Outer Islands dumping ground for goods beyond expiry date?

At the meeting held with the people of Mauke by the Koutu Nui, people complained about the poor quality of goods on sale such as having manumanu in the flour or canned foods which were in rusty tins and generally having goods which are beyond the expiry date.
In addition, the cost of food is very high and yet the quality is inferior to that in Rarotonga. They say the goods ought not to be sent to the Outer Islands in the first place, but if they are sent, they should be ‘on sale’ at drastically reduced prices. They want to address the issues by having a resident Price Controller to ensure that not only are prices on essential goods such as benzene and food correct but also to monitor the quality of the goods. Some suggested the Mayor could have that role and he said he would gladly accept if he were given proper training in such procedures and presumably a reasonable fee to do so.
Helen Maunga from Internal Affairs confirmed that foodstuffs should be removed from sale in the shops if they are beyond the expiry date.

Spreading the available wages to more families so they will stay on their own islands

The Outer Islanders say the budget of the country would go further if the pay rates for our Members of Parliament and Public Servants were moderated. They say if the income were spread more evenly, especially in the Outer Islands, then people would be able to remain on their own islands rather than leaving for Rarotonga or overseas. For instance, they say rather than paying one person $30,000 in wages, it would be better to have three people employed at $10,000 so that three households in the Outer Islands could benefit from the salaries. If there were jobs for their Mapu, they would settle down and raise their own families in the Outer Islands. Similarly, Members of Parliament are seldom in the House and thus their pay rates are probably too high considering the lack of action for the good of the public.

Inferior goods, delays hamper the Outer Islands

There are private complaints from the Outer Islands that clients are purchasing building supplies of a specific quality as inspected to be delivered to them on the next available boat. Not only do the Outer Islanders have to live with shipping delays but on delivery they find the quality of goods is not what they ordered nor as inspected.
The substitute goods are delivered without explanation or offer of a rebate to reflect the difference in price for the inferior or substitute goods actually delivered. .
The complainants say suppliers appear to work on the premise that Outer Islands people need to wait so long for delivery that they are unlikely to return the inferior goods because it would entail even more delays in returning the goods and waiting for the correct replacements.
Suppliers and consumers need to be aware of the existence of the Fair Trading Act 2008 which is about protecting the rights of all consumers from unfair trading practices and is substantially in line with fair trading laws in New Zealand and Australia. Enforcement can be by way of criminal proceedings with fines up to $10,000 individually or $20,000 for companies. Remedies by way of civil proceedings include injunction or orders to publicly disclose their contravention by way of published advertisements paid for by the offending party or by court order to vary the contract or arrangement, refund of money, or return of property.