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Letters to the Editor

Week ending Wednesday, 1 February, 2012

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We will not publish any material which we consider to be defamatory

Thanks for a great day of tennis
Toxic email a wake up call
Its an example of a crazy out there on the internet
Fairy tales manipulated
We must talk about it
Suicide must NEVER be an option
There is poverty in the Cook Islands
These processes do take time
Please get on with it
The big kahunas dictate
When are we getting paid?
No response, no excuse

Rarotonga children enjoying the fun Coca Cola tennis carnival last week. 12012501

Dear Editor

Just wanted to say a big thank you to Malcolm Kajer, the tennis committee members and also senior tennis players who were involved with putting together a fantastic tennis carnival for the kids last Wednesday. There was a large number of children present but it all appeared to be very well organised. My own children came home very happy after having a great morning involving fun tennis games and activities. Thanks again guys we are lucky to have such a great tennis club on Rarotonga.

Jo Weir

Dear Editor,

I can see that no one is taking this guy seriously enough about his threatening emails vowed to ruin our tourism industry. Maybe he does have a point here.

There is a big problem on our island and we seem to camouflage it by painting nice and attractive images of the Cook Islands to the outside world.

Let this be a reality check for us that someone can really see into our backyard. We have ongoing crimes in our country as well as corruption in the government departments in all levels. This, we cant escape from, we are a troubled little nation and we are turning a blind eye to it all.

For all we know, this person could have been a spy on our island and we just did not know. We need to be aware of what is happening around us and really re-look at our justice system.

We need to go back to the ways things used to be, a friendly nation but right now, we are not friendly as we think we are.

Our tourism industry is trying its best to promote the Cook Islands but it is us the people who is spoiling it for everyone.

So, I believe that this toxic email whether its going to happen on the many different websites as he claims to do, should be a wake up call for us all and not treat it as someone whos sick in the head.

We need to be prepared for future threats and not give a false impression to others about our paradise.

I take my hat off to the CEO of Tourism, Carmel Beattie, and her team who are doing a wonderful job promoting our country and we should give her support by ensuring that we play our part as a community to help eliminate crimes and others factors that may in turn ruin our beautiful country.

Finally, we claim that we are a Christian orientated nation and we should start acting like one. Heres a tip! Next time you smile to someone, be genuine!

Viper

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

I write about the email crank story in your Saturday edition.

Some years ago when I published what was then my seventh book, I found a scathing review of it on Amazon.com. Problem was, the book had not actually been published yet so no one had a copy to do such a review.  Just another example of a crazy out there on the internet.

As an American who has now been coming to the Cook Islands for seven weeks over the past four years, and having visited in excess of 70 countries, I dont know a finer experience than the Cook Islands.

People are fantastic, accommodations on the beach are unbelievable, and its safe, beautiful, and relaxing.

We have met and now have local friends and have met so many others from around the world.

I almost hate to recommend it to friends because I dont want so many people coming and changing whats here, but alas I do recommend it again and again. Travellers who know what they are doing recognise a bad review when they see it. This too will pass. Ill be back next year.

Danny Langdon

PS: I also read the article on the Betela sand mine. Please dont let this kind of trash build up and have an adverse effect on your beautiful island. It strikes me that those who created the problem should immediately get in there and fix it. Ive driven by the place and its a mess.

Dear Editor,

I refer to your Cook Islands News of the 21 January 2012 regarding the letter More wrongs to correct.

Yes! I totally agree that these wrongs in our court records should be corrected.

I personally think this cannot be achieved because everyone believes they have the more correct genealogies over the others. The genealogies in the above mentioned letter and the fairy tales that surround it had been manipulated to suit the writers intentions.

I will not waste too much time digging too deeply into the article itself but would like to point out some of the wrongs it contains.

1. Tupe is not a Ariki but a Rangatira. (He was never invested a Ariki title.)

2. The order of Pa Taputapuatea Arikis wives are: Mata-Tui-Atua, Teuira, Tauariki.

3. Teuingariki had only 2 wives not 3: Tekura Taukiapa and Aumea. (Pare Takau is just an additional by the writer of the genealogy.)

4. Takau who married Pori Makea is the elder sister of Karika.

5. Takau (alias Akaiti = Tamarua Kuinui) is absolute fabrication. (Ngati Tamarua has no connection to Ngati Karika.)

6. Tearuru-a-Ta married to Manuanga is another wrong there is no Tearuru in the Ngati Ta genealogy but in Ngati Tamarua.

7. The law mentioned in the article that no half caste would ever hold an Ariki title is rather strange for Tupe Short to make claim to Pa Ariki Title hes half caste already.

8. For the Kopu of Takau to say there are no more issues of the Mata-Tui-Atua line is very insulting.

Editor, there is a lot more to say about the above subject but I will stop here for the time being.

Ata Piakura

Uanga a Mata-Tui-Atua

We learned today of a sadness back home that is startling every time you hear it, and that is our youngest member of our crew Peia Junior lost his best mate to suicide. This hits us all hard here to think about what we are out here sailing and fighting for, our future which is our children.

Suicide is like a sickness. We can not ignore it. We must talk about it. We must nurture the sick. Recognise the symptoms of the ill and most of all love, love, love. What is the saying... a gram of prevention is better than an ounce of cure.

We have been talking on the vaka today and realised we have all been affected in some way by suicide.... we have agreed that we are sailing for the future of our children so we are dedicating this voyage from here off the coast of Mexico all the way home to Rarotonga, to our Cook Islands Mapu (our youth).

They are our future to carry the same message that we are here, strong, culturally and environmentally and proud of our nation, people and heritage.

This trip is not about the people who are just on this vaka. This trip is about all of us. Cook Islands, Pacifika and our World.

We thank you all at home, our families and friends for all your love and prayers. As we are out here following the stars, watching the moon and feeling the suns rays, we are happy to know that you will also feel the same warmth soon, as the sun travels across our great Pacific Ocean to you.

All of us here on Marumaru Atua send our deepest condolences to the family affected by this recent tragic loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We also send our condolences to all those families still mourning the loss of young Cook Islands lives.

Te Atua te Aroa.

Numangatini Mackenzie Alexander Teariki Olah Marumaru Atua Off the coast of Mexico

Dear Editor,

Our names are Lara and Elin and we have been best friends since starting school at Tereora College many years ago. We and many of our other friends are saddened at hearing of the passing of so many young people due to suicide.

Although we are two people raised in different religious backgrounds, we agree with the  words of advice and encouragement in last Saturdays newspaper titled Keep yourself for the best not second best.

Thank you, Pastor Pere, for the article. We sincerely hope our young Cook Islanders are able to really understand and take to heart his words so that we can all help to bring about a healthy change of attitude here. Suicide or even suicidal thoughts is not something that should be taken lightly.

To go along with Pastor Peres article, we also hope that our youth of today know and understand how important they are to their families, friends and God. Each person, male and female alike, is of infinite worth in the eyes of God and no one should make you feel any less than that.

In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, No one has the right to make you feel inferior without your consent. This means that YOU as an individual, being your own person, have control over the way others treat you and make you feel and Pastor Peres 7 Points and Golden Tips are some excellent guidelines for both young and old.

To our youth, remember that you can always speak to friends, parents, teachers, church leaders and of course God if you are feeling low or depressed or need that extra push of love and encouragement. There will always be a form of help available, you need only ask.

Suicide must NEVER be an option. We agree that times are different nowadays, and often you may find yourself in a situation that might be overwhelming or difficult, like having to handle a broken heart or the loss of a friend or loved one, but it is vital to keep in mind that the people who really love you, believe in you and want the best of life and success for you.

However, overcoming all these difficult obstacles in life will only work 100% if you believe in yourself and are willing to do your share, for God helps those who help themselves.

With that being said, we would like to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families who have lost a loved one before their time and pray that the Lord may bring you comfort and healing.

I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. Phillipians 4:13.

We love our Cook Islands people and pray for the youth of our country because they are the leaders of tomorrow.

Aroa Maata,

Lara P. and Elin G.

(Names and addresses supplied)

Dear Editor,

This has been a huge concern for a long time.

Its too expensive to live in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Everything is too over-priced, from bread to petrol to living arrangements (ie rent or even mortgages). The best place to eat, Cafe Ariki, has got the right idea. I want to address this with Mark Brown, our new financial minister. Look around you there is poverty in the Cook Islands.

Our people are living in crammed households, rents not cheap, mortgage interest rates are ridiculously stupid high, the social impact on our families and children is worsening.

You look at the amount of minor thefts in Rarotonga. If Mum and Dad were at home rather than at work, yes Im talking about those of us who always have to work two jobs each just to put food on the table...

You allow foreign workers to come here and they see that, yes, it is real expensive here in Rarotonga.

Mark Brown, I could go on and on about this but you already know the impact on the cost of living in Rarotonga. You all talk about the constant concern of the declining population of Aitutaki and Rarotonga etc. Wages in Rarotonga is a pathetic five dollars an hour for minimum wage. Ive been trying to live in Rarotonga for over 20 years. I have three sons, a mortgage and a little business and it is hard to manage all these things. I have just gone abroad to Perth, Australia. Yes, I have got a job in the mines.

I have only been here five days, start work in the next two to three days. Mark, petrol is $1.30 a litre, soft drinks are 99 cents for 1.5 litres. The list goes on.

Mark, look around the island, young families are having children how do you expect them to survive on the crap wages you, our government, start them on?

Mark, you're the new finance minister. Yes, you rock the boat mate. Dont be conformed or cloned into another Jim Marurai please, mate, speak out for the people. If you don't then none of those other MPs will.

Thank you, ka kite.

Jason Tini

Living in Perth and loving it

Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to the letter to the editor in your 25 January Cook Islands News titled When are we getting paid?

As Government Statistician responsible for the conduct of the Cook Islands Census, and on

behalf of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), I wish to offer our sincerest apology to all our Census Officers for the delay in your remuneration.

MFEM confirms that payment is being processed and will be in the banks (whichever bank that has been indicated for payment) by Monday 30 January 2012. Please bear with us as these processes do take time.

Again we would like to commend Census Supervisors and Enumerators for your efforts and dedication during the census period. It is certainly no simple task to visit and extract personal information from every individual and household in the country. We would alsolike to praise the people of the Cook Islands who gave their invaluable support and cooperation to this national undertaking.

Taggy Tangimetua

Government Statistician

Statistics Office

Ministry of Finance and Economic Management

Dear Editor,

Headlined in the CI News front page: Captain Maara Tetava praises his staff at the police department over and over again.

He has also been telling us, the public, for ages that the police are committed to reducing crime! (Did you know that this is actually their job?) Is this not why we pay for a police force?

Mr Commissioner, reducing crime is part of your job description! So please get on with it and try to do better than in the past.

Commissioner Tetava says: We have strong support but we need a whole lot more, for us to make an impact.

It seems he is indicating that in the past, his force has not made much difference at all.

He goes on to say that he commends those in the community, by offering support but is not happy with those people who sit on the fence, without lifting a hand to help.

Excuse me, sir, we are all helping by paying our taxes to pay for your big salary and all your staffs take-home pay. Unless, of course, the police chief refers (with his comment) to Old Age Pensioners. Te akaroa.

Not impressed

(Name and address supplied)

Dear Editor,

It is very interesting reading the report Ben Ponia gave last week on distributing licences and the issues concerning the over fishing in our part of the world.

The political issues raised awareness that we are not in control of our waters - the big kahunas can dictate and manipulate how and what we should do in our backyard.

One of my major concerns is, who is monitoring those who have the licences to fish in our waters and how that is done?

Ben Ponia stated at the end of his report: This is a renewable treasure that offers economic benefits to current and future generations of Cook Islanders, and particularly for the Northern Group islands where development opportunities are scarce. If the right balance can be found, the fisheries can be managed in a manner so that commercial fishing can co-exist harmoniously with artisanal game where they may interact.

Editor its great to see the vision and dreams that Ben Ponia has for his people in the Northern Group especially from Manihiki and Hararanga (Penrhyn), the fear that I have is will it become a reality?

Ben I pray and hope that you will continue to influence those in power to fulfil your vision and dreams, the people of the North have been ignored and been forgotten.

Kia manuia rava i te Atua

Toi Tu Rahui Tepapa David

Mangere East, Auckland

Dear Editor,

Being an enumerator during the recent national Census, I am wondering when are we to be paid.

I have been contacting the Statistics Office for any confirmation since before Christmas and the answer I get is either the end of this week or next week. How many next week have gone past and I am still waiting.

During those days a lot of time, commitment and sacrifices had been made late evening and early morning hours to complete the forms, and petrol cost for the vehicles used, and what we get. Aria ana.

Kua tae te roi!

(Name and address supplied)

Editor: We have asked authorities for an explanation.

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article from a few weeks ago about two Italian documentary filmmakers critical of the waste management system in Pukapuka. There has been no response from Rarotonga. Government officials came to visit the island last week and did not respond to the issue. Distance is not an excuse for the lack of waste management response, education shortages, health shortages and transportation woes that face Pukapuka.

I hope that the government responds to the problems raised in that article regarding waste management and other issues facing Pukapuka and the Northern Group Islands.

Amelia R.H. Borofsky

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