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Te Maeva Nui o Aotearoa New Zealand Festival coming in July 2021
The Te Maeva Nui o Aotearoa New Zealand board is proud to announce the second bi- annual Te Maeva Nui Festival celebrating the Cook Islands people, community and their uniqueness by showcasing their Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Seven amazing Enua and Vaka will perform over two action packed days of competition at Auckland’s Barfoot & Thompson Stadium on July 23 -24 2021. There will be an array of beautiful vibrant costumes, jaw dropping dancing, phenomenal traditional drumming, the marketplace, Cook Islands culinary treats and much more.
Festival Director Duane Wichman-Evans says “After fifty-five years in the Cook Islands we are very blessed and privileged to have the Te Maeva Nui Festival here in Aotearoa New Zealand for the second time. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring family, friends, villages and community together to embrace and uplift our culture through our language, song, dance performance, arts and crafts, fellowship and of course food”.
“Our Theme for this year is RESILIENCE. In these uncertain times due to Covid19 we stand in unity showing our strength to withstand adversity. We encourage building bridges to link our Cook Islands community in Aotearoa back to their homeland. For all our performers it is a place to stand proud and shine, and be part of their Vaka, Enua and villages. Te Maeva Nui is an opportunity for Cook Islanders, and Pasifika in New Zealand to stand strong, reflecting on their heritage, whilst paving the way to a better future.”
There will be over 1000 performers ranging from 14 years to 65 years of age. Many NZ born Cook Islanders haven’t been to their mother land and don’t speak Cook Islands Maori. Now in rehearsals the groups are learning the traditional art of costume designing, weaving costumes, drumming, composing, singing and song writing - language and culture at the forefront.
The Te Maeva Nui Festival Aotearoa has created a foundation for these things to happen.
The mission statement for this year’s theme - Resilience Te Mana o te Ngakau Toa e te Ruru’anga Okotai, Kia Autu. “Through the Power of Resilience and Unity, we stand”
Tickets for this event will be available online from 10th April 2021 at Ticketmaster and from key community locations.