'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani - Cook Islands Māori Language Week
Kia orana! 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani - Cook Islands Māori Language Week is on from Sunday 3 to Saturday 9 August 2025.
'Epetoma ō te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani - Cook Islands Language Week celebrates the languages spoken by the people of the Cook Islands; Cook Islands Māori, the Western Polynesian language Pukapuka, and the distinctive mixture of Cook Islands Māori and English spoken by the people of Palmerston Island. Cook Islands Māori has a number of distinct dialects, the most widely used of which is Rarotongan.
According to the 2018 Census, 80,532 people of Cook Islands heritage live in New Zealand and 1,992 people of Cook Islands heritage reside in Christchurch.
The 2025 theme for Cook Islands Māori Language Week is 'Ātui'tui’ia au ki te raurau a tōku matakeinanga – “Connect me to the offerings of my people'.
- Visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Cook Islands Language Week page for more resources.
- Like the Cook Island Language Week Facebook page.
Featured
Cook Islands Language Week Craft - Ei Katu
Cook Islands general resources
Ei katu colouring in
Pasifika - Our Voices - Teens
Listen to Cook Islands Māori words and greetings
Kia orana - Hello
Aere ra - Goodbye
Ka kite - Goodbye
Akarongo mai - Listen here
Meitaki ma'ata - Thank you
Numbers 1-10
Days of the week
Months of the year
Many thanks to Sera Thompson from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs for providing these recordings.
Cook Islands language
- Cook Islands Language Week Ministry for Pacific Peoples
- Cook Islands Māori online storybooks
- Cook Islands Language Week Facebook page
- Cook Islands Language Week resource from Te Papa
Photos
- View our Cook Islands Language Week photos.
Cook Islands resources
Census Information
Statistics New Zealand, 2018 Cook Islands Maori ethnic group
