Cook Islands Māori language and traditions are gradually disappearing and must be addressed to ensure the foundations and the knowledge of ‘who we are’ thrives for future generations, says Cook Islands cultural advisor, Tumu Korero, Raemaki Temaeva Karati.

After 15 years of living in Aotearoa New Zealand, Karati has returned home to Rarotonga to take on the role of Te Reo Māori Language Advisor at Tauranga Vananga Ministry of Cultural Development, which he started last month.

Culture has always been his greatest passion, from dancing to composing, choreographing, and tutoring Cook Islands Cultural Performing Arts.

Karati has wanted to return home for some time, and when the opportunity presented itself, he was eager to take on the challenge.

“I wanted to come back, I believe I still have much to contribute towards our reo and culture,” Karati said.

“I’m here to help strengthen our culture, our language and to contribute with my knowledge.”

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani, or the Cook Islands Māori language, is at risk of disappearing. It is listed on the UNESCO Oceania endangered languages list.

Karati said he has been aware for some time that the Cook Islands Māori language is dying out, “since a lot of our tamariki (children) and young generation are speaking in English, especially here in Rarotonga”.

Both Karati and his wife Ngaire are cultural experts in Cook Islands language and culture. He says their children, like many of their generation, only speak Māori a little, and the generation after, practically none.

"I think for our people, it’s more fashionable to speak English,” he said.

Now in his mid-60s, Karati says his generation and those before him were raised speaking Māori, only learning and speaking English at school as a second language because it was compulsory.

“Now, we are speaking English to our kids as a first language...”

“It’s going to be difficult. I don’t know what we can do to turn our people around to speak our reo, whether we enact educational law for Māori at primary school level,” he said.

“But I’d like us to do something about it, or we are going to lose our reo in the near future. Whether I can achieve what I want to achieve, time will tell.”

Karati said he will persevere to do the best he can to help ensure that the Cook Islands’ culture and language endure and live on through the younger generation.

His accomplishments and dedication to culture have not gone unnoticed in Aotearoa. In August 2022, he was presented Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani Language Champions Honour “Taunga Kamaatu” by the former Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito Williams Sio, which acknowledged his significant contribution, service, and leadership.

He noted that there are many well-versed and expert Cook Islands Tumu Korero who have not been acknowledged or recognised for their valued cultural and traditional knowledge.

Karati is also overseeing the cultural celebrations for the Cook Islands Airport Authority’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, which will be held this coming January.

He worked for the Cook Islands Government for 24 years across several Ministries, including Parliament, the Ministry of Marine Resources, Cook Islands TV, and the Ministry of Culture, which he led in 2007 before relocating to New Zealand the following year.