Features
Cook Islands Knitters recognised for efforts during conflicts
Saturday 13 November 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features
Mamas were among those honoured as Cook Islands commemorated 103 years since the signing of the Armistice, which ended World War One (WWI). A crowd gathered at the Cook Islands RSA on Thursday for a remembrance service to mark the date and time WWI ended in 1918 and to honour those who have supported them and others in conflict.
Sailing with the mana of Ui Tupuna
Saturday 13 November 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
As a young child Arerau Maao Jr, now in his 30s, had visions of sailing on a vaka. Last week he accomplished just that, sailing on the Vaka Marumaru Atua for the first time from his home island of Aitutaki to Rarotonga.
‘Strong Mums’ encourage others to kick-start their own health and fitness journey
Saturday 13 November 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
Four mothers, Myland Lane, Tai Cummings, Kathy Numanga Wearing and Shona Kirikava, have committed to their Strong Mums Journey – an intense fitness and health programme that has improved and transformed their lifestyles for the better. They share their health journey on social media hoping it would inspire others to follow suit.
‘Everyone’s getting on with their lives despite Covid-19’
Saturday 13 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features
Cook Islands tennis player and businessman, Brett Baudinet has been travelling the world since September and says the Cook Islands should have already opened its borders.
Welcoming the Gospel message
Friday 12 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Opinion
I was privileged to be part of the bicentennial Gospel celebrations held in Aitutaki recently. Watching the re-enactment of the event (the arrival of the Gospel to Aitutaki 200 years ago) was indeed a humbling experience, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventists Church.
CHURCH TALK: Welcoming the Gospel message
Friday 12 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
I was privileged to be part of the bicentennial Gospel celebrations held in Aitutaki recently. Watching the re-enactment of the event (the arrival of the Gospel to Aitutaki 200 years ago) was indeed a humbling experience, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventists Church.
Exhibition celebrates artistic sisters
Thursday 11 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Art, Features
The Gallery Tavioni hosted four talented ladies and each of the works of their artistic minds in an art exhibition titled ‘Sisters Embrace Art - from around the world’ on Saturday in Atupa.
‘Do it for yourself and your whanau’
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Derek Fox | Published in Features, In Depth
When I was first asked to write this, I resisted. You see like all blokes I wasn’t interested in having my internal workings and ailments publicly aired. But then I thought of my soldier friend, whose company I might still be enjoying if he’d got help earlier, writes veteran broadcaster Derek Fox.
No GPS, no compass, only traditional navigating
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, Weekend
Marumaru Atua crew sailed from Rarotonga to Aitutaki last month using only traditional navigating techniques.
Buy local, spend local
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Features, Go Local
While many businesses have felt the sting of staying stagnant due to Covid-19 related border closures, one business in Aitutaki is making the most of this downturn by giving locals the chance to relax and escape to a day out on their lagoon day cruise.
Men in Crisis: ‘Our men are dying young’
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Health, National
A staggering majority of men are heading towards early deaths as a joint project by Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry of Health and the Rarotonga Rotary Club rolls through Rarotonga.
CHURCH TALK: The reason for the season
Friday 5 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
I mused over our recent celebrations in Aitutaki regarding the arrival of the Gospel and I wondered if we had overlooked something? By Pastor Paul Kauri.
Behind the scenes to limelight
Thursday 4 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Art, Features
For many years Awhitia Tavioni has referred to herself as a “shadow” to her iconic husband and master carver Mike Tavioni. This weekend Awhitia will be in the limelight when she along with her artist “sisters” showcase their creations in a special exhibition.
‘Don’t be frightened, it’s far better to know’
Saturday 30 October 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Features
As the pink month of October, the official Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close, Barbara Lawson, founder of the esteemed Lawson’s Dry Hills Winery shares her personal story of her fight against the illness and how she is where she is today, living a tranquil and cancer-free life in Rarotonga.
Earthquakes and tsunamis – the Cook Islands experience
Saturday 30 October 2021 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane
What does history tell us about the frequency of earthquakes and tsunami in the Cook Islands?
CHURCH TALK: Accepting the Almighty God
Friday 29 October 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
This week earmarked a memorable time in our Cook Islands history to celebrate and reflect upon the arrival of Christianity to our shores 200 years ago, writes Reverend Vakaroto Ngaro of Ekalesia Avarua.
Glamour studio’s ‘Wow, is that really me?’ feeling
Monday 25 October 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Features, Go Local
Two cousins with expertise that goes hand in hand have launched a new business venture aimed at helping women take a few hours for themselves to feel comfortable and confident, and go home with memories in the form of photos that they can keep forever.
Makatea – hard work, harsh conditions, happy times
Saturday 23 October 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features
Hundreds of Cook Islands men flocked to Makatea – an island 220km northeast of Tahiti – during a New Zealand government-initiated labour scheme between 1942 and 1956. Roughly half the size of Mangaia in Cook Islands, Makatea was one of three raised coral atolls in the Pacific which was mined for its phosphate in the 20th century. The island was also known in the past as Mangaia-te-vai-tamāe. A new book entitled ‘Makatea’ attempts to capture a bit of the history around the phosphate industry and the Cook Islanders who worked on Makatea in the last century.
Not all heroes wear capes
Saturday 23 October 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Features
Programme manager for Autism Cook Islands Kat Jensen shares her story of how she found herself advocating for autism after moving to Rarotonga three year ago.
Aitutaki’s leap of faith
Saturday 23 October 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
This year is a milestone for the Cook Islands Christian Church who are commemorating 200 years of the arrival of the Gospel to the Cook Islands, Christianity first arrived to the island of Aitutaki on October 26, 1821 introduced by the London Missionary Society (LMS).
