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$1 airfares boost Aitutaki tourism
Henderson says to ‘hold out a bit longer’ for aid distribution
Repairs underway
Little girl, big heart
$1 airfares boost Aitutaki tourism
Wed
31 Mar
Cook Islands Tourism’s latest campaign to attract visitors back to Aitutaki following Cyclone Pat has been a resounding success, selling out in a matter of days, says NZ manager Chris Ingram.
In conjunction with Air New Zealand and Air Rarotonga, CI Tourism negotiated flights from Rarotonga to Aitutaki for $1 each way, subject to booking a minimum five night holiday to Rarotonga with a minimum three night stay in Aitutaki.
“The concept was all about getting people back visiting Aitutaki. The island is completely reliant on tourism and despite it being back up and running to completely support visitors to the island, people had stopped travelling there. Fortunately it worked, in fact we also negotiated some $99 one way airfares and they also sold out. It’s great news for Aitutaki.”
Originally from Aitutaki, Ingram says he is incredibly passionate about the island and the Cook Islands as a destination.
“It was emotional returning home and hearing the stories from my family and friends about the cyclone. I am rapt we’ve been able to drive much needed visitors back to the island and the great thing is Rarotonga will also benefit as a direct result of the campaign.”
He says a drop in visitor numbers over the last six weeks has been felt deeply across the island.
“Hotels don’t need as many staff on duty, the restaurants aren’t as busy, neither are the tour companies taking people fishing and snorkelling. It was vital to get people back there so they can see it is business as usual but also how beautiful it is.”
Ingram says through visiting the island of Aitutaki they are doing so much to assist the local people.
“Donations are greatly appreciated but it is the return of the visitors that will truly help my people with rebuilding their own homes and more importantly their lives.”
With Air NZ’s special link to the Cook Islands having commenced jet services to Rarotonga nearly 40 years ago, Rob Fyfe was all behind offering support.
“We have a special connection to Aitutaki, with the TEAL flying boat service operating there almost 60 years ago. It really is a very special destination and once people have experienced its postcard beauty they will feel an affinity with the Aitutakians forever.”
Henderson says to ‘hold out a bit longer’ for aid distribution
Tue
30 Mar
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Three crews are currently working on rebuilding roofs and homes listed as category 1 and 2 (minimal damage). 1003281
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Aid Management division manager Garth Henderson has been working closely with the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee to determine the most effective way of distributing aid money to those affected by Cyclone Pat.
Henderson’s experience in aid management and his involvement with the government’s recovery project makes him the ideal candidate for the job of adviser to the ACA committee.
He applauded the members of the committee for their fundraising efforts and their drive to maintain integrity throughout the whole process.
“They’ve been very careful about collecting funds and accounting (for) them and banking them,” he said.
Audit director Paul Allsworth said that the audit report on ACA books should be available next week. He said that Audit staff are busy going through their records – a service that they have resolved to contribute to the cause.
“The work my staff is doing is our contribution to Aitutaki – we have a social responsibility to the community so there’s no charge,” Allsworth said.
Henderson said he’s heard the “talk-back” surrounding the lump of money sitting in the ACA account, but encourages the public to “hold out a bit longer”.
“When people want aid, you have to be analytical because you’re dealing with public funds and because you need to get the best return on your expenditures,” he said. “At the same time I’ve been very aware there’s urgency and needs on the ground so we can’t really spend too much time analysing. We need to be decisive at some point.”
He said that although he recognises the need to get the ball rolling, it’s important that he and the ACA committee spend the money wisely.
“The people gave us this money and we assume they want us to spend it well, to spend it on people that were most affected and to be sure it provides lasting benefits,” he said. “We have an obligation to these people to put their money to good use.”
Henderson said that government’s plan for the reconstruction of Aitutaki is “not bad” and said that it’s important to “recognise that the core financial needs of recovery will be met by government”.
The ACA money can then “fill in the gaps” that remain after government does its part.
The committee is waiting for NZAID to release its aid package – a move which is pending an NZ expert’s assessment that is expected to be finished this week – before it can identify such ‘gaps’.
He was not downplaying the ACA contribution – which he called the “biggest amount raised in such a period of time” – but he did say that it’s just a ‘drop in the pool’, as the recovery will cost close to $10 million.
It will be useful to cover the costs that the government recovery plan overlooks.
For example, Henderson said, if a government house is too small for a large family, perhaps the ACA money can be put towards expanding it.
He said he’s happy to work with Internal Affairs to determine which members of the community “lack family support and income opportunities” and therefore need aid most desperately.
Henderson said that he and the ACA committee have toyed with the idea of going to Aitutaki to see for themselves what it’s like and where aid would be most useful, but pledged not to dip into the ACA fund for airfare and accommodation purposes.
“We’re talking about funding the trip ourselves,” he said. “We’re not going to use public money for that.”
Repairs underway
Mon
29 Mar
Work on reroofing and fixing homes on Aitutaki, damaged by Cyclone Pat last month, started last week with homes listed as category 1 and 2 (minimal damage) the first to be fixed.
Aitutaki island mayor Tai Herman reports that there are three teams of workers on the island carrying out reroofing and building work.
He says that the building crews consist of supervisors from Rarotonga and around 20 young men from Aitutaki who are under the management of project manager Ata Herman.
“They have done the village of Tautu and are now well into the village of Vaipae,” says Herman. “Pending on the weather, he (Ata Herman) thinks they should be able to complete this part in three weeks.”
“Some of the houses are worse than initially estimated.”
Herman says that he and the Aitutaki Island Council and those people involved in the rebuilding of the category 1 and 2 homes are happy to see the work get off the ground.
“I, and the Aitutaki Island Counci, and those people involved in these two categories, couldn’t be happier seeing this part of the recovery programme actually turn into reality,” says Herman.
“The extent of the work is not only restricted to the actual plan, but also extends to those who are so desperate for more, and they are being looked after.”
Herman says that a technical advisor from NZAID is on the island and will be returning to Rarotonga today.
“At this stage I am hoping NZAID will come to the party early to address category 3 and 4 (homes with 50 to 100 per cent damage),” says Herman.
“I suppose I could refer this to a horse race between our government and NZAID.”
“Both have openly committed financial commitments to the recovery of Aitutaki but there is only one horse in the race.
“Our skinny ($2.7m) horse driven by the minister Wilkie Rasmussen is away on the track while NZAID’s fat ($5.5M) horse, still tied to a tree, couldn’t find a driver.”
“Otherwise we’re happy that our government have now walked the talk. Great job.”
Little girl, big heart
Thu
25 Mar
When five-year-old Asia Areora heard about the devastation to Aitutaki caused by Cyclone Pat, she knew she had to do something.
The ACG Sunderland Primary School student of West Auckland felt deeply for her family in Aitutaki and she wanted to help out. She didn’t let her limited savings -- $10 in her treasure chest – stop her.
She knew it wasn’t enough to build a house, so she asked her mum and dad whether they’d mind putting up the money to do so.
Areora was disappointed to hear that building a house might be too costly a venture, but she didn’t give up.
She used her own pocket money to buy the ingredients she needed to bake cupcakes and contacted family and friends, asking them to place orders.
“By the end of the first week, (she) had confirmed orders for over 300 cupcakes!” gushed her mum Natasha in an e-mail. “Well, who could say no to that cute smile.”
She spent two weekends baking and decorating cupcakes with her parents, and after filling all the orders she had collected $820 to donate to the Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal.
“She has such a big heart and always thinks of others before herself, even at five years old,” Natasha wrote.
Asia is looking forward to moving to Rarotonga next year with her parents and her little sister Jaselle.
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