2023 Language Week connects Cook Islands community to their homeland

Deepening the bonds between our Cook Islands community and their cultural traditions is the focus of this year’s ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani – Cook Islands Language Week.

“Our Cook Islands community share deep whakapapa ties with tangata whenua in Aotearoa, including through our indigenous languages,” Barbara Edmonds said.

“Through the 2023 Language Week, our tangata Kūki ‘Āirani (Cook Islanders) are focusing on the theme of ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga Ipukarea’ which translates to ‘Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland’.

“This is an extension of previous themes and continues to focus on bridging the feeling of disconnection experienced by our Cook Islands community here in Aotearoa.

“The theme also aligns with UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032, which aims to highlight and support indigenous peoples’ right to preserve, revitalise, and promote their languages.

“During the week, we’re continuing to support ties between tangata Kūki ‘Āirani and their languages through cultural traditions – including song, dance, and pe’e (chants) – of their enua (island) and vaka (tribe).

“With support from the Government, the Language Week will be led by the Cook Islands Development Agency New Zealand, in association with the Religious Advisory Council NZ and Cook Islands Teachers and Educations Collective NZ.

“Kiwis across the country will have opportunity to take part in a range of events and activities, including cultural performances, prayer services, book launches, and the Ta’unga Kama’atu Awards that celebrate language champions.

“Communities will also come together on Friday to celebrate the Cook Islands Constitution Day, a cultural highlight of the Cook Islands calendar to mark their independence.

“I’m encouraging everyone to get involved in the festivities this week and support our Cook Islands whanaunga so their beautiful culture and language can be cherished for generations,” Barbara Edmonds said.  

Cook Islands Language Week runs from 30 July to 5 August. More information and resources can be found on the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website.

Kā ‘Ātuitui atu Te ‘Epetoma ‘ō te Reo 2023, ‘i te matakeinanga Kūki ‘Airani, ki tō rātou ‘ipukarea

Ko te ‘aka‘ō’onu‘anga ‘i te piri’anga ‘i rotopū ‘i tō tātou matakeinanga Kūki ‘Airani, ‘ē tā rātou au peu māori, te ‘akamou’anga ma’ata nō te ‘Epetoma ‘ō te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani – Cook Islands Māori Language Week, ‘ō teia mata’iti.

“’E piri’anga ‘ō’onu tikāi tō te matakeinanga Kūki ‘Airani, ki te ‘iti tangata ‘ō te ‘enua Aotearo’a, nā roto ‘i te ‘ītiki’anga papa’anga, ‘ē pērā katoa, nā roto ‘i tō tātou au reo tupuna,” tuatua’ia ‘ē Barbara Edmonds. 

“Nā roto ‘i te ‘Epetoma ‘ō te Reo, 2023, ka ‘akamou tō tātou ‘iti tangata Kūki ‘Airani (Cook Islanders), ki runga ‘i te tumu tāpura, ‘‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga ‘Ipukarea,” tei ‘uri’ia ē, ‘Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland.’

“’E ‘akatoro’anga teia nō te au tumu tāpura o mua ake ana, ma tē āru ‘i te ‘akamou ‘i tē reira ki runga ‘i te ‘akapiri’anga ‘i te tū ‘akatakakē’ia, tei kitea ‘ē tō tātou matakeinanga Kūki ‘Airani, ‘i Aotearo’a nei.

“Kua tano katoa te tumu tāpura ki tā te UNESCO Nga’uru’anga Mata’iti ‘ō te au Tangata Māori o Teia nei ao, 2022 - 2032 (UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 2032, tei ‘akakoro i te ‘akaāri pū atu, ‘ē te tauturu ‘i te tika’anga ‘ō te au tangata māori, kia tāporoporo, kia ‘akaora mai, ma te ‘akamāro’iro’i kia tuatua’ia to rātou reo.

“’I roto i te ‘epetoma, ka ‘ōronga ‘ua atu rāi mātou ‘i te tauturu ‘ītiki’anga, ‘i rotopū ‘i te au tangata Kūki ‘Airani, ‘ē tō rātou au reo, nā roto ‘i tā rātou au peu tupuna – te ‘īmene, te ‘ura, ‘ē te pe’e (chant) – ‘ō tō rātou ‘enua (island), ‘ē te ngāti (tribe).

“Nā roto ‘i te tauturu mei kō mai i te Kavamani, kā riro te ‘Epetoma ‘ō te Reo, nā te Cook Islands Development Agency New Zealand, e ‘akateretere, ma te ‘anga’anga kāpiti atu ki te Religious Advisory Council NZ, ‘ē te Cook Islands Teachers and Educations Collective NZ.

“Kā riro teia ‘ei vā, kia piri atu te au tangata Kiwi tīkoti ake ‘i te pātireia, ki roto ‘i te au ‘akakoro’anga, ‘ē te au ‘anga’anga raverave, mei te au ‘ākono’anga pure, au ‘akakoro’anga ‘akaepaepa nō te ‘akatapu’anga puka ‘ōu, ‘ē te Tu’anga ‘o te ‘Akararangi’anga Ta’unga Kama’atu, nō te ‘akaepaepa’anga ‘i te au taunga ‘ō te reo.

“Ka tā’okota’i katoa mai te au matakeinanga ‘ā te Varaire, nō te ‘akaepaepa’anga ‘i te Rā ‘ō Te Maeva Nui, ko te rā tei ‘akataka’ia ‘i roto ‘i te kārena ‘ā te Kūki ‘Airani, ‘ei māka i te rā ‘i riro mai ei rātou e, nā rātou rāi ‘e ‘aka’aere.

“Tē ‘akamāro’iro’i atu nei au ‘i te kātoatoa, kia piri ki roto ‘i te au ‘akaepaepa’anga ‘i teia ‘epetoma, ma te turuturu ‘i tō tatou ‘iti tangata Kūki ‘Airani, kia ‘akaperepere ‘ua ‘ia atu rai tā rātou peu mānea, ‘ē tō rātou reo, nō te au uki ki mua,” tuatua’ia ‘ē, Barbara Edmonds.

Mei te rā 30 o Tiurai, ki te rā 5 o ‘Aukute te ‘Epetoma ‘ō te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani. Ka kitea te ma’ata’anga ‘ō te au tuatua, ‘ē te au ‘apinga turuturu, ki runga ‘i te kupenga-roro-uira ‘ā te Minitirī ‘ō te au Tangata Patipika Ministry for Pacific Peoples website.