Cook Islands shares Ra’ui Knowledge in Hawai’i

Journalist, Melina Etches, wrote a piece for the Cook Islands News about how representatives from the Cook Islands participated in the University of Hawai’i Rahui (Ra’ui) workshop to learn more about traditional ra’ui management systems for marine resources.

Rongo Preston, president of Te Koutu Nui, and Retire Puapii from Aitutaki (both representing Te Koutu Nui), along with Joshua Jim, an executive member of Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau from Atiu, attended the ra’ui workshop in Kaua’i.

Dr Teina Rongo, chairperson of the environmental NGO Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau, explains that the workshop involves collaboration between three countries – the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Hawaii. The goal is to understand and collect information on traditional ra’ui marine management practices.

The ra’ui system is a traditional method for conserving and preserving any or all resources within the environment. It functions as a community-driven resource management tool implemented for an agreed-upon period by community leaders.

Joshua Jim (left) from Atiu, an executive member of Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau, is participating in the Rāhui (Ra’ui) Workshop in Kaua’i, Hawai’i. Picture: Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau/24032011

Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau is also actively involved in educating young people, particularly about cultural practices like fishing and ra’ui.

Rongo, a marine biologist, said the workshop organizers are interested in learning about how the Cook Islands manage their ra’ui, or “traditional management systems”.

Jim is a passionate young man eager to learn more about Cook Islands traditions and environmental cultural programs.

He also serves as a representative of the Atiu management committee for the uninhabited island of Takutea.

Considering his age, Jim has already gained significant knowledge from his elders, according to Rongo. His role on the Takutea management committee includes the responsibility for the harvesting of it.

“He is our lead in Atiu and they have just finished the Atiu Paiere (fishing canoe) project and he is involved in collecting the knowledge around rā’ui,” Rongo said.

“This is an opportunity for him to work alongside these scientists in that space … he has the practical and local knowledge also, and this will expose him to more – the technical side of management – and capacity building for us.”

This customary management practice was revived by Te Koutu Nui in 1998 under the direction of the then-president, the late Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid.

Pacific Language Week 2024

The Pacific Language Week series began this week throughout New Zealand with Rotuma starting the initiative by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

This year, two new languages will be included for the first time – Solomon Islands Pidgin and Papua New Guinea Tok Pisin – joining Rotuma, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue and Tokelau to make 11 Pacific language weeks which will end in November.

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples works closely with Pacific communities’ to maintain and promote indigenous languages across the country.

The overarching theme of the language weeks for 2024 is sustainability, aligning with UNESCO’s long-term vision to protect indigenous languages, not just in the Pacific but worldwide.

Sustainability can include the physical, but also language – which incorporates heritage and identity – with UNESCO saying at least 40 per cent of the world’s 7000 languages are in danger of being lost.

Porirua in Wellington is looking forward to celebrating the many varied cultures and identities of the Pacific communities in the city.

Mayor Anita Baker said the flag-raising events at the beginning of each language week at the peace memorial at Te Rauparaha Park are a representation of the vibrancy that exists in Porirua.

Pacific people make up nearly 27 percent of the city’s population, making it one of the most culturally diverse regions in New Zealand.

“I always look forward to the activities and events we have on during the different language weeks, especially seeing the young ones taking part – it is as much about learning and developing relationships with our residents as it is having fun,” she said.

“We can celebrate what enriches our communities and it aligns beautifully with our Pacific Strategy, which we adopted last year. We want to make everyone feel welcome enough to celebrate their own nations and identity.”

“The First Moving Pictures”- Samoan Legend

The first movie ever made was an 11-frame clip shot on June 19th, 1878, using twelve separate cameras to film a man riding a horse on Leland Stanford’s (the founder of Stanford University) Palo Alto Stock Farm (the eventual site of Stanford University). The man we have to thank for this 11-frame cinematic first is Eadweard Muybridge.

However, moving pictures started long before Muybridge’s galloping horse movie in Samoa, and our next legend proves this. The story appeared in the book, Tales Told in Hawaii.  Enjoy!

The First Moving Pictures- Samoa

Men of the Far Lands think they are the first to have moving pictures. They do not know of Sina and her pool.

Sina caught shadows of the gay dances of her people, of battles, of racing and wrestling, and of men and women at their daily work. She put these shadows on a pool in a hidden cave, which could be entered only by moving a certain rock. When Sina was lonely she went into her hidden cave and enjoyed the moving pictures.

One day a man happened to push back the rock and enter the cave. He looked down and saw a group of men enjoying his favorite dance. He gave a shout of joy and dove into the cave to join them. But, alas, he bruised his head and broke his arm on the rocks of the shallow pool.

So you know that the moving pictures of old were far better than those we have now, for what silly man would try to dance with the flat figures in the moving pictures of today?

“The First Moving Picture,” illustration by Tara Bonvillain, copyright 2024

Celebrating Progress, Inclusivity, and Unity in the Cook Islands LGBTQIA+ Community

Radio New Zealand journalist, Tiana Haxton, recently reported how “Progress, Inclusivity and Unity” was celebrated in Rarotonga as the LGBTIA+ community commemorated one year since the Cook Islands decriminalized same-sex relations.

The country’s inaugural Pride Week – Anuanua Week – was full of colourful activities and events exploring the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities and their rights across the Pacific.

From wearable arts to theatre productions, dance competitions, thought invoking film festivals and robust discussion panels, there was something for everyone.

Political delegations from New Zealand and Australia were in attendance alongside leading figures in the international pride community.

Te Tiare Association president Tatryana Utanga said they were humbled by the support from across the globe.

“To see that attendance from these high-level delegates is very heart warming and comforting to us,” Utanga said.

“[This is] to show our Cook Islands community that we have the backing of people outside of our community, outside of our nation, who support us and want to see us grow in terms of progress.”Prior to the law change, homosexuality was punishable by up to five years in jail, and people hosting homosexual acts in their premises could see 10 years in jail.

The Anuanua community celebrate outside Parliament as homosexuality was decriminalized on April 14th 2023. Photo: Supplied / Pride Cook Islands

Advocates protested that the Crimes Bill 1969 was “outdated and discriminatory”.

The pride community called for equal rights which was responded to in an unexpected way.

In 2019, the Crimes Bill select committee recommended to extend the provisions criminalising homosexuality, to include women as well.

This caused a strong public reaction from the LGBTQIA+ community, and Pride Cook Islands was launched as a campaign opposing the recommendation.

Four years later, on 14 April 2023, community members sat in the Parliament gallery to witness the historic moment it all changed.

Pride Cook Islands president at the time, Karla Eggleton, remembers nerves and anxiety awaiting the final decision.

“Even then we didn’t know what to expect,” Eggleton said.

“We were debating all day long what if it went this way, and what if it goes the other way? While we had champagne on ice, at the same time there was also nail-biting in the room.”

There were hours of debate in Parliament as the country’s leaders discussed the law change.

Many spoke in support of the change, but some were opposed, quoting biblical scriptures condemning homosexuality.

Minister of Justice Vaine Mac Mokoroa acknowledged the country’s strong religious beliefs, however he asked the house to differentiate “morals” from “law”.

“We need to ask ourselves, what is the difference between sin and crime? A sin is an act or behaviour that is against religion or God’s will, crime is an action against the law.

“Sin is recognised by God and religion and God is your judge. Crime is recognised by the state or government.”

He said the government had a responsibility to make laws in the best interest of their people and their fundamental human rights.

Regardless of his statement, there were members in opposing parties (Democratic Party and United Party) that disagreed, firmly holding on to their religious beliefs.

Debates continued until late in the afternoon.

In the final session, the leader of the opposition (Democratic Party) Tina Browne was a walking statement, donning the Pride Cook Islands supporter tee-shirt as she addressed her fellow members saying, “we have a job to do, we have a duty to do”.

“Our constitution provides for fundamental human rights and freedom, it prohibits us from discriminating people based on sex, it provides that everyone should be treated equally,” Browne said.

“We shouldn’t be having second thoughts about supporting the bill.”

Grand celebration

Since then, the pride community in the Cook Islands have been planning a grand celebration to mark the one-year anniversary since decriminalisation.

‘Anuanua Week’ was a huge success under the lead of the new president Dean Kapi-Tangata, who said it will now be an annual event.

Kapi-Tangata said the next chapter is all about promoting inclusivity and equality in the community.

“Having Pride Week always carries stigmatism regardless of how progressive the country is, so we hope to show that it is not just about marches and riots, but it’s also about having fun and appreciating one another.”

The historic occasion wrapped up over the weekend with a music festival on the beach.

Rainbow flags were seen flying with pride, island wide as the sun set on the Cook Islands inaugural Pride Week.

Using Traditional Knowledge in a Changing Climate

Wrtier, Philip Malsale, recently wrote an interesting opinion piece that was posted on Radio New Zealand about how in the Pacific, our relationship with nature is a natural one. Nature is us, we are nature…

We use nature to meet our basic needs, food, water, clothing and shelter. We communicate through nature, we use it for medicine, transportation, music and entertainment. Generations have used those natural signs, which in today’s world we refer to as traditional knowledge, to plan for the future.

As we encounter and confront modern challenges of today, the need to continue to cultivate this natural relationship with nature, and rely on our traditional knowledge becomes even more pertinent.

It is why I am excited about the work we do at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), especially my role as the Senior Climatologist. One of the exciting works we have in the pipeline is looking at how to use traditional knowledge to hope and anticipate climate change, including climate variability and climate extremes, as well as ancillary traditional knowledge associated with food and water security, traditional ecological knowledge, environmental conservation, and settlement and house construction that represent coping strategies.

I can honestly say the work I am involved in today is something that has always fascinated me. I was born and raised in a chiefly family in Vilavi village in Uripiv Island, Malekula, Vanuatu. Malekula is an Island where culture is diverse. The diversity in the sense that a village that is a stone throw away has a totally different language. Uripiv Island is the same, but its linguistic influence is broader, and it covers most of the central Malekula. It has its own governance structure where families would labour for the chief to have a place to settle and have a say in the community.

The work for those new settlers can range from, collecting skulls, gardening, fishing to cleaning the village. Growing up in a village is a totally different world from the Port Vila and Luganville cities, so my daily activities of going to school, fishing, gardening or even community activities depended entire on nature and the weather.

We were taught to observe the cloud type and the colour of the sky during sunset for the next day’s weather pattern. We were also told to use the position of the moon to determine whether a famine or drought was on the way, as well as the harvesting calendar.

Nature and weather patterns also taught us when was the best time to go fishing, and where to look for certain types of fish species, writes the author. Photo by Brandon Oswald

The amount of fruiting of the mango tree determined the activeness of the cyclone season and the flowering of a certain mangrove species was used for determining cyclone strength. The wind direction also determined when a cyclone was approaching and when it would dissipate and leave.

Nature and weather patterns also taught us when was the best time to go fishing, and where to look for certain types of fish species. Generally, my community daily living depended entirely on traditional weather and climate indicators for their sustainable living.

It was human and nature co-existing in harmony. I used to think this was only the case in my village in Vanuatu but then I grew up and realised this was something shared across the Pacific.

Pacific migration also determined our journey course. Our ancestors read nature’s signs to survive the weather and climate extreme events through our journeys prior to the introduction of modern weather and seasonal prediction.

When we talk about natural signs, we refer to how land, sea, air, astronomy and behaviours of flora and fauna changes over a short and long period of time and their deviation from weather and climate normal. This is how our ancestors lived in harmony with nature until modern technology was introduced by explorers, traders, and missionaries. They set up modern weather observation systems and recorded data in diaries, ship logs and old field books that were archived in libraries far away from our people. When many Pacific Islands later gained independence, they continued the practise of data recording of weather and climate, and eventually set up the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NHMS) as west ministerial system of governance was favoured over our traditional governance. These new systems came in at the expense of documenting and keeping records of our natural way of living, our traditional knowledge, especially in relation to weather and climate forecasting.

As a result, those practises slowly declined over the years as elderlies passed on and Pacific Islands became more dependent on technology and modern science. Fortunately, things are changing and there is now recognition internationally that our traditional knowledge, as Pacific people, can assist technology and science in the development space in our region.

The future want

In the next 30 years, I want to see weather and climate information including TK have high correlation with high skill level and verification and fully utilise in all NMHS information and warning bulletin. This will eventually mean that Pacific Islands will have TK national and regional weather and climate indicators for extreme events such as rainfall, cyclone, drought, flooding, extreme temperature, earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption.

If this is achieved in the near future, the Pacific region will be more resilient not only to weather and climate extreme events, but also to long term climate change. This will be the moment, I will sit back under a salsal near the beach on Vilavi village, Uripiv Island, drinking my first shell of kava, looking out to the ocean with the sun setting over the grey mountains of Aope and Lambubu, and be

satisfied knowing that wisdom and knowledge gained from the chiefly drink had made a difference in the Pacific region through the TK weather and climate indicators.

Our people derive their own methodology to combine their rich traditions with modern science to live sustainably in a changing climate. That is the future we want.

Circumnavigation of the Pacific Put on Hold

The Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) has put its circumnavigation of the Pacific on hold.

It said due to El Niño conditions it has decided to keep the vessels primarily in Hawaiian waters until next year.

“In terms of our oceans, we are, in my opinion and not from a scientific point of view, but from just experience over 49 years of sailing this canoe, we’re in a changing ocean and we need to pay attention,” PVS chief exective and pwo (master) navigator Nainoa Thompson said.

It was originally meant to sail on to Mexico, central and South America in January and February this year, and explore Polynesia until arriving in New Zealand in December 2024.

The vessel Hōkūleʻa sailed south through British Columbia, to Washington State, and down the West Coast of Oregon and California after engaging with First Nations communities, Native Hawaiian communities and the general public in 45 ports.

The Polynesian Voyaging Society has put its circumnavigation of the Pacific on hold. The Society says due to El Nino conditions, it has decided to keep the vessels primarily in Hawaiian waters until next year. Photo: Polynesian Voyaging Society

Hōkūleʻa returned home from San Diego, California in December 2023, in the wake of the devastating fires on Maui and because of the El Nino weather patterns in the Pacific causing unpredictable conditions.

The circumnavigation is set to resume in March 2025, when the vessels Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia head first to the major island groups of Polynesia.

In the meantime, the organisation and its crews will focus on other initiatives including training and educational outreach.

This year, the Society is ramping up crew and captain training, including two deep-sea voyages to the Intertropical Convergence Zone, known also as the doldrums, and back, in late spring or early summer.

“We’re adding on the convergence zone as a strategic training ground for future captains and navigators,” Thompson said.

“Hawaiʻi is really this web of all of these special training grounds for different reasons, primarily because of our islands and what they do to the winds and the ocean.

“We’re very, very blessed that we have learned to use these islands as a school.”

The circumnavigation of the Pacific is set to cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories, and more than 300 ports.

Kingdom of Kings Film to Showcase Rugby and Tongan Life

Radio New Zealand journalist, Iliesa Tora, wrote a piece a few months ago about how Sebastian Hurrell, an Auckland-based Tongan filmmaker, believes rugby is a pathway that can help many Tongan youths overcome the challenges of life on the Island Kingdom.

He is currently putting together a film titled ‘The Kingdom of Kings’, which he hopes will bring Tonga to the world of rugby in a way no other has done before.

Hurrell, who has been working with his team on the film over the last 24 months, told RNZ Pacific in Auckland their film “is made by Tongans, set in Tonga, on Tongans for the Tongan people”.

“It’s pretty much the first film of its type. It does have rugby as a central focus to it. But it’s really more about the opportunity that rugby provides to Tongans rather than rugby, the sport itself,” Hurrell said.

“Rugby, for example, in Tonga provides opportunities for young kids to get out of poverty and hardship. Break out of some of the many health issues that we face in the Pacific around diabetes, obesity and heart disease.

“And this is like one of the few activities that young Tongans can enjoy.”

The rugby story Hurrell and his team are wanting to tell is the pathway the oval ball game offers to young Tongans and what it can mean for them as individuals, to their families, their communities and to Tonga as a nation.

He said nothing much has changed in Tonga from when he was growing up in Nuku’alofa but rugby has stepped into the gap that has been there for ages, acting as a lifeline to many Tongans.

“So basically after school, and like it’s still the same now as it was when I was a kid growing up there 30 something years ago, you can go down to the wharf and jump off the edge of the wharf into the water or you can go and play rugby,” he said.

“Outside of that there’s really not much to do. You got no cinemas, no museums, no galleries, no theatres, there’s not really a lot of entertainment for young people. And Tonga has a population of 20 and younger which makes up nearly 50 percent of the population.

“That’s a lot of young people with not much to do. So really, the focus is on how rugby affects their lives and provides them with opportunities and the possibility of what would happen if rugby were to be lost to Tonga.

“Yeah, that’s what we’re looking at.”

Filming Tongans around the world

Hurell said the film project started pretty much on a wing and a prayer.

Discussions were held with the Tonga Rugby Union and connections were made with ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu and the support for them film was given.

That was November 2022.

Teaming up with like-minded people like his friend Greg Parker, who’s the project’s director of photography, and cousin Charles Riechelman, a former All Black, the trio flew to Bucharest to film the Tongan national team’s Europe tour.

“We met the guys and they were amazing. They opened the door, they embraced us, they let us into their lives. And then from there, we’ve basically followed them around for a year,” Hurrell revealed.

“We’ve been to Europe three times, Tonga four times and in Japan once, just following the team.

“But not just like going to games, I mean, going to their houses, meeting their families, their wives, eating with them, cooking with them, spending time with them, sharing the stories, understanding what it is to be Tongan and to identify as a Tongan, even if you live in Wales, Ireland, France and Japan.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, what makes you Tongan and we had fun times, like in Wales, we ended up doing a walk into the back with Vaea Fifita and Sam Louise.

And I ended up having to cook the pig instead of doing the interview. And my sound guy ended up doing the interview with Vaea because Sam had to go pick up his wife, no one was left to cook the pig.

“So the only one they could trust was the Tongan and it was me, to cook the pigs. And then we went to see Vaea’s brother. He basically did a little ‘umu’ for us just indoor unit because it was winter in Ireland.

“We really got a glimpse into these guys lives and how they take their culture and their identity with them no matter where they go in the world.”

Incorporating culture

Ensuring culture was shown and retained in the film is a challenge the team focuses on.

Hurrell believes culture is important in every-day life and it builds people, especially in keeping Tongan players on the pathway.

“We want to show Tongan culture, just the natural Tongan culture as it is now to the world,” he said.

“You know, because we want to show that beauty. I think, people when they see rugby players they just see big brown, muscular men and they’re like, ‘ah, everyone is so big and strong in that country and they have no idea about the heart, the soul, the care that they have for their families, the love that they show to each other as a team, all that kind of the gentle side of these big powerful men’.

“And we got to see a little bit of that, we got to have some laughs with them, share some tears with them, you know. It’s not an easy life being an international rugby player living on the other side of the planet from your family, spending nine months away every year, just to try and put food on the table.

“They’ve had to go through some tough times playing football.”

Local rugby in Tonga. Photo: Cup for Christ

Tonga rugby challenges

Another issue the film focuses on is bringing to the world the challenges Tongan rugby players have to put up with at home.

The lack of resources in Tonga is like what other Pacific Island rugby playing countries like Fiji and Samoa face.

But Hurrell and team want to use that as a lesson to others that despite the lack of resources things can be done in the Tongan spirit, where players work on and keep focusing on what needs to be done as a team.

“We talked a lot about the lack of resources and a lack of finance that the team have, with the CEO Peter Harding (Tonga Rugby chief executive officer), with a lot of the players, they’re all aware of that, they all know it, and they don’t take anything for granted,” Hurrell said.

“They’re just happy to be part of the team. That’s the amazing thing about these guys.”

He discusses one of their gym visits with the team at the Rugby World Cup in France in September, visiting Ben Tameifuna’s Bordeaux Rugby Club, where the disparity in resources were so visible.

“We went to the gym with Ben and it’s enormous, a huge gym, there’s pools and spas and recovery rooms, and all these facilities for this club. I’ve never seen anything like it, not in New Zealand, or Australia, or anywhere I’ve been,” he said.

“And they would have had more gym equipment in that one gym then they have in all of Tonga. That’s insane.

“When they come to Tonga, you know, they basically put up a tent at the back of the hotel, and just had an open area with some gym equipment that they sort of borrowed, put it all together and use that.”

Hurrell said the amazing thing is the guys don’t complain and they turn up and carry on with the work.

“So there’s no complaints. And then watching them take on the best in the world in France and doing well and taking the challenges to the top teams,” he said.

“The feeling we get when I see the boys run out onto the field and perform the ‘sipi tau’ and singing the national anthem, it gives me goosebumps every time. Pretty much cry every time that happens.

“And then watching them play for well over 80 minutes obviously, bashing away doing the best they can fills me with pride. And honestly, I really don’t care that much about the scoreline I care a lot about the attitude that the guys put in.

“I feel pride. I feel great pride in the team, and I feel well represented that they are representing us as talents on the world stage and showing the world that we stand up and we fight to the last breath. We never give up.”

He said the film wants to capture those moments and tell the world that Tongans are not just big players but also have the heart to go past the challenges.

“They go out there to take on the games that nobody else would probably take. They have the courage to take on teams that they know are better than them, that have got more money, more training, more time together, better facilities, everything is stacked against them.”

Own challenges

The team hopes to release the film in July this year.

But like the story they are trying to tell, Hurrell and his team have their own challenges.

Finance has been a big hurdle for them – just like for the Tonga Rugby Union.

Hurrell said they are making do with whatever funding they have and continue to work in faith.

“We are aiming now for July 2024. The biggest challenge has been finance. That’s why it’s been delayed to try and get it out,” Hurrell said with some breaks in his voice.

“Right from the word go we didn’t have the money to make it, we just had the idea, the passion and the drive to complete it and the skill to do a good job doing it.

“We set off to do the job. And I’ve been trying to fundraise as we’ve been going all along. And you know, that kind of works up to a point and then you run out of money. So you have to stop for a little while and try and get more money so you can carry on doing the film.

“So that’s been the trickiest bit trying to balance the finances with the quality of the film that we’re putting together. And we can’t cut back on quality, which is why we’re taking more time to make our film. That’s the biggest challenge.”

The team aims to make one more shooting in Tonga before they finalize the film.

That is one shoot they believe is also critical for the film – capturing the Tongan hunters’ spirit.

The story will be around bare-handed shark hunters who once ruled the Tongan seas.

“This story is based on the shark hunters who up until a couple of 100 years ago use to essentially hunt for sharks. barehanded, just with a canoe and some ropes and some bait,” Hurrell said.

“Often one of the young boys would be used as bait to swim out into the water with some like fish heads and stuff. And then they would pull him in back into the canoe before the shark gets to him.”

He said they hope the film will be an inspiration to young Tongans and also a source of real information for rugby followers around the world.

“And I also want the film to have pride in seeing Tongans on the screen, so they can feel those in the film and be inspired to want a future that’s bright and positive. A career that takes them places around the world where they can share their stories, their unique Tongan stories with the world. That’s what I want kids to get out of this.”

Hurrell said the team is grateful to all those who have supported them and allowed them into their lives “because at the end of the day, the thing I most wanted to do with this film was to make a story about Tongans, by Tongans, for Tongans. That’s the dream.”

Tonga women’s Under-18 playing at the Australia Nationals in Sydney. Photo: TRU Media

Promoting the Niue Language in New Zealand

Journalist, Tiana Haxton, of Radio New Zealand wrote a post about how Niue, with a population of fewer than 2,000 people, sent 72 students from Niue Primary School to visit Aotearoa (New Zealand).

After a three-and-a-half-hour flight, the students, all between ages 9 and 11 years, touched down at Auckland Airport and embarked on a culturally rich adventure.

One of the students, Jiadelle Faitala, shared the purpose of their trip.

“We’ve been here for a week, and we come from the country Niue, and it’s a cultural exchange,” Faitala said told RNZ Pacific ahead of the ASB Polyfest 2024 last month.

Her peer, Tauakina Tongakilo, said the trip is part of the build-up for the milestone celebration of Niue’s self-governance in October.

“We are here for the 50th year of self-governing with New Zealand. We visited schools as well as timezone and the movies.”

Niue Primary School students perform at the ASB Polyfest 2024. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton

As well as the fun activities, the young ones have been performing traditional items at schools around Auckland over the past week.

De’Starlyn Tomailuga said they have been practicing hard to perfect their performances.

“I was also excited to show our dances to the New Zealanders to share our culture and language.”

Niue Primary School principal Carol Edwards said the trip has been a historical one, with a focus on promoting Vagahau Niue – the use of the Niuean language.

“On Wednesday (27 March), we had three of the bilingual units here in New Zealand: Rosebank, Favouna School, and Rowandale, then we came from Niue to make it four.

“Four schools all working to enhance the Vagahau Niue here in New Zealand.”

She said valuable connections have been made on this trip that will go a long way in preserving the Niuean language.

The young ones impressed thousands as they made a guest appearance at this year’s ASB Polyfest.

Each student introduced themselves in fluent Niuean, played the ukulele, and sang iconic local songs.

They captured the hearts of many, proving through their performance that Vagahau Niue is alive in this new generation.

Niue Primary School students perform at the ASB Polyfest 2024. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Tiana Haxton

Preserving Aitutaki’s Heritage in New Anthology

Journalist, Melina Etches, wrote an interesting article for the Cook Islands News about an anthology of books on the traditional and ancestry of Aitutaki, Cook Islands. It’s a collection of stories and knowledge about the history and heritage of the island.

The anthology was meticulously created by the late Benjamin “Dunromin” George Nicholls Sr fondly known as “Ben” over 46 years, researching and collating, bringing together various writings and accounts on the customs, traditions, and ancestral knowledge of Aitutaki.

The five books are titled – Te-Au-Ate-Toroa, Te Au Pe’e Aitutaki-E-Te-Au-Aite’anga, Avaiki Te Pu-Penga, The Exoteric Gnostics of Aitutaki, Te Au Pe’e Aitutaki – were launched by Tauranga Vananga Ministry of Cultural Development in December 2023.

Nicholls’ wife Tekura Tara Ki Rangi Make Nicholls, his children including his eldest son Patrick Akaiti Arioka, his brother and Airport Fire Service manager George Nicholls, Bishop Tutai Pere and Bishop Paul Donoghue, family and friends attended the small, significant launch a fortnight ago.

Arioka, along with his siblings Nicky Mokoenga Nicholls, Jessy Nicholls, Pearl Nicholls, Ana Nicholls, Benjamin Jr Nicholls, and David Nicholls, expressed their shared pride in their father’s achievement and the legacy he has left behind for them and future generations to learn from.

“One thing that stood out for us in this journey of his great work that we have paid tribute to is that finally we have a written and well research-proven work that the people of Aitutaki can be proud of,” said Arioka. “That our history has not only been written, but has also been put right – the truth of our history, and for me that’s important.”

Arioka, a former Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, and researcher, said he could relate to his late father’s frustration during his research work.

“Not having a baseline to compare your research findings can be very difficult unless you can find physical evidence to prove your work, which he has done,” he said.

 

An anthology of books on the history and heritage of Aitutaki by the late Benjamin “Ben” Nicholls Sr was launched last month. JULIE TARIPO /23122022

“We are proud of his accomplishments, as a great orator extraordinaire, and Tumu Korero who was very knowledgeable of our traditions and customs, as well as the protocols since he was an Investiture Taunga and Orator for the Rupe-Toa-Tauira-Ariki tribe of Makea Nui Ariki of Rarotonga.”

Arioka said his father’s love of books goes back to his very young days spending a lot of time in the library, which is also when he developed a passion for poetry.

“We have some of his poems that reference Cook Islands culture and environment that we are collating today and hopefully we will have the opportunity to publish these as his next book,” he said.

In the early 70s, between the ages of 20 and 24, Nicholls Sr, at the request of his father Tumutoa Arangiau George Nicholls, represented him at a traditional Mataipo meeting held on Rarotonga.

Arioka said it was during this period that his father experienced both pleasant surprise at the depth of our culture and disappointment at the scarcity of written information on Cook Islands traditions and culture.

“He realised that most of our history and culture were oral folklore literature that is spoken or sung as opposed to what was written,” said Arioka.

“Instantaneously, he developed a new passion which was to start collecting and researching our own culture, history, poems, and chants.

“He had the opportunity to visit museums abroad … and he also questioned the journals of the early missionaries to the Cook Islands, even more so on their opinions of our societal way of life that they in his opinion did not understand and failed to document the real essence and meaning of the way we live and survive as Māori.”

In his books, Nicholls Sr notes his journey while researching and collating his work, and the interesting people he met along the way who also faced the same dilemma and asked the same questions.

Fifty sets of books (five books in each set) were printed in Auckland, New Zealand, by Pages Design & Print Services Limited in March 2022, funded by Tauranga Vananga.

Justina Nicholas, director of Tauranga Vananga’s National Museum/Runanga Pakau, expressed the ministry’s pride in supporting Nicholls’ books. She also noted his talent as a carver, whose works are featured in the museum.

Chief librarian Odile Urirau also expressed her delight in seeing Cook Islands authors write about their own history.

Emphasising that the Punanga Puka (Library) is not just a place that stores books, she said “it is a place of knowledge, of identity, of culture”.

Urirau further noted Arioka’s address, where his father challenged him with the quote, “This is mine … where is yours?” She interpreted this as an encouragement for younger generations to continue researching and writing about their own history.

Nicholls was born on September 17, 1953 to parents Tumutoa Arangiau George Nicholls and Florrie David McBirney. He passed away on September 17, 2023 on his 70^th birthday.

 

Easter Traditional Celebrations in the Pacific

Happy Easter!

Easter, a popular Christian holiday commemorated this weekend, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion by Roman soldiers.

It is also a time when Christians ponder on the sacrifice made by Christ to pay for the sins of humanity and how his resurrection reflects on our own earthly lives and the possibility of having hope in this life and in eternity.

Apart from its biblical and spiritual significance, Easter has become a worldwide tradition celebrated in many ways. Here are a few from the Pacific Islands…

Fiji:

In Fiji, Easter is spent attending church services. People are normally dressed in white clothing and take part in various church activities. While Christians abstain from meat during Good Friday, most celebrate with a feast on Sundays and enjoy picnics and gatherings on Easter Monday. And you cannot forget the famous hot cross buns on sale at bakeries that many families enjoy on the morning of Good Friday.

Hot cross buns are popular in Oceania during Easter. Picture: https://www.maggiebeer.com.au/

Papua New Guinea:

An interesting Easter tradition in the Pacific takes place in Papua New Guinea where instead of hanging chocolate Easter eggs as they would melt easily in the heat, tobacco and cigarettes are used instead. After church service on Easter Sunday, attendees are then handed out tobacco packets.

Samoa:

Samoans cherish the holiday as an opportunity for rest and personal activities. From household chores to farming, individuals plan to balance their spiritual and personal lives over the weekend. Meanwhile, special events like Cornerstone’s free breakfast and Easter egg hunt for children inject joy and community spirit into the observance. As Samoa gears up for Easter, the community’s plans reflect a deep connection to faith, family, and tradition. Whether through church attendance, family reunions, or personal reflection, Samoans are set to embrace the holiday with open hearts, underscoring the enduring significance of Easter in their cultural and spiritual lives.