COOK ISLANDS NEWS, Tuesdays 28 January 2014 FRONT PAGE STORIES Prime Minister defends Abu Dhabi trip Prime Minister Henry Puna defended his recent appearance at a development conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday, saying the trip was beneficial for the Cook Islands. Puna left on January 16 to attend the ‘Blue Economy Summit’ – a two-day conference aimed to help small-island developing states (SIDS) – returning last Friday. The meeting also coincided with the 4th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), where Puna said he attended as an ‘observer’ after receiving an invitation from the organisers. The PM’s attendance in Abu Dhabi was slammed by opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen, who criticised his ongoing travel in a column published in Saturday’s issue of CINews. “It is plain and simple that this meeting was not of any benefit to us the Cook Islands and the PM (was) there only as an observer,” wrote Rasmussen. Yesterday, Puna defended the meeting and his attendance as an “observer”. “We are recognised as leaders in the field of renewable energy and the environment,” he said. After holding discussions with the organisation’s director general in Abu Dhabi, Puna said IRENA has agreed to send a consultant to the Cook Islands at no cost to help work on problems currently being experienced in connecting the nation’s new electricity grid. Last week, Puna’s office said his presence at the meeting was “... to maintain Cook Islands’ interests in renewable energy development and accessibility to data and international expertise.” Puna – who was accompanied in Abu Dhabi by his advisor Trevor Pitt – said all costs were paid for by conference organisers, apart from approximately $600 in ‘incidentals’. “No fat allowances” were provided to the two-person delegation, he added. The Abu Dhabi meet precedes a SIDS meeting later this year in Apia, where the PM said Pacific Island states must have “a unified position”. - Emmanuel Samoglou Asbestos removal from school begins The grounds of Avarua School will begin to be dug up today, after asbestos was found in the soil at the school. Around 30 truckloads of soil are to be removed from Avarua School this week by contractors T&M Heather. Yesterday was spent testing the fit of safety masks to be worn by the workers, who are due to start the digging process early this morning. Asbestos, which is too small to be seen by the human eye, is only dangerous when it becomes airborne – such as when people walk across the soil or dig it up. To prevent the asbestos fibres from being released into the air when the soil is moved, Anne Taoro – property manager for the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), which is co-ordinating the project – said the plan is to dampen the area before removal of the soil. “The main thing is that there’s no dust,” she said. Around 300 cubic metres of soil will be removed and the area will be back-filled with a mixture of sand, gravel and soil, which CIIC said is consistent with New Zealand practice. The aim is to complete the task by this Friday, with Avarua School students returning to class one week later than planned on February 3. The work is being overseen by Stuart Keer-Keer – a quality and technician manager for New Zealand-based K2 Environmental Ltd, which specialises in air quality testing and advice. Keer-Keer, who previously tested samples of the soil to identify the hazard, will be on hand during the removal to monitor air quality, measuring the effectiveness of dampening the soil. Once dug up, the soil will be transported to a place within the landfill site at Arorangi, where it is to be dumped from the trucks straight into a hole specifically prepared for the purpose of burying the contaminated soil. The air around Avarua School was tested late last year, and was found to have levels high enough to be in the ‘red’ category where there is a risk of exposure to asbestos. The school has since been closed by the Ministry of Education. - Briar Douglas School’s in! Smiles galore were the order of the first day back to school for these St Joseph’s School students and their new school principal Kathy Nubono (nee George). It was straight to learning for both the students and the new principal, with former school head Sister Celine on hand for the transition. While Nubono has plenty of goals and visions for the school year ahead, she says one of her main aims this year is to strengthen the link between learning at home and at school. Nubono is keen to run workshops at school for parents, saying that if the parents know and understand what their kids are learning in the classroom they can better help their kids during homework time. “We want to help our parents help our children learn,” says Nubono. School bells and pate rang across the island signalling the start of the new school year – however Avarua School students will return to school next week after soil contaminated by asbestos is removed from the grounds. OTHER STORIES Honeymoon in jeopardy after passport robbery A Canadian couple spending their pre-wedding honeymoon in Rarotonga are pleading to the thieves who stole their passports to return them before Saturday. David Sims and his fiancée Donata Platen are marrying in June and decided to take an early honeymoon in the Cook Islands, before continuing on a four-month trip to South America this Saturday. Their travel plans are now in jeopardy after someone broke into the Kiikii Motel between 8pm Sunday and 8am Monday and carried off a safe containing their passports, cash and driver’s licences. “Basically, we have to cancel our whole trip and get temporary travel documents that will only allow us to get back home. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to get new passports and eventually keep travelling,” Sims said. It is more likely that the cost of new passports and new flights will force the couple to cancel their journey altogether, he said. “We could be broke before the wedding’s even started.” The couple are pleading for the person responsible to have compassion and return the passports. “You don’t have to bring them to the hotel. Just drop them somewhere that someone will find them so we can get them back,” Platen said. Sims’ parents, David (senior) and Alice, also lost their passports and money in the safe robbery. This is the couple’s 24th trip to the Cook Islands and they wanted to show their daughter-in-law, Donata, the country they fell in love with two decades ago. “We brought her here to see paradise and then this happens. It’s quite devastating for all of us,” said David senior. Alice said she keeps hearing people refer to the Cook Islands as the ‘Crook Islands’. “I’ve always defended it and now I’m starting to wonder.” Dave junior – who has been to Rarotonga five times and previously volunteered at Rarotonga Hospital – also feels the island is changing. “The best thing about the place is the people but something like this dramatically shatters that opinion about how the people are here. It’s a few people that make a bad name for the majority.” Another Norwegian couple staying at the Kiikii also had their valuables stolen and police are investigating the incident. Anyone who knows anything about the case can phone the confidential Crime Stoppers number 0800 222 00.- Ben Chapman-Smith ‘Mobile library’ created at Avatea A ‘mobile library’ will be keeping Avatea School students entertained for the start of 2014. The school lost its library – along with a block of classrooms and the resources inside the buildings – in an act of arson in October last year. Principal Nga Charlie said that, wanting to keep the regular reading programme going, the school came up with the idea of a mobile library, where each classroom receives a plastic bin full of books, and the bins are rotated between classes. “The idea came about because of the limited space we have, and there’s no space we can set up a library.” Following the fire, Apii Avatea was grateful to receive piles of donated books, including around 1000 books from Tungane Broadbent who donated her own ‘Rainbow Reading Programme’ resources to the school, and $1000 worth of books through the Vaka Eiva ‘adopt a school’ programme. Charlie said these books have been sorted and are being put into plastic bins that she purchased for the library with permission from the Parent Teacher Association. Some classes received their bin of books on the first day of the school year yesterday, she said. “We haven’t decided when to rotate (the bins),” said Charlie, who said the teachers will provide feedback on how the students are going with the books to determine when to move the bins between classes. Following the fire last year, a proposal was put to Cabinet to merge Apii Avatea and neighbouring Nikao Maori School and build one new school for the Nikao area. The submission was supported by Cabinet, though the merger is still in the planning stages. Charlie said she is hoping the new school will be built in 2014, at which point the books will be used in the new library while the bins will serve to hold other resources, such as sports equipment. “Our fingers are crossed that we’re getting a new school sometime this year – so our books will be ready to go then.” - Briar Douglas First day of grade one at Takitumu School Teacher Vaine Tarota Foster began her fist day of grade one yesterday, along with a new set of 11 smiling youngsters. Foster is a teacher at Takitumu Primary School in Matavera, who had previously taught three and four year olds at preschool for five years. Yesterday, she saw some of the same faces yesterday in her new classroom, but those students are now about one year older. “It’s a whole new experience for me,” she said. Over the next few days, the students will begin to learn each other’s names, while Foster takes time to learn about each student and work out their individual needs. As the school year progresses, the teacher will begin to work on the basics – numbers, letters, and words. Although she sometimes has to keep repeating the same things, Foster said keeping the kids in line keeps them on the right track. “It’s very rewarding when you notice a difference,” she said. While teaching at Takitumu, Foster is also completing an early childhood education diploma at the University of the South Pacific. - Emmanuel Samoglou Roll grows at Nikao Maori The pre-school at Nikao Maori School was full of smiling faces yesterday, with more pre-schoolers enrolling for 2014 than in the previous year. Preschool teacher Roimata Tafale said she recently farewelled 15 students, and has welcomed 20 more for the coming year – 10 who were in class for the first day of the term yesterday, and another 10 who had just enrolled. The pre-schoolers got creative with paint and crayons yesterday, with Tafale saying it was a day to help the students settle in. “We need to introduce them to the new routines and rules, and show them where the toilets are, things like that.” Older students also attended the first day of the year at Nikao Maori School, and settled into class in the section of the school closest to the main road – with classrooms further inland having been nominated for use by students at Avatea School, which lost a block of classrooms in October due to an act of arson. While a Cabinet submission for the schools to merge – with one new school to be built to serve the area – received support last year, the two schools have started off the year as separate entities. - Briar Douglas Continuing improvement in education achievement Preliminary NCEA results show an increase in the number of students achieving both certificate and course endorsements at the ‘Merit’ and ‘Excellence’ levels. The Ministry of Education has analysed NCEA results and are delighted with the continuing improvement in achievement at most levels – results MOE secretary Sharyn Paio says are tracking well above the 2015 targets set down by in the Education Master Plan. Results released are only preliminary, with final results due for publication in March. Results are now analysed in two ways – by actual numbers of students who are enrolled in their respective year level to show the achievement of all students after 11, 12 or 13 years of education, and by participation, which shows the achievement of those students who entered for a course of study which, if successful, would allow them to gain an NCEA qualification at the appropriate level. Participation rates exclude students in each year group who may have taken only a partial course, or who have undertaken multi-level studies or may have been involved in a more diverse range of studies for which NZQA credits were not available. “It is also encouraging to see the increasing numbers of students achieving both certificate and course endorsements at the Merit and Excellence levels and I congratulate all teachers in the Cook Islands who have contributed to these excellent results and most importantly, the students on their outstanding achievement,” says Paio. “The challenge now is to raise achievement levels even higher in 2014 and I know that this will be the driving force for teachers and principals as we start this new academic year.” The Ministry of Education looks forward to again being able to support schools to be the best they can be and continue our pursuit of excellence in everything they do, says Paio. - MW High achievements at Nukutere College At Catholic school Nukutere College, the results of the students’ academic achievements highlight the school’s vision of achieving excellence. NCEA preliminary results have been released, and Nukutere College students have come up trumps. The school’s NCEA level one students attained an impressive 89.7 per cent pass rate – an achievement that has been reached despite six of the school’s classrooms being destroyed in an arson attack in October last year. Of the six level one certificates of excellence attained by Cook Islands students across the country, four were Nukutere College students. The school also saw five level one students receive certificates of merit. “I think it’s outstanding,” says principal George Rasmussen. Rasmussen says the college has the same vision of education excellence as the Ministry of Education. More impressive is how the level one students kept their heads in their books despite half the school being destroyed by fire right at the crucial exam time in 2013 – a feat Rasmussen believes has strengthened the students and staff of the school. Even though the school will continue to operate without six of its classrooms for the first term of the new school year, the school roll has steadily increased much to the surprise of Rasmussen. Before the start of the school year, 132 students were enrolled – but on the first day of school yesterday, a total of 155 students were on site ready to learn. Temporary classrooms have been set out in the school hall, and the school’s year 11 students have the best classroom of the lot – an open-sided tent under the shade of the large flame trees at the school. The tent, sponsored by the Rarotonga Tiling Centre, will be on site as the year 11 classroom for the next 12 weeks of term one as the new wing of the school is set to be constructed by the start of term two. Looking ahead to a brighter year, Rasmussen says the school’s Catholic character makes for a fun and calm learning environment at the school. He says the school aims to maintain its excellent level one achievement, and continue to lift the literacy and numeracy standards at the school – with some staff professional development workshops also on the cards. Rasmussen acknowledges it will be a tough start to the school year, but one that will strengthen the students and staff of the college. - MW Tereora students told to set goals Tereora College students eased back into school yesterday but were soon encouraged to start thinking hard about their goals for the year ahead. Principal Bali Haque offered a warm welcome to new and existing Year 10, 11 and 12 students at a school assembly in the morning. “I’m really delighted to welcome you back to the new school year. I’m particularly delighted to welcome the new students to the school.”He urged students to use the next few weeks to set their goals for the year. “As you set off on the new school year, you need to think carefully about what you want to achieve and, more importantly, what things you have to do to achieve those goals.” Haque told the students they should be prepared to work hard and ask plenty of questions. Yesterday was a chance for students to find out which classrooms they are in, mingle with friends and meet new arrivals, before heading home at 11am. Tereora College is staggering its start to the year, with Year 9 and 13 students coming in today. Haque said he is feeling “great” about being back at school and getting the new year rolling. “It’s nice to see them all cheerful and looking smart,” he said. Existing students were told to make the 180-200 new students feel welcome. “Look after them and make sure you introduce yourselves to them.” Haque congratulated the students on the NCEA results and said last year’s hard work had paid off for most of them. “If it didn’t and you feel a little bit disappointed, the great thing is you get another chance this year.” Tomorrow will be the first day the whole school comes together and Friday will be the first formal assembly of the year. - Ben Chapman-Smith LETTERS TMV – can’t afford not to do it! Dear Editor, With so much negative publicity about Te Mato Vai (TMV), I took the opportunity to attend the public consultation meeting at Titikaveka last week, expecting to see a hostile public. To my surprise the public was by and large attentive, with most resigned to the project proceeding regardless. It seemed to me the TMV project management team did well in their presentation and handling of concerns expressed by members of the public, with financial secretary Richard Neves the standout in his handling of the tricky issue of funding. So instead of abusing them, I congratulate them! The disappointment for me was the lack of understanding by some members of the public that TMV is a comprehensive development plan of 18 parts that will take three years to complete and still at scoping stage – meaning the financial outcomes some wanted to know cannot be confirmed until the public consultation process is completed and scope of development finalised. The management team did explain this aspect but as usual with public consultations those with private agendas don’t hear it. As expected the question on many people’s minds was can we afford to do this water project. To my mind we can’t afford not to do it, as visitor numbers have increased by some 30 per cent since the crash of developed economies in late 2008 and Rarotonga’s infrastructure is now under pressure, and threatening our tourism lifeline. In fact, I think waste management should also be implemented now because if Rarotonga’s lagoon becomes polluted our tourism lifeline is gone. I take this opportunity to comment on some issues raised from a development perspective and apologise for being brutal: 1. Development Cost; NZ Aid has injected itself into the TMV project and offered to fund project management, meaning its $15 million contribution can be deducted from the $60 million project cost. This of course leaves real cost at $45 million, consisting of $23 million Chinese concessional loan at 2 per cent interest and $22 million ADB loan at 3.46 per cent interest. 2. Debt Servicing; Interest cost is $1.25 million and assuming principal repayment is over 15 years, annual debt servicing will be around $4.25 million. I think we already pay more than this for the water we buy so there is no impact on the economy, just collateral damage by way of current providers of drinkable water going out of business. 3. Water Rates; Of course we have to pay for potable water, and those who don’t want to pay can always turn off their water metres and drink putrid water instead of potable water, like some outer islanders have to put up with. It goes without saying if we pay water rates the revenue stream will increase our borrowing capacity, and perhaps develop our waste management infrastructure. 4. Land Acquisition; TMV is for the wider good of the community and acquiring land by warrant is not unusual, but clearly unpalatable to landowners. Perhaps more palatable would be for land to be leased commercially with goodwill and 1 per cent turnover paid to landowners? I suspect landowners will support water rates being levied if this was to occur, so as to ensure their share of turnover. 5. Supply and Storage; we only need to look at the lush vegetation around us to know that we have an abundance of water. Without doing the sums I think relying on 12 catchments to supply the whole of Rarotonga is a tough ask. May I suggest that household roofs be used as catchments and storage tanks are supplied to store water for household use, which is current government policy, with surplus water fed into the water treatment grid, just as surplus solar energy is being harnessed and fed into the grid? Needless to say this will increase catchment and storage capacity markedly and provide a source of water for those who don’t want to pay for potable water. 6. Reticulation: Replacing the existing pipes is sensible, as tracking pipe condition and leakage underground is difficult and costly, with no guarantee of systemic integrity. 7. Operational Management; Managing potable water on completion is not problematic as some are speculating, as a computerised management system can be built-in to manage catchment, storage, treatment and reticulation, just as computers manage intelligent buildings and fly aeroplanes without pilots. 8. Budget Blowouts; while budget blowouts are normal in God’s own I don’t see it happening with CCECC engaged as builder, as it has design capability to ensure cost control. It built the courthouse, police station and national stadium on time and on budget and it has undertaken billion dollar infrastructure developments in the Bahamas, where they sing their praise. That’s my input to the TMV project, and it’s intended to help! Tim Tepaki ‘Fluoride is a chemical’ Dear Editor, Lets get it straight from the outset. Fluoride is a chemical. Fluoride is a toxic waste produced in the process of making phosphate and is also a toxic by-product of aluminium production. The human brain is damaged by contact with aluminium and fluorides ability to bond withaluminium means aluminium molecules are carried by fluoride when ingested with water. Fluoride borne aluminium is known as a causative factor with Alzheimer Disease, becauseit has the ability to trick the blood-brain barrier by imitating the hydrogen ion thus allowing this chemical access to brain tissue. Remember, water is one part hydrogen, two parts oxygen. Fluoride is said, by those who favour it, to reduce dental cavities, but there is no empirical evidence in long term studies, that will withstand scrutiny, to substantiate that claim. Fluoride is reported to be a component of rodent and pest poisons and also Sarin gas. That same stuff people in Syria have been killed and crippled with in the last few months. Cook Islanders have survived for as long as there has been piped water to homes, without chemicals in the system. So what’s the motive to introduce a known toxic waste that the people, who would be slowly poisoned, would have to pay for it to be imported ? Power to the People, Name and address supplied Film Raro was ‘a breath of fresh air’ Dear Editor, It has been interesting to read recently about Film Raro. Last May during the time of their filming, I was on another visit, over from New Zealand to see friends on the island. While it was obviously a crazy time for all involved in the project, I felt it also brought much excitement and a breath of fresh air to Rarotonga for those few weeks. I met a few members from a couple of the film teams, both local and international, and chatted to them about the project. They were all extraordinarily positive about the benefits to everyone and in particular the effort, passion and work that everyone had contributed to, with the common purpose of coming together to tell their stories. From an outsider’s point of view (and with no film knowledge), having experienced the event and more importantly been at the screening of those amazing films, I am astounded to hear that they didnt receive support from Cook Islands Tourism Corporation for this venture, and even more saddened to hear that the producers have been turned down again. Short-short sightedness and fear of the unknown seem to be very sad excuses for an organisation tasked with promoting the Cook Islands. Name and address supplied SPORTS Top placing for rising junior sailors Rarotonga junior sailors have impressed their Kiwi peers and coach with their fantastic sailing skills and tenacity at the recent Auckland Championship regatta. The sailors faced various sea and wind conditions with the most challenging being on the last day of racing. Junior coach and national sailing medallist Junior Charlie says the sailors competed with pride in the trying conditions. “Our sailors sailed in one of the strongest conditions in the competition with high winds of 25 knots gusting up to 30 knots,” says Charlie. “Our sailors sailed with a lot of pride and not giving up to finish their races. The last day of sailing saw the 91 sailors split in to Gold and Silver fleets. Teakuao Framhein was the only sailor to qualify to sail in the Gold fleet and the rest of the eight-member team was placed in the Silver fleet. “Today (the last day of sailing) was the hardest day for our junior sailors coping with very cold condition and high winds,” reports Charlie. Teakaou Framhein gained five places in race 7 and 8, finishing 15th and 14th place to put him 40th place overall out of 91 sailors. “This is a huge achievement for his first time sailing in the open grade.” In the Silver fleet the local rising sailing stars dominated the course with some outstanding racing from Helene Johnson and Tyler Davis, Toutika Ioane, Ngarangi Mapu and Martin Marsters. “Helene was the highlight of the day, sailing with a lot of pride and beating a lot of boys in the Silver fleet, placing her in 3rd overall out of 45 sailors in the Silver fleet and 3rd female – a very talented young girl and someone to watch out for in the future!” Tyler Davis finished 6th, Toutika Ioane 13th, Makua Nikoia 20th, Ngarangi Mapu 25th and Martin Marsters 32nd out of 45 sailors in the Silver fleet. Also in the spotlight was up-and-coming young sailor Otis Burrell, who just learned to sail last year. He closed his competition finishing 1st in the Green fleet out of 55 sailors and won a big prize with a boom box radio. It was a very huge achievement for our sailors in this year’s Auckland Championships. “I never expected our sailor to do so well coming over to compete in this level, which we don’t have back home, with big numbers of sailors and competition but to come to New Zealand and to compete against the best sailing countries in the world and to be placed in the top 40 out of 91 sailors and to win the Green fleet is a huge achievement for our junior sailors. I’m so proud of my sailors and I thank God for his blessings for looking after our team here in New Zealand.” - MW Nicholas set to paddle her canoe in the desert Cook Islands Olympic slalom canoeist Ella Nicholas is off to Dubai to paddle in the desert! Al Ain is in the middle of a bone-dry desert and on most weekdays many top international canoeists and Olympic medallists from around the world can be found paddling through the rapids at the Wadi Adventure. Last week Nicholas had planned to return to New Zealand after competing and winning bronze in Australia, however New Zealand Olympian Luuka Jones suggested Nicholas join her at the manmade course near Dubai for a few weeks. This opportunity is too good to turn down so I am putting myself in an environment with some of the best canoe slalom athletes in the world and am hoping that I learn heaps,” says Nicholas. “Luuka and I get on well and as most of the time we are training on our own, it will be really nice to train together. Nicholas has just finished a two-week block of training and racing in Australia where the races didnt go as well as she had hoped. She admits she was getting pretty tired with the heat and the volume of training and this affected her performance. Following the Dubai stint its back to Sydney for the Oceania Champs in late February, then return to Christchurch to continue her medical studies. - Matariki Wilson
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 04:04:10 +0000
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