News Briefs

What happened this week

Complied by Norma Ngatamariki, Tiare Ponini and Teriu Woonton

Re educate as reform for CI Inmates
Those who are looking for volunteering opportunities reading and math tutors are in need for Cook Island inmates. The after school programme will start at 2pm to 4pm Tuesdays, and prison tutoring Thursday mornings.
Raro roads finally under construction
After four years of deliberation the $2.9 million dollar roadwork project has finally began on Rarotonga’s roads with works commencing around the airport and gradual progression to the greater Nikao area. The completetion date of the much needed upgrade to Rarotongas road system is still undetermined at this point.

Atiu BBQ rakes in $40,000
The progress of the Atiu Hostel is still under construction as funds for the outer island accommodation are still needed. The Atiuan community has banded together to raise a massive $2 million dollars and are between $30 - $40,000 short of their estimated $3million goal, so will be holding a series of fundraising BBQ’s in Avarua commencing this Friday 3rd February until the remaining needed finance is met.

Mini night markets
The commencement of the mini night market being held in Avarua between Raro Records and Empire Theatre will start at 4pm on Friday afternoon running till late, spectators can look forward to a variety of foods, BBQ’s desserts and ice cream.
CI Waste AGM
The Cook Islands Waste Water and Septic Disposal Association Incorporated Society AGM took place at the Arorangi CICC on Monday evening.

Old boys dust off league boots
Starting Friday 3 February 2012, the Cook Islands Rugby League season will be starting with the league masters at 4.30pm Friday afternoon at the Avatiu field. League Masters President Lucky Matapuka encourages all the old boys to head down to Avatiu fields to participate in a game or just watch.

A season for touch
A short touch competition will be running this year, starting on Monday February 6th at the Nikao field the season will be based on 6 teams per division. The Touch Rugby Association has also decided to run a mix touch rugby tournament that will run again this season starting in the afternoons on Wednesday 8th February also at the Nikao field.

Hairdressing course underway
The new hairdressing course will be starting on the 20th February at 8.30am. The course will run for two weeks from Monday to Friday be in quick to register as spaces are limited.

Fun for Black rock students
Black Rock Pre-school students will be happy to be attending school this year especially with their newly donated swing set, gifted by Donal and Rachel Campbell of Pacific Care.

Bon voyage Aunty Rangi
Te Aponga Uira this week bid a fond farewell to one of its longest serving staff members, who is off to live in the Outer Islands. Rangi Nooana was given a send off with a social gathering and BBQ and many words of appreciation from those, who have come to know the Administration coordinator and manager over the years. Aunty Rangi has served three CEOs at Te Aponga as personal assistant to the boss over the course of 16 years. She has been a pivotal, key member of the admin team at Tutakimoa and a familiar face and personality to TAU customers as well as staff.
Aunty Rangi has a teaching background, and says she even once worked in a bar in Hastings, New Zealand. That may be surprising to some, given that she is a strong Christian and member of the church. But not to Aunty Rangi, who is a firm believer in serving to the best of her ability. She’s now chosen to serve the Lord full-time by joining her husband in Mitiaro, where the CICC Minister has been stationed for the next four years.
While at TAU over the past 16 years, Rangi contributed to the organisation’s strong sense of family, dedication to service, and of course, sticking to procedures. She will be missed by all the staff, who wish her well.

Cook Islands’ government considers opening office in American Samoa

The Cook Islands’ government is looking at establishing a long-term presence in American Samoa.
Since last week a delegation from the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Resources has been in American Samoa, partly as a courtesy visit and to inspect vessels that are licensed to fish in the Cook Islands.
But they’ve also been scouting for office space.
A director with the Ministry, Joshua Mitchell, says 40 long liners, fish full-time in Cook Island waters where they unload their catches at the local canneries, and he expects that will increase.
Mr Mitchell says having an office in American Samoa will help build relations with a neighbour it has a lot in common with.
“There’s lots of things that we want to explore in terms of fisheries development so it’s not just about enforcement but it’s also to engage more at the local level with American Samoa and discuss the projects that could benefit both of us.”

Re-roofing project gets underway

The re-roofing of Te Aponga Uira’s Tutakimoa building and Avatiu Valley Power Station got underway today with the carefully-orchestrated, safe removal of colonial-era asbestos from the Head Office location. The project is being carried out by local contractor Landholdings Ltd. under regulatory oversight of the National Environment Service protocols for asbestos disposal.
Re-roofing of the Admin/Network building is expected to take about two weeks. Work on the Power Station will follow. TAU’s re-roofing is a necessary part of modernising the buildings, which will eventually cater for the installation of NZAID-funded solar PV panels - a project that also involves the Ministry of Education. Issued on 30 January 2012.

Eaa Taau ka Rave Ki Toou Enemi
Kia orana I te aroa maata o te Atua, E tumu manako puapinga maata teia e mea tau kia akara matatio oa e kia kimiia eaa ta te tuatua a te Atua e apii mai. E enemi pouroa to tatou I roto I teia oraanga. Koai te enemi numero tai. Pouanga ko satani te enemi numero taio te tangata pouroa tei anau mai ki tein ao. Ko Iesu te tanaiti a te Atua uatu e kua anau ia aia ki teia ao me te arakore e enemi rai tona. Ko tona au enemi maata ko te au tnagata tei karangaratou e, e au Keresitiano ratou. Te au Pharisea, te au Sadukea te au tangata Ngati Iuda e te Eleni e au enemi pouroa teia no Iesu te tamaiti a te Atua.
E riri maata to te tangata ia Iesu no tei tuatua aia ee tangata tiama aia e te tuatua mou e ko te manako maata kua aka satauro ia aia I karavaria.
E enemi to tatoute au tangata tei irinaki ki roto I tama tuatua tika e kia omau akaou tatou, e tuatua riri ia te tuatua o te anau akaou ta Iesu I tuatua kia Nicademo, e ko te enemi maata o te au tangata tei aaki I to ratou akarongo ki roto ia Iesu e kia anau akaou kotou e tikai ko te au tangata e aere nei kit e pure I roto I te au ekalesia kuki Airani.
I te Kuki Airani nei e taokotaianga te rai no te au putuputuanga evangelia (Religious Advisory Council) E ono ratou te katoatoa:
1. CICC
2. Roman Catholic
3. Raitu SDA
4. Mormon
5. Apostolic
6. AOG
Te vai katoa nei te tai au akonoanga pure e kare ratou I teia taokotaianga, mei te New Life, New Hope, Bahai, Jehovahs Witness, Rarotonga Community New Testamen.
Pouroa teia au akonoanga pure e au enemi rai to ratou, e enemi katoa I te tuatua ora o te mesia. Akapeea tatou I te tauturu I to tatou au enemi ki ririo mai ei au Keresitiano? Kua akakite mai a Iesu e aroa atu I to kotou au enemi e rave meitaki atu ia ratou. Tatau I te (Mataio 5:9-12 Mataio 5:43-45)
Teai ta Petero I tata ei akamatakite ia tatou no to tatou au enemi (1 Petero 5.8) “Kua Matakite te aaere nei te kou enemi ko te Diabolo e ngunguru nei mei te liona kia pout e tangata iaia.”
Akapeea tatou I te aroaanga e te inangaro I to tatou au enemi ko tei rave kino mai ia tatou nei I roto it te manako tangata us nei kare teia e tupu e kar katoa I te mea mareka ia. E te au taeake mei te mea e teia tatou to te Atua tu e Kua ariki tatou I tana tamaiti ei Atua ei akaora no tatou ka rauka ia tatou I te tauturu I to tatou au enemi kia riro mai meia tatou te tu.

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