Culture
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.
Tributes flow for fallen kapa haka icon
Monday 8 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The body of Te Arawa kapa haka stalwart Sally-Ann Roberts (Ngāti Hinemihi, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāpuhi) was repatriated back to Aotearoa New Zealand yesterday.
Atiu wins top Te Maeva Nui awards
Monday 8 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Atiu’s spectacular performances and creative costumes helped the southern group island’s dancing troops clean sweep the top awards in Te Maeva Nui 2022 cultural festival.
Te Maeva Nui: The gospel of healing
Saturday 6 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Teams taking part in the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival sang their hearts out in harmony in the Imene Pupu (Choir) and Imene Tuki (Traditional Hymn) categories on Thursday night at the National Auditorium.
Learning to live a subsistence lifestyle
Saturday 6 August 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Culture, National
A group of more than 40 Rarotongan students from an environmental advocacy group have been learning about the lifestyles of the people of Atiu, and sharing their own knowledge.
Youngsters excited to learn their reo
Saturday 6 August 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islanders in Auckland are optimistic their reo will survive into the future, thanks to growing enthusiasm among the community’s youngest members.
Songs of hope
Saturday 6 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The National Auditorium came alive this week with powerful songs of the Gospel and Vairakau Maori (traditional remedies) echoing through the hall.
Te Maeva Nui performers dazzle crowd
Friday 5 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Te Maeva Nui, the nation’s biggest and best cultural extravaganza, hit off to a great start with over 1000 people cheering and welcoming the first night of performers onstage at the National Auditorium on Wednesday.
Celebrating 57 years of self-governance
Friday 5 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Dignitaries, members of the public, Te Maeva Nui dance groups and visitors gathered at the National Auditorium yesterday to mark the Constitution Day – 57 years of self-governance from New Zealand.
Atiu ready to hit the stage in Ura Pau category
Wednesday 3 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Atiu’s Te Maeva Nui cultural team is set and ready to hit the stage tonight in the Ura Pau category with a unique portrayal of the theme – “Te au Vairakau Tupuna o toku Matakeinanga/Enua or the Traditional Medicine of my Community/Island”.
Fishy find sparks Cook Islands linguistic lesson at Auckland Museum
Tuesday 2 August 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, National
Records dating back almost 100 years could hold dialectical differences or lost words in Cook Islands Māori – and they have been sitting in a box at the Auckland Museum for all those years.
Cook Islands Language Week opens with new digital hub for kōrero Kūki 'Āirani
Monday 1 August 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Culture, National
New Zealand Government is opening an online hub for young Cook Islanders to tuatua (talk) about their culture, in honour of Cook Islands Language Week.
Te Pa o Rākaihautū Kapa Haka group put on spectacular show
Monday 1 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The Te Pa o Rākaihautū Kapa Haka group from New Zealand have wowed crowds at the National Auditorium with their tuneful melodious voices, dance and Haka performances in Te Maeva Nui International Night on Saturday.
Colourful float parades get Te Maeva Nui festival underway
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Welcoming light rain cooled off the waiting audience and the float parade participants at the opening event of the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival yesterday.
Voices of Rakahanga
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Voices of Rakahanga will be singing loud and proud in the 2022 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival next week in the Ute, Imene Tuki and Choir performances.
