There was a time when Cook Islanders lived and worked in closer harmony with the seasons and enjoyed significantly more leisure time. Summer holidays lasted several months during which young people dedicated themselves to pleasure. By Rod Dixon.
A 65-year-old Hawaii-based woman who has returned to Rarotonga to compete in the Vaka Eiva for the first time in 13 years says she will be paddling “until I’m dead”.
The minister of magic proclaims that dark times have arisen in the opening moments of the new Harry Potter film – and the turmoil that follows lives up to that billing. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 chronicles the chaos that engulfs the wizardry world as evil Lord Voldemort seizes power and sets […]
Four-piece indie rock band, The Good Fun, was the recent winner of New Zealand’s Smokefree Rockquest, an annual ‘battle of the bands’ for school-age musicians. And two band members have Cook Islands links. Drummer Jimi Mataio is Rarotongan – his father’s family is from Avatiu – and guitarist Kam Chadderton’s mother is a Nicholas from […]
After months of sailing, traditional voyaging outrigger vaka O Tahiti Nui Freedom has reached China. The vaka’s mission has been to retrace, in the reverse direction, the route of settlement into Polynesia from China which began over 6000 years ago. The vaka left French Polynesia on July 27, and arrived in Rarotonga in early August, […]
Artist couple Apii and Dernice Rongo are planning to open a ‘Made N Raro’ craft shop at the old Pai Taro shop on the Avatiu back road ‘in the near future’. Apii hopes they will be able to open the shop – which will feature his unique mother-of-pearl shell carvings, wood carvings, glass work and […]
Pacific Resort Hotel Group is celebrating again this month after waking away with 2010 World Travel Awards for “World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort” and “World’s Leading Island Villas” at the awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House. Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been voted “World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort” for the third consecutive year, while Te Manava […]
Touch rugby players are used to putting their bodies on the line. And four of the island’s top players have put their bodies on display in a fundraiser Cook Islands Men’s 2011 calendar – a calendar that can only be described as sizzling hot. Geoffrey Halston, Conrad Piri, Apii Rau and Gordon Heather have been […]
– Collect fresh Poroporo, also known as American Nightshade or Solanum americanum, being careful to select only organic plant material. Pa says to “take whatever comes” from the plant, including leaves, stalks, and seeds. You will need a good bundle to produce about 100ml of liquid. – Crush or pound the fresh Poroporo, preferably in […]
Each discipline in Papaapaiikoeiaku ‘Pa’ Teuruaa’s life has seen him encounter fatalistic situations – from drowning swimmers and shark attacks to those afflicted with various illnesses. While Pa has had to overcome the gravity of three people dying in his arms, he has also been praised by those convinced firsthand of his healing prowess and […]
Pauro Arnold has been kitesurfing for less than a year, and already most people consider him the best on the island. So far, he’s the only local who has confirmed that he will be competing in next year’s international kitesurfing competition off Aitutaki. A longtime surfer, Arnold decided in November of last year that he […]
Kitesurfing has exploded in recent years as the hottest and edgiest of extreme water sports, and it’s only getting bigger. Kitesurfers travel around the world in pursuit of wind, water and waves – and some of the best are eyeing the Cook Islands. In June of next year, some of the biggest names in kitesurfing […]
The Laughing Samoans are back next month. As part of their Greatest Hits tour, Tofiga Fepulea’i and Eteuati Ete will be performing at the National Auditorium on December 3. The Greatest Hits tour – which features the funniest skits from all the shows they’ve ever done – premieres in Auckland on November 13 and carries […]
Pacific Resort’s dining area will become the Pacific Lotus Gardens – a place for eating and drinking, Chinese-style – every second Sunday. The Yum Cha dining experience will be available at Pacific Resort fortnightly starting tomorrow, and will open for two sessions – from 11.30 am to 1.30 pm, and then from 1.30 until 3.30. […]
There’s a new cafe in town and it’s got something for everyone – a lunch menu that ranges from fish ‘n chips to salads and a drink menu that boasts such items as smoothies and chai lattes. Veranda, located in the Manu Manor plaza in Tupapa, opened on Thursday. Directly in front of The Salon, […]
Starting on Monday, Le Bon Vivant will be open for sit-down breakfast and lunch. Until now, the French cafe located in Avarua next to Van’s offered coffee and baked goods for grab-and-go convenience, but this week chef Tim Tierney will start cooking fresh, hot meals for breakfasters. “We’ve been planning to do this since we […]
Rarotonga born and raised teenager Tamatoa Carr has been awarded the University of Auckland Chancellor’s Award for Top Maori and Pacific Scholars. The son of Mike and Tere Carr, Tamatoa (17) receives tuition fees for three years as well as one year’s accommodation through the scholarship. Tere said she and Mike were proud of their […]
In the spirit of 2010 Sevens in Heaven – tournament presenting partner CITC held a dress up competition last week for staff themed Sevens in Heaven Beach Party. The wet weather last Friday did little to dampen the sevens spirit of the CITC staff who went all out to win prizes for the best dressed […]
A weekly opinion column by Maori journalist and broadcaster Derek Fox. New Zealand was a movie set this last week. Hard to say what genre it was but mostly it was a Mickey Mouse movie with dwarves, politicians, union leaders and bleating fat cats thrown in; oh and then there were the mugs – that’s […]
The Rotaract Royal Family (Club of Rarotonga District 9920) hosted over 60 young princes and princesses, pirates, Indians and Pippie Longstockings at the Rotaract Junior Spring Ball. It was Rotaract’s first Junior Spring Ball since 2008. The night started off with a photo booth at the entry where there was an opportunity for parents to […]
Widely considered the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock music, the late James Marshall Hendrix – or Jimi Hendrix – has developed near-cult followings worldwide. The 1973 ‘rockumentary’ Jimi Hendrix is a window into the iconic rocker’s life and music – and it’s being screened at Coco Putt on Monday night. The 87-minute […]
Through theatre, Tereora College senior drama students are smashing down the blockades on sensitive teenage issues. Through this week students have been performing their end of year production titled ‘I walk down the road’ devised by the students themselves and written by drama teacher Claire Waldron. The production has been six months in the making […]