Tauranga Vananga Ministry of Cultural Development will be presenting Te Mire Atu cultural composers competition for the first time at The Edgewater Resort and Spa on March 16.

The song competition – the first cultural event for the year – has secured a three-year platinum contract with the popular resort and the event will now be known as The Edgewater Resort and Spa ‘Te Pae Tai Nui’ Mire Atu.

Tauranga Vananga secretary Anthony Turua and The Edgewater Resort and Spa general manager Melissa Gosselin signed the sponsorship agreement yesterday.

Turua thanked the Arorangi resort for their contribution “to strengthen our culture”.

“In fact coming out of Covid 19 we are very appreciative for the community and business sector that have come on board to support our cultural events,” he said.

“We are enormously happy that Edgewater Resort and Spa has come on board to support our Mire Atu.”

At this year’s event, the performers will be singing while their supporters will be dining and watching their performance, said Turua, adding “we have to think out of the box this year”.

Gosselin of The Edgewater Resort was very honoured and privileged to welcome the Tauranga Vananga team to celebrate the signing occasion.

“It is our pleasure to be able to support an event that really fosters and supports our culture across the Cook Islands,” said Gosselin.

On a personal note she added, “Te Mire Atu has a soft spot in my heart, I have performed in it and competed in the composers competition before so I can certainly recognise and appreciate how important it is to identity and maintaining and sustaining our culture.”

“Being able to support this for the next three years is an absolute privilege.”

Applications and information packs for the composers competition are available from Tauranga Vananga, contact Elizabeth Ama on 20725 ex 8602. Registrations close February 28, 2023.

Tickets are $50 per person which includes a buffet island dinner plus show with guest artists. They are on sale now from The Edgewater Resort and Spa reception and at the National Library.