Te Maeva Nui Festival Cook Islands
Fun, and culture filled, constitution celebrations on Rarotonga
The Te Maeva Nui is the most important festival in the Cook Islands and the best time to experience all aspects of Cook Islands tradiotional and modern culture.
The most important annual event in the Cook Islands is the Te Maeva Nui Festival, which celebrates self-rule and independence from New Zealand in a blaze of traditional displays and competitions held on the island of Rarotonga.
The festival is an ideal way to experience the full impact of Cook Islands culture. Over a ten-day period, from the end of July into the first week of August, there are numerous events on the island of Rarotonga; new dances, drumming and singing displays and competitions, a colourful float parade, as well as numerous sporting, historical and arts events. The National Auditorium in Rarotonga is the main venue for drumming, dancing and singing events with other activities taking place all over the island.
The Te Maeva Nui Festival was formally called the Constitution Celebrations, but in 2001 it was renamed to better reflect the joy and pride in this event of independence. The Maori name Te Maeva Nui means “the greatest or the most important celebration.”
In this cultural festival there is also a large visual arts, sporting and culinary element with contemporary and traditional exhibitions, traditional and modern sports competitions, coconut husking, a Maori food festival and a fire knife competition.
The float parade through the town of Avarua marks the opening of the celebrations and gives visitors the opportunity to participate with the islanders in celebrating their most important festival of the year. The atmosphere is festive and all around there is colour, movement and celebration. The islanders know how to express their joy and throughout the Te Maeva Nui Festival this becomes self-evident. There is no other festival that encompasses all the aspects of Cook Islands culture like the Te Maeva Nui Festival.
For this years dates please visit http://oceania-island-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/whats_on_in_the_cook_islands_2007
