Mayor Briefs Aitutaki Communities in NZ and Australia on Cyclone Recovery

The Tokoroa Aitutaki community had lots of questions to ask when visited by the Mayor of Aitutaki Tai Herman and former Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton who are currently visiting members of the various Aitutaki communities in Australia and NZ to consult and update them on what is actually happening in Aitutaki as far as the cyclone recovery process is concerned.
Herman and Woonton met with the Tokoroa Aitutaki community on Tuesday night to brief them on the recovery process in Aitutaki and to ensure that the right information was being conveyed to allay fears of misinformation and to seek the support of the Aitutaki people regarding financial and moral assistance.
There was a very good turnout by the Aitutaki community who thanked the visitors for taking the time and the effort to advise them on what was happening on Aitutaki. We have been receiving mixed messages from Rarotonga to the point where we don’t know who to believe anymore, stated Andrew Mangi Chairman of the Tokoroa Aitutaki Association.
Even though the Mayor has briefed us, there are still unanswered questions which concerns me because our people have placed their trust in me to ensure there is accountability over the use of funds collected by our people in Tokoroa. He has advised us to put our funds into a trust account and when they need the money, we send it. You hear all sorts of stories as to what is or isn’t happening to the funds and that has to be of concern to our people.
When asked whether he was sanctioned by the people of Aitutaki to do the consultations and how it was being funded, the Mayor did not respond. He explained the 4 different categories involving families that were affected, Cook Islands government’s response and NZ government’s assistance package which was greatly received.
However, the Mayor did express some concerns as to “officials from Rarotonga” interfering with the recovery process by providing the wrong information and spreading rumours over his role as co-ordinator of the recovery process. Mangi stated that his concerns were related to the many rumours over the handling of funds donated and the uncertainty as to who was co-ordinating what on both ends.
There has been little communication between Aitutaki and our people here and that has only fuelled concern, mistrust and rumours being circulated as to what has actually been going on. We were happy to hear that the official Aitutaki Cyclone Appeal Committee were co-ordinating fundraising efforts but the question remains, what do we do with our funds and who do we send it to now?
I admit there has been confusion as to which group is co-ordinating fundraising efforts for our people in NZ and that is the reason why I want to ensure whatever money has been raised by our people is going to go where it is intended to go rather than to individuals. We are only a small community consisting mainly of retired people, widows and widowers who donated from the heart because they know their people are hurting in Aitutaki so we just want to do our little bit to help, said Mangi.
It is understood the Tokoroa community has raised almost $30,000 to assist with the Appeal which does not include food, building materials and clothing that was sent via a container to assist people during the recovery process. I’m afraid if things go wrong and our people are not satisfied their efforts being spent appropriately, we may never get that level of support again should another cyclone hit the Cook Islands, said Mangi.
Meanwhile, it is understood the Mayor and Woonton will continue with their consultations and are scheduled to meet the Aitutaki communities in Hawkes Bay, Porirua, Wellington and possibly the South Island.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?