PB

COOK ISLANDS

HERALD20 May 2015 $2 (incl VAT) Goldmine Models, Glover & Ritia in spectacular jewellery from Goldmine

Cakes for all ocassions!

Edgewater Cakes Enquiries call us on 25435 extn 7010 Sunset BarBQs at the Shipwreck Hut Saturday Seafood menu with Jake Numanga on the Ukulele 6pm Tuesday Sunset BBQ with Garth Young on Piano 6pm Thursday Sunset Cocktails with Rudy Aquino 5.30pm-7.30pm Reservations required 22 166 Aroa Beachside Inn, Betela Great Food, Great Entertainment

Always the best selection, best price & best service at Goldmine! POWERBALL RESULTS Drawn:14/5/15 Draw num: 991 PB

TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:16/5/15 Draw num: 3529 1.6GHz CPU - 512MB - 7” 800x480 5 Point Capacitive Screen Shock Proof Portable SUPP: WiFi - 4GB Memory - Android 4.2 - Micro SD Card Slot Hard Drives Front & Rear Cameras - Includes FREE cover & screen protector 500GB $138 OZLOTTO RESULTS Save $50 WAS Drawn: 19/5/15 Draw num: 1109 Next draw: 1TB $189 NOW SUPP: 2TB $309 Fits up to a 32GB Micro SD card

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 Political COmmentary 2 DPM Heather must be dumped as Minister of Culture and House of Ariki

upporters of the Deputy Prime Minister Teariki SHeather who have come to his defence against critical media reports claim he is a hard working person and they are right, this fact is not and has never been in dispute. Teariki Heather unashamedly is a hard working individual who without reservation promotes that virtue himself when and where ever he proudly can compare himself with others he discredits. Yes, Teariki Heather works very hard at undermining the leader of the Cook Islands Party the Prime Minister Henry Puna, Heather is working very hard in more ways than one to replace Puna in both those positions. Heather works very hard engaging in dirty politicking to be crowned as the CIP leader and the PM. Yes, Heather works hard at using his position as the Minister of Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) honing his self enrichment skills and conflict of interest PM Henry Puna and DPM Teariki Heather rebuttals to be a recipient of the Islands Constitution. We can now due to the vindictive bullying of intake land owners who multimillion dollar Te Mato Vai reveal the DPM has no regard for tactics Heather dumps on those have now become hostile and (TMV) contracts. the sanctity and integrity of the who have the courage to defy defiant against him. They said Yes Heather worked very hard nation’s Constitution which is him, the well known traditional some of the landowners have a to get a $290,000 compensation elevated above all legal references leader said “Heather can do suppressed anger brewing away for his family’s land acquired we use in the governance of the what he likes in the confines of that wouldn’t take much more to by the Demo government for Country. his political realm, he can engage become explosive. the waste management site in The fundamental rights and in his brand of dirty disloyalty to As the Minister of the HOA Arorangi. Heather certainly works protection of individuals is dispose of the PM and the Leader and Culture Heather has shown hard for himself but will he do the enshrined in the Constitution of the CIP Henry Puna but the little empathy for those he was same for other families when the (PART IVA FUNDAMENTAL moment he defiles the integrity supposed to be serving and government wants their land? HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS) and sanctity of our Constitution whose rights he is meant to be Right now Heather is working yet is ignored by Heather. It is he is committing an inexcusable protecting, instead he arrogantly very hard to grab private land PART IVB CUSTOM 66A Custom violation against every single lords over them, “He should without compensation for (4) that has riled a prominent Cook Islander.” not be allowed to continue with TMV’s stage two. He is working Traditional leader who is calling The traditional leader who these Ministries.” hard to ignore any constructive for Heather to be stripped of is well respected by his peers 66A Custom (4) says For the negotiating process to achieve a being the Minister of the HOA said Heather had become purpose of this Constitution, win win outcome with intake land and as the Minister of Culture. obsessed with power and has the opinion of the Arona Mana owners in the spirit of the Cook Wishing to remain anonymous become arrogantly disrespectful Continued next page PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 Political COmmentary 3 of the island or vaka to which a custom, tradition or value relates, as to matters to and concerning custom, tradition, usage or the existence, extent or application of custom, shall be final and conclusive and shall not be questioned in any court of law. The DPM has made it forcibly clear to the HOA he has the power to take private land for the TMV project stage two without having to compensate the land owners. When HOA representatives challenged their Minister’s statement he silenced them by threatening to review their budget. The Constitution House of Ariki members makes reference to the opinion of the Arona Mana not the whims consultation meetings because a new comer novice politician from the Demos to sign up to form and fancies of the Minister. in June 2013 Cabinet agreed TMV Nooroa Baker by a slim majority but a new government. Numbers Further reference to the would be a user pay out come as had those he had alleged to have count for nothing if the execution Constitution section 40 No required by the NZ government bribed for votes had the courage is flawed and for certain Heather property to be taken compulsory who were committing $15 million to give evidence in a Petition has no one aligned with him who without compensation, is to TMV. hearing would have seen the end can think strategically. conveniently over looked by In the Cook Islands Government of Heather’s political ambitions. Heather is impatient which is Heather who makes reference Budget Estimates 2012/2013 It is no secret Heather claims characteristic of political misfits to the colonial Rarotonga Water Book 3 Capital Plan under a to have seven other MPs who and with Parliament likely to Ordinance, a pre Independence section called Rarotonga Water are willing to support him in a reconvene on 26 June 2014 a legislation which he wants to Upgrade on page 14 it states leadership challenge against failed challenge will see the amend to give him greater powers The increased operational costs Puna, with the two One Cook kamikaze end of the hypocrite to access privately owned land. associated with the supply of Islands he needs three or four bully. - George Pitt For Heather to propagate his improved water quality are power to acquire intake land is planned to be sustained by invested in the Rarotonga Water introducing user pay charges once SWITCH ON WITH Ordinance of 1960 is a reflection water quality reaches “potable” of his deluded comprehension in (drinking water) standard. This the context of the Constitution income is estimated at $1.5 Te Aponga Uira being the supreme reference million per year from 2015/16. point of our democracy. The For TMV to have operational 5 ways to pay your consequence of Heather’s integrity in stage two Heather Constitution trampling must cannot be allowed to compromise be severe and swift as it is an the sanctity of the Constitution. power insult and offence to every Cook With no expected China Islander. contractor involved we are freed Prior to Parliament being from their influences over the dissolved in early 2014, when operational processes which will Norman George put the question bring a transparent dimension to to Heather in Parliament about the project’s second stage. compensation for acquired The blame for stage two land for TMV, Heather made it commencement delays which explicitly clear there will be no will be substantial fall at Heathers compensation as it would just feet, he alone is responsible for increase the cost of the $60 million the looming fiasco and drawn out project. Heather also added that legal tussle the CIP government while he was conducting the are going to become entangled public consultations land owners in. Heather’s oversized ego has agreed to surrender their land made his terminating mistake; without compensation. he has trample on the integrity of Paying for your power bill has never been easier. That claim cannot be the Constitution. validated by Heather because Teariki Heather is a political • On-line banking through Westpac and ANZ. he deliberately misled and lied misfit who idolises himself • Pay over the counter at all 3 banks – Westpac, during public consultations as the Prime Minister of the ANZ and BCI. stating there would be no charge Cook Islands in waiting. Highly • Direct credit from your wages. for the household consumption of unpopular on Rarotonga • TT payments if you are overseas. water. To show he had mana and Heather’s Party support base is • Pay at our office in Tutakimoa. desperate to please his Chinese in the Outer Islands where he has masters by starting the project on crafted a patriarchal image that is Take advantage of our convenient payment time (February 2014) knowingly benevolent of them. options today. Heather lied in the public Heather held his seat against www.teaponga.com Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 OPINION 4 Letter to the Editor Genealogies in Ross Holmes book challenged ear Sir fact that it was with Gudgeon’s papers unsubstantiated has not deterred Mr For those who have bought does not give it any additional status. For Holmes. Holmes book relies heavily on DRoss Holmes book Southern Cook a researcher not to have picked up such a Willie Browne being of Ngati Arera descent Islands History, Custom and Land Tenure, basic error, (a genealogy signed by Savage, and Makea Ariki descent and also relies on and are planning to use it as a basis of Land being attributed to Gudgeon), leads one to Vaike Ruariki’s genealogy at M.B, 12/183(3). Court claims, please be warned that two question the motivation in producing such a The evidence that came out in the hearing important points came out of the hearing book. Is this tourist fodder? Or is it trying to last week is that such claims made by of Pokoinu last week that directly affect the become the accepted guidebook for Judges Willie Browne were a fabrication and the credibility research and preparation motive sitting on the bench. Perhaps the latter as I Appellate Court dismissed his claims as his of this book. have heard Mr Holmes explaining to judges genealogy was unsubstantiated. Holmes The first is a genealogy claimed to have “if only you had read my book your Honour, now revives the same information which been written by Judge Gudgeon. (Editor’s you would understand.” clearly is wrong and is now promoting it as note: see opposite page showing the full The second issue regards Mr Willie fact. Let the buyer beware, this section of page as is held by the Hocken Archives. Browne. In accountancy we have creative the book has failed its first Judicial Test. Holmes book does not show the complete accounting; in the early land Court we had In another case Mr Holmes wished the page). After vigorous cross examination Creative Genealogies. (Editor’s note: The Court to go back to 1775, to take into in Court, it has been established that the Browne genealogy will appear in next account HIS view of how and what took genealogy was in fact written and signed week’s Herald). In his book Mr Holmes is place. To quote Judge Savage “I think we by Stephen Savage and had found its adding to the creativity of Mr Browne by will leave the War of the Roses to be fought way into Gudgeon’s collection of Cook re-birthing Mr Browne’s genealogy in his another day”. Islands Maori genealogies held by the book. The FACT that the Appellate Court Cheers Hocken Library at Otago University. The dismissed his claims as his genealogy was Search for the truth Response from Minister Brown Ross Holmes 20 May 2015 by W.E. Gudgeon,” as detailed to address World ear Editor on the attachment which I have The Pokoinu case was sent you. Some of the pages in Dheard last week. I was the collection of genealogies Forum not there and cannot comment were initialled by Walter save to say that no decision has Gudgeon (whose signature I inister Brown will address the plenary of the World been made in that case. have from his manuscript “A Education Forum in Incheon, Korea later today In Volume 2 of my book, from Journal of My Residence in the M(Thursday). Joining the UN Special Advisor on pages 46 to 47, I have set out South Seas” which I obtained Sustainable Development and Ministers from the Ivory Coast all the major lists of Makea ariki from the Alexander Turnbull and Brazil, the plenary will discuss the issues of education’s title holders. On pages 60 and Library in Wellington), and some contribution to addressing health, eradication of poverty and the 61 I have compared all of those of the annotations were written impact of climate change. lists of title holders in a chart by him (including an add on to Resilience and opportunity are the themes of the Minister’s which establishes a very large the genealogy which is referred address. Resilience not only in infrastructure and systems degree of agreement on who to at page 10 in the collection). but also ensuring young people learn the skills required to be those title holders were, with Stephen Savage’s signature resilient to change by being creative, adaptable, innovative and some disagreement on the order appears on page 3 (followed entrepreneurial. An education system and broader economy and in which they held the title. That by a handwritten annotation environment that provides opportunity for people to develop was the purpose of those pages. initialled by Walter Gudgeon), and maintain livelihoods will also promote the achievement of As detailed in my book, and on page 5. Whether Stephen the Education Master Plan. the copy of the genealogy Savage typed those two pages In preparing for the plenary Minister Brown said it is a great reproduced in the book was cannot now be determined. honour for the Cook Islands to be invited to speak on behalf of obtained by me personally from What is clear is that Walter Small Islands Developing States at the World Education Forum. Sir Peter Buck’s collection at Gudgeon had them, and edited “Our leading role in building resilience to the challenges of the Bishop Museum in Hawaii them. climate change and significant work in the area of Education for which I visited when carrying out Unfortunately tourists are not Sustainable Development mean that I can share good practice as research for my book. Due to the likely to purchase my book. It was well as our experiences of overcoming the special challenges that thorough nature of my research written as a resource book and face SIDS in relation to these issues”. I also obtained a copy of a incorporates the late Professor Minister Brown is the only Minister of Finance present at manuscript containing the same Ron Crocombe’s book Land the meeting where participants are predominantly from the genealogy which is certified by Tenure in the Cook Islands. It has education sector. However, the issue of financing development in the Hocken (not Hockin) Library, received praise from academics education has underpinned many of the discussions and the need University of Otago as a genuine and Cook Islanders. for joint planning between education and finance to achieve the copy. It is headed “Cook Islands Regards new goals for education through to 2030 will be a necessity if are Maori genealogies, collected Ross Holmes LLB (Hons) to be achieved. PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 NEWS 5 Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 NEWS 6 Our Frontpage models Time to seek alternatives to personal income tax By Charles Pitt ne wonders if it makes sense to continue with personal income tax when the tax take is dropping and the Ocurrent economic outlook is “tight.” GDP is at a virtual standstill, economic development is poised to go into reverse, growth is barely noticeable and estimates set by MFEM under the Budget are forever being revised downward. Income tax once brought $26m to $27m into government coffers. Now MFEM’s latest estimates (Dec 2014 Half Yearly report) are that the income tax take will be down to around $20m over the next few years. Perhaps the time has come to consider abolishing income tax and look for sustainable, alternative revenue streams to make up the $20m. Coupled with this should be initiatives to increase government efficiency, reduce government’s operating costs, reduce reliance on imports and encourage greater spending by locals and tourists alike. To avoid increasing the cost of living, government should be looking at innovative ways to recover this $20m without increasing current rates on consumption taxes such as VAT, company tax and local fees for domestic related services such as electricity. Abolition of income tax would put more money in worker’s pockets and if this was accompanied by a drop in VAT from 15% back to 10% it may encourage greater spending and also increased savings deposits. What inflationary effect this may have is for MFEM to assess. Our greatest assets are currently, tourism and tuna fishing. The fishing license fee for foreign vessels at $60,000 per year is too low and could be raised to $500,000. While this may seem startling, the returns are still attractive and the world still needs to eat. As mentioned in an earlier article, the fishing industry can be partly compensated through incentives such as cheaper fuel, free ice and waiving port fees, VAT and company tax. Through short term funding assistance and start up incentives, government should encourage more locals into the tuna fishing and processing industry so as to retain more export dollars locally. In the tourism sector departure tax should be raised. We are a six star destination being marketed to budget visitors. A higher standard of accommodation is required and a refocus in marketing. Lets make people pay through the nose for the privilege of coming here and enjoying our 6 star environment. Anyone who has been to Penrhyn would realize the tourism goldmine that exits there. A $100 increase would bring in an estimated additional $6m. Tourists will still come however, we need to market ourselves better and be smarter about it. We have assets other Pacific nations do not have and these should be emphasized with more clever marketing. Wipe the Air NZ subsidy and save $12m. To help attract more tourists, encourage lower room rates (most of which are too high for 3-4 star level facilities) by allowing tourism accommodators to claim the difference on their tax returns. A simple move such as doing away with most of the government’s vehicles except for essential services such as field officers, police, Our front-page model for Herald Issue 767 is Ritia George etc, would generate immediate savings in purchase costs, fuel and Glover Numanga. Check out our website www.ciherald. co.ck. and facebook page: www.facebook.com/ciherald and maintenance costs. PBPB

TUTAKIMOA PETROL STATION AND MINIMARKET Sania Cooking Oil Ocean Fresh Laundry Powder 1kg Hello Angel Nongshim Bowl 4 Pack Noodle Soup

250ml $1.50 500ml $3.00 $2.20 $2.50 $3.00 Each Each 2Ltr $9.00 packet Tang Drink mix Luvs Baby Wipes 72 Mortein Sprays Imperial Mackerel in Oil or Tomato Sauce $0.50 $7.50 Each Each Savaii Popo Pampers Nappy Newborn 78s

$2.80 Each $2.20 $2.30 Hair Gel per can per can Budget Chef’s Tuna in Oil Protex Soap $25.50 Dishwashing Liquid Each Gentle, Active, Herbal Le Rosa Bar Soap

$3.00 each $2.50 each Imperial Tuna Flakes Katrin Toilet $3.70 Tissue single $1.50 $2.50 Each each per bar Hello Angel Diapers Joi Bath Soap Fresh Soap Medium 28s, Large24

$1.40 $1.50 Each each $12.00 Harmony Toilet Tissue 10pk Medium

$1.00 $1.50 $13.00 $10.00 each each Large pack NEW STOCK ARRIVING SOON Located At Fruits of Raro in Titikaveka Monday to Friday 10am - 3pm. Ph: 77058 or 27057 PB Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 10 NEWS Women in sport media worshop in Qatar

I met up with two friends I did the the Young Reporter’s Programme in Nanjing, China with..Jerick Sablan from Guam and Krystel Sanhe from Lebanon. ports is a basic human on the importance of the media right, and it’s alarming to achieve gender equality in Sto see a number of and through sport. There were countries across the world a number of speakers who whereby women and girls spoke at the two-day workshop, are undervalued in the sports all of who filled important field and don’t exercise their roles in different media fields fundamental rights. We in the or had some involvement in Pacific are lucky that our women sports committees. Topics and young girls make the most of covered media coverage on their right to play sport. women’s events, the role men A Women and Sport Media can play in advancing gender workshop, organized by equality, challenges posed by the International Olympic the media and their impact on Committee (IOC), the Olympic gender equality and promoting Council of Asia in cooperation leadership of women through with the National Olympic the media. Committee of Qatar held in The delegates from Oceania Doha, Qatar, bought together worked very well together and 113 registered delegates made came up with a draft plan, after up of experts from the National two fruitful discussions to help Olympic Committee and media the media in the Pacific move from 68 different countries. A forward in terms of women total of 17 media and National and sport. We looked at some Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the challenges the media in from Oceania made up that the Pacific face and solutions to number. it. Mr. MataiasiAkaulo, Oceania The workshop was mainly to National Olympic Committee discuss issues relating to the Communication Officer chaired empowerment of women in the discussions, and was to 2015 and beyond, as well as present the draft plan before the raise participant’s awareness IOC. -Teriu Woonton PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 NEWS 11 Cook Islands Herald Issue 767 TE KAVE KORERO TE KAVE KOREROHost: Tony Hakaoro, WEDS 13th MAY 2015 RIGHTS OF LANDOWNERS Mr Tingika Elikana, lawyer and Head of Right Order, not even the occupier’s an Occupation Right Order. So long as a Ministry at the Ministry of Justice, was the children. This is because the land reverts majority of landowners consent to one’s guest speaker on Te Kave Korero on Radio back to the land owners once an occupier application for an Occupation Right Order, Cook Islands on Wednesday 13th May dies. that applicant can be anyone and not 2015. necessarily a Cook Islander or landowner. Speaking on Cook Islanders living That applicant can also be a visitor or a Rights of land owners in the Cook Islands abroad Elikana said that there have foreigner who is on a valid permit working was the subject of discussion. been misleading information concerning or residing in the Cook Islands. landowners’ rights, especially those According to Elikana a report by the Asian residing overseas. On the issue of mortgagee sales Elikana Development Bank recommended that said that Banks or mortgagors often Government considers making changes to Elikana stated that there is a difference exercise to enforce their rights under the country’s land laws to free up lands for between a landowner and an occupier of a mortgagee agreement where the commercial activities. land under an Occupation Right Order. He mortgagee has defaulted or failed to keep Elikana stated that Government elaborated that the situation with regards up with the mortgage repayments. has received the report and is still to Occupation Right Orders, is that, if an Although the first opportunity to rectify a considering whether to implement the occupier of land reside overseas, and has default is often offered to the mortgagee’s recommendations or not. been so for seven years or more, and families, Elikana said that most Cook Island has not built a house or dwelling on the If Government agrees it would cut across families do not have the financial resources land, or not making use of that land, the the rights of indigenous land owners to remedy the default and often result in landowners may, and are entitled to, apply notwithstanding the current concerns the bank or mortgagor having no other to the Land Court to revoke that Order and regarding mortgagee sales of leases on alternative but to exercise their rights take the land back or have the Court grant Rarotonga. under the loan agreement and undergo a a new Occupation Right Order in favour of mortgagee sale to recover their money. In relation to lands subject to Occupation another person. Right Orders Elikana stated that there Te Kave Korero is very grateful and Elikana added that anyone can apply appears to be some misunderstanding expresses its sincere gratitude to Elikana to obtain a Occupation Right Order. with regards to one’s occupation rights for coming onto the programme and for He said that one does not have to be a over land. clarifying the above matters concerning landowner to be able to apply and obtain lands in the Cook Islands. Meitaki maata. Elikana stated that in a landmark case decision in the Land Court in 2012, Chief Photo of Norman George with Justice Weston ruled that one’s rights over Police Commissioner, land under an Occupation Right Order is Maara Tetava, taken at the limited to that occupier’s life time only. ceremony welcoming back In other words there is no perpetuity of Te Kukupa, after its six million rights when an occupier dies. dollar refit in Australia. Norman George was Minister According to Elikana the Chief Justice’s of Police back in the days when ruling clarified the situation regarding the idea for a patrol boat was lands subject to Occupation Right Orders. mooted. George says the idea Speaking in Maori, he said that a land was that of the then Australian subject to an Occupation Right Order Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s. goes back to the land owners following George says that he received the death of the occupier of that land. a lot of flack for his decision to He said that there is a misrepresentation accept a patrol boat. Opposers or misunderstanding that the occupier’s were concerned with how the children have an automatic right to occupy country would fuel and maintain or inherit the land after their parent or the patrol boat. It was Sir parents passed away. He said that this is Geoffrey Henry KBE who later not the case at all. sorted this issue out. The decision highlights the fact that no one inherits one’s rights under an Occupation Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 12 NEWS Cook Islands Herald Issue 767 TE KAVE KORERO TE KAVE KOREROHost: Tony Hakaoro, FRIDAY 15th MAY 2015 SUNDAY FLIGHT REFERENDUM AND TE KUKUPA The Sunday flight referendum and the welcoming ceremony held at Avatiu wharf of the Cook Island’s close friends did not Cook Islands maritime patrol boat, Te last Thursday 14th May. want the patrol boat armed with weapons. Kukupa, were the subjects of discussion on Te Kave Korero (TKK) on Friday 15th May Te Kukupa and its Cook Islands Maritime George did not want to disclose who 2015. Police crew were formally welcomed back the close friend was but Te Kave Korero home following a six million dollar refit in believes that it was New Zealand. TKK’s guest speaker was the Atiuan Australia, paid for by the Australian Navy. Warrior, former Member of Parliament, George said that he told the Australian lawyer, and now political commentator, According to George, in 1985 the Government that he wanted the patrol Norman George. Australian Government through former boat armed with heavy firearms, machine Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, announced an gun, or a small ship to surface firearm. The Sunday flights referendum, with offer to all Pacific Island Forum countries, regards to banning Sunday flights to that the Australian Government would “We want to have the ability to sink”, Aitutaki, was held in April in Aitutaki. build and provide patrol boats for them. George told Te Kave Korero. Over 600 local Aitutakians voted in the referendum. George was the Minister of Police and He said that we needed our patrol boat Foreign Affairs and realised at the time to be armed so that our young policemen Speaking in Maori on Te Kave Korero, that it was an excellent opportunity for can defend or protect themselves while George said that Prime Minister Henry the Cook Islands so he took up the offer patrolling our waters and our exclusive Puna and his Government has no excuse and made a submission to Cabinet to put economic zone in the event that illegal not to honour the outcome of the an order for a patrol boat to the Australian fishing vessels are armed or shoots at referendum. Government. Cabinet approved the them. submission accordingly. “Kua oti te referendum, kare roa i George added that he recalls stating in karangaia na, i te tuatau i te by-election e, However, according to George, the late Sir 1989 that one of the reasons he gave e non-binding, kare e pipiri, kare e tika, me Papa Tom Davis who was Prime Minister to justify having a patrol boat, was for kare, kare e oonu tona turanga, kare ona at the time cancelled the order because emergency needs, such as a plane crashing turanga, kare e tuatua akapera . . . . ;”. he wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with New into the sea, that the patrol boat would Zealand Prime Minister of the day, the late be used for search and rescue purposes in When it was put to him that there have David Lange, owing to New Zealand’s anti- such an emergency. been criticisms that the total number of nuclear policy. people voting in the referendum was low Sadly, and in an irony, the domestic and that only sixty one percent voted in George stated that he wasn’t happy Hawaiian Airline flight crashed into the support of banning flights to Aitutaki, with the cancellation so he spoke to his sea some years later, while returning George responded: colleagues in Cabinet and as a result made from Aitutaki to Rarotonga. Sure enough a second submission to Cabinet which was according to George Te Kukupa was “We only need fifty one”. approved. directed to the crash site to undertake a search and rescue mission. With regards to statements made that 500 However, George said there was a change local Aitutakians would leave the island in Government in 1989, the Democratic Speaking in Maori, George said that and move overseas if the Sunday flights Party lost Government and the Cook he was particularly happy with Police were banned, George responded in Maori Islands Party came in. Commissioner, Maara Tetava, that, for saying they are lies. the first time ever, he (George) has been Prior to the change of Government, one formally acknowledged as the person George said that banning the Sunday flights of the objections to placing a request for a who negotiated with the Australian can start now, that the Prime Minister can patrol boat, according to George, was the Government in 1989 to obtain a patrol tell Air Rarotonga to start this month. cost of diesel. There was a general opinion boat for the Cook Islands. among Cook Islanders that the Cook “Te irinaki nei au e, ka rauka teia ture i te Islands couldn’t afford the diesel. “…, mari ake teia manga taime nei, mari akamata i teia marama, ka rauka i te Prime ake te Commissioner Tetava, maara mai i Minister i te akakite ki te Air Rarotonga e, George stated that fortunately, the late a ia a Papa Norman, na Papa Norman teia scale down, start scaling down, countdown, Sir Geoffery Henry, Prime Minister in the pai i akatupu, ae, tana e akakite ra, tai nei ta marama”. new Government then, negotiated with au ka akamaaraia mai, …..”. the Australian Government and as a result A number of listeners rang Te Kave Korero of those negotiations, the Australian This year marks 25 years of Te Kukupa and expressed support of George’s views Government agreed to provide the diesel patrolling Cook Islands waters. She is now and of banning Sunday flights. free of charge. fitted with new and up-to-date electronic and computer equipments as well as a In relation to the Cook Islands patrol George disclosed in Maori that during the brand new engine. She is expected to serve boat, Te Kukupa, George said that he was negotiations an official in the Australian the Cook Islands for the next four years till very pleased to have been invited to the Government reported to him that one 2019 when a brand new patrol boat will replace her. PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 13 NEWS Cook Islands Herald Issue 767 TE KAVE KORERO TE KAVE KOREROHost: Tony Hakaoro, MONDAY 18th MAY 2015 SURVEY ON BANNING SUNDAY FLIGHTS TO AITUTAKI On Monday 18th May Te Kave Korero worship on Saturday, referring of course, conducted a survey of its listeners with Another caller said that she was sick and to members of the Seventh Day Adventist regards to banning Sunday flights to tired of the debate regarding Sunday flights Church. Aitutaki. to Aitutaki but however still supports cancelling the flights. “Te akara nei au, te tuatua ua nei tatou In Maori, the question put to listeners was: no te Sabati, Sunday. Ka akapeea i reira te “….. Aue te iu i tenai pairere e, iu au i te aronga e akamori ra i te Maanakai, e Sabati “Ka ariki ainei koe kia takoreia te rereanga akarongo. No reira au e tuku akaou atu nei rai te ra? E aa kotou i noo ua ai okotai ra, pairere (tari turoto i te ra Sabati) ki Aitutaki i toku manako, kare au e akatika i te pairere no te mea, kare te reira pupu tangata e Enua?”. kia rere i te Tapati tari tourists…..”. komakoma ana”.

“Would you agree to cancelling flights Another listener rang and said that there In response, Te Kave Korero host said (taking tourists on Sunday) to Aitutaki? have been no benefits to the locals in that Saturday flights, on the Seventh Day Aitutaki and supports cancellation of Adventist Church’s Sabbath, has never Te Kave Korero host Tony Hakaoro Sunday flights. been an issue in so far as members of the emphasised that the survey does not apply Seventh Day Adventist Church in Aitutaki to emergency flights such as one picking “Teia toku manako i reira, kua roa tera are concerned. He said that they have up a sick person from Aitutaki. pairere i te tari tourist anga mei tera e te never expressed disapproval or objections Sabati atu...... , kare o matou puapinga o to flights occurring on their Sabbath In Maori, he invited listeners to call in and te Aitutaki, Papa, takoreia atu”. day, which is Saturday to other Christian give their responses or answers to the denominations. He said that the issue is question by a mere ‘yes’ if one supports One caller rang and spoke on behalf of not the flights on Saturday, but the flights the ban and a ‘no’ if one does not support an elderly woman, said that she opposes on Sunday. it. Sunday flights because it’s God’s day. God has one day only in the week, business At the end of the programme, the survey However one caller was not happy with the people have six. result was that, there were eighteen callers question and asked that the host correct it. in favour of banning Sunday flights and six She said in Maori: “Papa, te karanga mai nei a mama e, teia callers support Sunday flights continuing. mama ruau, e ringi atu au i a koe, i te “Te ringi nei au no tau uianga hoki e ui ana akakite e, kare, kare e akatika i te pairere The survey result represented 75 percent koe a? Me kauta hoki taua i te vananga kia rere i te Tapati, no te mea, no te Atua ia support of banning Sunday flights to e, ae, me, uru atu hoki au ae, te ariki nei ra. E tai rai o te Atua ra i roto i te week, te Aitutaki. au kia takoreia a? Ka hano taua tuanga aronga maani moni, e ono”. vananga ra ki hia, me ki roto i te akatika kia to, me oti me uru atu au e, takorehia In support of Sunday flights one listener atu, me aiteite ua te ae e, me te takore? said that he is a land owner and his family ………. ko tena, tetai aronga, te ae nei, tetai operates a business next to the airport in aronga te kare nei, no tau uihanga oki Aitutaki and he supports Sunday flights so e tuku ana koe, me ka ariki ainei koe, ko that his family can earn some income. tetai aronga te karanga ra e, ae, ko tetai aronga te karanga ra e, kare, takorea atu, “No runga i tena rereanga pairere i te ko te aronga i reira i takorea atu i reira, Sabati ea, e atu enua au i runga i tena enua haere mai tei roto i te tuanga o te akatika i kona i te airport ana, e, toku kopu tangata a? …… Ko tena oki, no reira maramakore te maani business ara i runga i tena ngai i te tangata i tau uianga. Te aronga e takore tetai tua mai i te airport ana, toku manako, na, e uru atu na takore, te aiteanga takore, ka akatika au i te pairere kia rere i te Sabati, ko te aronga ra e ae atu na, no te uianga kia rauka mai tetai moni na ratou….”. oki, me te ariki ainei koe kia takoreia, e te aronga ae atu, te aiteanga kare, te aronga Another listener called and stated that ra ka takore atu e kare, e ae. Akatano koe i much of the debate is focussed on Sunday tau uianga i runga i te ratio, bye”. and expressed concern for those who Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 NEWS 14 NCD study indicates community wide health interventions are very effective Part two of a report on the Monitoring and Evaluation of a Health Intervention Program in a Rural Island Community of the Cook Islands By Tevita Tangaroa Vakalalabure, of deaths in every region. In Cook Islands have a total land The setting of the study was the Jiangsu University, China 2011, the UN General Assembly area of 240km2, spread across island of Pukapuka. It is located adopted a political declaration 15 small islands dispersed over to the north of the Cook Islands he outcome of the 2012 that committed member states 2million km2 of the South Pacific group of islands. The island is NCD study in Pukapuka to the prevention and control of Ocean. Changing food availability, closer to Samoa and Tokelau than Tindicates that community NCDs. Subsequently, countries increasing consumption of foods to Rarotonga, the Capital of the wide health interventions are agreed to adopt nine global low in nutritional value and Cook Islands. `The population very effective, especially where targets, including an overarching declining physical activity and census on the island as of 2011 the community takes ownership target of reducing premature energy expenditure have been was 451 with the majority being of the programs and the health mortality from the four main acknowledged as contributing children. There are three villages staff plays a supporting role NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, factors to increased body weight on Pukapuka: Roto, Yato and instead of their usual role to lead chronic respiratory diseases, among the Cook Islanders in Ngake. The study participants the programs. cancers, and diabetes) by 25% the second half of the 20th were island residents over 20 Summary relative to their 2010 levels by century. These studies provide years of age which brought the Background: This is the 2025. The growing global burden early evidence that the burden total number of participants to second part of a two part series of non-communicable diseases of chronic disease risk factors 133 (63 females and 70 males). reporting on the monitoring and in poor countries and poor had existed in the Cook Islands There was no attrition rate or evaluation component of a health populations has been neglected for some time, but had attracted withdrawal of participants. intervention program in a rural by policy makers, major little public health response Study Design island community of Pukapuka in multilateral, bilateral aid donors, until recently. To our knowledge, The corresponding author the Cook Islands in 2012. academicians and researchers. there was no national and and the resident doctor were Methods: The target Despite strong evidence for the comprehensive epidemiological responsible in designing the population was 133, consisting magnitude of this burden, the survey carried out in the Cook study, with the assistance of the of everyone on the island who preventability of its causes, and Islands to examine the extent MOH health promotion unit. was above the age of 20 years. the threat it poses to the already and scope of NCD and their Due to the small number of NCD We conducted a “before” and strained health care systems are risk factor till then. In 2004, the kits available for the study, it was “after” test, and used the World well documented. Cook Islands implemented its decided that the study sample Health Organisation (“WHO”) The current state of human STEPS which produced its first needed to be limited to residents standards and protocols to condition in South Pacific Island national epidemiological data. over the age of 20 years. The measure body mass index countries (“PICs”) threatens There has not been a repeat attrition rate was nil, and all (“BMI”), blood sugar level and the quality of life for a large of the STEPS surveillance in participants completed the blood pressure and cholesterol proportion of population. At the intervening years; some program from May to October. of the participants. The data was the same time, it poses a major argue that is due to the lack of The major aim of the study analysed using SPSS version 18. developmental challenge due funding, lack of expertise and was the idea to enrol the Results: There was a to high incidence of NCD. The lack of staff to undertake the community to take ownership of significant reduction in measures most cost-effective approach work. Public health initiatives the program with the Resident of the NCD risk factors at the to containing this emerging and health promotion programs doctor and his staff playing a end of the program compared epidemic is primary prevention have been ongoing since 2004 in supportive role and collecting to baseline measurements at based on comprehensive, the Country, but there have not the relevant data. As such, all the the beginning of the program. population-based programmes. been any tangible outcomes of island stakeholders and leaders Statistical analysis reveals that Fortunately, the major risk NCD risk changes recorded to our were approached by the resident empowering females with health factors for common NCDs: knowledge to date, due to the Doctor and the three hospital promotion and intervention tobacco, alcohol use, physical absence of robust monitoring board of visitors’ members. The responsibilities can have a great inactivity, unhealthy diets, and evaluation of those public stakeholders included traditional impact in the prevention, control high blood pressure, and high health initiatives. Recent studies leaders, church groups, women’s and reduction of NCD risk factors cholesterol are all amenable have also indicated a bias in the group and each government in this community. to prevention. Although most ministry of healths, public health department. The program Conclusions: This study of this evidence comes from intervention initiatives in favour activities were drawn out and demonstrates the importance developed countries, it appears of urban population as opposed endorsed by all the stakeholders. of having a monitoring and that the causal relationships are to rural communities. NCD Committees were evaluation component of all NCD broadly similar in developing This paper to our knowledge established in the three villages health initiatives to inform health and poor countries. In the is the first monitoring and to monitor the planned activities planners and policy makers in context of NCDs, surveillance evaluation report from the Cook in their respective villages. developing appropriate policy is the ongoing (continuous or Islands, reporting on the changes Health promotion awareness responses to reduce morbidity periodic) collection and analysis in NCD risk factor outcomes workshops were held every and mortality due to NCDs. of population-based data to following a health intervention second Friday at the island’s Introduction measure the magnitude of the program designed by the local cyclone centre. The daily Non-communicable diseases problem (risk factors or disease) community stakeholders with the physical activity component of (NCDs) cause more than 35 and trends over time. It also assistance of resident health staff. the program was designed and million deaths every year and implies timely dissemination to Methodology organised by the heads of the account for more than half users. Study Setting and Population continued next page PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 NEWS 15 government departments in the health intervention programs depending upon their resident no tangible evidence to inform consultation with the respective that were implemented by the (rural or urban). An interesting their health planners that their village NCD committees. The NCD committees were effective factor worth noting is that the intervention programs are having activities included daily walks, because there was a significant physical activity component of its desired effect in preventing, sporting activities of weekly reduction in measures of the this intervention were organised controlling or reducing the NCD inter-village football, and volley- NCD risk factors studied at the and centred on the participant’s epidemic and its risk factors of ball and cricket games for both end of the program compared available resources. Engaging Cook Islands. gender and all age groups. to the baseline measurements in intensive farming activities Conclusion and The vegetable gardening at the beginning of the program. for 30 minutes a day is a more Recommendations component was designed However, in comparison between meaningful and cost effective The results of this monitoring and organised by the Mayor, genders and ages groups, it was way of losing or controlling and evaluation of the health Island Administration and the observed that in relation to weight; the double benefit of intervention undertaken on Agricultural Department staff in weight loss, females benefited this activity is that families have Pukapuka Island demonstrates consultation with the respective most from the intervention access to healthy vegetables the importance of program village NCD committees. compared to men and though and root crops to improve their evaluation. The information Each household established a not statistically significant in diet. Perhaps health planners obtained from the analysis could vegetable garden that included this study, weight gain seems to and policy makers could look be immediately translated into the vegetables, viz. Chinese have an association with aging. into developing physical activity health policies and intervention & English cabbage, reddish, This association between weight programs centred on vegetable strategies and be implemented cucumbers, lettuces, tomatoes, gain and age could be further gardening or farming at the taro to improve MOH responses cauliflower, bitternut, long beans, investigated in future studies. patches as an alternative means in preventing, controlling and French beans, watermelon, An explanation could be drawn of saving funds for more capital reducing NCD and its risk factors. rock melon and corn. Visitors that women are more interested intensive activities. The complexity and dynamic to the island also sponsored the in healthy living, healthy As a whole, the health nature of NCD epidemic and its purchase of numerous vegetable weight loss than men, and are intervention program was found risk factors, both primary and seedlings to support the program. more disciplined in following effective when supported by secondary causes, requires a The Ministry of Health (MOH) the designed programs. The adequate statistical analysis. lot of flexibility on the part of provided the NCD Kits for the implication of these findings is These contemporaneous health planners in designing surveillance component of that women are more consistent findings of effective health appropriate responses, if and the program for the pre and and reliable than men in intervention designed and when compelling evidence are post testing of the program following health advice and implemented based on baseline made available to them. The participants. health intervention programs. data are consistent with other responsibilities they face are DISCUSSION This information is actionable studies in both developed and enormous but the challenges A recent study observed that evidence for health planners; developing countries. This is must be met with ingenuity in the Cook Islands from the so far as this community is the first health intervention in planning and cost effective years 2002 to 2009, no NCD concerned, targeting and program to have a monitoring innovative processes, especially health intervention program has empowering women in their and evaluation component in in the context of geographically specifically targeted rural island communities to take charge of the Cook Islands, the analysis dispersed small island nations, communities. All public health health intervention tasks will provides interesting findings that to rely and work closely with initiatives has been undertaken definitely reap results. This could be immediately translated the community leaders and in urban centres, except three outcome is logically sound, in to health policies for improved stakeholders. The outcome of this programs in 2007, two of which given that women in this society health intervention strategies. study indicates that community were for workplace programs are responsible for feeding the For instance, it has been wide health interventions are and one program undertaken in family and nurturing the young. discussed in various quarters that very effective, especially where all school settings in the nation. Introducing healthy eating changing population attitude to the community takes ownership The study also highlighted that no habits and lifestyle modification live a healthy lifestyle is difficult, of the programs and the health monitoring and evaluation was to the family viz. the women of hence the increasing prevalence staff plays a supporting role undertaken in all the programs the family will certainly have a of obesity in the Country. instead of their usual role to lead in those seven years to inform significant impact on the family’s The analysis of the monitoring the programs. the ministry of health whether health, hence community and and evaluation results in this There are limitations in this there were outcome changes in population health. study reveals that targeting study that might have affected NCD risk factors that they were In this study it was also females, particularly mothers, indicators that were studied; targeting to reduce or control. observed that the younger age could get this desired effect as this is due to the fact that we The obvious biases in NCD group benefited more from opposed to designing programs did not have any scientifically health intervention distribution the reduction in body mass for the whole population. This designed methodology per se between urban and rural settings index compared to the elderly. information is particularly catering for variables that might could be taken to explain the high A possible explanation for this important in financially affect our study. In addition, evacuation of NCD related cases could be that in this community, constrained settings, like the the lack of quality mechanism from rural island communities the young of both genders are Cook Islands, where limited funds in the management of the data to Rarotonga. The costs of engaged in intensive agricultural have to be wisely maximised to could also have compromised these medical evacuations are activity throughout the day obtain the greatest health impact the results that were analysed. astronomical in the context compared to the elderly who of the designed interventions. Despite these limitations, the of the Cook Islands fiscal mostly play supervisory roles. Therefore, monitoring and information obtained from this budget. Perhaps, an equitable A comparative study between evaluation of processes and monitoring and evaluations distribution of community rural and urban young people impact of health intervention provide useful information based health intervention to the based on this fact alone, could programs must be considered by that can be used effectively by rural communities could help provide interesting results, MOH to be made a mandatory health and policy planners, and in dramatically reducing health which could give an insight to component of every MOH health it contributed to the very sparse costs due to NCD. health planners on designing intervention program to assess literature on NCD studies in the The analysis of the monitoring appropriate health interventions the success/effectiveness of the Cook Islands and the Pacific and evaluation component of suitable for this age group programs. Otherwise, there is Region. Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 FEATURE 1 6 A journey of discovery: From humble beginnings by Tetuhi Kelly Part 2 We tried not to discuss treaty stop both my Maori and Pakeha succumbed stayed or migrated tikanga Maori values. We sent issues around our pakeha mates uncles left a deep impression and have now created several our children off to university for fear of derision or getting with me to this day. For some generations of those with maori to become lawyers, doctors, into a punch up with them. pakeha mates we mustn’t have ancestry but no idea of who accountants and judges. In doing Some of our own people saw us been that good of a mate if the they are related to or very little so we built up a critical mass of as not much better than kupapa pakeha wouldn’t take us home about their culture or what it Maori with university degrees in (seen by some as a derogatory to meet their daughters, girl is like to be Maori. For those law, finances, medicine and the term, a pakeha sympathiser) friends or wives unless it was who resisted they ended up on social sciences, We used those and at first we did get into absolutely necessary. But like the wrong side of the law for academic skills in courts of law some stoushes, usually after a good Polynesian boys where antisocial behaviour, but they at every opportunity to thwart skin full. In the cities we Maori, there’s a way there’s a willy, just instilled in their children the government, local government, all from different tribes, could ask those pakeha girls. same tikanga Maori values and the church and big business whakapapa together so some of Hesitatingly we began to a spirit of assertiveness that interests which we believed us did have a fair idea who we relearn our reo and relearn was missing in our parents’ were counter to the principles were related to. So we tended to our marae protocols. Many of generation. More importantly of the Treaty. In fighting the work together, played sports and us were invited to and began news media coverage and church we sued for the return of drank together and there were to speak on the marae atea, international focus on New lands gifted to them for religious a lot of pakeha who attached began chairing Maori trusts Zealand created a guilt complex purposes over the last 150 themselves to our groups. In and going home to reconnect in the hearts and minds of the years. As soon as the churches fact this happens when we are with our ahi ka roots. We more liberally minded pakeha, decided to turn these gifted overseas too. There was a sense began to take on more chiefly what we called bleeding heart lands into real estate for sale of camaraderie because we and leadership roles according liberals. Here NZ as a nation instead of returning said gifts of looked out for each other, had to our tuakana or teina status was bagging the South Africans land to us as was required under the wickedest parties, the best through whakapapa, and this for their apartheid pogrom, yet the original deed, we took feeds. Kaimoana, hinu paraoa, coincided with some of us going keeping quiet as our nearest them to court. Guess what, the takakau and rewena bread, pork back to wananga and pakeha neighbours the Aussies were church officials were our own bones and watercress boil ups universities to round out our doing practically the same thing people who were doing this to with mutumutu and hangi’s. rough street smarts. Our land, with our cousins the aboriginal us, they had been well trained We also attracted lots of pakeha language and culture were nations and NZ hypercritically by their pakeha church peers. girls and some of the boys increasingly under pressure supporting this by their We engaged international married them and our pakeha from the so called modern ways treatment of Maori aspirations. support in our battles with the mates married our sisters and of life. The education system at Gradually we fought back to NZ government and caused our daughters. The pakeha girls the time was resistant to any claim our lands, oceans, rivers, considerable embarrassment as were attracted to us because we Maori aspirations for opening lakes, mountains, intellectual the NZ government came under were always taking the mickey our own language and cultural property, language and culture. fire from the international out of ourselves and each education systems. After all we We used the very same system community. Despite the trials other, we always laughed, and were continually being told that of Westminster English law that and tribulations we marched we were good fun to be with. we were one united people, the pakeha had used against us valiantly on and re-established However once they married weren’t we? I can recall the for over 150 years to justify their kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, us, they turned us or tried to white generation of my parents, land grabs and the desecration and wananga and runanga turn us into caricatures of male who could not understand why and destruction of our taonga, Maori education models with pakehadom, the very thing we were not like the last nice reo and tikanga maori. They a modern twist. We ensured they found unattractive when Maori generation who did not didn’t like that one bit. that our language and dialects they met Maori boys for the complain or resist being good At the polls we influenced were promoted and supported first time. Go figure, anyway New Zealanders. The problem changes in how the NZ for each of our rohe. With our there were a lot of break ups was this white generation did governments of the day pakeha mixed marriages we but also plenty of children and not ask us Maori what we addressed our grievances were committed to the browning unfortunately domestic violence thought or how we felt; they under the Treaty of Waitangi of Aotearoa. We now number from Maori men to their pakeha just assumed we were happy Act and with the money as in the hundreds of thousands wives and children and pakeha with our lot; we were all New compensation in-lieu of the and occupy two countries: males to their Maori wives and Zealanders weren’t we? return of confiscated land, Australia and Aotearoa and children. Having witnessed my Many of us succumbed to we developed business we contribute both financially aunties bearing the brunt of the negativity, many couldn’t models that gave us economic and culturally to both those domestic violence and getting be bothered and many of independence but at the same countries and the major sports the bash and having to step in to us resisted. Those who time incorporated unique continued next page PB

Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 FEATURE 1 7 in both countries reflect a high from the Tongan national Highway 61 and a whole host awesome bro, cheh bro, ya egg, Maori and Polynesian influence. rugby team, we used to clean of gangs with predominantly catch ya later cuz, sweet as”. A We’d done such a good job up all comers. The boys all had Maori and Polynesian members rough translation for those who of pulling ourselves back from impressive physiques, chiselled, was always in the news, for don’t know Maori English goes the brink of cultural demise six packs, very muscular and usually the wrong reasons. like this: The boys meet up, head, that along the way we didn’t hands on them like softball Thank goodness we have begun eyebrow and chin nod, hands pay enough attention to our mitts, huge, and they ran with the long process of growing up and fists come into contact, relationships with our pacific the ball one-handed whilst and many of us are now turning shoulders drop and touch. island brothers and sisters. Some bashing people out of the way to those same pacific islands to “Hello my friend, that girl over of you may well remember the with the other huge hand. reconnect as our forefathers did there is very pretty, absolutely infamous days of police and Needless to say matchups with many centuries ago. my friend, she is beautiful, wow, immigration officials arresting the Samoan workers was a So heading into the late 1990’s one boy makes a rude gesture, pacific island overstayers in NZ sight to see, swearing at each and early 2000’s, a subtle shift another replies, silly fullah, and deporting them back to other in their languages and had been occurring as pacific got to go, see you later friend, the islands whence they came fisticuffs for any imagined slight. islanders and other immigrants you’re welcome” How maroke in the 1970’s. The oil crisis A lot of the boys stayed on began adopting Maori English is that? The most amusing and high unemployment were after their contracts ended and because our kids had begun thing was that they were Sikh catalysts which among other married local palangi girls, their in the school playgrounds to and Samoan boys, complete things focused the government descendants are well known influence immigrants into our with the Maori accent; they on pacific island overstayers. sports personalities these days. ways. I think it was because sounded more Maori than we I can recall relations and So while the ‘Dawn raids’ were white NZ were still xenophobic ever did. At the time I thought friends of the time applauding going on, hypocritically, we also about Maori’s and Polynesians it was some of the Maori cadets the government’s actions forgot that we had other foreign and untrusting of these new and I had to laugh. Things have in deporting those coons, (white) nationals who were immigrants and were pulling improved since those decades coconuts, boonga’s and any also overstayers but appeared their kids out of those schools but I think more from a Maori other derogatory term we used to us as though they were to go to higher decile schools, perspective than for pakeha. I at the time. They were taking being treated differently by the basically ghettoising the schools still think they have some way our jobs weren’t they, getting authorities and not subjected to they left behind. Did we worry, to go before they can let go jobs for less hourly pay than we such harsh treatment. no way and neither did the of their xenophobia, they are would work for, gosh, even three Looking back, we didn’t know immigrants kids worry and once getting there, as NZ English or four families staying under any better, we were so tied up in they mixed in with the melting is liberally dosed with Maori one roof, that definitely was not our own misery that we forgot pot of Maori, Pacific Islands, English being used in all walks on. They didn’t even know how that there were other people Sikh, Indian, Kurdish, Pakistani, of life. The users are not even to use electric appliances, or a who were worse off than we Somalian and other white aware that they are using the bloody electric stove and a flush were and who wanted a better immigrants kids so naturally they language of the tangata whenua toilet, well, and forget about life for themselves and their gravitated to us. Before too long in their daily lives and their talking proper English, I mean to families. Consider that prior to they began talking school ground body language and gestures are say! Oh and forget about using this, NZ was a major player in the Maori English and adopting influenced by Maori. a washing machine, bloody nig pacific and that the overstayers Black American gestures of So in 2010 I came to the Cook nogs, bush pigs and FOBs, but were pacific islands in which greetings with a Maori flavour. Islands officially to set up an that was what it was like back previously the NZ government You know the terms, cuz, bro, HR Division for the Ministry of then in those circles. had exercised colonial power choice, sweet as, yo, brudder, Education and I quickly came I served an engineering over and we had strong cultural, sup, what’s the haps, the finger to realise that I had some apprenticeship at the now economic and political links gestures, slapping of hands unfinished business to attend defunct Astley Tanneries in New with. That historical connection and fists in greeting, bumping to. I had begun a journey of Lynn in those early 1970’s and was of no benefit to pacific shoulders, the lifting of the discovery many years before the Personnel Manager in those islanders and they were treated eyebrows and the chin when and I had one more journey to days used to recruit from Tonga. as petty criminals by the police meeting mates or bro’s and go and that was to complete That whole industrial area was a and immigration authorities of speaking as though they had just the whakapapa connections hive of activity with Crown Lynn the time. As a consequence an come off the marae. If you had between NZ Maori and Cook just up the road. The Tongan under-pressure Muldoon led watched any of the Billy T James Islands Maori, begun by my workers used to stay in the government over reacted and comedy shows of the 1980’s and grandfather Te Putu when he company flats straight across thus ushered in the infamous 1990’s and the NZ made movies started out on his own personal the road from the tannery. The ‘Dawn raids’ on pacific with Maori characters you will journey over 80 years ago. I orientation and induction of islanders. We were so bad in our know exactly what I mean. had spent so many decades these workers was rudimentary treatment of pacific islanders In 2006, as a NZ Cadet ‘discovering’ myself and now at best and they struggled that we watched and cheered training officer, I overheard was the time to put all those with the language, the cold, as blood was spilled in the a conversation between new experiences and knowledge the modern appliances and all streets as Samoans and Tongans cadet entrants, two brothers together to find out where in manner of city life, things that fought running battles in south and others outside my training the greater Polynesia we all we took for granted. We used Auckland under the banner of office window. They were came from. Be sure to read my to have business house rugby the Crypts or Bloods or gang unaware I was listening. The upcoming article, ‘The Journey tournaments with the local wannabees. The Stormtroopers, conversation went something continues’, which closes out the factories and as our Tongan Black Power, Mongrel Mob, like, “Yo brudder, man what a chapter in my grandfather Te workers some of whom were Head-hunters, Kelston Sharks, sweet looking chick, shit yeh, Putu’s quest. Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 NEWS 18 “Norman George on” law reform-the EBA breath test laws

By Norman George Narcotics Act at another time. o law has such severe I am sure the readers will be direct effect on interested to know how the EBA Nmotorists than this one. (Breathalyser test) is applied, The penalty for a first offence by what legal authority and be is 12months imprisonment, able to judge whether it is fair or $1,000 fine, disqualification not. I will add my own opinion from driving for 12months and and criticism from hard earned community service with no time experience in the High Court. limit provided in the Act. The This is what the law says Act we are discussing here is the under section 28B of the Transport Amendment Act 2007, Act...... ” Where a constable which I shall refer to as (the Act). has reasonable cause to suspect Fortunately for the convicted so that a person.... far, no a) Is driving or attempting Justice of the Peace to drive or is in charge of a motor has sentenced anyone to vehicle on a road...... My imprisonment on the first comments, you do not need to offence. No one has been be seen driving, just suspected sentenced to community of driving, “in charge” of a motor service either. Twelve months vehicle is not defined, so you disqualification from driving could be some distance away is compulsory. This particular from your vehicle, you could be penalty is painful for those who resting or sleeping it off on the need to drive for a living, there roadside, the law is unforgiving, is no exception to the rule. The no escape. “Road” is defined as going rate for fines range from a street, and includes any place $200 to $500. where the public have access After a period of 6 months whether as of right or not, Norman George disqualification, the motorist Transport Act 1966 can apply for a partial lift of (b) Where the Police suspects a can stop you without reason. to remain at the place is subject the disqualification to allow the person has recently been driving This random testing system must to all the penalties mentioned person to drive during working or attempting to drive or has stop. That is the reason behind earlier. hours only, day or night. This been in charge of a motor vehicle roadblocks and checkpoints, COMMENT The problem here is where we need to draw the on a road...... ”recently” is a major inconvenience to law is when the police patrol does line in the Cook Islands. In not defined in the Act but my abiding citizens. Changes in the not have breath test equipment New Zealand they have demerit Oxford dictionary defines it as law should require roadblocks on them. They use this excuse points for the first EBA offences. not long past or shortly before and checkpoints to be used to take sometimes innocent Only after a third conviction the present. I have known the on special occasions or events people who do not drink, back will the issue of disqualification Police to stretch this provision authorised by a Justice of the to the police station and keep come into play in New Zealand. for many long hours into the Peace, when intended for EBA them there for hours without Why did we not do that here in future, a clear abuse of the law purposes. Otherwise normal justification. I recommend that the first instance? Has the strict (my comment) roadblocks can be used for law if they do not carry the EBA draconian approach reduced b) Was the driver or enforcement purposes by the equipment in their patrol car, road accidents in Rarotonga? I person in charge of a motor police. they lose the right to use one think not. There is a tendency vehicle which was involved Back to the actual breath test. later at the police station. in the Cook Islands to follow New in a motor vehicle crash. My The Constable may, subject Having covered the Zealand laws by the coat tails. comment, I have no criticism to Section 28F require that breathalyser test part, we shall Where New Zealand laws are of this provision, if you are person to provide without delay, discuss the blood test provisions well researched, our legislators, involved in a crash, accept the a specimen of breath for a in next week’s column. A member while studying the New Zealand f u l l c o n s e q u e n c e s . breathalyser test. of the Road Safety Council Mr. draft try to out tough them by Opinion and Comment: (2) A person who undergoes a Brent Fisher, approached me increased absurd penalties. There is a complete absence of breathalyser test shall remain at recently to ask my views about Some of our worst examples a driving fault drawing Police the place until after the result of the Transport Act laws as they are of over the top penalties are attention to the driver. This is a the test is ascertained. reviewing it. This is my response; in the Misuse of Drugs and random breath test law. (3) Such a test can be to my friends in the Road Safety Narcotics Act. The same shoot Not even evidence of alcohol conducted where the person is Council, many thanks to Brent. I first ask questions after cowboy consumption, speed, careless apprehended or at the nearest will cover other parts of the Act legislators have their paw prints driving and other driving faults police station. after I have finished with the all over these overly harsh and to justify a police stoppage to (4) A person who refuses to blood test provisions next week. cruel laws. I will address the apply the breath test. The police undergo a breath test or refuses Ka Kite. PB

Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 RELIGION 19 How to experience God’s Blessings (according to Psalm 128) By Senior Pastor John Tangi is why the Psalmist said “The I have never met anyone Lord will bless you if you who does not want to be respect Him and obey His blessed in life, and most laws.” v.2 reads “Your fields importantly to be blessed by will produce, and you will be God! happy and all will go well.” In Psalm 128 are important This verse is speaking to us as lessons that we could learn individuals. from if we are to be blessed The work that you are doing by God. There are two parts will prosper because you to this Psalm; respect God and obey His laws. (1) is our attitude towards The root-crops that you’re God which is to respect (or planting produces manifold fear) Him, and to obey His because of Him! Your boss laws (or walk in His ways), and is pleased with your work (2) is the blessings of God. performance because you’re In other words if we do what doing it honestly, faithfully, God wants us to do, then He in the fear of the Lord, and in will bless us. In the home accordance to His ways, His environment if the children laws, His righteousness! v.3-4 listen and do what their speaks about you and the parents ask them to do then family. It reads “Your wife will they will receive some form of be as fruitful as a grapevine, blessings. This is no different and just as an olive tree is rich from the things of God! In with olives, your home will other words the Psalmist is be rich with healthy children. saying “Don’t expect God to That is how the Lord will bless you if you don’t respect bless everyone who respects Him and obey His laws!” “No (fear) Him.” This is speaking pain, no gain!” “There’s no about the joy, the peace, the such thing as free-lunch!” v.1 respect, the love of God in reads “The Lord will bless you the home – the father, the if you respect Him and obey mother, the children and His laws.” everyone else in the home! The question is ‘How do you It doesn’t mean that life is respect God?’ The answer plain-sailing, smooth, no! A is ‘We respect God by doing little argument now and then what is right in His sight!’ is expected because of our One important question is human nature. But what the our Jerusalem. about the future generations ‘What are the laws of God?’ Psalmist is saying here is that, Friends, I’m sure all of us in our nation, and the ‘peace The answer is, read your Bible most of the time life is good want to see things happening of God ’ in the Cook Islands! and you will find the laws of in the home! But this can only for the ‘good of all’ during As individuals, God will bless God! Anyway, here’s one of happened if we “…respect our lifetime! According to the you! As families, God will bless God’s laws “You shall have (fear) God and obey His laws Psalmist, this will only happen members of the families and no other gods before Me!” (or follow His ways!)…” v.5 if we “…respect (fear) God those in the households! God (Exodus 20v.3) Many people reads “I pray that the Lord and obey His laws (or follow will also bless our community, treat TV as their God, and will bless you from Zion and His ways!)…” v.6 reads “May the future generations and are too lazy to go to Church! let Jerusalem prosper as long you live long enough to see also the nation! Some spend too much time as you live.” your grandchildren. Let’s Therefore, we need to doing things that take them This verse speaks about the pray for peace in Israel.” This respect God and obey His away from God! Things that city Jerusalem. For us today, verse is speaking about the laws! And do what is right prevent them from reading Jerusalem is the community future generations and the in His sight! May you have a their Bible or praying to God, we are living in. Even the peace in the nation of Israel. God blessed week! Te Atua te or even singing to God! That island we are living on – this is This verse is also speaking aroa. Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 VIEWS 20 Infliction of Animated

Cruelty ChroniclesBy Lucianne Vainerere t’s only fair to assume that every kid-teenager By Teherenui Koteka imagined themselves as a cartoon character, ast week while I was playing chess with my picturing the hectic adventures we’d go on and brother I caught a glimpse a travel show on I taming the untamable. That life you wish you had only L that was playing on the television. What I saw because your imagination seemed better than your shocked me! I cannot recall the name of the show but it reality. An animation I’ve recently watched is The Book featured man who travelled to Asia on a gastro vacation. Of Life. It’s quite different from other animations that I’ve What shocked me was a particular scene in which there seen, if anything it makes you think more about life and were two sea turtles atop a table. The poor creatures the extents you’re willing to go to for the sake of your were turned upside down and made to struggle in loved ones. fear while cruel people taunted them. The cruelty Let me break it down for you, the story starts in these people inflicted upon these poor creatures truly the center of the Universe, being Mexico. And in the SHOCKED me! I think this inhumane action shocked me center of Mexico stood a small town called San Angel. because I would never have witnessed such behaviour The ruler of the land of the Forgotten (which lay below here in the Cook Islands. Here in the Cook Islands we the land of the Remembered) got sick of running the would never taunt a creature just for the mere fun of lifeless realm and wanted to exchange realms with his it. Yes these people would have sold these turtles to Amor, so they set a wager that held the life of all of people, who would most likely eat them, and some may humanity. see this as a justified reason for their capture, but I They chose 3 best friends, 2 boys and a girl where do not. They would turn them over and watch them both boys loved the girl, Maria. The wager was that squirm; attempting to get free, and just when the poor they each chose a champion (one of the boys) and creatures thought they had the chance to run away whoever married Maria in the future would win and they would scoop them up and place them on their rule the land of the Remembered (which lay below San shells. I watched as these merciless people spun the Angel), which was always colorful and festive. And so turtles around inflicting further pain upon them. This Maria’s father sent her to Spain to become a proper behaviour truly saddened me. That night I could not help lady, and the boys grew and waited for her till she came but to ponder as to why these people would behave in back and the story unfolds where the best friends fight such barbaric ways. Not only is this behaviour cruel but for Marias heart. it is also illegal. It is illegal in most countries (including The moral of the story I guess is that love conquers all the country in which this show was shot) to capture and as cliché as it is I can’t help but believe it (yes, I’m a sea turtles. I asked myself why these people would risk hopeless romantic, don’t judge). Its that true sort of love being caught capturing sea turtles, it was not like they that’s been there for a long time and you can’t seem to let had nothing else to eat, there was a variety of food it go because of how much it means to you- how precious shown on the show. In my mind this act of cruelty is it is, how true it is and how its from the heart. I know dirty and unacceptable. Protected species such as sea we’re young and we shouldn’t even be thinking about turtles should not be caught. They are protected for that kind of thing, but for some of us you can’t help but a reason. Green-Leatherback sea turtles and Hawksbill yearn for it only because all we really want to do is feel sea turtles are on the list of official endangered species. loved, and be happy – the worlds subconscious dream. If behaviour such as this continues, soon there will be Anyway, back to imagining ourselves as animations, its no more sea turtles left. Imagine a world without sea only natural that we have a major part as well. From the turtles. This might seem like a minor issue, but in actual hero to his/her lover, to the villain and his minions to fact it is not. The statement might seem major, but to however far our mind allows us to imagine. think that my children will never get to see a sea turtle, Imagining is like the foundation of our childhood that another one of gods amazing creatures will never memories and that sticks with us forever regardless again be seen breaks my heart. This logic can be applied to how much we mature and grow up. So don’t be in a many other things. If someone somewhere is capturing sea hurry to grow up, when you’re 18 reality slowly starts to turtles, then we can surely bet that somewhere else there kick in, being truly independent and writing your own are other endangered species being captured. We really story and the worse part, separating from the people need to start realizing the impact of our actions and we you’ve practically known your whole life. But life’s a need to start caring more about our endangered species, climb and worth every journey, may your heart be pure because once their gone there is no bringing them back. and courageous and “Always play from the heart.” PB

Cook islands Herald 13 May 2015 Cook Islands Herald CHOOKSGOSSIP>>> 09 February 2008 2121 WhenOh the dear NZ chooks,government’s those delegation frisky aboutAnd that inter- day may island be closer shipping! than PM Puna arrivedbean to countingvisit Penrhyn young and Manihiki bucks to in Nothinks! more pussy-footing the Office o te dosh or OOPS- around! Let’s have a proper introduce“Office them Of to Pecuniarythe bright lights Secu- of deep water port at each island civilizationrity”-may and 24 have hour tvpecked NZ Opposition them- whereChook ultraposes thelarge question, passenger “When does membersselves were in theincluded claws! the Looksreason likeno shipsBank Policy like theoverrule QE an II Actand of 200,000parliament?” localthey Opposition want members an indoor were includedsports tonneAnswer, “Whenoil tankers the Bank can is the sail BCI inand wasfacility because that when more Elvis gotthan feed halves back andthe jobcomfortably is too fiddly.” tie Chook alongside refers to the your potential income the the wharf with plenty of room themore Demo it’sexpert in use! on Example!renewable energy If one toAct spare! which Getreduces the the TNT cost outof a peo-vehicle Vininetball Jimmy Larger team was is unavailable in action, no thenone plregistratione! Why by notthe number a mini-atom of months left else2,000 was invited, spectators the Demo canleader paySmelly to bomb?in the registration That’ll shift period. a lotApparently of coral it is Hetaenter. would haveThat’s been brilliant!out of his depth But at if inBCI a policyhurry! to chargeLet’s theget fullblasting! registration thattwo level teamsso to avoid are embarassing in action, him justhe Blowfee although half the there reef may away only ifbe nec- three 600 spectators can be accom- essary to get the big boats in! wasmodated! shelved and Whoa!Miki Enery What’s from Aitutaki with It’smonths going of to the cost year probably left to go. What$500 is wasthe taken seating to light deal the Chinesehere? donatedIf three Bulldozingwhere hypocritethe parliament Heta wants to bein the a fromin their cars,a far, at work, distant every where journey it seems millionthe Ministry and of Transportannihilate doing allabout sea this? fireteams crackers. play Mrs Preserlay then there’swas rewarded no PrimeBoarding Minister Housebut for all is his currently warts and duringexcept in theirwhich pockets! he is thought to lifeRemember, for a radius computer of systems 500 miles are there but to for roomher Manhiki left matfor placementany spectators! and bed deficienciesbased, makes Elvis is apreferred lotta deto senseHeta as have visited King Solomon’s hey!serve That’smankind progress!not the other And way around! the chooks. This area is A1 perfecto mines. A troublesome Knight makingCrikey skills withdick! a trip How to NZ. does this leader glorious any day of the week. Crawl If the solar power project was really cost is a mere drop in the pro- make anyone any money? And and according to our esteemed has been sent packing from the verbial plastic bucket when we we thought the young bucks backeastern under yourengineering bulldozer Heta émigrés and stay Rounda “cross party” Table national along initiative, with why his is have billions upon billions of Within charge the $1 of themillion Office NZAID o tefunded dosh there.from the land of the great wall, entourageit none of the of oppositionscribes, leadersspeakers went dollarsWhen inthe Manganese agricultural research Nodules station pearlwere farming clever! equipment Oops! and materials, it would be a piece of sushi to andnorth keepersfor the opening of the celebrations? purse. The carpetingwas closed down the oceanchooks, what floor happened in our to the $1 million China funded pearl farming bowlOh dear over. chooks! Or Patients should turn upthat to getbe Kiwi delegation included Representatives of 2all million the equipment square left over? mile What happenedEEZ! Peking Duck? Those huge, Oh dear chooks! Are that lot in materials,Are the the millions CISNOC spent on sahibs the harbour and their eyes checked following earlier surgery the opposition in NZ, Shearer for Labour Bringto the ittwo on! Chinese donated motor bikes memsahibs to bed down at the wealthy visitor loaded, float- Blue grateful or not? Chook pulls development,new indoor the heavy facility machinery or donatednot? If onlying to banks-cruise be told examinations boats had-would been upand thePeters other for NZ day First. afterSo where a scorch- were the leftWord on the overpremises? the C’mon Coconut Audit Office- by theyChina, theare millions then of we dollars will worth have of cancelledbe able and to rescheduled tie up alongfor the next shore, day! inglyleaders hotof the crossing Opposition of inthe the West- Cooks? Wirelessare they on andthe asset CNN-Coconut register? solarbodies renewable on siteenergy to project, ensure numerous the Raj Pooreven folks the trundled big container all the way boats in only and to ernWhere desert, was Smiley? to deliver Where was large the Bishop?con- network News chooks is that charterdoors flights are and opened who knows and else closedfor less belarge sent homefuel again!boats Has would not the be Health able lot to tainersTrust PM Punaof cool, to hog life all thepreserving, limelight for threeAnd topon the wig auction and coming gowns up of motor in. Being next to the air- crystal clear water from the oa- from Kiwiland have been in thanand 200 the people premises on Manihiki, used they properly are sure been advised of the invention some years his greedy self. government vehicles, buyer beware most and there’s no grafittizing or port means fuel can be piped a sis yonder to the Fort of the Blue town practicing hard for an gettingvandalizing! much more thanIf not, their who fair sharewill ofact agoshort of the distance telephone? from the boat. It Brigade! On returning to his upcomingvehicles are up matchfor auction against “as is.” Whisper a theas goodies caretakers? with less than Solution 1% contribution chooks? would also be good tidings for camel,What’s deliveryPM Puna upman to foundchooks? Flyingone formidableis two vehicles localfrom Agriculturewho cannot will cost to Tender the national the budget.joint out Per capitato private they oneNote strategicallythe way PM Puna positioned was strutting lo- scribeother CIP dressed MPs about in Blue willy scribbling nilly, hither bemore named to transport because to the theauction Lord venue areindustry! street lights A ahead Rock than ‘n Roll the Revivalrest of aroundcal travel up north agent- on the having kikau walkways, a port outdither a parchmentto pow wows of whenoffences! really One they Highthan they beaks will fetch have at auction! told the just a hoppa, skip and a jump carrying the instant fine of camel learned scribes to zip it! The theevening population. or How two? come If soa privatefew people in- waving his arms in the air like some dustry group into fitness were across the road would be very droppingshave no business to theto bevalue there. of What $40! was It trio-two roosters led by a hen havewilling had so muchto manage lavished uponsaid them? facility, Is modernhandy day indeed! Julius Caesar?Truly, Ifa PMfloating Puna seemsAlbert and the one waterback bencher chook doing had up –wereWord apparentlyis now the northern holed groupup in has it becauseall the 78 better! of them Mostvoted for sports Elvis who use knowsbank hiscome history to town!he will recall what parkedin Manihiki? in Cookiethe sacreddelegation place to a re-high the24 oldhour boardingpower, they can house watch byvideos the all tookfitness those 78 gear votes anyway and made so himself it would the happened to Julius Caesar! servedpowered onlychin wagfor inEl BangkokCommissar’s for high lagoonnight. Certainly in Nikao. be able to keep their beer Primebe Minister?a perfect What solution! a lucky people Only to get re- Big Red has dusted off his specialflyers were chariot! shocked Not to to comebe out- down to cool longer! But will power charges actually maining question? Where to trusty crystal balls chooks and done, water boy’s Lord and Em- Chooks Big Red has heard millionsbase of CISNOC? dollars put around their necks peeredTalking ofdeep that marvelouslyinto the mistsconvenient of pressbreakfast to atthe their West, digs haveonly toengaged run into fromgo down? his vast network of in- like eis. Lucky, lucky people just breathing inventiontime andthe mobilethe future phone, whenhas ap-will aAitutaki scribe MP tounder fire Policeoff ainvestigation, sternly formers that the real reason for to getBuilding millions of adollars completely spent on them. new peoplepeared realize in thata frightening highly trained vision!scientists wordedMoana Ioane! communiqué None knew he to was the turning Pal- theKiwiland island dignitaries wide powerto the north failure for the Wishand we couldrelatively all be Manihikians. inexpensive Is there at workedIn Camelot, long hours Bigto design Red a seesphone asmall re- aceup so of farEl Commissar!from home but why was he onsolar Sunday launch wouldwas havesomeone been impressed for- anything$50 millionfor the biggestbut completely constituency jus-of enoughjiggy to jig fit of in seatsyour pocket at the and Roundtake with there? It’s PM Puna again playing his little gettingwith the todisplay top put up on the for fuelthe visitors tank by tified, deep water port in Nikao Table. The King has returned Let’s get serious chooks supplying the main generator. Tupapa? What else has their glorious leader you where ever you go so anyone can power games, moving CIP MPs about like the local sharks in the lagoon. But with and their First Lady got for their handful contact you immediately if need be? Seems chess pieces! Well one day someone is Neves aboard the boat, were the sharks of supporters? It’s little wonder vindictive people leave their mobile phones at home, going to say to PM Puna, “Check mate!” impressed?

In NEW ZEALAND-FIJI, SAMOAS, TONGAreturn for what?AND COOK ISLANDSCOCONUT SERVICE ROUNDTABLE VESSELFAT CATS VOYAGE NEW ZEALAND FIJI SAMOA & TONGA Cook Islands Rumour Auck Lautoka Suva Apia Pago Nuk Raro Number 2, has it, Government is CabinetForum is beingFiji lll pestered by the 32 SLD 09,10/02 10,11/02 12/02 12,13/02 16/02 - expecting us , the business sector Total Well chamberForum of commerce Rarotonga to lower ll taxes, cut 08 10,11/02 - to lift production,15/02 increase18/02 wages, 17/02 Madness!25/02 21/02 spending, abolish fees and reduce VAT! they run the Forum Fiji lll 33 25/02 28/02 pay more29/02 taxes and agree01/03 02/03 05/03 - assylum! Forum Rarotonga ll 09 02,03/03 - to07/03 a VAT increase! 10/03 09/03 17/03 13,14/03 Forum Fiji lll 34 13,14/03 18/03 18,19/03 20/03 21/03 24/03 - Forum Rarotonga ll 10 23,24/03 - 28/03 31/03 30/03 07/04 03/04 Forum Fiji lll 35 02,03/04 07/04 08/04 10/04 11/04 14/04 - Forum Rarotonga ll 11 13,14/04 - 18/04 21/04 20/04 28/04 24,25/04 Forum Fiji lll 36 23,24/04 28/04 29/04 01/05 02/05 05/05 - MozzieForum Rarotonga ll 12 04,05/05 - 09/05 12/05 11/05 19/05 15,16/05 Forum Fiji lll 37 14,15/05 19/05 20/05 22/05 23/05 26/05 - Forum Rarotonga ll 13 25,26/05 - 30/05 02/06 01/06 09/06 05,06/06 Forum Fiji lll 38 04,05/06 09/06 10/06 12/06 13/06 16/06 - Forum Rarotonga ll 14 15,16/06 - 20/06 23/06 22/06 30/06 27,28/06

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 22 Private sector competition will drive down costs By Charles Pitt a Comprehensive Development government administration development and ownership, to rdinary people are now Project (CDP) which will drive be retained and the private agricultural development and to expressing genuine economic recovery across key sector re-invent itself and try a fishing which are achievable. It concerns about the sectors of the economy including different approach. will be able to introduce these O tourism, agriculture, fishing, There can be less government cost of living. Despite MFEM’s initiatives with little or no special data showing the CPI (Cost Price transportation, shipping and in our lives but that only follows government concessions or Index) indicating relatively low banking. when there is a strong and assistance. inflation, the increase in prices The group’s proposals would developing private sector which Their aim is to prove that locals of imported goods is plain to see. see development of outer island can provide jobs at decent can do it for themselves and the Bank interest rates remain high tourism, agriculture and fishing wages, a sustainable export wider community will benefit but are influenced by factors all with outer island involvement sector to draw in overseas from increased competition outside the control of ordinary and a unique concept of funds and stable government to which will drive costs down people and government. ownership. Affordable impart confidence and attract while at the same time providing While it is clear private sector transportation and shipping will investment. a better and affordable standard competition to date, has failed compliment the development Merchants of Paradise is of living. to drive down costs, a group and sustain it. Lower bank advocating several innovative Further details will be released of local developers are of the interest rates could follow if approaches to hotel by the group when authorized. view the economy should be the group takes up an option to private sector driven and that establish a new bank offering government should refrain lower interest rates on loans, from intervention or providing more vigorous competition, Greeting and incentives such as cheap loans marketing and services. or tax breaks. Such action Rather than weaken an would be a temporary fix only already weak economy through and would not be sustainable. government restructuring, This local group, the Merchants downsizing, staff layoffs serving of Paradise (MOP) is a group of and cuts to operational local developers who propose to expenditure, the group’s By Hayley McNabb turn things around by introducing proposal is that a strong central fter a few months of no job, which meant no money apart from the notes my Nana gave me, I finally found myself VACANCIES Aa new job. About two weeks ago my friend and I went Experienced Executive Housekeeper, Room Attendants searching for jobs around the island. & Seamstress wanted. Ph: 25800 or email hr@ We came to Marekos/Gift Shop and asked if there were any jobs rarotongan.co.ck available and just with our luck we got the job straight away. It had been they had just happened to be wanting two new employees. So Experienced Chief Security Officer & Security Officers there we had the job which was every Saturday at the Punanganui wanted. Ph: 25800 or email [email protected] Market from 6 in the morning until around 2 in the afternoon. But because we have to start at 6 it means I now have to wake up at 5:30 on a Saturday morning and that is honestly one of the most hardest things I have to do because I just love sleeping. So once everyone arrives, we set up the stall by putting tables up to display all the items on sale and wait for the people to start coming in. However despite the little things I particularly don’t enjoy, I can say I really like this job. This is because not only does it mean earning my own money but it helps me learn the skills of working PACIFIC RESORT HOTEL GROUP in a business. Greeting and serving customers, helping and making A GREAT PLACE TO WORK… sure they get exactly what they want and making sure they pay the right amount of money and get the correct change back are the skills We are currently seeking the following for our I learn by working at the Marekos/Gift Shop Market stall and from properties in Rarotonga & Aitutaki: this it helps me get a more better understanding of how businesses work because one of future careers is to have a business of my own. • Reservations Manager (PRHG) We have many items on sale ranging from all sorts of jewelry to • Housekeeper (Aitutaki) pareus, clothing, souvenirs that tourist loves, hats to prevent you • Cashier (Rarotonga) from getting sunburnt and just everything you need and they are • Guest Services Agent all affordable for everyone. So come down to our stalls on Saturday • Chefs morning and support a local business. • Wait & Bar Staff • Porter/ Security

We are always on the lookout for talented individuals interested in a career in the tourism industry. If you want to be part of a high performing team then feel free to visit one of our resorts in person to complete an employment application form. To apply : email – [email protected] PB

Cook islands Herald 20 May 2015 23 CLASSIFIEDS VACANCY TENDER SALES ADMINISTRATOR with an outgoing and professional personality required full-time at Te Vara Nui. Please email your expression of interest and CV to [email protected]

REQUEST FOR TENDER 1. HAEMATOLOGY ANALYSER (5part differential) 2. HAEMATOLOGY ANALYSER (3part differential) 3. ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT

Tenders are requested for the supply of specific medical - Counselling and Training Manager- Confluence, Rarotonga equipment for the Rarotonga Hospital. This tender is in three - NBSAP Project Coordinator- National Environment Service, sections: Rarotonga 1. Haematology Analyser (5part differential) From only $79+VAT for 30 days. 2. Haematology Analyser (3part differential) To view full job descriptions and to apply for any of these 3. Ultrasound Equipment roles, please visit www.cookislandsjobs.com today. The tenderer is permitted to tender on any one or more parts TENDER of the tender, but the tender must be for the whole requirement of that section. Tenders shall be submitted either: Hard copy - Complete hard copies, packaged and labeled “CONFIDENTIAL” and have the following information clearly exhibited on the outside: REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – NEW POWER HOUSE Procurement of Medical Equipment 2014/2015 No.2 Cook Islands Ministry of Health P O Box 109, Te Aponga Uira invites bids from suitably qualified companies Avarua, or groups to procure all materials and construct the main COOK ISLANDS platform where new containerised generation plant will be OR located at Avatiu Power Station, Rarotonga. Softcopy: By emailing the tender bid as a pdf file to [email protected] with the subject line “Procurement Upon registration at the following email address below, Tender of Medical Equipment 2014/2015 No.2”. The receipt time on Documents can be requested from: the inbox will be used as the receipt time for the purposes of ensuring a tender is within the time limits. TAU Project Manager The Tender Box is located at the Funding and Planning Office Te Aponga Uira, Rarotonga, Cook Islands of the Cook Islands Ministry of Health in Tupapa (or submitted Fax: (682) 21-944 electronically to the email address detailed above) Email: [email protected] Tender/Offer Closing Time Request for tenders will close on the 22nd May 2015 at The proposed timeframes for the bidding process are set out 4.00pm. below: Tender document and specification can be uplifted from the Funding & Planning office of the Ministry of Health in Tupapa Deadline for submission of questions: and is also available on the Ministry of Health website www. 3:00pm 3rd June 2015 health.gov.ck or contact Ms Vaine Ngatokorua on ph 29664, Deadline for submission of Proposals: fax 23109 or email: [email protected] 3:00pm 10th June 2015 Meitaki maata Notification to preferred Contractor: 17th June 2015 PUBLIC NOTICE Contract and budget negotiations: From theweek of 15th June 2015

This timeframe is indicative only and may be subject to change. Cook islands Herald 13 May 2014 24 FOOTBALL UPDATE Messi: This incredible Barça team still wants more Lionel Messi wants to put an exclamation mark on what has already been a title-winning campaign for Barcelona. The Catalan giants clinched La Liga’s trophy, their seventh in the last 11 years, at the weekend with Messi’s goal sinking Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon. Now Barça are taking aim at the Copa del Rey decider on 30 May against Athletic Bilbao, before turning their attention to the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus on 6 June. Messi wrote on his Facebook page: “La Liga title is very special as it always rewards the best. But this team is incredible and still wants more this year. Forca Barça!” Messi has scored 54 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season. The club has the possibility of winning a second domestic and European treble in the space of The Catalan giants, coached league games this season and home to Deportivo La Coruna on six years. by Luis Enrique, have won 30 end their league campaign at Saturday. 9 days to go to FIFA U-20 World Cup Traditional welcome greets first official team arrival kraine became the anthem and presented the first team to arrive team with a traditional gift Uat their FIFA U-20 of sourdough bread and salt. World Cup New Zealand Ukraine, of course, have the 2015 venue, and they were distinction of taking on the greeted not only with a taste hosts in the tournament’s of home, but by a traditional opening match at 1pm on Kiwi welcome. Saturday 30 May. On arrival at Auckland Similar scenes will await International Airport, coach each of the 22 other teams Oleksandr Petrakov and jetting into New Zealand his team were treated to a for the U-20 showpiece performance from Tainui’s over the coming days, while Haka Legend group and the Kiwi hopefuls will be words of welcome from officially welcomed to the helping to showcase. He welcome upon landing at representatives from the tournament at Auckland’s said: “Despite being a the venue at which they will city council. They also Aotea Square on Tuesday 26 long way from home, the be based during the group received a rousing reception May. In welcoming Ukraine to Ukrainian expat community stage. And with Auckland from members of the local the city, Martin Fairweather is rallying its support, and having taken centre stage Ukrainian community, clad of Auckland Tourism, Events we look forward to some today, Wellington and in the nation’s traditional and Economic Development spectacular football.” Dunedin will be the next of blue and yellow colours, who Limited spoke of the diversity Each competing nation will the seven host cities in the sang the country’s national that the tournament is receive their own official spotlight.