Connecting Cook Island kids with their roots

Charlie Williams assists with youth camps. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Hula skirts, island drums and a positive attitude are some of the ways Charlie Williams has helped his community to remember its roots.

Mr Williams, 59, has been helping young Cook Islanders in West Auckland understand their culture through song, dance and traditional activities for the past 13 years.

As a community worker and treasurer for Nor Western Cook Island Taokotai, he helps organise youth camps where youngsters learn traditional Cook Islands dancing, music and language.

"Our young people are very important. We speak our reo to them so we still have a language in the future," he says.

Based in Ranui, Mr Williams runs Bible study classes and organises activity days for a youth group of up to 30 youngsters.

Liaising with police, truancy officers and schools within the Waitakere area, he has become the first point of contact for those steering at-risk youth back on track.

Mr Williams - who also helps out at the Cook Islands early-childhood centre at the back of the Taokotai centre - says helping others is not about self-gain.

"To me, it's offering my service, my availability. I can see they need help, so why not be the one to help?"

Helping to bridge language barriers has also been a task. He translates for those needing assistance, while also driving elderly residents to doctor's appointments and running errands for them, daily.

Friend Mii Marearai, who nominated Mr Williams, says his hard work has been behind many youngsters' achievements.

"He does a hell of a lot of work - running out any time to help our old people and chasing the young people," Ms Marearai said.

"There's kids who truant - he brings them, takes them to camps and gets them involved in the Cook Islands culture. He's a good man."