Aitutaki community gets organised
When the Aitutaki Community committee convened a meeting to discuss how to raise funds for Araura Enua which has been devastated by Cyclone Pat, the community responded with gusto.
Over 300 people attended the meeting held at the Aitutaki hostel on Monday evening where the attendees elected a newly created Fundraising Planning Committee who will oversee and coordinate the various fundraising activities to help the stricken people of Araura Enua. The fundraising committee is George George (chairman), Vaitoti Tupa (vice chairman), Nga Takaiti (treasurer) and Florence Syme-Buchanan (secretary and media contact).
The main events will be the Radio-thon on Friday 19 February to be run on Radio Cook Islands from 12noon with Captain Gee, Ben Mose and Aunty Nga Teao. Matariki FM and 88 FM will also take part in the Radio-thon and all proceeds going to the same worthy cause.
Also on Friday, there will be food stalls set up in the grounds of Te Atukura from breakfast onwards with the various Oire/Vaka committees who were selected or volunteered their services to the cause. The subcommittees are meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday night to decide what food they plan to sell this Friday. Other committee members include Janette Browne, Rosie Blake, John Henry, Kau Mapu and Superintendent Ismaela to name just a few.
The outer islands are also doing their bit such as Mauke which has already raised over $8,000 for the Aitutaki Fundraising appeal and plan to hold another on Friday. This was as reported by Aunty Moeroa, wife of Mauke MP, Hon Mapu Taia. Mangaia plans to also run their own appeal to help the cause.
Secretary of the Aitutaki Community, Moana Ioane said he had been seconded to the EMCI Taskforce with government and so could not take as active a role in fundraising as he originally had wanted. He said many Araura people based in New Zealand and Australia have already rung to offer their assistance and donations. Offers include one from Malcolm Sword in Auckland who has 2 containers available that can be filled with goods or materials for Aitutaki
As for the local efforts, fundraising vice chairman, Vaitoti Tupa reported that he had already drafted a letter to be sent out to all the businesses on Rarotonga asking for contributions for the appeal. He had also approached the Punanga Nui Market manager to ask if the vendors could show their support on Friday by not selling food at the market on that particular day.
Titikaveka representative, Superintendent Ismaela reported that his Oire had met on Sunday and decided their best way to assist would be to conduct a house to house door knock in their village to raise money and donations of food to be sent to the people of Aitutaki.
Everyone agreed that fundraising efforts are not a one-off event but will probably need to continue for a whole year or more.
