Ombudsman’s Training in Wellington, New Zealand 29 April to 3 May 2019

With the assistance of the Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand Judge Peter Boshier, Ombudsman Tearea was able to undergo an early week-long training in the Ombudsman’s Office in Wellington.

There were many areas or topics covered during the week-long training. He was allocated to various teachers for each topic covered. Some of the topics covered may be summarised as follows;

1. Overview of the organisational structure, organisational values and the Ombudsman’s role
2. People & Capability – Overview of the personnel management. We call it here Human Resource Management.
3. Information and technology
4. International relations and the Ombudsman organisation such as APOR and IOI .Analysis ofNew Zealand and Cook Islands Ombudsman Acts in terms of jurisdiction by Tracey Harlen. This included an overview of the New Ombudsman Bill of the Cook Islands.
5. Ombudsman Act complaint handling and best practices.
6. Jurisdiction and comparative analysis of New Zealand and Cook Islands Official Information Act
7. Overview of OPCAT – inspection of prisons and Police holding cell. Selected reports were also provided
8. Meeting and discussion with IPCA Chair Judge Colin Doherty on investigating complaints about the Police and the Cook Islands Police Act 2012.
9. Teleconference session on Disability Rights with Auckland based team. This was an overview on how disability rights work in New Zealand including training ideas, solutions and support.

Undoubtedly the expansive nature of the New Zealand Ombudsman Office with clear demarcation of different roles is very impressive. Understandably that was no comparison for our small Office here in Rarotonga. He enjoyed viewing the technology employed in the Office including Waka, Awa and their new website which at the time was still being tested. I was also impressed with the calibre of each and every staff employed in their various divisions in the Office. In addition, he was surprised by their budgetary process in that it goes direct to Parliamentary Select Committee for consideration as opposed to going through Budget Committee, Cabinet and then to Parliament in the Cook Islands.

Tearea appointed the new ombudsman

Monday April 01, 2019 Written by  Published in Local

Nooapii Tearea was appointed as the new ombudsman for a term of three years and was sworn in at a special ceremony held at the Cook Islands Parliament last week.

Deputy clerk of Parliament Helen Maunga welcomed the many guests who were present including the minister for Internal Affairs Mac Mokoroa, students of Nukutere College and families and friends of Tearea as well as staff members of the Ombudsman’s Office.

Clerk of Parliament, Tangata Vainerere said Tairea was appointed by warrant under the hand of the Queen’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters, acting on the recommendation of the executive council, on the advice of cabinet in accordance with section seven of the Ombudsman Act 1984.

In congratulating Tearea, Vainerere said this was a proud moment for Parliament, the government and the people of the Cook Islands.

“It is my humble prayer that God almighty will grant you a fruitful tenure for a successful and productive term as ombudsman,” he said.

Tearea’s term is effective from February 26, 2019 and he takes on the role previously held by Tearoa John Tini.

New building code to improve resilience

Monday December 24, 2018 Written by Published in Local

The revised Building Code for the Cook Islands and the newly-developed Strategic Roadmap for Emergency Management (SREM) were both launched on Tuesday last week by the Minister for Internal Affairs Sports, Police and Office of the Ombudsman, Vaine Mokoroa.

These two Cook Islands projects were made possible under the €19.57 million (NZ$33.06m) ACP-EU Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific project (BSRP) being implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) and Emergency Management Cook Islands.

Infrastructure Cook Islands building controller Louis Teiti said the potential for an increase in the intensity of cyclones in the Cook Islands prompted the need to review the building code and ensure that building infrastructure is up to standard.

Beca International Consultants Ltd was contracted to undertake a comprehensive review of the code and develop a manual to improve the safety and resilience of buildings in the Cook Islands.

Emergency Management Cook Islands director Charles Carlson said reviewing the Building Code is a positive move in the right direction, and one of the crucial components will be its implementation.

He observed the very high damage to housing in the Cook Islands during cyclones has been due to poor and sub-standard housing. The Building Code, he added, would ensure reduced structural damage in times of disasters.

Carlson said an increase in the severity and regularity of natural disasters in the Cook Islands in recent years had prompted various disaster alleviation methods and strategies to reduce the risk of loss of life and property in a severe ‘event’.

The second achievement, the Strategic Roadmap, provides a map for stakeholders involved in national response to emergencies and disasters to reform the Cook Islands emergency management arrangements.

Carlson said the roadmap was timely and resulted in the maximising of limited resources to get maximum outcome. He said it would act as a guide and support the Cook Islands Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation.

Carlson noted the consolidation of climate change and disaster risk management in the Cook Islands was a step in the right direction.

“By having both under one division, we work regularly together and we know what is going on in climate change and they know what is happening in disaster. There is no duplication of services. We complement what they are doing.

“With this SREM, we are also hoping to address gap areas within the Cook Islands Emergency Management Sector; the coordination of local emergencies that do not require declaration and the need for establishment of a National Fire Service.

“We will be more focused and coordinated in our response in times of disaster.”

The roadmap takes into account the diverse needs of the country’s remote island communities and aims to provide clear understanding of the different roles and responsibilities among stakeholders.

“We very much appreciate the assistance from the European Union and the Pacific Community for the funding support for the SREM and the Building Code,” he said.

The team leader for Natural Resources and Governance at the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Ingrid Swinnen said: “The EU is proud to be involved in this initiative to identify, adopt and implement the best practice for disaster risk management to strengthen disaster resilience in the Cooks Islands, allowing for a more focused response.”

The Pacific Community’s Director of Geoscience, Energy and Maritime (GEM), Andrew Jones commended both work streams and the extension consultations undertaken, saying the Cook Islands will not only be more prepared, but would have better co-ordination of resources and personnel in response to disasters.

He said the need for increased communication was identified as a priority after detailed consultation following natural disasters in recent years.