Dear Editor, You may ask what has the installation of that ugly new Papa’a style fence at Takitumu School got to do with culture and heritage? Here in the Cook Islands we are experiencing a cultural revival … especially in Te Reo and dance.

Many passionate individuals are getting involved, because they can see what is at stake, both in the short and long terms.

A couple of years ago, some idiot(s) in a ministry somewhere decided to pull out those wonderful old Toa trees along the roadway at Takitumu School. The trees were planted by our forefathers … they knew the value of shade, wind breaks, and shelter – that is/was part of the cultural and historical heritage left behind by people who understood. Clearly too many in this current age fail to understand the real values, yes even of trees! The reason given at the time by the bureaucrats responsible for the pillage of those trees was that they – the trees – constituted a safety hazard when really the bureaucrats were the ones who constituted a safety hazard especially now that the Tamariki (and of course many sports people) have to sit and play out in the hot sweltering sun, where previously the trees gave shade and shelter. All this is an integral part of culture and history, part of village and community life. If only those trees could have spoken, they would have many tales to tell us all, but only IF we listen.

So now we get an ugly, unsightly Papa’a fence, that has absolutely NO intrinsic or aesthetic value, offers no shade or shelter whatsoever, and now regrettably makes the entire (fantastic) school and school grounds look pretty ordinary.

As the old song goes … “when will we ever learn?”.

(Name and address supplied)

‘Cheating on

its own rules’

The public may be encouraged to see what appears to be the near-completion of the sewage disposal system across from the Tourism Office, built to treat the waste from the public toilets and fast-food outlet on the other side of the creek.

While the usual anxiety will arise, as to the chronic inability of most government projects to be maintained, a bigger question arises.

As we all know, this project was begun without National Environmental Service consent. In other words, in total violation of the law. So, here we have a government project, in what must be the most public place on Rarotonga, right in front of our eyes, in utter disregard for the environment and the law.

So, will someone please explain to this writer, what might go on miles below the surface of the ocean if the ill-advised deep sea mining goes ahead? A government that cheats on its own rules in front of our eyes, no doubt is going to go 100 per cent by the book in the dark depths?

(Name and address supplied)

Fukushima discharge

versus deep sea mining