Dear Editor, According to Cook Islands News report (12th April, 2024), the consultant Dan Jackson has stated that our entire population is already paying for water through taxes. Indeed, to quote Mr. Jackson “… the reason domestic taxes are higher today is because part of them goes towards funding water services.”

So historically we the water users, vis a vis taxpayers, have been paying for our water since whenever.

Surely that then is the end of the discussion as far as the public is concerned … already paying for water through our taxes. So no need for water meters, and so problem and issue solved.

If TTV (To Tatou Vai) wants to address commercial water users, that then is another story. 

(Name and address supplied)

----

Regarding our water system – I think it is time for Government to come clean and do the job the people expect them to do and not waste time on political add ons.

We don’t need water boards and have more political hacks on board and be paid for nothing. Our water system is simple – we have water intakes from various valleys and there is a water main around the island. All of this is done and mostly paid for by New Zealand and all we need now is to maintain it.  You don’t need a water board for Vaimaanga and for Turangi and for Avatiu etc etc.  You only need one engineer to oversee the work and maintenance. So what are these so called water boards going to do other than have meetings at the Edgewater and after heavy lunches they approve everything the engineer tells them and we have just wasted perhaps another $10,000 for expenses at Edgewater and board member fees.

If you want to reward party hacks why not just pay them money and call it “future political investment” - at least that is being honest and you might then get my vote.

Cicero

(Name and address supplied)