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2008 Rarotonga Primary Schools Culture Festival

The Rarotonga primary schools culture festival is a bi-annual event that brings all schools on the island together in a celebration of Cook Islands Maori culture.

The event is non competitive focusing instead on entertaining the guests, having fun and more importantly showing others just what schools are doing in terms of teaching the Cook Islands culture.

The 2008 festival carried the theme “Taporoporo ia to tatou aorangi, no te uki ki mua (Conserve our environment for our future generation)” and a total of 12 schools joined in.

Prime Minister and Minister of Education Jim Marurai officially opened the event and said it was great to see the children valuing our culture not only because they are our future generation but also because our culture is a part of our identity as Cook Islanders.

Photos by Tara Carr

Top Row
The young girls of Avarua school were stunning – the school was first up on stage and they certainly set the bar for the rest of the night with their amazing performance. (Photo Order # 08041701)

2^nd Row (left to right)
Avatea primary school student Richard Unuka was certainly a strong performer during the second line up of Avatea dancers – these students performed an action song on the night. (Photo Order # 08041730)

These youngsters from Papaaroa School sang their hearts out during the schools choir performance. 
(Photo Order # 08041709)

The little beauties of Nikao Maori school – this line up of young dancers enjoyed their time right in the front of the stage during their schools turn on stage. (Photo Order # 08041720)

3^rd Row (left to right)
It was all about watching their sides to see just how fast they could shake their hips – sisters Mereina and Painu Tamarua made the most of their Rutaki school performance much to the appreciation of the packed auditorium. (Photo Order # 08041711)

Little Mereina Tamarua was absolutely amazing to watch – despite her age she kept up with her older counterparts, stunned the crowd and stole the show. (Photo Order # 08041712)

4^th Row (left to right)
Apii Te Uki Ou student Liam MacFarlane lead his group of dancers out on stage and showed off his love for the Cook Islands culture. (Photo Order # 08041705)

St Joseph’s Melbourne Matakino proved himself to be a little dancing champion – little ones like Vaine Tobia was also great to watch in this performance. (Photo Order # 08041725)

Johnny O’Daniel of Arorangi school wasn’t fazed by the packed auditorium as he helped lead his school during their performance. (Photo Order # 08041723)

5^th Row (left to right)
Young Sienna Gavet was stunning during the Apii Te Uki Ou performance – the festival was yet another success with the next one taking place in 2010. (Photo Order # 08041708)

Arorangi’s Takaviri Daniel had the most beautiful smile on the night – she was simply stunning. 
(Photo Order # 08041722)

Our very own junior representative in the Dancer of the Year competition Ana Kaukura was stunning during the performance by her Arorangi school. (Photo Order # 08041721)

6^th Row
Apii Te Uki Ou students Eri-Te-Ana Short (front) and Emily Barltrop danced their hearts out during their schools action song performance. (Photo Order # 08041706)