Despite its deep historical and cultural significance and the emotional distress of many residents, a 200-year-old Utu tree in Titikaveka was removed due to safety concerns from its deteriorated condition, sparking a debate about balancing tradition and public safety.

Hundreds of Titikaveka residents, especially the older generation, witnessed a piece of their history removed on Thursday.

Despite the deep historical and cultural significance, the over 200-year-old Utu tree at Titikaveka Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) was removed due to safety concerns from its deteriorated condition.

Seventy-nine-year-old Mama Orometua Akangaroi Canny Aratangi, a retired pastor’s wife who served in the church and was born and raised in Titikaveka, says seeing the tree being chopped is like taking a huge part of her life away.

Aratangi says that her ancestors and the people of the village are the key people who valued the tree

She says that instead of cutting down the tree, she feels it should rot away naturally.

However, Aratangi agrees that the tree was posing danger to the public as it is right next to the road.

“Today we can see what is happening, because the tree has deteriorated and it’s become a hazard in the compound. The inside is empty, but it’s still growing but when the church decided to cut it, to remove it, they thought it’s more important to give it back to the Ui Mataiapo, because that’s the significance of the traditional leaders of Titikaveka,” she explains.

“The respect for the tree is quite significant, a real icon, the only icon in the village that represents the leaders, the traditional leaders, as a place where they meet and set their foot there, and that’s where they talk about the village, make decisions for the village and all that.”

Member of Parliament for Titikaveka, Sonny Williams, says while he also values the significance of the tree, safety comes first.

According to Williams, although the tree is likely a few centuries older than 200 years, there are various other ancient trees around Titikaveka and the island that hold similar significance.

He says one of the people involved in removing the tree told him that “part of it fell out by itself, as it was rotting to the core, down to the bottom”.

“When you go and look at the state of the trees, you understand how deep the rot is so safety first and it’s so close to the road.”

Williams says other elders in the village, who grew up around and maintained the tree, also agree that it is time to chop it down due to its rotten condition.

“They understand what this is all about, and I’m sure it wasn’t a light, easy decision to make. It is part of their heritage, their families, their tribes, and being very important pillars of the Church of Titikaveka, they felt its time has come.”

Going forward, Williams says there are already proposals to move the bell house to the tree’s former location and install a plaque to commemorate it.

George Hosking, the Raina Mataiapo of the village, explains the history and significance of the Utu tree.

Raina Mataiapo of the village, George Hosking. TALAIA MIKA/25022715

“This is where the Arongamana of Titikaveka used to meet after church or before church. That’s why it’s called Pei Pei Utu. Pei Pei Utu means you throw; you debate like a meeting under this Utu tree. So it’s been here since 1800,” explains Hosking.

“And now it’s come to the time that it’s getting rotten, breaking the walls, even the graves. You can see the cracks over there. So the Ekalesia (church) here suggested for the tree to be removed.”

According to Hosking, they agreed with the church to cut the tree due to these reasons, but he adds that there is a possibility of a plaque to be built in memory of this iconic tree

When asked whether the traditional leaders will no longer have a say in the church compound now that the tree is down, Hosking says “no”.

“We are part of the church because we are the Mataiapo. We see in the church, there’s eight posts in the church and each post represents each of the eight Mataiapo who help build the church. So we will never be divided between the church and Arongamana,” he explains. “We will always respect one another.”

The tree was cut down after a ceremony, attended by the church and village, had acknowledged its significance.

Titikaveka residents and members of the CICC church in Titikaveka. TALAIA MIKA/25022714

One of the attendees and residents, Selina Napa, 60, also spoke about the significance of the tree.

“No one planted that tree there, and it only takes a couple of hours to destroy a 200 piece of history here on Titikaveka so it’s a sad day for us here,” says Napa, the former Titikaveka MP. “And I guess, you know, the mood of the day really fits this occasion. It’s shady, it’s cloudy, it’s not hot.”

“They don’t even know who half of these graves belong to,” she says, responding to the comment that the roots of the tree were destroying the graves in the churchyard. “And then they say the reason for the tree is for security against traffic.”

“So you tell me in 200 years, has anyone been injured by the tree on this road? No, the only cause of damage is from drunk driving around here, and it’s not from the tree.

“So if they are saying the tree is going to cause damage to walkers, to traffic, then tell me, do they have an account of who got killed by the tree in the last 200 years?

“No one has, it’s so sad. It’s like a piece of me, a limb of my body has been cut, you know, for someone who’s lived here from childhood.”

The road was blocked to drivers while the tree was being removed and tourists and passersby pulled over and watched as a piece of Titikaveka’s history was taken down.