The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) is reminding the public to take care of the Social Centre and surrounding public facilities, following an increase in misuse of rubbish and toilet amenities.
The Social Centre remains one of Rarotonga’s most popular shared spaces — used daily by families, sports groups, fishers, growers and visitors. With increased use, there has also been a noticeable rise in issues impacting cleanliness, safety and accessibility.
CIIC General Manager, Asset Management Vasie Ngatoko-Poila, said the ongoing misuse of facilities is placing unnecessary pressure on public services.
“We are seeing household rubbish being dumped in public bins and, in some cases, left beside them when bins are full. These bins are provided for beachgoers, not for household waste, and this behaviour is creating significant challenges for our teams.”
Despite bins being emptied regularly throughout the week, household dumping continues to increase volumes beyond what the facilities are designed to manage. Residents are encouraged to make use of the free weekly household rubbish collection services available across Rarotonga.
CIIC is also continuing to deal with a range of other issues across the Social Centre and surrounding public facilities, including:
To help manage these issues, CIIC has already taken steps to improve facilities, including the installation of electric hand dryers to reduce waste and ongoing maintenance to replace damaged items.
However, continued misuse may require further measures, including the potential for restricted access to some public facilities during certain hours.
“These are shared public spaces. We all have a role to play in keeping them clean, safe and available for everyone. A little consideration goes a long way.”
CIIC is asking all users of the Social Centre and public facilities across Rarotonga to:
To support community involvement, CIIC will soon be launching a “Report an Issue” system, making it easier for the public to report problems in parks, sports fields and public facilities.
Members of the public will be able to scan a QR code or complete a short online form to alert CIIC to issues, helping teams respond more quickly and keep shared spaces well maintained.
CIIC acknowledges the cooperation of the community and encourages everyone to take pride in maintaining these important shared spaces.
“The Social Centre belongs to all of us. By working together, we can ensure it remains a clean, welcoming and enjoyable place for everyone.”
