What’s in a name?

A sports-related debate, which is expected to stir up feelings, will be at the centre of a community meeting in Nikao this evening.

In early December, a series of notices ran in Cook Islands News, saying that 13 codes from Teotue to Pokoinu have been registered and affiliated under the umbrella of the Avatiu Sports Association Incorporated.

ASA president Albert Nicholas, who is also Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston’s member of parliament, says he met with Nikao’s MP Ngamau Munokoa and some community members earlier this month, who voiced their concern over the name.

But Nicholas says there will be no change to the name of the association which was registered in 1984.

There was a push in the 1990s to change the name of the association to include Nikao but this has been resisted by some, including Nicholas. In the past, the rugby and league clubs have used the ‘Avatiu-Nikao’ names.

Two sporting entities, the Mongoose rugby golden oldies and Nikao Sokattak, are closely associated with the Nikao community.

Tonight’s meeting at 7pm will be held at the Nikao CICC Sunday School hall.