News Briefs

Fast ferry to bring outer islands closer
A fast ferry may soon be operating between Rarotonga and the outer islands before the end of August.
Tim Tepaki announced on Thursday afternoon that the fast ferry is the Aremiti 4 which currently operates in Tahiti.
In a business deal with the Tahitian operators, Tepaki , and his partner Tutu Ina in this venture, have secured the use of the ferry.
When the Aremita 4 goes into dry dock in about 2 months time, another fast ferry will take over, the Corsaire.
The “Aremiti 4” spent the day at Rarotonga on Wednesday on its way back to Tahiti from Australia and Noumea.
Tepaki said he and business partner Tutu Ina intend to purchase the vessel outright and said it will be used to carry passengers and their luggage to and from the outer islands. Some general cargo may also be carried. He said a scoping exercise had been completed and that last Tuesday the Tahitian company’s Board of Directors had approved of the joint venture with Tepaki and Tutu Ina. Tepaki said he is expecting the concept and partnership would be formalized at a Board meeting in Tahiti next Tuesday.
Tepaki sees the vessel as the solution to revitalizing and boosting the economy of the outer islands over the long term. Tepaki’s plans include securing a cargo vessel for a freight service to the outer islands.
The ferry operation will target locals and budget travelers. The cost of travel to the outer islands will be reduced substantially. The final figures look set to be less than half current airfares said Tepaki.
The outer islands are dying said Tepaki and he sees the fast ferry as a solution to the current high air fares and irregular shipping.
The Aremiti 4 is a twin hulled ocean going vessel and is suited to Cook Islands waters according to the Captain. It has a crew of 9, can carry 450 passengers and 20 cars. It cruises at 33 knots and 22 knots in heavy seas. It has 2 air conditioned lounges, a snack bar and sun deck. Seating is arranged as in an aircraft. It has four engines, stabilizers and a long boat to off load passengers.
The Corsaire is a mono hull fast ferry which can carry 450 passengers. It has a speed of 45 knots. It is said to be better than the Aremiti 4.
Both fast ferries will be able to dock at the wharf in Aitutaki.
Tepaki said both the fast ferries would be able to make the journey to Aitutaki in under 4 hours. He said this would make the vessel s an attractive travel alternative to air travel for day trippers.
For all outer islanders said Tepaki, the ferry mode of transport will provide certainty in timetabling, speedy access to markets in Rarotonga for produce, an economic means of travel, a doorway to development of local industry-tourism, agriculture, fishing.
For tourists, the ferry provides a cheaper means of accessing the outer islands.
Asked whether he and Tutu Ina would consider taking on other business partners, Tepaki said that was not being considered at present but should other make approaches, they would be considered.

New Love Vaka launched
On Thursday morning the Herald visited the Pacific Resort at Muri beach for the launch of their new Love Boat [vaka]. The event was attended by guests, members of the public and others who have supported the wedding program that the Pacific Resort offers.
The vaka was built six months ago by Pokoina Pokoina who built the first vaka six years ago for weddings at the Resort .
“We would get about 50 plus weddings a year here, and the first vaka was used so much that we thought it was time to have a new one,” said Marketing Manager Thomas Koteka. The event started with a small Turou [welcome] then the vaka was blessed in symbolic fashion by the untying of the umbilical cord by Uirangi Mataiapo of Muri then the smashing of the Nu on the bow of the vaka.
The Wedding program for the Pacific Resort involves more than 50 ceremonies a year with couples looking at two optional styles including a bonus one with a ride to the motu on the love boat.
“We are not into volume, we are into quality of the event, we try very hard to make sure that each wedding gets plenty of space” commented Koteka referring to the number of weddings they hold each year.
The Herald asked what they would be doing with the old Love boat and Koteka replied, “ We might give the boat back to Pokoina to make repairs on it and use it again or we will set her up as an ornament in the gardens.”

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