Rain didn’t deter Takitumu student newly-named dux Uruhiti Beniamina from performing during the school’s parent’s day yesterday.

PAPA Tekake William, highly re-spected by many as the country’s pearl farming pioneer, passed away on Wednesday afternoon.

The 79-year-old was at his home on his kaoa in the Mani-hiki lagoon where he passed away suddenly, say family.

He was laid to rest in Tau-hunu next to his late wife Hele-na yesterday after a mass at the Catholic church conducted by Bishop Stuart O’Connell.

Papa Tekake’s funeral coin-cided with the day Manihiki and Rakahanga came together to cel-ebrate 100 years of the Catholic faith in Manihiki and the open-ing of the new St.Anne’s church in Tukao.

A decade ago Cook Islands News named Papa Tekake as one of the most notable Cook Island-ers of the century, particularly for his struggle for success as the founder of the Cook Islands

pearl farming industry. This industry grew rapidly

until 2000 when its annual export worth peaked at $18.4 million before plunging to$2 million by 2006 due to la-goon problems and farming issues.

The industry is now going through a period of revival.

I n 1 9 8 1 Papa Tekake was the first local to begin pearl farming in the north.

He eventu-ally came to own the largest pearl farming area of the Manihiki lagoon.

And the man who never showed an outward sign of his wealth, continued to work hard right till the end despite several bouts of illness in recent years.

In 1999 he told Cook Islands

News that he would just keep going, going, going – “I’m go-ing to fall (while still) on my feet”.

Born in Tahiti on February 25, 1931, to a Tahitian mother and a Cook Islands father, Papa Tekake moved to the island of Penrhyn at age six.

A remarkable and colourful early life in the Pacifi c in-cluded Papa Tekake’s un-intentional breaking of the world’s deepest free-

diving record while diving in Manihiki - a record he held dur-ing the 1960s.

He and his wife Helena wed on February 20 1950 and were married for 41 years.

Papa Tekake once said that he didn’t want just his name to

go on, but for his children to be like him.

There’s no doubt that today, many of his children, grandchil-dren and great grandchildren have inherited his hardworking spirit, his strong Christian faith and the will to succeed in their own pursuits – many are still involved in pearl farming.

Papa Tekake and his wife had 11 children - Joe, Peter, Louisa, the late Marino, Marie, John, Emma, Ricardo, Laurencia, and twins Michael and Henry.

Six of his children and some of his many grandchildren and great grandchildren were in Manihiki for his funeral.

A charter flight took family members from Rarotonga to the island yesterday where they joined other family and friends to honour a great man and pay their last respects.

- Helen Greig

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Father of pearl farming passes away

In 1981 Papa Tekake was the fi rst local to begin pearl

farming in the north. He eventually came to own the largest pearl farming area

of the Manihiki lagoon.

Papa Tekake William is pictured in 2007 when his family got together at Avatiu marina to net ature. 07050316

Lack of price control: MPLOW income families are suf-fering most from government’s failure to control the price of ba-sic goods alleges Atiu MP Nandi Glassie.

He says government, and its ministry of internal affairs, has failed to even monitor the price of basic commodities which many families are struggling to afford.

“Different prices at different places for basics like rice, sugar and corned beef -- I’ve been receiv-ing plenty of calls from people in

the community about the lack of price control on basic commodi-ties lately,” says the opposition MP.

Glassie says his message to government is that it has failed to undertake the monitoring of prices of basic goods in Rarotonga and the other islands.

“It’s worse in the outer islands. There is real concern about the detrimental impact on low in-come families.

“More outer islands families

are resorting to kaiou (tempo-rary credit) to cope with the high prices on basic food items,” says Glassie. He says he will raise the issue with the minister of inter-nal affairs, Ngamau Munokoa in the near future as well as con-tinue talking to the ministry’s price control division about how it can monitor what prices are be-ing charged by different shops for basic foods and what to do if some are charging too high a price for them. - HG

Police to check WOF systemPOLICE are carrying out a review following concern that some vehi-cles may not be road safe despite being issued warrants of fi tness.

Yesterday MP and lawyer Nor-man George raised concern about whether rental vehicles are indeed road worthy before being issued with the document. George point-ed to a recent trial in which a vehi-cle involved in a fatal accident last year that had a warrant of fi tness but was later deemed to have seri-ous mechanical problems which would make it unsafe to drive.

Police commissioner Maara Tetava responded to George’s con-cern saying he makes a valid point.

“I too am concerned about the

issuance of warrants of fi tness in the Cook Islands. We are looking at this issue. A proposal is in the pipeline to completely revamp the current system.

“This would involve the with-drawal of authorisation to all current warrant of fi tness issuing authorities, putting in place a test-ing regime closer to that adopted in New Zealand and other coun-tries, and requiring interested and qualifi ed persons to re-apply,” says Tetava.

During the re-application proc-ess, applicants qualifi cations and testing stations would be inspect-ed to ensure full compliance with requirements he says.

“Some work has already gone into this and I am hopeful that we will have it up and running in the not too distant future,” he adds.

“I agree that it is a safety issue that must be addressed at the ear-liest possible opportunity. I must also add that since the introduc-tion of our traffi c unit and the tar-geted effort of our police offi cers on road safety, a lot of poorly main-tained vehicles have been taken off the road or owners have actually made the attempt to make these vehicles safer,” he says.

“We do have the authority to or-der unsafe vehicles off the road and we have exercised and will continue to exercise that authority.” - HG

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Stolen wreathssold in lobby MANCHESTER, December 10 – The Hillsborough County sher-iff said a court bailiff sold sto-len Christmas wreaths in the lobby of the Superior Court in Manchester.

Sheriff James Hardy said the bailiff sold the wreaths after being asked to do so by an elderly woman who told the bailiff she had made them.

But the New Hampshire Un-ion Leader said it turns out the wreaths were among about 36 stolen from Jacques Flower Shop in Goff stown last week.

Seven courthouse employ-ees bought wreaths at $10 each.

Hardy said it appears the bailiff was trying to help the elderly woman. He wouldn’t identify the bailiff .

Flower shop manager Paul Godbout said the investigation was triggered after someone noticed the store price tags on the wreaths.

- AP

worldNEWS nuti no TEIA NEI AO

world BRIEFS

“Afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on everyone

your sons and daughters will proclaim my mes-

sage; your old people will have dreams, and your

young people will see visions. - GNB

Today’s Daily Bread

Read: Joel 2:28-32 Text for the day: v28

EROS EXHIBITION OPENS ATHENS – A major new exhibition in Athens explores the many facets of love in Greek and Roman antiquity - the sacred, profane, graphic and mundane. What organisers say is the biggest ever display of its kind brings together more than 270 artefacts from Greece and abroad, dating from the 6th century BC to early Christian times. Together with marble sculptural masterpieces from the Louvre in Paris and the Capitoline Museum in Rome, the Cycladic Art Museum shows a recreation of an ancient Roman brothel, a 2500-year-old love note and a curse from a spurned lover. Museum director Nikos Stampolidis says the exhibition, titled Eros, aims to provide “a diff erent reading of the ancient world.”

DRUNK WOMAN GETS LEGLESS PENNSYLVANIA – A Pennsylvania woman who drank herself unconscious celebrating her 20th birthday says a hospital didn’t properly treat her, resulting in partial amputations of both of her legs. Shanna Hiles’ medical malpractice suit against Uniontown Hospital and one of its emergency physicians says she passed out while sitting on the fl oor with her legs tucked under her in May, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Hiles was in that position for more than 12 hours, and she claims hospital offi cials didn’t properly diagnose her condition and work to restore circulation to her legs. Instead, Hiles claims she was transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital several hours later where both legs were amputated at the knee.

PHOTOGRAPHER NOT A ‘GOLD DIGGER’ PARIS – A French photographer has defended himself against accusations of being a gold digger after he received nearly E1 billion in gifts from France’s richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt. Bettencourt’s daughter last week fi led suit in court, arguing that her mother, the elderly heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics fortune, is mentally incompetent and her aff airs should be placed under judicial supervision. But in an interview to Le Monde newspaper, writer and photographer Francois-Marie Banier said Bettencourt was “a completely sane woman” who had showered him with gifts that “for a long time, I refused”. Banier, 62, was given nine masterpiece paintings including works by Matisse and Mondrian worth E15 million ($A24.39 million), several cheques and life insurance policies between 2002 and 2007, according to the daughter. Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers is accusing Banier of taking advantage of her 87-year-old mother’s frail health, saying she suff ers from memory lapses that make her particularly vulnerable.

PENGUIN ENCLOSURE TOO CHILLY MELBOURNE – Penguins can handle the cold but their home at Melbourne Zoo proved too chilly for one keeper who was taken to hospital with hypothermia after diving in their enclosure. The keeper emerged cold, shivering and with a headache after spending 40 minutes carrying out a routine clean of the enclosure and was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital. A zoo spokeswoman said the keeper had worked there for two years and regularly dived in the 18 degree water in the penguin enclosure without any problems. This time, however, a short summer wetsuit without a hood was not enough protection for the 31-year-old. “She came out very cold and shivering and we have emergency procedures which were put in place and called an ambulance to take her to hospital for a check,” the zoo spokeswoman said.

Record number of women in Nobel PrizesSWEDEN, December 10 – A record fi ve women were among the 13 people awarded Nobel Prizes on Thursday, including a writer who depicted life behind the Iron Curtain and research-ers who showed how chromo-somes protect themselves from degrading.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gus-taf handed out the prestigious 10 million kronor ($1.4 million)

awards in chemistry, physics, medicine, literature and eco-nomics during a glitzy ceremo-ny at Stockholm concert hall.

H o u r e a r l i e r, p r e s i d e n t Barack Obama received the peace prize in Oslo. The Stock-holm ceremony is topped off by a lavish banquet in the capital’s city hall – where laureates are served a succulent three-course gala dinner whose menu is kept

top secret. The awards were cre-ated by the 1895 will of prize founder Alfred Nobel, which stipulates that the prizes be given to those who “have con-ferred the greatest benefit on mankind.”

The prizes were fi rst awarded in 1901. In total, only 40 women have won the prestigious prizes, including Marie Curie who took the 1903 physics prize and the

1911 chemistry prize. Romanian-born author Herta

Mueller accepted the Nobel lit-erature award for her critical de-piction of life behind the Iron Curtain _ work drawn largely from her personal experiences. Mueller’s mother spent five years in a communist gulag, and the writer herself was tor-mented by the Securitate secret police because she refused to

become their informant. At the prize ceremony, Pro-

fessor Anders Olsson of the Swedish Academy praised Mu-eller for her “great courage in uncompromisingly repudiating provincial repression and politi-cal terror.”

“It is for the artistic value in that opposition that you merit this prize,” he said.

- AP

Palestinians fake cancer to fl ee GazaGAZA, December 11 – A healthy man in blockaded Gaza faked cancer, hoping the deadly dis-ease would be his ticket out of the territory that has become an open-air prison for its 1.4 mil-lion residents.

His ploy failed, but several thousand others succeeded in fleeing this shabby sliver of land this year using bribes and

fake medical reports, a sign of Gazans’ desperation over grow-ing poverty and misery under the strict border closure en-forced by Egypt and Israel since Hamas militants overran Gaza in June 2007.

The blockade has few loop-holes.

Israel allows passage to top business people and a limited number of Gazans seeking treat-ment for serious illnesses. Egypt sporadically opens its border for university students and those

with residency abroad. Everyone else is stuck, even as

Palestinian polls suggest nearly half the population would like to leave if they could.

Deepening the Gazans’ sense of imprisonment, they must now also obtain permission from the Hamas government before attempting to leave, fur-ther complicating an obstacle-ridden path to freedom.

Those trying to bribe their way out usually approach mid-dlemen who put them in touch

with local doctors, Palestinian health offi cials or Egyptian bu-reaucrats and military offi cials.

Akram Ghneim, 31, an unem-ployed father of six living off food handouts, told The Asso-ciated Press he promised $260 to a Palestinian middleman, who obtained for him a bogus medical report saying he had cancer.

Ghneim said he hoped he’d get a rare spot on the list of Gaza patients with life-threatening illnesses who are allowed to en-

ter Israel for treatment. Once in Israel, he planned to

disappear and work illegally. But Israeli intelligence offi cials, who review applications, reject-ed him last summer, saying his cancer report was forged.

“This is what the blockade does,” said Ran Yaron, of the Israeli group Physicians for Human Rights, which helps bring Gazans into Israel for treatment by lobbing Israeli defence offi cials.

- AP

Police kill Times Square gunmanNEW YORK December 11 – A plainclothes cop chased a scam artist through sidewalks crowd-ed with holiday shoppers and tourists Thursday in the heart of Times Square, killing the sus-pect near a landmark Broadway hotel after a gunfi ght that shat-tered box office and gift shop windows, police said.

No one else was injured. The 25-year-old suspect, Ray-

mond Martinez of the Bronx, and his brother were trying to dupe tourists into buying CDs near Broadway and 44th Street just before noon when he was recognised by a sergeant who

runs a task force that monitors aggressive panhandling, Police commissioner Raymond Kelly said. The officer, Sgt. Christo-pher Newsom, asked them for their tax identifi cation, which allows peddlers to sell on the streets. But Martinez took off running, through to the Mar-riott Marquis hotel’s passenger drop-off area.

Newsom pursued, and Mar-tinez turned and fired with a Mac-10 9mm machine pistol that held 30 rounds; he got off two shots before it jammed, po-lice said. The offi cer fi red four times, striking the suspect in the

chest and arms and killing him, Kelly said.

Martinez’s brother Oliver returned to the family’s Bronx home Thursday evening after hours in police custody, push-ing past two uniformed offi cers inside, crying out that he hates police: “They shot my brother!” he said.

The commissioner said the shooting preliminarily ap-peared to be within department guidelines, which allow for deadly force when an officer’s life is threatened.

Police say the Martinez brothers were working a scam

in which they would approach tourists, ask them their names, then write the names on the CDs and demand payment of $10. They claim the CDs are origi-nal work they’ve created, but it’s unclear if that’s true. They had already been given a summons by offi cers this year for not hav-ing identifi cation.

Martinez’s cousin Nailean Arzu said the slain man had been selling CDs in the area for years.

“He was my cousin. He was loved. Everybody loved him. It’s a great loss to the family,” she said. - AP

China accuses countries of dumping steelCHINA, December 11 – China’s commerce ministry said Thurs-day an investigation showed US and Russian exporters were dumping steel used for power generation, and ordered that importers pay deposits to com-pensate.

Beginning Friday, import-ers of fl at-rolled electrical steel, a product used in the power industry, sold by US compa-

nies will have to pay dumping margins of 10.7 percent to 25 percent, the ministry said in a statement on its Web site.

Importing the steel from Rus-sian companies will incur simi-lar subsidies of 4.6 percent to 25 percent, it said. The deposits will be imposed pending fi nal results of the investigation, which are also in retaliation for US subsidies for steel compa-

nies, it said. “The domestic steel industry

has suffered substantial dam-age,” the ministry said, em-phasising the measures were consistent with World Trade Organisation rules. China has lashed out at similar probes of its own exporters, saying such moves are protectionism.

The US commerce depart-ment has imposed duties of

up to 99 percent on imports of Chinese-made steel pipe used in the oil and gas industry.

China says the US side used the wrong formula to calculate the cost of goods and the duties it imposed were too high. The disputes are among a series be-tween Beijing and Washington, which also include confl icts over access to each others’ markets for tires, music and movies. - AP

MEXICO CITY:A member of animal rights organisation AnimaNaturalis is seen inside a cage painted as a bird during a protest against the consumption of animal-based products in Mexico City. AFP PHOTO

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Argentina faces beef imports

Argentina may soon be forced to import beef.

ARGENTINA, December 9 – Ar-gentina, a nation that prides it-self on having more cattle than people, may soon be forced to import beef to keep its meat-loving citizens happy at the dinner table.

Intense government efforts to keep meat affordable through taxes, export restrictions and price controls have enabled Ar-gentines to eat record amounts of beef this year, but the short-term bonanza has come at a very steep cost.

With little or no profi t left in meat, ranchers are selling out, slaughtering even the female cows needed to maintain their herds.

President Cristina Fernandez, who famously dismissed soy as a “weed,” has said her govern-ment must protect consumers at a time when booming soy production has taken over 32

million acres (13 million hec-tares) of grassland once used for ranching.

Her government also has paid huge subsidies for massive feed-lot operations where previously grass-fed cattle are fattened on corn and grain. But it still takes three years from the moment a calf is born for a cut of beef to reach the supermarket, where the price – set weekly by govern-ment bureaucrats – is roughly 2 dollars per pound (half kilo), less than the going rate for a piz-za that takes minutes to make.

Those low prices have Ar-gentines, already some of the world’s biggest beef consumers, practically gorging on steaks. By August of this year, Argen-tines devoured more than the average body-weight in beef – nearly 165 pounds (73.9 kilos), the most in 15 years, according to the Chamber of Commerce

of the Argentine Meat Industry. Most Argentines stubbornly

reject the idea of replacing beef with chicken, pork or other meats. Despite rich South At-lantic fi sheries, seafood is rarely seen on dinner tables, and veg-etarians are generally seen as culturally suspect.

A typical “parillada,” or mixed grill, includes ribs, steaks, sausages and even intes-tines. “In my house we eat beef nearly every day,” said a typical griller – Maria Gremone, 77, an Argentine-Italian widower.

“Every Sunday I roast for my children, grandchildren and anyone else who comes to visit.”

Argentina’s meat industry slaughtered about 11 million head of cattle during the first eight months of this year, more than any similar period in the past two decades.

“It would be great news were

it not for the fact that 50 percent of the cattle slaughtered were fe-male,” said Miguel Schiariti, the chamber’s president. “By 2011, the shortage will be evident and it will be impossible to continue without importing beef,” added Hugo Biolcati, president of the Argentine Rural Society, which called on its 10,000 members – mostly large property owners involved in ranching and farm-ing – to join an anti-government protest in the capital Thursday night.

“You can’t work miracles so that more calves are born,” Bi-olcati added. “What is born, is born, and there won’t be more.”

Agriculture minister Julian Dominguez welcomed the rally after meeting briefl y with Biolcati and other farm leaders Wednesday, saying “it’s very good that they express them-selves.” - AP

War to peace – Obama accepts Nobel PrizeWASHINGTON, December 10 – US president Barack Obama, ac-cepting the Nobel Prize for Peace, has defended the right of the United States to wage “just wars” like the one in Afghanistan.

In a speech at the award cere-mony in Oslo, Obama declared he would not “stand idle” in the face of threats to the United States.

He raised the spectre of a new nuclear arms race, potentially in the Middle East or East Asia, and called for tough sanctions against nations that did not abide by in-ternational laws, a warning to Iran and North Korea.

Obama also acknowledged criticism that he does not de-serve the prize and has few

tangible gains to show from his nearly 11 months in offi ce, say-ing he was “at the beginning, and not the end, of my labours on the world stage.”

The president’s acceptance speech, punctuated with refer-ences to past winners of the peace prize, was notable for its domi-nant theme of war.

He was speaking just nine days after ordering 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan in a major expansion of the eight-year-old war. Obama hopes the additional troops will help to break the mo-mentum of a resurgent Taliban and buy time to train Afghan security forces to take over from the Americans.

He walked a rhetorical tight-rope in addressing the paradox of a president receiving the highest award for peace while waging two major foreign con-fl icts, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Perhaps the most profound issue surrounding my receipt of this prize is the fact that I am the commander-in-chief of a nation

in the midst of two wars,” he said. “There will be times when nations - acting individually or in concert; will fi nd the use of force not only necessary but morally justifi ed.”.

He added that the Afghani-stan war had been forced on the United States by the September 11, 2001, attacks. - Reuters

4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

climate change conference COPENHAGEN

PRIME minister Jim Marurai will be at what is said to be the most important conference of our time when he arrives in Denmark next week.

The UN Conference of the Parties (COP) on climate change opened on Monday in Copen-hagen and will conclude next Friday.

The Cook Islands delegation of negotiators co-led by director of treaties, Myra Moeka’a-Patai, and deputy director for nation-al environment service, Tania Temata, consist of Liz Koteka, Pasha Carruthers, Mii Matama-ki, Ulamila Kurai Wragg, and youth delegate Rikana Toroma.

Next Wednesday the high level segment of the COP will take place with 110 world lead-ers attending.

Prime minister Jim Marurai will deliver the statement for the Cook Islands in the high level segment.

Also attending will be min-ister of environment Ngamau Munokoa.

The prime minister’s state-

ment will reiterate the posi-tions that the Cook Islands ne-gotiators are negotiating for - a legally binding agreement be reached here in Copenhagen - and the agreement must ensure a reduction of green house gas emission.

The position taken by the Cook Islands refl ects that of oth-er island countries members of the negotiating bloc, AOSIS, or Alliance of Small Island States.

The conference is on two issues -- the climate change convention which the country ratifi ed in 1993 and the Kyoto Protocol which government ratifi ed in 2001.

“We may be a small island state and may be small in com-parison to big countries like Australia or the US, but it is crucial that we follow the nego-tiations and be aware of what is being discussed,” Moeka’a-Patai said.

“There are two ways where we stream our interests into this negotiation. We do that within the AOSIS and we can

also voice this as a party within discussions. It is important that we discuss positions within the bloc to make sure that we are all singing the same tune.”

Moeka’a-Patai says that an ex-ample of what the Cook Islands will keep track of is making sure that the word ‘poor’ will not be the only word used to define communities that need help to adapt to climate change or glo-bal warming.

“Water shortage, coastal ero-sion, sea surges, natural disas-ters such as cyclones are some impacts of global warming that is impacting us back home, but if the fi nal texts of these nego-tiations use the word ‘poor’ it will disqualify us. So we want to see the word ‘vulnerable’ used to describe those adapting to cli-mate change.”

- COP 15 government Ddelegation

PM to join negotiators at summit

Prime minister Jim Marurai fl ies into Denmark next week. 09020926

Cook Islander raises Pacifi c voice at talks

Local climate change campaigner David Ngatae voiced his concerns at Copenhagen this week. 09121002

A COOK Islander attending the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen is, in his own way, carrying the Pacifi c fl ag.

David Ngatae, coordinator of Cook Islands Climate Action Network (CICAN), has been tasked by CAN International to speak during the current nego-tiations.

Speaking at a plenary discus-sion on the convention’s long term cooperative action, Ngatae said that the “time is now up” and that “years of negotiations have led us to this defi ning mo-ment in the history of human-kind”.

“The world is holding its collective breath, as it waits in anticipation, for an agreement that will provide hope to future generations. Climate change has no borders or boundaries. There will be no hiding place for any of us if we allow business as usual to continue,” he told hundreds of delegates attending the ses-sion.

“Right here, right now is where you must take the criti-cal decisions that will deter-mine the future of humanity.

We cannot afford any further delay. Failure to come to agree-ment now will significantly increase human suffering and fi nancial costs in the future and also undermine our ability to keep global temperature rise to well below two degrees celcius.”

Ngatae says that global emis-sions must be reduced by at least 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

“We are expecting you to produce a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement. The deal must prevent harm to poor and vulnerable communities. Adaptation is a critical part of this deal, but it can only be ef-fective within a comprehensive deal,” he told negotiators.

“All nations have a role to play. The agreement should refl ect the historic and current contributions of developed countries to climate change and its harmful effects. Guided by principles of equity, this agree-ment can ensure that all nations move toward a safe and stable climate system.” - Ulamila Kurai Wragg, COP 15 government delegation

Cooks calls for binding agreement

Liz Koteka. 09050868

THE COOK Islands government has reiterated its call for a legal binding agreement out of cli-mate change negotiations un-derway in Denmark.

Speaking at a plenary session of the negotiation in Copenha-gen, Liz Koteka, negotiator and chief policy advisor in the Of-fi ce of the Prime Minister, said a legal binding agreement by all countries is critical for the survival of our islands.

Koteka was speaking yester-day in support of a proposal put forward by the government of Tuvalu calling for a legally bind-ing agreement.

The gist of the negotiations is to seal a legal and moral agree-ment that will obligate big countries to cut carbon emission

which is already concentrated in the atmosphere causing global warming and change in climate.

The Cook Islands, like other members of the Alliance of Small Island States, want to see the big industrialised countries take meaningful actions in their own countries to significantly reduce their emissions as well as cough up the fi nance to help vulnerable communities adapt to these climate changes.“As a small island developing state this is a critical issue for our survival and therefore we need a legally binding agree-ment out of Copenhagen that will ensure the significant re-duction of greenhouse emission and provide support in fi nanc-

ing and implementation of ad-aptation actions,” Koteka said. - Ulamila Kurai Wragg, COP 15 government delegation

FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 5

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AOSIS persists amid challenges

Chair of AOSIS ambassador Dessima Williams. 09121024

COPENHAGEN, December 10 - For years now, members of the Alliance of Small Island States have taken an active role in cli-mate change negotiations to no great avail.

And their pleas for action have been consistently ignored by developed nations at the Con-ference of the Parties (COP).

This is according to Saleemul Huq, senior fellow for the cli-mate change group of the Inter-national Institute for Environ-ment and Development (IIED).

“Taken together, there are a hundred countries, are a major-ity of UNFCCC, there are only a 192 countries in the whole proc-ess, a 100 makes them a major-

ity, but you wouldn’t think it. No one is listening to them here, alright,” Huq said.

“Within the G77 and China which they all belong, they are actually a super majority, but even within that group no one listens to them.

“Accordingly AOSIS has every right to be respected in the ne-gotiations and for their voice to be considered. If they organise themselves as a group speak with one voice, then that is a powerful voice, then that voice can no longer be ignored, and that is what they have to do here. They are getting better at it, AO-SIS is very good, increasingly AOSIS, Africa and least devel-

oped countries are working to-gether, coordinating positions, joining each other, supporting each other,” Huq said.

AOSIS which has a member-ship of 42 states and observers, drawn from all regions of the world make up a signifi cant part of the United Nations climate change negotiations.

Thirty-seven are members of the United Nations, close to 28 percent of developing countries, and 20 percent of the UN’s total membership.

Together, these communities constitute some fi ve percent of the global population. With these facts the chair of AOSIS ambassador Dessima Williams

says their voice is strong and will persist.

“Obviously we are not ex-hausted with the processes,” she said.

Williams is convinced that COP15 will bring about chang-es, and the united front of AO-SIS will ensure results from the conference.

“This is multilateral diplo-macy. By virtue of being that it is slow and tedious and complex, we understand that. What we do not accept is bad faith or not hearing our plea, our call, our existence, our experience.”

Asked if AOS I S has been at all discouraged by the slow process and continued delaying

tactics by developed countries she said, “Do not think we are discouraged. There is half of UN membership calling for ambi-tious and specifi c targets going into the ministerial level, we cannot be discouraged. In fact we are encouraged that we have been and continue to be on the right path in trying to raise the bar of performance of commit-ment of obligation and of clar-ity. It is hard work. We will be here every day and every night.”

Williams says the islands will not be deterred.

“AOSIS is fully engaged,” she said with a smile.

- Cherelle Jackson cClimate Pasifi ka

Yvo to Tuvalu: I hear youYvo de Boer.

COPENHAGEN, December 10 - Yvo de Boer, the executive sec-retary - of the United Nations Framework Convention on Cli-mate Change (UNFCCC) empa-thised with the stance of Tuvalu.

De Boer said he understood the position of the small island country and Tuvalu’s demand for legally binding agreements.

“We have received in time fi ve proposals for new legal instru-ments under the convention.

“Nobody knows what the out-come of this conference is going to be, we have heard people talk about political agreements, peo-

ple are in favour of legally bind-ing treaties.

“What Tuvalu wants to be sure of, is that their proposal doesn’t fall off the table.

De Boer said it is within the interest of small island countries and all partners to the negotia-tions to ensure the Kyoto Protocol remains.

“I think the Kyoto Protocol will survive and must survive for a number of reasons.”

Asked about the possibilities of a new legally binding agreement coming out of Copenhagen the UN said it may inevitably delay

action by negotiating partners. “Generally it takes a lot of time

for a new legal agreement to come into force. The Kyoto Protocol took eight years. If there is a new legal agreement, you can’t guar-antee how quickly it will enter into force, it will provide gab to any action.”

He says that Kyoto Protocol does not provide for market-based mechanisms and it will only function after a new treaty is in force.

“We don’t want to see that stopping because of the Kyoto Protocol,” he said

According to him stopping now will not do the cause any good.

“Many developing countries have pointed out that the Kyoto Protocol is the only legally bind-ing agreement that we have to act on climate change.

“There is no good reason to abandon it.”

De Boer says the only improve-ment will come in a form of a new process that engages the United States of America and broader par-ticipation of developed countries.

- Cherelle Jackson, cClimate Pasifi ka

09121021

6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

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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

Old boys club mentality still existsDear Editor,The DPM has made his rec-

ommendation and Cabinet has rubber stamped it so Makiuti Tongia will be our next high commissioner to Wellington.

No disrespect to Makiuti and good luck for him. But surely, Makiuti had very little or no

chance whatsoever of getting a HoM job here.

This very senior appointment shows that we have not moved on as a country and the DPM and his merry men are still liv-ing in the old days.

In fact, the political biasness in this appointment shows that we have gone backwards as a

country and still carrying out corrupt practices which favour nepotism and cronyism over merit and performance.

When will the DP M ever learn and give up this so called “old boys club mentality”.

There is a big difference from managing our ministry of cul-tural development and being a

high ranking and senior diplo-mat in Wellington. We all know it’s a pay off for being president of the Democratic Party. Surely there is somewhere else where he can be employed. Our prison is looking for more alert war-dens, so why not try there as deputy to the Superintendent? Our education ministry needs

a cultural advisor…and so on.Regionally and internation-

ally we are becoming a laughing stock for the Pacifi c.

We hope John Key and his more intelligent cabinet reviews this appointment carefully and gets things right.

Justice for all (Name and address supplied)

Why have a policy unit?Dear Editor,Can someone explain why

government requires a policy and planning unit?

How has such a unit ben-efi tted this country in terms of improving overall service deliv-ery in the public sector?

Set up at the Prime Minis-ter’s Office a few years back, this unit promised a great deal when it got off the ground.

Unfortunately, however, like most public sector driven initia-tives the unit has failed to de-liver on anything tangible.

I n f a c t i n r e c e n t t i m e s things seemed to have gotten much worse. The roads are still riddled with thousands of pot holes, households are still expe-riencing on-going water short-

ages, the hospitals and schools are still of a third world stand-ard, the inter-island transport system is still appalling, the liq-uid and solid waste disposal systems on Rarotonga are still in dire need of improvement and the people of this country still continue to leave our shores in alarming numbers.

So nobody can tell me that the unit has helped in any way to solve these on-going nation-al problems.

Even the highly publicised na-tional sustainable development plan which the unit was directly responsible for has not resulted in any benefi ts whatsoever to the country.

Costing a small fortune to put together and publish, it is a doc-

ument that is largely ignored by both politicians and public servants alike and not worth the paper it is written on.

And now we hear that the unit will soon be working on the next NSDP. What for? Again, a waste of time and taxpayers money.

If anything, the only obvious benefactors of the policy and planning unit has been those who work at there.

Paid ridiculously high sala-ries, these offi cials seem to spend most of their time plotting their globe-trotting adven-tures, staying in fancy 5-star hotels and clocking up huge air points while attending end-less meetings, conferences and cocktails.

If someone did the figures, the head of the unit would have probably travelled to more destinations and gained more airpoints mileage this year alone than an average fam-ily would do in a lifetime!

The time has come for this unit to be disbanded and staff made redundant so that they can get real jobs.

Costing us taxpayers a whop-ping $300,000 per year annual-ly, the unit is simply another un-necessary layer of bureaucratic nonsense that is not just of very little value to anyone but in fact an added fi nancial drain which this country can most certainly do without.

Mou Piri fan( Name and address supplied)

THUNDERSTORMS, YES PLEASE!NORMALLY a weather forecast like the following issued by the Met Offi ce yesterday afternoon would make most people sad, but not these days…”“For Rarotonga: Cloudy periods with some showers and a few thunderstorms. Further outlook: Occasional showers.” Great! The hardworking Water Works team would have been ecstatic about yesterday’s good downpour – like an early Christmas present from Heaven – as they always seem to cop a lot of fl ak from all quarters when there’s a drought, as if it’s their doing.

HOSING WHILE RARO BURNSTHE following two smokies were sent in prior to yesterday’s very welcome rain and are still relevant given that this couple of days of rainfall might be the only decent drop we get until the New Year, so water conservation is still a priority. While some people are trying their best to conserve water, one villager drives down the road on Monday and sees the local meeting house veranda be-ing hosed, another resident water blasting outside his house and

another watering her garden – all around midday when the sun is at its hottest! Another signaller writes: “I’ve just been on a walk along the back road and note that the Member of Parliament who has just planted a garden opposite the Apostolic Church has installed new pipe to irrigation and it’s leaking at the road, with rocks trying to cover seeping water. Also, Tupapa is a mass of smoke and fi re: when most lawns are a shade of brown, surely the people responsible for inspection (tutaka) should deter lighting of fi res and concentrate on the main issue.

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.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 7

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Youth event organised for COP15

Aitutaki student Rikana Toroma (far left) and NZ-based Cook Islander Luana Bosanquet-Heays (far right) joined other youth at a climate change conference side event. Toroma -- the person whose name was left off yesterday’s front page photo of Cook Islanders in Copenhagen – was chosen to travel with the Cook Islands delegation after she won this year’s national environment speech competition. 09121025

COPENHAGEN, December 10 - The intergenerational inquiry on climate solutions between negotiators and youth led to both sides wanting a legally binding agreement from COP 15.

Despite reservations on some issues, both parties at the side event organised by UNFCCC hoped that good sense will pre-vail.

Yvo de Boer, the executive sec-retary to the UNFCCC said 110

heads of states will be coming to the COP15 ‘because they see the growing public response to the need for an agreement’.“The response to climate change will be a refl ection of what world leaders think they need in order to satisfy you, the youth so that further in years, they will get chosen again,” he said. India’s Ruchi Jane received a standing ovation after giving an account of how India is suffering from climate change extremities.

Rikana Toroma from the Cook Islands, here in Copenha-gen as part of Project Survival Youth believes focus should move from the bigger countries to smaller ones.

Small island nations are at the forefront of the real impacts of climate change.

While on one hand youths are protesting to get a legal agree-ment, Ilisia Montalvo Santa Maria believes youth should become more responsible fi rst

by changing their behaviour. “They push for negotiators to make a deal yet their behaviour states otherwise.

They must change their eat-ing habits, and also be prepared to get accustomed to living an uncomfortable life,” added San-ta Maria, the director general of the Spanish Climate Change office at the Ministry of Envi-ronment.

- Rachna Lal, cClimate Pasifi ka

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fi cus trees which can be found all around Rarotonga including at the Punanga Nui market and in front of the National Audi-torium.

The fear is that the pest could adapt to feeding off other plants including ornamental pot plants and food crops such as citrus.

The thrips feeds on the young tender leaves of the ficus tree causing it to curl and become the ideal breeding ground for the pest.

There are also concerns that the new pest may spread to the outer islands.

Entomologist Maja Poeschko was to meet with Air Rarotonga to get support from the airline in making sure their crafts are sprayed to kill any bugs inside their planes.

Poeschko adds that garden-ers could trim the young leaves off fi cus trees and ornamental plants to prevent it becoming a breeding ground for the thrips pest.

Motorists driving scoot-

ers and people wearing bright clothes have also reported being hassled by the thrips and even stung in the eye by the little critters.

Quarantine offi cer Pavai Ta-ramai says that people don’t need to smuggle plants into the country.

He says that if people plan ahead, they can get their plants treated and issued a permit to allow them to bring their plants into the country.

The process ensures that no living organisms are on the plants before they are brought to Rarotonga.

However there is a complete ban on the importing of plant and plant products from Tahiti and Hawaii where Taramai says that the department suspects a number of recent invasive pests have come from.

Tavai says that under the ministry’s new bio-security act, they can prosecute people who’ve smuggled plants into the country – even months af-ter they’ve illegally brought the

Esther Honey gets new director

Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic’s new clinic director Greg Young pictured here with one of the animals in the care of the Nikao clinic. 09121003

ANIMAL lover Greg Young is keen to improve the welfare of the island’s animals.

Young has this week taken up the role of clinic director at the Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic in Nikao.

He takes over from former

clinic director Karen Galvan and interim clinic director Max Mack.

Young spent his fi rst week on the job getting his head around the various animal welfare ac-tivities carried out by the islands only animal clinic.

Greg says his main responsi-bilities will be the day-to-day running of the animal clinic and developing community activi-ties to promote animal care and welfare.

This will also include the con-tinuation of the spay and neuter programme.

Young was in Rarotonga last year when he volunteered his

services with the clinic.During his six week stint, he

spent most of his time doing office work and looking after injured and sick animals.

He says he would have loved to stay on last year but he was travelling around the globe at the time.

Greg is not a vet but is a huge animal lover and has spent most of his 26 years giving anything a go from doing carpentry work to running a voluntary café and even working in a McDonald’s branch.

The ‘jack of all trades’ says that when he first hopped off the plane last year, he instantly

fell in love with the island and its people.

Now back on the island on a two year contract, Young looks forward to working with the lo-cal community.

He urges members of the public to keep up the good work in looking after household pets and that the clinic’s services are always available at no cost.

However the clinic is always in need of animal food, clean rags and most importantly, vol-unteers.

Pop on down to the clinic and meet Greg and his team and make sure your family pet is healthy and fl ea free. - MW

plants across the border.“We can prosecute these

people under the bio-security act and remove the plants from their gardens for evidence.”

Tavai suggests that gardeners call the department for advice on the regulations and proto-cols of bringing plants into the country.

Meanwhile, the quarantine department and officers urge people heading overseas for the festive season to do the right thing for the sake of the natural fl ora and fauna of the country.

They are warning those who are thinking of smuggling plants into the country that a hefty fi ne awaits you. - MW

localNEWS nuti no roto i te IPUKAREA

Quarantine tighten up after thrip discovery

The quarantine department of the ministry of agriculture will be tightening up their border control processes after confi rming the presence of a new pest – the Cuban laurel thrip – this week. 09121026

THE DISCOVERY of the Cuban laurel thrips pest has prompted the quarantine department of the ministry of agriculture to tighten up their border control processes.

It is believed the new pest was

brought into the country on smuggled plants with concerns that the pest may spread to the outer islands.

The 3mm critter causes ex-tensive damage to plants, es-pecially the common and large

FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 9

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Tasleem Hasan, water service coordinator from the Pacifi c Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) is training locals including water works’ hydrology technician Wilson Rani to carry out water testing processes using new equipment and machines. 09121022

USP senior technician Arun Lata Pande shows where the water sample fi lters are kept in an incubator as part of the process to detect the kind of bacteria contained in water from the island’s intakes. 09121023

Welcome reliefRAIN came as welcome relief yesterday as the downpour fi-nally broke the island’s dry spell.

According to the meteoro-logical service, the rain is asso-ciated with a cloud band which was situated north of Rarotonga over the last three days.

“It has moved slowly south over Aitutaki and Ngaputoru over the last couple of days and is now currently over Raroton-ga,” said operations manager

Maara Vaiimene.Yesterday, 7.8 millimetres of

rain fell between the hours of 8am and 2pm.

Showers are expected to con-tinue today and then ease to-morrow.

The meteorological service says the island has been under a dry spell for a couple of months with a similar downpour dating back to just after the Pacifi c Mini Games in October. - DK

A NEW water testing laboratory has been set up so governm-ent agencies can work togeth-er to collect fresh data on the quality and safety of the water supply.

Training for local agency staff has been carried out this week by Tasleem Hasan, water serv-ice coordinator from the Pacifi c Islands Applied Geoscience Commission and USP senior technician Arun Lata Pande.

About $40,000 worth of wa-ter testing equipment has been provided by the NZAID funded three year water quality moni-tory project.

Hasan says SOPAC, the World Health Organization, and the University of the South Pacifi c’s Institute of Applied Sciences are partners to the project which is being piloted in Niue, Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands as well.

Contamination of drinking water is a signifi cant concern for public health throughout the world and the Pacifi c region is no different.

Hasan says the project is pro-viding capacity building in wa-ter quality testing so the Cook Islands and other pilot countries can obtain information on the safety of their drinking water.

Water works hydrology tech-nician Wilson Rani says his min-istry, along with representatives of the national environment service and public health, will join forces to test water on the island – from the water intakes to water from the mains supply – at least once a month. - HG

Water quality testing for local agencies

10 FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Assemblies of God Churches

Avarua Assembly of God Church. (Takuvaine Valley Road)Sunday Service Programme for this week- Pastoral team - Poko Matapo, Grace Daniel, Mann Tuarae. Phone 24668 for enquiries. Main service at 10.30am every Sunday.

Titikaveka Lighthouse Community Church.On back road behind CICC Church. Main Service at 10.30am every Sunday.

Pastor Tevai Matapo.

Ngatangiia Assembly of God Church.Inland from main road opposite Turangi Traders Store.Fellowship service 6.30pm Wednesdays. Youth service 7pm Fridays.Pastor Metuatini Tangaroa.

Arorangi Assembly of God Church.Service at 10.30am every Sunday.Pastor Beres Rasmussen. Phne 58223.

Apostolic Church Weekly ProgrammeSunday to Friday, 13 December - 18 December

All services cater for both Maori and English speaking breth-ren. Contact: Pastor Pere on email: tpere@oyster.net.ck

JESUS IS TRUE GOD

Rarotonga Apostolic ChurchPastor Tutai Pere - 23778/55177

Dial-A-Prayer 26777

Church Services on Sundays at 10am and 7pmRadio and Television Ministry at 11am and 4.30pm. Mid-week services on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.

Aitutaki Apostolic Church - Pastor Noo Mataiti - 31269. Atiu Apostolic Church - Pastor Nikau Tangaroa - 33778. Mangaia Apostolic Church - Pastor Ngametua Papatua - 34065.

WE PREACH GOD IN JESUS AND JESUS IN GOD

Focus JESUS 2009Karo tika kia IESU 2009

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify

of Me (Jesus)”.“Ka kimi marie I te au tuatua I tataia ra; no te mea, te manako ra kotou ka rauka te ora mutukore I reira; na ratou ra oki e akakite

ia Iaku (Iesu)” - John/Ioane 5:39

Avarua Church

AvaruaReverend Tuaine

Ngametua

NikaoReverend Tere-

ora Tereora

ArorangiReverend Lelei

Patia

TitikavekaReverend Nga-tokorua Patia

NgatangiiaReverend Tutai

Nooana

MataveraReverend Ina

Moetaua

Daily Scripture Joel 2:28-32Wednesday & Friday 5.30am Morning Service: AvaruaWednesday & Friday 5am Morning Service: ArorangiWednesday & Friday 6am Morning Service: NikaoWednesday & Friday 6am Morning Service: Matavera, Ngatangiia and Titikaveka

COOK ISLANDSCHRISTIAN CHURCH

Main Sunday Service at 10am at all CICC churches. Visitors very welcome to join in worship.

YESTERDAY the people of Mani-hiki celebrated 100 years of the Catholic faith on the island and the opening of the newly rebuilt

St Anne’s church in Tukao. Bishop Stuart O’Connell was

there to open the new church that took two years to build.

The Manihiki Catholic com-munity spent 10 years fund-raising to build the new church after the original church sus-tained serious damage during cyclone Martin in 1997.

The centenary celebrations were also attended to by the Catholic community of Raka-hanga.

A memorial plaque for the late Father Marino Kruitwagen was unveiled at the celebrations.

Father Marino spent 29 years in Manihiki – arriving in No-vember of 1951 and retiring to live in Arorangi in 1990. He passed away on October 24 1996 and was buried in Manihiki.

Father Marino was much loved by the Manihiki people says Bishop O’Connell, and was well-known as a handyman.

The memorial plaque was un-veiled on his unmarked grave in Tukao.

Bishop O’Connell shared some history of early years of the mission when he opened the new church.

It was in 1908 when Father Joachin Kerdal fi rst visited Mani-hiki to inves-t i g a t e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a mission post there.

T h e f o l -lowing year he and Father Theophilo Bizien went there to start the mission which was to cover the entire northern group.

The set up of the mission fol-lowed on from the Cook Island’s resident commissioner’s recom-

mendation in 1884 that because there was no formal education on any of the islands that the Catholic missionaries be asked to start schools here.

It was May 31 1909 when Father Joachin and Father The-ophilo arrived on the schooner Alice with a Catholic family

from Raro -tonga – Leo-ne and Ber-nadette Peni – to settle in Tukao to be-

gin the mission.Local resident Philip Woon-

ton had placed his house in Tu-kao at the church’s disposal and the Fathers soon transformed it into their housing, a chapel and a school.

On June 14 1909 they cel-

ebrated mass for the fi rst time with the curious Tukao people gathering around to watch.

On October 10 1909 Father Joachin wrote; “Last Sunday I had my first baptism here. It was a three-year-old girl and I named her Anne after our par-ish.”

He went on to note that by the end of that month he expected that 20-30 people would be baptised as the Fathers already had almost 10 people due to be baptised within the following two weeks.

A hundred years later the Catholic community in Mani-hiki has chosen to mark the centenary with the opening of the new St Anne’s church, fi rst established during the early years of the mission. - HG

churchTALK te AKONOANGA

‘Turama’ comes from MaccabeesDear Editor,Could Bishop O’Connell

please enlighten us as to what scriptural basis celebrating ‘turama’ has.

I might be mistaken but I can’t fi nd any verse that permits the teaching or observance of ‘praying for the dead’ in the Bi-ble. Perhaps I have a different Bible version than the bishop.

Also I wonder what the re-ligious advisory council think about this issue. Do they all agree or silently agree to disa-gree?

One more question: if the Bible doesn’t tell us to do this then why do we as a Christian nation promote, teach and do it at all? I wonder what God thinks about it.

Curious Pilgrim (Name and address supplied)

Bishop O’Connell responds—Turama is a Catholic devo-

tional service which is observed in many parts of the Catho-lic world. It has always been a Catholic custom to pray for the dead. This practice is part of a long tradition based on II Mac-cabees 12:46 which says, “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins”. (The two Books of Maccabees are not included in the King James edi-tion of the Bible.)

In the universal Catholic cal-endar, the second of November is observed as “All Souls Day”. On this day, Catholics remember their dead relatives, friends, etc. and pray for them. The custom in many parts of the Catholic Church is to gather at the graves on the eve prior to All Souls Day and offer prayers. Then a can-dle is lit and left to burn on the

grave (hence our word Turama). Blessed water is also used to sprinkle the graves.

This practice has great appeal in our Islands as people use the occasion of All Souls Day to spruce up their family graves and adorn them with flowers

and lights. They also pray for their beloved dead with a short prayer service. Many families use the occasion to tell the younger members of the fam-ily about their forbears.

Stuart O’Connell Catholic Bishop

Manihiki celebrates Catholic centenary

Bishop O’Connell shared some of the history of early years of the mission when he opened the new church.

The meaning of Christmas

Bishop Stuart O’Connell. 08112501

AT CHRISTMAS, we remember and celebrate the most important event in human history – God himself coming among us in the person of Jesus Christ. It was an event that has changed the world.

This event can only be appreciated through the eyes of faith. If it were not for the perspective of faith, the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem would have gone unnoticed.

Born in obscurity in a small town near Jerusalem, who would have known, but Mary, Joseph, their rela-tives and a few shepherds.

But even then others took notice. Herod feared a rival and sought any-one who would threaten his position. Wise men came from the east, with talk of a King being born – Jewish learned men told them that the Scriptures pointed to Bethlehem as the birthplace of a king who would restore the throne of David. That is where, led by a star, they found him.

Herod took brutal measures, to rid himself of rivals, however young. We look back on that event through the eyes of faith and see that the child of Bethlehem was no ordinary child.

He was, in the words of Isaiah the Prophet “Emmanuel”, that is – God with us. God sent His only Son into the world for its salvation. The clear impli-cation of the Incarnation is hope. That God’s Son took on human fl esh means that God loves the human race and has a divine plan for us. He wants us to live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today, the church seems on the back foot in many ways. The world moves rapidly ahead, throwing aside Chris-tian teachings about marriage, family life, human sexuality, even the sanctity of human life at its beginning and end.

The world also careers along the path of economic affl uence for those who can work the system, with token regard for those who can’t keep up.

There are signs of decay in a world

that ignores God – youth suicide, un-happy children, child abuse, drugs, prostitution and violence.

Christians advocate a different mes-sage, but are often ridiculed and swept aside. This is where we need to remem-ber that God came into the world to save it, that Jesus Christ has done so by his death and resurrection. Buoyed by hope, therefore, we must continue to uphold the truth given to us, as it is the only real hope for the future of the world. Christian men and women have the mission of infl uencing the world for good, personally by the lives they live, and collectively by the effect they can have on policies, public life, com-mercial life and the media.

Let’s celebrate Christmas as the com-ing of Jesus Christ who is the hope and salvation of the world and follow his teaching. A blessed and holy Christmas to you all.

Stuart O’ConnellCatholic Mission

FRIDAY, 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/Oire 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

PUBLIC NOTICES

PORTS AUTHORITY

For Sale By Tender “As is Where is”1 x PONTOON MOUNTED DRAGFLOW HY85B • HIGH-PREASURE SPRAY RING• Sykes hydraulic power pack powered by a water-

cooled Cummins 6CTA engine complete with reservoir pump and hoses. Diesel engine running at 1800 RPM, mounted on a 24-hour fuel tank skid base.

• Sykes HH80 Pressure pump• A-frame winch powered off engine battery• Control station fi lled with electric winch, on/off ,

bypass return for access pressure complete with pressure gauges, both pump controls start/stop.

• 9 x 12m HDPE Pipe (250 ID pipe with fl anges and backing rings.

Plus: 32 x barrels for fl oats• Pipe work to suit from pump set to discharge.• Hydraulic variable speed drive• Engine radiator protection• Cyclone separator

Submit tenders to: General Manager, Port Authority by courier or deposit into tender box at Ports Authority Offi ce, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Mark as TENDER. Tender closes 4pm on Friday 11 December 2009.Please direct all enquiries to General Manager, Ports Authority. Phone: +682 21920; Fax: +682 21191 Email: bim.tou@ports.co.ck

41566 / /1694

TENDERS

TENDERS ARE INVITEDapproximately 42 year lease on a vacant section (1768m2). Located Arutanga, Aitutaki.KAIONU PART SEC 208,ARUTANGA, AITUTAKISurvey plan L264 (1768m2).Send written tenders in a sealed envelope to:

TENDERSPO BOX RAROTONGA.

or hand deliver to CIs Realty. Tenders close 4.30pm, 5 Jan 2010. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

For further details phone Brent 23358/55154

"Cook Islands Realty LTD" www.rarotonga-property.cominfo@rarotonga-property.com

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

SERVICES

Te Putiare Tailoring Ltd

Any tailoring and upholstery needs ring us on 22156 or 55542.(Team uniforms, trousers, etc)

39342 / /2233

FOR SALE PUBLIC NOTICES“Rarotonga Golf Club (RGC) Incorporate Annual General Meeting (AGM). Notice to all Full Playing Golf Club Members. The RGC AGM will be held at the Club House 12.30 noon Saturday 12th De-cember 2009. Agenda 1. Quorum members 2. Opening Pure3. Apologies4. AGM 2008 Minute - accept/

adopt5. Receiving of Committees Re-

ports: - President’s Report - Finance Report - Auditor’s Report6. Election of Offi cers and Com-

mittees of the Club7. Resolutions: - Subscriptions - Alter Rule 14 (b) ...fi nancial

period...via Rule 34 8. General Business9. Closing PureClub Secretary.41608 / /1892

PUBLIC NOTICESPorts Authority 1994-95;

Harbour DuesProposed By-Laws imposing new price schedules for har-bour dues and other charges made by the Ports Authority in Rarotonga and Aitutaki have been printed and a copy of the proposed By-Laws is open to public inspection during offi ce hours at the offi ce of the Board of the Ports Authority, Avatiu Wharf, Rarotonga and the Ports Authority offi ces at Arutanga. Any queries or comments on the proposed By-laws should be addressed in writing to the General Manager of the Ports Authority, Bim Tou, and deliv-ered personally to the offi ces of the Ports Authority at the Avatiu Wharf or to the Ports Authority offi ces at Arutanga.41487 /8805 /1694

Hospital Comforts Xmas Carols

Hospital Comforts committee invite you to join us for xmas carols 2009 up at the Raro-tonga Hospital on Tuesday 15th December @ 5pm. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!41849 / /2165

Upwind will be closed for business from December 15th until January 11th.41822 /9130 /1946

PUBLIC NOTICESMariti Community are holding their annual Housie Chicken run on Saturday 12 December 2009At the Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Arorangi from 1pm.Great prizes and heaps of chick-en.41681 / /2231

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 3pm.41663 / /1823

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

NZ Qualifi ed builder with reliable and capable gang of workers ,available for all your construction requirement Ph 73824.41778 /9103 /1931

Washing machine repairAll brands - industrial, domes-tic, gearbox recondition, best service. Ph 56243.41740 /9080 /2140

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

Cheap lawnmowing services for this weekend. Ph 21096 or text 58349.41852 /9051 /1931

The Salon, Tupapa.December special:

Colour, cut & blow dry from $98. Bookings essential. Christmas gift ideas in store. Ph 22811.41701 /9032 /2451

Nane Brown available for colours & cuts @$65.00 Ph 22593/58644.41814 /9133 /1931

Backpain? Neck or shoul-der problems? Stress? Sports preparation & treatments. Also Massage @ the Market on Sat-urday. Weekend appointments available. Experienced quali-fi ed practitioner. Phone Janice on 28833 or 56476.41826 / /2367

BUSINESSES FOR SALE

NZ$125,000, includes all chat-tels, equipment, artwork, furni-ture, recipes and inventory. For further information, call Bruce @ 26480 after 10am.41758 / /1805

FOR RENT2 brm home with ensuite, with a self contained unit as 3rd bedroom/ensuite, on a large section, in a secluded location in Nikao, close to town and minutes 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

Fully furnished 2 Bedroom House Tupapa, Long term pre-ferred. Ph:51615, 24424 or 58778.41829 /0 /1931

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

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

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.

hrist-in

WHEN: Monday 14th DecemberWHERE: National AuditoriumTIME: Opens at 4:30pm

THEME: "White C hristmas"

For more information contact CHRISTIAN MANI on 54054. ROTARACT

New Jazz Deck ChairsSturdy & Durable

Lounge Chairs - $400 each Tables - $150 each

Set 2 chairs & one Table - $850

Call or see Jim Bruce Aro’a Beachside Inn, Call

22166.41286 / /1997

• Phone 22999 • adverts@cookislandsnews.com

Classsifi eds

in a

HURRY

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

12 FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

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

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

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: 5174441755 / /1762

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

FOR SALEGazebo - with Brustics Thatch roof designed to last 20 years plus. Excess to need. Perfect for beach or motel/hotel, home garden or yard. Simple to in-stall and ready to go. $4500, ph 25544 or 51111.41715 / /1931

FOR SALEJust arrived, Parrot Fillet Fish For Sale.Contact phone 20560 or 54465.41823 /9145 /1762

Pre Cooked Xmas Ham $85iPhone 3G, 16GB $1200Seagate 500GB Hard Drive $250Western Digital 1TB Hard Drive $350Western Digital 500GB Plug n Play HD $350Brand New Acer notebook $100019L Drink Igloo $100Large 142Ltr Chilly Bin $3508 Seat BBQ tables $400Dickies Clothing from $35Kids 20inch bicycles $250Ladies cruiser bicycles $350Deposits welcomed for a Craftsman 20HP Ride on Mow-er $4700, Large 8ft ex Military trailer $2900 and LG 50inch Plasma Television $4000These products can be viewed in Arorangi, located next to Manuia Beach. Ph: 21-390 or 51-025.41672 / /2444

Car 1992 Nissan Sentra 4 door hatch 5 speed manual no rust rego & warranted 164 thousand km $4000 or nearest off er.41813 /9129 /1931

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

FOR SALETyphoon 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

Shelter Station 2 Car GarageWas $2620Special clearance $2100(Assembly not included)Available at Vonnias Warehouse.41692 /9104 /1893

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

Ice cream display Freezer, curved glass, excellent cond. Worth $2500. Make an off er phone 58046.41857 /9146 /1931

Taro pai 4 sale, full bag $100.Ph 50166.41761 /9093 /1931

Great Christmas present P.S.P with 10 games $1100.Assorted timber $200, the lot. Phone 21390.41858 /8992 /1931

Washing machine for sale:Hoover 7.5kg immaculate con-dition $750.Ph 56243.41741 /9081 /2140

VEHICLES FOR SALENissan Serena van 8 seater good condition.As is, $6,500. Ph 22382.41848 / /1928

Urgent sale94 Toyota Hatchback, auto, tidy cond $3000. Ph 24878.41723 /9047 /1931

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

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

2004 Daihatsu Hijet Van - Sturdy and reliable work horse. Cheap to run and will keep going. Very good working or-der and new wof, $10,000, ph 25544 or 51111.41714 / /1931

1998 Subaru Foresta 2L, mags 16’s, excellent condition $12,000 plus 1 free bike, Suzuki GN125 ono. Mob 74819.41859 /8946 /1931

96 Honda Civic, good runner $5,995 ono. Ph or call in to Pick-ering Motors, Tutakimoa to view for further details.41841 /8813 /1931

GARAGE SALEMonster Garage Sale

Will be held at General Trans-port on Saturday 12 December, at 8am and onwards. House-hold, 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 BUYOld and unwanted jewellery and scrap gold for cash.9ct 14ct 18ctTop $ paid Phone 54436.41621 / /1969

WANTED TO RENT

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

MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING MOIPThe Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning would like to advise the public that its offi ces and the following services will be closed or aff ected during the festive season as follows:1. Arorangi and Avarua offi ces and all MOIP services will

be closed on Friday 25th and Monday 28th December 2009 and also Friday 1st and Monday 4th January 2010. Both offi ces will open with skeleton staff between the 29th to 31st of December 2009. Normal work will resume during non-public holiday and other work days between 24th December 2009 and on the 5th January 2010.

2. Road Works Division – Road Excavations ceases as of Wednesday 16th December 2009 and will resume Tuesday 5th January 2010. For urgent enquiries please contact Pare Rongokea Jnr 53059 or Tangiau Tepai 27735.

3. Water Works Division – New Water Connection installation will cease as of Wednesday 23th December 2009 and resume on Wednesday 06th January 2010 but applications for new water connections will continue throughout the holiday periods. For urgent enquiries please contact Adrian Teotahi 50030, Nooroa Tetava 54097, or Tangi Ngatokorua 54017 or Paul Maoate 56-363.

4. Waste Management Division - The Landfi ll site in Arorangi will be closed on Friday 25th December 2009 and Friday 1st January 2010. There will be no domestic rubbish and recyclable collection of rubbish and recyclables around the island will cease on Friday 25th December 2009 and Friday 1st January 2010. Other days during the festive season will not be aff ected and the above services will continue as normal. For urgent disposals and further enquiries please contact Siona Paku on 55745 or 27530.

Most divisions and services will be manned by skeleton staff during the festive season.The Minister, Secretary and all staff s of MOIP would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe Festive Season. Merry Xmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

41827 / /2009

PUBLIC NOTICES

Kitchen HandDuties - general kitchen cleaning, dish and pot washing. Fantastic hourly rates for willing worker.Tel Aquarius 21043 for Interview.

41844 / /2196

SITUATIONS VACANT

Reservations 22161.

Waterline

With

Tani & RoseTON ITETON ITE

L IVEL IVE ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

One of Rarotonga’s top music duos.Don’t miss it!

ENTERTAINMENT

Puaikura Neighborhood Watch Executive Committees wish to thank:-Puaikura Neighborhood Watch Executive Committees wish to thank:-1. Past supporting members.1. Past supporting members.2. Internal Affairs for one lump sum support.2. Internal Affairs for one lump sum support.3. Our Puaikura Members of Parliament Constituency fund support.3. Our Puaikura Members of Parliament Constituency fund support.4. Current supporting members - Aroa Beachside Inn, Arorangi Timberland, Big Boy/Rite Price, 4. Current supporting members - Aroa Beachside Inn, Arorangi Timberland, Big Boy/Rite Price, Budget, Dive Rarotonga, Edgewater Resort, Friendly Mart, Heritage Holdings, Kikau Hut, Budget, Dive Rarotonga, Edgewater Resort, Friendly Mart, Heritage Holdings, Kikau Hut, O.T.C.Ltd, Puaikura Reef Lodges, Polynesian Bike Hire, P.T.S. Plumbing, Raina Beach O.T.C.Ltd, Puaikura Reef Lodges, Polynesian Bike Hire, P.T.S. Plumbing, Raina Beach Apartments, R.N.Store, Rarotongan Sunset (donation), Snowbird Laundry, The Dive Centre, The Apartments, R.N.Store, Rarotongan Sunset (donation), Snowbird Laundry, The Dive Centre, The Cook’s Oasis, Wholesale Vehicles. Cook’s Oasis, Wholesale Vehicles.5. New Potential Customers - Sivanis Food House, Phab Phamacy, Roadhouse bar & Grill, Carworx, 5. New Potential Customers - Sivanis Food House, Phab Phamacy, Roadhouse bar & Grill, Carworx, 6. New Potential Offers to support - Magic Reef, Kia Orana Hair Salon, Tumeke Movies.6. New Potential Offers to support - Magic Reef, Kia Orana Hair Salon, Tumeke Movies.Thanking you all for your heart to support. We are not the Police to arrest, Security to secure but Thanking you all for your heart to support. We are not the Police to arrest, Security to secure but eyes, ears, hands and feet only to patrol, watch, check out and report. Just doing our little bit as eyes, ears, hands and feet only to patrol, watch, check out and report. Just doing our little bit as a deterrent factor - for a Safer, Peaceful, Crime-free and Harmonious Vaka Puaikura. 2009 is fast a deterrent factor - for a Safer, Peaceful, Crime-free and Harmonious Vaka Puaikura. 2009 is fast passing, 2010 fast approaching - A big Thank You Maata, Peace and Goodwill throughout the entire passing, 2010 fast approaching - A big Thank You Maata, Peace and Goodwill throughout the entire festive season. Keep rolling those funding support in to help extend our service.festive season. Keep rolling those funding support in to help extend our service.Chairman: Bishop Tutai PereChairman: Bishop Tutai PereTreasurers: Judy and Barry WarnersTreasurers: Judy and Barry WarnersWardens: Pierre Makikiriti, Michael Jonassen and Mapo Matapo.Wardens: Pierre Makikiriti, Michael Jonassen and Mapo Matapo.Core Committee: Pai Chambers, Doreen Boggs, Mii Makikiriti.Core Committee: Pai Chambers, Doreen Boggs, Mii Makikiriti.Local Police: Officer Alan Rua.Local Police: Officer Alan Rua.

Meitaki ma’ata! After nearly two years, we are reluctantly leaving this amazing country soon. A big thank you

to the community of Rarotonga, and especially the following people:• The best neighbours in the world and their families: Rongo & Ray Preston, Lisa Iro, Blondie Short, Auntie Te’ei, John & Deb, Teava Iro (and everyone at the noni factory)• The CICC church of Titikaveka• All the wonderful vaine of Ngakau Toa Vaka club• The Rarotonga Volunteer Library Society, especially Tamara• Karl Numanga• Ngaione Brothers for the impromptu language lessons!• Everyone on Palmerston Island• Colin & Jan-Marie Mills for inviting us here in the fi rst place• John & Liz Woods• Noel Bartley• Finally, love and thanks to our precious friends: Marina, Nancy, Debbie, Melina, Tere & Yvonne, Tuakeu & Inangaro, Tokarahi & Dom, the Miles family; and to Claudia’s playmates: Naomi, Natalia, Mere, Iokopeta, Geneva, Lucy & Shekinah. Special thanks to Pittman and Tipani Vaipapa who were like family to us.

We will miss you all!Meitaki ma’ata,

Sandra & Claudia Paterson.

BIRTHDAY

APPRECIATIONS

APPRECIATION

We Mr & Mrs Apii Vakai would like to

acknowledge the following people who made our wedding day possible, Bishop Stuart O’Connell, father Loni

Christian brothers& sis-ters, the Catechists,music

Ministry ,Miss Anna Rauru and all your

helpers for the fi rst part of the matrimony.

Annie Bonza and Here Charlie for our beautiful bridal gowns Avarua bakery (G.D.S) catering, Andy & Flora Rauru for the beautiful setup,

Papa Ngarima and the Manihiki clan for the aumohi.

Our MC George George ,Pa Epi,Vaitoti Tupa ,Mama Matai,Mokoroa Mama Taina Tuteru and

all you helpers Mrs Anna Savage ,Mrs Vainu Savage ,Toru Mateariki and your team to those who have not been named but played a part also and to all the families and friends from overseas

and here who were involved in making our special day memorable MEITAKI KOREREKA

Special love and thank you to our mums and dads, Vakai & Tangimama Ezekiela,Tangi & Ngamata

Napara.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!Nooroa Maryanne Short Nooroa Maryanne Short 40Yrs of Good & Healthy Life40Yrs of Good & Healthy LifeStill looking 20 yrs younger!Still looking 20 yrs younger!Enjoy your Day!Best Wishes Enjoy your Day!Best Wishes

Mato’s @ Avana.. Mato’s @ Avana.. Mum & Dad @ Avarua. Your hus-Mum & Dad @ Avarua. Your hus-

bandband

FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News 13

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or call us at Cook Islands News

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

Mana Court Downtown AvaruaPhone 29907

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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 Thursday’s puzzle

Flight Times 1 Voyage details 1 Currency Rates

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RARO TO ARR DEP TO ARR DEP TO ARRFRIDAY DECEMBER

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SUNDAY DECEMBERNZ AKL .PM AKL .PM

MONDAY DECEMBERNZ LAX .AM AKL .AMDJ AKL .PM AKL .AM TUE Shipping

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

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SPORTtarekareka

Soccer semi-fi nals continue at Matavera today

The semi fi nals of the women’s grade will be played

at Matavera tomorrow.

THE CI FA complex in Matavera will be the place to be to catch all the semi-finals soccer action this weekend.

Play in the under 13 boys between Tupapa and Nikao gets underway this afternoon at 4.15pm. This will be followed by the under 14 girls game between Tupapa and Nikao at 5pm then the under 16 boys match involving Tupapa and Takuvaine at 5.45pm.

Tomorrow in the women’s divi-sion, Titikaveka will take on Tupapa and the Nikao Sokattak girls will do battle with the Wild West girls from Arorangi.

In the premier men’s division the in-form Takuvaine side will meet the equally talented Tupapa crew while 2008 champions Nikao will face Arorangi.

- Matariki Wilson Saturday December 12 at the CIFA complex

– 12.30pm women Titikaveka vs Tupapa, Ref-Tutai Taurarii assisted by Tino Napa and Paavo Mustonen, 2pm women Nikao vs Arorangi, Ref-Tupou Patia assisted by Junior Arioka and Aturangi Hosking, 3.30pm pre-mier men Takuvaine vs Tupapa, Ref-Maara Kaukura assisted by Mike Mouauri and Terry Piri, 5.15pm premier men Nikao vs Arorangi, Ref-Robert Savage assisted by Lai

Gukisuva and Tino Napa. 09101139

theWEATHER te REVA

Forecast thanks to Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

14 FRIDAY, DECEMBER , Cook Islands News

Forecast Map 2pm Friday

V

Front Key: Cold Warm Occluded Stationaryy

Rarotonga Friday, December 11, 2009

Swell direction and size

Weather Forecast to MidnightIssued at 2pm at RarotongaSituation: A trough of low pressure lies slow moving over the northern parts of Southern Cooks while 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. Some showers and a few thunderstorms over Rarotonga, Mangaia and Mauke. Elsewhere, cloudy periods with few showers.Moderate seas. Further outlook: Some showers.

For Rarotonga: Cloudy periods with some showers and few thunderstorms.Further outlook: Occasional showers. For the Northern Cooks:Moderate northeast winds.Fine apart from some brief showers.Moderate seas.Further outlook: Mainly fi ne.

TidesFRI High .AM .M .PM .M

Low .AM .M – –

SAT High .AM .M .PM .M

Low .AM .M .PM .M

Sun & Moon

Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon First QuarterDEC JAN DEC DEC

FRI Sun Rise .AM Sun Set .PM

Moon Rise .AM Moon Set .PM

SAT Sun Rise .AM Sun Set .PM

Moon Rise .AM Moon Set .PM

HumidityFRI Morning %

Night %

SAT Morning %

Night %

Outer Islands Weather Outlook Friday, December 11, 2009

Aitutaki Mangaia Mitiaro Atiu Penrhyn Mauke

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

°SE KTS

Sunshine hours

.M NWN

M E

SPORTtarekareka

Sailors look to qualify for London 2012

Four of the fi ve national sailors (from left) Junior Charlie, Teau McKenzie, Helema Williams and Taua Elisa are looking forward to a busy sailing schedule over the festive season in their bid to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. 09121001

WHILE most people will be relaxing and enjoying their Christmas and New Year break – fi ve of the country’s top sail-ors will be full steam ahead in a bid to reach the 2012 London Olympics.

National sailors Junior Char-lie, Taua Elisa, Teau McKenzie, Helema Williams and Aquila Tatira have a jam-packed sched-ule to look forward to in 2010 including training programmes and regattas in both Australia and New Zealand.

Elisa departed our shores this week for the Sail Melbourne regatta in Australia where he will be sailing in the laser level 1 class.

The regatta will be held be-tween December 14 and 19.

Elisa will stay on in Australia for the national laser champion-ships in Adelaide on January 4.

On January 6, Taua will put his coaching hat on and coach fellow junior sailors Teau Mc-Kenzie and Aquila Tatira who will join him in Adelaide for the Australia youth laser champion-ships.

This regatta will be held be-tween January 6 and 10 and doubles up as the youth Olym-pic qualifi ers.

At the end of the regatta the trio will head to New Zealand to join up with fellow sailors Wil-

liams and Charlie.In total the sailors will race

in six races in Auckland includ-ing the New Zealand nation-als in Timaru (Januray 22-26), Auckland Anniversary regatta (February 1), Sail Auckland (February 4-7), Manly regatta (February 13 and 14), Wakatere regatta (February 28) and the Auckland laser championships (March 6-7).

All this training is part of the team’s bid to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics and af-ter winning sevens medals at the September Pacifi c Mini Games – the team is certainly on a win-ning course.

During the mini games the national sailing team won three golds – one by Williams in the laser class, and another with Mc-Kenzie in the laser team event. The fi nal gold medal was a team effort by Charlie and Elisa in the laser standard class.

Silver medals were also won by Charlie in the laser standard class with three bronze medals coming from the Hobie 16 team of Peter Tierney, Toka Narayan, Tanus Henry and Tatira.

McKenzie also won a bronze medal in the laser radial class with the last bronze medal won by Elisa in the laser standard class.

- Matariki Wilson

Old salt Silk takes walking stick for vaka class

Tangaroa Class sailing vaka Tere Party heads upwind. 09120910

SOME very stiff competition for the coveted annual ‘old salts’ trophy was seen earlier this month at the Rarotonga Sail-ing Club

Nine invited previous sailors of varying ages took to the waters of Muri lagoon at the helm of the Tangaroa Class racing vaka amid much hilarity, a little Dutch cour-age and a good breeze.

Some unfortunate starts and difficult mark rounding’s saw some of the more fancied skip-pers fall behind in the heats and it was the infamous Don Silk who eventually took the title in the last race of the day, bril-

liantly winning by a good 100 metres from the other fi nalists, including a previous top gun, Ted Nia.

Captain Silk remarked at the prize giving function that it should be recorded that he beat his daughter PJ Hockin by “miles” and that Bob Boyd was too afraid to accept the chal-lenge (having purposely broken his leg the previous week).

The carved walking stick tro-phy was fi rst awarded in 2000 to the same Don Silk who once again has proven that youth is irrelevant! -

- Windy