Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters arrives at a Waitangi Day reception in Rarotonga tonight. Photo / Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters arrives at a Waitangi Day reception in Rarotonga tonight. Photo / Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai
From saying Malo ‘aupito to Kia orana in less than 24 hours.
After a long first official day in Tonga, it’s been a whirlwind trip already as we touch down in Rarotonga ahead of the second official day of the Pacific Mission.
Today’s itinerary begins at the opening of a new farmers’ market, where the wild wind has people having to hold down a few marquee poles - and their skirts.
Uncle Winston, as he is affectionately known by even the Cook Islands locals, is always subtle but direct when it comes to the media pack’s questions - like a front-row hooker running straight through for a tackle.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Minister of Health, Shane Reti at Ground breaking ceremony for the new Puananga Nui Farmers Market. Photos / Grace Fiavaai
And almost in response, members of the media are always rushing forward for photos and videos, like wild animals pouncing to eat their prey.
As the morning sun beats down hard, Peters and Reti stick out among the crowd in their suits and ties; leaving me wondering if they are not sweating in this island heat.
A journalist later asks him how he’s feeling in his suit, to which he replies that this is how they always dress and will not “dress down” here.
Cook Islands PM Mark Brown and the rest of his Cabinet officials are not the suits and ties type - rocking up in what we call island formal wear: bright island shirts, colourful patterned dresses and flower crowns known as ei katu.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown at their Bilateral meeting. Photos / Grace Fiavaai
A big mango tree out the front of Brown’s office proves to be the perfect spot for filing stories for many of the journalists; laptops on the grass and the odd juicy mangoes rescued from the ground to be enjoyed.
The hospitality in the Pacific Islands is unparalleled and once again, the “aunties,” or drivers, greet everyone with a smile and offer chilled water and the odd island banter.
Health and Pacific minister Dr Shane Reti visits Rarotonga Hospital. Photo / Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai
There are several events throughout the day, with the two ministers, whose Māori roots are acknowledged by the locals throughout the day, separated for their respective ministerial events.
As Reti visits Rarotonga Hospital, it’s now time for Reti to shine. He looks calm and collected because he’s in his realm of expertise. This is his hood.
At last, a breath of fresh air, as Reti makes jokes about being in the Cook Islands explaining how he sends photos back home to his wife and family about being in the tropics.
He’s also sporting an island shirt - blue, of course - which is the first time he or Peters has worn anything Pasifika on the trip up to this point.
The last event is a special Waitangi Day celebration. It’s another display of colourful dresses, flower crowns and bright island shirts - except for Peters and Reti.
Surprisingly, however, there is a show of colourful talent from Reti as he bursts into song to end his speech; before members of his team join him in acknowledgement the good old Kiwi way, singing a loud rendition of: E Papa Waiari.
Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai is one of 12 cadets in the Te Rito journalism programme, which has a focus on training more culturally diverse reporters to ensure newsrooms reflect Aotearoa’s multicultural society. Grace has a keen interest in telling Pasifika stories, South Auckland and sports.
