Hawke's Bay celebrates Cook Islands

Kopu Apai, Ake Warren and Veia Hoffman wearing eikatu and doing warm-up exercises at the Cook Islands Celebration in Flaxmere on Saturday. Photo/Duncan Brown

Food, activities, dancing and performances were all on offer at the annual Cook Islands Celebrations in Flaxmere on Saturday.

More than 200 people attended the event, which celebrated 52 years since Cook Islands became self-governing, at the Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Community Centre in Flaxmere.

It was also a way to celebrate the end of Cook Islands language week which started on Sunday, July 30 and ended on Saturday.

Hawke's Bay Cook Islands Community president Derek Teariki said the event keeps growing each year due to it becoming more public and widely known among the 3000 Cook Islanders in Hawke's Bay.

"We're looking to go bigger next year.

"People are starting to come out and actually see it themselves."

The event was fantastic and was enjoyed by young and old, he said.

"It was an excellent weekend for everyone."

There was a humu (hangi), food stalls, a workshop teaching young people how to make ei (flower garlands), and various cultural performances.

"We started with raising the flag at 10.30am and a formal welcome then a minute's silence of remembrance for all the leaders that have been . . . and the people that have passed on here in Hawke's Bay."

Cook Islands language week is celebrated annually with nearly 62,000 Cook Islanders in the country.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Alfred Ngaro said Cook Islands language week gives all Kiwis the chance to celebrate.

"The Cook Islands is more than just a beautiful place to visit, it's the home of amazing cultures and languages."

Statistics show less than 13 per cent of New Zealand-born Cook Islanders speak the language.

"It's a language that needs all of us to do our part in keeping it alive, even if it's just learning a few phrases or one of our beautiful songs.

"As a proud Cook Islander I know just how special Te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani is and I'm looking forward to doing my part to encourage people to give it a go."

The theme for the week was "An encouraging home and community environment is what I need to build my love and my confidence to speak my reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani".

The official opening ceremony of Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani (Cook Island language week) was held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Saturday, July 29.