Kia Orana, I am writing in a bid to see what is going on with the Miss Cook Islands Association.

Not only do I find it appalling that we don’t have a current queen but other Pacific Island nations are launching pageants left right and centre. There seems to be a lack of caring as our reputation has been put on pause.

The fact that Fiji and Samoa are launching pageants at our demise is concerning, they know we are no longer attending are really making the most of it. We are regional powerhouses in Pacific pageantry, we have the looks, talent and intelligence so why no pageant.

I must admit to see certain members of the association taking vacations and yet no pageant and apparently, we cannot afford to fly girls over from the diaspora of New Zealand and Australia is appalling. When are we going to take things seriously. Miss Cook Islands was and still can be a national phenomenon. We know any girls Samoa and Fiji put on the world stage, well we can easily counter.

For the Cook Islands government, get behind our national pageant and put funding towards it because Miss Cook Islands has performed and delivered on the world pageant stage. Where is the financial support? They also are ambassadors to grow the country’s tourism sector as proven by the incredible past Miss World Cook Islands delegates.

(Name and address supplied)