Cook Islands expats keep New Zealand culture alive

Cook Islanders in New Zealand are celebrating Te Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani – Cook Islands Māori Language Week – with cultural performances and educational events across the country this week.

The 2024 theme is “Ātui’ia au ki te vaka o tōku matakeinanga – the canoe that connects me to my tribe”, drawn from the overall theme of the Language Week series, “sustainability”.

Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand Kairangi Samuela kicked off the week-long celebrations with a flag-raising ceremony at a community event in Porirua, Wellington.

So how important is language to the identity and traditions of the more than 100,000 Cook Islanders living in New Zealand?

Samuela said there were more Cook Islanders living in New Zealand than in the Cook Islands, and the diaspora played a vital role in preserving culture and language.

She said efforts to promote language and culture were particularly evident on social media during Te Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani.

The Cook Islands High Commission has engaged with the Cook Islands community in Wellington and Auckland, including local Cook Islands businesses, the diplomatic corps, students and island communities to promote the event.

“It is inspiring for me to see our culture being celebrated in various ways, through dance, songs, flag raising and language promotion, on this 13th anniversary.^day “Samuela said.

“The challenge now is to continue the momentum beyond Cook Islands Language Week, particularly given our unique constitutional relationship with New Zealand.”

Samuela said New Zealand’s Pacific Island community is extremely diverse and the Cook Islands language and culture highlights the uniqueness of our culture and identity.

She said the highlight of the week was seeing the Cook Islands culture, language and identity celebrated in New Zealand society.

Samuela also attended the Mauke Akatokamanava Iriiri Kapua in Auckland this week.

“As a Moki, it’s been very inspiring to hear the story and name of the Waka, to hear the voyagers who sailed with them, and to hear the songs that were written for us,” she said.

Lianne Bishoff-Towgood, projects and funding co-ordinator at the Akatokamanava Mauke Enua Association Auckland NZ, said it was remarkable how the Akatokamanava community in Auckland had come together to reawaken many of their vaka traditions through song, amu, pee, storytelling and games.

“It was wonderful to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, to hear the Orao people laughing and talking, to see our Pametua breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that our residents are alive and will continue to live. Glory to God,” Bischof-Togood said.

Many Cook Islanders were born in New Zealand, “so the teachings and sharing of our knowledge holders and Pa Metua strengthen our love for our reo, our ngakauparauanga for our identity and our passion for our peu”.

“These connections are so important for us to stay grounded and rooted in ourselves as Kuki’ailani Maori living in New Zealand,” Bischof-Torgood added.

Cook Islands is about to celebrate 60^day
Samuels said their goal was to highlight and strengthen New Zealand’s national identity and culture during this milestone event.