A Children’s Week initiative going by the acronym STEAM will ceklebrate the Cook Islands Robotics Team.

The Ministry of Cultural Development, in partnership with the United States Embassy for New Zealand, Cook Islands, and Niue,  is teaming with Tūhura Otago Museum, Climate Change Cook Islands, Office of the Prime Minister, Centre of Excellence in Information Technology, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Education, to stage Thursday’s  fun filled family event. 

The event Te Rangi Atea will celebrate the Cook Islands Robotics Team, launch the Sir Tom Davis profile piece and play a short movie Goodnight Night Oppy, on Thursday, November at 6pm at the Taupea Ki Uta, National Auditorium Dome. 

Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Development Emile Kairua said, “We are excited to host Te Rangi Atea in Rarotonga, in partnership with our key stakeholders. The event highlights the importance of nurturing and encouraging our children in the Cook Islands to look at opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM), especially during International Children’s Week.”

STEAM education can help recognise our Indigenous and Traditional knowledge as being just as important as western science. 

“Papa Tom often encouraged our children and youth to aspire in STEAM for future employment as well as our next generations of leaders, inventors, engineers, navigators and business owners. He often said that Pacific Islanders, were natural and traditional scientists”, said Kairua. 

On Thursday, families are encouraged to support and celebrate the inspiring Cook Islands Robotics Team as they discuss their experience in the competition and in robotics. 

The Cook Islands Robotics team fondly called “Cocobots” are Uleina Eraio (15), Ruby Newport (15), Evah Sosene (14), Kimiora Vogel (17) and Purotu Enoka (16) under the leadership of Miimetua Nimerota, director, and Jim Niemerota, coach and technical mentor. They won gold at the first Global Challenge in Athens, Greece, in September this year, competing against students from 193 nations. 

Te Rangi Atea is family focused and we encourage you to also bring mats and cushions for the children, as we will watch Good Night Oppy, a film about the making of the NASA Mars Rover.  

“The United States is proud to partner with the Cook Islands and New Zealand to celebrate and inspire scientists in Rarotonga and Mangaia this year through Te Rangi Atea. We recognize Cook Islanders and Pacific peoples are some of the greatest engineers, scientists, and navigators leading exploration and stewarding our ocean, environment, and space in the past, present, and future” said U.S. Ambassador Tom Udall.

 “Through this evening we pay tribute to the legacy of Sir Tom Davis and his work with NASA, celebrate this current generation of enthusiastic engineers, and hope to inspire us all to more science cooperation for our future.” 

Some light refreshments will be provided and spot prizes will be given out throughout this free event for all.

On behalf of the Minister George Maggie Angene, Minister for Ministry of Cultural Development and Emile Kairua, Secretary of Ministry of Cultural Development, would like to extend their generous appreciation to all Sponsors, Partners, and the Community for all your support for this event that honours our children and pioneers of the Cook Islands in STEAM. 

Ministry of Cultural Development