Cook Islanders to reconnect

FILE

Rotorua's Cook Island community will have the opportunity to connect with their culture, when the House of Ariki visit the city.

The House of Ariki is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands composed of the country's high chiefs (ariki).

Trip co-ordinator Nika Rua said Ariki were visiting places in New Zealand with strong Cook Island and Polynesian populations.

"The Ariki got together in August to celebrate the 50th year of independence and decided it would be a really good idea to get out and meet the number of Cook Islanders living in Australia and New Zealand."

He said people would be able to meet and connect with Ariki and their heritage from 12pm to 1pm on Sunday at the Cook Island Community Hall on Clayton Rd.

"One of the reasons they wanted to come to Rotorua was to build a stronger relationships with the Cook Island communities, knowing Rotorua and Tokoroa have a large number of people from Polynesian and Cook Island descent there," he said. "They are also here to build a stronger relationship with Te Arawa."

Genealogy, tracing whakapapa and the waka from when they made the big migration from the Cook Islands.

"There is a chance we can discuss those matters with the Ariki in the hope of making a stronger relationship with Te Arawa and Cook Island people, and keeping that relationship together and strong."

Mr Rua expected a strong turn out from the local Cook Island community, he said.

"We'll have people coming from Taupo, Tokoroa, people following them in from Hastings and people coming from Tauranga and Whakatane. It will be quite a big meeting."

He said a lot of people of Cook Island descent were born in New Zealand, or had not visited the Cook Islands in many years.

"It will be a good way to reconnect with the history, especially with talking about the genealogy connections."