Traffic has increased on the white coral roads in the northern group island of Penrhyn in both the communities of Tetautua and Omoka.

Kids on bicycles now gleefully cycle to and from school, run family errands within their villages, and “go everywhere”.

Principal of Penrhyn Schools, Apii Napa, said 28 pre-loved bicycles and some helmets have been kindly donated to the children thanks to an initiative driven by former director of BSP Financial Group Ltd, Geoff Robb.

Robb, now based in Australia, collected and overhauled over 500 bikes from his local community and organised to have them shipped to places in the Pacific.

Napa said the bicycles were well received by both communities, especially the “lucky” kids.

The bikes were best suited to Junior level class students - Year 1 to 5.

Following discussions with the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and staff of both the Omoka and Tetautua schools, the bikes were distributed to the little ones in the junior levels.

Omoka School was allocated 21 bikes, and Tetautua School received seven.

“Along with the families of the kids who received bikes, we are extremely overwhelmed and grateful for this generosity,” said Napa.

Excited Year 1 student Morris Joseph said: “I like my new bike and my helmet. My helmet is like a dinosaur on, and my friends say they want to take my helmet for them. I drive my bike every day to school and to my friend’s place.”

Year 4 student Semani Ben said: “Before, my Papa or my Mama used to drop me off to school every morning. Now I come to school on my bicycle. I chose my bicycle, because I like the colour. So now, I don’t have to wait for someone to bring me to school. When I am ready, I cycle to school with my younger brother.”

The bikes arrived in Penrhyn via the barge in early August courtesy of BSP Cook Islands who sponsored the transportation from Rarotonga.

On behalf of the Penrhyn schools, Omoka and Tetautua, the PTA, staff, students and both communities, Napa would like to acknowledge “Geoff Robb and your community for providing these awesome bikes for our children here in the north.”

“Thank you all for especially thinking of our children up here. Also thank you also to BSP Cook Islands, God bless you all and God bless our paradise.”