Cook Islands youth at this year’s Te Maeva Nui, the Cook Islands’ annual Constitution Day celebration, delivered a strong message that they are determined to keep their culture alive.
The week-long cultural celebration, held from 25 July to 4 August, was filled with song and dance, local kai, arts and crafts – which left the air buzzing with excitement and filled with te tangi o te ka’ara, the sound and rhythm of the drums.
Organisers said a highlight of this year’s festival, which marked the country’s 61th year of self-governance, was seeing young people step up to lead performing teams.
Vaka Takitumu’s Ohiva Williams, 25, comes from a family of well known cultural leaders.
Williams, her siblings and other young ones in the team have been given more and more responsibilities over the years, till they earned the trust to take over as primary leads this Te Maeva Nui.
“As time changes and culture continues to evolve, we are at a stage in which the future of our culture is in the hands of young people,” she said.
But she is challenged by local discussions over whether Te Maeva Nui should remain an annual event.
“We have all seen the prospect of Te Maeva Nui no longer being an annual thing, but I think as many teams and many of our people have shown clearly this year, our culture is not something that we intend to sacrifice.
“That has been displayed by the many teams joining Te Maeva Nui this year, who have been led by young people. Where there is a will, there is way, and our people are not willing to give up our culture.”
Ohiva Williams
Supplied / Caleb Teulilo
For Te Maeva Nui, teams form to represent different villages on Rarotonga and the outer island communities.
They share traditional performances, with imene tuki (traditional hymns and choir), pe’e (chants), kapa rima (action song), and ura pau (drum dance).
Williams said preparing for such an event was not easy, but they persevered “for the love of the culture, for the love of the people and for the love of the vaka.”
“We have to give a lot of ourselves to preparing for Te Maeva Nui,” she said.
“That is time spent away from our families, our homes, late nights, long hours, thinking about choreography, thinking about composition. At the same time, you are having to balance all sorts of priorities and all sorts of personalities … you are a composer, but you are also training young and new dancers, and having to make that all work.”
Nicolea Mateariki, 21, was one of the leaders for Team Atiu – Enuamanu.
She said it was an honor to be given such responsibility.
“Through the performing arts, I have gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of this significant part of our history.
“I had the privilege of leading the Atiu girls for this years celebrations, and it was an incredible experience working alongside our māpu, who share the same passion and pride for our culture that I do.”
Mateariki, who also comes from a family of champion dancers, was impressed upon discovering other teams were giving their youth the opportunity to lead.
“Throughout this year’s celebrations, I witnessed many talented young people step forward and embrace leadership roles, and move beyond their comfort zones to lead their respective teams with pride, passion, and respect for those who came before us.”
Nicolea Mateariki (right) led the girls of team Atiu.
Supplied / Cook Islands News
Te Maeva Nui ran for a week in the build-up to the Cook Islands 61st anniversary of self governance in free association with New Zealand.
On constitution day, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Brown said it was a pleasure to see not only an influx of young performers dominating the stage, but young leaders at the helm, directing choreography, composing and costume design.
“It was such a pleasure to see our culture so vibrant and so well displayed by our youth and our young people. So congratulations to all of the teams,” he said.
“You did our country proud, you did your vaka proud , you did your island proud.”
Dancers on stage at Te Maeva Nui 2026.
Supplied / Ministry of Culture
This years theme ‘Taku Ui Ariki – E papa ngaueuekore ia noku’ (My Ariki – my immovable foundation), honoured the role of traditional chiefs and leaders as the custodians of Cook Islands culture, identity, genealogy and unity.
Mateariki took it seriously.
“This year’s performance was more than just a celebration through dance, music and drumming.
“It was a story, one that honoured our ancestors, celebrated our identity, and preserved our history for our present and future generations to reflect upon.
“It was a reminder that every movement, chant, and song carries the legacy of our people and ensures that our cultural heritage continues to live on.”
The Ministry of Culture’s national events manager said seeing how young leaders interpreted this years theme proved the future of the countries culture is in good hands.
Robert Graham was impressed watching them flourish from practises, to the main stage.
“So you can see the culture is actually flowing down ki to tatou au tamariki mapu aere – to all our young ones. Ii makes me proud, it makes me a proud Cook Islander that I know that our culture will live on, and it will always be there.”
Graham has watched the baton be passed on from one generation to the next and feels reassured that the generation to follow will be nurtured when they join Te Maeva Nui.
He was moved watching his own grand-niece grace the stage, embracing her culture with pride.
“And looking at them dancing, I feel really proud. I know that her culture will live on.”
“So it makes me proud seeing our youngsters coming up, taking on the leadership roles, taking on the composers’ roles, choreographing the the shows, it makes me proud because I know that our culture will continue to live on through our young ones.”
Performers enjoy the stage at Te Maeva Nui 2026.
Supplied / Caleb Teulilo
For Williams, her connection to her culture is a part of her peu maori, her way of life – and it is more important now than ever, that young Cook Islanders “continue to learn, share and preserve the true essence of it”.
“One of the sayings that we are often told by our elders is ‘tamou i te peu o to tatou ui tupuna ei kore e ngaro’ and that is not just a saying, but is a reminder that the legacy we decide and choose to leave behind today is the inheritance of our future generations, and that is a very heavy and very important responsibility as young leaders, which we all need to be very intentional and careful with.”
Williams considers herself a traditionalist when it comes to culture, and she believes it is important that young people step up and take the opportunity to lead – thus shaping the future of the Cook Islands culture.
