What Happened This Week
Compiled for the Times by Norma Ngatamariki, Tiare Ponini and Teriu Woonton

Jumpstart 2012
To Kick start 2012 the fitness revolution team will be unveiling the first of the ‘results driven’ programmes, Jumpstart.
Jumpstart is a specific and proven 12 week exercise and nutrition programme focused on weight loss. The programme will be given on Monday the 13th of February; the FR team is now taking registrations for the programme with orientation expected during the week of the 6th of February.
Miss Cook Isl looks for new team
The Aquarius will be host to the Miss Cook Islands committee AGM on the 10th of February at 5pm.
The existing team is looking for people to fill in some open spots such has Sponsorship Director, Sales & Marketing Director, Pageant Director, contestants and Judges Director, assistant Treasurer and assistant secretary.

Renewable Energy
Pacific Leaders including the Prime Minister the Hon Henry Puna who met in Abu Dhabi recently welcomed the international Renewable energy Agency, proposed work activities to accelerate renewable energy deployment in the Pacific Region, which is currently depending heavily on fossil fuels.
Noni juice deal turns sour
A deal involving the sale of tens of thousands of liters of Cook Islands noni juice to China has fallen through. The collapse is believed to be related to the arrest of a Chinese man with ties to Pure Pacifica, the New Zealand company which had agreed to buy the fruit juice and sell it to China.
Jack Chen, chairman of the New Zealand Chinese Business Roundtable Council, has been charged with bribery and money laundering.
Last year, Pure Pacifika announced it would purchase the noni juice and sell it in China, where it would be blended with fruit juice and sold as a beverage.
The company bought over fifty 1,000 litre containers and shipped them to Rarotonga to be filled with noni juice, but since the deal turned sour none of the juice has left the factory.
Cook Islands now has to find a new buyer for 36,000 litres of noni juice.

‘H’ Factor
The H Factor singing competition started their first auditions on Saturday 21st January. CI Radio spoke with organizer Thomas Nganu who tells us it was a great turnout. The judges, Curly George, Henry Taripo and Thomas Nganu himself pulled out the first 10 contestants who made it through. The judge’s panel will have two permanent judges being Curly George and Thomas Nganu and one guest judge every week. The first competition will be held on Saturday the 4th of February at Hidies Bar. The competition will be running for 5 weeks and grand final will be on the 3rd of March, and will be seeing the 1st winner walk away with $1000 cash sponsored by The Bond Store, a recording contract by Teura Studios, a $300 shopping voucher for TAVS and a 8 string ukulele at the value of $270 sponsored by M&M. Each week 2 contestants will be eliminated and the grand-final will be showing the lucky last 2 contestants. The H Factor will be shown on CITV every Sunday after each Saturday show and will most likely be screening at 7.30pm however the public has been advised to watch CITV for any changes.

HTTC Awards Ceremony
On Friday the 27th of January the Presentation of Awards will take place the National Auditorium will be. The Cook Islands Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre HTTC will be presenting awards of Certificates in Food and Beverage Service Lv 3, Diplomas in Food and Beverage Service Lv 4, Certificates in Food and Preparation and Culinary Arts Lv 3, and Diplomas in Food and Preparation and Culinary Arts Lv 4. There will also be presentations of Distinctions in Food Preparation and Cooking (Culinary Arts) and Distinctions in Food and Beverage. The Cook Islands Trades Training Centre will be presenting NZQA CI Electrical Service Technicians Certificate, NZQA CI Certificate in Telecommunications Year 1 and 2, NZQA National Certificate in Motor Industries Level 2 and Pre-Trade Certificate in Carpentry. The Cook Islands Sports Academy will be presenting the NZQA National Certificate in Sports Level 2, Retail Tutors will be presenting the National Certificate in Adult Education Level 5 and Community Service will be presenting the Cook Islands National Certificate in Community Services Level.
Westpac Woman’s Grants
Westpac Women’s Grants are up and running again this year. Six women/girls will be chosen for the grant to allow them to continue their education through the financial help from Westpac

CI Dancers wanted in England
The Ministry of Culture is looking for dancers to represent the Cook Islands at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Vanuatu and the Queen Elizabeth’s 60th Anniversary on the throne in England. A meeting will be held either this Thursday or Friday for drummers, composers and Dance Group leaders while practice is expected to start next Tuesday from 6pm at the National Auditorium for dancers interested in joining this team.

FIFA World Cup Trials
Trials for the Cook Islands under 17 women’s national soccer squad for the FIFA World cup Qualifying Tournament have started at the CIFA grounds in Matavera. Out of the 36 young girls in the process of trialing out, only half of them will qualify for the team which will be travelling to Auckland for the games to represent the Cook Islands.

Turtles Vollyeball
The Turtles Business House volleyball tournament will be held this Wednesday and registration fees are still open for teams to join with limited spaces. The competition will be played every Wednesday evenings at the TSA and it will run for 10 weeks. Registration fees are $120 per team and the competition is aimed for local businesses, sports and social clubs, families and community groups. You can register your team with Robert Graham on 55100 or Hugh Graham on 52287

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