News Briefs
We bridge distances and build relations
Sea voyaging by our ancestors helped bridge the distances between peoples in the Pacific. Today, those distances have been shortened by more modern’ vehicles’, like our established institutions.
When you travel within the Region, you do get a strong sense of how we have all integrated through various means of contact. And visiting the University of the South Pacific last week was part of that feeling of closeness – that sense of a family being as one region although we are a diverse range of cultures and traditions.
These institutions help bridge distances and build relations. Our relations with the Pacific countries are important and they shouldn’t be belittled by people – especially the Opposition which should know better. Fiji, for example, is one of our most important partners – in trade, tertiary education and cultural contact, and in our Region’s fight for assistance to deal with Climate Change, and other issues.
When I go to the Pacific countries, I take the interests of all our people with me. I am representing the Cook Islands. I am representing the interests of Cook Islanders – even those that want to say otherwise for the sake of being critical.
My recent presence in Fiji was for the Cook Islands – and for the Region – because I have been given a duty as the Chairman of the Forum. I accept that duty willingly. And I accept it because it gives pride and purpose to all Cook Islands’ people.
During my visit, I hosted our students – the first time this has been done and the students felt honoured. I was honoured to be with them – to feel like I can make a difference to their lives there.
Attending the USP was very important. This institution has been established for our benefit since we were a founding member in 1968. We have a very long history with the USP and I can’t turn my back on it just because the Opposition wants me to.
After all, this history with the USP goes back to our early scholars like Lionel Brown and Marjorie Crocombe, in 1971. In fact, our history of achievers in Fiji goes back to our first tertiary graduates, our first doctors – Tau Cowan and Takao Tinirau, in 1931.
As a country, we are linked strongly to Fiji – we cannot ignore it. When I’m there, I’m there for everybody – not just the ones who have benefited in the past but the ones who are in Fiji now and will be in the future.
The real strength of my leadership and my present role in the Region comes from my own team who give me the support for our national vision. The full Cabinet team ensures we are making progress and that our government officials are on top of the implementation programmes and projects. I’m fortunate to have this support at home because it gives the country confidence in being able to be the leaders we can be – the leaders we should be – here and in the Pacific. -Prime Minister Henry Puna
More government workers get the chop
Frankly, the situation is very alarming. Red lights are now flashing about this insensitive Government. When I say insensitive, it means it does not care about the families of the workers, their mortgages, commitments and generally their livelihoods. They simply do not give a damn.
Well, what started as nonsense when I raised it (according to the Prime Minister) is in fact emerging as hard facts. I have now had the occasion to be spoken to and to have listened to pleas for help from four senior public servants facing loss of jobs very soon. One of them has been a public servant in the Cook Islands for more than 20 years and she is only in her 40’s. These four are in addition to one who was threatened directly by a Minister and to one who was handed a letter of termination by his Head of Ministry (HOM). And of course these are in addition to the eight wage workers who got told to pack up but have now got some reprieve. For how long, we don’t know?
I have accused the Government of initiating and enforcing a “weeding out” plan of Demo workers and I still stand by that assertion but I extend my sympathy to those Cook Islands Party supporters who are unwanted. I say to you, join me in the Democratic Party and fight for us “local Cook Islanders”, for our job security and for the retention of our own people in the workforce and in the country. As the new leader of the Opposition and Democratic Party that will be a cemented policy for my Government. To me, our people here in the Cook Islands comes first.
Here’s the pattern of how this systematic “weeding” takes place. The HOM assesses his staff and their responsibilities and decides that he will get better output if he cuts down on staff. He raises that with his Minister or the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Attorney-General for instance. Minister does nothing because he knows the HOM has the full legal authority to dismiss or discard – by that I mean, advertise the job and give it to someone else. Very simple isn’t it? In most cases job performance is cited as grounds for dismissal, termination and being unwanted. Therefore, the local “crown lawyer” for instance gets replaced by a lawyer from outside because the local lawyer is not competent enough. Please note that HOMs are HOMs, the final decision rests with the political masters, who in this instance turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.
This is a very disturbing trend and I should not really bother to complain because the Government is shooting itself in the foot. I mean why should I care? Why don’t I just let the Government erode? Well, I and my colleagues in the Opposition have a passion for our people and we have a feeling of hope for the crust of the earth people, ordinary fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters and all Cook Islanders. We want them to be working and contributing to the country and not being thrown onto the rubbish heap and guess what, nek minit - they are on the plane out of here. One thing is certain it’s our loss. Why? It’s poor governance. -Leader of the Opposition, Wilkie Rasmussen
Minister for sport reports on trip to Wallis and Futuna
The elections for the office bearers of the Pacific Games Council for the next 4 years has seen President Vihdya Larkin of Fiji reelected unopposed as President. Nauru’s Weightlifting icon and current Cabinet Minister Marcus Stephen voted in as Vice President. David Boyd of New Caledonia remains as Secretary General. John Tierney of the Cook Islands elected unopposed as Treasurer.
In a very emotional and dramatic session the votes for 2019 hosting of the Pacific Games the vote went to the Kingdom of Tonga 16 votes to 6. This will be Tonga’s first time to host a full Pacific Games after previously hosting a Mini Games back in the eighties. The large Tongan delegation led by HRH Prince Ata and Cabinet ministers Lord Vaea and Lord Tupou were overjoyed at the announcement which erased memories of 2009 when they lost their bid at the time for 2015 to PNG.
In other matters on the final day of meetings, a number of medals were presented as a result of previous medal winners being stripped of their medals from the 2011 New Caledonia after they had tested positive for drugs and doping. Included in the list of medalists who were promoted was Cook Islands bodybuilder Aaron Enoka who was awarded a bronze medal. The Sports Minister along with CISNOC will hold a formal medal handover next week to recognize the achievement of our bodybuilder.
Manuia
Minister Brown
Karere Maori no teia epetoma
Taunga ‘atu imene tei akangaroi atu
I tēia `epetoma te taitaiā nei te iti-tangata o tō tātou ipukareā, no teia tumu-rangi poiri `ē te `aka`aka, tei tae mai ki runga i te tu o tō tātou `enua.
I tēia epetoma i topa ake nei, kua takakē atu nā roto i tōna tūrangā makimaki i te `enua Aotearoa i Akarana, ta tātou tamaiti a Takeu Samuel tei mātau i te kāpiki `ia e ko TK. Ko TK, koia tēta`i a tātou tamaiti e `īmene ana ki roto i te au `are-`ura `ē te `are-kaikai i mua ake ka piri atu ei aia ki roto i te pupu a Nia Heather ko te Pearly Stars. Kāre oki `a ia i te tamaiti `īmene `ua, māri ra, e ta`unga katoa no te `atu-`īmene. E manganui tāna au `īmene i `atu, mei te `īmene rongonui ‘Muteki’ tei ura `ia e te Vaka Takitumu i roto i te Maeva Nui, `ē pērā katoa tāna au tōpī-rīpene e `oko `ia nei i roto i te toa. Ka `akaoki `ia mai te kōpapa o tā tātou tamaiti, `a Takeu Samuel ā teia `epetoma. I teia mataiti, mei roto mai i te au taunga `īmene o te Kūki `Airani nei, koTK te toru i takakē atu, mei a Debbie Tauraki o te Tauraki Superstars e pera katoa a Mata Tahiri. Aue te akaro`a e ... Aere ra ...,
Noo poiri to Manihiki `enua
I teia epetoma ake nei, i runga i te `enua Manihiki, ko te tūranga kore o te uira e anoano pakari `iāra, kua oti te reira i te rapakau `ia, no te mea, kua kitea mai e tēta`i ngā pa`ī tautai teia taitaiā e no`o poiri nei te tangata i runga i te `enua, `ē kua tāpa`e atu i reira i te tauturu i te iti-tangata i te maani i to rātou paoa. Ko teia ngā pa`ī tautai tāvere i tauturu atu, no te kamupani Taiwan o Yuh Yow tēta`i, no te kamupani Luen Thai o Tinito tēta`i. Kua `akairi atu teia nga pa`ī e 2,000 rita (i te pa`ī okota`i), te kātoatoa`anga i reira e 4,000 rita no te tauturu i te akataka i te uira i runga i te `enua no tēta`i epetoma, iā rātou e tiakī ra i te pa`ī o Taio no te kave atu i ta ratou e anoano mai ra. Ko teia kāpiki`anga poitirere, no te pō Varaire, no reira kua kāpiki `ia atu te tauturu ki te ngā pa`ī e tautai ra i roto i tera tua moana.
Na roto i te tu`anga o te Marine Resources `ē te Enua Manihiki council te akameitaki`anga a te Kavamani i teia nga kamupani tautai, no te tauturu ta raua i oronga mai i roto i to raua tuātau tautai. Ka tūtaki ia atu tēta`i tu`anga no te akauta`anga atu o te `inu mei runga i te pa`ī. Na te Island council e tūtaki i tā te Yuh Yow i apai atu. Kua ō takere ana oki te enua Manihiki ki roto i te tu`anga no te vaito `anga o te paoa, inārā, no te ma`ata o tā ratou e tā-`anga`anga nei, kua tupu mai i reira tei tupu.
Varaire Ra Nuku, te aere mai nei to Papua
A teia Varaire 26 Okotopa 2012, ka rave te akono`anga CICC i te Nuku no te akaepaepa`anga i te tae mai anga te Evangeria e tai anere varu ngauru-ma iva (189) i topa ake nei. Ka tae katoa mai a teia epetoma, mei Papua New Guinea mai tetai pupu no te piri atu ki roto i teia akakoro`anga e pera katoa i te kimi i to ratou manga e te piri`anga Kuki Airani. Ka atoro atu ratou i te Apii`anga o Takamoa, no te mea, no reira mai oki te au orometua i aere atu ei ki Papua orometua ai.
Kua oki mai te maata anga ia ratou, e ko tetai pae kua kua noo atu ki reira e kua uanga `ia. I teia mataiti, kua riro e ko te akono`anga o Ngatangiia te kūtōroroi (te host) o te Nuku te ka rave `ia.
Tuku`anga Tika a te Akava`anga Ngateitei i Paratane
Kua tuku te Privy Council o Paratane i ta rātou tuku`angā-tika i te Sabati i topa ake nei, no runga i te `enua Tuarea Nui Section 40 i Titikaveka tei tuku iatu kia ratou e June Baudinet te mata o Ngati Raina. Tei ō katoa atu ki roto i te oroanga no teia enua, ko Ellena Tavioni no Ngati Makea e Mere Macquarie no Makea Nui.
I roto i te tukuanga tika a te Privy Council kua akakite ratou e kua tureti i te akatano i te au mea i tupu i te mataiti 1903, no te mea kua pou te 100 mataiti i teia nei, i teia enua i te nooanga ki roto i te rekoti a te akava`anga e no Makea teia enua. Kua papukore i te Council i te akanoo i ta ratou tika e koai tikai te atu enua o teia enua, me ko Ngati Makea me ko Makea Nui Ariki anake ua, me ko Ngati Raina. No te manganui o te au tuanga papukore o te oroanga a June Baudinet no Ngati Raina, kua patoi ia tana patianga e te Privy Council te akavaanga Ngateitei roa atu i Paratane. Kua ariki ratou e kia noo rai te enua kia Makea Nui Teremoana Ariki te metuavaine o Meremaraea Macquarie.
Apii St Joseph Gala
A teia Paraparau, ra 25 o Okotopa, ka rave te `āpi`i St.Joseph i tēta`i gala-day, koia oki te rā okooko`angā kai `ē te vai atūra, mei te ora iva i te pōpōngi. Ka rave katoa ia tetai okooko `anga tīketi raffle $5.00. Te kāpiki ia atu nei te au metua `ē te iti-tangata kia tae mai no te turuturu i teia akakoro`anga a te Api`i.
It’s nearly the end of the school year!
I think about the beginning of the year 2012 and all the goals that I sought to achieve. I think about it NOW and make a comparison between the two. In some areas, I know I could’ve done better, but in others, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. One of my goals was to do well in my Level One NCEA and pass with at least a Merit Endorsement (Heck, if I got an Excellence Endorsement, that’ll be a bonus). Now that I’m confident in my grades, I can actually say that I achieved ONE of my goals.
In January, I entered Tereora College with a bright outlook on life. I was determined to avoid all the negative things that relate to school and to give up all the bad habits from when I was a Year 10 brat. I was a senior now (Well, technically speaking. I’m still a kid at heart) and there was a whole lot of stuff to get through. This would be the first year that I’d be entering NCEA and I heard rumors that Level One was the most important (I don’t know if people were telling me this to scare me off). I was going to work hard and make a difference, because honestly, I was a tad bit disappointed with myself in Year 10.
In July, almost half way through the year, I thought to myself “Man, time goes really fast.” I’d experienced enough of NCEA Level One to say that it wasn’t all that hard. I mean, sure, I still panic when it comes to sitting an internal or meeting deadlines, but it wasn’t any different to what I did in Year 10 and Year 9. Well, except that the work was more advanced and that getting an Achieved meant more work.
The Mid-Year Exams were quite a way to scare off us Year 11 students. Teachers said that it was going to give us a fair idea on what it’d be like when we go for the real exams, but I thought that it was a technique to get kids studying and not having a social life. I liked that it was two hours instead of three, like the real ones, but figuring out what to do AFTER the exams was the hard part.
Now that I’m nearing the NZQA exams, I’m quite shaken up. I keep asking these questions in my head: What if I JUST miss out on a Merit Endorsement? What if I fail one of my exam papers? What then? Not only would I get a lecture (Possibly accompanied by a stiff hiding .lolz), I’d have to LIVE with those failures. That’s not something I want to do, so I know it’s up to me to MAKE things possible. I live by this motto: If you want it, then you gotta earn it with your own hands. And that’s what I plan on doing. -Norma Ngatamariki
Tomorrow is a brand new day!
You learn something new everyday! Like a few days ago I learnt that RUSSIA is the BIGGEST country in the world, due to aimlessly staring at this world map during a boring class (All this time I thought it was China, and Japan is actually really tiny, don’t judge!) Anyway, even if you don’t realize it, you do learn at least one new thing every single day! Whether it’s something from school, or at work, or randomly talking to somebody at the supermarket, OR you could suddenly discover something about yourself while casually listening to music and letting your mind drift off into space. You will learn something new!
Today, I learnt how to actually write a proper essay, (longest freaking forty five minutes of my life) and yes it’s not exactly the most amazing lesson in the world, and you all won’t be jumping over gladiators and facing thunderstorms to grab the chance to learn that too, but its something!
So anyway, just likes its awesome to learn something new, it’s more awesome to EXPERIENCE something new everyday! It doesn’t matter what it is, it could be HUGE like jumping out of an airplane or, a little less huge like finally doing the Cross-Island Walk for the first time! (You can’t live in Raro and not to do the Cross- Island Walk) or it could be really small, like trying some sort of food you’ve never had before. At least you experienced something new, and you can then feel just a little bit wiser with your life feeling a little bit more complete.
It’s not a rule to learn and experience something new everyday, and most of us can go the whole day without experiencing something, but when opportunity knocks on your door, I suggest you pull out a massive sword and start fighting gladiators and facing thunderstorms to open that door and launch yourself through it! Cease the opportunity! Even if it scares you, or isn’t your ‘thing’, be like NIKE, and just do it! (Yeah I know my sports brands!) Plus, it’ll give you awesome stories to talk about and amazing pictures! Like, “Hey guess what, I climbed Mount Everest!” “Whoa! NO WAY!” (A bit far fetched, but you get my point. But still, no one can stop you from climbing Mount Everest if you really wanted too!)
Anyway before I start trying to convince you to fly to the moon, just so you can tell everyone an awesome story when you get back, it’s important to remember something.
Every day is a brand new day! So learn and experience something new! The brave may not live forever, but the cautious don’t live at all. -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
