News in Brief

Radio poll endorses PM
On Tuesday Radio Cook Islands held a public poll during the talkback show on whether the PM and his Cabinet should remain in power until the September general election and whether the people should be able to vote for a Prime Minister. The 1- hour popular show saw a majority of the callers agree to have the PM and Cabinet remain in power and a number supported the idea to give voters the chance to vote for a PM.
Other concerns raised by callers was the non-urgency to push ahead on political reform as there are other urgent matters that need attention such as roads, water, shipping, police, health and education. Another concern raised was that the people should be more informed on cabinet decisions, cutting down on ministerial travel and also a no go zone on obtaining loans.
New lagoon cruiser
Conrad Hunter is hoping to launch “Koka Lagoon Cruises” offering a variety of cruise options from hen’s nights to evening cruises. The Glass Bottom Boat has just been put into the water. It was built by Hunter himself with a few helping hands. It is fully equipped with lighting and a built in sound system. A date is yet to be confirmed as Mr & Mrs Hunter will be departing our shores soon.
New policy follows workshop
Last week the Ministry of Health held a two day Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement workshop, dealing with improving the incident reporting system within the hospital. It was attended by Doctors, Hospital Managers, and Nurses from Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu and Aitutaki.
Quality Manager for the Ministry of Health, Elizabeth Iro said having attended the WHO workshop in 2009 with a proposed project; looking at failing to report on near misses or incidents that happened in hospitals is how the Quality Assurance & Quality Improvement workshop came about.
Iro said that two days wasn’t sufficient as they were unable to cover everything however they did cover the basic information. The main concern was the lack of reporting incidences; therefore they (the managers) are subsequently looking at ways of bettering the system that is not too costly, as there is great room for improvement. In the long run is beneficial for the patients, carers, health care workers and the people of the Cook Islands.
On that note having completed the workshop they have drafted a policy on incident reporting; with a draft copy of how a report should be reported. Iro hopes that they will be able to launch the actual policy before the end of March.
Matutu Acting Secretary
The new Secretary for the Ministry of Marine Resources should be finalised by next week, Public Service Commissioner Navy Epati states that they now need to conduct interviews. However while this is taking place the Acting Secretary for Marine Resources is George Matutu.
DPM plans update
The Deputy Prime Minister’s office plans to hold a Press Conference at the end of this week to update the people of the Cook Islands on their political stance.
Ministry wants to use surplus funds
At Cabinet on Tuesday, Minister of Justice, Hon Apii Piho plans to resubmit the submission to Cabinet asking that surplus funds not used in the previous financial years be used to fix urgent problems. In the submission, the Ministry is looking at attending to such matters as the prison including food, water pumps, filters, radio equipments and more.
Other items include the Ministry’s scanners, shelving, stationary and new equipment for the outer Islands such as transport.
Ministry Secretary Mark Short says overall the submission is asking MFEM to give our surplus funds from previous years back rather then MFEM allocating these funds to other ministries in the next Budget.
Team takes on Tonga
On Wednesday the Cook Islands Women’s U20 side go head to head in their first match against Tonga for the U20 World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand. The game will kick start at 4pm and it is predicted that Tonga may win however the Cook Islands Women’s U20 will put up a good fight.
Court action over permits
The National Environment Service (NES) has two cases going to court for illegal development which generally is development without permits. No names have been released. Tauraki Rongo Education Officer for the NES states that the point is any kind of development activity needs to go through the development service. Even for operators they should wait for their client’s permit before proceeding with any work.
The general public needs to be aware that the NES has a process which persons are obliged to abide by for any development.
Health campaign planned
Pubic Health Officer, Charlie Ave of the Ministry of Health says that they are looking at conducting a campaign in mid February 2010 to raise awareness of mosquitoes. The Ministry will update the general public at a later date, once everything is confirmed
Composer’s competition
Rutera Taripo, Director of performing arts for the Ministry of Cultural Development advises upcoming composers and the general public to begin preparations for the Mere Atu (Song Composing Competition) which is to be held in March on a date to be confirmed. In addition, he said the Dancer of the Year competition is scheduled for April. A meeting will be held this week to confirm dates.
No presence at sevens
The Cook Islands will not betaking part in the Wellington Rugby Sevens (7’s) which kicks off in the first week of February as they did not qualify during the Tahiti Tournament that was held in November 2009. Rugby Union CEO Ben Koteka says “we finished out of the placings in November 2009 and so failed to qualify”.
Pa Ariki attends Easter Island festival
Cook Islands’ Paramount Chief Pa Ariki has been invited to attend the Sabati Festival held in Rapanui (Easter Island) from the 1st -14th of February 2010. Steven Peyroux will also be attending. (This invitation is fully funded.) Also attending is Pa Ariki’s son who is currently residing in Auckland, New Zealand. Pa Ariki states it is a full program from day one of their arrival up until the end of the festival. She further states that it is an honour to attend this festival as Queen of Takitumu. Other invitees include New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Samoa and Tonga.
Police update
Senior Sergeant Nga Pouao (Community Relations) gives the weekly report:
A total of ten (10) people have been arrested from Thursday 14th January 2010 last week to Sunday 17th January 2010.
Four (4) were arrested for EBA (Excessive Breathe Alcohol. One (1) convicted and fined - license has been disqualified for a period of 12 months
Three (3) will appear in court on the Thursday the 21st for sentencing
Three (3) were arrested for driving while being disqualified
One arrested for the assault on a female
One arrested for Burglary on an accommodation in Ngatangiia
One arrested for the Possession of Cannabis.
The next report will be on Thursday 21st January 2010.
Seven to international table tennis
The Cook Islands Table Tennis Team will leave at the end of February to represent the Cook Islands in the U15 Oceania Cadets Qualifier, the Youth Olympic Qualifier as well as the Oceania Championships. The event will be held in Auckland from 1st through to the 18th of April. There are five (5) confirmed representatives and a further two (2) are to be confirmed from the outer islands; one (1) from Mangaia and the other from Mauke. The Representative from Mauke if attending, will also compete in the first U12 World Hope Competition.
Evangelism meeting in Greece
Ken Ben, Director of Evangelism for the Cook Islands Christian Church in the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia and also Commissioner for the World Mission of Evangelism (head quartered in Switzerland) will be departing our shores on Tuesday for two weeks in Athens, Greece. Mr Ben will be attending a meeting other Commissioners of Evangelism from around the world.
Bible seminar
A Bible Seminar will be held next month however the exact date is yet to be confirmed. Ken Ben Director of Evangelism for the Cook Islands Christian Church in the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia as well as Commissioner for the World Mission of Evangelism (head quartered in Switzerland) has been organizing the seminar and so far over100 people have signed up to participate in this seminar/ workshop looking at seven (7) hours teachings. Ben believes that by the time the seminar is finished the participants will be able to remember the 77 most important people from the Old Testament. He further states that when you go through life you will have a framework of all the places and knowledge of the Bible both the Old and New Testaments. This workshop is open to other Christian churches in the Cook Islands. So far churches taking part include Assembly of God and Corner Stone while others have also shown interest.
NZ Aid for upgrading sanitation
The NZ Aid is willing to invest funds for taking care of our lagoons states Teariki Matenga. Matenga says NZ Aid has approved a five (5) year term to see what can be done, such as the proposed water sanitation project.
This is a continuation of the Takitumu Lagoon Project’s next phase which is looking at upgrading the septic tanks for each individual household. NZ Aid has approved setting in motion a design team: - Teariki Matenga, Geoffrey Mavromatis and Andrew Dakers.
The plan is yet to be drawn up. A meeting will be held on Friday 22nd January with the Select Committee, which will ensure the project focuses on the right issues and does not deviate.
Matenga states that matters are still in the preliminary stages and they are deciding which system will be most appropriate and cost effective. When asked as to how much NZ Aid is putting up in funding, he said that the idea of the funds is to assist with the upgrades, once a proper plan is in place only then will an official announcement be made as to how much has been funded. This should be known by the end of February.
Project Director arrives
The Avatiu Harbour Project is underway as John Youdale, Project Director for BECA International Consultants Ltd, will be arrive next week Tuesday 26th of January 2010, followed by the arrival of the Structural Engineer (whose name has not been confirmed) who will be arriving on Wednesday 27th of January 2010. Mr. Youdale and the Structural Engineer are here to meet with the Harbour Master, John Fallon and the National Environment Service regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A) for the Avatiu Harbour Project.
Forum underway
Cook Islands Tourism began its Cook Islands Forum meeting today Tuesday 19th January 2010 at 8:30am at Crown Beach Resort attending are representatives from New Zealand and Australia.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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