News in Brief

Tourism forum
The Cook Islands Tourism will be hosting a Cook Islands Tourism Forum next week. It will begin on Monday the 18th January 2010 at 8:30am at Crown Beach Resort. Tuesday & Wednesday it will be held at the Titikaveka College and Thursday & Friday will be a formal conference held at Crown Beach Resort this will also see overseas Representatives attending. (A media release will be given on Thursday 14 January 2010).

Leadership award to local lawyer
Martha Henry current employee of Crown Law has been awarded the Australian Leadership Award therefore she will be departing our shores for the University of Sydney, Australia this Saturday 16th January 2010 to study for a Master in International Law for one full year. Ms. Henry heard about the Australian Leadership Award from a friend and applied online via AusAid website url: http://www.ausaid.gov.au The Australian Leadership Award is an ausaid initiative scholarship for leaders or potential leaders to presume leadership roles, in order to be applicable for such scholarship one must have a Bachelor already. Ms. Henry at present has a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the University of the South Pacific.

Limited resources stall gym
The Gym at the Telecom Sports Arena (TSA) in Nikao is not being utilised due to a number of complex issues states Geoffrey Halston Property officer of CIIC – CIIC are working on a sports policy. Halston is looking at a ten year strategy to tackle a lot of the health and sports issues. Halston further states that private entities have an interest in this as well and CIIC has a statutory obligation not to compete with the private sector.
Reasons behind TSA gym not being used is the fact that there are limited resources, staffing, funds, The gym is not fully equipped and the major issue which is the policy yet to be put in place and which could take weeks or months to complete. Halston says hopefully over the next few weeks they will put something in place so the public can utilise these facilities at a small cost (to cover maintenance) until a sports policy is in place.

Sports Arena water tank dry
Certain areas of Rarotonga still lack water. At the end of Nov 2009 the water tank at the Telecom Sports Arena (TSA) was completely dried out however it had been helping the village of Nikao during their period of water deficit. Mr. Geoffrey Halston Property officer of CIIC stated that the TSA water tank has been assisting the Tepuka tank with an estimated amount of 750 thousand litres of water. In Nov. 2009 CIIC had pumped all the water out of the water tank as the water level was below a certain point. However with the little rain the TSA water tank is slowly filling up – with less then 250 thousand litres of water currently. Mr. Halston says all we can do is pray for more rain.

March opening for terminal
The long awaited new airport terminal is expected to open in March however the exact date is yet to be confirmed. Mr Joseph Ngamata CEO of Airport Authority states that there has indeed been a high interest from local businesses’ in the past few months in setting up shops. Tenders are invited to put in proposals as of today.

Rotary AGM next week
On 16th of January the Rotary Organisation of the Cook Islands - Rotaract will be holding its annual end of year function where they will name their new President for 2010.

BTIB to look at legislation
BTIB- Business Trade Investment Board will look at the option of legislation following complaints that have been made towards the Business Trade Investment Board. CEO Mr Terry Rangi said he had read the UNESCO funded Koutu Nui Community Visioning articles and is paying close attention to the concerns of local people with regards to small businesses’ which should be reserved for locals.
Mr. Rangi says that under the Investment Code there are six (6) reserved industries these co-insist of rental businesses, cafes and so on. The comments from the Iti Tangata in the Koutu Nui 2009 community will be looked into during Business Trade Investment Boards major review which is currently in progress.

Teaching positions still vacant
With schools commencing around the Cook Islands two weeks from now, Education department state that almost all the schools are fully staffed (95%): except a few positions in the Northern Island Group. They are currently finding that the critical positions to fill are those of the secondary schools, an estimated 7 - 10 expatriates(New Zealand) have been recruited to fill in positions for this year.

Exam result due soon
Ministry of Education confirmed NCEA Results - should be in by the end of the month for all Cook Island Students- however students can check online using your ID Number https://secure.nzqa.govt.nz/for- learners/records/login.do
Yet to confirm names of those whom receive scholarships - as they are pending the acceptance. The names of those should come out next week also awaiting results for secondary student’s level 3.

Extra flight to Aitutaki
Due to the high demand, yesterday saw Air Raro delivering an extra flight to Aitutaki at mid- day despite the protesting against flights to Aitutaki on Sunday. In the year 2009 - a year where Many where going through an economic turmoil statistics show Cook Islands Tourism rapid increase -a country whose economy solemnly relies on tourism.
Though it hinders certain aspects there are some favorable factors: causing change in culture & tradition, increase in costs (food Price, fuel, standard of living), lack of water due to increase in consumers both Domestic and Commercial to name a few.

League to start 5 Feb
Cook Islands Rugby League kicking off on the 5th Feb. - leading up to the main event they will be holding a league 7’s tournament 29th Jan - 30th Jan 2010 aiming for 12 team comp teams yet TBC. 7 clubs taking part in the Cook Islands Rugby League Comp including Aitutaki Sharks: grades will be premier reserve U19 U16 U13 CI Rugby League Ass. are also focusing on the development of jnr grades in the Cook Islands.
Canadian rugby team due March
The Lions U16 from Canada arriving in late 28th March playing 4 matches’ against local U16 teams combined village teams - building local capacity.

New gym in Titikaveka
Titkavika Sports Ass. will be installing a new Gym which they received through the assistance of NZ aid - the gym is for the Titikavika Community to promote health for both the yound and elderly. This is all part of a campaign to assist the codes within the community - Rob says “ Titikaveka use to be a very dominant force in all codes therefore are trying to revive it by involving youth with sports and less nocturnal activities. Some people are already using the the gym however the official opening date is yet TBC. - they are also looking at encourging schools in Papaaroa and Titikaveka to utilise the facilities. Working together with the community neighborhood watch and the church communities around providing everyone with activities.
Kent Hall reason being its central and its in the heart of Titikaveka - also looking at putting in changing facilities, showers - Robert Matapo also states “Titikaveka doesn’t have a Cyclone evacuation centre as the school has been identified as unsuitable the next option WYAM is too close to the sea - therefore in the long run they are looking at developing Kent Hall not just a community Facility, a Gym but more so a Safety Zone a Cyclone Evacuation Centre.

De-tox program set up by CICC Titikaveka
Titikaveka Church community is currently holding a de-tox program today and tomorrow. Vaine Murray organizer and co-founder of this Program De-tox program is more or less a cleansing program which will be held at the CICC Church Titikaveka 7pm tonight and tomorrow thereafter it will begin at 6:30pm from Wednesday onwards. This is a four week long program to help cleanse and provide a much healthier living. Cost $20Ms. Murray decided to create this program because she has seen that there are a lot of health problems and wants to encourage the community as well as the people of the Cook Islands to go back to natural/organic food as the island has an abundance of it. The De-tox program will begin with screening and orientation which will take place today and tomorrow as this will help provide Ms. Murray as to where each individual stands health wise. Lectures will commence on Wednesday. Ms Murray will also be providing the cleansing drink which is made of natural ingredients only. Therefore one will benefit immensely as there is no side effects due to the mere fact that everything is Natural leaving you much healthier and a much happier lifestyle.

Banyan Tree Exhibition
A worldwide art exhibit is currently here in Rarotonga at the Cook Islands National Museum and will resume here till the 22nd Jan 2010. The Banyan Tree exhibition which will be going around the world is the work of many a artists two of our very own Mahiriki Tangaroa and Mereana Hutchinson have contributed to the exhibition. They are also holding workshops today and tomorrow, however today’s workshop which was at 10am had a total of 3 people. The workshops are for those interested in art or who are looking at becoming artists.

Agricultural project starts
Agricultural Project involving four outer islands. - An assessment team comprising of technical personnel will be travelling to Mauke this week to do an assessment and consult with the locals in forging their inputs and support on a design of a model to make agricultural growth work in Mauke and how they would like to see it working for themselves, this will occur over a 4 day consultation period. From this the assessment team will return to Rarotonga and formalize an arrangement to be adopted by the other 3 islands - however each island will have a unique design that slightly differs from that of the other.

Female U20 Soccer team to NZ
Three (3) Aitutaki girls arrived on Saturday to join the rest of the U20 girls soccer team here in Rarotonga - Saturday played against the boys on as a trial match however loss the match . The U20 soccer team will depart this Sunday 17th Jan at 5pm for NZ for the U20 Oceania Football World Cup Qualifier Travelling with the team as women’s Ref. Tupou Patia.

Referees workshop in NZ
Four personnel will be departing our shores to attend a week long workshop in Auckland New Zealand for the FIFA Oceania Referees workshop consist of two referee development officers, one for administration and one for fitness training they include Lai Gukisuva Chairman of Refs. Robert Savage Dev. Officer, Maara Kaukura and Tutai Taurarii

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?