Bedroom Burger place in Aitutaki – a creative initiative

Business as usual, that’s the order of the day for Ned and Greta Neale and their children as they prepare Mac – Ned’s Takeaways for another day of serving hungry locals and tourists who call into their modest but creative takeaways facility located on their veranda at the front of their house for burgers and chips over a friendly chat.
Watching the flurry of tourists calling in was amazing given there is no elaborate signage of marketing except for a little sign on the front lawn advertising Mac Ned’s Takeaways.
Although the veranda is small in size accommodating 3 small tiny tables, it is huge in terms of the warmth it radiates and the service “comes with love” says Greta who endeavours to make everyone feel welcome and at home.
For any fast food lover, Mac Neds burgers and chips are next to none and come highly recommended. They are enough to make your taste buds melt and with such friendly service, you can’t help but feel attracted to this “Bedroom Burger Place” operating from the front veranda of the Neale’s family home.
There is an ironic twist to this story however as the store to which the Neales own and operated from for many years in Arutanga, was destroyed following Cyclone Pat earlier this year. Efforts to seek financial assistance to help rebuild the premises have been unsuccessful as they have been told they are not eligible for government assistance in any of the 4 categories recognized as part of the reconstruction programme because they are a private business.
The Neale’s do not apportion blame on anyone regarding this but feel it is so unfair because it has placed additional burden on their family in order to make ends meet. We have suffered like everyone else but the double blow for us is in not being eligible for any assistance regardless. We were hopeful some kind of stimulus package could be available from government even at low interest but unfortunately that is not the case.
The Neale’s also claim that other larger business operators appear to be receiving financial assistance to the detriment of the small family owned businesses struggling to survive because of Cyclone Pat. We had no choice but to set up shop at home and although it is not ideal, we had to be creative in order to re-establish ourselves and to keep our business operating.
On further discussions with other small business owners, their stories tell of the same plight and struggle as they too, have been declined assistance because they are categorized as a private business. It is so unfair said another business owner who runs accommodation units because there is a downturn in the market and we may be faced shortly with the prospect of having to close down because we’re not able to meet our repayment commitments to the bank. There appears to be one set of rules for some businesses and another set for others.
The Council has taken a blanket approach to deciding who qualifies and who doesn’t and there doesn’t appear to be any policy direction to assist people like us said another business owner.
These concerns have been noted by the Chief Executive of the Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) Terry Rangi who was in Aitutaki last week and was fortunate enough to savour one of Greta’s burgers and agreed there was a need to relook at how best BTIB and other related agencies of government can provide assistance to people like Ned and Greta.
There is a definite slowdown in terms of tourism related benefits to small local business operators and unless government steps in to provide some kind of remedial financial support mechanism, businesses like Ned and Greta’s will likely fail and they will have no choice but to reconsider their future on Aitutaki.
Meanwhile, for those travelling to Aitutaki in the near future, take the time to spot out Mac- Ned’s Takeaways or better known as the “Bedroom Burger Place” in Amuri and try one of those beautiful burgers and chips, you won’t regret it.

By John Ireland

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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