Cook Islands mental health organisation, Te Kainga o Pa Taunga, is planning to hold various workshops and training sessions this year. Dates for these events are yet to be confirmed.

The first training is expected to be the frontline workers workshop aimed to promote community awareness on mental health.

Te Kainga o Pa Taunga director Mereana Taikoko says the workshop is supposed to be held annually in Rarotonga.

It was last held at the Sinai Hall in late January 2024.

Taikoko said a committee meeting would be called to confirm the dates.

“We had a similar one in January last year. That event is supposed to be an annual one-training frontline workers on primary care,” she said.

“We’ll do another one this year, but we’re just waiting for the overseas trainer to tell us the time he is going to come over.”
Taikoko said Dr Sione Vaka, associate professor at the University of Waikato, is the main trainer.

He will be conducting the training with Taikoko. 

“He’s agreed to come, but he’s away on leave in New Zealand, so dates are still to be confirmed. We’re really lucky, because we can’t get a lot of people to come and do this training.”

Dr Sione Vaka advocates for mental health across the Pacific, integrating traditional culture into mental health care. 

Taikoko also said that they will hold some mental health awareness training in the Pa Enua this year.

Meanwhile, Te Kainga o Pa Taunga was scheduled to hold their Annual General Meeting in December last year, but this has been postponed to allow for an audit of their financial accounts.

Taikoko stated that the dates for the AGM were also incorrect, as they are required to hold the AGM before May 1.