News Briefs

Chairman to be replaced?
Chairman of the Ports Authority Sam Crocombe is waiting to see if his tenure as Chairman will be renewed. His warrant expired two months ago and Crocombe advised the Herald on Tuesday afternoon he does not expect his tenure to be renewed. He was appointed by the Cook Islands Investment Corporation Board. CIIC Board Chairman Tapi Taio is currently overseas and could not be contacted. - Charles Pitt
Added costs upset Nita growers
Nita growers are upset at the imposition of additional costs locally for airport security reasons. Growers must now pay $2 per box of nita to be inspected and this cost may rise to $3 per box or unit shortly. A local grower told the Herald on Wednesday morning, in New Zealand, there is one flat fee of $500 per shipment regardless of the number of boxes. The grower said a representative of the growers had met with government and growers are still waiting for feedback. He said growers are concerned at the lack of incentives to produce and at being clobbered with extra local costs. Secretary for Agriculture Anthony Brown advised the Herald on Wednesday morning he is aware of the concerns and will be discussing them with the Airport Authority CEO. - Charles Pitt
Majority of Demo Punas favour unity
Despite the headlines news being issued from the Democratic Party Leader, Sir Terepai Maoate and Party President Makiuti Tongia, the Herald understands at least thirteen electoral Puna are in favour of unity and support the current Cabinet.
A Demo insider advises it’s predicted another one or two Puna are expected to join in shortly. The representatives from the various Puna committees meet every Wednesday to discuss their plans and strategies to achieve unity saying it is up to each Puna to decide who their candidate is for the General Election later in 2010.
The faction say that all of their actions abide by the Party’s Constitution and minutes are taken of every meeting and passed on to the current Executive. The minutes of the last meeting were passed on with the latest ones being passed on to John Tangi who is still Leader of the House and still works from his office at Parliament.
The handing over of the minutes was made in a ‘public area’ to ensure the minutes are acknowledged as on the record by the current Executive.Rather than engage in a war of words, the Puna committee are pressing ahead with plans for the upcoming Democratic Party Conference to be held at the Tereora College Princess Anne Hall but the date is still to be confirmed. -Noeline Browne
Weather plays havoc with traffic
The wet weather is some what contributing to the number of accidents within the last 24-hours. Radio Cook Islands understands that an accident near Moana Sands in Titikaveka involved 3 vehicles, another involved a young boy, and another this morning involving a tourist. Police say the first accident reported near Moana Sands involved a car who had side swiped another 2 cars travelling in the opposite direction, the second accident yesterday, involved a young child who was struck by an oncoming vehicle and this mornings accident involved a tourist who failed to make the bend near Palm Groves in Vaimaanga and ended up driving into a running river. The heavy rain experienced in the last 24-hours is a contributing factor to the accidents because of poor visibility. Police told radio news the accident involving the visitor this morning occurred minutes before police arrived as police were conducting visibility checks around the island. It’s understood that both the toddler who was involved in yesterday morning’s accident and the tourist were transported to hospital for assessment and treatment. Police is asking that people take it easy when driving as the conditions are wet, slow down and keep your distance when driving behind vehicles.
Netball starts Saturday
Titikaveka Netball club has confirmed that they will be part of the 4 clubs to take to the Telecom Sports Arena courts this Saturday which is the start of the 2010 Domestic netball season and withdrawing was never an option. Executives of Titikaveka Netball have said their decision was mainly because of the clubs junior players. It’s understood that clubs rostered on duty patrol at the TSA have been divided into both town and country, town will on Saturday be in charge of food stalls and country in charge of gate takings and duties. Gate takings is understood to be split between the two town clubs, and the food stalls is a fundraiser for each club. The club will hold a training session today at 5pm and will be followed by a meeting to discuss the start of the netball season, and all players, coaches and executives are asked to attend.
100 in popular swim race
This year’s Boiler Swim race on Thursday will see over 100 swimmers take part. The popular race is gaining in numbers each year and this Thursday will start at 5.15pm.
Handball seeks new members
The CI Handball Association is looking for boys under the age of 18 years, preferably born in 1992 & 1993 to represent the Cook Islands at the first Youth Olympics in Singapore in August. Because NZ pulled out, the Cooks was next on the list to represent Oceania . So far Swimming & Sailing are the other 2 codes confirmed to attend these games.
Boot camp for girls
On the 13th of May The three girls from Rarotonga selected in the Netball squad will be travelling to NZ for boot camp. This is the first of 2 trips before they eliminate 3 girls to get the squad down to 12 girls.
Rise in teen pregnancies
The Reproductive Health and Adolescent Health Co-ordinator is raising concerns about the sharp rise in the number of teen pregnancies saying more must be done to address it. The number of teenage mothers in the country doubled last year on the year before. Maine Beniamina blames the problem on teens not getting enough advice on sexual reproductive health and told Radio NZ International - two contributing factors to the rising number is due to lack of awareness and also young people or young teenagers not accessing the family planning which is available which is available from three main places where they can access family planning through NGOs and through government organisations, therefore its always available. Maine Beniamina says it’s a problem that must be dealt with in a sensitive way and assures her clinic can assure complete confidentiality for its clients.
Golf fundraiser
A golf ambrose competition will be held next month in aid of the Aitutaki Golf Club- house that was damaged during Cyclone Pat in February. Registrations are open for the fun tournament on May 15th at a cost of $120 per team. Various competitions will be on sale including 6 Air Raro tickets to Aitutaki and food will be on sale throughout the day. For those who would like to register, can contact James Hermann on 51776, Rita Howard 52677, Ants Turua 55546 or the Rarotonga Golf Club.
Special welcome planned for Vaka
Next month will see a special welcoming ceremony for the 5-vaka who are retracing our ancestors journey 700 years ago. Vice President of CI Voyaging Society Te Aturangi Nepia Clamp says, this is a significant voyage and is about creating awareness of environmental issues faced by the pacific people. The five Vaka’s are Maru Maru Atua from the Cook Islands, Te Matau a Maui from Aotearoa, Uto Ni Yalo – Fiji, Hine Moana which consists of Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu and Faafaite from Tahiti. President of the Koutu Nui, Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid said yesterday, the Cook Islands Vaka was named by Tou Travel Ariki which means ‘Under the Protection of God,” and will be used as a flag ship once it enters into Cook Island waters. The journey which began in Aotearoa will see the fleet arrive into Tahiti before making the journey to Rarotonga where a special ceremony is being organized at Avana. The CI Voyaging Society Media spokesperson Eva Nepia-Clamp says the society will be calling on various communities on Rarotonga who will be able to welcome in their own Vaka. The Ministry of Cultural Development Secretary Sonny Williams says, the ministry will be playing a supportive role to the CI Voyaging Society and will be calling on various dance teams within the 3 districts of Rarotonga to welcome in the fleet and added not only is this journey retracing the great migration by our ancestors 700 years ago, it is also an educational one and next months ceremony is also to enable us to revive our traditions of a welcoming ceremony. On board the Marumaru Atua is Ian Karika, Tetini Ti Pekepo, Duncan Morrison, Harry Goodwin, Jamal Pakoti, Paul Mangakahia, Amosa Tatuava, Jasmine Hemopo, Pererika Makiha, Sam Napa, Angelie Robinson, and Rakeimata Koronui. Up to 4 crew members will join the vaka in Tahiti and includes Te Aturangi Nepia Clamp, Peia Patai, Tua Pittman and Sarah Moreland. It’s understood the crew on board the CI Vaka held their own Anzac Day ceremony on Sunday.

 

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?