Professionals barking up wrong tree
Holds water
Praise for medical service
Suicide hot line must be a priority for govt
One suicide is one too many
Education can make a difference
What we need right now are open minds
Good luck to our 7s boys
Roundtable discussions just PR
No one objected to Rupe Raea’s recital
Professionals barking up wrong tree
Tue
7 Feb
Dear Editor,
I would like to add a comment regarding the recent discussion on teen suicide in Rarotonga.
Over the past year there have been a number of these teen suicides. After each I have spoken to a few people who have been closely involved with the investigations in each and also people connected with friends and family.
One thing that stands out is that the majority of these suicides do not come from what we would assume should be a depressive, melancholy state, but rather out of an act of retaliation and anger directed from the person committing suicide towards a parent/s, or ex boy/girl friend that they had the most recent argument with.
This is completely different to what the so-called professionals have said in the recent days in the newspaper.
It is my opinion that we are not dealing with a majority of individuals who show a stereotypical depressive state before ending their life, but rather we are dealing with a surge of teenagers who are angry and feel that that they are delivering the height of punishment or retaliation – suicide. Not an act out of woe or depression but out of aggression, retaliation and anger.
I understand that in the majority of cases here, right up until that last argument, the teenager is displaying perfectly normal moods. Then they have a fight with a particular individual and they decide that the ultimate revenge towards that person is their suicide. A random act, spurred out of anger, not depression. It appears it is a display of immaturity on the part of the teenager committing suicide – they are not understanding the real and final consequences of their random act of retaliation.
If this is truly the case then we need to tackle this problem very, very differently from the suggestions made in the paper this week. I would argue that the so-called professionals are barking up the wrong tree.
The only people who could truly add much more to this discussion would be the police, the family members, the individual’s closest friends and the ex-girl/boy friends. These are the people who would be able to comment on the actual, real state of the individuals who are committing suicide, and who would be able to clarify that we are not dealing with mood states of depression, but rather displays of anger, aggression and retaliation.
If the mood state is not depression but rather anger, aggression and retaliation then the preventative plan of action by the professionals and people who attend the suicide forum needs to be changed to actually deal with the correct mood disorder – anger not depression. Targeting the right mood disorder and delivering the correct preventative plan (anger management/self control/immaturity) is vital!
John Spencer
Holds water
Tue
7 Feb
Dear Editor,
My attention was drawn to Mr Piakura’s letter because it holds water in abundance.
The manupulation of genealogy has been an ongoing practice for yonks since the introduction of the white man’s land court to the Cook Islands.
Interpreting in court from English to Cook Islands Maori and vice versa
has been a wishy-washy process in a land court hearing which can make a difference
in a judge’s decision.
A well known and respected tumu korero makes his genealogy presentation to the court with alterations to entice him or a relative into the land or title where he or the relative have no blood link nor inheritance.
Yes you are right Ata mate, some of the genealogical items in that presentation are very insulting and whoever did it should put it right for the sake of future generations and rightful people. This kind of practice is not only in Raro but it also exists on the outer islands since. Some people lost land and title inheritance due to such practices. Such practices should stop forthwith.
John George
A caring Atiuan of Papatoetoe, Auckland, NZ
Praise for medical service
Mon
6 Feb
Dear Editor,
My wife and I are enjoying either our 16th or 17th visit to your island from the UK.
Unfortunately this time, due to slipping on a wet floor, my wife has had to make use of both in-patient and out-patient facilities at Rarotonga Hospital, and we have to say the skills, care and unstinted help she received from every member of staff irrespective of grade, deserve the highest praise. I hope they read this letter and to them all we say meitaki maata, and very well done.
May I also extend our thanks to Sonny & Maui at Aroko Bungalows, as well as Kura Bullen for your kindness.
Mabel & Keith Dalrymple
Suicide hot line must be a priority for govt
Mon
6 Feb
Dear Editor,
Most civilised societies have a suicide hot line that is staffed by qualified trained people 24/7 that people can call when they are in stress. I would like to know what pitiful excuse the Cook Island’s government can come up with for not funding such a service. Not enough money is not an excuse. There is always enough money to do the things that are most important. It is a matter of priorities. I would hope that the lives of Cook Island teenagers qualify as something important enough to justify funding such a service.
Larry Richards
One suicide is one too many
Sat
4 Feb
Dear Editor,
I have been a volunteer at Te Kainga Mental Health and Wellbeing Clinic for the past eight years, since its inception in 2004.
Over this period I have supported Mereana Taikoko, the founder and chairperson of the clinic, in presentations to three successive ministers of health to try to obtain formal funding for mental health within the government health budget.
This funding was to be used in part to resource professional counselling staff for drug and alcohol, suicide and other mental health problems.
As of now, there is still no funding for mental health, so these essential services are not in place in Rarotonga.
Te Kainga has been almost entirely funded over the eight years, by private donations and fundraising activities such as weekly ‘Housie’ and the sale of crafts made by clients at the market.
The government has funded one psychiatric nurse fulltime and one other nurse for two days a week over the past three years. Te Kainga has treated in excess of 1000 clients since it was founded.
Since 2005 there have been at least two proven suicides per year. In 2005 and 2011 there were three. In January alone this year we have had two.
One suicide is one too many.
These sad statistics put the Cook Islands at one of the highest rates per capita, particularly for males, in the world. As long as there are no funded support services in place, there will be no change.
Richard McQuillen
Panama
Education can make a difference
Fri
3 Feb
Dear Editor,
I read with interest the concerns and comments from the different sectors with regards to the recent tragedies that have hit our community. I too share those concerns and would like to offer some food for thought.
Firstly, to the families and friends, I offer my sincere condolences for your tragic loss and indeed our nation’s loss! My thoughts also go out to the families who have been afflicted by similar circumstances. Being such a small nation, I am sure that the majority of people living here have been affected in some way or another.
I take my hat off to minister Glassie who I feel has the tough job as minister of health to try and address some of the issues. There is definitely a need to support the mental health services on the island and although I am unsure about how ‘better legislation’ will work, appropriated funding will definitely go some way to supporting these much needed services. But what about a precursor to this? If you want to build a strong, sturdy house, you build a sound, robust foundation. In a school year, children are expected to spend up to 200 days at around five to six hours per day at school. That suggests to me that schools can play a huge role and have a profound impact on a child’s life. Children are the foundation of our nation.
Resilience in children in my opinion suggests that they have the ability to bounce back from set backs, are motivated to move forward and are willing and able to articulate and share their feelings. These characteristics are also under-pinned by a level of mental and emotional wellness or self worth (self esteem).
Education is an area I believe that can make a difference. The Cook Islands Health and Physical Well-being curriculum advocates a holistic approach to developing our foundation pieces (children). It targets the skills and attitudes for children to help deal and cope with ‘Change, Loss and Grief ’. It encourages critical thinking and problem solving mechanisms to help deal with rejection and pain. Each school has been given the resources to teach Change Loss and Grief from Grade 1 through to Year 10 and these teach the skills of handling the tough times
that we all face in our lives, alongside the supporting skills of how to help someone you are worried about. The best thing with this intervention is that it is a school curriculum document, so in theory it should already be being covered in schools, however I wonder if we need to refocus our energy on health education as a prevention programme as one piece of the intervention required.
I respect and support the views of people from the various religious sectors. I do feel that while what is being suggested will work for some, the fact of the matter is that in situations like these tragedies, we tend to deal with feelings and emotions. These are real for the individual and sometime the realness of pain and emotional turmoil cannot be appeased by the faith that can sometimes appear invisible.
Yes! The youth forums are important, but what of the content of those? Can we really teach people to be aware? If you have strong faith and can find comfort and answers there, yes! If government were to find funding to support the professional services on the island, this would also be helpful and much needed. But I believe that the impact of a comprehensive health education programme as prescribed in the Cook Islands Health and Physical Well-being curriculum can be a potentially large contributor to address not only this health concern, but also many others. I am reminded of a saying that used to appear on our home fridge saying – “Children live what they learn”.
James Puati
Tikioki
What we need right now are open minds
Fri
3 Feb
Dear Editor,
I am dismayed and saddened, as we all are no doubt, by the rash of recent suicides in the Cook Islands, and I applaud all efforts to find a solution to this catastrophe.
Our prayers and thoughts are with those involved.
However, and in fear of contradicting myself, I note with some trepidation the lead article in Thursday’s paper stating that “members of church groups” will be meeting with health care professionals to discuss the issue.
I inhale with much vigour, and often through clenched teeth, when I hear church groups get involved in such discussions because, by their very nature, they bring to the table a preconceived set of beliefs, values, and attitudes, which ‘taint’ their proposed solutions, and even hint of a hidden agenda.
In my mind, and from my experience, such a rigid abidance to such dogma runs the risk of appearing judgmental.
A gross generalisation perhaps, and I hope an unfounded one, but I feel compelled to sound a warning nonetheless. My hope is that to provide balance, and the widest possible range of viable solutions, those church groups include the Ba’hai, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and any other denominations we can call on here in the Cook Islands. Perhaps the only leap of faith, and belief, that needs to be made by those concerned initially is in themselves.
Let them first come to accept and understand that there is indeed a solution beyond their despair before presenting them with options. Call me a cynic, and many will of course, but, again, the prescribed values, attitudes, morals and so on, that form the basis of all religions may very well be the very things these troubled individuals are struggling with, and against.
Marrying a search for meaning, self discovery, exploring sexuality, relationships, self esteem and so on, with societal expecations, is hard enough without the weight of religious expectation upon them.
And it is at this point I offer my disclaimer(s). I am by definition a Christian so have no axe to grind with it, nor any other religion.
Am I indeed judging ‘religions’? Possibly the concept but not any one person involved. Can religion be a cure? Again, possibly, but it can also be a curse.
If I were to summarise my thoughts then I would say that what we need right now are open minds, and my fear is that ‘church groups’ minds are less open than others. I stand to be corrected...
Brendon Fiebig
Good luck to our 7s boys
Fri
3 Feb
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the SS (Smoke Signal) in yesterday’s paper. A comprehensive process took place to select our National 7s team who are currently participating in Wellington.
This included the National 7s coach Ramsey Tomokino being present at the Sevens In Heaven tournament 3-5 November last year to identify local talent and create a list of potential players. These players were approached and if interested in vying for selection were required to, under the supervision and guidance of the CEO, commit to a 7s specific training programme and meet certain fitness and training criteria from November and over the festive period. For a number of reasons which primarily had to do with the level of commitment and fitness required to play at this level this pool dwindled away to just one and we are extremely proud of and congratulate Kairan for being steadfast in his goal to represent our country this weekend in Wellington. We also commend the rest of our boys, especially those who are on debut, who wave our flag on the international stage and play passionately for our tiny nation.
Good luck to our 7s team!
Lara Sadaraka
CIRU Secretary
Roundtable discussions just PR
Thu
2 Feb
Dear Editor,
Your reporter Eric Parnis said in the lead story in yesterday’s paper that some of the participants at the Roundtable Discussions between the government and development partners disagreed with my comments.
I did not hear such disagreement from those that spoke after my intervention.
My experience in fact was quite the opposite. Many people there including several ministers thanked me for having the courage to point out “reality”. On top of that several development partner representatives acknowledged the problems I pointed out.
I was not “knocking” – which was a rather dismissive opinion by Mr Parnis – instead I was being diplomatic, gracious but not overwhelmed by the overtures. The words “chit-chat” were those of Mr Parnis, not mine.
I said that many of such discussions like these, at the end of the day many people leave with a feeling that it was just a “talk-fest”. But I thank Mr Parnis and your newspaper for the write up on page 10 of yesterday’s CINews.
Sir, if I may briefly clarify my position. There is no doubt that development partners are committed to working with the Cook Islands and this commitment is motivated by a number of strategic interests for the partner.
What I found wanting for example was that not one of them questioned the Cook Islands National Sustainable Plan 2011-2015 and yet it is a document they appear to rely on as a blue print for their assistance.
Amazingly, none of them were critical of the glossy (I must admit impressive) presentations by the Cook Islands relevant ministries.
I had a number of questions to ask the Cook Islands government but it would be inapt for me to take up the time of the development partners and because the discussion was a forum open to all, I expected some concrete positions from the development partners.
Honestly, discussions behind closed doors are preferred by the development partners and we must respect their right to maintain some hold onto their funds that they are generously handing over.
So, my point is, open forums such as “Roundtable Discussions” are just that; an effective form of public relations. Really, what I am airing is an age old problem that plagues the relationships between donor and recipient countries. Thanks.
Wilkie Rasmussen
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
No one objected to Rupe Raea’s recital
Thu
2 Feb
Dear Editor,
I’ve read with great interest of an aggressive and anti Makea letter to the editor blaming the Makea families for the failures of the Takitumu people choices for selecting the Pa Ariki ki runga ite Paepae Ariki.
The writer goes on to say that there are records in the registrar where people can read – but the question I would like to pose on the writer is, whose record? Is it an unanimous record that everyone agreed and approved?
The writer also stated that there was no senior or first wife – but according to his genealogy he or she put down wife number 1, wife number 2 and wife number 3. What does that show? However, according to our record and genealogy recited by our great great great grand uncle Rupe Raea in the court hearing in 1906, he recited the connections of the Makea line from Te Pa Atua Kino line to the Pa Ariki lineage and no one present on the day opposed or revoked his recital.
According to our written record which was destroyed by those who work in the registrar (which we are very grateful of the Latter Day Saints Church who copied these records before it was destroyed) shows that Teuira Kamoariki also known as Tauira Ariki the first born child of Makea Pini and Ngamarama Apai Tururangi (from the Ngati Apai of Takitumu) was the principal wife of Pa Taputapu Atea also known as Tepuretu , as it is our Maori custom to have a senior wife to take control of a household or the household will be in chaos.
The influence of the anti Makea during this time was not from the whole of the Ngati Tangiia of Takitumu, it was from the Ngati Maoate and Manavaroa – hence their gathering at Titama away from Pa Taputapu Atea site.
E tama me kare ra e maine as much as you hate the Makea families you have to remember if you are a descendants of Pa Taputapu Atea at Te Puretu the royal blood of Makea is running through your veins through and through.
In conclusion this is the genealogy Rupe Raea recited with no objections and revocations from anyone on the day:
Mata Pa Ariki ( 0f Takitumu ) married Okimano of Makea Te Komako at Konako , a sister of Rangi Makeakea also known as Rangi Makea = They had 1) Makea Taputapu Atea (m)
2) Makea Te Pa Atua Kino (m) ( who was adopted tamakokoti by Rangi Makeakea this is the Maori way of legal adoption he lost his rights to the Pa title , lands and all that Pa had) Makea Pa Teururoa or Te Ruaroa (m) Makea Pa Te Raura (m) Te Pare (f).
I admire the decision made by Tupe Short who knew all along that the senior line is foremost the rightful title holder. I believe in humility and love and grace he surrendered the title to his grand neice Pa Tepaeru Terito. Te nakonei te tuatua a te Atua, Te vai nei te akarongo te manakonako e te aroa ko tei maata i taua toru nei ko te AROA – I believe that what reigns in Tupe Short’s heart and mind, this is a real gentleman he has shown us something to ponder on. Kia Manuia ite Atua
Toi Tu Rahui Tepapa Te Rautea David
Mangere East, Auckland
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