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Wednesday 24 Feb
Aquarius donates beds
Red Cross serves breakfast for Aitutaki kids
Accountability promised
‘Playing politics’
Tuesday 23 Feb
Michigan Motors digs deep for appeal
Health minister pleased with initial recovery in Aitutaki
Costs assessed
Schools resume as Aitutaki recovers
Aitutaki kids get school-in-a-box
European Union gives $158,000
Saturday 20 Feb
Mufti money for Aitutaki
Relief really appreciated
Red Cross pleased with support
Rotary sends emergency response kits to Aitutaki
Aitutaki response ‘fantastic’
Buildings assessed
Radio-thon raises $70,000
Relief funds grow
Friday 19 Feb
Natural biodiversity check-up underway
New Aitutaki info bulletin
Health minister takes team to Aitutaki to assess needs
For ‘sister’ island
Manihiki and Melbourne join the appeal
Dr Joe Williams leads NZ mission to Aitutaki
Aitutaki schools aim to reopen next week
Thursday 18 Feb
Red Cross gets reinforcements
Mangaia Enua to raise funds
High Tide to help
Public information bulletin for Aitutaki
Airlines extend specials
BCI launches relief package
Aquarius donates beds
Wed
24 Feb
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Aquarius staff with George George and Terry and Louise Buckley.
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Yesterday Aquarius donated 12 beds to the cyclone appeal committee, which handed the bunks over to Red Cross to be distributed in Aitutaki.
Six bunks, or 12 beds, six mattresses and 12 pillows were loaded on to a truck yester-
day and transported to Red Cross.
Louise Buckley of Aquarius said that unfortunately, six mattresses that were part of the donation were pinched from their container.
Red Cross director Niki Rattle said that the bunks will be a nice addition to the donation package of leftover PMG bunks that government is gifting to Aitutaki.
The Aquarius bunks will be on the next ship to Aitutaki.
Red Cross serves breakfast for Aitutaki kids
Wed
24 Feb
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Form 1 students at Araura College enjoy a healthy breakfast provided by Red Cross on their first day back at school after the cyclone yesterday. Photos Red Cross.
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Healthy meal aims to boost spirits
More than 500 school students across Aitutaki are being provided healthy breakfasts under a new Red Cross programme to support them as they return to classes.
As schools reopened this week for the first time since Cyclone Pat ravaged the island on February 9, Red Cross and community volunteers were there with a breakfast of cereal, bread, fruit and milk on offer for the children of three of the four schools on the island.
Yesterday students from Araura Primary School, Araura College, and the SDA Primary School were all greeted with their first healthy breakfast which will continue for up to a month. Vaitau Primary School students will get their first breakfast at school when they return to classes today.
The new Red Cross breakfast programme aims to boost children’s spirits as they return to normal activities and also provides a nutritious meal to help with concentration and learning.
Principal of Araura College, Enoa Raea, said the Red Cross breakfast programme encourages children to come together and talk, which helps with the healing process.
“Food brings people together,” Raea said. “The children are talking among themselves and sharing what has happened. It also gives them a good start for learning – food feeds the brain too.”
Secretary general of the Cook Islands Red Cross Niki Rattle also believes the programme will boost the children’s morale.
“Food has always been a gift of love for Cook Islanders, and food to us means socialising, comfort and happiness,” Ms Rattle said. “The programme is saying Red Cross is here for you, we care for you and we want to get you started on returning life to normal,” she said.
Rattle said the school breakfast programme would also help parents by providing some extra care for their children during a difficult time.
“Parents are coping with the enormous task of cleaning up after the cyclone. Our support means they don’t have to worry about providing their children with a nourishing meal to start the day.”
In partnership with members of the private sector, Red Cross will provide food for the healthy meals and support the schools to serve them, with the help of parents who have volunteered to assist.
“It’s a partnership between Red Cross and the community,” Rattle said. “Cook Islanders are resilient people – but this cyclone was beyond what anyone expected. With this programme we are mobilising the community to support themselves.”
Meanwhile the global humanitarian organisation is holding its Aitutaki branch annual general meeting on Thursday at 5pm at the Women’s Federation Centre in Arutanga for those who want to get more involved in the great work that Red Cross does everyday.
Accountability promised
Wed
24 Feb
Dear Editor,
A Smoke Signal published in Cook Islands News raises some issues that need to be clarified. The Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee has stressed from the very outset that accountability for all monies that we receive is crucial. This is to give people the confidence that every effort is being made to ensure that funds collected will get to the people they are intended for – our people in Aitutaki.
This is one of the reasons we have asked those who wish to do their own fundraising activities to please advise us so we can also encourage them to receipt all monies received for accountability purposes.
We are aware that there have been food sales with proceeds for the Aitutaki cyclone appeal being advertised. While it is excellent that some people have taken this initiative, the committee urges them to make sure all monies are receipted and do indeed go to the Aitutaki people.
The committee has yet to receive any of these funds that have been raised separately.
We are not in any position to stop anyone from carrying out their own fundraising activities.
As for expenses that have been incurred by the committee, these have been very limited and consist only of receipt
books, stationery and self-ink
ing stamps. The cost of these has been met from the Aitutaki Hostel fund. Office equipment has been loaned to our team. Our expenses are limited because people have donated so much to help with the Appeal.
Not one of the team working in the office or with the media has been paid. In fact, no one on the committee is on the payroll. All work has and is being done voluntarily. We would welcome any other people who may have a couple of hours to spare each day to help in our office.
I trust that this clears the confusion of your Smoke Signaller.
George George
Chairman
Aitutaki Cyclone
Appeal Committee
‘Playing politics’
Wed
24 Feb
Prime minister Jim Marurai has accused the leader of the Democratic Party Sir Terepai Maoate of using the Aitutaki cyclone disaster to ‘play politics’.
Yesterday Sir Terepai, who was sacked from cabinet last year, reiterated his call for parliament to sit immediately so it can endorse plans for the recovery of Aitutaki following Cyclone Pat’s devastation.
He spoke to Radio New Zealand saying the country cannot afford a repeat of the delays that followed Cyclone Martin’s destruction of Manihiki in 1997.
“In spite of the fact that they have an industry with the pearl farming and what have you, lots and lots of people left the island of Manihiki because of delays. And for this one, the delay is really the government not wanting to call parliament to appropriate adequate funds to deal with the situation.”
The former finance minister said he estimated the island needs more than USD$10 million in aid support following the damage to most houses there.
He said a lot of work is needed to ensure the island’s contribution to the economy through tourism is maintained and that the young people of Aitutaki are encouraged to stay there.
Last week Sir Terepai and Cook Islands Party leader Tom Marsters issued a joint party press statement warning government that all major spending on cyclone recovery must be done with parliamentary endorsement.
But Marurai claims Sir Terepai is simply playing politics.
He told Radio NZ that he believes government has enough funding available, including access to NZAID funds, to see Aitutaki through its recovery. Finance minister Wilkie Rasmussen has also claimed that government can find the funding needed without calling parliament to sit.
Marurai has said parliament will not be called to sit before September when the date of the general election is to be announced.
Sir Terepai admitted any recall of parliament would see a motion for a vote of no confidence in the PM, but still says his concern is for the people of Aitutaki.
It is understood, however, that Marurai beleives this is only the latest attempt by the Demo leader to have the five-member cabinet ousted from government. There is also ongoing suspicion of Sir Terepai’s agenda following speculation of personal financial problems and the recent launch of an audit investigation into his involvement in tourism business support loans allegedly provided to three businesses associated with his son and Aitutaki MP Terepai Maoate Jnr.
Michigan Motors digs deep for appeal
Tue
23 Feb
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Michigan Motors staff (from left) Phil Urlich, Eddie Framhein, Mona Rakei and Gustav Tatuava present Rarotonga based Aitutaki Community secretary Mona Ioane with a cheque of $2500 for the relief efforts on Aitutaki.
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Like many businesses on the island, Michigan Motors staff dug deep to help the Aitutaki cyclone relief efforts.
Staff at the Taputapuatea based company collected together $175 for the radio-thon last week and yesterday the company donated $2500 to the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal committee.
Michigan Motors general manager Mona Rakei handed over the donation to Rarotonga based Aitutaki Community secretary Mona Ioane who was overwhelmed with the generosity of the company and its staff.
Ioane, on behalf of the Aitutaki Community on Rarotonga and the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee, thanked Michigan Motors for their generous donation.
“This is a lot of money to us,” said Ioane.
Part owner of Michigan Motors Brian Pilkinton was in Aitutaki during the cheque handover doing repairs to one of his houses at Ooa beach which sustained minor damages during cyclone Pat.
The Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee is still receiving donations of cash and materials to help with the recovery on Aitutaki.
Health minister pleased with initial recovery in Aitutaki
Tue
23 Feb
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Health minister Api Piho (centre) with deputy prime minister Robert Wigmore and prime minister Jim Marurai at Aitutaki airport the day after cyclone Pat wreaked havoc.
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Health minister Apii Piho believes most Aitutaki people are getting through the trauma caused by Cyclone Pat as they see recovery efforts move more swiftly.
“They are seeing things happening and there’s a big difference to the place. The cleanliness there speaks for itself. The first day it was like a maze to get down the main roads. The streets are now clean and you can see people with smiling faces.”
“In a state of disaster you have to get up and work. It’s moving in the right direction now,” says the minister of the island’s initial recovery.
Piho visited the island, for the second time since the cyclone hit, last Thursday and Friday with a delegation to assess the people’s health and welfare needs.
“I still believe there are those that are still traumatised, but the input by locals has been great. Sometimes people take a few days before they realise what’s hit them.
“I feel more for the older generation – they’ve never experienced something like this and all of a sudden they lose their worldly possessions right in front of them. I talked to a lot of them and what’s been clear from all of it is that if they get new homes from this, they want them to be cyclone proof,” he says.
Counsellors have been in Aitutaki for a week to help people get through the trauma of the event.
Piho says during his brief visit they came across an 82-year-old woman who had received a lump on her head and bruising on her face from a falling piece of timber during the cyclone and convinced her to go back to hospital for observation.
“She had the fighting spirit, but we were concerned about her. Sometimes people try to be brave but they need help.”
Those who have become homeless were assessed for welfare benefits which will allow them to at least have a little cash to help out during this time of need.
Piho says repairing the Aitutaki hospital and getting it fully operational is a priority.
He says the estimated cyclone damage to the hospital in Arutanga is $234,000 with much of it due to wind and water damage to the roofing.
“It’s functioning now and parts of the building are being used to house doctors and volunteers.”
Emergency medical cases , however, will have to be referred to Rarotonga temporarily while the operating theatre there is checked for damage.
Health secretary Tupou Faireka says the theatre may need a new air conditioner and machines are being checked by a technician who is currently there. Electrical rewiring of the entire hospital may be necessary, he says.
A new air conditioning unit was sent to Aitutaki last week for the pharmacy where the old one was no longer working due to the cyclone. Faireka says the pharmacy needs to be temperature controlled all the time for the medicines.
Piho says the 12 NZ army officers, CIIC workers and volunteers have all been housed in part of the hospital.
Despite being booked into a hotel, Piho and Faireka opted to stay the night at the hospital.
The minister says he’s seen a lot of positive changes since his first visit to the island the day after the cyclone hit.
“I really want to acknowledge that the Red Cross and volunteers there have been lending a good hand.”
Piho says he is really pleased that there are four doctors providing health services to the island at present. Some health staff have been allowed to go on leave to tend to their damaged homes. Two doctors and two nurses have been sent in to replace them.
Ministry staff in Rarotonga raised funds last week to send eight pallets of food and supplies to their counterparts in Aitutaki.
Drinking water quality was an initial concern because of possible contamination, but Piho says the Red Cross water treatment plant has put their fears of illnesses such as diarrhoea to rest.
“The water from the ground well is being put through this machine that produces 5000 litres of clean water a day and we are trying to make sure everyone has 20 litre containers of this water for drinking. We are still warning people to boil water first if they are going to drink it out of the tap.”
Public health staff have been sent to Aitutaki to spray and lay larvicide to kill mosquitoes as a precaution to avoid an outbreak of dengue.
Piho says with the widespread damage to vegetation, mosquitoes are now covering more ground and there have been concerns that they need to control the population of the pest.
Costs assessed
Tue
23 Feb
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Aitutaki initial building damage assesment - building types Aitutaki Initial building damage assessments
Aitutaki Initial building damage assessments
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Aitutaki initial building damage assesment - building damages Aitutaki Initial building assessment-Building damages
Aitutaki Initial building assessment-Building damages
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Rebuilding homes for families on Aitutaki has now become the priority on the island which was struck by cyclone Pat two weeks ago.
Over the past week, tents and temporary housing were provided for those families who were left without a home after the cyclone.
Initial building damage assessments have provided valuable information for the rebuilding phase on the island, however a more in-depth assessment will be conducted to gauge the building material needs of each of the 68 families who lost their homes enitirely and for the 388 other buildings that were partially damaged.
Recommendations were made in the initial building damage assessment report for better constructed buildings as part of the reconstruction phase on the island.
The report recommends that inspection of structural elements to all buildings especially in the tie down system will need to be checked that they are structurally sound and will continue to perform in future cyclones.
The report also says that there may be a need to review the design wind speed forces of the Cook Islands Building Code with the likelihood of newer buildings to be designed to higher win speeds as experienced by cyclone Pat.
Building materials have begun to arrive in Aitutaki for the islands rebuilding phase.
Government is due this week to announce a funding scheme for reconstruction.
Schools resume as Aitutaki recovers
Tue
23 Feb
The Aitutaki Cyclone Emergency Operations Centre yesterday issued this update on the relief effort:
Updates
• Schools are expected to begin classes this week.
• Red Cross continues with relief distribution.
• UNDAC Team departs Aitutaki for Rarotonga.
• Community Meetings held in light of new Tropical Depressions.
• Ship arrives with relief supplies and stock for Aitutaki.
• Rotation of staff (Power and Police) this week.
Emergency Shelter
Red Cross will continue today with the distribution of tarpaulins, relief supplies and tents, so far they have distributed over 600 tarps, 300 mosquito nets, first aid kits, family hygiene packs and over 40 tents.
Water
Red Cross has so far pumped and filtered over 20,000 litres of water since the start of the water treatment unit.
Members of the public are welcome to fill your water containers at the Red Cross Office at the Court House, Vaimaru.
Electricity
Electricity is being restored as a priority.
Members of public are asked NOT to touch any wires lying around as these may be live.
Coordination
The vessel Pacific Phoenix has arrived in Aitutaki and has aboard it relief items, building and maintenance materials, a bobcat, a truck and much needed supplies for shops on the island.
Community meetings
Due to tropical depressions developing up north, villages held a meeting last night (Sunday) to:
• Update villages on the progress of recovery and cleaning.
• The activities of the Safety Centres to house the people in the event that the Tropical Depression is reclassified into a Tropical Cyclone.
The response from villages to the meeting has been very favourable.
Volunteers
We are thankful for the assistance by the volunteers. We acknowledge the family members who have flown in to help rebuild their family homes here on Aitutaki.
NZDF
EOC has tasked the New Zealand Defence Force to now focus on the repairs to the schools.
NZDF will focus on two schools – Araura Primary and College as well as Vaitau Primary School. NZDF is also assisting Red Cross with works for the water storage at Vaimaru.
Education
Classes are expected to begin this week at both the College and the Primary Schools. Start has been deferred as we try and make urgent repairs to the schools and the schools may be used as Safety Centres due to the recent Tropical Depressions developing up north. All parents are encouraged to please send your children to school as education is very important.
UNDAC
The United National Disaster Coordination Team leaves Aitutaki today after 10 days on the island for Rarotonga.
The UN team was responsible for the coordination of assessment information, agency emergency response as well as emergency relief coordination between Raro, Aitutaki and the partner agencies. A UN Early Recovery Team has arrived into Rarotonga over the weekend and will be in Aitutaki this week to assist with recovery and rehabilitation efforts for the people and businesses of Aitutaki.
The departing UN Team wishes the people of Aitutaki the very best in the recovery and is very impressed with the spirit and resilience of the people of Aitutaki.
- Authorised by Charles
Carlson, director of Emergency Management Cook Islands
Aitutaki kids get school-in-a-box
Tue
23 Feb
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The ministry of education’s Anthony Turua with a School-in-a-Box.
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Students from Aitutaki’s four schools will receive the innovative ‘School-in-a-Box’ provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund as they begin classes again this week.
About $5000 worth of school resources are contained in the kits which have become part of the UNICEF standard response in emergencies. They are used in many back-to-school operations around the world to provide the chance for children to continue their education during the most extreme crises.
Ministry of education director of finance and support services, Anthony Turua, says 500 school children in Aitutaki will all get resource sets and recreational gear from the kits such as exercise books, pencils, posters and games.
The kit comes in a lockable aluminium box – the lid even doubles as a blackboard when coated with the special paint included in the kit.
Part of the ministry team assessing the cyclone damage to schools on the island, Turua says just over $100,000 worth of resource damage has been recorded at the four schools.
The worst hit was the SDA School which Turua says lost a staggering 95 percent of its resources when its buildings were almost completely devastated by cyclone Pat.
Turua says flood damage caused much of the resource loss at the schools, especially to electronic equipment such as computers.
The UNICEF kits were sent from their Fiji office and were air-freighted to Aitutaki yesterday by government.
European Union gives $158,000
Tue
23 Feb
The European Union announced yesterday the allocation of about $158,000 towards rehabilitation work in the Cook Islands in the wake of widespread devastation to Aitutaki caused by Cyclone Pat on February 9.
The donation will be used for the provision of emergency relief supplies such as tarpaulins, blankets, water containers, and family and hygiene kits.
The funds will be channelled through the Cook Islands Red Cross.
“Through this assistance to the islands’ Red Cross Society, the EU hopes rehabilitation work will speed up and that such assistance will bring some sort of comfort to those affected,” added Ambassador van der Goot.
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