Te Pū‘ara Api‘i Pōtiki

If you didn’t know, Te Pū‘ara Api‘i Pōtiki started with a community dream: to revitalise Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani for our pēpē, beginning at the age when language acquisition matters most.

Like the Kōhanga Reo movement in Aotearoa in the 1980s, we didn’t start with our own building or purpose-built space. We started with a vision, our community, and the generosity of Mama Pa Ariki, who gifted us a space to begin.

Together, we transformed that space into a beautiful place where our pēpē can sing, pure, laugh, ‘ura, learn and play, all while being immersed in our language.

Today, we are grateful to CITC for their kind sponsorship of our new ceiling fans, helping keep our pēpē and pū‘api‘i cool while we ‘ura ‘ura!

Meitaki rānuinui e Chris, Vaike and the kind staff at CITC Building Centre, Avatiu, for supporting our little community dream and the revitalisation of Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani.

Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani 😍

I’m only three, but I love learning about my culture, my language, peu Māori and reo Māori.

I hear, speak and live te reo Māori every day.

Today I made a master piece, and a mess and I had fun, I helped put everything together and am so proud to show you some natural resources of our Ipukarea🙌🏾

- Pataāpuka
- Pitipitiō, Matakōviriviri
*can u name whats around my neck?

*This was made with love at Vaka Tamitumu Te Maeva Nui training and costume making 2026❤️❤️

Every week is Epetoma o te Reo Māori for us.

There are around 94,176 Cook Islands Māori living in New Zealand, compared with about 17,300 people living in the Cook Islands. Yet only 3% of Cook Islanders born in New Zealand spoke Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani in 2023.

Those numbers show why this work matters. Our tamariki hear and speak our reo every day through play, songs, stories, and everyday conversation.

Our reo connects our children to who they are and where they come from. Keeping it alive starts with us speaking it, teaching it, and passing it on.

*Graphic credit: Ministry for Pacific Peoples, NZ

Every week is Epetoma o te Reo Māori for us.

Our reo is at the heart of everything we do. Through play, songs, stories, learning, and everyday conversation, our tamariki grow with a strong connection to their language, culture, and identity.

Our language carries our history, knowledge, and sense of belonging. By speaking, teaching, and celebrating Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani every day, we help keep it strong for generations to come.

*Photo Credit: Vodafone Cook Islands

Rā tunutunu is always a favourite at Te Pū'ara Api'i Pōtiki.

Tipu te meika helps with developing important hand and eye coordination, fine motor skills, concentration, and confidence. These everyday experiences help children build practical life skills, encouraging independence and teamwork.

By preparing their kai manga, our pēpē and tamariki are also strengthening their connection to Cook Islands Māori culture and learning that food, whānau, and culture go hand in hand.

Every slice, every smile, and every shared meal is another step in growing confident learners with a strong sense of identity.

Send a message to learn more

Raranga is more than weaving. It is a traditional practice passed down through generations, carrying the knowledge, values, and stories of our tūpuna. Through experiences like these, our pēpē begin to build a connection to their heritage from an early age.

By introducing traditional practices in ways that are fun and meaningful, we help our tamariki develop a sense of belonging, identity, and pride in their Cook Islands Māori culture.

Every strand woven today is another step in keeping our peu Māori alive for future generations.

Send a message to learn more