News in Brief

Queen’s Baton Relay
The Cook Islands in May will play host to the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton torch relay. The baton will arrive into Rarotonga on Saturday 22nd May and will depart for the Aitutaki leg on Monday 24th before starting its Rarotonga leg on Tuesday. The baton relay will start the leg at the BCI stadium where an opening ceremony will be held before making its way around the island through Arorangi ending back at the BCI stadium. On Wednesday 26th May, the baton will be paraded by its sponsors in the morning before being hosted at the Office of the Prime Minister. The Queen’s baton will depart later that day for its journey through Oceania before arriving into India for the Commonwealth Games later this year.
Mixed netball draw
The mixed netball tournament continues tonight and is into its 6th week of competition at the Telecom Sports Arena. The social competition is to help promote physical activity in the community.
The draw for tonight is as follows:
7.00pm - 7.25pm Extreme vs Centa Jaguars
7.30pm - 7.55pm Telecom vs Avarua schl
8.00pm - 8.25pm Edgewater vs M2 Flyers
8.30 pm - 8.55pm Semakes vs Asiaciti
2SHARP vs CITV Ferns
Black Beauty vs K’Rahs
Thort it was a Disco vs BC I
Jagar Bombs vs Sex Mart
Six deaths in Cyclone Tomas
The Disaster Management Office in Fiji says at least six people have died as a result of Cyclone Tomas. And, a relief co-ordinator says at least two villages in the Lau group of islands have been destroyed and he says there are still about twelve thousand people sheltering in the 209 evacuation centres around Fiji.
UNICEF says 130 thousand people have been affected by Cyclone Tomas, and another five thousand by Cyclone Ului, which hit the Solomon Islands.
Meanwhile, New Zealand, Australia and France are sending aid money along with assistance from the navy and air force. UNICEF is working to deliver nearly three-hundred tarpaulins, one-hundred tents, 50 health kits and water purification tablets to the areas hardest hit. And, there are fears many people hit by Cyclone Tomas in Fiji have gone into hiding and may not be able to be reached by aid agencies. The New Zealand Airforce is assisting the international effort in delivering emergency relief supplies to the hardest hit areas. But a UNICEF spokesman says they did a fly-over, and couldn’t see very many people. An Airforce Hercules landed with supplies in Fiji last night, and will be distributed by aid agencies.
Jobs await new PTA
Tereora College has this month elected its new PTA office bearers for this year with Tere Taio holding onto the chairmanship, Emile Kairua and Barbara Ruaporo as vice chairpersons and Johanna Simiona as the Treasurer. Taio says the PTA has a number of projects ahead including having to find another one and half classrooms to cater for the increasing number of students as the 2010 role stands at 650, up from 20 students from last year. One of the factors for the increased student role is the demand to take up the Information Technology classes, however, there is not enough computers available to cater for the classes of 30 at a time. Budgetary constraints is a concern and because of this, PTA will need to raise the majority of the money to purchase new computers. Performing arts as a subject and the students then need to require their own classroom for their activities. CIIC has suggested the possibility of using the buildings used by the Chinese workers during the construction of the Telecom Sports Arena.
Safety signs for schools
Rotaract has implemented a lollipop sign project for schools and will be working alongside Police, Ministry of Education and Road Safety Council. So far Rotaract will start off with two STOP signs to be erected at both Arorangi and St Joseph Primary Schools before the end of April. The signs will be purchased from the funds raised from the Christmas in the Park, and movie fundraisers will be held throughout the month to purchase more signs for schools around the island.
NZ concert for Aitutaki
When Cyclone Pat hit Aitutaki in the Cook Islands last month 400 families were left in disarray. Sela Apera-Miller and Manika Glassie are part of the Aitutaki Enua Society set up in Auckland. When the cyclone Pat hit, 90 percent of the island was left in devastation and 70 families are now homeless. The society had made contact with those in Aitutaki requesting what is needed the most and has organized charity concerts over two nights next Monday and Tuesday at the Manukau’s Pacific Events Centre. Mrs Apera-Miller says the line-up features high profile and grassroots Cook Islanders and will be a mixture of singers, entertainers and dance groups. Performers on the night include King Kapisi, Che Fu, Brother Love, Tiki Taane and T’Angelo. It’s understood the society will send three shipping containers with food, water and building materials to Aitutaki and is also planning more fundraisers on Anzac Day and over Easter weekend.
No prosecutions yet for smoking
Since the Tobacco Control Act was enforced on the 1st June last year, Public Health has confirmed that since its effect, no one has been fined. Public Health Department is still in the process of educating the public especially when the no smoking applies to indoors, at workplaces, cafes and especially public places. Public Health’s Maina Tairi says that the majority of hoteliers has abided since the law was enforced by designated smoking areas away. At this stage there has been no-one monitoring the no smoking policy since it was enforced last year however, if someone is caught smoking inside a workplace or restaurant and bar, they will be warned first and if caught again will be slapped with a $2,000 fine and the business with a $10,000 fine. A survey conducted in 2004 for those aged between 25-64 year olds, found that 43.9% were smokers out of the 2019 people responding to the survey. The survey conducted in 2003 included Rarotonga and the Outer Islands. Another survey was conducted in 2007, and found that teenagers aged from 13-15 years old 30% of the nearly 800 students who responded were either smokers or had tried it.
Tairi added that those who want to kick the habit that information brochures is available at the Public Health Department and also counselling sessions.

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?