Cook Island Language Week 2012

3 August 2012

Kia orana

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, with the Cook Islands Development Agency of New Zealand (CIDANZ)  and the Human Rights Commission  is pleased to support the first national celebration of Cook Islands Language Week (Te Epetoma O Te Reo Maori Kuku Irani). Beginning on Cook Islands Constitution Day, the week’s theme - ‘Taku reo ko toku ia akairo – my language gives meaning to my existence and identity’ – is reflected in special events across the country.

The highlight of the week’s events will be the launch of Cook Islands Maori language resources in Auckland on Friday 10 August. The resources, developed with the support of the Ministry of Pacific Affairs, comprise four bilingual books aimed at preschool and primary school children.

The inaugural Cook Islands Language Week provides a national platform to raise critical awareness of the Cook Islands language in New Zealand and aims to further encourage Cook Islanders to use, maintain and speak their languages within the family and community.

In New Zealand, Cook Islanders represent the second largest Pacific community - there are more Cook Islands people living in New Zealand than in the Cook Islands. Approximately 60 percent live in Auckland, mainly in the Manukau Region. Sixteen percent of the New Zealand Cook Islands population are able to hold an everyday conversation in Cook Islands Maori.

For more information about the Cook Islands Maori language, visit the Tuatuamai website.
Join the Inaugural Cook Islands Language Week on facebook for the latest events information.

COOK ISLAND LANGUAGE WEEK ACTIVITIES

DATE
EVENT
DESCRIPTION
LOCATION
Saturday
4 August 2012
Constitution Day Prayer Service
Cook Island Constitution Day celebration Seventh Day Adventist church service and bless the language week celebrations
Seventh Day Adventist Churches across New Zealand 
Sunday,
5 August 2012
Constitution Government Week Church Services
Cook Island churches services acknowledge constitution day and bless language week celebrations
Cook Island Churches across New Zealand
Monday,
6 August 2012
Radio 531 PI Panel discussion on the Cook Islands Language
 
A panel of Cook Island people will be interviewed about the language
531 PI Radio Station
Auckland
Cook Island daily word of the day
Cook Island Word of the day for the week promoted on radio and face-book
531 PI Radio Station and Cook Islands Language Week facebook  
Wear a Pareu Day
Wearing Cook Island traditional closing with a lesson on the worlds used for clothing items
Tokoroa Cook islands Community in support of Forest View High School
Inter-generational Cook Islands Language Debate
 
 
An AUT Cook Islands Student Association and Cook Islands community intergenerational programme.

Topic It is the responsibility of the parents and family to teach Te Reo Maori Kuki Irani?
 
AUT Manukau Campus
Auckland University Manukau City
Auckland 
Cook Islands Back of House Tours at Te Papa Museum
Cook Islands Tour of Te Papa Museum with Cook Islands staff providing bilingual tour guide.
Te Papa Museum – limited spaces to book for this tour
Imene Tuki/Reo Metua – Learning Cook Island Songs
 
 
Learning the Cook Islands Language through song.
5.00pm – 6.45pm
Talanoa Centre,
University of Canterbury
Essay Competition – Cook Islands Language
A100 word essay competition on any topic of interest regarding own journey – biblical verse or short chant of choice as a finale for the week.  Preparations for the essay begins Monday and presented on Saturday 12 August 2012
5.00pm – 6.45pm
Talanoa Centre,
University of Canterbury
Tuesday,
7 August 2012
Cook Islands Language History Challenge
Four Cook Island history and language programmes will be convened at four key Auckland Council Libraries.
Glen Innes, Otara, Manukau, Mangere and Manurewa Libraries
Cook Islands Cultural Day Programme at Forest View High School
Forest View High School in Tokoroa will screen Te Maeva Nui Festival (Cook Island based) during lunch break as a celebration of the culture and language.
Forest View High School
Tokoroa
Cook Islands Screening of ‘The Silent One’ at the local movie Theatre, Tokoroa
A presentation on the significance of viewing this Cook Island-based film to the communities in Tokoroa.
Tokoroa Cook Islands Community event
Simple prayers in the Cook Islands Language
Learning simple prayers including the Lord’s prayer for everyday use
5.00-6.45pm
Talanoa Centre
University of Canterbury
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Cook Islands Community Day
Mangere/Otara Cook Islands community gathering
10.00am-2.00pm
Metro Theatre Mangere East
Auckland
Cooks Islands Back of House Tours at Te Papa Museum
Cook Islands Tour of Te Papa Museum with Cook Islands staff providing bilingual tour guide
Te Papa Museum – limited spaces to book for this tour
Wear a ‘ei’ day with Cook Island Maori Trivial Pursuit language learning programme
This is a wear a Cook Island necklace day with a trivial pursuit game programme for learning the language amongst secondary school students
Forest View High School Tokoroa
Learning a Ute or Pe’e (Celebratory song or chant)
Learning a traditional ute and pe’e for use in most formal Cook Islands formal settings
5.00-6.45pm
Talanoa Centre
University of Canterbury
Thursday, 9 August 2012
Cook Islands Arts Expo
Exhibition of Cook Islands tivaivai and fashion
Corban Centre West Auckland and Metropolitan Arts Centre
Cook Islands Music and Dance sessions 
Drumming and dance demonstrations at three main public centres in Auckland
Aotea Centre, Manukau, Henderson and St Lukes Westfield in Auckland
Will Crummer and the Rarotongans at Te Papa Museum
Legendary Will Crummer and the Rarotongans perform at Te Papa Museum
6.00pm – 7.30pm
Te Papa Museum
Wellington
Cook Islands Food Day
Celebrating Cook Islands language and food
Forest View High School Tokoroa
Cook Islands National Anthem
Learning the national anthem and its history
5.00-6.45pm
Talanoa Centre
University of Canterbury
Friday, 10 August 2012
One Cook Islands Celebration (CIDANZ)
A dinner event with awards ceremony and launch of the new bilingual Cook Island resources (invitation only)
6pm – 12am
Dream Centre,
3 Lakewood Court, Manukau
Auckland
Cook Islands Language Week Overview
Reflect on the week’s activities and learnings gained and preparations for Saturday presentation
5.00-6.45pm
Talanoa Centre
University of Canterbury
Saturday and Sunday 11-12 August 2012
Cook Island Churches across New Zealand thanks giving services
To close the inaugural language week celebrations, congregations across New Zealand will offer thanksgiving services
Cook Island Churches across New Zealand