Dear Editor, I would like to point a few things, especially towards the different groups who took the protest march in front of Parliament on Monday.

Thank you for the live footages during the protest. It was quite easier to watch and capture or better understand what the speakers were presenting. I have to say, Jax, your introduction was superb and brought some sense of pride for our people. God loves you!

In our true nature of protest, very peaceful and Christian like. But something else was captivating!

I was disgusted and felt betrayed by everyone who insulted our country, raising that New Zealand flag, walking with that NZ banner over our own. Our Cook Islands pride has been insulted by every individual who raised the NZ flag. You have insulted our tupunas (your ancestors), our chiefs and our children. You walked those streets and NZ enjoying our own iti tangata fighting amongst ourselves. They love this because that’s exactly what they have done to our Maori brothers and sisters. The hypocrisy of each of you toketoke enua walking proudly on the land your ancestors blessed you with.

Why do we allow ourselves to be controlled by this Winston Peters? Because that’s what your banner says. When do we want to stand on our own two feet and say, ‘we are Cook Islanders, we will fight our own’. You listen to all that manuiri’s rubbish. He should be saving the natives of NZ, the Maori people. Stand on your own two feet and raise our own Cook Islands flag because this is our country. Stuff the passport issue, it’s never going to happen, old news and we are still dwelling.  My final point, to the Government and the Ministry of Education. Allowing students to join a politically affiliated protest is a question you both need to ponder on. Are you setting a wise precedence to your education policy code of conduct? What was surprising was that a good portion of primary and secondary students were part of the protest. I presumed, influenced by their parents?

I am not sure what was the motivation from my good friend Jax (Tuara), Teariki Heather and Tina Browne, because involving children to their political agenda is simply disappointing. Our children are vulnerable and they should be in school learning for their future. This is a serious matter if Tereora College allows this practice to continue. How can a student, a family member connected to the organiser of the protest, make a public statement at a politically motivated rally, in her school uniform? This should be prohibited.

Toketoke enua, kore au e neke, ieeekoko!

(Name and address supplied)