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The women of Tahunu village on Manihiki were the centre of attention on Tuesday morning when they performed the “aumohi” (traditional welcome) for New Zealand Governor General Dame Sylvia Cartwright.
Dame Sylvia, who is on a State Visit to Cook Islands, Tokelau and Samoa, arrived on the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate Te Mana and was met by Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton and New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt Meyer.
According to Women’s Development officer Taromi Solomona who performed the challenge, 12 young women carried Dame Sylivia and her husband Peter Cartwright on a traditional paata from the warf to the reception area at Marae-o-Pari.
Before Dame Sylvia and her delegation left the wharf, everyone in the group was presented with a hat, Solomona said.
School children and the men of the village formed a guard of honour from the wharf to the marae where the governor general and her delegation sat amidst a spread of mats, tivaevae and pareu.
In his welcome speech Tauhunu mayor Solomona William said it had been 30 years since the people of Manihiki had been visited by a governor general and Dame Sylvia’s visit would be a memorable one for the young people of the village.
“He told the VIP visitors that it had been agreed that the women should feature in the traditional welcome as it was a woman visiting.
“Usually it’s the men who take part,” the mayor explained.
Solomona thanked Dame Sylvia on behalf of island residents for the NZAid-funded projects including the hospital, the harbour project and the island’s hydroponic vegetable growing unit.
“This confirms the close relationship between the people of Manihiki and the Cook Islands and New Zealand,” he said.
Dame Sylvia said it was a real privilege to be able to visit Manihiki and meet the people.
“The close relationship shall always remain and New Zealand will always provide assistance to Manihiki and the Cook Islands as a whole.”
The governor general said she had been a bit concerned when she had seen the 12 women waiting to carry her on the paata and had wondered whether they would be able to carry both her and her husband.
“It’s a real privilege to be given such an honour,” she added.
Deame Sylvia’s delegation and Dr Woonton’s official party travelled to Tukao in the early afternoon to inspect NZAid funded projects. They were again welcomed by Taromi Solomona and the mayor reflected on the united effort the people of Manihiki had made to beautify the island for the governor general’s visit. Dr Woonton, who is MP for Manihiki, was also given a traditional welcome.
The group looked at several projects including cyclone shelters built with the help of NZAid funds before returning to the Te Mana by helicopter. |
