Rarotonga honours the ancestor behind 200 years of Christianity

Rarotonga is celebrating the arrival of Christianity on its shores by honouring Tinomana Ariki, who accepted the gospel two centuries ago.

Niu FM's Chelsea Cuthers-Munro is in Rarotonga to attend the celebrations, which she says is a day of pure (prayer), hymns and worship.

"Just being able to celebrate what that means for us here and now in 2023 as a people and nation," Curthers-Munro says.

Celebrations start at the Aro'a Niu Puaikura community centre, where crowds will then gather on Raemaru Hill to honour the burial site where Tinomana Ariki of Puaikura rests.

The Arorangi Cook Islands Christian Church is hosting the service with a kai kai (feast) follow-up.

Fifteen-year-old Keanu Cuthers shares similar sentiments as Chelsea's.

"Faith is really important to our family and community, especially with my Nana because she's eighty-five years old now," he says.

"It's still her favourite thing to do every Sunday. And I'm really grateful for my nana. I'm looking forward to the 200 year celebration."

Chelsea is anticipating that it will be "be a beautiful time to honour those who have come before us".

"So much love, care, resource and time has gone into this celebration. I'm so excited, everyone is buzzing."

Ministerial Political Adviser for the New Zealand Parliament, Thomas Tarurongo Wynne, says that the contributions put into the event also comes from beyond the islands.

"A lot of money has come out of our communities in New Zealand and Australia: over six figures," Wynne says.

"It's great to see the churches clean and white with new windows and new doors, but you know it's a lot of money for an event."

The celebrations are part of a month of commemorations marking the Cook Islands' relationship with Christianity.

Atiu, Mitiaro and Ma'uke marked two year hundred years since missionaries arrived in the Southern Islands, two of which were the prominent Tahitian converts Papeiha and Vahapata.

Pacific Media Network Cook Islands producer, Ngaire Karati (Rarotonga), says the anniversary celebrates both Christianity and the missionary's work in sharing the gospel.

"A lot of 'orometua (missionaries) were elected to go out of the Cook Islands to preach," Karati says.

"I know of one of the 'orometua from the island of Ma'uke who took the word of God to Papua New Guinea.

"To this day there is a particular village there that sings Cook Island hymns they learned from that 'orometua."

Karati says the celebrations acknowledges Christianity's impact across the Cook Islands. She says it is likely most Cook Islanders are Christian as a result.

"I've been brought up in a Christian family. My grandfather, Teuatakiri Pittman, was a pastor in his days," she says.

Karati also points out how the church has benefited Cook Islanders and Pacific Islanders in general in Aotearoa, as the diaspora often disconnects second-generation immigrants from their reo (language).

She says sitting in church among your community, especially your elders, and hearing their stories in the reo is an important experience.

"I don't see that happening today and I think that's really sad. I think that's what made this celebration so special, because our families are going back home and hearing the amazing stories in the reo."

She says the celebrations are good too because the youth will be exposed to traditional songs and hymns.

"I'm in my sixties and I'm still learning what they have done and what they have sung," Karati says.

"I am very proud to hear and to see the reports I've been getting.

"I feel so comforted to know my people still have that feeling in them - the importance of Christian life in the Cook Islands.

"I think that's awesome to have and for us to live on."