Since the closing of the Aitutaki Bicentennial celebrations work has quietly continued in the village of Amuri to complete the last of five remaining projects funded by donations from the Tokoroa Cook Islands community in New Zealand.

Instead of putting money towards food or one off type activities, the Tokoroa Cook Islands community had requested that funds be used for community based projects linked to the bicentennial, that would continue after, and be used by the community in future.

The village of Teupokoenua or Amuri was selected as recipients of funds amounting to $25,500.

The five projects included: the upgrade of the Amuri sports field toilet complex; the upgrade of its community water stations filtration system; to provide materials to the vainetini to sew new mattresses, pillow case covers and extra sheeting for the Pa Enua attending the celebrations; install a new water filtration system for the Seventh Day Adventist Hall in Amuri, and the upgrade of the Amuri sports field cricket pitch.

In addition, each of the eight villages on Aitutaki received $1000 from the Tokoroa funds to assist with the bicentennial.

Earlier this month, a ceremony was held to bless the final part of the project - the new cricket pitch, before it was opened to the community to use.

President of the Aitutaki Cricket Association Daniel Mataiti said the new cricket pitch was a dream come true for their organisation, “thanks to the generosity of Tokoroa, we now have a proper pitch we can be proud of and which will be used by the whole island in future.”

Project co-ordinator Toa Isamaela acknowledged Tokoroa’s huge contribution towards the projects, which was supported by Assistant Pastor Repaio Kiria.

Isamaela added that plans are in motion to develop a new hardcourt facility at the sports field which will include netball, tennis, handball and volleyball, once the village has given the green light, “we will be looking at potential sponsors to assist with fundraising in the new year,” and also praised the efforts of Paul Maoate and his staff who did “a great job” renovating the cricket pitch.

While blessing the pitch Pastor Kiria noted that the village had embraced the spirit of “oneness and unity” and that the projects had “brought our people together”.