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Popular bars shut downTWO N IG HTC LU BS remain closed after they were forced to shut down last weekend.

The Hideaway Bar and the Banana Court Garden Bar and Nightspot are no longer operat-ing after decisions were made by respective authorities.

Police superintendent Taive-ro Isamaela says the liquor li-cence authority made the deci-sion to close Hideaway Bar last Thursday as they had “failed to comply with conditions of their licence”.

Isamaela, who is chairman of the authority, says breaches included operating while the licence holder was not on the premises and the area being too open. The bar was offi cially shut down at 12pm on Saturday.

“The owners had been in-formed of these problems and the condition of the licence is

whoever manages has to be on the premises – it’s not transfer-able,” he said.

“The main concern of the authority was the layout of the area. The street and bus stop are right in front so if it’s not properly enclosed it gives op-portunity for people to wander and pass drinks out, it was too much of a risk.”

The Banana Court bar also ceased operating on Saturday be-lieved to be due to unpaid rent.

The crown-owned complex is managed by Cook Islands In-vestment Corporation.

CIIC chief executive Lloyd Miles said given that the mat-ter involved private commercial interests it might be unfair and unwise to comment at the time.

“(But) we’re moving on now and we’re looking for new ten-ants,” he said. - DK

The Hideaway Bar was forced to close on Saturday after a decision made by the liquor licence authority board. 0912092

Cooks to fund shortfall

Cookies in Copenhagen

Yes, Cook Islanders are amongst the thousands who have turned up in Copenhagen, Denmark for the climate change conference. Pictured above are from left Tania Temata, Mii Matamaki, (not known), Ulamila Kurai-Wragg, Nanette Woonton, Helen Maunga and Lisa Lahari-Williams. 09120803

MISS Tiare 2008-2009 Lindsay Graham (pictured) will hand over her Maine Tiare crown to a new recipient tonight.

Tonight is the grand finale of the Miss Tiare pageant to be held at the National Auditorium starting at 7pm.

Five young Cook Islands women are vying for the Maine Tiare crown and after the ladies perform their talent, executed their pareu gown walk and an-swered one question – a new

Miss Tiare will be crowned.The Miss Tiare contestants

are Miss Tiare Tipani (frangi-pani) Tuane Hosking, Miss Ti-are Taria (bougainvillea) Ebony Richards, Miss Tiare Kaute (hi-biscus) Nicholle Ama, Miss Tiare Taina (gardenia) Tekea Akava, and Miss Riri Vai (water lily) Tevananga Upu Pere.

Tickets are on sale at the min-istry of cultural development at $7 for adults and $3 for children.

- Matariki Wilson

Maine Tiare fi nale tonight

GOVERNMENT – not the Eu-ropean Union – will fund any shortfall in the cyclone centre project being proposed for Pu-kapuka.

The EU agreed to fund a centre which will cater for 460 people. However government felt that the project should be extended to cater for the whole population (500-plus).

The EU regional representa-tive in Fiji, Robert De Raeve who met with the DPM, said he would try to source funding to cover the shortfall.

But this was not to be.The DPM then indicated that

the shortfall would be met by government, according to the DPM’s offi ce.

- Moana Moeka’a

Thursday, December 10, 2009

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2 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Xmas cheerpays for fi ne BERLIN, December 9 – A young woman in Germany who burst into tears when police fined her for speeding received an early Christmas present when another woman caught for the same off ence paid the charge.

Authorities in the western city of Aachen said the older driver was so moved by the woman’s crying at the police station that she pulled out her purse and handed over the money. “It is Christmas soon after all,” local police quoted her as saying.

- Reuters

worldNEWS nuti no TEIA NEI AO

world BRIEFS

But even now,” says the Lord, “repent sincerely

and return to me with fasting and

weeping and mourning.

- GNB

Today’s Daily Bread

Read: Joel 2:12-27 Text for the day: v12

BEER IS OUT OF THIS WORLD TOKYO – A Japanese brewer has come up with a beer that’s truly out of this world - one made with barley grown from a line of seeds that once orbited the Earth aboard the International Space Station. Sapporo Breweries Ltd says orders have fl ooded in for the special edition of 250 six-packs of its new Space Barley. The company says the amber brew was made from the fourth generation of barley seeds that had spent fi ve months in the Russian laboratory on the ISS. A six-pack of the beer retails at Y10,000 ($A120), or $A20 per bottle. The beer is the fruit of joint research with Russia into growing edible plants in space to prepare for a future when humans can spend extended periods of time out of this world - and when they might like a cold beer after a space walk. Researchers found no diff erences between Earth-grown and space barley. “Some people may expect the space beer to taste very diff erent, but its selling point is that it’s the same,” company spokesman Yuki Hattori said.

SCARY WASHING MACHINE AUCKLAND – A washing machine so violent that it scares children has won top spot as New Zealand’s most viewed online auction. Kiwis apparently loved the humour of the advertisement which described the thunderous 1980s machine as a frightening beast that “makes guests scared and children cry”. “Once, while washing a load of towels, it got a bit out of balance and so out of control for a minute I swear I actually saw a porthole (sic) to another dimension open above it and, just for a second, there were dinosaurs on the other side and they looked scared too,” wrote the owner. The listing went on: “On heavy duty spin cycle it sort of sounds a bit like the tortured howls of 1000 undead writhing in the sulphury pits of hell mixed with a train with carriages full of scrap iron sliding down the road with no wheels, on fi re, into a bell factory”. He said if “you’re either completely deaf or hate your neighbours this baby is for you”.

TIGERS MAUL CIRCUS TRAINER GERMANY – A circus trainer is fi ghting for his life after being mauled by a trio of tigers during a performance in front of 170 horrifi ed spectators. Christian Walliser, 28, stumbled in the enclosure containing the big cats and “as a spontaneous reaction” three of the fi ve Bengali tigers took this as a signal to “play”, the Hamburg venue said in a statement. In the 30 seconds that it took circus employees to beat the animals back with fi re extinguishers and hoses, the tigers ripped off Walliser’s left hand and infl icted serious head and upper body injuries. Circus chief Stefan Pagels said that the tigers would not be put down and expressed hope that Walliser would soon be back at work. “First of all, the tigers did nothing wrong. Secondly, we never punish our animals, we only ever reward them. Punishing them would serve no purpose and there is no reason to put them to sleep,” he said on news channel N24.

MAN ON TRIAL FOR SEDUCTION KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian man is facing trial for allegedly seducing another man’s wife - a charge under a rarely used law that defence lawyers criticised as archaic and tantamount to sexual discrimination. A decades-old law dating from the British colonial era calls for a two-year prison sentence for any man who “entices away” a married woman with the intention of having sex with her. The law was invoked for the fi rst time since the 1980s when businessman Ryan Chong initiated a criminal case against Choy Khin Ming earlier this year. Chong accused Choy of having a 14-month aff air with his wife, television celebrity Daphne Iking, between 2007 and 2008. The case has been transferred to the High Court, which Choy’s lawyers said was more suited to hear a case that involves complicated constitutional issues. The law might be considered unconstitutional because it violates the principle of gender equality and is based on the “assumption that women are mere chattels and incapable of a rational choice as to their male companionship”, according to the defence lawyers’ written statement submitted to the court.

UN pledge $US424 million for emergenciesUNITED NATIONS, December 10 – Rich and poor nations pledged a record $US424 mil-lion on Wednesday to a United Nations fund aimed at respond-ing quickly to humanitarian emergencies around the world.

UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said it was the largest amount ever raised at a do-nor conference for the Central Emergency Response Fund, and a signifi cant increase from the $380 million raised at last year’s conference.

“That’s extremely encour-aging, particularly when you

consider that we’re doing that against the background of a ma-jor economic and fi nancial crisis which has affected the budgets of many donor countries,” Hol-mes said.

The General Assembly re-vamped the fund, known as CERF, in December 2005 after world leaders decided to make up to $US500 million available

so the UN could act quickly re-spond to emergencies instead of waiting for donors to supply aid.

Holmes said he is confident the UN will reach the $US450 million target for 2010. The other $US50 million is in a re-volving loan fund.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened the pledging conference calling the fund “one

of the world’s leading tools for disaster response.”

Britain’s Minister of State for International Development Ga-reth Thomas said natural disas-ters increased fourfold between 1987 and 2007.

“The numbers of people af-fected by disasters are predicted to rise from some 250 million a year at the moment to 375 mil-

lion by 2015,” he said. On Wednesday, 63 donors

pledged $US424 million to CERF including five new do-nors - Russia which pledged $2 million, Madagascar, Maurita-nia, Singapore and the Sover-eign Order of Malta, a lay Ro-man Catholic order founded with a pilgrims’ hospice in 11th century Jerusalem. - AP

Missing Americans investigated for terror linksWASHINGTON, December 9 – Five young Americans captured in Pakistan are under investi-gation for possible links to or-ganised terror groups after their families found a disturbing fare-well video the missing men left behind showing scenes of war and casualties and saying Mus-lims must be defended.

Frantic relatives and worried FBI agents have been searching for the fi ve men for more than a week, since their disappearance in late November. The missing men, ranging in age from 19 to 25, have family roots in the northern Virginia and Wash-ington, D.C., area. One, Ramy Zamzam, is a dental student at Howard University.

Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity be-cause they were not authorised to discuss the case, said the fi ve are believed to be under arrest in Pakistan.

In the aftermath of charges having been fi led against a man in Chicago, Illinois having been accused of plotting interna-tional terror, the case is another worrisome sign that Americans might be recruited within the United States to enlist in terror networks.

Leaders of an Islamic Ameri-can group said the families of the fi ve men asked the FBI for help and were particularly dis-turbed to see the video message.

“One person appeared in that

video and they made references to the ongoing conflict in the world, and that young Muslims have to do something,” said Nihad Awad, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.

“The video’s about 11 min-utes, and it’s like a farewell. And they did not specify what they would be doing. But just hear-ing and seeing videos similar on the Internet, it just made me un-comfortable,” Awad said.

The video has not been made public.

Before they left, they did not seem to have become militant, a local imam said.

“From all of our interviews, there was no sign they were out-

wardly radicalised,” said Imam Johari Abdul-Malik.

In Pakistan, police offi cer Ta-hir Gujjar said five Americans were picked up in a raid on a house in Sarghoda in the eastern province of Punjab.

He did not identify them, but said three are of Pakistani descent, one is of Egyptian de-scent and the other has Yemeni heritage.

SM Imran Gardezi, press minister at the Pakistani Em-bassy in Washington, said the men “are under arrest in Pa-kistan. The investigation is to see whether they had any links to any extremist groups.” No charges have been fi led.

- AP

‘Santa’ tries to kidnap school girlCLEVELAND, December 9 – US police near Cleveland say a man dressed as Santa Claus tried to kidnap a 12-year-old girl walk-ing to school.

Anthony Russo was later ar-rested wearing the Santa suit,

complete with pillow and beard, and carrying a sack, a large box of candy canes and a unicycle with Christmas decorations.

Parma Police Capt Robert DeS-imone says 46-year-old Russo has been jailed pending charges ex-

pected to be fi led on Thursday. DeSimone says Russo was

hiding in bushes on Wednesday in costume and jumped out at the girl. He says Russo tried to get the girl into the bushes, but she walked away.

DeSimone says the man fol-lowed the girl and grabbed her arm before she entered a store and reported the encounter to a worker.

Police say Russo was arrested on a transit bus. - AP

Pensioners ‘torture’ money advisorGER MANY, December 10 – Charges have been laid against a gang of pensioners who kid-napped and tortured their fi nan-cial adviser when their fortunes dipped due to the global crisis.

American-born James Am-burn, 56, was ambushed out-side his home in Speyer, western Germany, bound with masking tape and bundled into a car boot after being bashed in the head with the zimmer frame of an elderly client.

‘’It took them quite a while because they ran out of breath,’’ said Amburn, who was driven to the Bavarian lakeside home of one of the gang, who lost close to NZ$4.5 million.

Another couple, retired doc-tors, joined the kidnappers in the cellar where Amburn was chained and tortured for four days in June.

‘’The fear of death was inde-scribable,’’ he said. Amburn was rescued when he sent a fax to release funds from a Swiss bank and scribbled a message on it for the receiver to ‘’call police’’.

Police in Germany said the gang - popularly known as the ‘’OAP Mob’’ (old-age pension-ers) - had received fan letters since the kidnapping but that ‘’nothing could excuse’’ their violent behaviour.

Two of his kidnappers, Ro-land Koenig, 74, and Willy

Dehmer, 60, attacked Amburn and bundled him into an over-size cardboard box that they wheeled on a trolley to their waiting car.

He was then stuffed in the boot of the silver Audi saloon and driven 480 kilometres to Koenig’s home in Bavaria.

They were among five pen-sioners who said they lost their ‘’nest eggs’’ through Amburn’s investment fi rm Digitalglobal-net.

After he was bundled into a cellar another couple, retired doctors Gerhard and Iris Fell, aged 63 and 66, arrived to as-sist his kidnappers, who also in-cluded Koenig’s wife Sieglinde,

aged 79. ‘’I had known these people

for 25 years. I had no reason to be afraid,’’ Amburn said. ‘’But as I went into my home I was jumped from the rear and struck. They bound me with masking tape until I looked like a mummy.”

The kidnappers each face a minimum of fi ve years’ jail for illegal hostage taking and griev-ous bodily harm when their trial begins next year.

Chief public prosecutor Volker Ziegler said: ‘’They were angry because they invested money in properties in Florida and Kuwaiti funds and he lost it all. - The Age

DENMARK: Un unidentifi ed Chinese non-governmental organisation delegate looks at her computer on December 9, 2009 on the third day of the UN Climate Change Conference in the Bella Centre in Copehagen. Negotiators at the UN climate marathon tried on December 9 to smooth over a furious row over an early draft text which highlighted the summit tensions between rich carbon emitters and the world’s poor. AFP PHOTO

THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 3

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Man and dog united after bomb

Baghdad has been hit with more bombings. AFP

IRAQ , December 10 – The own-er of a dog that miraculously survived a massive bombing, has returned to his collapsed home to be reunited with his pet, stunning neighbours who thought he was dead.

The ginger-coloured dog was spotted chained to a roof rail-ing and standing on a wall ledge over the collapsed home after Tuesday’s huge blast near Iraq’s fi nance ministry leveled shops and houses. The attack was part of co-ordinated bombings around Baghdad that claimed at

least 127 lives. “Lots of neighbours thought

I was dead,” said Farouq Omar Muhei after his dog, Liza, was carried down to the street and began lapping at a puddle.

Iraqi police and rescue offi-cials initially said Muhei and his family were among the vic-tims. But he surprised neigh-bours when he returned with his 14-year-old son, Omar, after being treated for cuts and other injuries.

They were the only family members home at the time of

the attack and all his family survived.

Only a few portions of the home remained standing - in-cluding one section of the roof where Liza was chained. The dog’s water bucket also remained by her side, but was empty when Muhei’s brother, Fuad, climbed over the rubble to unchain the dog and carry her down.

The dog was waiting calmly and even yawned as he ap-proached. But Liza appeared to be shaking with joy as she was reunited with Muhei, 46, whose

face was laced with cuts. The thirsty Liza then began

to lap water from a puddle. “After we crawled out of the

rubble of our home, I said to my son, ‘the dog is dead’,” said Muhei, who sells candy and small items in the local market. “But my son said, ‘No, I saw her.’ I came back today to rescue my dog.”

Muhei said he purchased Liza as a puppy six years ago in Baghdad’s main pet market. That market was hit by two sui-cide bombers in February 2008, killing at least 100 people. - AP

Police suspect militia in massacre

A policeman arranges the tarpaulin showing pictures of Philippine Civilian Volunteer Offi cers (CVOs), members of a group assisting the police force in Maguindanao province who are thought to be private militias loyal to a local clan, who the police accuse of being involved in a massacre.

MANILA, December 9 – Police named 100 government militia-men as additional suspects in the Philippines’ worst political massacre Wednesday as pros-ecutors fi led rebellion charges against a powerful clan accused of ordering the brutal attack on a rival’s campaign convoy. Presi-dent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s top cabinet officials appeared before lawmakers to defend her proclamation of martial law in southern Maguindanao province, where 57 people were killed, some left sprawled on the ground and others buried in mass graves. Critics called the martial law declaration a dan-gerous precedent, but cabinet members said it was needed

to stave off a rebellion by the Ampatuan family, the main suspects in the November 23 killings, and their thousands-strong private armies ready to fi ght the government.

The Ampatuan clan gained notoriety for intimidating po-litical opponents and protecting their turf, which until the mas-sacre made any action against them impossible. The head of the Philippines’ independent commission on human rights, Leila de Lima, said her offi ce had received a letter from anony-mous citizens blaming the Am-patuans for at least 200 other killings in the area in the past decade. De Lima cautioned that the allegations had not been

validated and did not provide details but said she would in-vestigate. She said her office had asked the elder Ampatuan to comment on the allegations but he never responded.

Witnesses in custody have identifi ed Andal Ampatuan Jr., a scion of the clan, as leader of a group of government mili-tiamen who attacked a rival’s convoy in Ampatuan township, said national police chief Jesus Verzosa.

The dead included 30 jour-nalists and their staff. Accord-ing to the witnesses, Ampatuan himself shot some of the vic-tims. The bodies bore bullet wounds in the mouth and chest fi red from close range, Verzosa

said. Police said the bodies of some of the 21 female victims were mutilated, including their sexual organs. Authorities ear-lier had said at least fi ve women may have been raped. Among the total of 161 murder suspects are about 100 newly identifi ed militiamen, only two of them in custody - Esmael Kanapa and Takpan Dilon of the Civilian Volunteer Organisation, a police auxiliary force, police offi cials said Wednesday.

About 30 have been arrested. Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor and the only one charged with mul-tiple murder so far, turned him-self in three days after the kill-ings and denied involvement.

- AP

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UNDP assists in climate change challenges

UNDP resident representative and UN resident coordinator Knut Ostby. 09112607

A N EW project on climate change agreed to by the gov-ernment of Tuvalu and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will ad-dress the country’s increasing climate change related threats, particularly to its highly vul-nerable, low-lying atoll island communities.

Tuvalu’s livelihood opportu-nities as well as the islands’ nat-ural resource base are seriously undermined by the combined effects of sea-level rise, drought, rapidly progressing coastal ero-sion, increasing crop damage, and reductions of fresh water

supply. Tropical cyclones appear to have increased in frequency, and it is also reported that there is a high risk of further climate change related damage includ-ing irreversible loss of habitable areas of land.

The new “Increasing Resil-ience of Coastal Areas and Com-munity Settlements to Climate Change in Tuvalu” project aims to address these issues.

UNDP resident representa-tive and UN resident coordi-nator Knut Ostby said climate change represents a signifi cant challenge to many vulnerable pacifi c island countries.

“We can no longer only look at how to lessen the impacts of climate change, now it is time to identify and focus on how the exposed islands can best adjust to these changes. UNDP will support Tuvalu with a number of measures to assist the coun-try in better adapting to climate change with long term meas-ures,” Ostby said.

The four-year programme (2009-2013) started last month and seeks to assist Tuvalu in adjusting to climate change, aiming to protect the marine, land, water resources and en-vironmental services. UNDP

will support the country at the local and nation levels through a number of measures, such as training of government of-ficials, conducting technical assessments of each island, cre-ating community awareness, and systematic documentation, analysis and applying of lessons learnt from the policy proc-ess. Increasing climate change awareness in the communities is also a priority, as well as im-plementing projects such as coastal erosion protection (like tree planting), crop production and water conservation tech-niques in all islands.

The project is funded by the Global Environment Facil-ity (GEF) by and will be imple-mented by UNDP in collabora-tion with a number of line min-istries and departments.

This project is one of three top priorities within the Na-tional Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change (NAPA) in Tuvalu, the two ex-isting being the “increasing subsistence pit grown pulaka productivity”, and “adaptation to frequent water shortages” projects. The total NAPA budget is US$7,800,000.

- UNDP

Youth, water, and a touch of climate refugee in KiribatiCOPENHAGEN, December 9 - One in every 100 infants in Ki-ribati dies before their first birthday because of contami-nated water in the low-lying atoll nation.

The grim statistic was part of a slideshow given by cli-mate change offi cer in the Kiri-bati ministry of environment, Micheal Foon during a COP15 side event hosted by Kiribati. Statistics suggest that Kiribati has the highest infant mortal-ity rate in the Pacific followed by Papua New Guinea and Mar-shall Islands.

“How many more children will die before we do something about it?” asked Foon in the emotionally-charged moment.

Kiribati is one of the Pacific nations already bearing the brunt of sea level rise worsened by climate change. The lack of fresh water is becoming a threat requiring international assistance to help officials im-plement adaptive measures.

Tessie Eria Lambourne, is working with the Kiribati ministry of foreign affairs. She says Australia and New Zealand have been helping the adapta-tion process.

“We have a programme called the Kiribati – Australia Nursing Initiative (KINA) which trains our young people to get Austral-ian university qualifi cations in nursing,” she said. The KINA program not only educates the

students, but provides them with opportunities to stay and work in Australia.

“This is the model that we are trying to get all the developed countries to assist us in training our people to your standards and international standards so we can help you fi ll your labour gaps,” she appealed.

In the meanwhile, youth have been working in coopera-tion with the ministry of envi-ronment in Kiribati to help in adaptive measures.

Foon said youth in the en-vironment youth club were involved in all sectors of the environment.

- Rachna Lal, Climate Pasifi ka

Tessie Eria Lambourne from the Kiribati Ministry of Foreign Aff airs talks about the challenges of climate change faced by the small nation. 09120912

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Cook Islands issues wake up call with dance

Tania Temata from the Cook Islands pictured at one of the sessions in Copenhagen. 09120901

COPENHAGEN, December 9 - “We are part of the group that contributes less than one per-cent to the carbon emissions yet we are the ones to face the drastic impacts – so help us save not only our land, but also our culture,” say Pacifi c youth who used dance and performance to capture attention at COP15.

Luana Bosanquet-Heays and Rikana Toroma of the Cook Is-lands performed a traditional dance to the Cook Islands song ‘Moemoea’, meaning ‘to sleep’.

Their performance was a symbolic call on world leaders to wake up and take action to stop climate change.

Climate change not only threatens the existence of the small islands in the Pacific, it also threatens their diverse culture unique to them. With the hope of standing up to the threats of climate change and its impact on the vulnerable Pacifi c

Islands, the two Cook Islands teens are part of Project Survival Pacifi c, a youth team who are in Copenhagen this week to cam-paign for their future as well as that of the generations to follow.

In one of the exhibitions, they told of their fears for a Pacific future through story telling. Youth from Papua New Guin-ea, FSM, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji gave different accounts of how their countries were being faced with new challenges as a result of cli-mate change.

Their message: that land is not only an asset to them but also their identity and now the need is to save it.

“The Pacific is at the fore-front of climate change and it is imperative to get a positive outcome from the COP15 here in Denmark,” says Bosanquet-Heays. - Rachna Lal, Climate Pasifi ka

Tuvalu stirs up COP15COPENHAGEN, December 9 - In an unprecedented move, Tuvalu called for the suspension of the Conference of the Parties (COP) plenary session in Copenhagen.

The COP plenary session is the main body that is consid-ering proposals from member countries for amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea submitted proposed amendments to the United Na-tions Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat in June this year.

Addressing the COP plenary, chaired by Denmark’s minister responsible for climate change, Connie Hedegaard, Tuvalu’s chief negotiator Ian Fry reiter-ated his government’s position for a legally binding agreement.

Tuvalu’s proposal, Fry said, is an amendment to Kyoto to ‘make it clear.’

“We call on all leaders to put pen to paper and sign two legally binding agreements in Copenha-gen – amendments to the Kyoto Protocol and a new protocol to be called the Copenhagen Protocol in honour of this great city.

“Tuvalu has delivered, we have an agreement, we have the means. Let us pull out the red carpet, put ink on our pens and drag out the signing table.”

But, Tuvalu’s attempt to re-

fer any detailed discussion on its proposed amended Kyoto Protocol to a contact group, to be set up by the Conference of the Parties (COP) was refused by the chair.

“The blocking came from China, Saudi Arabia and India. They don’t want any discussion in the contact group,” said Tu-valu’s spokesperson, Taukiei Kitala.

“The contact group will allow for a more transparent and open discussion on our proposal for a legally binding agreement. It will also allow for a greater view point from both the parties and NGOs to present their views. The plenary session is only con-fi ned to parties, said Kitala. Solo-mon Islands, a member of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which supported Tuva-lu’s call, agreed that there needs to be greater transparency in the COP process. Ambassador Colin Beck told the Pacifi c communi-cations team here in Copenha-gen there was some understand-ing about Tuvalu’s proposal.

“The proposal is to amend the protocol but not kill it off to-tally. In essence it called for the extension of the legally binding agreement.”

If we are going to have a positive outcome, it needs to be legally binding. The extension

needs to be part of the package, otherwise it will not be a success. Even though we have the fi nanc-ing mechanism, we should also have the commitments. It is re-ally one of the breakers of the negotiations here.

“We are positive of a good outcome from consultations this evening so we can proceed tomorrow (Thursday 10 Dec),” said Ambassador Beck.

Fiji’s minister for environ-ment, Colonel Samuela Sauma-tua also declared his country’s support for Tuvalu’s move to suspend today’s session to allow for the chair and other parties to consult on the best way to deal

with amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.

“I lend my support to the con-cerns of Tuvalu delegation and their desire for a legally binding agreement and have a conclu-sive outcome.

“Fiji commends Tuvalu for this initiative and we hope the contact group will enable the re-alisation of Tuvalu’s proposal,” said Saumatua.

Connie Hedegaard told the af-ternoon plenary consultations would take place through the evening “and we hope to give you all the good news tomorrow”.

- Makereta Komai, Climate Pasifi ka

Tuvalu’s chief negotiator for climate change Ian Fry called for a new climate change protocol. 09120913

Tiny Tokelau at UN meetCOPENHAGEN, December 9 - From the atoll of Fakaofo to the Bella Centre, it has been a long journey of over four days for Faipule Foua Toloa, the Ulu, or titular head of Tokelau.

Toloa has come to Copenha-gen, Denmark hopeful that his small island nation accessible only by sea, will be given ob-server status with the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS).

Toloa is attending the COP 15 as a member of the New Zea-land delegation. Tokelauans like Cook Islanders and Niueans are all New Zealand citizens.

Toloa is joined by Lili Tuioti who is also representing Toke-lau within the New Zealand delegation. Both members ar-rived on day three of the climate change negotiations.

“We are the only territory of New Zealand who have not been involved with discussing environmental issues when we would be the first, like many other countries in the Pacific, to go under water from the rising sea levels,” said Toloa. “There are very important is-sues regarding climate change and we haven’t been involved from the beginning, but we are coming here now. As the new leader of Tokelau, I see that cli-mate change is a top issue and I am putting that as a priority.” In July the census estimated a population of just over 1400

which reside on three atolls of the country which is currently under New Zealand adminis-tration.

Tokealu lies in the Pacific cyclone belt and the highest point for the island’s nation is fi ve metres. The impacts of cli-mate change are a serious threat to the survival of the people of Tokelau, says its Ulu.

“Even though we are part of the New Zealand delegation I am hoping we can have some understanding on this issue of climate change. At the same time I have appealed to AOSIS, the voice of the Small Islands Developing States so that at least we can be heard.”

- Nanette Woonton, Climate Pasifi ka

Faipule Foua Toloa. 09120911

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6 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Cook Islands News BuildingMaraerenga Avarua RarotongaPO Box 15 RarotongaTel (682) 22999 Fax 25303Email: editor@cookislandsnews.com or adverts@cookislandsnews.com

www.cookislandsnews.comDaily Monday to Saturday

Managing Editor John Woods john@cookislandsnews.com Senior Journalist Moana Moeka’a moana@cookislandsnews.com

Reporters Helen Greig helen@cookislandsnews.com Dana Kinita dana@cookislandsnews.com Matariki Wilson matariki@cookislandsnews.com Edna Takaroka edna@cookislandsnews.com

Administration/Advertising Liz Woods lizw@cookislandsnews.com Advertising Advertising adverts@cookislandsnews.com Offi ce Manager Tere Joseph tere@cookislandsnews.com Offi ce Staff Edith Nicholas edith@cookislandsnews.com

Bathilde Winchester bathilde@cookislandsnews.com Tangi Tauira tangi@cookislandsnews.com Production Maxine Kokaua maxine@cookislandsnews.com Kate Ngatokorua kate@cookislandsnews.com

Tony Feao tony@cookislandsnews.com Daniel Rolls dan@cookislandsnews.com Printer Dan Johnston danj@cookislandsnews.com

Family receives assistance after fi re A FAMILY were given $13,000 to help rebuild their home that was destroyed by fire last month.

Ben Peau Williams and his family accepted a cheque at the Bank of Cook Islands yesterday of the proceeds raised through a recent radiothon and food sale. The money will help with restoring their family home in Matavera which was gutted by a blaze on November 13.

Fundraising organisers Wil-lie John and Vaitoiti Tupa says the call for help has been suc-cessful.

“The money raised in a short amount of time shows the gen-erosity of the community and of the Cook Islands people,” John said.

“This has been a great success with people given freely – we

haven’t had to chase them down for the pledges made during the radiothon,” Tupa says.

A six-hour radiothon was held two weeks ago on Radio Cook Islands. Host Nga Teao said it was her seventh radiot-hon this year and yet people still dug deep to give a helping hand.

“We would like to thank everyone for their generosity especially at this time of year, people need the money for their families yet they still gave,” she said.

Those who still wish to make a donation or those who need to honour their pledges can still do so by either calling John on 53804, Vaitoti Tupa at the ministry of environment or de-positing money at the BCI bank account for the Williams family.

- Dana Kinita

Ben Peau Williams (centre) and his family have something to smile about after their Matavera home was destroyed by fi re last month. The money was raised with the assistance of Vaitoti Tupa (far left), Willie John (second from right) and radiothon host Nga Teao (far right). 09120902

CALLING IN THE FAVOURS “WITH China now vigorously opposing the Cook Islands and other Small Island States voices at the Copenhagen conference, will our team buckle under as China calls in all the favours its done for us in the last few years?” a reader asks. “Guess it will depend on whether it’ll be the environmentalists or the politicians who call the Cook Islands’ shots.”

TO THE POINT ONE reader says he can tell everyone in one word why ministers like Aunty Mau and others travelling on the public purse take the longest route possible. “Airpoints!”

Keep the smokies rolling in! Smoke Signals will be accepted by e-mail (smokesignals@cookislandsnews.com), text to 188 or a phone call to the newsroom on 22999.

Catching burglars is not rocket scienceDear Editor,I am glad the police depart-

ment got a new forensic kit. I hope they put it to good use.

I tried to get equipment in the past to the Cook Islands police department, but they were not very receptive. That was a few years back.

I use forensic tools regularly. I hope that the police department does not think this equipment is going to solve their high crime

rate such as burglaries. Good old fashioned police

work solves burglaries. Get the officers out on foot. Walk around, check that doors are locked, look for broken win-dows. Listen to the sounds of the night.

Burglars make noise break-ing into establishments. Catch-ing burglars is not rocket sci-ence.

Hide in the shadows and

watch what is going on at night. As a police chief I would be

totally embarrassed if a busi-ness (Cafe Salsa) got broken into a block from my headquarters. I would be having a serious chat with my offi cers who were working the night the Salsa was broken into.

Right now all I read about in the Cook Islands News is burglaries after burglaries. If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.

LettersAnd right now burglaries are very predictable. Time to catch some thieves. I will again offer my services next year including time.

A friend of the Cook Islands and true supporter of law en-forcement.

Jeff Gunter USA

THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 7

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MP critical of warrant of fi tness checks RENTAL vehicle warrant of fi t-ness enforcement is concerning says lawyer Norman George.

The opposition MP says there appears to be a failure to moni-tor the system.

This week Arorangi man Peter Metuakore was cleared in court of dangerous driving charges causing the death of his wife, and three counts of caus-ing injury.

Metuakore had been driving a rented Ford Explorer when the tragic accident occurred on the

night of July 5 last year. “While defending the case in

the high court recently, it was apparent that warrants of fit-ness are being issued willy-nil-ly without following the legal checklist,” he says.

George claims in that case the 1996 Ford Explorer was issued with a warrant of fi tness on June 3 last year which expired on De-cember 3.

“When the vehicle was in-volved in a fatal accident one month later, a check by a highly

qualifi ed mechanic resulted in the discovery that the vehicle had three bald tyres, no spare tyre, a oil seepage in the brake master cylinder, rear suspension spring shocks were home-made and in poor condition, the front suspension had a worn joint, with the right upper ball joint badly worn,” he says.

George says he learnt the leaking brake master cylinder can lead to spongy brakes – like-ly to cause brake failure.

“The mechanic expressed the

opinion that whoever issued the warrant of fi tness is totally in-competent and unfi t to do so as the vehicle should not have been issued with one or permitted on the road.

“The fact that it was rented to tourists and to the public re-quires a much stricter scrutiny.”

George says although police were asked to follow up on the person who issued the warrant of fi tness and to check the main-tenance and hire record of the vehicle this does not appear to

have been done.“I raise this issue in the pub-

lic interest, how often are the issuance of warrants of fi tness checked by the police, are there checks made on the age, me-chanical conditions and suit-ability of rental vehicles being used for public hire and trans-port?”

“There is pressure on crash helmets, speed limits and road conditions; but what about ve-hicle safety? Can you imagine what the reaction is if a tourist

dies through a motor vehicle failure like three bald tyres?”

George says Metuakore’s trial revealed the poor mechanical condition of the rental car con-tributed to the accident last year.

“I am sure the Road Safety Council will share my concern. I intend to raise this matter in parliament later, and hope the commissioner of police will give this problem urgent atten-tion.”

- Helen Greig

Call to end discrimination on Human Rights DayA CALL to end discrimination against people with disabilities is just one way locals are tak-ing part in Human Rights Day today.

The theme for the sixth inter-national day is ‘Embrace Diver-sity, End Discrimination.’

Kairangi Samuel of Punanga Tauturu (CI Women’s Counsel-ling Centre) says the organisa-tion has worked with disability officer Nono Numanga at the ministry of internal affairs to promote the call to end discrim-ination against people with dis-abilities.

“It’s about people with disa-bilities having the right to work and the right to have social sup-port,” says Samuel.

A series of 30 second televi-sion promotions are being com-pleted through the cooperation which should air on local TV soon.

The Cook Islands is one of less than 100 countries in the world that has formally agreed to comply with the principals of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Government made this agreement on May 8 this year and celebrated a month

later when it came into effect. Disability minister Ngamau

Munokoa lauded it as another significant milestone for the country.

“It’s not just for the govern-ment to drive it, but it takes each one of us to make it work, not for our own benefi t but for the benefi t of our children and our family,” she said.

Last year government intro-duced the disability act which provides a law to protect the rights of persons with a disa-bility, prohibits discrimination against them and ensures they have access to public buildings throughout the country.

Persons with disabilities make up the world’s largest and most disadvantaged minority group.

There are an estimated 650 million persons with disabili-ties worldwide, or 10 per cent of the global population.

Human Rights Day takes place every year on the anniver-sary of the adoption of the Uni-versal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris on 10 December 1948.

The Regional Pacific Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is calling on the governments and people of the Pacifi c to end dis-

crimination and uphold human rights of all.

Matilda Bogner, regional rep-resentative at the office says“ Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world’s most press-ing human rights issues and is often a major obstacle for socio-economic and development ef-forts. It is an unfortunate reality that no country is immune from it, including the countries of the Pacifi c”.

“In the Pacifi c region gender based discrimination has been an issue that has received much

attention, while gender based discrimination is a problem in the region, people with dis-abilities, the poor and minority groups also face discrimination. It is important that we all rec-ognise and respect the human rights of all.”

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says, “Discrimination targets individuals and groups that are vulnerable to attack: the disabled, women and girls, the poor, migrants, minorities, and all those who are perceived as different. But these victims of discrimination are not alone. The United Nations is stand-ing with them, committed to defending the rights of all, and particularly the most vulner-able. That is our identity and our mission.”

All around the world, mil-lions of people face a daily struggle against discrimina-tion – both directly, through laws and policies, or indirectly, through societal attitudes and prejudice.

When taken to the extreme, such discrimination has even resulted in policies of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

- Helen Greig

Human Rights Day takes place every year on the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris on 10 December 1948.

Last week Trader Jacks installed the country’s fi rst wheelchair lift to improve disability access – there is now a new law to ensure access for people with disabilities to public buildings too. 09120314

Noumea meeting looks at gender mainstreaming A STOCK take of gender main-streaming in the Pacifi c meeting is currently being held in Nou-mea, New Caledonia.

It is hosted by the Secretariat of the Pacifi c Community (SPC) and the Asian Development Bank.

The Cook Islands delegation is presenting the country’s stock take results based on work car-ried out in November by SPC

women’s development adviser Sivia Qoro and Vaine Wichman.

Director of gender and devel-opment division, Ruta Pokura and senior policy analyst Repeta Puna supported the presenta-tion of the Cook Islands stock take.

The team was tasked with conducting research and inter-views in the country with key agencies, non-government or-

ganisations, and donor partners to assess how far gender equality practices and analysis has been established within government and civil society agencies.

They met with 12 govern-ment agencies and held focus group meetings with women’s associations and the Religious Advisory Council.

Preliminary findings com-ing through for the country

show that though some good work has been done in the last 10 years supported by donor partners, a lot of this work has not been institutionalised into the processes and practice of government agencies and as a result the organisation culture to support gender mainstream-ing did not develop to carry the initial work begun in the late nineties.

Alongside representatives from the Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Marshall Islands, and Pa-pua New Guinea, the delegates expect to develop their country reports and discuss common issues in each report as well as highlight findings unique to each country with the aim of developing strategies to upscale the work to improve gender

equality in these islands.The SPC is keen to support

the outcomes of the meeting in terms of developing a program to support in-country work. Donor partners attending this meeting include AusAID, UNIFEM (UN fund for women), ADB (Asian Development Bank) and PIFS (Pacifi c Islands Forum Secretariat).

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Hospital expecting extra pressure over Christmas

Rarotonga Hospital will be prioritising patients who need urgent medical treatment over the festive period. 09120710

TH E PU B LIC is asked to be mindful of the extra pressure usually put on hospital services during the festive season.

Typically Christmas and New Year is a time when the frequen-cy of more serious accidents and emergencies can occur, so the hospital is expecting extra demand on its staff after 8pm each day.

A reminder is going out that after 8pm, Rarotonga hos-

pital prioritises patients who believe they need urgent medi-cal treatment and accident and emergency cases.

D i r e c t o r o f h o s p i -tal health services Heather Webber-Aitu says the hospital won’t turn away people who be-lieve they need to see a doctor urgently – no matter what time of day or night it may be.

She says the reminder to the public is prompted by concern

that emergency patients need to take priority in the late evening without having even more of a load put on busy staff by those seeking treatment for minor ailments.

Those who want to see the doctor for a general or non ur-gent consultation are asked to come to the hospital between the hours of 8am and 8pm, to help lessen the potential strain over the festive season. - HG

Talks target Pacifi c heart diseaseHEART disease and rheumatic fever prevention and treatment is the focus of Pacific medical practitioners at a workshop in Auckland today.

Rarotonga hospital GP Dr Mareta Jacob and clinical serv-ices senior nurse Ngariki Teaea are taking part in the talks tar-geting medical professionals from the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Niue.

Dr Colin Tukuitonga, CEO of New Zealand’s Pacific Islands Affairs ministry told Radio NZ yesterday that he hoped the talks will help improve the pre-vention and treatment of rheu-matic fever and heart disease.

Tukuitonga says rheumatic fever is closely associated with poverty and often strikes people in developing countries.

It is hoped talks with special-ists in NZ about groundbreak-ing treatments and better pre-ventative measures will benefi t the four Pacifi c nations.

“We managed to get money from NZAID to bring health professionals from the region to New Zealand to discuss ways of preventing and managing rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. It’s still a very real problem for Pacific and Maori young ones in New Zealand so and it’s the same in the region

hence the need to do this, to get everyone together to think about how we might be more effective in preventing the dis-ease,” said Tukuitonga.

Rarotonga hospital’s director of clinical services, Dr Zaw Aung says the Cook Islands popula-tion does not suffer as bad as other Pacific Island nations when it comes to heart disease. The one day workshop will, however, help improve the pre-vention and treatment methods used here.

The workshop is being held at the University of Auckland’s Tamaki campus at the School of Population Health. - HG

Pacifi c Biocontrol workshop looks at pesky pests ‘BIOCONTROL’— it’s not a term you hear every day, but when successful it’s extremely impor-tant to your every day life.

It is a method of using natural enemies to lower the population of pests (invasive species) affect-

ing our natural ecosystems, ag-riculture and forestry.

Last month, 10 Pacifi c islands countries and territories includ-ing the Cook Islands were rep-resented at a Pacifi c biocontrol strategy development work-

shop in New Zealand, along with over 30 other delegates including plant health experts, scientists and Pacific invasive information managers.

The workshop helped lay the foundation for a regional

approach for implementing biological control work in the Pacifi c.

“One of the main highlights was to see and realise there is a signifi cant number of successful invasive species projects using bio-control happening in the region at present and scope for much more,” said Mark Bonin, the interim coordinator of the Pacifi c Invasives Learning Net-work (PILN).

“There are already projects employing successful biologi-cal agents that can, in the very immediate future be shared amongst other countries that have similar problems. Of course we first would have to overcome the fi nancial, legisla-tive, and logistical constraints but there is great potential for

doing something very soon and quickly that would enable Pacifi c Island countries and ter-ritories to share expertise, ex-periences and at least in part, resources.”

The workshop also looked at identifying and addressing issues related to the biological control of weeds and insect pests affecting agriculture, forestry and biodiversity.

A dramatic example of the economic impacts of invasives was seen in Samoa in the 1990s, when taro leaf blight, a fungal disease, arrived and decimated taro production, a key part of the Samoan economy. It is es-timated to have cost Samoa US$40 million, more than the impact of three cyclones, to re-place domestic consumption,

lost exports and the cost of measures to control the disease.

“One of the main targets for us now, after this workshop is to work with our member countries to help prioritise their invasive species, includ-ing both plant and animal pests, for biological control. Then we can start looking seriously at the commonalities between coun-tries in the Pacific and work together to help minimise the expense of an often expensive invasive species management project,” said Bonin.

This week Cook Islands en-tomologist Dr Maja Poeschko, who attended the workshop, alerted the country about the presence of a pest – the Cuban laurel thrip – on Rarotonga.

- SPREP

Pacifi c representatives gathered in Auckland last month to talk about controlling invasive species – Cook Islands entomologist Dr Maja Poeschko is seated centre in the second row from the front. 09112703

8 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 9

MAINE TIARE FINALEMAINE TIARE FINALEThursday 10 December 2009 National Auditorium - 7pm

THE MINISTRY OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

MC: CLEE MASTERS

7PM - Opening Prayer - Pastor Ngarima GeorgeGuest Artist : Maine Tiare 2008/09 - Lindsay Graham

MAINE TIARE CONTESTANTS THIRD APPEARANCE

“TALENT” 1. Tiare Kaute — Nicholle Ama 2. Tiare Tipani —Tuane Hosking 3. Tiare Taria — Ebony Richards 4. Tiare Riri Vai — Vananga Upu Pere 5. Tiare Taina — Tekea AkavaGUEST ARTIST : I N T E R M I S S I O N Maine Tiare Contestants fi nal appearance “PAREU GOWN WALK / QUESTIONNAIRE” 1. Tiare Tipani —Tuane Hosking 2. Tiare Kaute—Nicholle Ama 3. Tiare Riri Vai —Vananga Upu Pere 4. Tiare Taina —Tekea Akava 5. Tiare Taria - Ebony Richards- Finale walk for Maine Tiare 2008/09 - Lindsay Graham- Maine Tiare and contestants item - Closing Remarks by the Minister of Cultural Development Hon. Robert Wigmore.- Announcement of winner and presentation of prizes- CROWNING OF MAINE TIARE 2009/2010

Closing prayer - Pastor Ngarima George

Work progressing on Avatiu meeting house

RENOVATION work on the Ava-tiu meeting house is expected to be wrapped up in March of next year.

Avatiu pu tapere John Henry says work commenced in July and a small band of volunteers, under the supervision of car-penters Charlie Tamangaro and Tua Henry, has been mak-ing progress a few hours every Saturday morning since then.

“We’ve finished the ceiling and inside the main hall,” says

Henry. “We are now working on the toilets and the kaikai area.”

Henry says the last day of work for this year will be on Saturday, December 19 and they hope to recommence work on the first Saturday in February 2010.

“I’ve been happy with the work that has been done to date, despite the few hands helping out on Saturdays since the reno-vation started. We hope to see more hands on these last two

Saturdays and the same when we start work again at the be-ginning of February and then finish what we have to do in March.”

Henry says $20,000 was budgeted for the renovations – the fi rst since major work was carried out on the building in the early 1980s. A new roof was put on the historical building in 1998.

Electrical work was complet-ed by a contractor and local resi-

dent papa Teme Bishop carried out the plumbing.

Henry says in 2007, villagers agreed to demolish the old struc-ture and build a new building based on plans by government to widen Avatiu road which boarders on to the verandah. While plans have been drawn up to accommodate a new building – pushing it towards the CITC Building Centre – Henry says they are still awaiting to hear what government’s plans are for

widening the road.Henry says the current reno-

vation programme has taken into account the plans for the new building.

“We have put our new meet-ing house plan on hold but we are prepared should govern-ment decide to widen the road.”

Henry says he has been heart-ened by money and donations in-kind which have been made over the past five months. He will gladly accept any donations

on behalf of the project.Henry is also interested in

getting any information or old photographs on the cur-rent meeting house which was opened November 23 1923. It is understood that building start-ed around October 15, 1919.

So if you hear the chime of the bell early on Saturday morning, it is the wake-up call for work to start at 8am on the meeting house.

- Moana Moeka’a

A new ceiling adorns the main hall of the Avatiu meeting house. 09120501

John Henry (left) and carpenter Charlie Tamangaro inside the toilets which are being worked on now. 09120502

Victim support focus for Punanga Tauturu VAINE Arioka was re-elected as the president of Punanga Tau-turu Inc (Cook Islands Women’s Counselling Centre).

At the annual general meet-ing late last month Arioka fo-cused her report on partnership building as a major outcome of the NGO’s work in the last year.

She said PTI had strength-ened its relationships with the police as evidenced in this year’s White Ribbon Day commemo-ration.

The Pacific Police Domes-tic Violence programme also showed its support through funding for the activities.

The focus for PTI in the next year is to improve collaboration with stakeholders in the provi-sion of victim support.

A national stakeholder con-sultation is being planned in collaboration with the Ministry

of Internal Affairs and Crown Law on a Civil Family Law Bill scheduled for January 2010.

The appointment of Myra Patai as PTI patron, has been noted as unusual given that she is a young woman. But PTI manager Kairangi Samuela says Patai was nominated because of her wide experience in gender issues from both government and the NGO sector – and she is also one of the longest serving members on the PTI executive.

A notable highlight this year has been the Koka programme through the outer islands with Shona Pitt of CITV.

The response from the pub-lic has been outstanding and generally congratulates PTI on bringing the outer islands and their experiences to people here in Rarotonga, especially those who have never visited these

islands. PTI’s outer islands programme was to document stories of women and their eco-nomic contributions to the is-land economy – the main theme being women’s participation in economic development but not being included in some formal decision making areas.

PTI thanks Pitt for producing the programme in her own time using her own resources.

Arioka said that PTI has been able to be proactive in its activi-ties with its funding and sup-port from NZAID.

The other newly elected members of the PTI board are vice president Inano McMurchy, treasurer Ann Taruia, secretary Melina Smith and committee members Kathy Koteka, Sarah Milne and Louisa Savage Tay-lor.

- PTI

Café to open next yearTHE COOK Islands Christian Church is offering an oppor-tunity for someone to start up a café at the newly renovated Takamoa Mission House.

CICC secretary Nga Mataio says he has fi elded a number of inquiries from the public and he hopes that the café can begin operating early in the new year.

Mataio says there are a number of conditions attached to the running of the Mission Café, which will be the name

of the venue. While water and power are installed on the premises, the tenant is required to provide all chattels, tables and chairs which will remain the property of the operator.

The café, which is in the west-ern wing of the mission house, can operate between 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday only.

The successful applicant will be given a term of three years, with rights of renewal for two fur-ther terms. The rent is negotiable.

Mataio says there is still some work to be done on the premises but this will be completed once a tenant is fi nalised.

Tenders close tomorrow, Fri-day, December 11.

The mission house at Taka-moa is the oldest European-styled building in the Cook Is-lands. The two-storey structure undertook major renovations and was re-opened on October 26 – Cook Islands Gospel Day. -

- Moana Moeka’a

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Schedules are subject to change without notice.Close–off dates before ship departure: LCL 9 days • FCL 2 days • Break bulk & motor vehicles 2 days

Phone 20735 • Fax 20734 • Email: pflraro@oyster.net.ck

Pacifi c Islands tighten controls on illegal fi shing ILLEGAL fi shing controls have been tightened in the Pacifi c by a new requirement for fl ag states to make sure their registered vessels are listed as authorised to fi sh in the region.

The members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members successfully ne-gotiated the tighter measures to combat illegal fi shing at the 6th regular session of the West-ern and Central Pacifi c Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting which closed yesterday. The meeting was held in Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Pacific Island countries are the custodians of the last re-maining healthy tuna stocks in the world and manage a marine area of 30 million square kilo-metres, supported with techni-cal support and services FFA.

The Cook Islands and other

FFA members take part at the commission meeting along with other fishing nations (such as Asian nations, EU and US) to set rules for fi shing in the Western and Central Pacifi c Ocean.

The commission maintains a register of fishing vessels authorised to fish by WCPFC members and a ‘blacklist’ of fi shing vessels which are illegal, unreported and unregulated (known as the IUU list).

Every year members of the commission can nominate fi sh-ing vessels found illegally fi sh-ing to the WCPFC ‘blacklist’ and this year FFA members initially nominated eight vessels, six from China and two from Chi-nese Taipei.

Marshall Islands nominated a Chinese Taipei fi shing vessel which had fl ed their waters in a dramatic chase which caused

damage to the patrol boat (which was from Federated States of Micronesia).

Chinese Taipei was also con-cerned that this vessel had been untraceable since the chase and assisted Marshall Islands, by providing the name of the cap-tain and other information to try and help detection.

The fishing vessel is still at large and all WCPFC members agreed to put it on the blacklist.

In making the case for the vessel’s listing, Marshall Islands head of delegation Glen Joseph said, “The flagrant disregard for our laws, the failure to stop when ordered, the damage in-flicted on our surveillance as-set, and the disappearance of the vessel means that this matter still needs to be resolved.

“This is a special case that we are seeking assistance from

WCPFC so that any member finding the vessel may board and detain it. In this way, we might be able to take action in response to the very serious violation of our national laws.”

New Zealand nominated six Chinese and one Chinese Taipei fi shing vessels for the IUU black list but withdrew the nomina-tion after the two countries provided documentation they had taken significant steps to ensure fi shing vessels were on the WCPFC record of author-ised vessels.

Both countries agreed to sup-port an FFA proposed amend-ment to the commission rules to ensure fl ag states (countries where fishing vessels were registered) take responsibility for making sure their fishing vessels are on the commission record before they commence

fi shing beyond their exclusive economic zone.

If vessels are not put on the commission record of those authorised to fi sh in the region they are liable to end up on the IUU black list.

Niue’s Brendan Pasisi, chair

of the FFA council said the tightening of the rules for list-ing of fi shing vessels will help the region’s island nations make best use of the IUU blacklist as a tool to use against illegal fi sh-ing.

- FFA/HG

THE EXCITEMENT is building for Christmas in the Park which will be held on Monday at the National Auditorium.

There will be loads of food stalls and entertainment has al-ways been stellar with this year sure to be no exception.

“Come down, have fun and great food with the family in the spirit of Christmas,’ says Chris-tian Mani acting vice-president of Rotaract. This year there will be an extra special Santa’s corner, where the guy in the red suit will be taking all your Christmas wishes. And if you want to capture your moment with the jolly fellow, this year

Santa’s corner will be offering two photos for just $5 thanks to the sponsorship of Fuji Im-age Centre.

It makes a perfect gift for relatives overseas or maybe one just for your record books! Lolly scrambles, face painting and spot prizes will be given for costumes following this year’s super easy theme of White Christmas.

Admission is $5 for those over 13 years and $2.50 for those aged between three and 13 years. All proceeds will go to-wards Rotaract’s ‘Think Twice’ youth awareness campaign.

- Edna Takaroka

Technicians take on block course

TUTOR Wicliff Charambira from the Open Polytechnic in Wellington, New Zealand goes over a few points with Jesse Totini (left) and Charlie Tam-angaro. Eleven technicians from

Telecom Cook Islands are cur-rently undergoing a one-week block course as part of studies towards a certifi cate in commu-nications.

The block course focuses on

practical applications to the theory the participants have learned to date.

The technicians have been taking night classes since the beginning of the year under

resident tutor Tino Vaireka and next year they will undertake specialist telecommunications studies to complete the certifi -cate.

- Moana Moeka’a

Santa and an admirer at last year’s Xmas in the park – the 2009 event will be held on Monday. 08121603

Four days to go

10 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Tuatua AkakiteE tuatua akakite teia kia tatou e noo nei ki roto ia Muri mei Vaii, Aremango, Areiti, Nukupure, Aroko e pera te tapere Avana. Ka raveia tetai akakoroanga koikoi manako na roto i to tatou au ngutuare no runga i te turanga o te vairanga repo tangata e te vai repo. Te akakoroanga o teia kimikimianga mari ra, no te akara atu i tetai au ravenga no te akameitakianga i te turanga o to tatou tai roto i Muri. Ka akamata teia kimikimianga a te ra 10 o Titema 2009 ki te ra 13 Tianuare 2010.Te pati ia atu nei tatou katoatoa e noo nei ki roto ia koe e Muri e Avana Nui kia taokotai mai no teia akakoroanga kimi puapinga. Meitaki MaataKeta WilliamsPu Tapere o Muri

Public NoticeAs part of the European Union Muri Water and Sanitation Project, the public is hereby advised that a public survey will be conducted over the period 10 December 2009 to 13 January 2010 for the sub districts of Muri from Vaii, Aremango, Areiti, Nukupure to Aroko and Avana. The purpose of the survey is to gather baseline data on the condition and state of water and sanitation systems for this area with a view towards restoring and improving the current state of the Muri Lagoon. The project team and Muri Environment Care committee would sincerely like to request the public for your full cooperation during the survey.Thank youKeta WilliamsPu Tapere o Muri

41800 /9110 /2066

PUBLIC NOTICES

THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 11

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Community Health Service NoticeEnvironmental Health Inspection Tutaka program for Rarotonga starting on Monday 7 December, 2009 to Wednesday 16 December, 2009Porokaramu Tutaka no Rarotonga nei, akamata Monite ra 7 Titema, 2009 ki te Ruitoru ra 16 Titema, 2009Day/Date. Area/VillageRa/Tuatau Ngai/OireDay 4. Thur 10.12.09 1. Tupapa 2. Maraerenga 3. Pue 4. Kiikii 5. Ooa i Uta Day 5. Fri 11.12 09 1. Ooa i Tai 2. Tuarai 3. Matavera 4. Turangi 5. Avana Day 6. Mon 14.12.09 1. Muri – Ngatangiia 2. Tikioki 3. Titikaveka 4. Turoa 5. VaimaangaDay 7. Tue 15.12.09 1. Rutaki 2. Aroa 3. Kavera 4 Betela 5. AkaoaDay 8. Wed 16.12.09 1. Ruaau 2. Inave I Uta 3. Inave I Tai 4 Black Rock 5. Tokelau. The cooperation of everyone in the community is requested to further clean and destroy the breeding and resting places of mosquitoes and other pests. Areas of concern includes dwelling houses, overgrown vacant sections, neglected vacant houses, hedges, streams, sports fi elds and all working placesTe pati akaaka iatu nei ta tatou tauturu e te iti tangata note tama e te takore atu I te au ngai anau e te akangaroi anga o te au tu manumanu ravarai e totoa ana I te maki i roto i to tatou au ngutuaare Ka tutaka pakari ia teia au ngai nei koia oki ko te au enua vai ngangaere , ngutuare kare e noo ia ana e te vai tita nei, au pa kapaie roroa, kauvai, te au ngai tarekareka tipoti e te au ngai angaanga katoatoa.Meitaki maata.Tuanga Paruru Maki.

41407 / /1720

PUBLIC NOTICES

MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING MOIP

TenderThe Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning seeks tender proposals from suppliers for the supply of Road Sealing Binding Materials for the Construction/Maintenance of Rarotonga Roads.Tender documents including specifi cations can be collected during work hours from the MOIP offi ce in Arorangi. Tenders close 3.00pm Tuesday 22nd December 2009 and must be submitted to the MOIP Offi ce in Arorangi in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “Supply of Road Sealing Binding Materials for the Construction/Maintenance of Rarotonga Roads, Supply Contract C06/10”and addressed to: The Secretary Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning PO Box 102 Arorangi RarotongaEnquiries to: Tangi Taoro, Phone 20034, Fax 21134 email t.taoro@moip.gov.ck

41589 / /2009

TENDERS

We also stock Air Curtains & Portable Aircons & handle all refrigeration & air conditioning

work & white ware servicing.

For the best deal & service on the island call into our depot at Panama or phone 24240.

Cook Islands Premier Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Company

We stock & install Daikin & Mitsubishi Air Conditioning units.

THESE TOP OF THE RANGE UNITS ARE THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT

& RELIABLE UNITS ON THE MARKET.

SERVICES

BELATED BIRTHDAY

REAL ESTATE

EMAIL preferredadverts@cookislandsnews.com

PHONE Fax

DEADLINESDeadline for next day’s classifi eds is 1pm sharp. Material deadline for display adverts 24 hours prior.

RATES Minimum $5.80 incl. VAT for 1-15 words. Casual ads must be prepaid. Cancellation fee $6.40 incl. VAT. Quotations on request.

classifi eds pupu kite ngai okotai

Love Always from Mum, Dad, Boaza, Louison, Maliza, Papa n Mama and a BIG one from your big sista n brada n law n Raro and all da families in Mangaia, NZ.

BE A GOOD BOYHAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO KING DAVID ATETUHappy Birthday Lil BroToday you have gained your degree In Making Us Crazy about youJust dont drive mum even NUTSher and dad have already startedgetting old, I am sorry I forgot but betterlate than never.

PUBLIC NOTICESLand Agents Registration

In the matter of the Land Agents Registration Act 2009.In accordance with section 12(a) of the above Act I, Mark Brownof Tupapa, Rarotonga (Man-ager) have applied to the Land Agents Registration Board for registration as a Land Agent.In accordance with section 12(b) of the Act the application will be heard within 14 days of copies of the application being received by Board members.Any person objecting to this ap-plication may serve notice of their objection to the Secretary of the Land Agents Registration Board at the Ministry of Justice, Avarua.41798 /9118 /1796

LOSTNokia N95 Black Mobile Phone lost at High Tide on Friday night. Reward off ered. Please Ph 53164.41792 /9114 /1931

TENDERS

Yamaha AG100 Motor Cycle Bike can be viewed at TAU Offi ce between 2.00pm and 4.00pm as of Monday 07th till Friday 11th Dec 09. Contact Rangi Nooana, on 20054 for more information.Address tender:“Motor Cycle Tender”CEOTAURarotongaClosing date Friday 11th Dec 09 at 3.00pm.41663 / /1823

SERVICESLawn Mowing Services - Get yourself ready for Tutaka In-spection or for Festive Season. Call 52505.41725 / /2011

SERVICESManava Holiday Adventure.

Program for kids & teenages. Enrol now, ph 73230 for more info.41556 /8794 /1931

Xmas is around the corner - get your septic tank cleaned. Quick service. Ph 50188.41705 / /2480

NZ Qualifi ed builder with relia-ble and capable gang of workers ,available for all your construc-tion requirement Ph 73824.41778 /9103 /1931

FOR RENTStudio units & 2 bedroom house in Turangi. Ph 79460.41625 /8919 /1931

FOR RENT3 bedroom house, fully fur-nished, arorangi contact 58992, negotiable.41771 / /1931

Brand new 3 bedroom house, fully furnished, Matavera back-road. Long term preferred. Ph 28810 (Mon-Fri 8am - 4pm), 52755.41730 / /1736

3 Bedroom Executive Home available now. Fully furnished with ensuite. Secluded location and minutes drive to town. Lo-cated upper Tupapa, backroad. Short term weekly rental or Long term. NEGOTIABLE. Con-tact Edith: 51744.41755 / /1762

FOR RENT2 brm home with ensuite, with a self contained unit as 3rd bed-room/ensuite, on a large sec-tion, in a secluded location in Nikao, close to town and min-utes drive to BCI and Telstra Stadium. Carports for at least 3x vehicles. Avail from 1st week in Jan. Contact details Mata Manu, Mob: 55602.41769 /9115 /1931

2-bedroom house, fully furn-sihed in Matavera, long term preferred, short term ok Ph 52241/21398.41742 /9082 /1931

FOR RENT1 bedroom separate furnished unit in Matavera 7 mins to Ava-rua. Can use swimming pool. Long term $185pw excl power & Gas or Tourist $250pw incl. Mob/ text: 75738 or Wk:21619 ext 3.41775 / /1780

Furnished 3 Bedroom house in Tupapa minutes to town. Ph 21556 after hours.41746 / /1655

2 x offi ce space for rent & cafe to rent. In Tupapa, two minutes to town, call Mata Mob: 55602.41770 /9116 /1931

Public NoticeChristmas in the Park

When: Monday 14th of DecemberWhere: National AuditoriumTime: Opens at 4:30pmTheme: “White Christmas”Come along and enjoy the biggest Christmas Event in the Cook Islands. We will have loads of fun, great food & fantastic entertainment. We will have face painting on again this year for the kids and Santa’s Corner.For more information contact Christian Mani on 54054.Rotaract.

41796 / /2153

PUBLIC NOTICES

This week’s Rarotonga value selections Section waterfront Matavera $195k ($195,000)Road side Café low $100k’sNice house Matavera off ers Three deluxe villas seaviews $1.7mQuality Arorangi House $395kMuri total luxury villa $1.5m2 Muri Beachfront lux. Villas $950kBeachfront house Vaimaanga $670kRetail mall excell. returns $1.2mTop icon restaurant $450kExec. house sea views $750k 5 houses on one block $690k House Matavera waterfront soldHouse Arorangi waterfront soldCafé town soldHouse Titikaveka soldMotel Arorangi under contractSection Muri sold…And many more listed www.cookislands-realestate.comPeter 55289 Carey 55678

/

AUTISM Cook IslandsPH 24065/55976

tiateura@oyster.net.ck

“WHAT’S ON” every Monday & Thursday - To advertise contact BRIAN ph 55 921

WHAT’S ONPH

23

000

THE POINTTHE POINTRESTAURANT MURI

MONto

SUN

book your XMAS functions now!Leave the hassels to us call Lynette Ph 23000

PH 2

2 77

2

GARDEN RESTAURANTARORANGI MON SUN PM

TUMUNUTUMUNU MONSeafood Platter for 2 $62to

SUN An ideal XMAS FUNCTION VENUE Dinner 6pm

SAILSRESTAURANT

MURI

MONTO

SUNBeach Side Lunches - 10am - 3pm

cAll us for XMAS options!PH 2

7 34

9

NU BARNEXT TO AIRPORT PH

26

141 MON

toSAT

CalamariChicken NuggetsSpring Rolls

ENTREÉ MAIN DESSERTChickenSteakFish

COURSE MEAL Ice CreamSundaeChoc/Straw

PH 2

6 62

1MAEJO’S CAFE COOK’S CORNER

“BEST CHINESE COOKING”Open Mon to Sat -Dine in or Takeaways

MON

to

SAT

TAMARINDHOUSE

PH 2

6 48

7 MONFRI Lunch Specials 11.30am - 2.30pmMON/SAT Dinner 6pm - we are a great xmas option

Live Entertainment Wed - Sat TUPAPA

Monday to Sunday MURI PHONE

2 Dives a Day

PACIFIC DIVERS

Discover Scuba Diving. Great experiences everyday

Monday to Saturday PHONE

11am FREE Transfers and BBQ Adults $70 Kids $35

The Original Lagoon Cruise Operator

Snorkelling & Island Show

LAGOON CRUISES MURILAGOON CRUISES MURICAPT TAMA’SSEAFARI

FISHING CHARTERS

BEST LOCAL EXPERTISE. CALL NOW! PH 55 096

“BIG GAME FISHING”WEDDING & STAG WEDDING & STAG

Parties welcome

MONDAY TO SUNDAY

MONDAY TO SUNDAY

PHONE 23 629

“You want the bestwe give the best”we give the best”

Safety is our #1 PriorityRarotonga’s No. 1

PHONE &

PH 20 952PH 20 952Arorangi Mon - Sat 8am-5pm

Muri Mon - Fri 8am-3pmSat 8am - noon

KAYAK HIREKAYAK HIREMURI LAGOON

MONDAY TO SUNDAY PHONE MON TO SUN PHONE 21 873

8am & 1.30pm Dives 7 days

Free Pick Up & Drop Off

TITIKAVEKA PH 22 200MONDAY TO SUNDAY

See Raro in 4x4 jeepsUMU Lunch & Transfer included

TOURS START AT 9AM$70 Adults & $30 Child

RAVIZINDIAN CUISINE PH

22

279 FRI Special-Indo Asian Buff et $15pp

SAT Indian buff et $15 pp All U Can Eat Open Dinner 6pm

RAVIZINDIAN CUISINE PH

22

279

SUN Open Dinner 5.30pmXMAS BOOKINGS AVAILABLE CALL NOW!

PH 2

2 31

4

docksideGOURMET TAKEAWAYS

MON

TO

SAT HAPPY HOUR DAILY 4-6 PM

SHIP WRECK HUTAT AROA BEACHSIDE INN - PH 22 166

SUNSET BBQ from 6pm * Reservations Required

Julian Young on the keyboardsSAT

PH 2

1 00

3AQUARIUSRESTAURANT

Lunch with “Ru and the Boys” Xmas Bookings available contact Dorothy

SUN

Lunch Phone ORders ph 24 094Chicken, Pork, Beef Stirfry + Fish & Chips plus more

TOFRI

MON

PH 2

2 21

5SalsaCafé SAT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 11.30AM

PH

27 1

89PAW PAW PAW PAW PATCHPATCH SUN “F a m o u s S u n d a y B B Q ” $30 6pm

LIVE String Band Bookings Recommended

Try the BestLamb Curry on the island - $14

Call us ph 23 609

PH 2

2 41

5

SUN Sunday BBQ 6.30pm $35pp * Bookings Essential Kids 1/2 price

PH 2

0 59

0RSAOPPOSITE AIRPORT

PH 2

0 62

1

THE GOLF CLUBBLACK ROCK

Business Hse Golf 4.30pmFRITHU

AT THE SUNSET RESORT PH 2

3004

Pub Nite from $16.50

Sunset Sunset BBQBBQ $35 $35 6pm6pmBook 10 get 10% discount

FRI

SUN

MON

Cold beer Great companytoSAT

Kia Orana, S-J here. There has been a new infl uence in my life thanks to the “What’s On” page. One of my family’s goals while living on Rarotonga has been to try out all the dining options now available to us. Discovering the quick reference “What’s On” column, I was able to smugly tick some venues off as having “been there”. We seem to have a new challenge to work through now with even more choices that we hadn’t thought of.We fi nd a new “What’s On Adventure” column and realise we’ll be busy in the coming months trying to experience everything that Rarotonga can offer us to do, as well as to eat. So join us in the challenge – go round Raro and do the list!

PHONE 25550

Using the fi nest ingredients Mai Pie’s

are made fresh daily.

Available in a good store near you!

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4 GREAT FLAVOURSPOTATO TOP•STEAK & CHEESE•MINCE & CHEESE•BACON & EGGPOPOTATATOT TTOPOP••STSTEAEAKK & CCHHEHEPOPOTATATOTOTO TTOPOPP••SSTTEAAE KK &&&& CCCHHHMai Pie

PH 2

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3OCEANS RESTAURANT SAT steak night

& Salad bar 6pm

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SPORTS BAR PH 2

6 24

0

TUPAPA

PH 5

8606PAW PAW

NECTARAVAILABLE @ ALL GOOD

WHAT’S ON OUTLETS

MON

to

SUN

plates!Mud cake dripping in chocolate sauce and served with

ice-cream was our dessert choice for the evening.Dishes were being whizzed down to tables on the

beach as they were also catering for a wedding party, but we managed to grab fi ve minutes with the new Man-ager/ Head Chef, Anzaar, and have a chat. He said the popular choice at the Restaurant was ‘Catch of the Day’ and that the Sunday BBQ with buffet was also busy.

He is really keen to talk to anyone about what The Anchorage can offer locals for their Xmas Party or family functions.

We found the price range moderate – therefore good value for the food and nice service we received.

I would encourage you to go round to The Anchorage and see what Anzaar and his staff have on offer at this attractive venue.

S-J

Down by the beach, nestled in amongst the Sunset Re-sort accommodation is the Anchorage Restaurant. It

is surrounded by a pretty garden and lawns. The building has a feel of a grand marquee; is spacious and airy.

Lanterns and fresh fl owers adorn the tables and the overall feel here is relaxed.

Friday is themed as a ‘Pub Nite’ menu with a live band (Ravs & the Boys) strumming out a few well known melodies. The Happy Hour lasts all night and has $1 or more off all drinks.

So think good English Pub meal and you will fi nd on offer a choice of two starters, a curry, a lasagne, a steak meal etc. We enjoyed the following: Bangers and Pom-me Puree served with Onion Gravy; Stir Fried Vegetables served with Steamed Rice & Roasted pine nuts; and Catch of the Day which was grilled with Fries and Garden Salad and a lovely Tartar Sauce.

The meals were well presented and we cleaned up our

AT THE SUNSET RESORTARORANGI, TEL

OPEN 7 DAYSBREAKFAST – LUNCH – DINNER

• TUESDAY – GRILL NITE • SUNDAY - SUNSET BBQ • FRIDAY – PUB NITE + LIVE BAND

TUPAPA

TITIKAVEKAph 20 623 or mob 50 563

• STAINLESS STEEL• LOCALLY MADE• SEVERAL SIZES• PICK-UP & DELIVERY SERVICE

JOHN ENGU

SERVICES

ROASTER • Carpenter 52261 • Car Rentals 58034 • Roaster 20623 • Realtor 55678 • Plumber 22199 • Laundry 20952 • Lawyer 51231 • Ad Producer 70958 • Electrician 56626 • Mechanic 20288 • Sheet Metal 50563 • Matman 55921

PH 2

4 09

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funji’sTAKEAWAYS OPEN AM PM

PUNANGA NUI MARKET

SIVANI’SFOOD HOUSE ARORANGI PH

23

609

TOSAT

MON

12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 13

$Currency

NEED MONEY? CALL ADVANCE PAY CURRENCY WE BUY WE SELLUS DOLLAR . .AUS DOLLAR . .GB POUND . .CAN DOLLAR . .EURO . .

Mana Court Downtown AvaruaPhone 29907

Rates updated 10.30am daily

Best foreign exchange rates in town

THE PHANTOM ® By Lee Falk & Sy Barry

HÄGAR the Horrible ® By Dik Browne

Su-Do-Ku Easy

InstructionsPlace the numbers 1 to 9 in the blank squares so that no digit is repeated in each row, each column or each 3 x 3 square.

Answer to Wednesday’s puzzle

Flight Times 1 Voyage details 1 Currency Rates

Air R

arot

onga

RARO TO ARR DEP TO ARR DEP TO ARRTHURSDAY DECEMBER

AITUTAKI DAY TOUR

MANIHIKI RARO

AITUTAKI RARO

AITUTAKI RARO

ATIU RARO

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THOR PACIFIC V ETD AUCK , ETA RARO .THOR PACIFIC V SLD AUCK , ETA RARO .

THOR PACIFIC V ETD AUCK , ETA RARO .Inte

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FLIGHT FROM ARRIVES TO DEPARTSTHURSDAY DECEMBER

NZ AKL .AM AKL .AMNZ AKL .PM AKL .PMDJ AKL .PM AKL .AM FRI

FRIDAY DECEMBERDJ AKL .PM AKL .AM FRI

SATURDAY DECEMBERNZNZ

AKL AKL

.AM .PM

AKL AKL

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GZ PPT .PM AKL .PMNZ RAR .PM LAX .PM

BUSINESSES FOR SALE

NZ$125,000, includes all chat-tels, equipment, artwork, furni-ture, recipes and inventory. For further information, call Bruce @ 26480 after10am.41758 / /1805

FOR SALEStandard bar fridge Fisher & Paykel $250, fridge freezer $450. Ph 28336.41736 /9073 /1931

Ride on mowerMercury Masport 20HP, 40inch cut, excellent condition $4200 ono. Ph 20272.41739 /9069 /1931

Equipment for Sale, Water Blasters Petrol type 2700PSI $1400, Nilfi sk Alto Electric type 1850PSI $750. Concrete Mixer Electric Motor $750, Hand Mixer for mixing grout electric type $400, Mig Welder $600, Electric Motor 1 HP $400, B&D Hedge Trimmer $200, Makita Electric Chainsaw $350, Table Saw 10” $500, Bandsaw $500, Bench Grinder 8” $295, Drill Press 13mm Chuck $295, 5.5L Gas Water Heaters $300 Trader Don 22919.41542 /8822 /2058

FOR SALEFor sale puppies lab cross $20 each for info ring 22640.41763 /9088 /1931

Pigs for sale. Range of sizes, priced from $100. Contact Ph 22640/56612.41749 /9085 /1931

1x TV & DVD player, 1x TV 18” + CD,

1 Honda Daelim 100cc + 2 spare engine1 cupboard w/drawer med2 mowers (1x w/catcher, 1x masport)1 freezer med large.Phone 22710 8am to 12noon, 22490 after hours.41734 /9079 /1736

Typhoon 125.9, Dalim 100cc for sale $1800 for two contact 23551.41767 /9095 /1931

Stunning wedding dresses size 10-12 pure silk cream cin-derella style wedding dress never worn worth $1500 will sell for $800 ono.Size 14 off the shoulder cream wedding dress-very slimming $350.Size 12 beautiful cream dress slightly stained make an off er phone Tina on 79368 to veiw.41804 / /2046

Taro pai $80 a bag Ph 26140.41803 / /1931

VEHICLES FOR SALETyphoon 125 $600. Ph 22637.41724 / /1931

VEHICLES FOR SALEToyota Lite Ace van, seat 8, good condition, $7000 ONO. Ph 25965.41731 /9075 /1931

MGTF Replica sportscar. Cut-est car on Raro! Going well. $3000. Ph 27928 After hrs.41776 /9097 /1822

Yamaha Crypton motorcycle, good condition. Inquiries con-tact mob 75371.41752 / /1904

GARAGE SALEMonster Garage Sale

Will be held at General Transport on Saturday 12 December, at 8am and onwards. Household, clothes, TV and much much more.. Everything must go!!41805 /9126 /1853

WANTEDBaby sitter wanted from January 2010. Interested per-son from Rarotonga/South-ern group island invited. Ring 58897/26450.41794 /9113 /1931

WANTED TO RENT

3-4 Bedroom house (prefer-ably 4 bedrm). Fully furnished, executive style, long term pre-ferred. Please contact Chris Wicks on ph:21750 extn:239 w/h, Mobile: 54053 a/h.41806 / /1631

Soccer semis start today

Action from the Nikao-Tupapa premier match last month – this weekend Nikao takes on Arorangi and Tupapa play neighbours Takuvaine. 09112304

T H E R A R O T O N G A s o c c e r knockout semi final will kick off today at the CIFA complex in Matavera at 4.15pm starting with the under 13 boys match

between Titikaveka and Taku-vaine.

Junior divisions will play their games today and tomor-row, Friday December 11, with

the senior semi fi nals for both women and premier men to be played on Saturday December 12. - CIFA

Thursday December 10 at the CIFA complex – 4.15pm Under 13 boys Titikaveka vs Takuvaine, ref-Tutai Taurarii assisted by Aturangi Hosking and Junior Arioka, 5pm under 14 girls Titikaveka vs Arorangi, ref-Aturangi Hosking assisted by Ua Aberahama and Tuteru Nikoro, 5.45pm under 16 boys Titikaveka vs Matavera, ref-Lai Gukisuva assisted by Tutai Tau-rarii and Junior Arioka.

Friday December 11 at CIFA complex – 4.15pm under 13 boys Tupapa vs Nikao, ref-Lai Gukisuva assisted by Paavo Mustonen and Tino Napa, 5.00pm under 14 girls Tupapa vs Avatiu, ref-Tupou Patia as-sisted by Ua Aberahama and Tuteru Nikoro, 5.45pm under 16 boys Tupapa vs Takuvaine, ref- Maara Kaukura assisted by Robert Savage and Terry Piri.

Saturday December 12 at CIFA complex – 12.30pm women Ti-tikaveka vs Tupapa, 2.00pm women Nikao vs Arorangi, 3.30pm premier men Takuvaine vs Tupapa, 5.15pm premier men Nikao vs Arorangi.

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Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

14 THURSDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Forecast Map 2pm Thursday

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Front Key: Cold Warm Occluded Stationaryy

.M NW

.M SW

Rarotonga Thursday, December 10, 2009

Swell direction and size

Weather Forecast to MidnightIssued at 2pm at Rarotonga

Situation: A trough of low pressure lies slow moving to the north of Southern Cooks. Meanwhile, an east to southeast wind fl ow prevails over the group. A moist east to northeast wind fl ow aff ect Northern Cooks.Forecast to midnight for the Southern Cooks: Moderate east to southeast winds.Cloudy periods with some showers and possible thunderstorms.Moderate seas.Further outlook: Mainly fi ne. For Rarotonga: Cloudy periods with some showers. Thunderstorms likely.Further outlook: Brief showers.For the Northern Cooks:Moderate east to northeast winds.Cloudy periods with few showers about Pukapuka, Nassau, Rakahanga and Manihiki. Elsewhere, fi ne.Moderate seas.Further outlook: Mainly fi ne.

TidesTHU High .AM .M .PM .M

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FRI High .AM .M .PM .M

Low .AM .M - -

HumidityTHU Morning %

Night %

FRI Morning %

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Outer Islands Weather Outlook Thursday, December ,

Aitutaki Mangaia Mitiaro Atiu Penrhyn Mauke

° ° ° ° ° °SW KTS SE KTS S KTS S KTS NE KTS S KTS

°SE KTS

Sunshine hours

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.M N

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Sun & Moon

Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon First QuarterDEC DEC DEC DEC

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tarekareka

Junior golfers to New Zealand

NINE local junior golfers will depart our shores today for two junior golf championship events in New Zealand.

The team includes Stanley Urlich, William Howard, Tea-riki Smith, Tony Turua, Jojo Karati, Karika Karika, Anna Howard, Rotana Howard and Leo Roa of Aitutaki Golf Club.

The young golf stars will be led on tour by managers Ned Howard and Ewan Smith.

The team will take part in the Auckland age group champion-ships on December 14 and 15 to be played at the Howick Golf Club.

The golfers will then com-pete in their second event – the Whitford junior golf champi-onship on December 17 and 18. This week, the team of young golfers were presented with TaylorMade brand caps, Ti-tleist golf tees and twenty dozen

top grad Pinnacle golf balls by supporting sponsors John and Wendy Cooper, directors of parnz as New Zealand corporate golf event and holiday company.

The team would like to thank their sponsors and supporters Maritime Cook Islands, Air Rarotonga, CISNOC, Chris and Kurai Foster, Budget, Wiri Tim-ber and the strong support from Turtles Sportswear.

The golfers would also like to

acknowledge the golf business house teams who’ve supported the team’s food sale fundraiser at the Rarotonga Golf Club.

The fundraiser for the tour will continue at the club while the group are away on tour and the members of the Rarotonga and Aitutaki Golf Clubs would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of junior golf in the Cook Islands.

- Matariki Wilson

Pictured here are most members of the touring junior golf team at the Coco Putt course for a presentation by supporting sponsors parnz – a New Zealand Corporate golf event and holiday company. (From left) Wendy Cooper, Tony Turua, Karika Karika, Stanley Urlich, John Cooper, Ned Howard, William Howard, Teariki Smith, Jojo Karati and Ana Howard. Not pictured are Rotana Howard and Leo Roa. 09120920

Arorangi to play Tupapa in cricket fi nalWITH a cricket fi nals spot up for grabs – the fi rst of the top four matches at the weekend was a one sided affair.

After winning the toss the Muri cricket team elected to bat fi rst against the visiting Tupapa side.

Tupapa captain Davis Tein-aki applied the pressure early (5 wickets for 10 runs).

The inform Tereinga Maoate was the first man out, quickly followed by the rest of the Muri middle order.

The recently returned Conrad Hunter (35 runs) had a great in-nings but it wasn’t enough for the Muri side as Teinaki had done too much damage and Muri were all out for 89.

Realising that a win wouldn’t necessarily guarantee the Tu-papa side a place in the finals, the batters came out with the intention of getting the runs early to improve their net run rate.

T h e T u -p a p a s i d e was clinical in their run c h a s e a n d knocked off the total within 11 overs.

Arorangi played Turangi in the other of the top four com-petition games.

Arorangi who were unbeaten in the top four competition bat-ted fi rst.

Apii Mamanu’s boys didn’t disappoint as a number of the players made good contribu-tions including Nga Emile 39, Daniel Webb 41, Lelei Patia 59 and Tom Vea 55 from 21 balls to take the total through to 283.

With three previous matches this season played at Turangi reaching scores in excess of 350 runs the game was far from over.

The Tangimetua trio of Elia (35), Vane (31) and Sepa (32) were in good form and Ratu Mato top scored for Turangi with 47 runs. But it wasn’t enough as Turangi fell 47 runs short.

Arorangi will now face Tupa-pa 1 in the fi nals this weekend with Muri and Turangi playing

off for 3rd and 4th.The winless Avatiu Nikao side

was out to end the season with a bang when they travelled to take on the Matavera side. Avatiu-Nikao skipper Shane Thompson won the toss and elected to bat fi rst, despite a good partnership between Thompson (22) and Mark Crawford the side couldn’t get any momentum and were dismissed for 93.

Stephen ‘Moko’ Kavana again led the charge for Matavera col-lecting three wickets for 21 runs.

Not to be deterred, Avatiu-Nikao came out strong and ap-plied pressure to the talented Matavera line up, young Tom Wicks was outstanding (3 wick-ets for 15 runs) and ably assisted by his team mates to make the run chase diffi cult for the Mata-vera side. Matavera opener Taki Anaru played well to anchor the innings assisted by Camp-bell Hockin as Matavera went

on to win the match with j u s t t w o w i c k e t s t o spare.

In the last of the bottom

four matches Tupapa took on Takuvaine.

Takuvaine struggled early on until Terry Williams came in and hit a magnifi cent 56 with Bruce supporting him at the other end.

However once Bruce went Williams ran out of partners and the team ended all out for 198.

Great hitting from Titiri (57) and Maru (51) got Turamatuitui off to a great start however Aro had other ideas and after a fi ery spell of bowling he collected fi ve quick Turamatuitui wickets and effectively won the game for Takuvaine as the Turamatuitui team fell 12 runs short.

This week William Tommy’s Matavera side will battle it out with Turamatuitui for bottom four 1st and 2nd honours while Avatiu-Nikao look for their fi rst win when they take on Taku-vaine for 3rd and 4th.

- CIC

The Tupapa side was clinical in their run

chase and knocked off the total within 11 overs.

Mamanu Emile of Arorangi prepares to sweep away a Turangi bowl during the two clubs clash at the weekend. 091209909