News Briefs

Cabinet meeting in Aitutaki: The country’s worst kept secret
Last Friday Cabinet Ministers and officials flew to Aitutaki immediately after Sir Terepai Maoate’s state funeral to have a meeting there. In fact, I understand, they flew there on Air Raro and were then transported across the lagoon to Motu Tapuaetai (“One Foot Island”). Only the Minister of Finance Mark Brown remained behind and perhaps Hon Teariki Heather. If we are all filled with intrigue, the next question must be, why? What is the logic behind braving the rain, wind, seas (remember there was lighting, thunder and a heavy downpour on Thursday night and in parts of Friday) to hold a Cabinet meeting?
The last time Cabinet met in Aitutaki was two days after Cyclone Pat devastated the island in 2010. This was the Jim Marurai led Cabinet in which I was the Minister of Finance. This was a bona fide response to a disaster stricken people who were traumatised by nature, whose electricity and water supply was down and who were facing threats of shortage of food, shelter and illness. The people of the island needed a morale booster and Cabinet had to see first-hand the devastation in order to appreciate the urgency of approval of funds to support the island and its people. On Aitutaki, the then Cabinet approved the disbursement of $2.5 million to quickly restore electricity, cart in food supplies and other immediate things needed.
The Opposition understands that the reason for taking Cabinet to Aitutaki was to trial the undertaking that the Government is planning for the Forum Leaders Retreat in Aitutaki. This is a time when the Leaders break away from the proper meeting, put on their casual clothes and maybe swimming togs and head over to sessions of eating, drinking and generally bonding with each other. Would I be right in saying then that in the absence of a life threatening disaster, Cabinet was actually there to experience the pleasures of “One foot Island” plus the fan fare? I have been to this beautiful island several times and love the scenery, the barbeques, sipping on wine, the swimming and generally the fresh air, sun and the relaxation.
I don’t want to be mean to my colleagues in Government especially after an excellent state funeral for former Prime Minister and Leader of the Democratic Party Sir Terepai Maoate, but I’m inclined to think that if it was not for pleasure then it must be purely for political purposes. In other words, Cabinet has approved public funds for campaigning, for propping up the Cook Islands Party in Aitutaki which arguably is flagging in the public rating. Aaah, well, they hold the purse and can do what they want to do. All I’m saying is I find it a strange and illogical thing to do when it would suffice with Minister Teina Bishop, (as he always does) to organise things and report progress back to Cabinet. As one wise man would say, “the spoils of power can easily be misused” and I leave it to the public to judge as to whether this is one such case.
In conclusion, as Acting Leader of the Democratic Party, my sincere appreciation on behalf of the party to the many hands that wove together to make Sir Terepai’s state funeral a memorable one. Indeed, we have lost another remarkable son of the Cook Islands. -Wilkie Rasmussen, Leader of the Opposition

New technology drives economic benefits
The launch of a new cosmetic line seems to be an unlikely place to find the start of a new economic order, but skincare range, TeTika proves otherwise.
Cook Islander, Dr Graham Matheson, says the technology behind the Bioactive Cook Islands Oils found in TeTika products has cost more than $1million in research and nearly 10 years to complete.
“However, the value of TeTika to the Cook Islands is hard to put a figure against,” says Dr Matheson.
Speaking at last year’s Economic Summit alongside the late Dorice Reid, Dr Matheson described how a small agricultural product can be modified to a more valuable product and then used in a premier product carrying the Cook Islands name on it.
“This generates employment in the retail and spa sectors and introduces the Cook Islands to a world-wide market through a luxury brand,” says Dr Matheson.
“In addition to this, the scientific technology required to produce high quality is transferred to the Cook Islands and the Intellectual Property that produced all of this is possibly the first knowledge economy product of the Cook Islands.”
Only 16 months after the Economic Summit announcement, this vision has become a reality with next month’s Rarotonga launch of the TeTika Skin care range containing Bioactive Cook Islands Oils.

Colourful send-off for Maraeroa principal
January, 1977, might seem a long, long time ago but for Jean Cowan it feels like yesterday.
That was when she started teaching at Maraeroa School, after previous stints at Tairangi School and in her native Cook Islands. On June 29, Ms Cowan bought the curtain down on her career, after a “wonderful” send- off in Maraeroa’s hall.
There was plenty of colour, laughter and song - with the Cook Islands High Commissioner in attendance - but no sadness.
“I thought I might cry because this has been such a huge part of my life for so many years but I was too busy having a good time to worry about being sad. It doesn’t feel like 35 years, I can’t believe it.”
Holding classroom teacher and associate principal roles meant no day was ever the same, which kept her invigorated for 35 years.
“If I was working in an office I think it would have been different. But as a teacher you have new kids and new parents every year, new challenges, and I loved it.”
Being part of the “community” that encompassed a school like Maraeroa was important to her.
“The people who support this school are amazing. I enjoyed establishing relationships in the school and out there [in Porirua], that was a huge part of what I wanted to do.”
Today, with children more technology-savvy, teachers face extra pressure to keep up. But at the heart of primary teaching must remain the desire to nurture young lives, she says.
Teachers at this level must develop with the times but continue to be “entertainers” as well as mentors and educators. Realising that “one size does not fit all” is crucial to success.
“Teaching is not a 9am to 3pm job, sometimes you are like parents and nurses and teachers, all in one. You need to plan well and the [payoff] for me was to see a child moving forward with good writing, reading and maths skills.”
It was during a recent trip to a wedding in Rarotonga that Ms Cowan reassessed her working life, deciding the prevalent Cook Island attitude of “working to live” rather than vice versa would be her creed.
“I want more time with my grandchildren, more time for me.”

League challenge

On Friday 20th, the Tereora All Stars, a Tereora College rugby league team made up of Year 12 and 13 senior boys, and coached by mathematics teacher Lualua Tua, will be taking on the CISA Sports Academy in the first ever game of rugby league between the two. Kickoff will be at 1.15pm at the Stadium. Deputy Principal Andrea Panther says this is a perfect initiative driven by Robert Heather and boys and the entire school is getting behind it to get some school spirit happening. There will be a banner competition with $100 cash for winner and a Dash for Cash in the half time break (girls and boys race – winner gets $20). The Pukapuka boys will be performing at half time.

Te Peu Kapa Kuki `Airani
Te `Ura Kūki `Airani
Te `Ura me kore ko te Kapa Kūki `Airani, ko tētai tu`anga mānea, `aka`ieie, sūmaringa ē te inangaro`ia tēia i roto i tā tātou peu `ākono`anga Māori.
Kua tae atu oki te rongo o tā tātou Peu Kapa Kūki `Airani ki to tēia nei ao `ē kua pū`era`era, kua kakara kua rongonui`ē kua tiratiratū.
No reira kia akameitaki `ia to tātou au pā-metua no ēia au kōrero i `āpi`i `ia kia rātou, te au ta`unga, tō rātou mārama `ē te tārēni, tā rātou e `āngai nei ki tēia uki e onge nei no ēia au kōrero tūpuna.
Ma`ara i te rau matangi o te vivo `ē te rutu o te pa`u
Ko te `Ura Kūki `Airani
Ko te Peu Kapa i roto i te `Ura Kūki `Airani, e ma`ata `ē pērā katoa `e tūkētūkē te au akaariari`anga puapinga e rave `ia ana. Te vai katoā ra oki te aite`anga o `eia au akatūtū`anga tei akamou `ia ki runga rāi i tōna `enua `ē tōna vaka.
Kā ui tātou e nā`ai `ē koai ka rave i `ēia au peu? Kua kite oki tātou `e mei tō tātou rikiriki`anga mai, `e mea mātau na tātou i te āru i tō tātou kōpū-tangata ki roto i te tapere ki runga i te ta`ua `āpi`ipi`i`anga, no te `ākarakara i te au kapa te ka `āpi`i `ia `ē te kā tāmoumou `ia. Na roto i teia ātoro`anga, kua akamata i reira te au tamariki rikiriki i te akauka ma te akaparu `iā rātou ki te tangi o te pa`u e pērā katoa i te āru i te akatūtū`anga e `āpi`i `iā ra ki te pupu-`ura. Ko tētai pae tāriki ka rave rātou i tēta`i `uātu rākau e ka ruturutu ki runga i tētai `uātu apinga.E akakite oki i reira teia, e mei to tātou rikiriki mai anga, i akamata āi tātou i te umuumu i te kai, me kore i `āpi`i `ia āi i te au kōrero a to tātou pā-metua.
I roto i tā tātou au Peu Kapa i te Kūki `Airani nei, te vai ra te `ura ā te va`ine e pera katoa te `ura ā te tāne mei tei tā`iku `ia i te tu`anga tua-ta`i o teia tātā`anga.
E au kapa oki tēta`i tei akataka`ia e na te au va`ine anake `ua e pērā katoa te kapa na te au tāne anake. Te vai katoā ra oki tēta`i au kapa tei akataka `ia ē na rāua okota`i e kapa mai.
Te kite katoa nei tātou i teia tuatau e kapa `ia nei te `ura tātakita`i a te va`ine e pērā katoa ta te tāne. E `ura oki teia tei akatinamou `ia na te au tātakita`i, no te `akaari mai i tō rātou kite karape e te kamaatu i te `ura `ē te kapa no runga i tēta`i tāpura tei akano`o `ia, `ē kia rauka `iā rātou i te `akaari mai na roto i te kapa, e kua mārama rātou i te reira `ē pērā katoa kia rauka `iā rātou i te `ura ma te āru i te rutu o te pa`u `ē te tōkere na roto i te kapa`anga i te kapa Kūki `Airani.
Teta`i Au Kapa Kūki `Airani
Te vai nei e mānganui te au Kapa Kūki `Airani `ē pērā katoa tā tātou au `ākono`anga Māori `ē ko tēta`i au pae kua ngaro. Pēnei kua ngaro tēta`i pae i te tuātau i tae mai ei te Blue laws `ē ko ēta`i kua ngaropoina, pēnei no te taui`anga o te tuātau, pēnei kare i `āpi`i `ia `ē pēnei kāre rai i `inangaro i te tāmou.
Noātu ra, te kite nei tātou i te umuumu o te iti-tangata i te mou mai, i te ranga i te ka rauka mai kia vai e kia tāanga`anga `ia.
Ko teia tēta`i o tā tātou au Kapa -
Kapa Rima `Ura Pa`u Pe`e Peu tupuna
`Ura Rore `Ura Rama `Ura Kōrare `Ura Penu
`Ura Pāta`uta`u `Ura Pā`ata `Ura Piani Nuku
`Ura Tā`iri`iri `Īmene Reo Metua`Ūtē
`ē te vai atūra.
Au Pākau `Akatangi no te Kapa
Ko te au pākau akatangi no te Kapa Kūki `Airani, kua akatu`anga `ia te reira ki roto e toru tu`anga
1. Tangi Matangi - E rua ngā pākau i pāpū tikai i roto i tēia
tu`anga, koia oki, ko te Vivo `ē te Pū
2, Tangi Rutu - Koia oki ko te Pa`u pākiri `ē te Tōkere
rākau Pa`u pākiri
- pa`u/pahu, pa`u mangō
Tōkere rākau - pātē, tōkere, kā`ara,
kōriro, ko`e
3. Tangi Niuniu - Koia oki ko te kītā `ē te ukurere.
E nga apinga tēia tei apaina ia mai ki roto `ē ki runga i tō tātou `enua, I tēta`i au taime. na tō tātou iti-tangata rai i apai mai i teia au apinga akatangi i to rātou oki mai anga mei Makatea. Kua viviki to tātou iti-tangata i te kite i te akatangi i teia au apinga akatangi ma te `anga mai i ta rātou uāorāi tu `akatangi ma te atu `īmene. Kua rauka mai i reira tēta`i tū akatangi navenave, ko te maiata `ē te pata pāta`uta`u na te Kūki Airani.
Ko tēia au pākau akatangi nei, e akatangi tātakita`i `ia ana ratou i te au taime ka anoano ia, `ē pērā katoa, e akatangi pupu `ia ana. E mea umeremere `ia ra te rongo `ē te kite i tēia au apinga akatangi me tā`angaanga kapipiti `ia rātou e te au ta`unga na roto i te karakia, te pe`e, te `īmene te kapa `ē te `ura.
No reira i te Kūki `Airani nei, te vai nei tā tātou `ākono`anga Peu Kapa Māori, tā tatou e rave nei, e kite nei.
Te inangaro nei rai oki tātou kia vai mātūtū uātu rai tēia e kia tupu ruperupe no te uki āpōpō.
Pēnei ... “Tēnā pa`a tei iakoe! `Akia mai!...Tikiri ri!”
Kia ūpokotū `ua atu rāi -Rutera Taripo

Peu Maori kia vai uatu rai
About this article -This article was written in the mother tongue (with English version), by Mangaia School student – Ms Salaima Vavia, who was posted with the Tourism & Community Development Division of Mangaia Island Administration (MIA) for work experience recently. Salaima was tasked to choose a community activity, carry out interviews and write an article about the selected event on Mangaia Island. Salaima chose to focus her efforts on the visiting Ivirua descendant delegation that visited the island from Australia and New Zealand. The delegation came to island to give their children the opportunity to experience life and traditions from the land of their ancestry. Most have never been to the island before but are a part of a program in their respective resident countries to revive and promote their cultural backgrounds.
MIA has offered Salaima a spot to write monthly articles to be posted on the Voices of Mangaia facebook profile managed by the TCD Division of MIA. Meitaki Ngao, Helen Marion Henry, Acting Secretary, Mangaia Island Administration

Kua tae mai i runga i te enua o Mangaia tetai pupu tamariki tei kapua ia mai to ratou au metua no te oire mai ko Ivirua. No roto mai tei reira i te putuputuanga Ivirua community Youth i roto ia Niutireni e pera katoa te Ivirua Community i Victoria i Autireria. Kua arataki ia mai to Autireria pupu e Tereuipaanga o Pokino-Harry, e kua arataki ia mai to Niutireni pupu e Teariki raua ko May Heather.
I roto i te tuanga Victoria i Autireria, e Apii reo ta te au tamariki Ivirua, e rave ia ana i te au Aonga katoatoa e rua e te apa ora i te ra. E ko te akakoroanga koia oki ko te apii i te anau i te reo maori, te peu maori e pera katoa te au akonoanga maori i te au tamariki kia kore tei reira e ngaro. Kia kite katoa ratou i te ngai i kapua ia mai ei ratou. Kua turuturu ia teia porokaramu e te Kavamani Autireria na roto i te oronga anga mai i tetai tuanga moni ei tauturu i te oko i tetai au apinga apii na te anau tamariki.
I Niutireni, te riro nei te putuputuanga Ivirua Community Youth i te tauturu i te au anau Ivirua no runga i teia au mei i taiku ia i mua ake. Na roto mai i teia akakoroanga i tupu mai ei teia manako i te apai mai i te au tamariki i to ratou enua tupuna o Mangaia. Ko tetai au papaki ia ratou, ko teia te tuatau mua i tae mai ei ratou i Mangaia nei.
E tai o ratou epetoma i roto i te Apii Mangaia School, i te oronga i tetai tuatau no ratou i te kite i te turanga akateretereanga apii o Mangaia nei. Kua tae katoa atu ratou i te tutaka i te au marae i apai ia mai ei te evangelia i roto ia Ivirua e Tamarua. E ngao te au mea ta ratou i kite e tei tamou i teia tere no ratou. Te inangaro katoa nei ratou i te kakaro i te turanga o te enua, e, eaa katoa ta ratou ka rauka i roto i te tuatau i mua i te oronga mai no te tauturu. Penei ake e ka manako tetai au tamariki tei tae mai, i te oki mai i Mangaia nei noo ei ma te kimi atu i tetai puapinga ei meitaki rai no ratou e pera katoa ei meitaki no Mangaia enua.
Kua akapapu katoa mai tetai mama akateretere ia ratou koia ko Tereuipaanga, e ka tupu ua teia tere no ratou i te au rua mataiti katoatoa, e te ngaa ua nei te ngutupa no tetai uatu tangata i te aru mai me kore piri atu i roto i teia putuputuanga i Niutireni e Autireria. E ngao i nana ai te au aronga tei manako ana i te piri mai i teia tere ina ra, ko tetai ua tei rauka ia ratou te aru mai e tei kite i te akakoroanga. Te oronga nei ratou i ta ratou akameitakianga i te Puna tangata Karanga, ko tei riro ratou ei punanga nooanga no te anau tei tere mai, te oronga katoa atu nei i te akameitakianga i te apii Mangaia School no te ariki mai ia ratou e pera katoa te Enua Tangata katoatoa o Mangaia nei. Na Te Atua e akameitaki mai ia kotou i te au ra i mua. Tangike rava.

Visiting our shore’s recently are children and parents from the Ivirua Community in Victoria Australia, and Ivirua Community Youth from New Zealand. The purpose of their visit is to give their children an opportunity to experience our culture, our language (to tatou reo), and also to enjoy our beautiful environment. For some of the children, this is their first time to their mother land and they are enjoying it very much. According to Tereuipaanga o Pokino from Australia, there were many who wanted to come on the trip but only a few made it. And this little group represents the whole Ivirua Community in Australia and New Zealand. This is the first time an educational Ivirua Community Group has made their way to Mangaia and it won’t be the last. The intention is to visit Mangaia every 2 yrs. The joint Coordinators wish to encourage all Ivirua families living in Australia and NZ to participate and prepare for the next trip. The visiting group would like to extend their gratitude to their host the Ivirua Community in Mangaia and also would like to extend their love to all their families and friends back in Australia and New Zealand. Like what their motto says.”Kia Ruru a Rama “, “Let’s Bind together”. Kia manuia to the group and the Mangaia Island community look forward to future visits to our island so we can exchange experiences and customs to maintain our culture for the future generations of Mangaians both here and abroad.

An issue of helmets
I guess my opinion on helmets is the same as any other teenagers: They suck. They cramp up your style, make you look like an astronaut from outer space and they’re just plain ugly. It’s an issue that has been fought over for many years and in most cases, it’s the same group of people: Teenagers versus Adults. Unfortunately, I have been forced to wear one by an obscenely anxious mother. I can see things from her point of view, but honestly, at the speed she drives (which is at a snail’s pace), I see no need for a helmet. Allow me to tell you how this dilemma began.
Advertising does have a strong effect on how parents perceive the safety of their children. I just didn’t know that my mother was one of them. Back in my primary days, when I was a carefree, innocent little girl, my mum and I use to wear helmets like they were some sort of fashion accessory. I didn’t care if I looked abnormal on the road. Why? Because I was young and less self-conscious than I am now. As time went on, wearing helmets in the Ngatamariki household became something of a taboo until it went completely extinct.
As I was saying before, advertising is one of the many things that can change the mindset of your parents. It certainly did for mine. Until recently, our helmets had been sitting in our closets collecting cobwebs. Once my mum saw something scary on TV, she made, what she calls, a “wise decision” to dust off the helmets and bring them back into style. At that moment, I went into instant shock. My first thought was, “Oh no, how will my hair breathe?!” This is the mentality of a typical teenager living in the Cook Islands. We cannot help it. Yes, I would rather have ugly, messed-up bed hair than a cracked skull, but if you know you’re driver (and believe me, I do) and you’re confident in your driving skills, you should be fine.
Of course, it may not be YOUR driving that’s the problem, but the people driving around YOU. Idiots (the majority of them being male teens) who have a fun racing sessions do claim lives on the road, I won’t deny that fact, but there is a large proportion of RESPONSIBLE teenagers who drive sensibly. It’s just that the idiots ruin it for all of us and give us a bad reputation. I reckon that we should be given the choice to wear or not to wear a helmet. Teenagers are so self-conscious these days that they worry about the littlest things, such as their appearance and their friend’s opinions. Why? Because it matters to us, but hey, that’s adolescence for you. Lacking confidence plays a major role in a teenager’s life, but while we have a choice, we should be able to make our own decisions. Oh, and I’m totally with that guy (whose life story about helmets is in the CI News). If the manufacturers made helmets more appealing to the eye, then I might take it into consideration. -Norma Ngatamariki

Reminiscing

A few days ago, I saw these little kids having the times of their lives jumping on and off the edge of a small veranda. (The veranda was only about knee-high just in case you’re wondering) They were laughing and shouting with each other, pretending they were at the edge of something enormously high and that they were skydiving off the edge.
Watching them use their bright imaginations, creating their own worlds of adventure and excitement, made me miss being young again. When the only thing you were afraid of, was of the monster under your bed. How you used to climb trees and make little ‘mud cake’ things with your friends. I remember simple things like going to the zoo with my family, leaning over the rails wishing the giraffes would come a little closer. (They never did, useless giraffes)
But being a little kid was easy, it was free, it was happy. You didn’t have the responsibilities that you do now, and as you get older, you begin facing the much scarier things in life, not just the monster under your bed.
Being really young, you could talk to your teddy bear or action hero doll thing without looking like a crazy person. You can’t exactly do that now or people will give you sideway glances.
I miss having bursts of energy, I still do as I’m only seventeen, but the amount of vivacity I have now is in no comparison to when I was younger. But when you’re young, the only thing you wish is that you were older! I remember standing at the entrance of a ride at a theme park and being so disappointed when I didn’t reach the height requirement. Now as I tower over it, I miss being only able to ride on the little ‘kiddy rides’
When you’re young, you want to be older, and then when you’re older you want to be young again. But when you’re a teenager, you want to be both. You miss having everything so easy and simple when you were young, yet you want to be older so you can experience the world through mature and independent eyes. It’s all just so exciting! The thought of what you could be and what you could do in this world! But at one point, you begin to remember how things were, how things used to be when your mum had to tie your shoelaces, or when your grandparents read you a story at night. Sitting there reminiscing about the younger days can take you on a long and emotional journey!
Since no one invented a time machine, and we can’t turn back the hands of time, my advice is to just make the most of every year you have in your lifetime. To appreciate the age that you are at, and enjoy every moment of it! After all, you’re only a certain age for one year, and one year can go by very fast.
g off track. I’m actually wearing a helmet because my mum threatens to have me walking to every destination. I’ll probably get a stern lecture from her about “exposing” the helmet issue, but I think it’s worth it if I state my opinion.-Dante Numa

Herald Issue 608 21 March
- Terms of one China Policy document should be reviewed
- Pacific Media Assistance Scheme Seeks Innovation
- Successful NZ visit by PM
- Rerekura Teaurere New Climate Change Coordinator
- News Briefs