LAGOON PROGRESS
Leaders support project, want council retained

Teariki Matenga, Mayor of Takitumu Vaka, met with the Aronga Mana (Traditional Leaders) of the district to update them on the pilot project to clean up the lagoon. Retention of the Vaka Council was also discussed.
The meeting is part of the project committee’s awareness programme to keep locals informed of progress with the pilot project.
Some 30 people attended on Monday evening at Kent Hall and the response was very positive, Matenga told the Cook Islands Times on Friday. The pilot project aims to clean up the lagoon from Titikaveka to Avana over a period of three years.
Also discussed said Matenga was the matter of sewage treatment especially where there was a concentration of units, such as at Muri with the hotels. Any treatment process would require sewage to be piped away, and land for a treatment plant.
MP
Newly elected MP Robert Wigmore was also at the meeting. Matenga said Wigmore indicated Government support would be needed.
Wigmore also indicated he would give 100 per cent support to dealing with the sewage issue. The issue had widened in scope since Wigmore was in government, said Matenga.
The next move on the awareness agenda is to take the message about the project to the schools in the district.
FUTURE
Matenga said the meeting also discussed the future of the Vaka Council in light of Minister Ngamau Munokoa’s comments about the need for greater efficiency. Matenga said those present supported retaining the Council.
The major problem was insufficient finance to do what the Council wanted to do. There was opposition to the funds going back to the local MP because that had not worked in the past.
The council option was better than the old system. It had the advantage in the case of community work. The community, said Matenga, responded better when things were non-political.

Headlines : Times 188 19 Feb 2007
- Foodco merger scrutiny urged
- ‘ADAPT OR DIE’
- Political questions, Political pushes?
- VAKA Jandals HOT here
- LAGOON PROGRESS
- Letters to the Editor
- COOKS WARNING: NZ radio, TV highlight dengue outbreak here
- DENGUE: Do’s and don’ts
- TOTALLY WILD: Fundraising trivia night at Golf Club
- Rugby League: Aitutaki Sharks win first game

Headlines : Times 187 12 Feb 2007
- AUNTY MAU HITS BACK
- Good chance to seek arts funding
- Police shift goal posts in crash case George
- Case unheard after 3 years, thrown out
- Police get final warning on 7-month-old case
- Many happy returns, Papa Ralph
- FAO consultant to meet Minister
- New Year, new body challenge
- Telecom connects with community
- Unfinished business waits, says Wigmore