National
College building was on asbestos register
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
The TEREORA College buildings damaged in last week’s fire had already been registered as containing highly dangerous asbestos material.
Wiring may be fire cause
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local
The RESCUE Fire Service is calling on the owners of old buildings in Rarotonga to check their properties’ electrical wiring systems.
Show focuses on local artists
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
DESPITE the day’s persistent rain there was a good turnout of both artists and art lovers at the re-opening of The Art Studio in Arorangi on Saturday afternoon.
Calling surcharge cut
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
TELECOMMUNICATIONS company Bluesky is easing the burden on people using their Kia Orana Calling services to call families and friends overseas.
New truck provides extra 'fire power'
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
THE NATIONAL Fire Service received a new fire truck this week, providing firefighters with a big boost in dealing with fires around the island.
Promoting youth as agents of change
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
One HUNDRED and seventy Year 9 students from Tereora, Nukutere and Titikaveka Colleges gathered to launch the Ko Au e Toku Aorangi: Kai no te Oraanga Meitaki cross-curricula learning and teaching programme for 2016, on August 9.
Generous gift will help pupils
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
TEREORA COLLEGE students undertaking the level three arts and culture course will now have a better chance to improve on artistic skills thanks to American donor David Neiman.
PM returns from Fiji
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local
PRIME MINISTER Henry Puna is back in the country after attending the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji, on Friday last week.
Digital tourism workshop today
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local
Pacific Islands Trade & Invest (PT&I) in conjunction with the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is holding a two-day digital tourism workshop.
Hydro power plan aired
Tuesday 16 August 2016 | Published in Local
An “exciting” business opportunity has been presented to the owners of land on Uruau Section 77 of the Te Reinga o Pora Valley to gauge their potential interest in a pumped hydro power project.
Picnic day in honour of Fiji 7s win
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
THE COOK ISLANDS Fijian Community Association (CIFCA) will hold a family picnic day for all Fijians living on Rarotonga at the Black Rock beach in Nikao (opposite Black Rock Restaurant) at 2pm today.
Donated books big boost for Avarua
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
There was plenty of early morning energy at Avarua School yesterday as students sang songs in their appreciation of books donated to the school by John and Tuaine Bailey
Gallery ends busy year with group show
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
BERGMAN Gallery is presenting a new group show called Divergence, opening on Monday August 15 at 6pm.
Draft bill deserves clarification
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Environment
`The MARINE Resources Act 2005 is 56 pages long. The revised 2016 Draft Act is now open for public consultation and is much longer, at 83 pages. What a great opportunity for people to comment and for government to get it right! However, it is most unlikely that many people will have the time to go through the new bill in much detail, so Te Ipukarea Society has highlighted a few areas that the public may be concerned about or wish to seek clarification on. We believe that, similar to the current Act, there is far too much power designated to the secretary of Marine Resources and/or the minister in this draft. There needs to be provision for more accountability, for example through a committee or authority with more than just an advisory role. Recent controversy surrounding the initialing of the EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement by the Marine Resources Secretary, against the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the recent conviction of a former Minister of Marine Resources relating to the issuing of foreign fishing licenses, speaks volumes for the sort of problems that can arise when too much power is placed in the hands of one or two people. Cabinet also too often agrees to what is proposed by the secretary and minister without a thorough independent analysis of the content. Another interesting addition to the revised bill is the inclusion of the clause stating that the Government cannot be prosecuted for an offence under this act. It would be good to understand why the inclusion of this clause was thought necessary? Something else included in the new draft bill is a section on Marine Reserves and Parks. This will lead to confusion, inconsistencies, and contradictions. The Ministry of Marine Resources are well aware that a marine park has been declared by the prime minister for the whole of the EEZ. He has also promised 50 nautical mile (90km) protection zones around each island. A Marae Moana Policy has also been approved by cabinet and there is legislation to be drafted for the Marae Moana Marine Park. The inclusion of separate section in the draft Marine Resources Bill on marine parks is likely to lead to duplicate or contradicting legislation under that Act. This part of the 2016 Draft Act should be removed as there is a conflict of interest for a Ministry whose main aim, based on recent press releases, appears to be maximising financial revenue from selling access to our fishery resources, rather than conservation of our resources for future generations. A number of other things included in the new draft need clarification. These include: The draft covers living and non-living resources. There should be some clarification about the role of sea bed mining legislation which also covers non-living resources. There is a clause which states that this act prevails over other Acts if there is any incompatibility or inconsistency. What happens if some other Act has this same clause (ie our act prevails over yours?) There is a provision to establish a Fisheries Advisory Committee of at least five people, plus the Secretary of Marine Resources as the chairman. These people are appointed by the minister, which means the appointments could be political. There needs to be a system to ensure balance in the advisory committee. For example where expertise is available in the non-government and private sector, it should be included. The committee also should have more than just an advisory role, as mentioned above, and the secretary of Marine Resources is not the right person to chair this committee. Section 22 of the draft bill is very good, as it prohibits fishing vessels from polluting our waters by discharging sewage or throwing their non-biodegradeable rubbish over the side. Fines up to $500,00 can be imposed. The big question, though, is how do we enforce the rule? People may recall the large amounts of rubbish that recently washed up on Pukpuka after being thrown over the side of fishing boats. There is also a section on a Quota Management System (QMS) rather than an effort control system (eg limiting the number of fishing days for purse seiners). While in principle this is a good idea, in practice it will not work as we do not have sufficient means to determine ho much fish are being caught. The current Vessel Monitoring system allows MMR to see how many days the boats are actually fishing, but does not show how much they catch. Until monitoring improves and we are sure a QMS system is giving reliable data, an effort based control is likely to work best for us. There is a section on licensing which says the Minister or Secretary may attach to ANY license conditions necessary for proper management of the fishery. This is inconsistent with the wording in the European Union Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (purse seining) agreement). In that agreement the Cook Islands cannot grant more favourable conditions to any other vessel than those granted under the EU Agreement. There are a number of other issues that also need clarification, but there is a limit to space available in today’s paper. Te Ipukarea Society will send their submission direct to the Ministry for their consideration. If anybody would like to hear more from us directly email us at info@tiscookislands.org
New teacher welcomed at Te Uki Ou...
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
APII TE Uki Ou students have welcomed their new primary school teacher Chanel Prasad, a Fiji-Indian who arrived from New Zealand earlier this month.
Boosting negotiation skills
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
A NATIONAL negotiations workshop on climate change held at the National Council of Women’s building in Takuvaine this week aimed to help shape participants into great negotiators when it comes to international climate change negotiations and meetings.
Enjoy great movie and help a good cause
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
THERE WILL be an opportunity to be among the first in the Cook Islands to see the much acclaimed, and just-released New Zealand movie Poi E – the Story of Our Song, and support a good cause next week.
Weavers get busy
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
The LOCAL Star Weave Challenge has been gaining traction in the Cook Islands with private businesses and Government departments alike taking up the challenge to weave a pledged number of stars by White Ribbon Day on November 25.
Assaults top court charges
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Crime
Thirty-six matters were brought before Justice of the Peace John Whitta in the Cook Islands High Court on August 11.
No joy in the valley for hopeful George
Saturday 13 August 2016 | Published in Local
Former politician and lawyer Norman George has missed out on nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for the Takuvaine Tutakimoa electorate.
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