Ship returns to Auckland with much of its cargo on board

The ship Southern Phoenix that was dispatched last week to Aitutaki with building materials for the recovery programme had to return to Auckland with much of its cargo still on board. Bad weather, rough seas and a barge that broke down were the factors that conspired against the good intentions. Apparently, by the time, a new motor arrived for the broken down barge, the Southern Phoenix was due to go back to Auckland.
However, there are arrangements being put into place for a one-off shipment of 60 containers of building materials to be shipped from Auckland to the Cook Islands bound for Aitutaki. The cargo will include the material unable to be offloaded last week as well as a backlog of containers already sitting on the wharf in Auckland.
Secretary of Transport, Aukino Tairea has been instructed to issue a one-off special licence for a ship to bring the materials to the Cook Islands. Without the special licence, the cargo would not be due for another month which is much to long owing to the urgency of the need in Aitutaki.
CITC Building Centre have set up a temporary outlet in Aitutaki where they plan to sell their timber and other building materials to the Government in order to dispense with the need for a middle man in Aitutaki. CITC does not already have a branch there and this will be a new venture for them.
The question of whether the prices will be better was not broached at the interview but will be addressed sooner than later. However, the idea is attractive to Government as CITC has their own ship to take the cargo to Aitutaki whereas the other suppliers on Rarotonga do not.