General News

Week ending Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

Task force suggests national airline
Anderson re-elected as chamber president
Tsunami plan being prepared
Burglaries and thefts still a problem
Feedback needed for think tank
Ministers’ globetrotting criticised by opposition
Chamber looks at challenges over past year
Food security theme encouraged today
Audit reviews response to tsunami warnings
Police look to lay animal cruelty charges
Brothers McBride celebrate PR
Kiwi recalls 1960 Raro tsunami
Simple warning systems proposed for Cooks
The Republic of the Cook Islands?
Diwali celebrated
Agriculture looks to grow food day
KukiCel partners to meet with ministers
Zumbathon for breast cancer
Open day at training centre
Manukau city has its say
Trustee association pays tribute to commissioner
DAT term ends for Smith and Mataroa
Children’s ward reopens
Escapes are a disgrace
Super says they’re strapped
Prison not a priority
Media council releases first report
Opposed to media standards bill
What is the council’s purpose?
Media council members

Task force suggests national airline

The economic development task force recommends many changes to the tourism industry including the controversial suggestion of a national airline.

“It’s my personal belief that the country needs its own national airline,” says task force chairman Tata Crocombe.

In addition, the task force believes a fresh, new innovative brand is needed for the Cooks.

The task force has highlighted the fact the country has been out of marketing campaigns since May and the real air fares to Rarotonga are almost double those to Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Capacity to Rarotonga is restricted but these other nations have wide open, cheap and convenient flight schedules says Crocombe.

“We are the most asked for destination in Australia, but once people see the high costs they can’t be bothered. I’ve always said people don’t buy tropical holidays, they buy tropical holiday marketing. There’s a whole market out there waiting for it. Here the reality is better than the marketing.”

“Other regional countries have their own airlines but there is no competitive aviation industry in the Cook Islands.”

Crocombe says the news is not good from the frontline in our key tourism markets.

Despite this the task force believes tourism numbers can increase by 300 percent (from 100,000 to300,000 visitors per year) in the next 10 years.

Crocombe says tourist numbers need to be grown to grow the economy and to compensate for the shorter length of stay and lower yields seen currently.

The task force says the Cooks must present marketing that is alive and focused on developing target market segments such as weddings, honeymoons and romance and regular annual events.

The tourism brand must be cool, hip, with a contemporary Polynesian vibe and promote ‘the one big resort’ aspect, personalised and less commercialised holidays, dining and cuisine experiences, entertainment and culture.

In essence the task force says a better bang for buck is needed underpinned by improved aviation links and eventually a national airline.

First off the task force hopes government can negotiate with Air New Zealand for more sensible pricing and possibly a direct flight from Sydney.

It has also identified what it considers potential opportunities for services from around the region via Pacific Blue, Jet Star, Air Pacific, Air Vanuatu and Air Tahiti Nui.

An eco-tourism opportunity also exists for the Cooks says Crocombe. This would include having walkways in Rarotonga and southern group islands, raui (marine reserves) supported by legislation, and bird sanctuaries.

And Crocombe says China is one of the largest emerging markets for tourism in the region. He wants to see the country sign an agreement with China’s national tourism organisation to access assistance in tapping into that market as well as starting talks on the feasibility of a joint venture airline to service the Cooks.

Anderson re-elected as chamber president

The chamber of commerce at its 24th annual general meeting on Tuesday decided to keep its outspoken president Steve Anderson on for a second year.

Anderson told the well-attended meeting that the private sector organisation has an important role to play in the community.

“There are considerable challenges facing this country – many of which are global challenges. These need to be faced with all the resources at our disposal.

At times, the chamber has been seen as being constantly critical of the government – even a de-facto opposition. However, we are first to support good policy, and to provide constructive assistance and comment wherever we feel it is appropriate. I receive countless calls and emails of support from all parts of the community for the public stance we take on important issues,” he said during his president’s report.

Anderson said lately there has been a disquieting trend towards elements of a ‘command economy.’

“Nationalisation, central purchasing without tenders, and the use of public money in business ventures, are all dangerous to the economy. Not to mention the rushed proposal to increase VAT, cut PAYE, and suck a further $2 million into the public purse, while basically legislating inflation into the economy.”

Anderson noted there are many issues for the new executive and they can and must say their piece and ensure members and the public are aware of the issues and the consequences that follow.

“The chamber sees itself as a voice of reason and common sense, supporting our entrepreneurial spirit, and wishing to see a strong and prosperous economy for us all.”

The new executive includes previous members and some new members. Teresa Manarangi-Trott, the immediate past president, was elected as vice president replacing Mark Brown.

Over the past year the chamber has been busy with consultations, issuing public statements, providing members with advice and contacts, conducting two member surveys and providing submissions to government on the Public Service Bill, Consumer Gaurantees Act, Fair Trading Act, Small Claim Tribunal Act, Official Information Act, Commerce Commission Bill, Seabed mining Bill and submissions to immigration on draft legislation.

Tsunami plan being prepared

Emergency Management Cook Islands training and awareness officer William Tuivaga is confident the country will soon have a robust national tsunami standard operating procedure (SOP) plan.

Tuivaga and the planning team put together after last week’s meeting of the emergency management council are hard at work on updating the police SOP for tsunami.

Council chairman prime minister Jim Marurai directed EMCI and police to form a team to come up with an improved tsunami SOP after the first warning received here last month resulted in a highly criticised response from authorities.

Now the team reviewing the tsunami plan will make recommendations to the council next Wednesday on what is needed for a national SOP to work.

Asking for resources like warning sirens will be part of the recommendations. Tuivaga says Rarotonga needs about six sirens and they have already identified the police station and possibly the Island Hopper building in Nikao as prime locations in the town area.

He says about 24 sirens are needed nationwide to provide warning in the event of a tsunami alert to the most highly populated areas. The SOP relies heavily on telephone, email, radio and television services and the team believes having sirens will help if some of these communication methods fail.

Media will also play a key role in the new plan with the team coming up with ways to get tsunami bulletin information to radio stations as fast as possible.

The tourism industry will have more pressure put on it to come up with tsunami response plans and work is ongoing in schools throughout the country.

Currently the meteorological service is the first agency in the country to receive tsunami bulletins which it then sends onto police, the office of the prime minister, and the airport authority.

“The current plan will work as was proven last Wednesday, but it does need resource support,” says Tuivaga.

Arioka says the new plan incorporates coordination, response, evacuation and recovery in the event of a tsunami.

Finding ways to close the gaps between key agencies and communities and identify their roles in the plan is part of the team’s work says Arioka.

He says the only way to prove if the plan works is to hold a mock exercise.

The team will recommend what EMCI has been asking key agencies to do over the past two years – for each to have their own plan in the event of a tsunami.

“The plan has the key actions needed, but EMCI has to get agencies to form their own plans. The aim is to standardise all SOPs and have them aligned to the main plan and approved by EMCI.”

Arioka says in addition to the plan there is an outline of how to implement the recommendations from a timeline to a list of milestones to achieve.

Burglaries and thefts still a problem

Eight burglaries were reported last week which included a break-in into a Tupapa unit.

Items stolen from the unit were a bottle of brandy, bottle of coke and three DVDs.

Ten packets of Horizon Menthol cigarettes were taken from Matavera Village Traders store last Tuesday and a screen was ripped off the Big Orange petrol station in Matavera.

Nothing has been reported missing.

The Billabong shop in Avatiu was also broken into last Thursday with no report to date of anything stolen.

Around $240 cash was taken from an Arorangi residence along with alcohol and two digital cameras from Tupapa last Saturday.

Thefts were also on a rise as 12 incidents were reported.

A chainsaw was stolen from a Ngatangiia home early last week but was later recovered.

Last Wednesday 22 dark red chairs were taken from the Osana meeting house and a black PlayStation portable valued at $300 stolen from Arorangi – the last item was recovered later.

A stainless steel water drum went missing from the Big Fish Dive Shop in Aroa last Thursday. On the same day a bag containing a camera and $60 cash was taken at Whatever Bar.

A stolen handbag containing a Nokia phone was recovered in the men’s toilet of Avarua wharf on Saturday. On Sunday a bag containing three purses was taken while the owners were swimming in the Edgewater Resort swimming pool.

Eight arrests were made including a 15-year-old boy for being unlawfully found on a Titikaveka property. A 21-year-old male was arrested for disqualified driving in Arorangi and a 19-year-old was charged with excess breath alcohol after being stopped in front of the ministry of justice building.

Police attended to two unlawful takings. A stolen green Mazda car has since been recovered. However still missing is a Daelim Honda motorcycle registration AAF716 after it was stolen from Vaiamaanga on Sunday.

Three motor vehicle accidents were reported at Nikao, Blackrock and Avatiu – there were no reports of injuries, only damage to the vehicles involved.

Police were contacted last week regarding cars driving at speed past a roadside stall in Matavera.

They ask for people to slow down and be mindful of drivers who have pulled over to shop at their stall.

Feedback needed for think tank

There will be a public presentation tonight from the economic development task force on its strategy and ideas that can take the Cook Islands into the future.

The task force has already received positive feedback from cabinet and heads of ministries on its ideas for ‘upgrading’ the country – now it seeks public feedback.

Some of the key areas the task force has considered are developing tourism as the engine for a high growth economy, reducing the cost structure of the economy, moving from a low to high income economy, harmonising social services like health with that of New Zealand, right-sizing government, and working with China.

Anyone interested in seeing the presentation and meeting members of the task force chaired by businessman Tata Crocombe can go along to the 6pm meeting at Club Raro tonight.

On Tuesday the taskforce briefed local media on the economic initiatives it has identified that can move the country into positive economic growth.

On Friday heads of ministries have been invited to submit the initiatives and projects they consider priorities and which make the most sense says Crocombe.

The HoMs will provide this advice directly to the prime minister’s policy office and the deputy prime minister’s office.

Crocombe says the task force meets again on Monday before briefing cabinet again on Tuesday and then meeting HoMs next Friday to set the groundwork for key projects.

He says the task force hopes to get the ball rolling on some key initiatives it has identified before Christmas.

Ministers’ globetrotting criticised by opposition

Opposition MP Nandi Glassie is hitting out at ‘excessive’ overseas travel by government ministers this year.

The Atiu MP says he can’t understand why the ministers are not spending more time in the country where they need to be.

“I’m utterly appalled by the excessive overseas travel by government ministers, especially the deputy prime minister (Sir Terepai Maoate),” he said this week.

“He (Sir Terepai) seems to be globetrotting the world without explaining to the nation why he is doing this.”

Sir Terepai has been on another overseas mission for the past week. It’s understood he is attending the Secretariat of the Pacific Community conference in Tonga.

Just this week minister Tangata Vavia proposed that he attend the Asia Pacific Telecommunications and ICT development forum in Bali, Indonesia in the place of prime minister Jim Marurai.

Vavia’s wife is part of the proposed delegation along with OPM chief of staff Mac Mokoroa. It was put to cabinet to pay for Vavia’s wife’s airfares to Indonesia, accommodation in Auckland and incidental costs from the Civil List.

The trip is already causing a stir in the community because of the apparent revert to the days of old when ministers always took their spouses with them on international travel.

Recently sports minister Ngamau Munokoa turned down an invitation to the upcoming UNESCO meeting in Paris because of a regional disability meeting taking place in Rarotonga this month.

It is not known whether the trip has been passed onto another minister.

Ministerial travel has been put in the spotlight more recently due to instances such as cabinet decisions being reversed on the return of a minister from overseas.

Ministers are not the only ones to be criticised over travel, some of which is funded by the Civil List.

Opposition leader Tom Marsters’ $80,000 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association trip to Tanzania with his wife, at the end of last month, has also attracted the public eye.

Chamber looks at challenges over past year

The chamber of commerce continues to be vocal about issues that it considers to be important to the economy.

At its annual general meeting this week, the private sector organisation president Steve Anderson reviewed some of the challenges faced over the past year.

“We are conscious of good-governance issues, which are at the heart of a functioning economy with transparent and accountable fiscal management,” said Anderson.

The chamber made several public statements protesting the reduced budget for PERC (Public Expenditure Review Committee).

“This reduction resulted in the mass resignation of Public Expenditure Review Committee. We considered that using a funding cut to muzzle a watchdog organisation was a dangerous move, which has no place in a modern democracy.”

Anderson says government, particularly through the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), has begun to make a habit of purchasing material for projects directly from overseas.

“We pointed out that the government was in breach of the MFEM Act, avoiding the required tender process, and, in most cases, would be wasting money. Bypassing the local private sector was also depriving businesses of business, and the country of tax revenue.”

The chamber, along with others, laid a complaint with the audit office over this and has yet to see what the consequences, if any, will be for CIIC.

Government’s moves to nationalise the fuel industry also landed it in hot water with the chamber which held it to account over the MFEM Act and the requirement for fiscal responsibility.

“While initially a knee-jerk reaction to the fuel price spike of 2007/08, this policy was doggedly pursued in the face of incredible public opposition, and without any benefit being able to be credibly demonstrated,” Anderson told the AGM.

“The government mounted the bizarre defence that it needed only be fiscally responsible regarding policy, and nothing else, and has since found itself mired in court action and litigation from all sides.”

The chamber still believes government should stay well clear of what is ‘rightly the preserve’ of private business.

“We believe that the best regulator of pricing is a free market, with competition from all players, and the consumer is the winner.”

Anderson said the chamber, for a change, was able to support government’s seabed and mining legislation and even provided a submission to that effect.

“This is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and it is likely to be decades before there are any tangible benefits to the country, but we now have an excellent framework on which to build.”

The chamber has actively supported government’s move to consider abolishing the telecommunications monopoly to allow local competition and it looks forward to a choice for consumers.

“Most countries have already thrown off the shackles of a telecommunications monopoly and have thrived thereafter, with everyone, including the original operator, having to adjust to a level playing field. We, the business and domestic consumers, and the government, as both a consumer and taxer of telecommunications, will all benefit from the change.”

However, the chamber could not support the government’s ‘continuing supplication to the Chinese’ and raised a loud warning about the country’s increased indebtedness to China.

“Moreover, the strings attached to the borrowed money were increasingly worrying. The requirement that projects were to be carried out by Chinese contracting companies – without tendering or independent valuation – has been a major blow, again, to the local construction industry, not to mention to the tax revenues of the country.

We have not begun to feel the impact of repaying what we owe, and our politicians must have some regard for the legacy that is being left for our children.”

Food security theme encouraged today

The ministry of agriculture will celebrate World Food Day with a market day today at the Punanga Nui market.

Fresh local produce and plant seedlings will be on sale throughout the day as well as an exhibition of agricultural equipments from the private sector.

While the day gives local growers and the ministry to sell their locally grown produce and plant seedlings – the theme of the day is achieving food security in times of crisis.

According to a media release from the Food and Agriculture Organization director-general Jacques Diouf, the events of the last three years have been particularly tragic as they have demonstrated the fragility of the global food system.

“For the first time in history, more than one billion people are undernourished worldwide.

This is about 100 million more than last year and it means that one in every six persons suffers from hunger every day.”

Diouf says this recent increase in hunger has not been the consequence of a poor global harvest, but rather caused by the world economic crisis, which has reduced incomes and employment opportunities of the poor and significantly reduced their access to food.

“It is for this reason that the theme chosen for World Food Day and TeleFood this year is: achieving food security in times of crisis. At a time when the fallout from the global economic crisis still dominates the news, it is important to remind the international community that the crisis is stalking the small-scale farms and rural areas of the world, where 70 percent of the world’s hungry live and work.

Diouf says the current crisis is historically unprecedented in several ways. First, it follows a global rapid and sharp increase in staple food prices during 2006-2008.

The recent downward adjustment, he says, should not be interpreted as the end of the food crisis.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 80 to 90 percent of all cereal prices monitored by FAO in 27 countries remain more than 25 percent higher than before the food price crisis began two years ago.

In Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, prices are monitored in a total of 31 countries, and between 40 and 80 percent of cereal prices remain more than 25 percent higher than in the pre-food-crisis period.

And at a local level, in certain countries, prices for basic food products have not decreased at all.

Furthermore, production is still hampered by the increase in the cost of inputs - 176 percent for fertilisers, 70 percent for seeds, 75 percent for animal feed, making agricultural investment extremely difficult.

“Such increases put these vital inputs far beyond the reach of millions of farmers.

“Second, from a financial and commercial point of view, developing countries are now more financially and commercially integrated in the world economy, which implies that a drop in global demand or supply and in credit availability has immediate repercussions on developing countries.

“Third, because of the global nature of the crisis, the normal mechanisms used by households to cope with economic shocks are stretched thin.

Foreign direct investment, including in agriculture, is forecast to decline by more than 30 per cent in 2009.

Diouf says the world summit on food security to be held in Rome from November 16 to 18 aims to keep the challenge of food insecurity on top of the international agenda so that the right to food, the most basic of human rights, be respected.

“On this World Food Day, let us resolve once and for all that achieving food security, in times of crisis or not, is indeed a global priority.”

Audit reviews response to tsunami warnings

The audit office is now reviewing the country’s disaster preparedness and emergency procedures following recent public concern at the systems in place for tsunami warnings.

The independent review will look into the response carried out by Emergency Management Cook Islands and other key agencies such as Police.

Director of audit Paul Allsworth says the review is timely given the two recent tsunami alerts experienced here in the Cook Islands. He expects the review will take about two weeks to complete.

Police look to lay animal cruelty charges

Cook Islands police are looking to charge a caretaker of 18 pigs with animal cruelty after pigs were found dying after not being given water or food for two weeks.

The owner of the pigs found in the Blackrock area is currently in New Zealand and employed a caretaker to feed the pigs while he was away.

On Tuesday morning the Esther Honey Foundation in Nikao received a call from a concerned member of the public who discovered the starving and dying pigs.

Doctor Gabrielle Dampney, senior veterinarian at the Nikao animal clinic, investigated the call and found that there were 18 pigs, ranging from piglets to fully grown adult pigs that were in bad shape.

“There was one dead pig in the run with two other pigs climbing all over the carcass,” says Dampney.

“There were no water containers in any of the run and all of the pigs were dehydrated and malnourished.”

“The pig enclosures were filthy and appeared not to be have been cleaned for a significant period of time and the troughs which should have been full of water were clogged with rotting coconut husks.”

Dampney says that in one enclosure there were three pigs with horrendous skin disease and in another enclosure there were piglets left with no food or water.

“It was our professional opinion that all of these pigs have been neglected and were the victims of animal cruelty,” says Dampney.

While the vets were inspecting the pigs, they were approached by the caretaker of the pigs who admitted that he had not given water nor fed the pigs for two weeks because he had the flu.

Esther Honey Foundation manager Karen Galvan says that charges need to be laid on both the owner and caretaker of the pigs.

“It is of the utmost importance that people who neglect to provide the basics of food, water and shelter for their animals be charged,” says Galvan. “This behaviour is not acceptable.”

Since discovering the pigs, Esther Honey vets and volunteers have been looking after the pigs providing them with food and water everyday.

The clinic will send out an invoice to the owner of the pigs for the money and time they have spent looking after his neglected animals.

• Matariki Wilson

Brothers McBride celebrate PR

Brothers Rory, 26, and Robin McBride, 31, with older brother Tonga and proud mum Nima received their permanent residency certificates at Government House yesterday. The PRs awarded last year were a long time coming for the McBride family – Rory was just three when they moved to Rarotonga. With their parents originally from Samoa and America the four McBride sons have grown up in the Pacific including in Fiji and Hawaii. Rory and Robin now live in Sydney for most of the year and Robin is planning to move back to Rarotonga with his Cook Islands wife Eileen next year. -HG

Kiwi recalls 1960 Raro tsunami

After the devastating effects of the September 29 tsunami on Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, and the panic which it caused on Rarotonga - especially with the water being drawn out of the harbours that Tuesday morning - the question being asked at the time was when was the last time something like this happened in the Cooks.

The Northern Advocate in New Zealand caught up with one man who did remember about a Sunday morning in Rarotonga.

Four Whangarei men who were shipwrecked in Rarotonga by a tsunami in 1960 felt its magnitude more than most.

Selwyn Matheson says he was a ‘nautical bum’ in those days, taking off with his sailing buddies for exotic Pacific isles when the mood took them.

“Just cruising. We used to go up there every year in the late 50s, early 60s,” he says.

Matheson describes May 22 1960, as “one night to remember, in particular.”

Matheson, the co-owner of the 9.2-metre Kehua, Peter Ashcroft, and crew the late Papa Don Beer and John Pettit had arrived in the dark hours of a Saturday night at the port of Avatiu – “its harbour in those days was just a gut in the coral”.

The voyage had already been a nightmare.

Caught between two violent weather fronts, the yacht had battled for 10 days of the 20-day voyage, dragging warps and tyres in storm-force conditions.

At Avatiu two other yachts - the Nina, also out of Whangarei, and the larger United States registered Tahiti - were also waiting to enter the port.

In the religious Cook Islands, there were no radio broadcasts on a Sunday, and no one working on the shore.

That saved lives when a huge wave hit around 9.30am.

“We had absolutely no warning,” Matheson recalls.

“If you were sitting in a dinghy out on the ocean you wouldn’t know a tidal wave had passed beneath you.”

“What happens near land is that the sea sucks out, then there’s a pause. We heard this kind of bubbling noise from the sea out behind the reef. Then you hear it coming. It rushes in, pauses, and sucks back out, taking everything with it.”

The yachts and their anchors withstood the first couple of waves. When the water receded, the men abandoned ship and ran for shore, and higher ground.

Eventually the yachts’ anchors broke away and they were knocked around together in the rapidly rising and falling tide.

The Kehua’s mast caught up with the other two yachts rigging and snapped.

She also ended up with a damaged bowsprit and mizzen mast, torn mainsail and a genoa wrapped and tangled under her.

The other yachts were also damaged and left un-seaworthy.

Kiwi ingenuity would get those vessels back on to the ocean but the job would last months.

“We decided we’d have to build a slipway and a shipyard,” Matheson said.

The Kiwis went on the scrounge, borrowed a public works department (PWD) front-end loader and whatever else they could, shaped, shifted and lugged coral, purloined railway iron and timber, and “made a cradle with bits of driftwood and anything else that looked useful”.

Matheson, a carpenter, bought an 8 x 6-metre slab of Oregon pine from the works department and shaped and spliced it on to the broken mast.

“This caused great interest. It was really only held together by glue.

The natives said it would never hold but I knew it would. Then they said, ‘How are you going to get it in?’ I said, ‘We’ll find a way’.”

More Kiwi ingenuity – they lined up the other two yachts on either side, dragged up the new mast using the other vessels’ halyards, and pivoted the repaired mast into place on the Kehua.

The Nina and Tahiti were slipped and repaired at the makeshift yard first.

The Kehua would be at Avatiu for some months.

Matheson and Beer stayed on the island and got work, one as a carpenter, the other a panelbeater.

Eventually, the Kehua was able to come home to Whangarei again.

But it wasn’t the end of Matheson’s high-seas adventures.

The Pacific islands would lure him back several more times, including in 1961 for an extras role in the movie Mutiny on the Bounty.

But, this wild spring, as the Earth rumbles beneath the Pacific and the tides again threaten her vulnerable islands, Matheson’s thoughts return to a shipwreck he survived in the tsunami of 1960.

• The Northern Advocate

Simple warning systems proposed for Cooks

The water is drawn out of Avarua wharf on the morning of September 29. Photo Keri Herman 09092982

Alistair Macquarie is a licensed NZ civil aviation authority aircraft engineer who runs a programme with Air Rarotonga for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, testing and monitoring for greenhouse gases. He is involved in environmental consulting and Rarotonga lagoon management, and was on the task force investigating the 2004-05 Rarotonga irritant syndrome. In last Saturday’s edition, he explained some technical aspects of tsunami and offers a little bit more here as to what sort of warning systems should be put in place in the Cooks.

I strongly recommend as a result of the last two failed tsunami alerts (and cause of public panic) and as a general lack of an appropriate public alerting system to any general public danger that Emergency Management Cook Islands should be implementing a general public alert and warning system which the public will be able to recognise and learn to follow and understand.

The system would apply to any emergency such as tsunami and tropical cyclones as well as any other disaster where danger to or loss of life is imminent.

The system would be as follows with three levels of alerts, each level with its colour code (common flashing lights, blue, orange, red) and siren code (number of short blasts one to three) this can be fitted to the vehicle that goes around the island warning the public. The system can also be fitted permanently at first at the two main harbours and where required, and then the main villages where alerts two and three would be required.

1) Alert Level One:  BLUE flashing light with a single (short siren blasts only)

Tsunami advisory only warning with little to no threat, used when the tsunami warning centre (TWC) has issued a general Pacific warning that lists Rarotonga but a tsunami is unlikely.

This is listed due to the public access to TWC email and SMS alerts and to dispel any public reaction from the TWC alerts/warnings.

For tropical cyclones; cyclone warning to Cooks with category 1 and 2 -- these are low risk cyclones with low listed speeds.

2)  Alert Level Two: ORANGE flashing light (with two short siren blasts)

Tsunami warning, when danger and risk is unknown at present and or when low threat and threat to harbours, docked boats, divers, fishermen etc, is known.

This will be used when warning is given from TWC and known wave generated but a low risk to public, but harbours need to be evacuated of boats and persons.

For tropical cyclones of category 3 and 4, with potential wind damage to properties and sea damage likely to coastal homes.

3) Alert Level Three:  RED flashing light  (with 3 short siren blasts)

Tsunami warning for 8.5 magnitude earthquake and upwards, generated in the Kermadec/ Tonga trench area, or when there is a high risk and threat to general public, or danger is imminent. This is when the public should move to higher ground.

Warning for category 4 to 5 cyclones with very high wind speeds and high sea surge, where danger to public and property is imminent and there is a need to evacuate to higher ground etc

In this way the public is aware of the seriousness of the alert and can decide on what appropriate action to take ie what they need to do and when they need to do it.

The time is fast approaching where we are due for a category 5 tropical cyclone where such a system would be needed.

Many will remember that cyclone Heta increased its intensity while in our southern Cooks waters and recall how much damage that it did to Niue in 2004.

The Republic of the Cook Islands?

Savage (his name by deed poll) is the co-founder of the New Zealand Republican Movement and is currently visiting Rarotonga. The movement is made up of a network of New Zealanders who want to elect its own head of state, and just this week a private members bill to elect New Zealand’s head of state was this week drawn from the parliamentary ballot. After spending nearly two weeks on the island and finding out a bit more about the country, Savage approached Cook Islands News about doing an information piece about republicanism.

Why does New Zealand becoming a republic affect the Cook Islands?

Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue and Tokelau are all in the ‘Realm of New Zealand’. We share the Queen as head of state. If New Zealand withdraws from the realm then, in practice, it will cease to exist.

When will New Zealand become a republic?

We want a republic within five to eight years. We have launched a nationwide campaign for a referendum held no later than the 2014. There is a cross-party caucus in parliament and we are close to a majority among voters. The Head of State Referenda Bill was put forward by Green MP Keith Locke. He is a member of the Republican Movement so it’s a great opportunity for us.

What’s happening in the rest of the Commonwealth?

There are cross-party republic movements in three other countries. Republic support in Australia and Canada is over 60 percent. Both main parties in Australia support it. In the UK its around 30 percent. Plus the Labour party in Jamaica (the government) and in Barbados (in opposition) both plan to become republics.

What’s wrong with the Queen?

Republicanism is not about personalities. A republic improves democracy, affirms our independence and better reflects our history and nationhood. The rules of succession contradict the New Zealand Bill of Rights and Cook Islands Constitution. The Queen, Governor-General and Queen’s Representative do not provide effective constitutional safeguards. The idea that the Queen will intervene in a political crisis is a myth. We are a Pacific nation. An ineffective, unelected, foreign head of state provides no benefits.

What are the choices for the Cook Islands?

There are four options. Become a republic, share the New Zealand head of state, keep the British Monarch or choose your own hereditary head of state.

What is best for the Cook Islands?

That’s for voters to decide. The simplest and cheapest republic option is to become a ‘parliamentary republic’ and replace the Queen’s representative with an elected head of state who has clear constitutional powers. The position could either be directly elected or elected by parliament. The other alternative is to retain the British Monarch as head of state; Queen Elizabeth and then King Charles.

What about the Ui Ariki?

The Ui Ariki could be empowered to act collectively as a constitutional check on parliament. Samoa is a parliamentary republic with the head of state elected by parliament every five years. All citizens are eligible but leading Matai are the main candidates. A similar system might work here.

Who will decide what happens?

Parliament will need to consult the people. Changing the head of state requires a two-thirds majority in both parliament and a nationwide referendum so it will be a big issue. In some instances it may be possible to change the terminology, as when ‘premier’ became ‘prime minister’ but constitutionally this is all a bigger issue. Either side achieving two-thirds in a referendum will be difficult.

Will New Zealand and Cook Islands remain in free association?

We do not need a constitutional link to remain in free association so there is no reason why it should change. Both countries are committed to it. It may be helpful to sign an updated version of the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration to reaffirm and clarify the relationship. Especially if the Cook Islands remains the way it is.

Will a republic improve parliament?

The change to a republic improves constitutional oversight of parliament but it won’t solve all the problems. Whether it improves standards at parliament will depend on the reserve powers given to the head of state. A republic could improve democracy but only if good decisions are made and a good republic system is chosen.

Will we get a new flag?

The flag is a separate decision and does not have to change. Voters can choose to keep the flag, remove the union Jack or adopt a new one.

Does the Cook Islands need its own Republican Movement?

I think so. An elected head of state will balance the power of parliament so it cannot be left solely to parliament to decide. A cross-party republican movement working inside and outside parliament would ensure a better standard of debate. A Cook Islands Republic Movement is a good idea.

For more information visit:

www.republic.co.nz or contact membership@republic.org.nz

Diwali celebrated

The Indian community will be joining millions around the world to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights today.

The religious celebration is significant in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism and is an official holiday in India.

Ronald Deepak Chand of Rarotonga says no official event is organised but Indian sweets and foods are prepared which are only made during Diwali. He says in the evening there will be prayer and sharing the time with friends and family over food.

Candles and flicking lights will also be lit up to commemorate the festive spirit and bring people of different communities closer.

Globally on the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and also share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day. -

• Dana Kinita

Agriculture looks to grow food day

One happy papa walks away from the markets with a fat ripe watermelon plus a tray of watermelon seedlings. 09101602

There was a mad scramble at the Punanga Nui market on Friday as people tried to get their hands on fresh local produce – especially the massive watermelons selling at just $10 each.

Over 100 people gathered at the market for the World Food Day celebration which included the sales of produce and seedlings and plants grown by the ministry of agriculture.

Before people could get their hands on the kai, a number of agriculture officers and growers shared some tips on growing, and how to turn surplus tomato and chillies into chutneys and relishes.

Once the sales began – money and produce were flying in all directions.

There was plenty of jostling in around the big pile of watermelons with a number of people missing out.

But there were plenty of spring onions, cabbages, bananas, taro, and much more for sale at very cheap prices like $5 for a bag of capsicums.

Watermelon seedlings were also in hot demand as well as the blooming tiare taina (gardenia) plants.

Serious growers milled around the farming equipment on display, looking for a bargain.

Agriculture secretary Anthony Brown was very pleased with the outcome of the day but says that he aims to grow and add more value to next year’s event.

He also says that they ministry would like to see more public involvement in the annual event to empower and grow the pride among local growers with the support of supplies from the ministry.

• Matariki Wilson

KukiCel partners to meet with ministers

This week KukiCel’s Australian shareholder PacTel is in town to gauge the progress of the deregulation of the telecommunications market in the Cook Islands.

PacTel chief executive Andrew Taylor will join KukiCel directors William Framhein and Tahiti-based Karl Wohler when they meet with telecommunications minister and prime minister Jim Marurai and deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate tomorrow.

Taylor says the main purpose of his visit is to understand where the draft telecommunications act amendment is at now and how far out Mervin Communication’s subsidiary KukiCel is from obtaining a license to operate and how much preparation time they have to set up the new network.

Taylor was last in Rarotonga when KukiCel held its first demonstration of its mobile technology in May for chamber of commerce members and members of parliament.

Australian-based PacTel has become a KukiCel partner to provide the technology for the network, while its local owners operate the company.

Framhein was recently informed by Sir Terepai that the draft telecommunications act amendment that will open the market to competition will be presented to cabinet soon.

Sir Terepai has been pushing for a change to the legislation to put an end to the monopoly of Telecom Cook Islands, which government has a 40 percent shareholding in.

With Telecom making a reported 70 percent profit on its services, government is coming under increasing pressure to allow local company KukiCel to join the market.

Fears over losing some of its $2 million plus dividend from TCI has resulted in resistance to deregulation from government.

“We believe any loss of dividend to government will be made up in other ways, probably replaced by licence fees and the contributions to the universal service fund which covers the non-profitable connection of rural areas,” says Framhein.

There has also been some concern from the private sector that TCI board chairman Mike Mitchell is also advising government on the possible deregulation of the industry. With two opposing interests – one to protect TCI’s interests and the other to assist in government’s efforts to open the market up – it’s already been labeled a conflict of interest.

Taylor says PacTel already has a presence in Tuvalu, a nation of 12,000 people where it supplied the technology for a mobile network for its local Telecom company last month. Taylor says while deregulation has not worked in every country, the Cook Islands stands to benefit from a competitive telecommunications market. The KukiCel partners say they will be reporting the outcome of their meetings with the ministers this week to local media.

CI News has requested an interview with Sir Terepai on his support for deregulation since last month.

Sir Terepai was quoted on Radio Australia on September 9 saying he wanted new legislation to abolish the monopoly held by Telecom saying the move will benefit consumers and the economy.

He told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat that communications in Cooks are lacking.

“There is no reason why Telecom Cook Islands, a join venture between us and New Zealand Telecom, cannot improve and upgrade,” he said.

“I think the focus of this monopoly we have is on profit making. Nobody argues about any company making profit, but I think too much profit means too high charges.”

“One of the changes I would like to see is in the speed of communications around the world, around our region, particularly with regards to our offshore financial services and the tourism industry.”

• Helen Greig

Zumbathon for breast cancer

As part of Top Shape Gym’s community support programme, the gym will be running a Zumbathon fundraiser for the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation.

Avera Hunter from the Top Shape Gym says that as October is the breast cancer awareness month, they’ve organised a two hour Zumbathon ‘party fun and fitness’ for Saturday October 24 to help promote breast cancer awareness.

The class will start at 8.30am.

A small fee of $5 per person per class is all you will have to pay to be part of this fun fitness class with all money raised going to the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation.

In keeping with the breast cancer awareness theme – those planning to be part of this fun fitness event are encouraged to dress up in pink and you could be in to win some great spot prizes.

Top Shape Gym is planning a Zumbathon fundraiser once a month for different causes including a fun fitness fundraiser for the children’s ward at the Rarotonga hospital and the Creative Centre.

Community groups who would like Top Shape Gym to run a Zumbathon fundraiser for your cause or to book your spot for the breast cancer awareness Zumbathnon on Saturday, should call Hunter at the gym on 21254.

• Matariki Wilson

Open day at training centre

The trades training centre at Arorangi will have an open day tomorrow to inform the public as to what opportunities are available next year.

TTC manager Boyd Ellison says a new drainlaying course will start up in 2010 and the centre will continue to offer night and full time classes in automotives, electrical and carpentry.

Ellison says tomorrow will be a good time for school leavers to check out the courses and for existing students to enroll for next year’s courses.

“All of the courses offered carry New Zealand qualifications,” says Ellison, “and people working in a trade – or want to -- can sign up to study for a qualification that can be used in the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia.”

Boyd adds that all courses cover both theory and practical aspects of each trade, with material provided by providers such as Unitec, Open Polytechnic and the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation.

The full time courses, which start in April, last for 11 weeks and have places for students from the outer islands.

Tomorrow’s open day will start at 8am and finish at 5pm.

• Moana Moeka’a

Manukau city has its say

Manukau City Council wants to see four wards and seven councilors in the southern sector for the new Auckland Council.

The southern sector of the city includes Manukau, Papakura, and the part of Franklin that will remain in the new Auckland area.

Cook Islander and councillor for Mangere, Hugh Graham, says in its submission to the local government commission, the council said it would also prefer nine local board areas.

Graham is one of seventeen councilors in Manukau City, and says in making its recommendations; the council wants to retain the existing, strong communities of interest.

The commission will consider submissions before releasing its draft proposals by November 20, with responses to the draft proposals due by December 11.

Manukau’s population is around 345,000, and Mangere alone has around 60,000 people. Under the new city structure Mangere, Papatoetoe and Otara will have a population of 145,000 with just two councilors elected to represent them.

“I have heard the voices of many of the residents in Mangere, the present ward that elected me to council. They want to retain the strong, established community of Mangere and want to see it preserved as much as possible,” says Graham.

The council has opted for two-member wards in its submission, which ensure that people and communities retain their connectivity in their diversity. In opting for four wards with seven members, the council has included the current Papakura and Franklin districts, with one rural ward based on Franklin including the rural area of Clevedon.

• Helen Greig

Trustee association pays tribute to commissioner

The Trustee Companies Association has paid tribute to the outgoing head of the financial supervisory commission, Lorraine Allan.

TCA president Nadine Newnham said the Cook Islands is particularly fortunate that both the incumbent commissioner and her successor, John Hobbs, were employed for many years by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

“There will be a continuity of credibility and experience which is welcome,” says Newnham.

Newnham says the reputation of the Cook Islands financial services sector has been enhanced over the last three years and this is due in no small measure to the dedication Allan has shown, not only to her job, but also to the Cook Islands.

“We all felt the commissioner saw no conflict between improved regulation of financial services and the promotion of the Cook Islands’ offshore industry abroad.

Newnham says a suite of legislation was passed to regulate the insurance industry and replace now arcane legislation.

At the same time the commissioner was for nearly all her tenure involved in court proceedings against a financial institution which made demands on her and her staff.

“The outcome of those proceedings vindicated the commissioner’s actions and cemented its reputation as an office which will not compromise regulatory standards regardless of cost and the effort required.”

Newnham says the TCA was therefore not surprised that the Asia Pacific Group’s report on the Cook Islands will place it at the top end of countries compliant in the fight against money laundering.

She adds that in July the Cook Islands was singled out by the Asia Pacific Group’s executive secretary, Dr Gordon Hook, for making progress in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

“At the end of a long list of achievements is the Cook Islands’ recent admission to the Offshore Group of Banking Supervisors.”

The TCA would like to extend its very best wishes to Lorraine in her future endeavours.

Hobbs arrives to take up his post next month.

• TCA/MM

DAT term ends for Smith and Mataroa

The Disability Action Team wrapped up four years of work in the community this month. Occupational therapist Donna Smith and her colleague Oropai Mataroa have provided much needed support for the community and disability issues with the help of NZAID funding.

In 2007 at the second annual disability conference, prime minister Jim Marurai praised the hard work carried out by DAT.

“Your efforts are to be commended and I wish you continued success in raising the plight of those less able, and for highlighting the need for us to grant these concerns a higher priority in our thinking and planning,” he said.

Former Apii Te Uki Ou principal June Hosking says Smith first saw the sad state of special needs when she visited Rarotonga just over a decade ago. Later Hosking discovered that in 2002 a survey showed around 50 school aged children with special needs were not attending school and were losing years of potential education as a result.

Hosking says Smith, apart from the work she has done for education, has been looking after her mother Freda for ten years, providing around the clock care due to her health problems.

And Hosking says despite all the progress made by DAT, Smith still prefers to stay in the background.

“She has a huge heart, a strong advocate for the underdog,” says Hosking.

Many in the community have been passing messages of thanks on to Smith and Mataroa since hearing of the conclusion of DAT’s work. Rest assured these women will still dedicate their efforts to helping the community and special needs people within it.

• Helen Greig

Children’s ward reopens

Westpac manager Rob Buick with some of the Westpac kids at the reopening of the children’s ward. 09102001

Almost 40 years after it was built, the completely refurbished Rarotonga hospital children’s ward was reopened on Monday.

It’s taken around four years to finish the collaboration between government and many in the private sector.

Both hospital health services director Heather Webber-Aitu and Westpac manager Rob Buick were reduced to tears at the opening ceremony by the huge achievement.

Webber-Aitu began at the hospital two years ago, continuing the drive for the children’s ward renovation started in 2005 by Dr Tania Pataia, Dr Dawn Pasina, and the then manager of Westpac Catherine Newman.

Webber-Aitu said there was an overwhelming flow of support both locally and regionally for the project.

Westpac began its children’s ward project fundraiser in 2005 with a stretcher race through town. Since then the bank and its customers have raised just over $23,500 for the ward.

From this bank provided all the new beds and chairs for the paediatric ward and Buick says their next aim is to install a flat screen TV, DVD player and gift educational DVDs to the ward.

“We will continue to support the children’s ward going forward as one of the major charities of Westpac,” he said.

Health minister Sir Terepai Maoate acknowledged the huge cooperation from the private sector and government including New Zealand Government sponsorship.

Contributors and sponsors include Air New Zealand, T&M Heather, Engu Tavai family, Lynn Mataio, the ministry of health (including maintenance and other staff), Nuku Rangi Builders, CIIC contractors, Teariki Pirangi & Co, PTS Plumbing, Raro Plumbing, Prestige Furnishings, and CI Steel Industries.

The ward was dedicated by CICC reverend Tereora Tereora and the Westpac children officially opened the doors.

• Helen Greig

Escapes are a disgrace

The maximum security section contains two cells. Inmates Mare and Dean cut through the rusted bars of the roof to escape last Friday. 09102013

Second escape from ‘maximum security’ begs lots of questions

Dear Editor,

This facility is now well beyond a joke.

Since I wrote a series of letters on this subject after the first escape, there have been two more escapes. This is a shocking, and an almost unbelievable occurrence.

It is a disgrace that the last escape was by the two inmates who must have been in maximum security and were able to get out a second time. Is there NO reliable supervision? What was the evening/night time shift doing? It begs the questions!

In my last series of letters, I drew attention to the fact that staff training and staff discipline appeared non-existent which allowed laxity of supervision.

For this the superintendent is responsible. The superintendent was appointed by the previous HOM and no blame can be attached to HOM Mark Short.

He has to work with what he inherited from the previous administration until such time as proven mal-administration can give him the opportunity to remedy the situation. In my last letter I drew attention to the present state of the Arorangi Prison.

I am fully aware of the state it is in, having been relieving superintendent a few years ago.

When I chaired the 1989 Ministerial Inquiry into the prevalence of escapes, together with my members, two of whom were lawyers, we designed a plan to increase the accommodation in the prison.

This was mainly to allow for classification of inmates and to keep remands segregated from serving inmates.

The plan also provided extra cells for recalcitrant inmates and those under maximum security. The overall plan was costed out well within government’s coffers. Use of inmate labour kept the costs down.

(Do not laugh at that is how we built the Atiu Gaol in 1971.) No mention was made two days ago that the commissioner of police together with the HOM Mark Short were trying to find a solution to this embarrassing situation.

With respect it is staring you in the face. Why do you not admit that the deputy prime minister who holds the purse strings just has to fork out some of his hidden reserves before he squanders it on the $1,000,000 gift in the fuel farm debacle? What of the Stimulus package of $3,000,000 that is going or gone for tourism instead of its original purpose?

Come on, Mr Money Bags, which comes first, the egg or the chicken?

Do you believe that spending thousands of dollars on bringing tourists here so that they can be relieved of their possessions by escapees and other petty thieves is more important than securing and modernising the prison to today’s standards?

Come on, prison superintendent, speak up and out as is your privilege. After all, your reputation is on the line and I do truly sympathise with you trying to contain inmates in the 50-year-old prison.

And finally, Mark Short, let us get cracking and get the prison renovated and expanded NOW as this will relieve you of your major problems and finally give the general public a greater feeling of security.

Gordon H Sawtell

Former Prisons Advisory

Consultant

Super says they’re strapped

Lack of funds blamed for jail security problem

The jail escapees appeared in the high court yesterday and pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody.

Putere Dean and Daniel Mare broke out of the Arorangi prison on Friday night. They had cut through rusted bars enclosing the maximum security area. After being on the run for three days, they were recaptured on Monday by a prison search team comprising guards and inmates on the Titikaveka cross island track.

Both will reappear in court next month for sentencing. Mare will return to the stand tomorrow for burglaries, unlawful taking and a previous escape charge in August.

Forming the prison search party this week were three wardens and two inmates.

Prison superintendent Metuatini Tangaroa says the two offenders who assisted were considered at low risk to society and were part of the work scheme group regularly allowed to leave the prison compound.

“These two had to earn the privilege and they were progressing to make a change in their behaviour,” he says.

“There was no reward offered or incentive given, it was just a notch in their belt which we will take into consideration as part of their assessment.”

Criticism has been levelled at Tangaroa over the current prison supervision.

A letter to the editor says it is a disgrace that the inmates were able to escape a second time.

“Is there no reliable supervision?” it asks.

“Staff training and staff discipline appeared non-existent which allowed laxity of supervision. For this the superintendent is responsible.”

Tangaroa says they are doing the best they can with what they have. He says not enough funds are available to properly address issues such as under staffing, infrastructure or ongoing training for the wardens.

At present there are 18 wardens employed in the prison service with three allocated to work the night shift. At the time Putere and Mare escaped, there were only two wardens working after one had called in sick.

Tangaroa says they are attempting to make improvements. An application has been made to the Public Service Commission for a technical assistant.

“It is just one of the components we’re looking at to help us with our procedures,” he says.

“We’re paying the price now for poor infrastructure and no remuneration of staff.

“We have plans in place for renovations, but there is no money.”

The prison building, like all government owned properties, is maintained by Cook Islands Investment Corporation.

Lloyd Miles, acting chief executive of CIIC, says there was an initial budget request for the prison but money was not allocated.

“There is no confirmed money for the development of the prison,” he says.

“We’ve been given a lot less in the budget and now it’s a matter of allocating based on priority.”

Miles says the situation is important but it was an issue of how far they can stretch the dollar.

“It’s not good for anybody if we do get them inside and they break out.”

Miles says the prison will be put on the board paper to be considered at the CIIC monthly meeting.

• Dana Kinita

Prison not a priority

The latest prison break highlights a critical need for improvements to be made at the Arorangi correction facility.

But it’s not going to happen over night.

Secretary of justice Mark Short says a comprehensive review of all nine ministerial divisions is underway and submissions, based on priority, will be made as a whole to Cabinet.

“You can not deal with divisions in isolation, and put all the resources just into prisons,” Short says.

“What about Land Court? These are good people who haven’t commited any crime – the division areas are so diverse.”

With 12 escapes made since last November, the question remains why this hasn’t been made a high priority issue.

“Nothing has been done over 16 years, I don’t think rushing is going to fix the problem,” Short says. “You have to look at all the issues.”

Short has confirmed a review has been completed with construction plans created.

“I have the plans here at the moment and the option is to pull the whole prison down and build cells in stages.”

Other building improvements include sealing the top of the cells especially the roof of the maximum security area. Escapees Putere Dean and Daniel Mare broke out last Friday by cutting through the corroded bars of the roof.

“It’s all rusted on top, we don’t even have a cover,” Short says.

“Prisoners can throw things and they can reach up top to get it.”

Major problems identified have been poor infrastructure, understaffing and ongoing training, lack of rehabilitation programmes for prisoners, no separate areas for young and seasoned offenders and lack of food.

Short says for all justice divisions, the problem lies in lack of funding.

“Part of the problem is the prison is not considered to be priority – out of sight, out of mind.”

The 2009-10 budget has allocated the prison service $486,257. Of that amount $439,746 is to be used for personnel, $111,505 in operating costs and $6225 subtracted for depreciation.

The service is also expected to make $71,219 in trading revenue through prisoner work schemes and the sale of ukuleles.

“We’ve only been allocated money to feed 30 inmates and we can get up to 40 inmates at a time. You add those on remand and it works out to be $2 a day for food for the prisoners. The prison is currently holding 35 offenders.

“What do you do first, money for bars to lock in hungry people?”

Other priorities involving the justice system include a focus on Land Court, dealing with the backlog of criminal court cases and upgrading the outer islands court houses such as Aitutaki where there’s inadequate seating and the toilets are broken.

The minister of justice Kete Ione said through his office yesterday he had nothing to say on the prison situation. He said he was unfamiliar with the situation but will be briefed by the secretary and superintendent today.

• Dana Kinita

Media council releases first report

The Cook Islands Media Council, the media watchdog body formed in November 2007, has just released its first annual report and the fact it received five complaints against the media in 2008.

The independent council, chaired by Justice Tom Weston, has also released its strong opinion on the proposed media standards bill provided to deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate earlier this year.

The council believes public awareness of its role may have been lacking since last year and it wants to give further consideration to how it can achieve its objectives through increased promotion in the media.

The potential of the internet for public awareness was recognised with the set up of the council website (www.cimediacouncil.org).

The council was formed as an alternative to government regulation proposed through the media standards bill in 2007.

Cook Islands News and Pitt Media Group joined forces in an industry initiative to form the council that receives complaints about – and from – the media.

Complaints against the media involve the complainant and the media first attempting to resolve the issue between themselves, with the council only becoming involved if there is no resolution and if the complainant returns a signed form acknowledging the council’s procedures and waiving all rights to take legal proceedings.

Last year the council received five complaints against the media, four of them alleging defamation in a newspaper article. The complainants were asked to try and resolve the issue with the media concerned first, and in the majority of cases this was carried out successfully.

The third complaint it received on March 19 eventually led to the complainant receiving a front page apology in April from the newspaper.

The fifth complaint received in October 2008 was one of a newspaper article using a ‘derogatory’ word for which the media concerned assured the complainant it would not publish the word again.

“The media council’s experience is that there is not an overwhelming demand for a more involved complaints process. If there is a dissatisfaction in the community (or amongst part of it) that is not apparent to the council through its work,” says the council.

• Helen Greig

Opposed to media standards bill

The media council believes that the media standards bill, if passed into law, would represent a backward step for the nation.

“That is because the bill does not appear to recognise the important role played by the media in a free democratic society,” says the council.

The council has voiced its strong opposition to the bill on more than one occasion, but was earlier this year asked to comment on the content of the bill.

On October 17 2008 the council was asked by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister to provide the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Broadcasting, Sir Terepai Maoate, with its opinions on the Media Standards Bill. A draft review of the bill was prepared on December 14, 2008, and after several weeks of feedback from council members the review was sent to the office of the DPM on January 20 this year.

In its report to the DPM, the council says that while it is a matter for political assessment, it observes that the bill, if passed into law, may also have consequences in relation to the attitude of international donor countries to the Cook Islands.

“In any event, the media council believes that the mischief sought to be addressed by the bill can more usefully (and cost effectively) be addressed through the media council,” it wrote.

If the bill was passed into law it would replace the 1989 Broadcasting Act and a media standards commission would take over licensing of the media.

PHILOSOPHY

The council first looked at the philosophy behind the bill in its assessment.

It says while the bill requires that the commission, broadcasters and publishers recognise the fundamental right of every person to freedom of speech, it makes no reference to the important constitutional role of the media as guardian of the public interest.

“The council does not believe it sufficient to restate the fundamental right to freedom of speech although, of course, that is a very important right. However, the role of the media goes beyond such a right. Indeed, the role of the media is critical in the development of any free democratic society.”

And the council points out the right to freedom of expression includes “freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (Article 19: UDHR)

“The media’s role therefore in accessing and imparting information is critical to ensuring that people make responsible, informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation.”

The council says the media is an important constraint upon the political process. “Inevitably, there will be a tension between politicians and the media, reflecting their different roles. However, this does not derogate from the duty of a vigorous and independent media to provide the checks and balances that characterise a healthy democratic society.”

The council says the reference in the bill to countervailing obligations to public safety, order or morals, general welfare or the security of the Cook Islands, is an impossibly vague standard capable of abuse.

“That is because, ultimately, such an assessment is subjective, the opinion of one person likely to differ from another. And yet, ultimately, one person (perhaps a Judge) will need to make decisions about such a standard, which decisions will be unpredictable.”

COMPLAINTS

Clause 17(1) of the media standards bill provides for four standards to be observed by all publishers and broadcasters. These standards are the observance of good taste and decency, refraining from encouraging/inciting the commission of an offence, respecting the privacy of an individual and presenting a balanced view.

“In a broad sense, these standards are already incorporated within journalistic ethical standards,” says the council.

The council says the observance of good taste and decency echoes the reference made to ‘morals’ in clause 10 of the bill.

“Legislating for morals is frequently a recipe for disaster. There are difficult and complex relationships between morals and the law and it is not the job of the law to enforce open-ended moral standards. It is chairman’s experience, for example, that many accused persons, appearing for sentence, profess to be good Christians. The fact they are appearing for sentence plainly suggests their assertions are incorrect. Again, in the chairman’s experience, the profession of moral standards is often not borne out in practice. In these circumstances, great care needs to be taken about holding the media to standards that might be professed by some but do not reflect the reality.”

The council says this is not to say that the media should have licence to rewrite moral standards.

“But there will inevitably be a tension between a conservative section in any population and a liberal media. It is suggested that control of moral standards by legislation is not the answer to this problem. In any event, and in the council’s experience, there is not an overwhelming issue in the Cook Islands that arises from moral standards in the media.”

On the issue of the right of privacy, the council says there should not be an overriding statement of this right for those in the public eye.

“Politicians and celebrities (those who court the media) cannot expect a right to privacy equivalent to those enjoyed by private persons. If there is to be a legislative mandate protecting privacy it needs to be more carefully structured than the brief reference in clause 17(1)(c).”

And the council says balanced reporting should be a feature of all journalism.

“The council’s experience is that this ideal is not always achieved in the Cook Islands media. Some of the complaints of which the council is aware have their provenance in such concerns. However, the fact that such complaints have not matured to a decision suggests to the council that the problem is not of huge dimension. If there are concerns in the community about balance then they should be pursued by way of complaints to the media council.”

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

The council has also voiced its opposition to clause 24(2) of the bill in that, potentially, it provides an alternative remedy to that of defamation.

The council operates on the basis that persons complaining to it elect not to pursue defamation complaints through the courts.

“It would be inappropriate for there to be double jeopardy whereby compensation can be ordered and, in parallel, the complainant could pursue defamation action.”

And the council believes the powers of the commission set out in clause 24 do not contain the full range of powers enjoyed by the commission.

“The power of the commission in clause 16 to revoke or suspend a licence for breach of the act plainly would entitle the commission to revoke or suspend a licence if, for example, it formed an adverse view about a particular publication and the moral standards represented by it. This is a very significant power and one which this council does not countenance.”

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE

The media council says some of its members are concerned about the appointment of members to the proposed media standards commission.They don’t believe the nomination process outlined in clause 4 is sufficiently workable due to the risk of political interference.

“Procedures for nominations need to be spelt out and the commission needs to be set up according to good governance principles – entailing transparency and meaningful participation by public sectors to be represented on the commission.”

And it says what might be more important is the concern over the wide powers of the minister to remove members of the commission, and whether there would be willing nominees bearing in mind the offences provisions set out in the bill.

What is the council’s purpose?

The council’s purpose is to provide a public service covering all media including websites regardless of whether a particular media outlet recognises the council.

Its objectives are to:

- RECEIVE and consider complaints about the conduct of the media.

- RECEIVE and consider complaints by the media about the conduct of persons and organisations towards the media.

- FACILITATE the satisfactory settlement or withdrawal of complaints in an appropriate and timely manner.

- RECORD the action(s) taken by the council.

- PROMOTE the freedom of the media in the Cook Islands.

- HELP maintain the Cook Islands media in accordance with the relevant codes, and highest professional standards.

Media council members

The members of the council were appointed in 2007 – the tenure of the chairperson is four years ending November 2011, while the members’ three-year tenure will end in November next year.

Chairperson, Justice Tom Weston was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of the Cook Islands in January 2006. He practices as a barrister in New Zealand. He was appointed to the rank of Queen’s Counsel in 1999. He has published a number of books of poetry in New Zealand with a new collection to be published soon. He and his wife Margaret Egan are frequent visitors to the Cook Islands.

Media industry representative, Lawrance Bailey is the sole media representative on the council. He is the owner/manager of Sokala Villas on Muri Beach. In 1981 he earned a diploma in journalism from the Port Moresby campus of the University of Papua New Guinea, and is a former editor of Cook Islands News while it was both a government-run and privatised newspaper. He is a director of Cook Islands News. His interests include photography and internet publishing.

Public interest rep, Lesley Katoa is the general manager for Asiaciti Trust Pacific Ltd, one of the trustee companies in the offshore finance industry. She was educated at local primary schools and Tereora National College with one year at Wellington Girls College before going to Auckland University where she graduated with a bachelor degree in commerce.

She has worked for two of the ‘big four’ accounting firms both in New Zealand and Rarotonga, as well as the telecommunications industry. She is a chartered accountant with the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA), and a current serving member of the Cook Islands Public Expenditure Review Committee. She is married with one child.

Public interest rep, Mona Matepi is manager of the Cook Islands programme office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and is responsible for coordinating the conservation organisation’s ongoing programmes in communities and schools. Her work includes collaboration with national government and local governments, NGOs/CBOs vis--vis providing support to national strategies for the enhancement, protection, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Mona is a former journalist who worked in both print and radio for the former Cook Islands Broadcasting & Newspaper Corporation during the 1980s and later in television broadcasting with the then government-owned Cook Islands Television. Since her departure from the media in 2001,

Mona’s work has extended from facilitating capacity development at community level to national and regional policy development for environmental sustainability in the region. She has five children and three grandchildren.

Public interest rep, Ken Matheson is a retired secondary school teacher, lecturer and former Secretary of Education. He has a masters degree in science and a variety of diplomas and qualifications in education and management. He gained his own education in New Zealand and started his teaching career in NZ schools before joining Tereora College in 1986.

His local posts have included Head of Science at Tereora, lecturer at Cook Islands Teachers College, Director of Policy, Planning and Finance at the Ministry of Education (1995-2000) and Secretary of Education (2000-2006). He has served on various government committees and boards, is chair of the Natural Heritage Trust Board and was a member of the 2007-08 Government Budget Committee.

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