News Briefs

Resignation of Cook Islands High Commissioner
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Hon. Tom Marsters, has received a letter from the Cook Islands High Commissioner in New Zealand, Mr Mike Mitchell, advising of his desire to step down from his position this week in order to pursue other career opportunities.
Mr Mitchell’s one year appointment as High Commissioner ended on 22 March 2011 but he kindly agreed to remain in his position until arrangements for a new High Commissioner had been finalised. It had been anticipated that he would be replaced by Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid but with her sad and unexpected demise Government is now in the process of identifying another suitable person for the position.
“Government is very appreciative for the services rendered by Mr Mitchell for the Cook Islands during his term in Wellington,” said Mr Marsters, “and we understand his desire to move on to other pursuits. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”
Until arrangements have been finalised for the appointment of a High Commissioner, Ms Sonya Kamana, First Secretary at the High Commission, will act as Chargé d’Affaires.

Kite surfer will be back
Being here feels like home” says Kite surfing Ambassador from New Zealand and 3 time world champ in New Zealand for snowboarding Olly Brunton.
The Times spoke with Olly on Thursday afternoon. Olly arrived to compete in the Kite surfing buzz in Aitutaki but sadly missed out on the fab action due to flight delays by the Ash cloud hanging over New Zealand. Though the competition was over Olly couldn’t resist the package that Aitutaki had to offer. “I was disappointed that I couldn’t compete but when I got to Aitutaki I was just glad that I could be there, it was just perfect, the waves, the sun, and the people, and everything was perfect.”
Before Olly began a career in kite surfing he was a professional snowboarder who has represented New Zealand at the Winter Olympics. He has competed in competitions all around the world, and has been a champion in freestyle in New Zealand for 3 years. “I really liked competing for snowboarding in Japan, cause I like to travel to places with a lot culture, I’ve grown up with a lot of the Cook Island culture around me in New Zealand, though I’m New Zealand Maori I’ve always moved more towards the dancing and the drumming ways of the Cook Islands than the kappa haka so I’m really happy to be here.”
Olly says he would like to come back here next year to compete and that he would like to coach the local kids in Rarotonga and Aitutaki.” It would be great to see the local kids having a go at the sport, than for the water to be dominated by outside competition.” Olly said that he will be returning next year to compete and that he reckons the competition will be a lot bigger as all the pro’s who attended this year will be back and with friends.

New Fin Sec arrives Saturday
Mr Richard Neves, along with his family, will be arriving Rarotonga on Saturday 9 July 2011 to assume the position as Financial Secretary of MFEM. His early arrival will enable him to engage in a handover exercise which would involve, amongst other things, Government officials apprising him of the current developments with plans for Richard officially taking over the reins from Priscilla Maruariki, Acting Financial Secretary, on the 18 July 2011. Richard has a Degree in Applied Economics and a Masters in Science and Development Finance and has worked in East Timor in an advisory capacity assisting in building their Ministry of Finance whilst providing macro-economic and fiscal policy advice to East Timor Cabinet. Prior to accepting the offer, Richard was working in Canberra as Director of the Budget and Management and Analysis Branch of the ACT Treasury; responsible for assisting in the development of the Territory’s annual budget, the monitoring, analyzing and reporting to the Government and other stakeholders on the financial position of a Government agencies and businesses, and providing advice on financial management, resource allocation, and budget development issues. Discussions have already been held between Richard and the Hon Minister Mark Brown and this working relationship looks to be cemented further during the term of his contract. The Minister has stated that he expects to keep the new Financial Secretary busy during his term during which a number of issues such as high interest rates will be tackled. The arrival of Richard will also enable Priscilla Maruariki to return to her permanent position as Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Public Service Commissioner. The Minister of Finance stated “Myself and the rest of Cabinet are indebted to Priscilla for the sterling work she has done in holding the fort at MFEM. As the head of one of our central agencies, Priscilla will continue to play an integral role in assisting government in areas of high policy.”

Accomplishing dreams
In 1983 Teokotai Teariki Pera accomplished one of his dreams when he opened his own panel beating business in Australia with his brother Mau Pera.
The Times spoke with him on Wednesday. In 1995 another dream was realized when he started the record label Kontiki in Australia. But before achieving all the glamour of being a song producer and a successful business owner, Teokotai worked as a panel beater in Rarotonga before leaving for New Zealand on a panel beater apprenticeship after which he moved to Australia. He did not return to the Cook Islands till 33 years later.
It was another 3 years before Teokotai opened his shop. He decided to merge with his brother and find away to make his dream became a reality. Teokotai also decided to produce a record label solo.
“ The record label is like a hobby for me, it’s a break away from fixing cars, and I enjoy it.” Said Teokotai He has signed on a number of Cook Island Artists, such as Tara Makirere, Tina Koronui and Poi Mino, and other Pacific celebs based here and in Australia.” My wife’s Tongan, so I’ve recorded a lot of Tongan music.” Says Teokotai.
Teokotai came back with his family to the Cook Islands to attend his mothers unveiling; The Times sends the Pera family their kind regards.

Diet soda may be making you fat
Think you’re making a healthier choice when you reach for diet soda instead of a sugary soft drink? Think again. Diet soft drinks may have minimal calories, but they can still have a major impact on your waistline, according to two studies presented at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego.
Researchers at the Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio tracked 474 people, all 65 to 74 years old, for nearly a decade, measuring the subjects’ height, weight, waist circumference, and diet soft drink intake every 3.6 years. The waists of those who drank diet soft drinks grew 70 percent more than those who avoided the artificially sweetened stuff; people who drank two or more servings a day had waist-circumference increases that were five times larger than non-diet-soda consumers.
The findings are in line with those of a 2005 study, also conducted by researchers at the Texas Health Science Centre, in which the chance of becoming overweight or obese increased with every diet soda consumed. “On average, for each diet soft drink our participants drank per day, they were 65 percent more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years, and 41 percent more likely to become obese,” said Sharon Fowler, who was a faculty associate in the division of clinical epidemiology in the Health Science Centre’s department of medicine at the time.
But how does something with no calories cause weight gain? Turns out that even if our taste buds can’t tell the difference between real and fake sugar, our brains can. Another study, also presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting on Sunday, found that after three months of eating food laced with aspartame (which is also found in many diet soft drinks), mice had higher blood sugar levels than rodents who ate regular food. According to Fowler, who worked on all three studies and is now a researcher at UT Health Science Centre at San Diego, the aspartame could trigger the appetite but do nothing to satisfy it. That could interfere with your body’s ability to tell when you’re full—and could lead you to eat more in general.
Melbourne’s Herald Sun

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
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