Radio Cook Islands broadcasts via FM 101MHz and AM 630kHz on Rarotonga. And FM stations on the Outer Islands except Aitutaki.
Akamatakite’anga
Police have been advised that a low pressure system being monitored by weather authorities and EMCI is tracking to pass south of Rarotonga over the weekend. Residents, visitors, and motorists, particularly around the west side of the island, should be aware that the coastal area from the seawall at Nikao around the west to the south is likely to impacted by strong winds and sea swells. Please exercise caution and try to avoid roadways that may be affected.
Kakaro mai ia Aunty Maru Pureau e aka’uka nei ki te imene Tukutuku’ia Taku Manu. Koia oki tetai mema mua o te pupu ura CINAT. Te maara nei rai iaia te au akatutu no teia imene.
Despite the out-of-tune music, and forgotten lyrics, this is worth watching because it is a performance by an original CINAT member. There is actually very little footage of the original CINAT performances. If you know the words of the song write it below for the next sing-along session.
Tereora College Former Students fundraiser at Islander this evening. Funds are for the Tereora Historical Archive project. Mrs Etches has been asking if you have old photos from your days at Tereora College then share it with this project.
The opening of Rarotonga Medical Centre Dental Care was held in a lovely ceremony this afternoon.
Rarotonga Medical Centre was established in 2020 and is owned by Dr Mareta Jacob and Dr Nini Wynn. Dr Mareta Jacob says following a demand in dental care, it has been a goal for the Rarotonga Medical doctors to have a dental clinic, and here they are today. She thanked several individuals, and the partnerships and support received over the years. They also recently signed a MOU with Te Marae Ora which allows them to have access to the medical technology.
Liz Iro, former Secretary of Health and landlord, Iaveta Short made speeches-both of them congratulating the work well done.
The dental clinic is in the same building as Rarotonga Medical Centre and has two cubicles, and one laboratory room. It will be operated by Dr Manoj Kumar who has a wealth of knowledge in dentistry, with 25 years of experience and graduated from the Fiji School of Medicine with a Bachelor in Dentistry. Working part time alongside Dr Manoj Kumar is his wife, Dr Seema Kumar, a pediatric specialist dentist who will work at the clinic on Saturdays.
The dental clinic hours are Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm and they provide all dental services for both adults and kids.
Our two beautiful athletes all the way from Akatokamanava, Alex Beddoes (800m athletics) and Lanihei Connolly (100m breaststroke) ready for this morning’s Olympics opening ceremony, our 7:30am-11.10am. On CITV terrestrial.
Lanihei’s race 11:30pm Sat 27 Jul 2024.
Photo supplied by CISNOC
Team Cook Islands Islands ready for the Olympics Opening ceremony this morning, our 7:30am-11:10am. On CITV terrestrial.
Lanihei’s race 11:30pm Sat 27 Jul 2024.
Photo supplied by CISNOC
Discover the story behind MA body scrubs, created by Vania Kenning Kauraka-Tangaroa. 🌿
The journey of MA, a range of pure essential oil body scrubs, began with a personal struggle. As a child, Vania suffered from tonsillitis, which worsened as she grew older. Always searching for natural remedies, she discovered the incredible benefits of pure essential oils about eight years ago, thanks to a friend’s recommendation. This discovery was life-changing, and her condition hardly recurs now.
Sharing her positive experiences with family and friends, Vania saw the potential to create something special. She began experimenting with body scrubs, infusing them with carefully selected essential oils. And that was the beginning of MA.
MA is more of a niche product. Two of the favorite scrubs are Green Mandarin and Peppermint, but she also makes many other types such as lemongrass, spearmint, and lavender.
For sustainability and to ensure the highest quality, Vania sources the ingredients from overseas.
The name “MA” holds a special meaning—it’s Cook Islands Māori for “clean” and also a term of endearment for mothers. Vania’s mission is to promote self-care and offer an affordable way to pamper oneself amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.
“Nowadays, everyone’s so busy rushing around that we forget to take care of ourselves,” says Vania. “This is just one small way to pause, take a break, and do something for ourselves that won’t break the bank or take too much time.”
You can find MA body scrubs on its page, and soon at The Plaza and Lilikoi Bikini.
So why not take a moment for yourself with MA body scrubs and experience the natural goodness of pure essential oils. It makes your skin feel really good, really smooth and gives it a good exfoliation. 🌸
Disclaimer: Vania does not make any medical or pharmaceutical claims about her product. She just loves scrubs.
The story of MA is featured in this week’s BCI Business Report on CITV.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
I teia popongi kua akatuera iatu tetai ngai tiaki’anga tamariki ou ki runga i te paepae o Pa Ariki tei kapikiia e ko Te Punanga Reo. Ko te akakoro’anga maata o teia ngai tiaki’anga tamariki koia oki no te apii atu’anga i to tatou reo ki te au tamariki potiki.
Tei raro ake teia apii i te tamarumaru’anga o te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu. Kua piri mai tetai au mata o ratou no Aotearoa mai ki teia akakoro’anga. E au taonga ta ratou i oronga atu ki te au tamariki potiki e toru ei akamaara’anga no teia ra tei riro mai ratou e ko te au tauira mua o teia apii.
E rua rai puapii tinamou tei akanoo ia no te akono e te apii atu i te au tauira kia marama e kia rauka i te tuatua i roto i to tatou reo. Inara ka inangaro akaou ia tetai au puapii, e pera katoa tetai moni tauturu kia rava te apinga kangakanga e te au apinga apii.
A soft opening was held for the very first total-immersion ECE school ‘Te Punanga Reo.’ The school based at Pa Ariki’s Palace will teach toddlers and preschoolers completely in the Cook Islands Maori language.
Te Punanga Reo can be regarded as a collaboration. It has been established under Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu i Aotearoa but it is being driven locally by a group of passionate parents who want to see our children fluent in the Cook Islands Maori language.
The school opened today with it’s first 3 students (see pictures).
The school does have a waiting list but it still needs financial help so that it can be properly resourced. Do contact them if you can help.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
Elvis is in the House
Today we got to meet Pacific Elvis - Johnny Angel, Southern Cross Elvis Taurean Kenny Mill who came to attend Raro Elvis’s Paul’s ‘Burnin Love’ Hot Sauce’s birthday this week. They will perform at Vaima tonight and at Cafe Ariki for Paul’s Birthday Tennis Fundraiser on Thursday.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
A Plant and Soil Health Clinic was held out at the Ministry of Agriculture this morning. 30 growers came to talk to the newly-trained MoA staff, some bringing samples of their diseased plants. The staff were overseen by the two specialist on plant and soil health from the Pacific Community. According to Dr. Rohit Lal he was impressed with the staff for being able to quickly learn and communicate their understanding of what was causing the diseases. He was also impressed with the growers who were keen to learn and even googling things that they learnt during the clinic.
You have one more chance to learn from these two specialists as they will hold a workshop on Tuesday 9-11pm for the growers.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
Not sure if you will notice the difference from these pictures but the 700+ angels and their teachers from Tereora College spent about 3 hours this morning cleaning the Social Center beach from one end to the other as part of their community service. According to their teacher Ben Patia, it is a way of giving back to their village.
So the beach looks flatter and wider because the students cleared all the creepers and removed the rocks. There is now more space and it feels airier.
Spokesperson for the Nikao Community Junior Manuela was grateful to the students on behalf of the Nikao Community and their Minister Hon. Mac Mokoroa. He believes that our visitors and the locals who use the beach will also be very appreciative.
The rocks have been placed around the trees and the green waste will be buried.
Photos by RadioCook Islands
Friday Night Market on tonight - so much yummy food, awesome sounds by Bubz, and great vibes
ALL BLACKS VS FIJI IS ON CITV @ 4pm FRIDAY 19 JULY
A short school assembly was held this morning at Titikaveka College for the presentation of Certificates to the Titikaveka College Tangi Ka'ara Team by CITC Tangi Ka'ara Coordinator George George and his colleague Marketing Manager Esther Heather.
Titikaveka College was placed 3rd in the CITC Tangi Ka'ara Competition for the Secondary School Category, held 2 weeks ago.
Acknowledgement was also extended to their tutor and expert Drummer Mr Vae Unuka.
Congratulations Titikaveka College.
Umeia te Marokura!
Ko te Pupu 7 e te 8 teia o te Apii Nikao i te avatea Paraparau e rave ara i ta ratou Tarekareka Emo'anga Peu Tupuna.
Ko tetai tu'anga teia i te porokaramu a te Apii no te Epetoma o te Reo Maori.
Kua tu'a iatu te au tamariki apii na roto I to ratou au tapere e 4 I roto ia Nikao koia te Rangiura, Turama, Tepuka e Pokoinu.
Ko te au tarekareka tupuna I rave'ia koia ko te tupakere, taemoemo rore, ko akari, putoto taura e te oro pereo.
On Monday 15th July, the Apii Rutaki Tangi Ka'ara Team received their Certificates of Participation from Tangi Ka'ara Master Mind George George for taking part in this year's CITC Emo'anga Tangi Ka'ara Drumbeat Competition 2024.
George George congratulated teacher Mrs Tatari Ngatoko for having the most girls in the Drumbeat Competition. Her response was - "They were the most interested in the Drumming and willing to practise."
Congratulations Team Rutaki.
University Life of a Kuki: Callum Gilmour
Callum is of Mangaian decent and is completing his degree at the university of Auckland after being in the medical field for over 20 years
"My grandfather is William Cuthers. He was born in Rarotonga to Makiroa Cuthers and Tutevera Heather. He was raised in Titikaveka by his Uncle Kiri Cuthers and his wife Tara. My grandfather was a Pomare medal winner. He moved to New Zealand in his 20s and moved back to Rarotonga with my grandmother when he retired and passed away soon after. Growing up in New Zealand, my family have always been very proud of their Cook Island heritage.
To be honest, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I first thought of doing medicine at high school! I think everyone is kind of the same when you are young. Coming from a Polynesian family, you are aware of the esteem that doctors are held in, and the opportunity to help people and better your community. My neighbours in Auckland growing up were doctors and they helped me to believe I could take up medicine if I wanted to.
I enjoy that you are dealing with people every day, from different walks of life, and there is never a dull moment, as every day is different, and you are always learning new things.
After finishing my medical degree in Auckland in 2011 I worked at Rotorua hospital for four years in general medicine, emergency, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology and general practice. Following that I joined the Australasian emergency medicine training programme and spent the next nine years working in New Zealand and Australia in emergency departments, rural hospitals, intensive care units and paediatric and neonatal wards. I have just become an adult and paediatric emergency specialist, and I work at the Sydney Adventist Hospital and Nepean hospital in Sydney.
I enjoy the high acuity and variety of the patients that you see, and working in a team environment with other doctors and nurses. I like that you can use blood tests, scans and x-rays to figure out what is causing a patient’s symptoms on the spot.
Doing shift work (a lot of night shifts) and then studying on days off.
When I was at medical school I did a placement in Sri Lanka which was awesome. Because I have worked in so many different towns in New Zealand and Australia I have gotten to explore a lot of the countryside in both countries. I have just finished working at the Children’s Hospital in Westmead. I really enjoyed working there.
I would love the opportunity to come back and volunteer some time.
Medicine is a marathon of lifelong learning, so pace yourself, try and learn something new every day and make sure you enjoy the ride."
- Callum Gilmour
Callum's story is available in this week's issue of the Cook Islands Herald.
The Ministry of Education is a proud sponsor of the University Life of a Kuki series.
This week is the last week of school for term two, and students at Apii Takitumu have been taking part in fun week-long activities to end the term. School teacher Renall Vogel who was meant to be in Tahiti for the Tuaro Traditional Games thought he'd bring the traditional games to his students at school instead. Some of their activities this morning included coconut husking and fruit carrying races.
Zhuhai Performing Arts Group who put on an impromptu performance at the Auditorium tonight. The team are only here for about 24 hours flying in this morning and leaving tonight. Xie xie for the wonderful performance.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
Some photos taken by Radio Cook Islands this afternoon of the handover of items for various ministries and NGOs.
Of note is the new dome for the Avatiu Sports Club which is in one of the containers sponsored by the People’s Republic of China, Zhuhai City and Guangdong Province.
Our friends from China also brought some healthy drinks for us to try - see picture of DPM and Miss Lee. Pretty nice drinks - lychee flavoured and other exotic herbal flavours.
Do you want to learn about plant health, plant diseases and pests, symptoms and ways to manage them, soil health - these are areas that two specialists from the Pacific Community Nitesh Nand, and Roheet are here to teach our Pae Tanu staff and growers about on Friday 9am-1pm at the Ministry in Arorangi.
Today Radio Cook Islands staff were able to chat with Nitesh and learnt about what the ants are doing under your taro leaves, and why all the mango leaves on your new shoots are dead - you guessed right - pests.
So if you have questions, take samples of your sick leaves etc and they can help you understand what is happening and what you can do about it.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands
The Heiva Tu’aro Maohi began on Thursday with the Timau Ra’au. Yesterday and today featured Patia fa (blade throwing), Coprah (peeling coconuts), Ta’uma Ha’ari (coconut tree climbing), and Amora’a Ofai (rock lifting).
Our boys Ieremia Samuela and Tamaiva Mateariki competed yesterday in their weight division (75kg), lifting a 104kg rock against 23 warriors from New Zealand, the Marquesas, Pohnpei, the Austral Islands, Hawaii, and Tahiti.
“It rained softly throughout the day, so the rock needed to be dried before each lift,” says Viani. “Our boys did so well.”
Pa Ariki has been a positive influence at the event, says Viani. Accompanied by the President’s staff, she has been very involved, presenting prizes, dancing in ura piani, and constantly cheering for our boys. “She even attended our training session for coconut tree climbing last week.”
Photos courtesy of Pa Ariki and Beatrice Johnson-Stetka
The Unveiling of the Military Headstone of Tai o Tonga Henry, son of Geoffrey Tiavare Henry and Metua Kamire@Pokoinu Cemetery on Saturday 13th July 2024.
NZ Coastwatcher 1939 - 1945
Died 23.10.1982, Aged 68yrs
Served NZ as Coastwatcher during the Second World War
Today was a special day for the Cook Islands Building Supplies (CIBS) who blessed their new shed, new machinery, and the business.
The business has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a 6-by-4 garage to a now major player in the quality building supplies industry.
“You have to be a little bit stubborn,” said proprietor Arama Wichman in his speech reflecting on the persistence that has driven the business to where it is today.
The new shed was mostly built by the team at CIBS and took about 16 months to complete.
Arama says the business is for the next generation. Son, Simiona says that might be some time yet but considers himself blessed.
“I think I'm quite lucky, quite blessed that I get to work every day with my mum and dad, my brother, my family and all the boys that I get to see everyday. It’s a blessing.”
Photos taken by Radio Cook Islands
Photos from today’s Low and Slow BBQ Pitmasters Competition which is part of the Raro Fire and Food Festival 2024. The annual festival which is in its 4th year is a fundraiser for the Junior Sailing Club and spread over 2 days. Yesterday was the Steak Competition. There were 6 competitors in today’s competition.
This is definitely a great event to be a part of. You support the club by buying the food and drinks being sold alongside the competition. There is also a live band.
For visitors, you can put this on your calendar for next year as the dates will be announced soon. There is a Raro Fire and Food page for you to check out.
Photos taken by Radio Cook Islands
This is CIRU Ben Koteka and his children from the Healthy Living program in the Pa Enua who were on Rarotonga to take part in the 23rd Annual Health Expo.
The students from Mauke, Mitiaro, Mangaia, Atiu and Aitutaki took away different things from the conference.
The speech by the Minister Rose Toki-Brown left quite an impression on them - you are what you eat and what you eat will show on your body.
Va**ng was another presentation that was relevant to them with the students saying that there are some kids at their schools who v**e.
But overall, they push the idea of Reducing FOSS - fats, oils, sugar and salt in their diet.
This trip was made possible by Te Marae Ora, Unicef and Air Raro.
Photos by Radio Cook Islands.
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Kakaro mai ia Aunty Maru Pureau e aka’uka nei ki te imene Tukutuku’ia Taku Manu. Koia oki tetai mema mua o te pupu ura CINAT. Te maara nei rai iaia te au akatutu no teia imene. Despite the out-of-tune music, and forgotten lyrics, this is worth watching because it is a performance by an original CINAT member. There is actually very little footage of the original CINAT performances. If you know the words of the song write it below for the next sing-along session.
Friday Night Market on tonight - so much yummy food, awesome sounds by Bubz, and great vibes
Kua tae atu to tatou au mataro no runga mai i te Vaka Marumaru Atua ki te enua ko Akatokamanava. Teia tetai manga teata tei nenei ia e Aunty Nan i teia popongi. The Vaka Marumaru Atua and it’s crew went ashore in Mauke earlier today. What a festive welcoming!
CITC Karangaranga show- General George and Raemaki Karati from Ministry of Cultural Development.
When you leave the Saturday market, the team from Tina & Co come in and pack up the tents. This is by far the best service we have seen at the market. Stall owners just rent a tent, table and chairs, and they don’t have to setup, pack up, cart and maintain the tents.
Happy 23rd Birthday BCI with our Aka’Uka girls and the Ice Cream Truck who is also 23 years old.
Now how cool is this - learning about Te Aponga Uira and even getting a ride in the cherrypicker! Career’s Expo 2024
Ocean’s Eleven big hitter Ben Vakatini sending ball after ball to the sea in today’s Super Slam Cricket Grand Finals 2024 - he hit 5x sixes in one over. The game only took long as they had to go retrieve the balls. They were challenging the King Wolves.
Aunty Vaine Maui of Te au Vaine Tumutoa o Takitumu wishing all the mums a Happy Mother’s Day 2024!
The Ride Raro Round Rarotonga Cycle Race was held this evening. We got a shot of them at the start and end because there is no way you can chase these guys. Coming back to the finish was a race of 4 cyclists. The first cyclist across the line came back in about 44min47secs (unofficial). It was good to see our very own Roland Neururer in that first four. The first lady back was our own Lucy McDonald in a time of about 49mins17secs (unofficial. What a fantastic finish to the week of Tri. #citriathlon
Tetai manga tamataora i teia aiai i vao mai i te are tunu manga Cecil Hut i Amuri, Aitutaki
These sounds should make you miss home! Warm ups! Setting the atmosphere, getting that rhythm flowing for the Farewell Ceremony of Vaka Marumaru Atua this morning at Avarua wharf.
ANZAC DAY 2024 - MARCH PASS
Never seen it packed like this for a long time
ISLAND LIFE: SHIP DAY HAPPY DAY The MV Imua turning in Avatiu Harbour this morning bringing much anticipated goods. The cargo ship is about 118m long and the allowable turning diameter for the harbour basin is 120m (135 max). So you can understand what an intricate operation this is. Rarotonga only gets 2 container ships per month, one around the middle of the month, and the other around the end of the month - the Imua and Liloa - both around the same length. This ship however is on time according to the schedule on the Matson website.
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