This year the three Nga Pu Toru islands of Atiu (19 July), Mitiaro (21 July), Mauke (23 July), and Rarotonga on 25 July, celebrated their respective ‘Te Arikianga o te Evangelia’ Arrival of the Gospel 200 year celebrations.

The Tui Atiu Group from Aitutaki attended all the commemorations on each of these islands.

Aitutaki’s Tui Atiu group leader MP for Amuri/Ureia, Toanui Isamaela said being a part of the Nga Pu Toru bicentennial events was “amazing, awesome and emotional.”

For the 34 strong member group, the visits to each island were “awe inspiring and filled with happy emotions” taking part in the welcome ceremonies, services, historical site visits, the sharing of meals, reminiscing and reuniting with loved ones, family and friends, said Isamaela.

Members of the Tui Atiu group had felt “quite nostalgic’ during their inter-island visits since for some this was a first time.

For those who were unaccustomed to sleeping on floors, and the limited shower and bathroom facilities during Te Arikianga o te Evangelia tour, the trip felt more special as they began to appreciate the difficulties people face in the Pa Enua.

Tui Atiu were pleased to see the hosts on each island working together in harmony to cater for the hundreds of visitors who were welcomed like royalty.

Isamaela stated: “This was truly a spiritual journey which is hard to describe because of the love, generosity and depth of feeling expressed by the people of those Islands in hosting not only ourselves, but the hundreds who came from other islands and overseas who were spoilt with the incredible hospitality and amazing food provided throughout the celebrations.”

Throughout our Nga Pu Toru visits we were blessed, and unexplained events helped to keep us together and support each other throughout  our spiritual journey, he said.

“I was so proud of our group because they were very receptive to what was asked of them.

“Tamatoa Ariki accompanying our group made it that much more special and I am equally proud our Aitutaki group recognised the significance of his presence and ensured he was very much a part of us everywhere we went.”

The celebrations on Nga Pu Toru would not have been the same if he (Tamatoa Ariki) had not attended, he played a pivotal historical and cultural role which was not widely recognised nor acknowledged by other groups, especially from Rarotonga, he added.

Reliving the 200-year Arrival of the Gospel commemorations were “incredible experiences” for the group especially in Atiu and Mauke where they had felt a “deep spiritual presence which brought tears” to many of them as they retraced their ancestors footsteps, imagining what it had like for them.

“It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience felt by our group,” said Isamaela.

“Our group were excellent Ambassadors for Aitutaki, and with historical links to Atiu I couldn’t have asked for better representatives who carried mana, humility, ancestral and historical ties from our Tamatoa Ariki who was joined by Atiu’s Rongomatane Ariki - a privilege to have been  a part of,” he said.

Aitutaki was the first of the Cook Islands to receive the Gospel on October 26, 1821, introduced by the London Missionary Society (LMS), they celebrated their bicentennial two years ago.

The village of Vaipae in Aitutaki received Christianity two years later on March 30, 1823, which they celebrated earlier this year.

The Gospel arrived to Mangaia on 15 June 1824, the island is already preparing for their event.

Manihiki received the Gospel on 8 August 1849, Rakahanga on 15 August 1849, Penrhyn on 13 March 1857, Pukapuka Nassau on 6 December 1857, and Palmerston on 25 May 1863.

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