Latest news with #Rarotonga
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Cook Islands: Te Maeva Nui opens with electrifying performances
By Melina Etches , Cook Islands News The Manihiki Henua warrior women stormed the stage with their riveting pe'e. Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches The first night of Te Maeva Nui cultural performances set the stage ablaze with a stunning display of passion, tradition, and artistry, drawing loud cheers from a full house of over 2000 spectators at Te Are Karioi Nui (national auditorium) in Rarotonga. The evening opened with the powerful Manihiki Henua warrior women, who stormed the stage with their commanding reo tupuna/ pe'e. Their fierce energy and strength provided a fitting introduction to the rest of the night's vibrant cultural items. From start to finish, the performances on Saturday (Sunday NZT) showcased exceptional choreography, creativity, and storytelling. Te Maeva Nui cultural performances opened with the powerful Manihiki Henua warrior women, who stormed the stage with their commanding reo tupuna/ pe'e, a fitting introduction for the rest of the cultural items on the first night of performances on Saturday. Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches The rhythmic kapa rima and pulsating ura pa'u captivated the crowd, while the spirited ute brought smiles as the younger performers danced with joy. Outside the auditorium, the atmosphere was just as electric. The big screen under the domes attracted a packed audience, eager to witness the culmination of months of preparation, long hours of rehearsals, and meticulous costume-making. Oire Nikao followed Manihiki with a ute, featuring young girls who danced and sang with infectious enthusiasm. Tapuahua Rakahanaga Henua with their powerful pe'e, where the strong presence of women captivated the audience. Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches Vaka Takitumu was next, presenting a kapa rima led by two singers, with a large team of talented young dancers in beautifully designed costumes. A'ua'u Enua Mangaia took to the stage with a ura pa'u led by the men, while the women delivered a spirited and heartfelt performance. Tapuahua Rakahanaga Henua followed with their powerful pe'e, where the strong presence of women captivated the audience and earned enthusiastic applause. A'ua'u Enua Mangaia took the stage, led by the men in a ura pa'u performance that drew loud applause for its coordination. Akatokamanava Mauke Enua with their harmonious, well-choreographed kapa rima. Nicolea Mateariki (left) assisted with the choreography. Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches Nukuroa Enua Mitiaro then delivered a heartwarming ute, singing with such spirit that the audience couldn't help but cheer. Their lively closing antics on stage added a playful touch to the night. One of the evening's highlights came from Akatokamanava Mauke Enua with their kapa rima. Their trio of women - led by the vocals of Nicolea Mateariki -delivered a breathtaking opening song. Their harmonious chorus of voices from the entire team and graceful movements from the women, paired with strong male dancing, roused screams of appreciation from the audience. Enuamanu Atiu Enua, another fantastic highlight – was nothing short of electrifying delivering their ura pau. Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches The energy peaked as the finale by Enuamanu Atiu Enua, another fantastic highlight - was nothing short of electrifying. Their vibrant ura pa'u shook the auditorium, with both men and women moving in perfect unison, earning thunderous applause and cheers. The Atiu women, adorned in stunning costumes, mesmerised the audience with their graceful and skillful hip movements. The cultural magic continues Tuesday (Monday, local time), with another round of spectacular performances kicking off at 7pm.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Cook Islands kicks off 60th Constitution celebrations with a sea of colour
By Melina Etches , Cook Islands News Prime Minister Mark Brown lights the cauldron to officially open the nation's 60th Te Maeva Nui festival, celebrating the theme 'Kua kite au i toku turanga, e Avaiki toku' (I know who I am, I have a homeland). Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches Rarotonga burst into a sea of beauty, colour, pride and joy as the Cook Islands officially opened its 60th Te Maeva Nui Constitution celebrations on Friday local time. Avarua township was alive with energy as well over a thousand people gathered to witness the vibrant float parade and official opening ceremony. The street was a heartwarming, spectacular sight, filled with colourful ei, pareu and team polos, while the sounds of music, song and dance echoed through the heart of town. Crowds lined the route from the Avarua roundabout, where formalities and performances took place, stretching all the way to Avatiu. The sacred Te Maeva Nui flame, lit at the King's Representative's office in Titikaveka, was carried by the Boys Brigade to the opening ceremony. The flame was placed on beautifully carved torch stands and officially lit by the three pillars of Cook Islands society - traditional leaders (Ui Ariki) represented by Kaumaiti Nui Tou Travel Ariki, the church (Ekalesia) represented by Bishop Tutai Pere, and the government (Kavamani) represented by Prime Minister Mark Brown, who ignited the cauldron. Mangaia youngsters dancing with joy during the 2025 Te Maeva Nui float parade, marking the official opening of the 60th Te Maeva Nui Constitution celebrations yesterday. MELINA ETCHES/25072548 Photo: Cook Islands News / Melina Etches In his address, Prime Minister Mark Brown reflected on the country's journey. "Today we celebrate 60 years of our Cook Islands nation. Sixty years of the transformation of our country and the transformation of our people," Brown said. "Kua kite au i toku turanga, e Avaiki toku (I know who I am, I have a homeland). This tells a story of us - our Cook Islands people, our nation of islands and ocean. "Let us remember, we are the descendants of voyagers, not afraid to navigate the ocean to find new lands that today we call home. We continue to navigate these waters today, reaching Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and becoming part of the fabric of society in those countries. When we look back at 60 years, we have grown - in population, culture, leadership, ownership, and presence. "This is a celebration this year about us, by us. We welcome our family from Aotearoa New Zealand, from Australia, and our friends from around the world. Your presence strengthens our bonds and our identity as Cook Islanders." Forty-five brilliantly decorated floats paraded through the streets, each one telling its own story of heritage and pride. Performances by Te Maeva Nui cultural teams from the Pa Enua brought the streets to life with heartfelt songs and dances, showcasing the richness of Cook Islands culture. King's representative Sir Tom Marsters and Lady Tuaine Marsters, government ministers, and Ui Ariki from across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua joined the celebrations, which were coordinated by the Ministry of Cultural Development (Tauranga Vananga). - Cook Islands News
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Science
- News.com.au
‘Entire reef' under threat by pest on Cook Islands
Divers clutch wooden spears as they plunge beneath the waves, hunting hordes of hungry starfish destroying the coral reefs around the Cook Islands. These makeshift tools are their best weapons in the war against crown-of-thorns starfish, a coral-munching species eating through tropical reefs already weakened by climate change. The Cook Islands, a South Pacific nation of about 17,000 people, is in the grips of a years-long outbreak, says marine biologist Teina Rongo. 'It can completely kill off the entire reef, right around the island,' said Rongo, who organises volunteers protecting the reefs fringing the isle of Rarotonga. 'I think there seems to be a Pacific-wide outbreak at the moment, because we're hearing other countries are facing similar challenges.' A single crown-of-thorns adult can eat more than 10 square metres (110 square feet) of reef each year, squeezing its stomach through its mouth to coat coral in digestive juices. They pose a major threat to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where scientists have developed robots that hunt down the prickly invertebrates and inject them with poison. 'At the moment, you basically kill them by injection,' said researcher Sven Uthicke, from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. 'It could be vinegar, it could be lime juice or ox bile. 'Others are building chemical attraction traps. It's all very promising – but it's in the development stage.' Rongo finds it quickest to pry the feasting starfish loose using a wooden stick cut from the dense timber of the Pacific Ironwood tree. 'Basically, we use a stick with a hook at the end,' he said. 'We've made some modifications over time because we were getting pricked by these starfish. 'It's painful.' Named for their hundreds of venomous spikes, crown-of-thorns starfish have as many as 21 fleshy arms and can grow larger than a car tyre. They are typically found in such low numbers that they are not considered a problem, but sporadically populations explode in a feeding frenzy that rapidly strips the life from reefs. They spawn in 'plague proportions', according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and are a major driver of coral loss. From the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean, crown-of-thorns outbreaks appear to be becoming both more frequent and more severe. 'Some argue that the crown-of-thorns has become chronic in the last few decades,' said Rongo, talking about the reefs of the South Pacific. Scientists suspect these outbreaks are triggered by a mix of factors, including nutrients leached into the sea from agriculture and fluctuations in natural predators. But the damage they can cause is getting worse as reefs are weakened by climate change-fuelled coral bleaching and ocean acidification. 'This is why it's important for us to help the reef,' says Rongo. Scuba divers scour the Cook Islands' reefs for hard-to-spot starfish wedged into dimly lit crevices. Once peeled off the coral, the starfish are pierced with a thick rope so they can be dragged back up to a waiting boat. The day's haul is dumped into a plastic chest before the starfish are lugged ashore to be counted, measured and mulched for garden fertiliser. They are known as 'taramea' in Cook Islands Maori, which loosely translates to 'spiky thing'. The volunteer divers working with Rongo and his environmental group Korero O Te Orau – or Knowledge of the Land, Sky and Sea – remove thousands of starfish every year. Rongo is spurred by the devastation from the nation's last major infestation in the 1990s. 'I was part of that eradication effort. 'We were too late when we did decide to do something about it. It went on and ended up killing the reef.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Cook Islands wages war on 'plague' of hungry starfish
Divers clutch wooden spears as they plunge beneath the waves, hunting hordes of hungry starfish destroying the coral reefs around the Cook Islands. These makeshift tools are their best weapons in the war against crown-of-thorns starfish, a coral-munching species eating through tropical reefs already weakened by climate change. The Cook Islands, a South Pacific nation of about 17,000 people, is in the grips of a years-long outbreak, says marine biologist Teina Rongo. "It can completely kill off the entire reef, right around the island," said Rongo, who organises volunteers protecting the reefs fringing the isle of Rarotonga. "I think there seems to be a Pacific-wide outbreak at the moment, because we're hearing other countries are facing similar challenges." A single crown-of-thorns adult can eat more than 10 square metres (110 square feet) of reef each year, squeezing its stomach through its mouth to coat coral in digestive juices. They pose a major threat to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where scientists have developed robots that hunt down the prickly invertebrates and inject them with poison. "At the moment, you basically kill them by injection," said researcher Sven Uthicke, from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. "It could be vinegar, it could be lime juice or ox bile. "Others are building chemical attraction traps. It's all very promising -- but it's in the development stage." Rongo finds it quickest to pry the feasting starfish loose using a wooden stick cut from the dense timber of the Pacific Ironwood tree. "Basically, we use a stick with a hook at the end," he said. "We've made some modifications over time because we were getting pricked by these starfish. It's painful." Named for their hundreds of venomous spikes, crown-of-thorns starfish have as many as 21 fleshy arms and can grow larger than a car tyre. They are typically found in such low numbers that they are not considered a problem. But sporadically populations explode in a feeding frenzy that rapidly strips the life from reefs. - 'Plague proportions ' - They spawn in "plague proportions", according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and are a major driver of coral loss. From the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean, crown-of-thorns outbreaks appear to be becoming both more frequent and more severe. "Some argue that the crown-of-thorns has become chronic in the last few decades," said Rongo, talking about the reefs of the South Pacific. Scientists suspect these outbreaks are triggered by a mix of factors, including nutrients leached into the sea from agriculture and fluctuations in natural predators. But the damage they can cause is getting worse as reefs are weakened by climate change-fuelled coral bleaching and ocean acidification. "This is why it's important for us to help the reef," says Rongo. Scuba divers scour the Cook Islands' reefs for hard-to-spot starfish wedged into dimly lit crevices. Once peeled off the coral, the starfish are pierced with a thick rope so they can be dragged back up to a waiting boat. The day's haul is dumped into a plastic chest before the starfish are lugged ashore to be counted, measured and mulched for garden fertiliser. They are known as "taramea" in Cook Islands Maori, which loosely translates to "spiky thing". The volunteer divers working with Rongo and his environmental group Korero O Te Orau -- or Knowledge of the Land, Sky and Sea -- remove thousands of starfish every year. Rongo is spurred by the devastation from the nation's last major infestation in the 1990s. "I was part of that eradication effort. "We were too late when we did decide to do something about it. It went on and ended up killing the reef." sft/lb/tym
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Science
- News.com.au
Cook Islands wages war on 'plague' of hungry starfish
Divers clutch wooden spears as they plunge beneath the waves, hunting hordes of hungry starfish destroying the coral reefs around the Cook Islands. These makeshift tools are their best weapons in the war against crown-of-thorns starfish, a coral-munching species eating through tropical reefs already weakened by climate change. The Cook Islands, a South Pacific nation of about 17,000 people, is in the grips of a years-long outbreak, says marine biologist Teina Rongo. "It can completely kill off the entire reef, right around the island," said Rongo, who organises volunteers protecting the reefs fringing the isle of Rarotonga. "I think there seems to be a Pacific-wide outbreak at the moment, because we're hearing other countries are facing similar challenges." A single crown-of-thorns adult can eat more than 10 square metres (110 square feet) of reef each year, squeezing its stomach through its mouth to coat coral in digestive juices. They pose a major threat to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, where scientists have developed robots that hunt down the prickly invertebrates and inject them with poison. "At the moment, you basically kill them by injection," said researcher Sven Uthicke, from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. "It could be vinegar, it could be lime juice or ox bile. "Others are building chemical attraction traps. It's all very promising -- but it's in the development stage." Rongo finds it quickest to pry the feasting starfish loose using a wooden stick cut from the dense timber of the Pacific Ironwood tree. "Basically, we use a stick with a hook at the end," he said. "We've made some modifications over time because we were getting pricked by these starfish. It's painful." Named for their hundreds of venomous spikes, crown-of-thorns starfish have as many as 21 fleshy arms and can grow larger than a car tyre. They are typically found in such low numbers that they are not considered a problem. But sporadically populations explode in a feeding frenzy that rapidly strips the life from reefs. - 'Plague proportions ' - They spawn in "plague proportions", according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and are a major driver of coral loss. From the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean, crown-of-thorns outbreaks appear to be becoming both more frequent and more severe. "Some argue that the crown-of-thorns has become chronic in the last few decades," said Rongo, talking about the reefs of the South Pacific. Scientists suspect these outbreaks are triggered by a mix of factors, including nutrients leached into the sea from agriculture and fluctuations in natural predators. But the damage they can cause is getting worse as reefs are weakened by climate change-fuelled coral bleaching and ocean acidification. "This is why it's important for us to help the reef," says Rongo. Scuba divers scour the Cook Islands' reefs for hard-to-spot starfish wedged into dimly lit crevices. Once peeled off the coral, the starfish are pierced with a thick rope so they can be dragged back up to a waiting boat. The day's haul is dumped into a plastic chest before the starfish are lugged ashore to be counted, measured and mulched for garden fertiliser. They are known as "taramea" in Cook Islands Maori, which loosely translates to "spiky thing". The volunteer divers working with Rongo and his environmental group Korero O Te Orau -- or Knowledge of the Land, Sky and Sea -- remove thousands of starfish every year. Rongo is spurred by the devastation from the nation's last major infestation in the 1990s. "I was part of that eradication effort.
