Tui Short enlisted to help with games

Saturday 28 March: An old hand with proven organisational skills was recruited this week to the Pacific Mini Games organising team.

‘Tui’ Ngariki Short was the leading administrator as games organiser in 1985 and with his wife Cecilia he has jumped on board again to be part of the “wonderful Cook Islands experience”.

“It’s very exciting, the organisers have done a tremendous amount of work and the time is now right to come out and help,” Short says.

He says the highlight of being involved in the 1985 games was seeing the country come together.

“It was the unity and the heart of the people that made it happen,” Short says.

“It was the local people from the person that works in the taro patch to the man fishing in the canoe – the sons and daughters of the Cook Islands made the games and we’ll do it again,” he says.

Media spokesperson for the games Tua Pittman says having the Shorts helping is an asset to the team.

“The Pacific Games committee is fortunate and excited that they have come forward with their wealth of knowledge and sense of love for the country really coming to the fore,” Pittman says.

He invited every person in the Cook Islands to follow the Short’s example and be part of the country’s history.

Various volunteer positions are available and those interested should contact the Pacific Mini Games office in Parekura, or phone 26098. - DK