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Articles by Melina Etches
Te Maeva Nui performers dazzle crowd
Friday 5 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Te Maeva Nui, the nation’s biggest and best cultural extravaganza, hit off to a great start with over 1000 people cheering and welcoming the first night of performers onstage at the National Auditorium on Wednesday.
Celebrating 57 years of self-governance
Friday 5 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Dignitaries, members of the public, Te Maeva Nui dance groups and visitors gathered at the National Auditorium yesterday to mark the Constitution Day – 57 years of self-governance from New Zealand.
Celebrating 57 years of self-governance
Wednesday 3 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Mangaia will feature dancers as young as 12 years of age in the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival tonight at the National Auditorium.
Atiu ready to hit the stage in Ura Pau category
Wednesday 3 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Atiu’s Te Maeva Nui cultural team is set and ready to hit the stage tonight in the Ura Pau category with a unique portrayal of the theme – “Te au Vairakau Tupuna o toku Matakeinanga/Enua or the Traditional Medicine of my Community/Island”.
Demos lone Rarotonga MP has a lot to offer
Wednesday 3 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Politics
The 2022 General Election preliminary result announcement on Monday night saw some surprising outcomes including Democratic Party’s disastrous performance in Rarotonga.
Poll supports decriminalising homosexuality
Tuesday 2 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Politics
Just over half of those randomly polled by Cook Islands News support decriminalising homosexuality.
Cultural diversity shines at International Night
Monday 1 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
The successful Te Maeva Nui 2022 International Night on Saturday entertained the strong crowd who appreciated the diversity of performing artists from the Rarotonga based expat communities and Kapa Haka groups from New Zealand (Aotearoa).
Te Pa o Rākaihautū Kapa Haka group put on spectacular show
Monday 1 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The Te Pa o Rākaihautū Kapa Haka group from New Zealand have wowed crowds at the National Auditorium with their tuneful melodious voices, dance and Haka performances in Te Maeva Nui International Night on Saturday.
Colourful float parades get Te Maeva Nui festival underway
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Welcoming light rain cooled off the waiting audience and the float parade participants at the opening event of the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival yesterday.
Voices of Rakahanga
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Voices of Rakahanga will be singing loud and proud in the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival next week in the Ute, Imene Tuki and Choir performances.
Celebrating Vairakau Maori
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Teariki Pureau (pictured), Iriea Tangapiri and Puna Kamoe from the Ministry of Agriculture portrayed the making of “vairakau ati” and “maoro akairi kumu” at the official opening of the 2022 Te Maeva Nui and float parade yesterday.
‘Made in Cook Islands’ products a big hit at Expo
Friday 29 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Larry Tumai has spent months collecting, cleaning and preparing shells to create new jewellery designs for the Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) Trade Days Expo being held at the Punanga Nui Market.
Final touches before cultural festival gets underway
Friday 29 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The young dancers of Pukapuka’s Te Maeva Nui team are excited and looking forward to their performances in the Tauranga Vananga (Ministry of Cultural Development) organised cultural festival which starts today with the official opening and float parade at the Constitution Park.
Marjorie Crocombe OBE laid to rest
Friday 29 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Under the sombre veil of nightfall, bright lights shone with the presence of hundreds, to farewell the country’s exceptional brilliant star – the late Marjorie Tuainekore Tere Crocombe nee Hosking OBE (19 June 1930 - 21 July 2022) – yesterday evening.
Mauke ready to rock at Te Maeva Nui 2022
Thursday 28 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Mauke is going all out this year participating in all five items – choir, Imene Tuki, Ute, Action Song and Ura Pau – at this year’s Te Maeva Nui cultural festival which starts with the float parade tomorrow.
Trade Days off to a busy start
Thursday 28 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The three-day Bank of the Cook Islands (BCI) Trade Days Expo kicked off yesterday with much fanfare allowing vendors to showcase locally made products and home grown produce.
‘The struggle is real’: Mitiaro prepares for Te Maeva Nui
Wednesday 27 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
For most teams participating in Te Maeva Nui cultural festival, “the struggle is real” to acquire enough dancers to perform in next week’s event, says the leader of Mitiaro’s cultural group, Matavaine (Tuvaine) Numanga.
Record vendors for popular BCI Trade Days
Wednesday 27 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Business, National
A record number of 64 vendors will feature in the popular three-day BCI (Bank of the Cook Islands) Trade Days event which starts this morning from 9am to 2pm at the Punanga Nui market.
Maeva crowned Pukapuka’s ‘Zumba Queen’ after losing 14.7 kilos
Tuesday 26 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
After 11 weeks of moving to funky beats Nane Maeva took out the top award in the Pukapuka Zumba exercise programme. She lost an impressive 14.7 kilograms.
Call to legalise medicinal use of cannabis
Tuesday 26 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
A former law enforcement officer has welcomed Government’s decision to run a referendum on cannabis during this year’s General Election.
