Culture
New Zealand Foreign Minister visits Gallery Tavioni and Vananga
Saturday 15 October 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Puati Mataiapo, George Ngapare welcomed New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta to the Gallery Tavioni and Vananga on Thursday, with a traditional turou.
Homeward bound: Vaka Motu expected to arrive here on Saturday
Friday 14 October 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Culture, National
The 50-foot, twin-hulled open-ocean sailing canoe, Vaka Motu Okeanos Waa’Qab is expected to arrive at Rarotonga this weekend.
Reviving traditional vaka building
Wednesday 21 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National
Thirty years ago, vaka/canoes from across the Pacific and the islands of the Cook Islands sailed to Rarotonga for the 1992 Pacific Festival of Arts. These days the traditional art of building a canoe from tree logs is rarely seen, however, things are about to change.
Toka’s Cook Islands inspired garments a big hit
Tuesday 20 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
After a successful whirlwind trip to Paris and London for the Pacific Fashion Week shows, emerging designer Toka Toka is on his way home.
Taking Cook Islands fashion to the world
Wednesday 14 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Emerging fashion designer Toka Toka landed in Paris, France for the first time this week to showcase unique Cook Islands fashion designs using cultural fabric and material.
Connecting to Cooks collections
Thursday 8 September 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Culture, National
A new website helping Pacific Islanders to better tell their stories was introduced to Cook Islands audience yesterday.
‘Owning the narrative’ of our treasured history in a tech world
Thursday 1 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National
Cook Islanders are being encouraged to contribute their knowledge and ‘own the narrative’ of their taonga stored in digital records.
Celebrating Cooks’ culture in Perth, Australia
Monday 29 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islands dancers in Perth, Australia dazzled the audience with their cultural expertise on stage recently in the 2022 Te Mire Ura competition.
Apii Nikao celebrates Cook Islands culture
Saturday 27 August 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Culture, Local, National
Apii Nikao celebrated the end of their Cook Islands Maori Week with drum dance, traditional songs and decorated classrooms on Friday.
Educational filmmakers triumph for Kuki Airani Reo
Thursday 25 August 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, National
Community leader Mama Teremoana Maua-Hodges in Porirua, Wellington is spearheading a project called E Reo Nuku that consists of a series of ten 30-minute video resources. Mama Teremoana is the Presenter, and it is being co-produced by Taputukura Raea, aided by facilitator Samson Samasoni who is providing directorial guidance.
Conducting research in indigenous communities
Monday 22 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islander Ulamila Kura-i-Marie Vakalalabure Wragg, a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury, is working on a thesis focusing on gender, power and land innovation in the Cook Islands and Fijian culture.
Promoting the Cook Islands language with modern day music
Saturday 20 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islands singing sensations the Samson Squad are rocking Pacific music lovers the world over with their winning arrangements of modern, hip and groovy urban music and the traditional language of Reo Māori Kūki 'Airani.
Three generations keep Kuki Airani Tivaevae alive in Auckland City
Thursday 18 August 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, National
Attended by a small pocket of the Kuki Airani Community still residing in Auckland central, a group of mamas, young and old come together to teach and share in the traditional craft of Tivaevae/Tivaivai quilt-making. By Kendall Vano of Tagata Pasifika.
Weaving research with tradition
Wednesday 17 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Presenters at the Cook Islands Research Association symposium on Thursday last week discussed a range of concerns and issues when conducting research using indigenous knowledge and traditions.
Keeping Cook Islands culture alive in Aotearoa
Saturday 13 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
In a blaze of pride, the spirit of Cook Islands cultural performing arts in Aotearoa New Zealand sprung to life as pulsating drums, heartfelt songs, mesmerising dances moves and vibrant colours took centre stage at the inaugural Kapa Nui festival last week.
Cook Islanders paving the way in research and tradition
Friday 12 August 2022 | Written by Sian Solomon | Published in Culture, National
A research symposium hosted by Te Vairangi Kite Pakari Cook Islands Research Association at the Crown Beach Resort yesterday discussed the relationship between research and tradition.
For the love of culture
Thursday 11 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
As teams struggled to get numbers for this year’s Te Maeva Nui, Tupapa-Maraerenga received a boost from a New Zealand-based Cook Islander who returned home to participate in the annual festival which concluded last Friday.
Te Maeva Nui’s ‘high standards’ please Tauranga Vananga
Wednesday 10 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Despite being scaled back for the second consecutive year due to cuts in the Budget, Te Maeva Nui cultural festival is still maintaining its high standards, says Tauranga Vananga (Ministry of Culture) Secretary Anthony Turua
Celebrating Cook Islands language in New Zealand
Tuesday 9 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The Cook Islands Language Week was celebrated last week right across Aotearoa New Zealand, with each Cook Islands community hosting a week of activities targeting the celebration of language and culture.
Curtain falls on country’s biggest, best cultural event
Monday 8 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The countless hours of late nights rolling into the wee hours of the morning rehearsing and making costumes have come to an end for the hundreds who have participated in the county’s biggest and best cultural festival – Te Maeva Nui.
