The combination of powerful drumming and dancing, dazzling vibrant costumes, thrilling performances and non-stop energy on stage is creating a mesmerising spectacle at the 2024 Te Maeva Nui held at the National Auditorium.

The powerful and exhilarating ura pa’u performances by Te Fuinga O Niva and Oire Tupapa on day two of the annual cultural festival on Thursday night were electrifying. The audience responded with appreciative, screaming ovations.

The fantastic kapa rima performances by Atiu Enuamanu, with their girls in beautiful pink costumes, and Vaka Puaikura’s melodious song and dancers dressed in hints of fluoro yellow, were also absolute stunners.

Pukapuka Nassau’s portrayal of their wonderful pe’e, and Oire Nikao’s energetic delivery of their ute also intensified the high standard of Thursday night’s exciting show.

Guest artists on the night were the kapa haka group Te Arawa from Aotearoa New Zealand and the local Kiribati community.

The theme for this year’s Te Maeva Nui is “Te au Tauranga Rongonui o taku enua/matakeinanga – The important ports and landings of my island/tribe”.

Oire Nikao’s ute was titled “Turou te Ariki Vaine Elisapeta Rua”, based on the historic event in the Cook Islands – the visit of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1974 to open the Rarotonga International Airport.

The first part of their ute focused on the awakening of the Matakeinanga, rising to the call of becoming a self-governing nation.

The second part reflected on the Queen Elizabeth’s visit, and the last section focused on “celebrating who we are and where we stand”.

Atiu Enuamanu’s dazzling kapa rima “Te tau-ranga manu reva o taku enua no Atiu-Enuamanu” portrayed the following: Tuanga tai: E kura e ka tae mai te manu reva (pairere) ki Atiu-Enuamanu; Tuanga rua - Te tau’anga manu reva mua i runga i te enua ko Matavai; Tuanga toru - Te rua o te Tauranga manu reva i teia ra i runga i te enua ko Iotuaika, Totiko, Te Ana e Are Kava.

The costume and props were based on the colours of the Cessna Air Rarotonga plane – “muramura tarona, kerekere, teatea e te kivakiva”.

Vaka Puaikura’s kapa rima performance was based on Raemaru as the mountain where Vaitoko is its belly, Maungaroa is shelter, and Au Maru (Tinomana Ariki’s) palace is the fortress where Chief Tinomana resides.

Their performance explained fishermen use the Vaitoko passage for fishing. Vaitoko was also used as a trading point where ancestors traded their commodities. For visitors before stepping ashore, they must go through a cleansing ritual to spiritually cleanse any negative elements from their journey at sea.

Oire Tupapa’s ura pau was titled “Tuitui Ka Moana – A gateway of opportunity and unity”.

Tuitui Ka Moana, which translates to sewing of the ocean, is the port of Avarua.

Tupapa’s ura pa’u portrayed the arrival of Vaka Marumaru Atua and the ceremony of Te Kiriti Maro Tai and the celebrations that follow.

“Tuitui ka Moana is a testament to the idea that a thriving community is one that embraces both its roots and possibilities of the future. It remains a constant, its significance woven into the fabric of life in Avarua. It is a beacon of opportunity, a symbol of unity and a reminder that the greatest journeys are those that bring in closer to each other and to the land we call home.”

Tonight, the imene pupu (choir) and the imene tuki (traditional hymns) will be showcased at Te Are Karioi Nui from 7pm.

The 2024 Te Maeva Nui will conclude with the 59^th Constitution Day celebration tomorrow, starting at 1.30pm.

Performances

Te Fuinga O Niva ura pa’u: Ko ta matou hupahupa kua akatinamou matou i te reira ki runga i te tumu tapura o teia mataiti koia oki, Te au Tauranga rongonui o toku Henua.

Tuanga mua: No te tu kaui i te turanga o te kave karere i runga i to matou henua i te tuatau mua, kua riro na te au Tamariki e patai ana i tua e kite i te pahi.

Ka riro na ta matou fanau unga e te potiki e kave mai i te karerere ki to matou henua tangata i te akakite e, kua tae mai te pahi.

Ka riro na matou Rangatira e pehe atu i te ingoa tupuna o te pahi, koia oki ko te “Vaka Maehaehake”, e te aumohi katoa atu i tona tere.

Tuanga rua: E teru o matou pupu te ka mata atu i to matou tu teru Tau ava na roto I ta matou hupahupa.

Te kaveinga o te pahi me tapae mai ki Te Fuinga O Niva, ka na Avanui mai ki Te papa i Hamore e oti, taopenga atu ki te Tau ava Tekinonga.

Tuanga teru: ka akaari matou i te au puapinga ta teia tu teru Tau ava e kave mai ana ki o matou henua. Koia oki kote patete, te kai, mei te pute raiti, pute tuka, pute faraoa, afata moa e te vai atura.

Kua atu ia teia hupahupa e Tamaiti Samson, akatanotano ia e Junior Ioapa, Nicolea Mateariki e Rahui Tautape Samson, turu ia e t henua tangata Te Fuinga O Niva (Manihiki and Rakahanga).

Pukapuka Nassau pe’e: Te tua tapapa -Ko ta matou pee kua akamuia te reira ki runga i te ava o Natini i runga i tetai motu maata o Pukapuka ko Nassau. I teia ra kua akariro ia teia motu maata e to matou iti tangata e ngai nooanga no ratou. E na reira ana te au pai me tere ki Pukapuka tari te au patete e te kako o Nasau ke tere atu ei ki te enua maata ko Pukapuka. Kare matou i akangaropoina ia Nasau no te mea e iti tangata anake matou e tai. Te taunga i teia tuanga – Junior Ruarau.