16 Pacific leaders leave a foot print

Pacific Forum leaders have left their mark on Tapuaetai.

Upon arriving at the venue for their retreat – the famed One Foot Island in the Aitutkai lagoon – each was allocated a space to plant his own tamanu tree.

For Prime Minister Henry Puna, the ceremony was meaningful in that it drove home the environmental message his government is trying to convey.

“We’ll do whatever we can to improve the environment and lessen our carbon footprint,” Puna told reporters.

It was also a “symbolic gesture”, he said, to recognise and acknowledge the visit of 16 Pacific leaders to the motu.

Tourism Minister Teina Bishop said he asked Puna to allow the media to film and photograph the ceremony, in hopes that they will tell their readers and viewers about the Cook Islands’ focus on sustainability.

“We know that the ocean is impacted by what we do, and by climate change. The trees have a part to play, to absorb what we burn out in carbon dioxide and provide oxygen.”

He said the selection of tamanu was meaningful, as its strength symbolises the growing strength of the Pacific region.

“And we chose tamanu here in Aitutaki because it’s a very significant tree. It’s very strong and as far as I’m concerned, from a political standpoint, it signifies the strength of Pacific leaders. Strength is what we need.

“Tamanu is also the only timber we use for the drums. When we beat the drums we are calling out to the rest of the world from the Pacific,” he said.

“We might be small on land but we have a loud voice and a strength when we (Pacific leaders) are together.”