To commemorate Te Arikianga o te Evangelia/The Arrival of Christianity to the Cook Islands, each year on Gospel Day brings together an assembly from each of the six Ekalesia of the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) on Rarotonga.

National Gospel Day is a public holiday celebrated annually on October 26 (observed on 28 October this year).

This year, over 1000 of the Ekalesia members attended the Gospel celebrations hosted by the Ngatangiia CICC at Te Autapu Grounds.

The Ekalesia of Nikao, Arorangi, Titikaveka, Ngatangiia, Matavera, and Avarua presented gospel drama or “nuku” performances based on the theme of the David and Goliath biblical chapters.

Aitutaki was the first in the Cook Islands to receive and accept the Gospel when Christianity first arrived to the island on October 26, 1821, introduced by the London Missionary Society (LMS). The island celebrated its bicentennial Te Arikianga o te Evangelia celebrations in 2021.

Vaipae was the last village on the Aitutaki to accept Christianity – two years later on March 30, 1823.

In 2023,  the southern group islands of Atiu - 19 July, Mitiaro - 21 July, and Ma'uke on 23 July marked their respective 200 hundred years commemoration events.

Rarotonga also celebrated their bicentennial Arrival of the Gospel that year on 25 July, 2023 followed by the Arorangi Ekalesia and Tinomana Ariki on 26 and 27 July.

This year, Mangaia celebrated their bicentennial Arrival of the Gospel celebrations in June.