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General News

Week ending Wednesday, February 10, 2009

Current events and entertainment in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands.

Financial and enterprise literacy may be introduced in schools
Waitangi Day callout by Aotearoa Society
Minister meets the people
Health improvements under threat: Faireka
130 courses
Kite surfing
‘Skins’ show up at Sevens
Accommodation operators talk to infrastructure minister
Strong support for Tupapa Nui project
Accommodators battle with pests
Tourism industry council applauds marketing team
Asset advice to govt
Missing girl found
Clayton lands lifejacket
Epati on meeting
Retailer reduces water tank prices
Atiu MPs to run again
Scholarships announced at graduation
Shrinking resources a major challenge in education
Volunteering at hospital on holiday
Young ambassador to Pacific Youth Conference
Why we need national seats
Police advertise positions
Economic crisis compounds critical issues in Cooks
Conference looks at economic crisis impact in Pacific
Island states hit hard by crises
Te Kakaia to support parents as first teachers
Teachers take to the water
Strong leadership, vision needed: Clark
Pacific youth look at economic crisis impact
Vanuatu conference addresses youth issues in region
Crown law welcomes back senior counsel
Family law reform consultations begin today
Te Au O Tonga to undergo refurbishment

The ministry of education is looking into the potential for having money management and business venture education included in the country’s school curriculum.

Financial literacy is considered an essential skill for all learners and the opportunity to develop enterprise education is seen as a way of increasing the range of learning and career pathways for young locals, says the ministry.

Technical assistants are now working closely with the curriculum division on the possible introduction of financial and enterprise education.

The programme successfully runs in Samoa and Tonga, and the ministry is optimistic about similar incentives and opportunities the Cook Islands education sector would receive from its introduction.

At last year’s Forum education ministers meeting, ministers addressed the benefits and advantages of introducing financial and enterprise literacy, having seen its impact in other regional countries. This reflects an international movement where benefits for many learners have been seen says the ministry.

The technical assistants, Jeff Liew representing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Capital Development Fund, and the New Zealand-based Lyn Morris from Young Enterprise Trust, are consulting widely with schools, the private sector and other government agencies to ensure a thorough analysis on what would be feasible in the Cook Islands context.

So far they have received a lot of positive feedback from those consulted.

The private sector is especially confident that this will provide a knowledgeable pool of employees in the future.

The team will provide a set of recommendations of practical and effective strategies the ministry can take of incorporating the learning of financial and enterprise literacy in the Cook Islands.

• Helen Greig

Preparing the hangi pit for Waitangi Day celebrations is Aotearoa Society president Bunny Tuoro (front) with members Eruera Nia (back left), Muriwai Pomare and Dawn Baudinet. 10020206

Everyone is welcome to celebrate Waitiangi Day this Saturday at the Aotearoa Centre.

The New Zealand national holiday will be commemorated with a traditional hangi, boil up and other kiwiana kai.

President of the Aotearoa Society Bunny Tuoro said it is a great occasion for all to take part in an evening of socialising and enjoyment.

“One of our members, Ted (Eruera) Nia decided we should celebrate Waitiangi because there were no longer celebrations held at the New Zealand High Commission,” she said.

“So this will be a chance to have any Kiwi or those interested in New Zealand to be involved and mix and mingle,” she said.

The family event will be the first time a traditional hangi has been put down at the Maraerenga centre.

“We’re hoping to host more social gatherings this year like during Anzac weekend as a lot Kiwis were involved.”

People are asked to bring food to share with any contribution to the hangi to be dropped off at the centre before 12pm on Saturday. Drinks are BYO.

Likewise people are encouraged to bring their guitars, singing voices or anything Kiwiana for a night of guaranteed fun.

“Also if anyone wants to join Aotearoa Society they are most welcome to, on the day,” Tuoro said.

Celebrations are expected to start around 5pm.

For more information on this Saturday’s event, phone Tuoro on 22579.

• Dana Kinita

Minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather will meet with tourism business operators in the Puaikura vaka today on their concerns on a fly problem in the area to water supply and crime.

The new infrastructure and planning (MOIP) minister has vowed to address some of the major infrastructure concerns in the vaka and this meeting is part of his aim to talk directly with the people to find the most practical solutions.

Complaints about an increasing number of flies in Puaikura have come from tourism business operators and residents alike, and the problem has been blamed on the ill-managed Arorangi waste facility.

Tourism operators have warned the problem will drive away their customers – mostly visitors to our shores.

It is understood Heather wants to talk to tourism operators about other infrastructure concerns such as the stressed water supply and the bad condition of roads. MOIP secretary Taukea Raui is expected to be at today’s meeting as well.

Heather is also expecting to hear more about the growing concern over crime rates in the vaka.

The minister’s ‘go to the people’ approach has been seen as new and positive, but he is still very much aware that finding solutions to the vaka’s concerns will take time.

- Helen Greig

The ability to afford improvements to health services is a concern during tougher economic times, says secretary of health Tupou Faireka.

He has prepared a paper on the impact of the global economic crisis on health in the Cook Islands to be presented at this month’s three-day Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis to be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Faireka says one of the regional concerns at present is how smaller and poorer nations will afford to vaccinate a third to two-thirds of their population with the new swine flu vaccine.

“The world health organisation is providing enough vaccine to cover one tenth of our population but there is a concern that some poor countries might not be able to afford to vaccinate more of their population. The spread of the virus and its impact is still a concern,” he says.

Faireka says with government revenue down, the ministry of health may be forced to make cuts to its operations as well as spending on personnel – the people who provide health services to the public.

“There has to be tighter prioritising with a smaller budget. Some ministries may be forced to ask the public for funds to be able to afford any special projects. In this way the long term development plans of ministries is affected and staff shortages are just one of the challenges.”

Faireka says smaller countries such as the Cook Islands are so dependent on funding agencies to help in the development of social programmes that it could mean much harder times in areas such as health if funding agencies cut back on assistance during the economic crisis.

Faireka believes that during these tougher economic times, socially there could be a higher incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

He would like to see government get even tougher on fizzy drink, tobacco and alcohol levies to cut down the high cost of such conditions as diabetes, smoking related illnesses and alcohol related injuries.

“Let’s face it, most of our road injuries here are alcohol related.”

Faireka says he has several interests in talking to other country representatives at the conference, especially to see how they are coping with similar problems. At least 16 Pacific island nations are sending delegations to the conference.

“I would be interested to find out how some other countries are going back to traditional ways of life and producing food. Imported foods here are just too expensive so we need to look for ways to produce our own.”

Faireka heads a delegation of eight from the Cook Islands to the conference to be held on February 10-12.

(Helen will be providing Pacific coverage of the conference for the co-hosting UN agencies)

• Helen Greig

Enrolments are being taken for courses at the University of the South Pacific in the first semester.

Just over 130 courses are being offered, ranging from foundation papers in Pacific history to degree papers in constitutional law.

USP centre director Rod Dixon says the students will engage the courses via distance learning (online) and will be assigned tutors who can be called upon for assistance.

With a combination of summer/winter schools, some degrees can be completed without having to leave the country.

Enrolments for the first semester close on February 5.

• Moana Moeka’a

Stuart Tumatangi flies by as Pauro Arnold readies his kite for take-off on Muri lagoon. 10013107

A spectacular aerial move by Stuart Tumatangi. 10013109

Thrill seeking kite surfers took to Muri lagoon on Saturday with 28knot gusts making for spectacular aerial stunts.

A group of five kite surfers and ripped up Muri lagoon in what looked like adrenalin pumping fun. Among the group of kite surfers were three young local surfers – Pauro Arnold, Kii Maoate and Stuart Tumatangi.

While Pauro and Kii helped a couple of other surfers rig up – Stuart was already carving up the lagoon with some spectacular moves – of which some looked painful, especially when a landing was botched.

Not that it stopped the young men from attempting more difficult and gravity defying moves.

For Pauro the conditions of 28knot winds and a slightly choppy lagoon were just perfect for kite surfing.

Pauro said that the sport wasn’t all that difficult to do, “you just have to have the right mind set and no brain cells!”

Pauro, a keen surfer who has only been kite surfing for the past five months, reckons that it doesn’t take long to learn kite surfing.

But there are some rules in place to help prevent accidents from getting your kite tangled in the toa trees or mowing down snorkelers.

With a deafening hoot, Pauro was in the water with his mates Stuart and Kii to get his dose of adrenalin and fun.

• Matariki Wilson

The Cook Islands won’t be taking to the field for the Wellington Sevens tournament, but several groups of sevens supporters from the island will still be in the stands watching the game they love.

Among the avid sevens supporters in Wellington for the two-day tournament is the Skins Sevens team made up of ‘has been’ and ‘will be’ sevens stars including Terry Piri, Cedric Toru Jnr and Snr, Tairi Elikana and Walter Tangata to name a few.

For those who couldn’t make it to watch the world’s best sevens stars in action – CITV will be screening games live today starting at 2pm.

The live screening will continue to 7pm before normal television programmes begin and will start up again after the One News.

Friday will see the final day of games with screening times the same as today.

New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A along with Russia, Wales, and Niue while Fiji has been drawn in Pool B along with Australia, Scotland and Papua New Guinea.

England is the top team in Pool C along with Kenya, USA and Tonga.

Pool D consists of Samoa, Argentina, France and Canada.

-Matariki Wilson

Infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather says he understands the concerns of tourism business operators in Puaikura and he wants to work with them to find solutions. 10020413

Infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather says complaints about problems facing Puaikura tourism accommodation operators prompted him to hold talks with them in the hopes government can help.

In fact it was letters in Cook Islands News from Rohan Ellis, group general manager of three hotels in Arorangi – Manuia Beach, Castaway Beach Villas and Lagoon Lodges, that really got the minister’s attention.

Ellis and other accommodation operators in the vaka have been asking government to fix a fly problem in the area that they blame on the Arorangi waste facility.

Yesterday accommodation operators also got to talk to the minister about water supply and road issues, alternative energy initiatives and the effect of crime on their properties.

“I’m here to see how we can help you help yourselves. I know you are desperate. I need to walk with you to do this – I can’t do this on my own,” the minister told them.

Heather was accompanied by his chief executive officer Tere Taio and House of Ariki president Travel Tou Ariki at the meeting held at the Edgewater Resort.

Tou Ariki said he would relay concerns to the aronga mana and suggested that government and the private sector could paddle the vaka forward together.

Taio said Heather has an open-door policy at his office and encouraged those at the meeting to take advantage of it.

“Call and come and talk to us. Tell us what you want and we can work from there.”

Taio described the meeting as a starting point for the minister’s efforts to help fix some of the problems faced by the vaka – where most of the island’s tourism accommodation properties are based.

“This is an opportunity for us to hear you. We know that we will hit a few snags in doing this, but we realise we must do it. We will go out to the public – we will go out to the sectors. The minister will certainly hear the different sectors and the problems they face,” said Taio.

“We will work hand in hand with you. We know there are many problems and we can only fix them by working with you,” he added.

Heather says he will now take away the list of concerns aired yesterday and begin talking ministry heads about how government can work with the private sector to begin fixing the problems – most of which are infrastructure issues.

Representatives from Crown Beach Resort, Sunset Resort, Blackrock Villas, Raina Lagoon Villas, Sunhaven Beach, Puaikura Reef Lodges, Edgewater Resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa and managers of private tourist rental accommodation attended the meeting.

• Helen Greig

Tupapa pu tapere George Matutu says he was overwhelmed by the support on the first day of work on the Tupapa Nui meeting house last weekend.

As well as a large number of men and women who turned up to lend a hand, Matutu says there were numerous donations of food and money made by individuals and businesses on the day.

“The support was overwhelming,” says Matutu.

Work last Saturday included breaking up the front steps to make way for a wheelchair access and new steps up to veranda, putting in a new entrance for the toilets, and preparing to put in a ceiling over the veranda.

Matutu says there will be another working bee this Saturday beginning at 7am. And with the rugby league season kicking off, work is expected to finish before midday – with the sports pure (gathering) to be held at the nearby Maraerenga meeting house, Osana.

• Moana Moeka’a

Flies, thrip bugs and mynah birds are hurting the business of Puaikura vaka accommodation operators and they say they want government to help them control the pests.

The pest issue was a big issue when accomodation operators in the area were invited to share their concerns with infrastructure minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather yesterday.

A Rarotongan Beach Resort and Spa representative claimed mynah birds ‘attacking staff and guests’ is becoming a real issue. Guests are reportedly saying they won’t come back because of the ‘aggressive’ birds which are especially annoying in the open-air restaurant.

Another operator suggested rat traps could be used to kill the birds as they had just recently caught mynah instead of mice in traps. The minister was asked if government could consider an eradication or control problem for the bird.

Government is still trying to control the fly problem at the Arorangi waste facility and has now amped up its spraying campaign there to once a week to contain the large number of flies breeding there.

But it looks like the new pest on the rock, the thrips bug, is causing even more concern.

Not only are accommodators worried about the damaging effect on plants and trees, they say swarms of the tiny black insects are hanging around their properties and annoying tourists. The minister has agreed to take all the accommodation operators concerns to relevant government ministries to see whether some of these problems can be fixed.

• Helen Greig

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council says it applauds the good work of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, as highlighted at the recent industry forum hosted by the corporation.

“Last year saw the achievement of many milestones in tourism, including a first in visitor numbers exceeding 100,000, growth in the Australian market, continuity of the Los Angeles service and the groundwork for the establishment of a direct service from Sydney,” said the council in a press release this week.

The council says Cook Islands Tourism’s marketing department has continued to perform over the past year, with more stability in the organisation provided by chief executive John Dean, and a professional team headed by Glenda Tuaine that continue to work effectively and fairly for all.

“While it is always important that the corporation listens to the concerns and views of the industry through open dialogue, the industry council is certain that the current team is capable and well organised to deliver what the country requires in terms of destination marketing.”

Attempting to understand the structure and role of the Destination Sales and Marketing Committee (DSM) created under CI Tourism, the industry council called a general meeting on Monday that aimed to establish what the concerns of the industry are, to consolidate questions for the DSM to respond to and create dialogue on the matter.

Another general meeting will be called once the chair of the DSM (Tata Crocombe) is available to attend, says the council.

• Helen Greig

The Asian Development Bank project to improve infrastructure service delivery will provide initial advice on asset management to local agencies.

In a presentation this week, consultant Graeme Hughson from AECOM in Wellington stressed the importance of asset management plans, and having a register of assets.

Basically asset management, said Hughson, helps to ensure that asset requirements and management strategies are driven by defined service levels and performance standards.

Asset management also helps to ensure that scarce resources are properly allocated to optimise investment, and with a long-term approach, it assists in determining asset operations, maintenance, renewal and development strategies.

Hughson said there are key issues that need to be addressed by the Cook Islands in this area.

Many assets are at the end of their first life-cycle and there have been asset failures, customer pressure, limited funding and very little information on assets.

“Building up [asset management] registers will help to know what’s owned and give one a better idea as to what work needs to be done and when it needs to be done,” said Hughson.

Hughson said the project will give support to the ministry of infrastructure and planning to develop asset management plans, and also to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation to develop property management and a maintenance system.

Support, he said, will also be given to the audit office to develop capacity to audit the quality of asset management plans.

New Zealand, he said, went through an asset management revolution which coincided with public sector reform in the mid-1980s. Long term planning would be preferable in a place like the Cooks, added Hughson, as it would help smooth out funding requirements over a period of time, assist in maintaining services and the assets that deliver them, and would help avoid “surprises”.

• Moana Moeka’a

A 13-year-old girl was found yesterday morning after being on the run from her family for six days.

Police alerted the public that Rosemary Tereau on Wednesday night with an announcement on television after her aunty, who she resides with in Avarua, reported her missing on Monday.

Inspector Tere Patia said she was spotted at the outpatients in Tupapa around 9am yesterday and police were called to pick her up.

Patia said she seemed to be in good condition and had been staying with friends around the island. Tereau has ran away from home before and was unlawfully found in a Tupapa house two weeks ago.

• Dana Kinita

Clayton Mani 10020211

Clayton Mani displays the brand new Hutchwilco lifejacket which he won following a series of water safety promotions held at the Punanga Nui market place last month.

The Sea Scouts put a stand up on a couple of Saturday mornings and a boating safety quiz was run with a lifejacket as a prize.

A number of boating safety DVDs and books were distributed, as well as cellphone bags for free, and stick-on tattoos were given out to children.

Mani, who attends Nukutere College, has taken up scouting after visiting the water safety stand last month and he is really happy with winning the lifejacket.

He plans to take the jacket to his Sea Scouts meetings and on any trip that he takes on board a boat.

• Moana Moeka’a

Dear Editor,

Your front-page article on Thursday wrongly reported that I was at minister Robert Wigmore’s meeting to lobby for renewal of Bruce Manuela’s company licences.

This is a total fabrication of either Helen Greig’s imagination or that of her ‘Deep Throat’ informer at minister Wigmore’s office.

This was an official meeting between the minister and his MMR officials, and Manuela. I was asked by Manuela about 15 minutes before the meeting for assistance to clarify for the benefit of the minister, certain issues raised by MMR which Manuela believed differed substantially from what had been agreed and approved between his company and government last year.

I made this point absolutely clear at the meeting, and that when these matters were clarified, I was to leave the meeting, and then the minister and his MMR officials can hear Manuela’s representations on whatever he wanted to discuss with the minister.

Miss Greig’s article made it appear like this was a secret mafia-styled meeting in a dark back room of a brothel.

If it is the policy of minister Wigmore’s office and/or MMR to publicise all their meetings with fishing companies, then there should have been an official press release from the minister’s office or MMR, and perhaps (with the exception of business trade IP etc) publicly release all information relating to all companies that apply for fishing licences. This transparent approach also prevents moles in the system from manipulating the information to advance their own agendas.

Tonumaivao Navy Epati

Matavera

Helen Greig replies: Nothing in the article implies this was a secret meeting with minister Robert Wigmore or that there is a ‘mole’ in his office. Cook Islands News simply reported the fact that this meeting took place partly as a result of Bruce Manuela’s fishing company being told by marine resources that there are now only 14 annual fishing vessel licences available – making it nigh on impossible for government to approve the 16 licences wanted by the company.

Cook Islands News spoke to marine resources director offshore fisheries Johsua Mitchell this week, who was present at that meeting, to confirm rumour about the pressure being put on the minister to have the licences granted. It is understood that Mitchell was asked to attend the meeting after Manuela and Epati arrived at the minister’s office. Mitchell confirmed there was heated debate between himself and Manuela over licence availability and payment of licence fees. He believes, however, that Manuela’s company should be treated fairly and the ministry is now working towards finding a solution to the problem this and other local companies face in applying for licences when there are only 40 available each year. Wigmore’s office has not released anything, either on or off the record about the meeting.

After hearing about the water tank subsidy scheme running out of money, CITC has reduced its prices on its water tanks. 09121028

The country’s major retailer CITC has responded to news that the water tank subsidy scheme has run out of money, by reducing the prices on their tanks.

The ministry of infrastructure & planning announced this week that it could not afford to dispense any more subsidies, after approving 82 out of 139 applications.

Late last year government approved $50,000 in funds to cover the $600 subsidy per application.

“With the growing population in Rarotonga, CITC sees that it is important that each household has a water tank so that in times of drought everyone has access to a water source,” said CITC in a media release.

“CITC has responded by reducing the price on their water tanks to help those households that missed out on the subsidy afford to purchase a tank.”

The 6000 litre tank is $1500, down almost $300 from its previously advertised price.

• CITC/MM

Atiu’s CIP MPs Norman George and Nandi Glassie will run in the next election following unopposed nomination by their constituencies to stand again.

They met with the people of their electorates in Atiu last month.

Glassie, 58, says there was unanimous, one hundred percent support for the two to stand again for the party.

Rather than wait for the party to make the announcement, Glassie says he wants people to know the Atiu ‘warriors’ will be aiming to keep their seats come the next election.

He says he hopes an election happens sooner than September.

“The sooner the better,” he says.

Glassie has been MP for Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua since 2006. His CV boasts a masters degree in public policy (with honours) from Massey University and many years in the public service both here and in NZ in senior positions.

George, 63, MP for Teenui-Mapumai, has been in parliament for a quarter of a century since his first election to the house in March 1983.

The seasoned politician’s first career was in the police force both here and in New Zealand before taking up his practice as a lawyer in 1982 – a profession he continues to this day.

The Cook Islands Party has recently announced several of its candidates for the next election: Mark Brown for Takuvaine, Teina Bishop for Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara, Toanui Isamaela for Amuri-Ureia, and Teariki Heather for Akaoa.

• Helen Greig

A total of 24 scholarship awards for students studying in-country and overseas were announced this week.

Seven have received awards to study overseas and 17 will undertake distance flexible learning while living on Rarotonga.

Most of those studying in-country will work through the University of the South Pacific campus in Rarotonga.

Those who have been awarded the scholarships are as follows.

Cook Islands government scholarships (overseas)

Kristina Kauvai (Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems & Accounting, Auckland University, NZ)

NZAID development scholarships (NZDS)

Daniel Fisher (Bachelor of Computing Science, Auckland University, NZ); Pauline Pickering (Bachelor of Commerce, Auckland University, NZ); Victoria Wuatai (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, AUT, NZ).

NZAID/AUSAID regional development scholarships (RDS)

Lafala Turepu (Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Management, USP, Laucala campus, Fiji); Ana Andrew (Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood, USP, Laucala campus, Fiji).

Fred Hollows Foundation (administered by the ministry of health)

Dr Teariki Faireka (Postgraduate Diploma in Eye Care, Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji).

Cook Islands government in-country full tuition scholarships

Kurai Carfax-Foster (Diploma in Business Accounting, distance flexible learning, Open Polytech, NZ); June Brown (Bachelor of Commerce, DFL, USP Cook Islands campus); Noeline Browne (Bachelor of Laws DFL, USP CI campus); William Carfax-Foster (Bachelor of Education – primary, USP CI campus); Kathleen George (Bachelor of Education – primary, USP CI campus); Margaret Ioaba (Bachelor of Education - primary, USP CI campus); Tutai Matenga (Bachelor of Commerce, USP CI campus); Munokoa Purea (Bachelor of Arts, USP CI campus); Teanini Raumea (Bachelor of Arts, USP CI campus); Victoria Stace (Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Financial Management, USP CI campus); Teina Tearii (Bachelor of Education – primary, USP CI campus); Jacquiline Urlich (Bachelor of Commerce, USP CI campus); Paraia Vainerere (Bachelor of Arts, USP CI campus); Ani Wood (Bachelor of Commerce, USP CI campus); Patrick Arioka (Postgraduate Certificate in Project Management, Auckland University of Technology/USP CI campus); Danielle Cochrane (Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership & Management, UNITEC, NZ); Eruera Nia (Master of Art & Design, AUT, NZ).

Below is a list of those who graduated at the Association of Cook Islands Tertiary Institutes (ACITI) at the National Auditorium last Wednesday.

The City & Guilds of London Institute Level 1 Certificate in Food & Beverage Service

The City & Guilds of London Institute Level 2 Diploma in Food & Beverage Service

Hospitality Tourism Training Centre (HTTC)

Mii Pauka, Maria Rubena, Josephine Rattle (distinction at certificate level), Kristina Rieger, Katreena Mataio (distinction at certificate & diploma level), Gina Kapi.

The City & Guilds of London Institute Level 1 Certificate in Food Preparation & Cooking

The City & Guilds of London Institute Level 2 Diploma in Food Preparation & Cooking (Culinary Arts) (HTTC)

Natalie Cuthers, Marguerite Dean (distinction at certificate level), Apollina Dean, George Maoate (distinction at certificate & diploma level), Fred Mogford (distinction at certificate level), Napa Napa, Upoko Nelio (distinction at diploma level), Andrew Rauru (distinction at certificate & diploma level), Catherene Tanga (gained level 1 certificate in food preparation & cooking), Cheron Tomokino, Ngametua Torotoro (distinction at certificate level), Tepou Vaevae (passed some units).

Level 2 NZ National Certificate in Tourism & Travel (HTTC)

Flora Pirake Rauru, Christina Manuel Hosking.

Level 4 NZQA/National Certificate in Automotive Engineering

Cook Islands Trades Training Centre (CITTC)

Manoa Napa, Teokotai Pemberton.

Level 2 NZQA/Cook Islands Electrical Service Technicians Registration (CITTC)

Outer islands graduates

Nehemia Kaina, Peter Moetaua, Makara Murare, Alexander Roa, Maara Ruatoe.

Rarotonga graduates

Edward Brogan, Rupe Hewett, Manoa Napa, Gabriel Rani, Tamatoa Short, Nicholas Tamblyn, Paul Tararo, Noel Veiao.

Level 2 NZ National Certificate in Sport

Cook Islands Sports Academy (CISA)

Tupou Faireka, Tai Joseph, Junior Kirikava, Kairan Mahia, William Marsters, Joshua Maui, Joseph Napa, Uriarau Parakoti, Temata Rangi, John Rea, Tereinga Rima, Bill Tangapiri, Gary Tangiiti, Teariki Tou.

NZQA Unit Standards gained: Trades, hospitality, literacy & numeracy

Te Uki Tumanava CISA/HTTC/CITTC

Tamarua Browne, Jesse Iro, Teauariki Maka, Witamahame Metuakore, Teremoana Monga, Arii Taoro, Matauti Taoro, Tangata Taripo, Dominic Taru.

Tertiary awards programme (TAP) graduates 2008-2009

University of the South Pacific (USP), Cook Islands campus via distance flexible learning

Student Assistance Fund (SAF)

Outer islands graduates

Tepaeru Cameron (Diploma in Management)

Rarotonga graduates

Ana Andrew (Certificate in Early Childhood Education), June Tuara (Certificate in Management), Edward Browne (Diploma in Management), Amelia Ngatokorua (Bachelor of Commerce), Mariake Pirake Taumaarua (Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, Management/Tourism)

Overseas Student Assistance Fund (SAF)

Rarotonga graduates

Maraeura Peyroux (Certificate & Diploma in Applied Sport & Recreation - Manukau Institute of Technology, NZ), Teariki Peyroux (Certificate in Information Communications Technology Certificate in Applied Sport & Recreation - Manukau Institute of Technology/AUT, NZ), Eugiene Tatuava (NZ Commercial Pilot Licence Ardmore Flight School, NZ), Ngavaine Tekeu (Master of Education in Curriculum Studies - Avondale College, Australia).

Cook Islands government scholarships

Rarotonga graduates

Peter Graham (Master of Maritime Policy - University of Wollongong, Australia), Tuaine Marsters (Bachelor of Law - University of Waikato, NZ)

University of the South Pacific (USP), Cook Islands campus via distance flexible learning

NZAID/Cook Islands government in-country full tuition scholarships

Outer islands graduates (all Bachelor of Education, primary)

Naomi Albert, Lucky Julian, Topa Julian, Tetangi Matapo, Syaka Tairi, Tiratoru Tararo, Moeara Teipo, Tereapii Upokokeu.

Rarotonga graduates

Mairi Heather, Teina Napa, Helen Rauraa, Vainui Savage (all Bachelor of Education, primary), Vaitoti Tupa (Master of Business Administration).

NZAid/AusAid Regional Development Scholarships (RDS)

Rarotonga graduates

Taraani Kokaua (Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology - Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji), Mona Ioane (Bachelor of Laws - USP Emalus campus, Vanuatu/USP CIs campus), Miimetua Manuela (BA Information - USP Laucala campus, Fiji), Vaipo Mataora (BA Geography/Marine Affairs - USP Laucala campus, Fiji), Vasie Poila (Bachelor of Commerce - USP Laucala Campus, Fiji), Mami Nikoro (BA Accounting/Management - USP Laucala Fiji/USP CI campus), Rimmel Poila (Bachelor of Laws USP Laucala Fiji/USP CI campus), Ngatamariki Pouao (BA Management/Tourism - USP Laucala Fiji/USP CI campus), Desmond Wildin (Bachelor of Commerce - USP Laucala Campus Fiji), Maara Vaiimene (Bachelor of Commerce in Management/Industrial Relations - USP Laucala Fiji/USP CI campus).

Fred Hollows Foundation (administered by the Ministry of Health)

Rarotonga graduate

Doris Fonorito (Postgraduate Diploma in Eye Care - Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji).

Secretary of education Sharyn Paio. 09082002

Providing first class education with ever-decreasing resources is the overall challenge faced by the ministry of education.

Secretary Sharyn Paio says the goal of achieving a high standard education system requires more thought and exploration.

She hopes more ideas on how to approach this challenge will result from the opportunity to be part of the delegation heading to Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Vanuatu this month.

Over 200 high level delegates from 16 Pacific island countries are set to gather in Port Vila from 10-12 February to talk about the issues that the poor and vulnerable in the region are facing.

Ways to ease the impact of the crisis especially on vulnerable groups such as women and children will be discussed.

Paio says concerns for education here have grown as a result of the economic crisis.

Now not only are there budget cuts, ongoing teacher recruitment problems, and concerns over cost of living allowances for outer islands scholarship college students – Paio says there’s also the ever-pressing question of how to keep remote outer island schools open.

Falling school rolls in the outer islands are now a major concern for the ministry and this situation has already been connected to the impacts of the economic crisis as families continue to migrate to Rarotonga or overseas for better opportunities.

It is understood that on the island of Rakahanga there were recently just nine children enrolled in the school.

Paio says costs to provide support to remote schools are being reviewed.

“The statistical evidence overwhelmingly indicates the reduction in the size of school rolls in all areas in the Cook Islands, with the exception of early childhood education in Aitutaki and secondary education here in Rarotonga.  Keeping children in school with support from parents – often with both parents needing to work full time, is also challenging.  For me, this conference will provide the opportunity to learn how others are coping with these challenges and also identify possible spillover costs so that we can be proactive – forewarned is forearmed I guess,” says Paio.

The ministry has found it an ongoing challenge to recruit local teachers, especially to positions in the isolated northern group islands.

“Overall, the challenge for us here is to deliver a first class education system that is comparable with New Zealand and Australia with ever decreasing resources,” Paio says.

Pacific island countries are now facing the fact that the gains made in education in the last decade are now under threat as a result of the economic crisis which began in 2008.

There is already a prediction that it could lead to spending cuts if governments can’t find extra funds to offset reduced aid funds and reduced revenues such as taxes.

Across the region the education sector, like health, is heavily reliant on foreign aid for support.

Island nations are on the lookout for a possible large shift of students from private to public schools which would put extra pressure on teachers and infrastructure and further compromise learning quality.

Evidence of past crises show increased school absenteeism as children are needed to work to support reduced family incomes. It is this kind of impact on children that the Pacific Forum leaders hope to ease with agreed actions based on the outcome of the conference which they will discuss later this year.

Paio joins the rest of the delegation heading to Port Vila, Vanuatu – health secretary Tupou Faireka, internal affairs secretary Bredina Drollet, justice secretary Mark Short, finance representative Dallas Young, office of the prime minister’s Liz Koteka, Atiu mayor Nellie Mokoroa and Manihiki mayor Kora Kora.

• Helen Greig

Maria Peach was studying to be a teacher when her grandparents, Moerau and Makiroa Luka died. Shortly thereafter, a friend of hers died of leukemia and some women she worked with began to develop alcoholism.

“I thought it was time to do something, to give back in any way I could,” Peach said.

So she resolved to study medicine. She finished her degree in medicine at Auckland University last year and will be on the island until she flies back to New Zealand to start her job at Middlemore Hospital next week.

But Peach isn’t enjoying a leisurely, stress-free holiday. She’s volunteering her medical knowledge and her time at Rarotonga hospital, helping in whatever ways she can.

“I hadn’t been to Rarotonga in 22 years and I decided, ‘I’m going back to meet the family,’” she said. “And then I thought ‘While I’m here, why not see if [the hospital] needs a hand?’”

Peach said she’s been doing general medical work at thehospital for about a week and has developed a new respect for Rarotonga doctors.

“I’ve really learned to appreciate the resources we take for granted in New Zealand,” she said. “Clinically, you’ve got to think a little bit more here because the hospital doesn’t have all those resources.”

Peach said that she’s not ready to leave Rarotonga. She was born and raised in Otara and said that she’s struck by the lifestyle differences between there and here.

“It’s just really hit me that people here are so lucky. Even the abundance of fruit is amazing. If you run out of money here you’ve got fish and food and land. If you run out of money in New Zealand...” she trailed off.

“I don’t want to go home!” she said with a laugh.

If all goes as planned, Peach will be a general practitioner in four years, and maybe if we’re lucky she’ll come back to work at the hospital.

• RR

Seventeen-year-old Raukura Ellison hopes to learn more about how sports can enhance the health and education of the community. 10020303

Enhancing public health through physical activity and the role of sport in education are just some of the things 17-year-old school girl Raukura Ellison hopes to learn at the first Pacific Youth Conference next month.

Raukura is a member of the Cook Islands Youth Ambassadors (CIYA) who will be attending the conference with 300 other youths from the Pacific to learn about how they can use sports as a way to benefit Cook Islands youth.

“I think that this conference will be a great learning experience where I can develop skills to use to promote healthy lifestyles in our community,” says Raukura. “The conference provides an opportunity for me to mix with other young people from around the Pacific to develop positively the experiences and knowledge-sharing aspects of this conference.”

The conference, which will run from March 14 to 21, will explore the role of sports in improving community health, education and training, citizenship and good governance, social integration and anti-discrimination to name a few.

“I hope to learn as much as I can and put it to action.”

“I think that this conference will be a great learning experience, and help me to develop as an individual so that I am able to use my knowledge positively in everything I do at home in the Cook islands.”

“I will work alongside CIYA to improve how we as young people make decisions and live our lives in a positive way.”

But before Raukura can attend the conference, she needs support and sponsorship.

Monetary sponsorship will go towards helping Raukura cover her costs of attending the important conference. Raukura needs to raise $1300 for airfares, accommodation, meals and conference fees.

In return, Ruakura will host her supporters to a Sunday morning brunch on March 28 where she will give a short presentation of her trip and serve yummy kai.

Raukura hopes to reach her fundraising target by February 19 so get your cheque books out and support a young Cook Islander striving to learn new skills to help her people.

You can contact Raukura on 22226 to give your support.

• Matariki Wilson

Dear Editor,

National electoral seats are being proposed by some but rejected by political parties. Why? Because political parties and politicians are threatened by them.

Why? Because national seats are designed to give voters more choice and reduce the control of the country by the political parties and to give us a higher quality of MP to improve our country.

How? Let’s try to explain it. With a constituency seat in the present system you have generally two choices – Demo and CIP. These candidates are elected in their constituency party meetings but you’ll agree their choice is largely affected by the party executive and pressure from outside.

Perhaps you didn’t agree with the choice, perhaps you did, but the significant thing is how much choice did you really have? Often very little.

With national seats you could have as many as 10 choices and pick people who really could represent your needs. Usually the person getting most support in party constituency elections is the one who closely follows whatever the party tells them to do.

Why? Because in the Cook Islands political parties absolutely rely on their members to follow orders. Think about it! With their power relying on majority rule, no members are allowed to disagree in public or vote on their conscience. The caucus and executive make all the decisions that affect our lives with almost no input from you and I.

National seats move out of party control and are chosen by all the people of the Cook Islands voting for them. The political parties can put their candidates up for election as usual but what they fear is they will no longer have the chance to use promises of jobs, family pressure, fixing your road or water or other threats or promises to buy the vote.

In fact, the parties will now have to look for qualified, smart, useful people to stand in the open for these seats that people can believe in and compete fairly with the other party and independents to get your votes.

Listen well. Both parties keep repeating they represent the little people and they listen to them. But for 12 years they have ignored what the majority of people want and make no effort to provide copies of the 1998 commission report because it shows so well how they have failed the country’s wishes.

The MPs keep quoting our Westminster system is enshrined in the constitution. They don’t tell you how in fact they have made a mockery of it. When was the last time anything was seriously debated in parliament? They spend most of their time saying hell to all and sundry.

When was the last time an MP didn’t vote on party lines except when there was some kind of coalition power play happening? Even when the budget (where they get to spend our money) is debated so we can have some idea of what’s going on, they just roll over and shut down debate.

And how many supplementary budgets to cover their inefficiency do they need a year which they simply push through because in fact they can’t be stopped from any activities under the present system. That’s been pretty evident lately.

Giving up constitutional seats? Yes, you would have to make room for national seats especially to also reduce the total number of seats in parliament which everybody says they want. What do you lose? The first thing politicians say is representation. Hello, what did your MP do for you lately? What in fact can they do? In opposition nothing that isn’t provided by aid, in government only what the party caucus decides.

Summary. We need to modify the system, we need higher calibre MPs, we need the opportunity to choose the people to work for us, we need MPs that will vote for our best interests. I believe that national seats can provide this.

How can we achieve this? Unfortunately this is the biggest problem of all because under that wonderful Westminster system enshrined in our Constitution, we are completely at the mercy of the gang of 19. They can wait until the PM is forced to hold parliament, force an election, then stick together and refuse anything we want them to do, or promise as they did before to get elected and still ignore us afterwards.

Sorry people, the politicians have you in their hands. You say we can elect someone else – sorry again, you’ve only got the same old Demo/CIP choices with the same old time caucus and executive calling the shots.

What can we do? Realistically there is not much beyond complete public outcry and pressure on the candidates for the next election to publicly state their personal position before the election and everyone only vote for those candidates who swear to enact change immediately – then you still have to put up with the same bull for four more years anyway, right?

Even a third party headed by Mr Marurai on a reform ticket couldn’t expect to achieve a majority over the gang of 19 sticking together to preserve their little kingdom of power and perks.

Did you see how quickly they ganged up in spite of Toagate? How quickly they can forget their morals when it’s in their own interest! So I leave it with you – will it be public outcry or good old ho-hum? Remember the old adage –in a democracy the people get the government they deserve. Don’t get trampled in the lineup to Air New Zealand check-in!

To those politicians who may read this thoughtfully, I sincerely hope I stir just a little conscience, create a small chink in your party armour and give you cause to wonder where this country should really be going.

Still Optimistic

(Name and address supplied)

Police commissioner Maara Tetava is currently advertising for three positions which he opened up recently as part of his restructuring plan.

The non-sworn positions of finance manager, human resources manager and met services director are up for grabs.

Tetava said that the current holders of all three positions will be re-applying for their jobs but that anyone is welcome to submit applications.

The restructuring plan is part of an effort “to streamline [police] service delivery and to make it better, and to put all the right people in all the right places,” Tetava said.

“We’re top-heavy in rank – we’ve got a lot of people in high ranks and we need to re-organise to make sure we are delivering the best service we can to our people and our country.”

Other sworn positions are being advertised only within the police department.

They are positions, Tetava said, that can be occupied only by those who have “worked through the ranks.”

A New Zealand police officer will advise the selection panels for uniform and non-sworn positions and the Australia federal police will assess the decisions. Tetava predicts that the whole restructuring process will continue into April or May.

If you would like to submit an application, contact the commissioner of police on 22499.

Applications close on February 12 at 4 pm.

• Rachel Reeves

Secretary of internal affairs Bredina Drollet. 10020425

The global economic crisis has compounded the issues of depopulation, limited economic development and high food prices in the country.

Internal affairs secretary Bredina Drollet says these issues have already been a challenge for several decades but have worsened because of the crisis which began in 2008.

“There are signs of economic recovery but the key question is who is benefiting from the recovery? What is the distribution of wealth? How we do ensure a better spread of opportunities for all to benefit including in the outer islands. Without an economic base in the outer islands in particular, the issues of depopulation, high prices and limited economic development will continue,” she warns.

Drollet is part of an eight member delegation to attend the Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Vanuatu which starts today (CIs time).

Sixteen Pacific island countries are bringing together over 200 high level delegates in Port Vila from 10-12 February to consider actions in response to the economic crisis.

Drollet says government is now looking at new approaches to increasing or sustaining the population, creating more economic activity and reducing the high cost of food.

The ministry of internal affairs is just one of the key agencies that will be involved in these efforts. Drollet believes the issue of depopulation is a complex issue and needs a multi-agency response.

“I think the approach of the economic development taskforce seeks to provide that multi-agency discussion and increasing economic activity is a definite pull factor for Cook Islanders to remain in the country.

“There are a few areas in which internal affairs can focus on to address the issue of depopulation from a social perspective including providing options to government on maternity protection, youth and sports development, fair and competitive employment conditions, addressing price control, and protection of the vulnerable in the community.”

Drollet says the ministry is now set to consult with the public as part of a review of the social welfare system with the intention of providing government options for a possible reform of the system.

“There are a large number of people receiving welfare benefits in the Cook Islands, around 40 per cent of the resident population and the government pays a high proportion of its operating budget on those payments - over 10 per cent,” she says.

This financial year government will spend $11.5 million on welfare payments which go mainly to children and pensioners.

Another positive step for the ministry this year is the re-establishment of the price tribunal which monitors food prices. Drollet says a new minister would be responsible for the tribunal and a review of the current law is being considered.

“This is an important area for the ministry as it directly affects everyone.”

Drollet also acknowledges that her ministry has a role in crime prevention. Although the ministry of justice has the primary role in juvenile crime prevention, internal affairs plays a crucial role in assisting families of young offenders through supervision, home visits and some limited levels of counselling.

“I would like to see the ministry strengthen partnerships with other ministries and non-government organisations on early intervention and prevention before young people even become offenders. The ministry is currently working with the ministry of justice on strategies to do this, reviewing how we can best address this issue with our shared resources.”

Drollet has been working on country presentations with other delegates heading to the conference. Government hopes to gain some insight into how other countries in the region are coping and reacting to impacts of the crisis. Pacific Forum leaders will receive the recommendations from the conference at their meeting later this year.

• Helen Greig

The global economic crisis is often looked at in figures and statistics -- as monitored growth rates, deficits and indebtedness of countries.

But the cost in human lives and what happens at a household level has yet to be measured.

Today high level talks will begin on the impacts of the ‘GEC’ on human lives in the Pacific.

Over 200 delegates have gathered to attend the three-day UN Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Top United Nations officials and development partners are meeting with leaders of the Pacific to assess the challenges faced by the region and to map out new ways to spur on development in the face of the GEC.

One of the most influential voices of the UN, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), says the conference will look at how policy interventions can prevent loss of development gains in the region.

Heyzer says the human impact of the GEC has been seen in the loss of jobs and income security for Pacific people; the loss of government budgets for social services; and a higher cost of living.

“Because their economies are interlinked with larger economies, migrant workers are returning home so there is less remittance income too,” she says.

Heyzer says increasing unemployment creates income insecurity as well as human insecurity.

“This can be seen in rising violence and crime rates. People will seek underground jobs and so an underground economy also grows.”

Heyzer says Pacific nations need to put in place the right policies, create partnerships and increase resources to enable development to continue.

She believes finding the right path through the GEC is even more important because “we have already put tremendous resources into saving the (global) banks”.

In reviewing the Millennium Development Goals, the one message is that progress is uneven and many countries have lost ground in development and more people have fallen into hunger and poverty says Heyzer.

She says since the region is exposed to greater risks and vulnerability due to the GEC and the effects of climate change, the new challenge is to make sure ‘spending to recover’ through stimulus funding is prioritised for infrastructure development and social services.

Heyzer believes disaster preparedness is another priority for the region as it faces the occurrence of more natural disasters caused by climate change.

The conference this week will also review the outcome of the recent Copenhagen meeting on climate change with the view to mapping out ways to fast-track and prioritise new funding for the region.

“It is a time of rethinking and turning challenges around to make sure sustainable development is socially and ecologically balanced,” explains Heyzer.

- Helen Greig,

CCook Islands News, Port Vila

UNESCAP executive secretary Noeleen Heyzer says small island developing states can turn the challenges global economic crisis into opportunities if the right policies, partnerships and resources are used. 10020803

The convergence of two global crises – first the food and fuel crisis and now the economic crisis and climate change impacts have put a large strain on the development of the Pacific’s small island developing states (SIDS).

But Dr Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, says there are ways these small, isolated countries can move forward with their development.

A two-day meeting focused on SIDS and the challenges they face was held in Port, Vila Vanuatu this week in the lead up to the three day UN Pacific conference on the global economic crisis which begins today.

The meeting was a five year review of the Mauritius Strategy – the United Nations’ Programme of Action for the sustainable development of SIDS covering the decade 2005-2015.

Heyzer says the Strategy looks at a development pathway for SIDS in terms of meeting the Millennium Development Goals and building sufficient capacity to build resilience to new shocks and vulnerabilities such as the economic crisis.

She says SIDS need to be able to not only cope with these new shocks but to not lose ground in their longer term sustainable development.

The economic crisis has resulted in losses of trade and investment, remittances, tourism numbers, and national revenues for the SIDS.

Heyzer says these losses make it difficult for them to carry out development strategies.

“Most countries don’t have the capacity, institutions and technology to deal with (natural) disasters. There are no early warning systems and even when there is sufficient warning, communities are unprepared,” she says.

The review of the Mauritius Strategy focused on what is needed to allow countries to move forward with their national strategies.

Heyzer says because of the new shocks building on top of the SIDS’ risks and vulnerabilities such as isolation and lack of infrastructure, it is important that there is global solidarity and regional partnerships to support them through their development.

At the same time SIDS need to explore ways of turning these challenges into new opportunities. Ideas to improve the management of marine resources, and create higher value products for export are being discussed.

“Higher value products are important especially for export-dependent countries so that not just raw products are produced, but some finished products are made – there is a lack of capacity for this.”

Heyzer says talks on how ESCAP can make a difference by bringing Asia into the Pacific are also ongoing.

She believes it is an opportune time for SIDS to strengthen trade ties with Asia.

“Asia is rethinking and reinventing right now. Green economy and technology growth in Asia is an opportunity for these to be created with the Pacific in mind as well.”

The UNESCAP meeting also looked at critical issues for SIDS such as energy and water.

Heyzer says the aim of helping SIDS with sustainable development plans are to promote equitable growth, reduce poverty, build social protection systems, and build greater resilience to future challenges.

• Helen Greig

Parents will soon have access to useful skills and information to help their children with homework and learning activities through a new government programme.

The ministry of education Te Kakaia Parent Learning Support Programme should be launched early this year as an initiative to provide parents with strategies on supporting their children’s learning in the home.

Manager of planning and development at the ministry, Gail Townsend, says the programme was first piloted for about six months in 2007 at community health clinics in Rutaki and Aitutaki’s Vaipae village.

“The pilot focused on the role of parents as first teachers of preschoolers, but we have decided to broaden the focus and produce a programme that will provide a range of information for parents of school aged children,” says Townsend.

She says the ministry recognises that parents are involved in the learning of their children ‘forever’ and so the new programme should cover basic strategies for such activities as doing homework, reading, and talking about career paths with your child.

Community-based workshops and online resources would be part of the programme, says Townsend.

She says an important element to the programme will be helping parents understand literacy and numeracy skills to better enable them to support their children’s learning at school.

She says the ministry has the resources to answer parents’ concerns and questions about how they can support their child’s learning in the home, but Te Kakaia will help coordinate this information for better access.

“We want to provide good, useful and accessible information to parents.”

The programme was named after the kakaia or white tern – a bird known to nurture its chicks for a long time – and this serves as a metaphor for children learning at home.

The ministry is now looking for a teacher to prepare and run activities under the programme. Applications for the position close on Friday.

• Helen Greig

Rarotonga school teachers with the ministry of education’s health and physical education advisor Katie Rogers (second from right) before making a splash learning how to effectively deliver aquatics programmes within their schools to promote physical wellbeing, water safety and confidence among local children. 10020504

Rarotonga primary school principals and teachers took to the water last Thursday afternoon to get a better understanding of delivering aquatic education to their children.

The ministry of education’s health and physical education advisor Katie Rogers delivered the hands-on aquatic workshop at the Nikao social centre beach.

The aquatics programme is all part of promoting health and physical wellbeing among Cook Islands children.

Teachers were given tips on how best to teach their children aquatic safety and most importantly giving children more confidence when it comes to water sports.

The aquatics programme is not new to local teachers however it was a great opportunity to refresh their skills and learn some new tips from Rogers.

Rogers says that she’s noticed a high number of local kids who don’t know how to swim properly and hopes that through the programme proper swimming techniques can be taught as well as the all important water safety rules.

“They (local children) are not scared of the water which scares me,” says Rogers.

Judging by the smiles on the faces of the teachers, the workshop was a hit and will greatly benefit our local children.

• Matariki Wilson

It was back on with the dark shades for Helen Clark, UN development programme administrator, after the opening of the conference had been taken care of. 10020963

Strong leadership, vision, good policies, and concerted action is needed in responding to economic and other crises, says UNDP administrator Helen Clark.

She made this point in her keynote address at the opening of the Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“Working together, pooling our strengths as contributors to development, we can build the resilience to overcome present and future crises, and bring about lasting improvements in the lives of the peoples of the Pacific,” she told over 200 delegates from the region.

Sixteen Pacific countries are represented as well development partners for the region at the three day conference which opened yesterday (Wednesday Vanuatu time).

“In the United Nations development system we have been very concerned about the impact of the global recession on developing countries – and in particular on the least developed and low-income countries, many of which have the fewest options for implementing a fiscal stimulus and financing social safety nets,” said Clark.

She said even before the crisis, a number of Pacific Island countries had been facing challenges associated with low rates of economic growth and increasing unemployment.

“Advances towards the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals) in this region had been mixed. A number of countries had shown good progress on most, if not all, goals. Some countries were lagging behind on one or more MDGs, while others were making little progress on any. The recession and other concurrent crises have made the task of reaching the MDGs harder.

UNDP’s Pacific Centre in Suva calculates that in the twelve countries for which data are available, the poverty rate has worsened over the last two years as the incomes of the poorest and most vulnerable people declined.

Clark said only those countries with mining and hydrocarbon exports, such as Papua New Guinea, or benefiting from increased tourism and a range of reforms, such as Vanuatu, are estimated to have grown at a reasonable rate over the last year.

“The cumulative effects of the food, fuel and economic crises, and of natural disasters too, have adversely affected progress on the Millennium Development Goals in this region and at the global level.”

“Behind the facts and figures about falling exports and remittances are the human stories of the families and communities who are affected – of those who have found basic goods and services harder to pay for and have experienced increasing levels of poverty and hardship.”

She said Pacific media have been carrying harrowing stories of people’s struggles to meet their daily needs.

“There is the carpenter in Fiji who faces rising costs, but lower demand for his services. There is the single mother of three in the Solomon Islands, trying to cope with very limited income from selling produce. There is the out-of-work seafarer from Tuvalu struggling to support his family.

“With families facing shrinking livelihoods, with job losses, and with governments confronting lower revenue, rising costs, and pressures to cut back on spending, men and women in the Pacific, and indeed around the world, have been facing difficult decisions. Can they afford basic health care? What food and shelter can they afford for their families? Will their children be able to go to school, and from where would they get the money for fees, uniforms, and books?”

So, how have Pacific Island nations responded to these challenges?

Some have reacted quickly to the global recession, putting in place programmes to stimulate growth and domestic demand through tax cuts, infrastructure spending, and employment measures.

Some have extended the coverage of social protection to lessen the burden on their most vulnerable populations. Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu, for example, have been amongst those who put in place measures to reduce the costs of education. Others have begun to implement such programmes.”

But Clark noted that most countries had little scope for far-reaching countercyclical economic policies.

“Their budgets were already tight, and there has been little scope for finding extra revenue or for extra borrowing. Tough times call for lateral thinking, and for new ways of addressing the fundamental problems standing in the way of development.”

Clark said the UNDP has identified five areas where action could help bring about better development results.

She said the first of these are improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure across the board.

“Every dollar counts – and must be carefully prioritised, with the needs of the most vulnerable put first.”

Second, the crisis presents an opportunity either to initiate or to broaden existing social protection programmes, she said.

“Measures which could be considered include school feeding programmes; cash and in-kind transfers to the most vulnerable; and cash-for-work programmes. Meeting the needs of women and children, an area of focus for this conference, is especially important.

Cook Islands News, Port Vila

• Helen Greig

Mereia Carling, UNICEF Pacific social policy officer was part of a team that hosted the youth conference this week. 10020954

Eight Pacific islands youth delegates will attend the UN Pacific Conference on The Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis currently being held in Vanuatu.

Earlier this week the youth delegates joined eight Vanuatu youth advocates for a pre-conference for youth leading up to the ‘GEC’ conference.

The youth conference was hosted by UNICEF – the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Mereia Carling, social policy officer, UNICEF Pacific says the structure of the conference was similar to what is expected at the GEC conference.

She says the delegates looked at impacts of the GEC on youth across the region and spent time assessing governments’ work and responses to the crisis as well as gaps relating to youth.

The youth representatives looked at impacts across the region on labour, education, health, and food security.

A range of presenters were invited to explain some of the disturbing trends already being seen.

A focus group discussion with school children in Port Vila to discuss how the crisis affects the lives of children was also held at the conference.

Carling says the outcome statement from the conference will guide the youth representatives in taking part in the GEC conference.

It will also be forwarded to the GEC conference outcome document team so that youth concerns are highlighted.

Cook Islands News, Port Vila.

• Helen Greig

Pacific youth are like the reef around an island -- having to face the most impacts when the full tidal wave of the global economic crisis hits says Tonga youth representative Taniela Sila at a conference in Port Vila.

“The tidal waves of the GEC are building up right now. The youth is like a reef, government like the country we are protecting. When the waves come, we (youth) are faced with the most difficulties.

“Youth are waiting for governments to do something. We don’t wait for government – we have to see what we can do to help government with the resources we have now,” warns Sila.

Sila, who works for the Tongan tax department, is the leader of his village youth, speaker of the house for the youth parliament and an advisor for national youth programmes.

The 30-year-old is one of eight country delegates who joined eight Vanuatu youth delegates at the pre-conference for youth to the Pacific Conference on The Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in Port Vila, Vanuatu this week.

The two day youth conference was held at the old parliamentary chambers at the ministry of finance and hosted by UNICEF- the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Sila says youth unemployment, less access to education from an early age, and high food and transportation costs are effecting Tongan youth.

“I have to go home and explain to the youth about the GEC and make strategies for dealing with what is happening now and in the future. We have to do something right now,” he says.

Twenty-five year old Kiribati youth representative, Kaitinano Mwemweata, says her small country has seen the global economic crisis impact on youth in similar ways as other Pacific nations across the region.

From unemployment to education issues, there are now many concerns for youth as the economic crisis continues.

Mwemweata says the conference enabled her to learn from other country delegates about ways to encourage their governments to action to address youth issues.

She says in Kiribati, where the population is around 10,000 people, youth problems are getting worse.

“I’ve talked to youth there and they say the issues for them are unemployment, access to education and stress,” she says.

The youth conference outcomes will be fed into the UN Pacific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis which is currently underway in Port Vila.

Cook Islands News, Port Vila

• Helen Greig

Catherine Evans returns to crown law after being away for almost five years. 10020521

As the crown law office bids a temporary farewell to counsel Martha Henry, who for the next nine months will be studying in Sydney, it welcomes returning senior crown counsel Catherine Evans.

Evans worked for crown law in 2005 and for family reasons returned to her hometown in New Zealand.

But her connection to the island was too strong to keep her away for long and she’s back “permanently,” she said. Evans said that she and her 13-year-old daughter Mahue are excited about being back on Rarotonga, spending time with Evans’ parents, Mary and Roger, and building a new house in Matavera.

Evans, who descends from the Tamaroa and Puati families, has been visiting the island since the 1970s and decided after living here briefly that this is where she wants to be.

“I decided that this was my home,” she said. “My heart was still here. I heard about a vacancy [at crown law] so I resigned from my job.”

Evans was previously employed at a three-partner law firm in Waikato. She’s been in the legal profession for eight years – she worked for the ministry of social development as a legal adviser, she helped to draft the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act and she spent a great deal of time in family court.

She specialises in domestic violence, care of children, relationship property division, adoption and other family issues.

She’s got an extensive history as a lawyer, and she worked hard to make it. Evans finished her law degree at Auckland University after giving birth to her fifth child.

She has one daughter studying Japanese at Otago, a son working in Wellington, a daughter studying law in Vanuatu and a 15-year-old that stayed in New Zealand to finish school. Her youngest daughter attends Nukutere College.

Evans said that with education and experience under her belt, she is in a position to “contribute to the Cook Islands in different ways,” she said. “I can bring back the knowledge and skills I have.”

She’s all settled in at her Avarua office and pictures herself at crown law for years to come.

“I don’t see myself ever stopping work, unless something happens to my brain,” she said with a laugh.

Solicitor-general Tingika Elikana is happy to have Evans on board. He said that in June he intends to recruit a new crown counsel and another senior counsel.

• RR

If the weather permits, the ministry of internal affairs and Punanga Tauturu will kick off a series of lectures and workshops that will explore civil law reform this morning.

The consultation will cover areas such as marriage, dissolution of marriage, childcare, child and spousal support, property division after marriage or relationship breakdown, domestic violence and adoption.

Director of the gender development division at internal affairs Ruta Pokura said that at present the Cook Islands does not have a family law bill but rather a number of acts related to family issues.

“We’re trying to compile it all together, and some [acts] do need strengthening,” she said.

“What we’ll be doing is guiding the drafting of the bill and outlining the policy paper.”

The three-day conference will look into drafting a family law as per the recommendation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which internal affairs is trying to implement.

The consultation will feature presentations by police, crown law and the ministry of justice.

Christine Forster, a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales’ faculty of law who co-authored a UNDP report entitled ‘Translating CEDAW into Law: CEDAW Legislative Compliance in Nine Pacific Island Countries,’ will attend the consultation to gather local input.

Forster, whose trip is being funded by UNDP, will use what she learns in the next few days to begin drafting the bill.

She will return at a later date to discuss the progress she makes, so this week’s consultation is just the first stage in the process.

The reform consultation will take place at Sinai hall in Avarua from 9am to 4pm today and on Thursday, and from 9am to 12pm on Friday.

The public is welcome to attend.

• Rachel Reeves

The Aitutaki members of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society are about to start the refurbishment of vaka Te Au O Tonga which sailed to the outer island last month.

Voyaging society member and Aitutaki businessman Mike Henry reports that they’ve already purchased fibreglass, new decking (Solomon hard wood) for the reburbishment project.

This month the team will cut the 13 new kiato (crossbeams) from local toa (ironwood) trees.

“This refit will be the first real top-to-bottom refit since she was first launched and we expect that by years end to have replaced or refurbished all masts, spars, sails and rigging as well as build a new oa (paddle),” says Henry.

“This first stage is focused on the hulls and deck.”

Henry says that the vaka refurbishment crew need a base to store their gear and materials and that a shipping container would be ideal for the job.

He says that they are looking for a business or person to sponsor the shipping container as a key part of their 12 month vaka refitting programme.

Henry adds that when the orau to house the vaka is completed later this year, the container will be storage for the voyaging equipment and stores.

Henry says that the company or individual who sponsors the container will be included on their first training voyage to Manuae Island and be able to apply signage to the container.

Anyone wanting to help out or people wanting to find out more information on the project can contact Henry in Aitutaki.

• Matariki Wilson

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