For Master of International Development student Sieni Tiraa, land is more than a resource, it’s about belonging, history and responsibility.

Her research at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University looks at how land in Rarotonga has been affected by tourism and what this means for Cook Islanders today.

Tourism plays a vital role in the Cook Islands economy, but its growth places increasing pressure on communally-owned land. Her research explores how these pressures unfold in practice, particularly when land passed down through families for generations is leased for developments such as beachfront resorts and holiday homes. While tourism offers great economic opportunity, her findings also point to disputes over lease agreements, environmental concerns and the collapse of cultural ties.

Sieni’s strong connection to Rarotonga and her identity as a Cook Islands Māori woman are central to her work.

“Growing up surrounded by the values, stories and resilience of my people has shaped the way I see the world and the kind of impact I want to make. It’s given me a deep sense of responsibility, not just to succeed academically, but to use my education to uplift my community.”

She decided to study at Massey because of the real-world focus of the programme. It gave her the tools to explore a long-standing issue in her community: how land and tourism interact, and to do it in a way that centres local voices and cultural values.

Cook Islands perspectives are at the heart of the project. Sieni is using a culturally-grounded approach, based on genealogy, to record and reflect community stories and experiences.

“For a matter as important as land, it’s vital that the stories captured are framed using a context-specific lens, one that brings forward truths through lived realities.”

Her fieldwork shows that some landholders have found ways to work with tourism that support their families and keep their connection to the land strong. But there are also several challenges. In some cases, unclear lease terms or outside pressures have led to conflict, environmental harm or reduced access to land. These impacts are not just legal or financial, they affect identity, relationships and community wellbeing.

There is little existing research on how land tenure and tourism connect in the Cook Islands and Sieni hopes her work will fill that gap.

“This research provides baseline information that can support land policy frameworks and development strategies grounded in cultural integrity.”

She plans to keep working in this space after graduating, through further research, policy development or community advocacy. Her goal is to help Cook Islanders lead the way in shaping tourism on their terms.

“Tourism development is now at a stage where Cook Islanders should be leading this key sector. From the perspective of landholders, there’s an emphasis on development not just done for us, but led by us.”

- Massey University