Social and community workers, a human rights activist, health leader, sports mentor and rare bird only found in the Cook Islands are among the nominations for the Cook Islander of the Year 2021 award.

The Cook Islands News received 14 nominations – 12 Cook Islanders accepted the nominations for the award. Two nominees, both females, politely declined.

The contenders for the inaugural award are The Kakerori, Tina Iro, Ewan Smith, Bob Williams, George ‘Maggie’ Angene, Ian Karika, Patrick Arioka, Valery Wichman, Kiriau Turepu, Tekura Potoru (Steak), Teariki Heather and Malcolm Kajer.

Voting is now open and readers can cast their vote filling out the voting form in our newspaper or online via Cook Islands News Facebook page.

Voting will contribute 40 per cent towards the overall tally. An independent judging panel will then decide, based on votes, and criteria set by the panel, who will be the winner of the inaugural Cook Islander of the Year 2021 award.

Here are some of the outstanding Cook Islanders that you saw fit to nominate for Cook Islands News’ 2021 Cook Islander of the Year award.

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Bob Williams (Secretary of Health)

• Bob has done an exemplary job during the global Covid-19 pandemic. He took on the role amid considerable resistance, as many claimed “he doesn’t have the required experience”. Bob held his head high and navigated his way through demanding times, proving that he had the ability to communicate and relay information in both Cook Islands Maori and English. His humble, friendly demeanour is one no one can fault. Bob deserves recognition for all he has done during these troubled times in an effort to keep the whole of the Cook Islands as safe as is humanly possible.

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Ewan Smith (Businessman and philanthropist)

• Ewan is one of the most kind-hearted, selfless and inspirational people in our country and constantly proves this with whatever he does. The founder and managing director of our national airline, Air Rarotonga Ltd, which was established in 1979, Ewan is driven towards the betterment of Cook Islanders locally, nationally and internationally and gives up a huge amount of his time and effort to propelling our country to higher levels. All his work has always been behind the scenes and he does not seek any glorification or credit for it.

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George ‘Maggie’ Angene (Minister of the Crown and MP for Tupapa Maraerenga)

• He is a Cabinet Minister with the Cook Islands Party led government responsible for Corrective Services, Culture, Punanga Nui Market and House of Ariki. Known as the ‘Action Man’, George is one of the hardworking Members of Parliament in the country. He cleans road every day, cut branches of trees posing threat to the people and/or motorists, cuts the lawn and hedges of people in his constituency Tupapa Maraerenga. George also runs a water refill station supplying the community with clean drinking water. He has installed street lights, renovated and constructed homes, helped out in funerals, and most importantly visit people in his constituency from time to time to see what else he can do for them.

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Ian Karika (environmentalist and traditional leader)

• Ian has been the chairperson of the Takitumu Conservation Area since it was established in 1995. He has worked so hard, along with others including Ed Saul in particular, to bring the Kakerori back from being on the Critically Endangered Redlist of species – from 29 bird to now perhaps 500 (more if you count the population in Atiu). He has also been the president of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society and has really put the country on the map for reviving traditional voyaging. As the longest serving president of Te Ipukarea Society, and now patron, Ian has given his mana to the work the Society does on environmental issues facing the country.

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Kiriau Turepu (Grower and former politician)

• Kiriau continues to contribute immensely to the community by helping people, church and other gatherings. He is one of the respected growers in Rarotonga and a major supplier of produce to tourism industry and local market. He is also one of the leading players in the local vanilla market and an inspiration to other growers in the country. Kiriau is a former Cabinet Minister, from 2013 to 2018, responsible for agriculture, business trade and investment and environment. As the environment minister, he was involved in the establishment of Marae Moana marine sanctuary, which at the time was the largest multiple-use marine protected area in the world.

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Malcolm Kajer (Tennis coach)

• Coach Malcolm has been a household name in our community for many years, especially in the tennis circle. He has tirelessly worked with our junior athletes from a young age starting sometimes even younger than five, and nurtured them in the sport as they grow. In past years pre-Covid times, coach Malcolm has seen much success internationally with the junior athletes he has coached and has put the Cook Islands on the map at this level in a very positive way. Coach Malcolm has committed to the sport over the years, going above and beyond in schools and in the community to keep this code going. He has also supported the development of the sport in the Pa Enua.

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Patrick Arioka (Minister of the Crown and MP for Murienua)

• Patrick is a member of the governing Cook Islands Party and holds Tourism, Business Trade and Investment Board, and Telecommunications portfolios. He initiated the formation of the Dog Registration and Animal Control Committee (DRACC), bringing all the organisations together to address a very important issue – to control the population of dogs in Rarotonga. Despite these organisations existing for years this was the first time they all came together. Patrick spearheaded and actively participated in all DRACC initiatives, including the Puna desexing programme that has been a huge success due to his leadership. He is a person who walks the talk. Patrick is also actively involved in his constituency.

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Teariki Heather (Businessman, community worker and politician)

• Teariki, is the former deputy prime minister, and current leader of the Cook Islands United Party. He is also the managing director of T&M Heather Limited. He has been actively involved in sports, culture, education, church and community. Teariki is caring and compassionate and has helped a number of organisations and people with donations, cash and in kind, through the use of his company machinery to carry out activities such as cutting down trees deemed risky for motorists or people, fixing roads and other works. He is passionate, humble and kind-hearted and always put people first. Teariki is a great role model to the people around him and a leader who leads by example. Recently he led a public protest against government’s decision to reopen Cook Islands borders on January 13, 2022.

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Tekura Potoru (Steak) (Community worker and Deacon Takuvaine)

• Tekura has been the Pu Tapere for over 20 years, appointed by the Dame Karika herself. He is also a Deacon (Avarua CICC), actively involved in church activities. Tekura holds multiple titles and has dedicated his life serving the people of Takuvaine. As a former rugby player (prop) for TKV, Tekura has been actively involved in the village sports club and youth groups, giving his valuable time and support to those in need. With so little that he has, Tekura gives his 100 per cent to the community and expects nothing in return. He has gone far and beyond to assist his village and people of Takuvaine.

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The Kakerori (Monarch flycatcher endemic to the island of Rarotonga)

• The Kakerori is a true Cook Islander through and through, found nowhere else in the world. They have inspired the creation of 155 hectares of conservation area in Rarotonga (The Kakerori Recovery Programme and Takitumu Conservation Project). Also known as Rarotonga Monarch, the Kakerori have helped employ Cook Islanders. The Kakerori inspire human beings to be better connected to nature and our environment.

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Tina Iro (Businesswoman and community worker)

• Tina has selflessly and passionately supported as well as led a number of community projects over the years. 2021 has been no different. She is founder and co-chair of WWF – Works with Faith. Her vision is to meet practical needs of vulnerable and needy in the community and share the goodness of God with her charity work. Tina was the team leader for the 2021 Christmas Box project.

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Valery Wichman (Lawyer and LGBTQI+ activist)

• Valery is a barrister and solicitor and Director of Central Policy and Planning for the Cook Islands Government. She is recipient of Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2016 for her work in promoting LGBTQI+ rights in the Cook Islands. Valery helped draft the Cook Islands Youth Policy and has led the drive to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ community in the country. Valery is the president of Te Tiare Association (the local LGBTQI+ association) and she also helped establish the Pride Cook Islands Campaign. She has also led work on the Cook Islands National Population Policy and the its 2020+ National Sustainable Development Agenda. Recently she was named by the University of Auckland in its 40 Under 40 list.