Students, teachers and guests yesterday enjoyed the tender, flavourful vegetables, fish and meat, slow-cooked with the heat of hot river stones and infused with the fragrant sweetness of banana leaves, steam and smoke.

Five teams from Tereora College (four teams) and Titikaveka College participated in the Takurua event which included the Imene Kinura (string band), Rangaranga (weaving), Rore (stilts), Amo Taonga (food carrying race), Ta’u Umu (steam cooking with rocks), and Moina Tai (coconut cream) categories.

The Takurua event, first launched in 2018 as Takurua – Food and Feasts of the Cook Islands, was hosted by Tauranga Vananga/Ministry of Cultural Development to mark the country’s 60^th year of self-governance to be celebrated in August.

The Takurua results are as follows: Rangaranga – Titikaveka College Pupu Maniota, Moina Tai – Tereora College Pupu Mario, Rore – Tereora College Pupu Mario, Amo Taonga – Titikaveka College Pupu Maiota, Imene Kinura – Tereora College Pupu Mario, Ta’u Umu – Tereora College Pupu Kuru.

The humble kuru is the focus of Te Mato Manava/Cook Islands Tourism Takurua celebration of food.

This morning at 9am – 11.30am, the Tiopu Kuru (breadfruit stew) competition will kick off at the Punanga Nui Market.  Seven local home cooks will battle for the honour of the best tiopu kuru on Rarotonga.