Puaikura Jetty Pushing Priorities and Performance
Wise decisions are made from being well informed about what needs to happen, what has happened and what may happen. Along with such information is the necessity of ample time to make such wise decisions.

For the people of Puaikura, the varying Government Departments involved in the proposed Puaikura Jetty, provided the people of Puaikura little information, one option and a couple of weeks to decide if they support or not support the proposed Puaikura Jetty. This type of approach has become typical of varying Government Departments, which too often has lead to unwise decisions that negatively impact on our people and environment.
Many acknowledge the thoughtfulness of Hon William Heather and his team in their attempt to courageously bring the proposed Puaikura Jetty to the Communities’ attention. However, other concerns have arisen since the first public consultation at the Aroa Nui Hall for the proposed Puaikura Jetty.
Concern 1: Water
Is the Puaikura Jetty a priority for the people of Puaikura?
No it is not. It is perhaps a priority for the Ports Authority with the notion that it will generate income for the country. But as for the people of Puaikura, their priority is water; in fact for almost 40 years it has been so. Despite, new water pipelines being laid, little water, if any, flows through the newly installed water pipelines. Therefore, should not the four decade long water concern be addressed at the same time, if not, before the proposed Puaikura Jetty? Why do the varying Government Departments continue to start new projects, when the water project in Puaikura is yet to fully function?
Concern 2: National Environment Service
Does the National Environment Service (NES) have the capability and capacity to monitor the conditions of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the proposed Puaikura Jetty?
No it does not. Perhaps the team at NES have to monitor the proposed Puaikura Jetty knowing that it operates under budgetary and personnel constraints, making the monitoring of all environmental impacts on the proposed Puaikura Jetty not possible. We only need to look at the Puaikura landfill, which was flawed in design from the onset, and regularly challenging the capacity and capability of the NES team. Therefore, can the people of Puaikura have confidence in the NES team to effectively and efficiently monitor the EIA report conditions for the proposed Puaikura Jetty?
Concern 3: Social Responsibilities
The proposed site is a historical place for the people of Puaikura. Our children at Arorangi School are located near the site and their safety is paramount. The Sunday worship at the Cook Islands Christian Church will experience interruptions during their times of worship and therefore challenging their faith and value system. The reef and lagoon is a ‘food source’ for our people and therefore any negative impact on Marine life must be negated and measures put in place to protect it. These are but a few social realities if the proposed Puaikura Jetty is located near the Arorangi Primary School.
The people of Puaikura have been recipients of many donor funded projects; projects that too often, begin and are never completed to the satisfaction of EIA report conditions. What is of more concern is the noticeable trend of the negative impacts of such projects on the health and environment of the people of Puaikura.
The attraction of funds to construct a Puaikura Jetty is to be expected of a developing country like the Cook Islands. The cash economy becomes more valuable than the possible negative social and environmental impacts that it may have on the people who reside near proposed projects. It is a no wonder the people of Puaikura have said NO to the proposed Puaikura Jetty near the Arorangi Primary School. However, what is most heart-warming about the people of Puaikura is their ability to say NO and then to provide another alternative site for the proposed Puaikura Jetty. It is a clear sign of their growing ability to deal with such developments and yet remain open to new developments.

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