When is Aviation Security Services going to do something about the sloppy appearance and behaviour of their staff at the airport?

I recently returned home from New Zealand and witnessed first-hand the shabby treatment meted out to visitors to this country in the arrivals hall at the airport.

Security staff seem unable to speak kindly to people. “Please” and “thank you” are words that can make a tense situation nicer sometimes, but they seem not to know this.

The plane had been full so the arrivals hall was packed to the rafters.

A scruffy man and woman appeared near the lines while we waited to be seen by customs officers.

The scruffy pair were not wearing uniforms so it was hard to tell who they worked for exactly.

They had no name tags either. I am assuming it was Aviation Security Services.

She was untidy in her nylon jacket in this hot weather and he was wearing ugg boots, and acted like a jackbooted soldier.

Why don’t security staff wear uniforms, or at least some nice pareu outfit?

We live in a south seas paradise so why not try to represent that instead of barking orders at tourists and papa’a looking returning Cook Islanders (and assuming they are tourists).

That is no way to speak to visitors of any type.

The fair couple were yelled at for being in the wrong queue, but in fact they were locals (and were in the right line).

This is an embarrassment for the Cook Islands.

Learn to speak gently to visitors, airport security staff.

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