The current system-it’s broken, so fix it

A housewife is focusing public attention on political reform

Teina Mackenzie, the instigator of the “Cook Islands Political Reform Petition 2009” told the Herald on Tuesday she is encouraged by the response so far from the general public to the petition.
Mackenzie said over the last four days, 57 people had signed the petition –and this is on line only. One has to admire Mackenzie, she’s more than a housewife and mother.
The petition for signing went out to some 30 stores around Rarotonga on Saturday afternoon. She will be doing daily checks on these.
The petition is her initiative to create public momentum toward political reform following the proposals on political reform put up by the Economic Development Task Force. Those proposals included reducing the number of MPs from 24 to 19 and having the Prime Minister elected by the people. The preamble to the petition reads as follows;
“To: Cook Islands Government
Our current system of government is not suitable for our nation and therefore needs to be replaced by a more appropriate system. This petition, when signed by the majority of current Cook Islands-registered voters, will ensure such a system is established. The new structure will allow the people to better control the actions of those we put into government — ensuring they are “of the people and for the people”. Once political reform is achieved, the Cook Islands community can look forward to economic growth in areas such as Tourism, Agriculture and more. Cook Islanders will also be able to enjoy a level of social services offered that we haven’t had before and future generations can benefit from the many initiatives that will commence and succeed as a result of our new leaders supporting same.
These exact changes will certainly return some of the 90% of our Cook Islanders that currently live overseas, along with making those of us currently living in the Cook Islands much better cared for and much more successful in our endeavours. Only political reform, now, is the way forward.
JOIN OTHERS IN MAKING A CHANGE, SIGN THE PETITION ATTACHED.”
Mackenzie says she wishes to get like minded people together and organize some public meetings.
She says the aim is to “re-think government “- a line from the document put out by the Economic Development Task Force. She maintains that without political reform first, the other changes proposed may not eventuate.
In relation to our current set up, Mackenzie’s catch phrase is, “It just doesn’t work.”
In regard to reform of the public service, she says she has not looked at that area yet.
Being unfamiliar with the report done in 1998 following the review in 1997 of the political system undertaken by Iaveta Short, John Herman and Papa Ron Crocombe, Mackenzie said when she read that report, she became quite angry. A major change to occur following that group’s report was the abolition of the overseas seat.
It gave her more impetus to pursue the issue of reform. Her wish is to mobilize the every day person, to let them know they do have a say. Change will come says Mackenzie if everyone puts in.
Being a mother of six and helping to run a business takes up a great deal of her time but Mackenzie is committed to putting in as much time as she can to the reform issue. She knows she can’t do it alone and everyone interested in political reform needs to help.
Mackenzie is dedicated to making sure it happens.
Still fresh in people’s minds will be the more recent determination and work of the GPC-the Group for Political Change. Liz Ponga, Lindsay Francis and Tere Carr were the core of this group. Ponga and Carr went on to stand for parliament albeit unsuccessfully. A major change which followed their efforts was the reduction of the parliamentary term from five years to four years.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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