Celebrations on Mitiaro continue following the 200-year commemoration of the Gospel on Saturday.

The Bicentennial celebrations on Saturday was a culmination of a weeklong event which started on Saturday, July 15.

Julian Aupuni of the Mitiaro 200 Bicentennial Celebration 2023 organising committee said the celebrations was attended by over 500 people from the island, Pa Enua, Rarotonga and overseas.

On Saturday, July 15 a welcome ceremony was held to welcome visiting government leaders and officials, traditional and church leaders and other guests.

On Sunday, July 16, a combined church service was held followed by the opening of the Bicentennial event and the island’s Te Maeva Nui celebrations.

During the week, the island witnessed various performances from its residents and visitors including imene tuki from the three tribes, string band competition, action song contest, international night and others.

The unveiling and blessing of plaques at the island’s first churches were held during the week as well as the unveiling of three plaques on Saturday, July 22 to commemorate the 45 Orometuas who have served the island since 1823, the Orometuas sent on mission work to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands and other places, and a tribute to 200 years of Gospel.

On Friday, July 21, a ceremonial welcome ceremony was held to welcome the latest arrivals and a huge patai was prepared.

Aupuni said large number of people turned up to witness this event which also involved warriors carrying a huge pig.

The Bicentennial event started at midnight Friday when two bells – a wooden and a steel bell – were rang 200 times (100 times each) to mark 200 years of the Gospel.

A two-hour church service was held, starting at 12am Saturday, before preparations for the main event at 7am began.

“We still have heaps of people left on the island and we will continue with our programme until maybe August when people return back to their respective islands and home,” Aupuni said.