A community workshop will be held tomorrow in Arorangi to discuss the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the community for Maungaroa Valley.

High in the rugged interior of Rarotonga, nestled 509 metres above sea level, lies Maungaroa Valley, a site of immense spiritual, cultural and historical significance.

Known for over a thousand years as Maungaroa, this ancient mountain retreat was once home to the last known village settlement on the island, belonging to the Tinomana Ariki tribe.

The valley holds the remains of nearly a hundred marae (sacred sites) and paepae (traditional house platforms), spanning multiple eras of Cook Islands history.

Abandoned in the early 1800s following the island’s conversion to Christianity, Maungaroa faded into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 1960s and subsequent archaeological excavation a decade later.

Radiocarbon dating suggests the area was first inhabited around 1500 AD, with the earliest recorded settlements appearing in the 1700s.

Maungaroa Valley may soon become the Cook Islands’ first UNESCO World Heritage site, as the government advances efforts to secure a nomination for the culturally and environmentally significant site.

Tauranga Vananga, the Ministry of Cultural Development, is leading the World Heritage nomination project with financial backing from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

If successful, this would be a historic milestone for the Cook Islands, which has been a signatory to the World Heritage Convention since 2009 but has yet to secure a site on the World Heritage List.

Building community consensus, an essential foundation for the nomination is the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the Maungaroa Valley’s traditional leaders, landowners and wider community.

To facilitate this, a community workshop will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, at 5pm at the Calvary Hall in Arorangi, focusing on the World Heritage process and FPIC.

“The workshop is a vital opportunity for the community to learn about the nomination process, voice their concerns, and shape the future management of the Valley,” says project coordinator Ngatuaine Maui.

“We’ll also be discussing legal protections and seeking community input on how best to look after the site for generations to come.”

The workshop builds on earlier community consultation held in April 2023 at Highland Paradise, where strong support was expressed for placing Maungaroa Valley on the country’s Tentative List.

This milestone was officially achieved in 2024, setting the stage for the full nomination.

A dedicated World Heritage Steering Committee has been established to guide the process. Comprising traditional leaders, landowners and representatives from various government agencies, the committee aims to ensure strong community engagement and cross-sector coordination.

The nomination process requires the development of a comprehensive report, outlining the global significance, historical and archaeological context, legal protections and long-term management strategy for the site.

International World Heritage expert Dr Anita Smith has been brought on board to advise on the nomination and management plan, while local experts will contribute to documenting the Valley’s cultural and natural heritage.

Should the nomination succeed, it would elevate the Cook Islands’ global cultural profile and help safeguard a treasured part of its heritage for future generations.

The completed nomination is scheduled for submission to UNESCO in January 2026. The World Heritage Committee will then assess the application, with a final decision expected by mid-2027.