News in Brief

Government provides Christmas Bonus to Welfare Recipients
The Ministry of Internal Affairs commenced payment of a $50 Christmas Bonus directly into the bank accounts of all welfare recipients that receive the old age pension, child benefit, caregiver’s benefit, and the destitute and infirmed payment.
Secretary Bredina Drollet said the Government approved continuation of the payment as a small contribution in recognition of the higher spending pressure placed on families at this time of the year.
“The Government appropriated $300,000 in the 2011-12 Budget this year to cover an estimated number of 6000 eligible welfare recipients. However, we are likely to come slightly under that estimate at around $280,000 due to a lower number of welfare recipients than expected.”
She said that while the ministry will not be providing full operations over the next few weeks people could still contact the ministry during the limited operation days next week if their payments have not been deposited by Friday 23 December 2011.

Christmas bonuses for Board members?
As if the sitting fees for State Owned Enterprise Board members are not enough, the Times has heard that attempts by three State Owned Enterprise Boards to pay themselves a Christmas bonus may have been knocked on the head.
The Times knows who these Boards are.
One Board Chairman is said to have sought a bonus of $2,000 for each board member and apparently reports are that while tentatively approved by the Minister Mark Brown, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation Chairman is said to have pointed out that legally, Boards can only be paid for sittings and not bonuses. - Charles Pitt

MMR agrees to NZD100,000 settlement for illegal fishing
22 December – The Ministry of Marine Resources has agreed to a settlement of NZD100,000 dollars for illegal fishing conducted by a Chinese fishing vessel.
According to Marine Resources Secretary, Ben Ponia, there were mitigating circumstances surrounding this case was taken into consideration.
The incursions occurred in August 2011 in the area of maritime boundary between the Cook Islands and Kiribati. It was detected by MMR offshore division staff using the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) satellite tracking system.
Ponia says he was pleased by the cooperation shown by the Chinese government authorities in prosecuting this case. It follows a larger settlement one year ago where a NZ$2.1 million dollar fine was levied against three vessels.
He hopes that the Cabinet would agree for the monies to be used towards fisheries development purposes.
- Ministry of Marine Resources Media Release

Family in Trust Headline Budget Rental Ads
Taking to the silver screen like fish to water the Family in Trust boy band played it up for the cameras on Thursday afternoon at a range of photo shoots across Rarotonga for Budget Car Rentals. Taking advantage of their larger than life personalities the band members hammed it up posing for the Budget Car Rental lenses, the boys who were generously sponsored the use of a van from Budget Car Rentals for the duration of their tour agreed to headline a series of the rental agencies latest television commercials posing on motorbikes and drop top convertibles. The busy boy band for the past two weeks have been touring across Rarotonga and will be heading to Atiu in the coming week for some much deserved relaxation, in the event that you missed one of their gripping gigs you can catch their final performance at The Hiddies Bar playing tonight 10pm. -Maria Tanner

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
- Lucky $1,000 winner
- Century old palm trees and the French connection
- Koutu Nui takes part in Raui meeting in Moorea
- WOM Award Dinner for Ake Hosea-Winterflood
- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009