Watch: Preparing for the biggest Cook Islands festival in Aotearoa
Te Maeva Nui NZ is seen as the largest Cook Islands cultural festival outside of the Cook Islands.
Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor went along to an audition night for the only team outside of Auckland, Oire-Te Whanganui a Tara with camera man Mark Papalii.
The biennial festival, which is in Auckland in October, will see over 1000 performers come together to celebrate the Cook Islands culture at its finest.
It will be an extravagant two-day showcase of creative arts, language, song, music and dance.
This year's theme is climate change, one of the most urgent and pressing challenges facing the Pacific region.
According to NZ Stats 2023 Census, over 94,000 people identified with the Cook Islands Maori ethnic group.
In the Cook Islands, Te Maeva Nui, which is a week-long event, will be celebrated in early August to mark the anniversary of the nation's self-governance on 4 August.
Photo:
RNZ / Mark Papalii
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