The Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) Women’s Fellowship members have gathered for a weeklong conference from Sunday, May 26 to Sunday, June 2, to share and celebrate their journey of spiritual faith and friendship.

After a two-year delay due to Covid-19 pandemic, almost 200 women from Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and from across the Cook Islands have reunited since their last meeting in 2018.

The conference holds immense significance for the faithful women of the CICC as they engage in a shared experience of faith, reflection, and revival.

Teroro Totini, secretary of the fellowship’s executive committee since 2018, said it was time for the vainetini to unite as one, strengthen their bonds, reaffirm their commitment to the church and explore the refresher programmes.

“Over the years I’ve seen the development in some of the mamas both personally and spiritually,” noted Totini.

She pleasantly expressed that the new Orometua vaine are younger, and their flair in applying the word of God has been noticed.

There are four CICC branches in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. They are Porirua Ekalesia Kiritiano Kūki ʻĀirani (EKKA), Wellington CICC, Lower Hut CICC, and Porirua.

Mama Orometua Neke Tekena from the Wellington Ekalesia and Anne Tearetoa, secretary of the Porirua Ekalesia Kiritiano Kūki ʻĀirani (EKKA), are both happy to be in Rarotonga to participate in the meetings.

Tearetoa said she was “born into the church” and had carried the role of secretary for over four decades.

“I have faith, we have faith because that’s where our growth and life is, that we believe and trust in God and our Lord and Saviour,” she said.

“It’s good to bring our ‘mata’ (delegates) and Mama Orometua all together again for us to share things.

“And it’s good to see the growth in our women at the conference and in our own Ekalesia. This programme is good and we take back the things we learn from here.”

Mama Orometua Neke Tekena’s husband Reverend Bosini Tekena has been the Orometua of the Wellington Ekalesia for over two decades – since 2001, the year he was ordained.

She said the conference encourages the spiritual growth of the vainetini and builds up their individual branches.

The theme of the conference, “Brave and Wise Woman/E Vaine Toa, E Vaine Kama’atua”, addresses the multifaceted needs of the CICC fellowship and includes lectures, discussions and uplifting sessions.

At the official start of the conference yesterday, the first topic of discussion was “Te Tapu o te Oroa (The Holiness of the Holy Communion)” led by Orometua Ngateitei Rev Moutaiki Ngametua, followed by “Tithing” by Rev. Vaka Ngaro, “A Godly Woman” – Yvonne Marsters, and “Tattoos and Piercing versus the Temple of Christ” by Rev. Haraveikore William.

Executive Committee: President - Mata o te au Orometua Vaine, Ngateitei Akevai Ngametua; Secretary – Teroro Totini, treasurer – Grace Ioane, Mata o Rarotonga – Poko Tuariki, Mata o te Pa Enua Tonga – Terepai Rouru, Mata o te Pa Enua Tokerau – Akauta William, Mama Principal te au Api’ianga Vaine – Yvonne Marsters, Mata o Australia – Jane Kora, Mata o Aotearoa New Zealand – Nga Teao-Papaptua, Aotearoa Konitara Vainetini – Kura Marsters Firth.