the swell was being generated by a low pressure system to the north-west of the Cooks, between Aitutaki and samoa. he said the northern Cook islands had been copping the - BCS big waves as well.

Strong interest in dog ranger role POliCe are short listing their applicants for a new full-time dog ranger position in rarotonga. A spokesperson for the Cook islands Police service said there had been a good response to the

recent job advertisement. “i can only say there are quite a few applicants. We are short listing at the moment, which will probably take a week or two and then we can appoint someone.” rarotonga’s last dog warden retired two years ago but the Police service has been under increasing pressure to fill the role. halatoa Fua, head of Cook islands Tourism Corporation, recently said rarotonga’s tourism reputation is being dam-

aged by reports of visitors being attacked by dogs. he said stories about rarotonga’s perceived dog problem have been appearing in mainstream media overseas. stray packs of dogs have become more of a problem since the last dog controller retired, he said. The police spokesperson said there will be “a lot of changes” to the dog ranger’s role, compared to how it used to be. “it’s going to be different in a lot of ways. Basically, the suc-

cessful applicant will be monitoring and controlling excessive numbers of dogs in homes and stray dogs.” she could not say whether the new dog ranger will be tasked with shooting dogs. “That’s not for me to say. That’s still in the process of some negotiations with the Commissioner.” The new recruit will receive full training for the role and will be working out of Police national headquarters in Ava- BCS rua.

Electronic charts completed

yesterday’s high surges threw spray up over the seawall in nikao. 14030520

neW ZeAlAnD’s land information Minister Maurice Williamson and Pacific island Affairs Minister Peseta sam lotuiiga have welcomed the completion of electronic navigational charts for the south-west Paciic. The development of these charts by land information new Zealand for niue Tonga, samoa, Cook islands and Tokelau is part of an initiative funded by the new Zealand Aid Programme to improve maritime safety in

the region. “Maritime safety has long been a concern in the southwest Paciic, with many charts no longer meeting the needs of shipping in the area. The problem has worsened recently through the increase in large cruise vessels navigating in the poorly charted region,” Mr Williamson says. The international Maritime Organisation under the Convention on the safety of life At

sea set 2012-18 as the deadline for certain vessels, particularly passenger vessels, tankers and other large ships, to transfer from paper based navigation to the sole use of electronic charts. Peseta sam lotu-iiga says until now these areas have relied on paper charts only, and new Zealand’s aid commitment to support tourism made it imperative they be converted to electronic form. - Voxy

Water surges up outside Trader Jacks at avarua harbour. 14030522

a surfer drives into a nice cutback at The Boiler yesterday. 14030538

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

Simple precautions help stop mozzies breeding

a bromeliad plant with a small water reservoir that can easily become a breeding group for mosquitos and one drop of cooking oil can help stop the mosquito breeding cycle. 14030521

A lOCAl reader suspecting his wife has been struck with dengue fever began a search online that resulted in inding simple ways of preventing his garden becoming a mosquito breeding ground. The Ministry of health are pushing the message of cleaning up yards of tyres, coconut shells, tins and emptying pot plant base water collectors to prevent mosquitos breeding. But what about the plants themselves? A quick look through his garden and our reader found his bromeliads turned into a mosquito nursery. he found an article on the online Tampa Bay Times that offers

some helpful hints he thought would be great to share with the community. “Bromeliads get a bad rap, and they don’t deserve it. These exotic tropicals seem to be on every mosquito-fearing homeowner’s blacklist, forever banished from the garden for fear their capacity to hold water provides safe harbour for the blood-sucking pests. not all bromeliads have little reservoirs at their centre. But many exotic bromeliads that produce spectacular blooms have those “cups” or “tanks”, and they like a little puddle of water in them now and then. it’s even better when organic debris settles in, providing nature’s best plant food. But it creates a po-

tential problem: stagnant water is the perfect environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. “Bromeliads are very environmentally friendly. Mosquitoes can be a problem, but it’s a problem that can be solved,” says horticulture agent Pam Brown of the Pinellas County extension/Florida Botanical gardens in largo, which has an extensive bromeliad garden with several thousand individual bromeliads. Mosquitoes aren’t a problem at the botanical gardens because horticulturists there regularly apply a safe bacterial toxin that kills mosquito larvae, says Bob Albanese, a Pinellas County horticulturist. Called bacillus thuringiensis israaelenses (BTi), the

product is available in granular and doughnut-shaped pieces at nurseries and online suppliers. An inexpensive alternative to BTi can be found in the kitchen cabinet. Just one drop of cooking oil placed in the bromeliad’s cup will smother mosquito larvae. Use a medicine dropper to apply oil about every 20 days, Brown recommends. Another approach is to simply lush the water regularly with a garden hose, to interrupt the mosquito’s life cycle so it can't reproduce.” so as well as clearing your yard of objects that may hold water and become a breeding ground for mosquitos, check your plants for little reservoirs of water. - Matariki Wilson

CCECC septic system meets oficial criteria A lOCAl resident is concerned

over the close proximity of a wastewater treatment system in Avarua to Vaikapuangi stream. An Avarua resident had described the new system being built for temporary workers from the Chinese Civil engineering and Construction Company (CCeCC) as “illegal” due to its location. The system – which includes primary and secondary treatment - will be used by roughly 40 workers from the company, who will be undertaking work in the Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project. it is located along with accommodation facilities currently under construction at the former Kia Orana Foods site in Avarua. The resident said she was speciically concerned with the septic system’s environmental impact on the stream, and questioned whether due process was taken by all relevant government agencies in approving its location. Acting Director Tekao her-

rmann from the water and sanitation (WATsAn) unit of the Ministry of infrastructure Cook islands (iCi) said the system went through the approval processes of the national environment service and Ministry of health, before receiving a building permit from iCi. “As far as i’m concerned, it meets all regulations,” he said. “My understanding is it’s issued against all checks.” Prior to approval, herrmann said three site meetings were held to ind a suitable location, which proved to be a challenging process due to some restrictions on the property. “There are certain setbacks that are required prior to the system being endorsed in terms of location,” he said. Additionally, authorities met with an unidentiied property owner who had a number of concerns with the septic system’s location. hermann said the CCeCC is required under regulations to have a maintenance contract with a registered company – in

this case, rarotonga Plumbing & Drainage Contractors limited - to ensure everything is maintained and in working order. “it’s an annual contract, and each year it should be renewed,” he said. The mouth of Vaikapuangi stream – located in front of Trader Jack’s Bar and restaurant - is a popular swimming spot, and a number of children and adults can be seen there throughout the day and during evenings. - Emmanuel Samoglou

a local resident is concerned with the placement of a wastewater treatment system located at the accommodation facilities – currently under construction - for Chinese workers employed by the CCECC. She believes it could have an adverse efect on a stream which runs adjacent to the property. 14030509

Pink day in Araura ArAUrA COllege celebrated the investiture of its student representatives and student prefects last Friday in the school’s Prince edward hall. guests included Aitutaki Member of Parliament and Minister of education Teina Bishop,

Aitutaki mayor John Baxter, deputy mayor Tekura Bishop as well as various Orometua, Ariki, PTA members, staff, students and proud parents. College Principal Tracy spiers welcomed the guests and addressed all the students of the

college not only outlining what it takes to be a leader and what responsibilities the leaders will have but also inspiring them to become future leaders. Pastor Charlie Charlie spoke about leadership and the importance of “we” not “i” when being

araura College student representatives and prefects were showered with colourful ei after their special investiture ceremony last Friday.

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a leader. he also blessed the badges and all of the student leaders. The Minister of education and the Mayor and his deputy pinned the badges of the student representatives and prefects. A total of 15 student representatives and 10 prefects have been entrusted with responsibilities to carry out their obligation as the new student leaders of Araura College. The Minister of education used this opportunity to speak about the importance of working together as a team - the students, the staff and the parents all taking a part in education. Teremoana Benioni was named head girl for 2014 with the deputy head girl being Fasolo Tekatau. The head Boy for 2014 is John Charlie with the deputy head boy being Christopher Titi. The female prefects are Tekura imoko, Maria Marsters, Mareta Potini supported by male prefects Apera Vaasa, Apike Marsters and hosea Teiti. The event concluded with speeches by the head boy and girl who both spoke about working together as a team and making this year the best yet for Araura College. Then the student representatives and prefects made a pledge of allegiance to the college to fulil all their duties for 2014. - Araura College News

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

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Zumba Kent hall 5.30pm Body shaping FUN!

TO: ThE LANDOWNERS Of PAENUi SECTiON 89B, ARORANGi A meeting of the landowners in respect of the above land will be held at the Ruaau meeting house, Arorangi on Friday, 7 March 2014 at 5pm. Would all landowners please attend this meeting for the purpose of conirming whether or not consent will be provided to the sale of a Deed of Lease dated 14 August 2010 by a mortgagee to the relevant purchasers. Details may be obtained from Charles Little at Little & Matysik P.c., cook Islands Lawyers, Avarua, Rarotonga, Tel: 21619, Fax 21615 or email: charles@lawyers.co.ck

ARAARA AKAKiTE Ki TE ANAU A KAiRAKAU RAUA KO POPUARE Te pati akaaka iatu nei ki te anau a Kairakau raua ko Poupouare kia tae mai ki tetai uipaanga kopu tangata te ka rave ia a te Varaire ra itu no Mati (07/03/2014) i te apa no te ora a (4.30pm) i te aiai ki te ngutuare o Tepaeru Samuela i Maraerenga i tua ki tai i te are toa “The Convenience Store”. Ko te akakoroanga o teia uipaanga no te rotai anga a te anau a Kairakau raua ko Poupouare te ka rave ia a teia mataiti ki mua. Ko teia te au tamariki i raro: 1.Kurauru I (m) 2.Okirua (m) 3.Teretura (f) 4.Teruautu (m) 5.Moeauri (m) 6.Akepo (f) 7.Ngatipa (m) Ko tetai uatu te ka inangaro i te uiui marama, taniuniu atu ia Tai Manavaroa ki runga i te numero 53784.

Self Storage Raro U Store it!! -Secure & Private -Short or Long term -For oice, Shop or Home Storage. Phone 22188 or 26189. Email beach@moanasands. co.ck

Banana cooked and frozen, ideal for poke. $10 per kilo. Phone 51143.

77386 /36651 /1931

77406 /36680 /1931

77407 /36656 /1931

To encourage honesty and good citizenship.

RATES Minimum $5.80 incl. VAT for 1-15 words.

DEADLiNES Deadline for next day’s classiieds is

22999

preferred

Classiieds • Phone 22999 • adverts@cookislandsnews.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

77417 / /1780

PUBLiC NOTiCE Please be advised that the oices of Little & Matysik P.C. will be closed on Friday, 7 March 2014 as the irm will be shifting oices. As from 8am, Monday, 10 March 2014 Little & Matysik P.C. will be open for business from our new premises located in the two storey building behind the empire Movie Theatre. Our contact details will otherwise remain the same. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our clients. Thank you. Little & Matysik P.C. 77412

2014 WOMEn’s WOrld day Of PRAyER 6 March 2014, 6pm, Apostolic Church, Tupapa-Pue, Rarotonga

PROGRAMME ThEME - STREAMS iN ThE DESERT

SERVICES Kia Orana to all our parents, guardians and caregivers. The Nukutere College AGM 2013 will be held on Tuesday 25 March 2014, in the Nukutere school hall at 6pm. We invite you all to attend. Agenda Minutes from 2013 meeting Chairperson’s report Principal’s report Financial report Election of new PTA committee for 2014-2015 Other Matters closing Prayer. No te Atua e te Ipukarea. Chair Lady (PTA).

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

Small houses, cabins, huts, container homes, renovations, tiling. Uninished jobs. Phone 79923. 77408 /36657 /1931

777

ReADING: JOHN 4: 1 - 41 Welcome Speech: sister Carmen Temata Opening Prayer: Mother Patricia Pere Opening Song: Apostolic Church Women’s Choir Preaching of the Word of God: elder Teiaa Potoru Ofering: sister Theresa Tutai - Isaiah 41:18-20 Women 1: SDA WOMEN (10 minutes) • Song of Praise. • Pray for the women, children of Egypt and worldwide, that one day may see peace and justice gush forth like streams lowing in the desert. Women 2: LDS WOMEN (10 minutes) • Reading: John 4:7—15 • Pray for healing against illness, poverty and pollution in the land, that good health is directly correlated to the importance of having quality water in the land. Women 3: CiCC WOMEN (10 minutes) • Pray for forgiveness against barriers of racial, social and religious. • Hymn Women 4: CAThOLiC WOMEN (10 minutes) • Pray for adoration/love to grow within modern and civilize multitude - global. • Sunday School Presentation Women 5: AOG WOMEN (10 minutes) • Song of honor to celebrate God’s fulillment of the “Living water ofered by Jesus and through Jesus” • Pray for thanksgiving for the churches are striving for unity in Christ. Women 6: APOSTOLiC WOMEN (10 minutes) • Intercessory Prayer - Sister Mary Maafu • Words of Blessings for “Women in Christian Church” - sister Miimetua Tupa WWDP President (Cook islands) – henrica Wilson 1. Announcement of Hosts for 2015 2.Closing remarks Closing Song: Apostolic Church Women’s Choir Closing Prayer: Mother Patricia Pere. 77382

PUBLIC NOTICES

73696 / /1744

FOR RENT 3 bedroom house, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, water tank & solar hot water Inland Matavera, Ph 51153. 77381 /36655 /1931

1 bedroom cottage, Arorangi. Phone 21118 home, 25433 work or 73764. 77413 / /2230

3 bedroom furnished, Ariki Road Atupa, $245 per week plus bond, Long term, Careful tenants required. Phone after midday 22411. 77387 /36650 /1931

3 bedroom house for rent, Ngatangiia, Avana. Phone 23333/55071. Rooms from $70 week, Including power, hotwater. Suitable female, sober habits. Arorangi Ph 20201, 9-5pm. 77352 / /1917

2 bedrooms fully furnished lat, Ruatonga. Phone 23756. 77379 /36643 /1931

FOR SALE 24 foot modern style traditional ishing canoe for sale. Only two years old. Mint condition, 30hp yamaha outboard has done low hours. A very economical, reliable and seaworthy boat. Has center console steering and comes with VHS radio, two speaker sony stereo, lockable storage, navigation lights, compass, 8 rod holders, and new anchor chain/rope. Phone Contact 54355 or 73407. 77390 /36682 /1931

77410 / /2643

Coconuts, $40 per 100. Phone 51143. 77411 / /2643

SITUATIONS VACANT ChiEf EXECUTiVE OffiCER NCI is responsible for provision of netball services in the Cook Islands. We require a well organised, self-motivated and efective communicator for the above position. Responsibilities include - Maintaining and enhancing further development strategies and policies for all levels of Netball, - Working with our Netball centres and stakeholders to promote our sport and the ‘National Netball’ brand - Creating opportunities for inancial growth through sponsorship, funding agencies and fundraising. - Event Management of the Paciic Netball Series (PNS) from 2-7 June. This position requires one who is willing to operate on the frontline when required. Experience in the sports industry is an added advantage. Experience managing inances and people is expected. Salary Range: to be negotiated Please email admin@netball. co.ck CEO application form or any further enquiries. The completed form should be returned with any supporting documentation. Applications close: 25 March 2014. 77422 / /2113

Cleaning of ANZ Premises Submission of interest to be in writing attn to: ANZ Bank Chief Operations Oicer, Rarotonga; by COB Friday 7 February 2014. 77425 / /1631

2x male pigs, 8 month old, $150 each. Phone 22459. 77418 /36684 /1931

Groundsman part time. Phone 51143. 77409 / /2643

SITUATIONS VACANT

TAX ADViSORy OffiCER

Te MARAe ORA, MINIsTRY OF HeALTH COOK IsLANDs

EXPRESSiON Of iNTEREST fOR ThE PROCUREMENT Of SERViCES fOR ThE PURPOSE Of ThE EVALUATiON Of ThE hEALTh SPECiALiST ViSiT (hSV) PROGRAMME The Ministry of Health (MoH) invites expression of Interest (EOI) from qualiied and experienced parties for the purpose of the evaluation of the Health specialist Visits (HsV) Programme. HsV is a tripartite arrangement between the MoH, the Cook Islands Ministry of Finance and economic Management (MFeM) and the Aid Programme of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Afairs and Trade (MFAT). The EOI documents will be available from the oice at the Ministry of Health, Avarua Rarotonga or downloaded from the Ministry of Health website http://www.health. gov.ck/ Complete eOI proposals must be delivered to the address below before 12pm, Cook Islands time on 13 March 2014 in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “hSV EVALUATiON” to the following address: Ministry of Health PO Box 109 Rarotonga Cook Islands All enquiries to: Temarama Anguna email: m.anguna@health.gov.ck Phone: +682 29664. 77239

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 77252

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

SITUATIONS VACANT

Public take advantage of free health checks PrOMOTing awareness and

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 MondayFriday (approx 20 hours per week). Please email your application and CV to pash@oyster.net.ck Please call Michelle on phone 21546 or 57104.

preventing non-communicable diseases was the focus of an event held by the Ministry of health yesterday. As part of nCD awareness week, residents and a handful of tourists were seen taking advantage of a number of health checks offered free of charge by ministry staff, including health

and weight, blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol analysis. each participant was given a card to record their results, and after administration of the tests, doctors were on hand to analyse the results. Depending on the scorecard, doctors would advise individuals on a clean bill of health or refer to a number of follow up

more aware of nCDs and do something about it,” said Jacob. “A lot know about them, but they don’t do anything about it. We’re trying to encourage them.” in addition to the health checks, participants were treated to a healthy snack of sandwiches and fruit, and offered a chance to participate in a Zumba class. speeches were also given by sev-

services, such as the ministry’s smoking cessation, dietician, or nCD clinics. Dr Mareta Jacob, a medical officer in charge of outpatient and emergency at rarotonga hospital, said yesterday’s event was all about raising awareness amongst the public about the seriousness of nCDs. “We hope people will become

eral oficials, including Finance Minister Mark Brown and secretary of health liz iro. Also part of nCD week, the Ministry unveiled the irst of a series of billboards which will be placed at various locations around the island, and promoting the slogan, “Te Marae Ora – live smart, be active, eat wisely”. - Emmanuel Samoglou

77258 / /1873

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

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

cafe staf wanted. Ph 28465. 77322 /36616 /1982

Mechanic A position of automotive mechanic has become available in our busy workshop. The successful applicant will be punctual, reliable, experienced, and have a broad understanding of mechanical repair. If you want to join our team contact Ken Page, Rarocars phone 22060. 77371 / /1902

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

Ci news printer Lai Gukisuva gets his weight and height checked by aunty Tini Tini, a nurse from Mauke who is in rarotonga for some additional work-related training. 14030510

nurses Tua College and aunty Tini Tini from Mauke (L-r), taking a break at yesterday’s nCd awareness event. 14030513

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MAR 6

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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

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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.

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11am to 2.30pm

6.30PM

8.30PM

sAT8 6.30PM

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

R16

8.30PM

sUN9 6.30PM

8.30PM

Ph 189 FOR UPDATEs ON ThE MOViE hOT liNE

BiGsCREEN,DOlBysOUND,UNBEATABlEBlOCKBUsTERMOViEs every Monday & Thursday - call Advertising on 22999

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

Panthers stripped, Sea Eagles soar, Eels top DeFenDing premier men’s rugby league champions the Tupapa Panthers have a mountain to climb after the club was stripped of all its points earned this season for playing

over the quota of “import” players. The club has argued that the player in question was a former resident of the island, however, according to a league

CiRl 2014 POiNTs TABlE PREMIERS EEls BUllDOGs BEARs sEA EAGlEs WARRiORs PANThERs shARKs RESERVES sEA EAGlEs BEARs BUllDOGs EEls PANThERs WARRiORs UNDER 19'S PANThERs BEARs EEls WARRiORs UNDER 16'S BEARs EEls PANThERs BUllDOGs UNDER 14'S EEls BEARs BUllDOGs

P 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 P 5 5 5 5 5 4 P 5 5 5 4 P 3 3 3 5 P 5 5 4

W 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 W 5 3 2 2 2 0 W 5 4 4 1 W 3 3 2 1 W 5 4 2

L 0 2 2 2 3 4 4 L 0 2 3 3 3 4 L 0 1 1 3 L 0 0 1 4 L 0 1 2

D 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0 0 D 0 0 0

F 110 135 73 88 66 110 60 F 140 35 50 100 72 54 F 84 88 56 22 F 34 22 18 68 F 98 50 30

A 59 118 60 54 98 62 113 A 38 42 55 112 98 106 A 46 56 76 26 A 0 18 22 128 A 22 82 22

DIF 51 17 -13 34 -32 48 -53 DIF 90 -7 -5 -12 -26 -52 DIF 38 32 -20 -4 DIF 0 4 0 -60 DIF 76 -32 12

TOT 10 6 4 3 1 0 0 TOT 10 6 4 4 4 0 TOT 10 8 8 2 TOT 6 6 4 2 TOT 10 8 4

official – the player, who is not of Cook islands heritage, has been living off the island for the past 12 months. The league association has seen the inclusion of this player as a breach of the rules and in a déjà vu situation have removed all the clubs premier men’s points – much like what happened to the Titikaveka Bulldogs last season. The Panthers now sit at the bottom of the points table on zero with the Aitutaki sharks. leading the points table is the Avatiu eels premier men’s team with 10 points in hand while the Bulldogs are on second with six points. The Bears are third with four points and the sea eagles are fourth with three points. The winless Warriors are in fifth position over the Panthers and sharks. in the highly contested reserve grade – the sea eagles are soaring at the top of the points table with ten points while the Bears are hot on their tail in second with six points followed by the Bulldogs and eels sharing third place with four points each. The Panthers also have four points while the Warriors are still looking for a win to earn points. This weekend the Warriors premier men’s grade travel to Aitutaki to clash with the sharks at Arutanga field while the ngatangiia sea eagles take on the Bulldogs and the Aror-

angi Bears meet the Panthers. While the eels premier men’s grade take a break this

weekend the remaining grades in the age grade division and reserve division have games

scheduled against various clubs. - Matariki Wilson

The unlucky Panthers have been stripped of their hard earned points and are back to square one on the points table currently topped by the avatiu eels. 14020427

Kaura Vai to Sharks land ngATAngiiA will host this week’s league masters game after a great run last week. The Panthers’ masters of league took on “the rest” in a rugby league game at the Victoria ield last Friday evening. For the Panthers, henry Tupa, Willie hagai and Charlie hosking were the standout at-

tackers in the forward pack. equally impressive for “The rest” were nooroa samuel, Tim Murray and winger iaveta nicholas, who were able to nullify the attacks of speedsters Casper Mateariki and Tiri Toa. Tim Murray’s overall support game, earned him the “Man of the Match” award.

This Friday, the masters will play at ngatangiia kicking off at 5pm. The Takuvaine Koura Vai, on the other hand, will fly across the ditch to play the Araura Masters in a curtain raiser for the premier sharks and Warriors match. - Slow and Steady

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Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

fLiGhT fROM ARRiVES ThuRSdAy mArCH 6 NZ748/749 AKL 12.30AM NZ46/745 AKL 4.10PM VT35/36 PPT 2.50PM FRIdAy mArCH 7 VA163/162 AKL 11.55PM NZ46/61 AKL 1.55PM

DEPARTS

AKL AKL PPT

1.30AM 5.25PM 3.50PM

AKL SyD

Air Rarotonga

International Flights

flight Times | Voyage details

1.05AM 3.05PM

RARO TO ARR ThuRSdAy mArCH 6 0800 AITUTAKI 0850

DEP

ARR

0910

RARO

1000

1030

AITUTAKI

1120

1140

RARO

1230

1530 1800 1100

AITUTAKI AITUTAKI ATIU

1620 1850 1145

1640 1910 1205

RARO RARO RARO

1730 2000 1250

DEP

OLOMANA 24 - ETD AUCK 08/03, ETA RARO 20/03, ETA AITUTAKI 22/03

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

GOT A STORy? text us on

Su-Do-Ku EASy

Crossword

instructions

Place the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.

AnswertoWednesday’spuzzle

hÄGAR the horrible

AnswertoWednesday’spuzzle

By Dik Browne

ThE PhANTOM

By lee Falk & sy Barry

[

hERE

see your business/products in this space. PhONE 22999

Situation: A weak trough of low pressure lies slow moving over southern Cooks. A trough of low pressure with associated cloud and showers lies slow moving over Northern Cooks. forecast to midnight for the Southern Cooks: Cloudy periods with some showers. Moderate north to northwest winds. Moderate seas. for Rarotonga: Cloudy periods with brief showers. further outlook: Fine apart from brief showers. for the Northern Cooks: some showers and few thunderstorms over most places. showers becoming frequent later today. Moderate northeast winds. Moderate to rough seas. winds. Moderate to rough seas. further outlook: Occasional showers and few thunderstorms.

Tides

Rarotonga Thursday, March 6, 2014

Forecast Map 2pm Thursday

Thu high 1.10AM 0.98M 1.30PM 1.02M

Low

FRI

high 1.51AM 0.92M 2.12PM 0.97M

7.18AM

0.30M

7.47PM

1.1m Se

0.28M

1.6m NW

Low 8.00AM 0.34M 8.30PM 0.33M

26°

Sun, Moon & Arapo

NE 04kts 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 - AmiAmA thu 6 Tanu (Planting) Tanu i te meika. Plant bananas.

1.1m Se

TauTai (Fishing) Marie te marama. kua teitei Po ika. Moon is slow, up high. Fish nights.

humidity FRI

[

iNsERT ADVERT

Weather forecast to Midnight Issued at 2pm at Rarotonga

TIARE MOANA 21 - ETD AUCK 2/03, ETA RARO 09/03, ETA AITUTAKI 11/03

or call us at Cook islands news

Su-Do-Ku hARD

Thu

ARR

Front Key:

Cold

Warm

Occluded

1.1m Se

Swell direction and size

Stationary

Outer Islands Weather Outlook Thursday, March 6, 2014

Morning

75%

night

81%

Morning

74%

night

77%

Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

Thu sun rise 6.38AM sun set 7.02PM

FRI

Moon rise 11.52AM Moon set 11.18PM sun rise 6.39AM sun set

7.01PM

Moon rise 12.45PM Moon set

Aitutaki

28° NE 04kts

Mangaia

28° NE 05kts

Mitiaro

27° sE 05kts

Atiu

Penrhyn

27° sE 05kts

28° NW 07kts

Mauke

27° sE 05kts

Thursday, March 6, 2014 cook Islands News

Rugby league points table

tarekareka

sPOrT

—PAGE 12

Medal prospect Luisa set for inal training CO M M O n W eA lT h games

weightlifting medal prospects are set to train together for the irst time ahead of the games in July. Among the top lifters selected to train is the Cook islands sole female lifter luisa Peters. The training camp will be held at the Oceania Weightlifting institute in new Caledonia where Peters has in previous years lived and trained. This year Peters has continued her training in Auckland as the young woman looks ahead to setting up a career beyond weightlifting. however the talented athlete has continued to work hard as she eyes a top placing and medal at the glasgow games. Peters is expected to return to new Caledonia for the training camp this week and will remain training under the watchful eye of legendary weightlifting coach

Paul Coffer before she travels to rome for final preparations at the institute of sport there before travelling on to glasgow for the games on July 19. she is expected to return to full-time training at the noumea institute at the end of the year to prepare for the 2015 Paciic Games in Papua New Guinea and the rio Olympics in 2016. Peters lifts and competes in the women’s 75 kg plus division where her personal best combined lift is 214 kg which she set at the Paciic Champs in noumea in December last year. her next competition is in May in noumea where she will compete in the Oceania Chamnps. The competition will be a good indication for Peters and her team to gauge her preparedness for the glasgow games. The training camp in noumea has been made possible

with the support of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, Continental Development Program of the OWF as well as the Oceania national Olympic Committee. Peters last competed for Team Cook islands at the Wallis and Futuna Mini games in 2013 where she won three silver medals. At the games she lifted a combined weight of 198 kg from a snatching 88 kg and a clean and jerk of 88 kg. she has already bettered that 198 kg total lift after setting a personal best total lift of 214 kg in December. At the Wallis and Futuna games – legendary lifting coach said that if Peters continued to train hard she could add another 100kg to her lift and be a serious medal contender at the Commonwealth games. - Matariki Wilson

Cooks female weightlifter Luisa Peters in action at last year’s Wallis and Futuna Mini Games where she won three silver medals. 14030506

Tutaki-George improves at canoe sprint champs A BUsy racing schedule against some of Oceania’s best canoe sprinters has seen local K1 paddler Andre Tutaka-george improved his times and held his own. now based on the sunshine Coast in Australia, Tutakageorge competed for the Cook islands at the 2014 Canoe sprint Oceania Championships. The regatta has concluded following three days of intense racing at the sydney international regatta Centre. each division was run in four heats of nine lanes with paddlers from Australia, new Zealand, Japan, Tahiti and the Cook islands. The races started on Friday, February 28. Tutaka-george began racing in the under 23 category of the regatta in race 8 of the program and in heat three for the 1000m

race, he was able to place sixth with a time of 4:08.81. Tutaka-george next lined up in race 24 in the under 23 200m heat two where he came in third with a time of 0:41.00. he was back in the water for race 36 which was back in the 1000m distance for the third semi-inal. he improved his time by two seconds with 4:05.34 but finished eighth, one place in front of his Tahitian mate hiromana Flores. race 49 saw Tutaka-george back on the 200m track for semifinal three where again he bettered his time but not his placing and inished fourth with a time of 0:40.46. His inal race for the day was race 67 which was the B-inal for the under 23 200m, after a photo-inish call Andre came away in

irst place with a time of 0:40.19. That brought the end of the local athlete’s irst day at the regatta and the 200m, as his B-inal time was just shy of the top nine and a place in the main inal.

Day two of the regatta and race 83 was heat three of the 500m under 23, were Tutaka george was only able to place seventh with a time 1:56.73. his final race of the regatta came in race

118, semi-final three where he was able to improve his time by four seconds but not his placing and inished still in seven with a time of 1:52.88. The competition has given the

young athlete a good indication of where he needs to improve his technique as he continues to grow in the K1 canoeing discipline. - Matariki Wilson

Local k1 canoe sprinter andre TutakaGeorge in a photo-inish shot taking out one of his sprint heats in canoe number four. 14030504

Local k1 canoe sprinter andre Tutaka-George. 14030505

Solid swells light up ‘The Boiler’

a bodyboarder races along the inside section at “The Boiler” yesterday where up to 20 boarders gathered to play in the long, peeling left-hander outside Trader Jacks in avarua for the better part of the day. The swell was being generated by a low pressure system to the north-west of the Cooks, between aitutaki and samoa. 14030535