News Briefs

$500 million carve up of aid funds to be announced
In Vanuatu next week our Education Minister Hon Teina Bishop may learn just how much the Cook Islands can expect from the $500 million in aid funds being committed by Australia and New Zealand for education in the Pacific over the next three years.
Bishop told the Times on Thursday morning he is to attend two meetings in Vanuatu. The Pacific Forum Education Ministers meeting (two days, May 14/15) and the USP Council meeting (two days, May 16/17).
The key topic at the Minister’s meeting is the announcement of what direction the Australian and New Zealand support to the education sector in the Pacific will be. This will be on the second day. He said that Australia and NZ have already announced that they will be making $500 million available over the next three years for Pacific nations.
Among the other topics up for discussion will be;
-regional standards for school Principals,
-a report on recommendations from a feasibility study on a regional mechanism (Institute) for educational policy and planning,
-regional ICT in educational strategy, and
-Pacific plan priorities.
Bishop departs on Saturday and returns on 19 May. -By Charles Pitt

CIP select Teariki Matenga for Titikaveka by-election
The Titikaveka Cook Islands Party held their run-off on Wednesday between Teariki Matenga Jnr and Moeroa Tamangaro. Matenga won the selection process by 28 votes to 20.
The constituencies Democratic Party however will hold their run-off next Tuesday at 6pm at the home of the late party leader and Member of Parliament, Robert Wigmore’s residence. It is understood three names have been put forward for Tuesday’s run-off, initially there were four but one withdrew. The by-election date has been set for Thursday 21st June.

Indian High Commissioner visits Education Minister
His Excellency, Indian High Commissioner –designate, Vinod Kumar, paid a courtesy call on Marine and Education Minister Hon Teina Bishop on Thursday morning.
At the Minister’s office he was presented with a gift of ei piu piu.
Following the meeting, Bishop mentioned that the Cook Islands has been offered training opportunities under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program. The Cook Islands is being offered 5 training slots to utilize under ITEC in 2012/2013.
The Minister would like to see these training opportunities taken up this year as last year no-one applied for the positions on offer.
These fully funded study/training opportunities are generally short term- 2 to 12 weeks. The courses cover a vast range of specialist areas including IT, Management, Education and Banking. Nominations are to be sent through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -By Charles Pitt

EMCI to install new siren controls
Willie Tuivaga of Emergency management Cook Islands (EMCI) advised the Times on Thursday morning that the 13 sirens on Rarotonga are to be fitted with a wireless control system which will enable individual sirens or all sirens to be activated from Police Headquarters.
He said this development was the next step in enhancing the emergency system.
Each siren will be allocated a code. The master control (shown in the photo on the left) can be used when persons at the village level are not available or when circumstances demand that a very rapid response is needed.
In the photo, the relay box on right will be attached to every siren.
These relay boxes will be fitted progressively over the next few days and the system is expected to be fully on line by next week. Next Wednesday at 12 noon EMCI will be hoping to test the Muri siren.
Willie said the system is sponsored by NZAid. It is the biggest step since 2009. At that time phones were used. -By Charles Pitt

It happened this week - compiled by Maria Tanner

‘ReSpect’ exhibition causes controversy amoungst peers
The highly anticipated ‘ReSpect’ exhibition by artist Nanette Lela’ulu opened with a bang at the BCA Gallery on Tuesday evening. The exhibition participants were treated to a series of portraits where a number of subjects were Lela’ulu’s contemporaries including the controversial portrait of owner and curator Ben Bergman in which he is portrayed mostly naked on a throne with a strategically placed ceremonial pigs head. The Lela’ulu ‘ReSpect’ exhibition will run until May 18th at the BCA Gallery.

Govt sides contractual to Heathers
The Opposition leader has accused government of giving T&M Heather - infrastructure Minister Teariki Heather’s family business - unfair priority over other contractors. Wilkie Rasmussen says T&M’s rivals have filed complaints with his office, claiming contracts are being awarded to T&M without being publicly advertised first. He says this goes against the rules of transparency and accountability when public funds are involved. Mr Rasmussen says this indicates the Prime Minister is not in a strong enough position to restrain or manage the activities of his Minsters. He says the portfolio of Infrastructure and Planning should not have gone to someone involved in a company engaged in infrastructure work.

Farmers Market
The much anticipated Farmers Market organized by the BTIB was held on Wednesday at the Punanga Nui where hoards of buyers, sellers, growers and by standers came to support the local produce from the planters and growers in Rarotonga. Selling a wide range of fresh local fruit and vegetables vendors opened sales to public at 10am where majority of the goods were sold within the initial first hours indicative of the markets success.

Kaino heads Parade
Visiting All Blacks forward Jerome Kaino touched down in Rarotonga bringing with him the Web Ellis Cup that was displayed throughout the streets of Avarua in the Rugby World Cup Parade on Wednesday. A throng of Cook Islanders swamped the visiting All Black with the chance to snap a photo of the Rugby World Cup.

2011 Sports Awards winners announced
Wednesday night saw the 2011 Sports Awards held at the Edgewater. The 2011 Sports Team of the year went to the CI Men Open Touch Team. The 2011 Sports Technical Officer went to Autiare Luka, the 2011 Sport Administrator went to Alistair Stevich from CI Cricket, the 2011 Sports Coach of the Year was awarded to Geoffrey Nati Hosking and the 2011 Mamia Tunui Savage Memorial Women In Sports Trophy went to Sharon Marsters.
The individual awards...The Junior Sportswoman 2011 went to Teau Mackenzie, the Junior Sportsman of the year went to Aquila Tatira, the 2011 Sportsman of the year went to Taua Elisa and the Sportswoman went to Helema Williams.

Golden oldies tear up the dancefloor
The Golden oldies and Papa’a Dancer of the year section held at Hidies Bar on Wednesday night was a success of swaying hips and shaking legs. The section which was divided into 2 age groups the rauti pi (40-55 yr section) Best female dancer went to Tania Savage and Rebecca Hosking Ellis took out 2nd placing while Dawn Crummer placed third. In the male division, Noo Ngametua came first, and Casper Mateariki came 2nd. In the rauti para 56+ division there were only two entries, this went to papa Mau Raina and Mama Maria Edgar. In the papa’a section, best male dancer went to Allan Syme. The best female papa’a dancer went to Rachel Harris.

Diamond Jubilee
A team of dancers departed on Thursday for London to represent the Cook Islands at the Queen’s Diamond jubilee celebration, to commemorate Queen Elizabeth the 2nd’s 60 year reign. Performances will be showcased by all countries affiliated with the British Commonwealth, from the 10th to the 13th of May. The Cook Islands is the only Pacific island country invited. Minister of Culture Teariki Heather and the secretary Sonny Williams will head the delegation.

Tourism’s European promotion
After attending the Queen’s Jubilee in London Tourism’s Karla Eggelton will lead a team of eight dancers on a two week promotional tour of major European cities to promote the Cook Islands.

Netball
Wednesday night saw some thrilling games of netball played at the Telecom Sports Arena between Titikaveka and Tupapa. In the open division, the Open 1 team drew, 31 all. The Open 2 won by Titikaveka, only just beating Tupapa, final score was 34 points to 33. And in the Premier grade, Titikaveka defeated Tupapa final score 56 points to 42 In other games:
Avatiu open 2 defeated Arorangi, final score Avatiu – 35 and Arorangi – 31
Also in Netball News, This weekend, Avatiu will travel to the Arorangi Netball Courts, meanwhile all other clubs continue to play at the TSA. And the under 8’s Avatiu and Titikaveka will play at the TSA.

Continuing the CI culture abroad
New Zealand and Australia’s top Cook Island dancers will arrive this weekend to compete in next Thursday’s International Dancer of the Year competition at the National Auditorium. This competition is organized by Te Rau Maire Dance Troupe leader Piritau Nga and supported by the Ministry of Culture. Dance competitions have been held throughout NZ and Australia over the past month. 1st placed winners in both the male and female categories, including the winners of the recent CI’s Dancer of the Year, will compete for the International Dancer of the Year title. The reason behind reviving the international competition is to revive our culture in our communities in NZ and Australia. With this year’s men’s champion Teariki Mateariki leaving this afternoon with the CI National Arts Dance team to perform at the Queens Jubilee, 2nd place winner Sikimi Vailoa or SV will perform in his place next week along with the CI female champion, Mere Taio.
There are 3 categories in next week’s competition, the slow, ura penu and fast beat and one of the main criteria’s is, that the costumes are to be made out of natural fibres. This is the first the event has come alive since 1993 which was run by Te Ivi Maori which was founded by the late Rakahanga MP, Piho Rua.

Cow sculpture judging
This coming Saturday the 5th of May, The CITC and Anchor will be judging the school’s cow sculptures. This is a CITC and Anchor event, and all are welcome to attend.

Atiu By election
Independent MP, Norman George, says the government should urgently call a by-election for mayor of Atiu. He accuses the incumbent Taoro Strickland-Brown of obtaining the mayoralty illegally. In November Mr Strickland-Brown resigned as mayor ahead of plans to move to Auckland to take up a job as the medical referral liaison agent. But Mr George, who represents Atiu, says Mr Strickland-Brown later changed his mind about the job and then called the five Atiu Island councillors together to arrange for his reappointment as mayor. He says the voting was tied once Mr Strickland-Brown had voted and then as chair he exercised a casting vote. Mr. George says as far as he’s concerned the Mayor’s office is vacant and the government should call a by-election.

Dr Bo to visit Aitutaki

Practicing chiropractor Dr Bo is back in the Cook Islands and the pop up clinic located at the Tupapa meeting house has had a steady stream of ill aligned back bones keeping Dr Bo Wong busy on his short stay. The Times caught up with him on Thursday.
Visiting as the sole practitioner on this occasion, Dr Bo will be charging a small fee for the adjustments. Previously, in conjunction with the NZCC Chiropractic Abroad programme and a number of interns, under the doctor’s supervision, the adjustments were offered free to Cook Islanders.
Now Dr Bo has plans to take his pop up clinic to Aitutaki for the first time. Dr Bo who has been practicing for 17 years, has treated a range of clientele from new born babies and children to sports athletes. He told the Times his oldest patient is 102 years old. He expects that his time in Aitutaki will be just as inundated with patients in need of chiropractic aid.
Dr Bo explains that the process of undergoing chiropractic health care is about expanding the physical and mental potential of each person and suggests that it is suitable for all.

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
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- 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