Herald Issue 790 28 October 2015

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TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:24/10/15 Draw num: 3575 SUPP: OZLOTTO RESULTS Drawn: 27/10/15 Draw num: 1132 Next draw: SUPP: Cook islands Herald 28 October 2015 FEATURE 2 Intake landowners want $15 million compensation TMV Project now gridlocked rime Minister Henry any demands for compensation way of being engaged in the Puna’s panic attack and would only blow out the costs Stage Two component of TMV. Pstupidity over the Manihiki which the country could not Takuvaine intake landowners land threats payout has only afford. have been at the vanguard of served to create another crisis Minister Heather’s stance was resisting government’s bully boy that will have him craving for surprising and hypocritical seeing land grabbing, well organised an immediate travel addiction land owned by the Heather and advised by experienced fix. While there have been family warranted by government land agents the Takuvaine Water numerous exposed scandals of for the waste management site Catchment Committee (TWCC) corruption by the Cook Islands in Arorangi had been generously chaired by Eruera (Ted) Nia Party government the long compensated for after a cordial have been successful in bringing standing contentious issues negotiation process. It seemed government to the consultation of the $60 million Te Mato Vai there was one rule for Heather table by calling their bluff with (TMV) project have taken an and his family and another for sufficient legal argument to obscure back seat largely out of others. challenge the stand over and the fore front of public scrutiny Endeavouring to please the confrontal tactics used by that is until now. Chinese contributors Heather government. Government even As predicted from the very took a gung ho bully boy stacked landowner meetings beginning of this ambitious first approach in his oversight of TMV with their stool pigeons to ever tripartite project involving without realising his own House diffuse arguments of claim by the Peoples Republic of China of Ariki traditional leaders were landowners. (PRC) matters of local land usage beginning to quietly strengthen These people were soon had to be amicably resolved, this their resolve to challenge their recognised their presence was to was readily without consultation Minister on his method of persuade landowners to support dismissed by the government. managing and advancing the government and their views While Puna kept his distance, project. were robustly challenged. the chest beating Financial Tensions surfaced between Puna’s pandering to the Garth Henderson - Secretary Richard Neves and his the project Managers and the Manihiki landowners threats Admitted government had Minister Mark Brown gloated Chinese contractors over the poor by advancing compensation for been lying there would be no problems workmanship and deliberate land used for the installation with landowners whilst accusing disregard for the contract specs of their solar electricity project Many of the landowners are those who raised this issue as with Heather consistently siding has given impetus for Rarotonga now defiant no access to their being political trouble makers with the contractors, there were intake landowners to exert their land will be permitted till the and sour grapes nit pickers. numerous grumblings about demands of compensation. compensation agreement is Buoyant after secretly signing a political interference at the Government’s attempts to completed; it was done for the backdoor deal of over $9 million insistence of the Chinese who cherry pick off landowners Heather family land for waste with the Chinese contractors T&M simply wanted to do things their individually in order to skirt management so it can be done Heather Ltd owner and Minister own way. around those advocating for TMV. The walk over Neves, of Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) Due to the delays over fair compensation has Brown and Heather expected the Deputy Prime Minister Teariki land owner negotiations the angered enough landowners is indicative of their sheer Heather made it very clear in contractors for Stage One to take a more vigilant and arrogance and abuse of power Parliament that there would be no the China Civil Engineering uncompromising attitude to and they are the culprits of the compensation to land owners for Construction Corporation what is being said in the public project turning sour for the the acquisition and use of any land (CCECC) had to send over 30 arena. Chinese contractors. required for TMV. workers back to China due to Some have undertaken their Already unresolved land issues Landowners were in no the lack of work while land own valuations rather than are holding up Stage One work uncertain terms told they access rights were in dispute. be told what government to the annoyance of CCECC. Time were being greedy for wanting Intermittent delays were costing will offer should government lines for the commencement of compensation and it was their CCECC money so they began reluctantly compromise their Stage Two no longer exist, project civil duty to roll with the project, demanding compensation by “no compensation” stand. Continued next page PB Cook islands Herald 28 October 2015 FEATURE 3 managers KEW Consultant Ltd’s into the firing line. For Brown the a lot more back peddling to do Some land owners are steadfast Russell Aberams said they were political risk assessment is too before land owners will concede that TMV Stage Two contracts not permitted to make any high, Tutangata wears the bullet access to their land. At this on their specific land must be media comments concerning proof vest on his behalf. stage we are told the tendering contracted to local companies. No the Stage Two land negotiations Intake landowners will be process is a work in progress. money, no work is the message and referred any questions to asked by the group tasked to While Neves got his way in the Neves and Heather need to hear Garth Henderson the Ministry bring a valuation to the table tenders being open rather than loud and clear until it is reinforced of Finance and Economic not to settle for anything less reserved for local contractors, say land activists who refuse to be Management’s rep on TMV. emotionally guilt laden with civil Already facing a multi pronged duty responsibility compliances. attack from common interest While Puna kept his distance, the There will be no sweet deals for lobby groups, government is chest beating Financial Secretary those who government perceives tender and not will to add hostile as easy pickings among the land landowners to the growing Richard Neves and his Minister Mark owners. disenchanted. Brown is known The landowners refused to to have caved in and reluctantly Brown gloated there would be no be hurried by the government, resigned the conflict is they will not be pressured into preventable if government starts problems with landowners whilst allowing work to commence talking financial compensation. nor will they be the scapegoats Landowners are sceptical accusing those who raised this issue for government’s arrogance about this government’s as being political trouble makers and and public relations deficiency integrity over the warranting of that has delayed the project. their land for the intakes. While sour grapes nit pickers. The approach government is they approved in Cabinet in June taking is cumbersome and will 2013 as required by NZ Aid TMV incur further delays for up to 12 would be a user pay project they than $15 million compensation intake land owners are adamant months. lied there would be any charge with no annual leases for the they are not legally bound to any The land owners demands for water, even after installing first ten years. Each intake will commitment government makes don’t end there they want a water meters they continued be compensated according to concerning land that does not number of irrelevant outdated to lie in public meetings. The a formula adopted. The Avana belong to them until satisfactory legislations repealed. information paper attached with intake will be pitched at more compensation is finalised. - George Pitt the Cabinet Minute estimated than $3 million with Takuvaine at the expected revenue would be $2.6 million. $1.5 million a year. An advance payment for SWITCH ON WITH They were saying there should each intake of five percent be no compensation because the will be a non negotiable water would be free. When it condition payable before the Te Aponga Uira became widely publicised by the land is warranted as has been media and the Cabinet minute precedently set by Puna over the ARE YOU READY? published, the usual silence Manihiki landowner’s threats of response was government’s destruction to equipment and defence. property, now the subject of a At a public meeting of intake criminal Police investigation. landowners in Takuvaine the Legislation used by sole government representative government as their points present Garth Henderson of reference have been under questioning irritatedly challenged by other legislation admitted government had been that enshrines the rights and lying. During their period of protection of landowners. silence Neves conjured up a The landowners are planning well spun doctored answer to to meet with the Opposition the water charges reaction, he to the government to gauge now claimed the charges were whether in the instance of a never for the water but for the change of government they maintenance and servicing of will honour an agreement with the water system.

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