Family ties explored and embraced

Decendents of Kautai and Ngapoko Kinau strengthened their ties through the week when the family gathered together for their first ever family reunion.

The event opened on Monday, where more than 500 people gathered at the Avarua School for the reunion that has attracted over 300 descendants of Kautai and Ngapoko Kinau.

The couple had 10 children of which five had children and five did not.

The kopu tangata of the five children – Te Tupu Ariki, Amaru, Marona, Teura and Rea have been having a great time getting to know each other.

The family gathering began with two days of recording and retelling the family genealogy and tree to the younger generation.

Eighty-two-year-old matriarch of the family Mii Amaru, who left Rarotonga in 1974 shortly after the Rarotonga International Airport was opened and the island was visited by Princess Anne.

While Mama Mii has returned to the island a number of times, she says she is grateful for the family reunion as she has met many of her family that didn’t know her and vice versa.

“Taku i kite – e tauokotaianga. Me kare ko teia, kare au e kite meitaki i taku anau.”

The family also visited the graves of their ancestors and enjoyed a historical tour around the island – a highlight for the 50-plus family members from Australia and 100-plus anau from New Zealand. The family gathered at Tupapa field on Thursday for a round of sporting activities including touch rugby, volleyball and fun three legged races.

The family reunion was due to wrap up last night, however there is talk of the family putting together a touch rugby team to compete in the annual Boxing Day touch rugby tournament on November 26.