Popstars, Politicians & Publications.

Keep your eyes peeled too, because Traders is the favoured watering hole of the rich and famous when they come to Rarotonga.

Not many bars can claim that the Finn brothers of Crowded House fame have taken to the stage to perform an impromptu gig, but Trader Jacks is no ordinary bar. The musical bros were here on holiday here a few years back with fellow musician Dave Dobbyn when they delighted customers by grabbing their guitars playing a set, which included the debut performance of their song “I kissed the road of Rarotonga”.The title is a reference to the well known local pastime of taking a tumble off one’s scooter and getting acquainted with the tarmac, and the number features on the Finn Brothers’ album Finn. We believe it was Tim Finn who came a cropper and had to be patched up at the hospital.
If you look closely you will see a winebox with an axe through it mounted on one of the walls of the bar – this act of seemingly mindless violence was perpetrated by The Trader to commemorate a visit from New Zealand politician Winston Peters, the man behind the infamous winebox inquiry. He’s a frequent visitor these days and an honorary regular at Traders. “Don’t talk to him about fishing quotas though,” is Jack’s advice.

Other recent visitors include All Black flyer Dougie Howlett, former Silver Fern and TV presenter April Bruce, Bernice Mene, John Rowles and Pat Rippen.

No South Seas island would be complete without its share of shady characters and Rarotonga is no exception. Notorious property developer Mark Lyon could often be spotted here and in other bars around town while he was living in the Cook Islands awaiting trial for various offences in New Zealand – in the end he was deported after being convicted!

Kiwi author Graham Lay has launched a book at Trader Jacks, and the bar can boast something of a literary tradition – quite a few regulars have put themselves in print.

Among them is Don ‘Slick’ Silk, one of Jack’s nearest and dearest and the former harbourmaster at Avatiu. His memoirs, entitled From Kauri Trees to Sunlit Seas, recount his experiences here and in his native New Zealand and are available over the bar.

Another regular, Ewan Smith the manager of Air Rarotonga, has published a stunning collection of aerial shots of the Cook Islands – it is cleverly named The Cook Islands.

Cartoonist Kata, who can often be found refreshing himself at the bar, also launched a collection of his work called Kooky Island Politics. For a taste of Kata’s humour, which helps keep the politicians feet on the ground pick up a copy of the daily Cook Islands News.

Not one to miss an opportunity Trader Jack himself plans to join his comrades in print. Many years in the making and still a work in progress his, probably explosive, autobiography ‘40 Years Behind Bars’ promises to lift the lid on the man behind the myth and could well lead to a large number of court cases. In the meantime, we’ll just have to settle for another G&T.

 

 

 

 
 
 

THE TRADER
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