Dear Editor, It’s got to be a joke. “CIIC” and “tree rehabilitation” (Oct 21st Cook Islands News article) in the same sentence? That’s two polar opposites. We don’t care about vehicular traffic, just don’t cut the trees, please.

The space at Panama is the last remaining coastal reserve on the island. Too many trees were removed during the pandemic because there was not enough work for public servants. Various MPs and some government departments saw fit to make their employees chop some 10,000 plus trees on the ring road around the island. Now it looks ugly and life is hotter through the lack of shade and the resulting lack of rainfall. Don’t they know that trees act as a kind of magnet for rain?

Soon this island will have little biodiversity left and less water.

It’s already bad enough now with some plants and trees already extinct on the island.

Brace yourselves my fellow Rarotongans for a concrete paradise, coming to you soon.

Nature Lover

(Name and address supplied)

Reply – Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised in the recent letter from “Nature Lover”. We appreciate the passion and engagement from the public regarding the preservation of Rarotonga’s natural environment, especially the trees along our coastal reserves.

The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) acknowledges the importance of our island's trees – not only for their ecological benefits but also for the shade, beauty, and biodiversity they provide. The space at Panama, in particular, holds both environmental and cultural value, and any work undertaken in this area is approached with care.

We want to reassure the public that CIIC’s focus on “tree rehabilitation” aims to restore and preserve greenery where trees have been impacted in the past. The goal is not to remove trees indiscriminately but to implement thoughtful planning that balances environmental protection with infrastructure needs, including coastal resilience and access.

Importantly, following this initial tree work programme, as outlined in the Te Tau Papa o Avarua Town Plan, the aim is to plant and nurture more appropriate species, including re-introducing native plants, that can thrive and benefit our environment long-term, ensuring our public spaces reflect both ecological and aesthetic features.

We welcome input from the community as we move forward with these projects and remain committed to finding solutions that respect both the environment and the needs of the public. We share the same desire to protect Rarotonga from becoming a "concrete paradise”. Our long-term vision is to enhance, not diminish, the island’s natural heritage.

We look forward to working together toward a greener, healthier future for Rarotonga.

Allan Jensen

Chief Executive Officer

Cook Islands Investment Corporation