‘There aren’t enough Cook Islands teachers’

Esteemed Cook Islands community elder and trailblazer of the ASB Polynesian Festival (Polyfest), Mama Tupou Manapori, is calling on families and the community to share their knowledge to preserve cultural traditions and ensure the education of the younger generation.

Her call comes amid rising concerns that traditional knowledge, practices, and stories may disappear without proactive efforts.

“There aren’t enough Cook Islands teachers in the schools to do the job,” she told PMN Cook Islands host Tina Maro.

“I always rely on and encourage our teachers to ask the parents to come on board and support … the biggest work is to support your child, your children at the school to make them feel this is what culture is all about.”

Auckland is gearing up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASB Polyfest this April.

While Manapouri has been at the forefront of this iconic event, she expressed concern about the modern changes affecting traditional practices, particularly in performances that stray from authentic Cook Islands culture.

She stressed the sacredness of traditional attire and the dignity of young performers.

“It’s more or less naked dancing up there [on the stage]. That’s not the way. The body of a young woman is sacred.

“In this day and age, they want to bring in something that is not Kōkehārinu, and I’m totally disappointed with that.

“I’m a great believer in traditional things that belong to us. You can’t change that.”

Manapori continues to be a passionate leader and advocate for the preservation of the Cook Islands' language and culture.

She calls on the Cook Islands community to join her efforts in protecting their cultural heritage while inspiring future generations to take pride in their identity.

“That’s the beauty of what Polyfest is all about, to showcase our true traditional songs and items.

“For me as the coordinator on the Cook Islands stage, I feel obligated to make sure that I am doing the right thing in encouraging our students, our tamariki, this is the way, this is what traditional Cook Island music or dancing is all about.

“To our teachers and tutors of the dancing, make sure to do the right thing, do the Cook Island way, don’t bring other cultures into it because that’s not us.

“That’s my biggest thing at the moment, keep it Cook Islands and not half Cook Islands, half something else.”

The ASB Polyfest is set to take place from 2-5 April 2025.

Photo/file

About Mama Manapori

Mama Tupou Manapori was born in Manihiki, Cook Islands, and was raised by her grandparents before moving to Rarotonga.

She became a home economics teacher before moving to New Zealand in 1968, where she taught technology and language at Kauwhai Intermediate School and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

She played a key role in introducing NCEA Level 2 Te Reo Māori Kūki Āirani at Hillary Collegiate and continued teaching at the Manukau Institute of Technology after her retirement.

She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 and received the Queen’s Service Medal in 2009.

She was also recognised at the SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards in 2015 and honoured as a Cook Islands language champion in 2021.