News Briefs

Prime Minister to address Cook Islands achievers in NZ
The Prime Minister, Hon. Henry Puna, was a special guest at a gathering of the Cook Islands people in Auckland last night, to honour achievers in various community activities. His brief visit to New Zealand came at the invitation of Cook Islands Taokotaianga Charitable Trust, which organised the inaugural “oneCOOKISLANDS Celebration” event.
The first time event centred around an Awards Evening to celebrate and recognise achievements by Cook Islanders in various fields. The eight Award categories highlight the positive roles that Cook Islanders have played in Community, Sports, Health, Education, Youth, Volunteers, Cultural and Business.
The Prime Minister, said he was delighted to participate in this auspicious occasion, especially as it occurred during Cook Islands Language Week and uplifted Cook Islanders, who are providing strong leadership in the community there.
The Friday evening function featured three activities: Celebration of Cook Islands Constitution Day; Achievement Awards; and Fundraising towards the Building Fund. The latter is the drive by the Trust, operating as Cook Islands Development Agency New Zealand (CIDANZ).
The headquarters of CIDANZ on Kirkbride Road, Mangere, is being developed as a hub for Cook Islanders to pursue and promote plans for community education, innovation, and exchange between communities in Auckland, and beyond.
The strategies built around the brand name of “oneCOOKISLANDS” will be unveiled to the community members and stakeholders, tying in with the Prime Minister’s presence to help bring Cook Islanders together for a common purpose: supporting past, present, and future developments.
OPM release 10 August

BTIB reviews 2011 import substitution report

The Business and Trade Investment Board (BTIB) has commissioned a review of the report by overseas consultants on import substitution.
The 30 page report, which was conducted by New Zealand based consultants, Tui International and submitted to the BTIB on 2 September 2011, identified three imported items where the locally produced equivalents could be developed further.
Those three items were beer, bottled water and vegetables.
BTIB CEO Terry Rangi advised the Times on Thursday that the review which was carried out by a local technical adviser, considered the same items in a bit more in depth particularly in terms of how BTIB could implement the recommendations and what needed to be done.
The review commenced late in June and was recently completed.
Rangi advised that the terms of reference for the local review did not extended so far as to recommend a “process” for identifying further suitable items for substitution or suggesting a “policy” framework for tackling import substitution.
Rangi said import substitution was such a large and broad area and the BTIB could not come up with a framework to deal with this subject as a whole. The report by Tui International identified three potential areas to develop and Rangi added if BTIB could up with a plan to tackle these areas, he would be more than happy.
The approach being taken by BTIB is to do some small things which will hopefully make an impact.

Lloyd and Carlie tie the knot
Congratulations to Lloyd Low and Carlie Wright from Brisbane, who were married on the beachfront of the Muri Beach Club Hotel on Thursday afternoon before a large crowd of family and friends. Unfortunately for Lloyd, on the Saturday evening before the wedding, he suffered a motorbike accident which caused multiple fractures of his right leg. Having his leg in plaster and relying on crutches, did little to prevent the happy couple from having a good time. Lloyd has Atiu connections.

How to stay away from trouble

Many of our young people now a days are being lured into things or activities that will bring harm to themselves. We as responsible citizens of this nation should do what we could to help them. Therefore this article of encouragement is written with the hope of assisting our young people, and also offer some guide to helping others also in HOW TO STAY AWAY FROM TROUBLE. In John 10v.10 Jesus said satan comes “..to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.” Furthermore, Isaiah 59v.19 says that “..When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” The main scripture reading for this article is Psalm 1v.1-3 (GN) which reads “Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men. Who do not follow the example of sinners, or join those who have no use for God, instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.” From these three verses, I want to show you three important lessons on How To Stay Away From Trouble! Lesson 1. SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THE WORLD v.1 reads “Happy are those who reject the advice of evil men. Who do not follow the example of sinners, or join those who have no use for God.” Although we are in this world, we do not belong to this world! Jesus said in John 14v.2-3 “..I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” And the apostle Paul said in Romans 12v.2 “..do not be conformed to this world..” I John 2v.15 and 17(b) “If anyone loves the world and the things of it, the love of the Father is not in him..” James 4v.4 reads “..whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes an enemy of God.” Anyone who continues to remain in the world, and does what is not right in the sight of God, is committing a sin before God. In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah; and the great flood during the days of Noah, people refused to repent and to separate themselves from the things of the world, so they perished. Romans 6v.23 reads “..the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Noah and his family were saved! Lot and his daughters were saved! But for Lot’s wife, the love of the things of the world was too strong on her, so she was also destroyed! Jesus said in John 16v.33 “..in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Some people might say, ‘I can’t get away from my old habits of drinking, smoking, partying, and so on. I can’t change my ways!’ Know this, ‘if God can change a murderer like Saul into a new person, then God can do the same for you!’ James 4v.7, 10 says that if you “..submit to God and resist the devil, and the devil will flee from us…and if we humble ourselves in the sight of God, He will lift us up.”, and out of our negative situations. Remember that “God never allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to overcome those temptations. But He provides a way of escape for us!” The apostle Paul in Romans 8v.31 said “If God is for us who can be against us.” In order for us to stay out of trouble, Lesson 1 is we must SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD! Next week I will continue with Part 2 of this article on How To Stay Away From Trouble. May you have a God blessed weekend. Te Atua te aroa.

Headlines : Times 290 02 March 2009
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- Island of Atiu to host Koutu Nui AGM in June 2009