COOK ISLANDS DAY AT DAYSTAR
Kia Orana, Cook Islands greeting meaning, “may you live long”, Cook Islands language week is celebrated during the month of August every year, to coincide with Cook Islands Independence Day on August the 4th. Every year a theme is selected as a guide for all students around New Zealand from University, High Schools, Primary Schools and preschoolers. The theme this year is “Kia pūavai to tatou Reo Maori Kūki Āirani I Aotearoa.”
“That the Cook Islands Maori language may blossom throughout New Zealand.”
Prior to Cook Islands language week, and through our project on Culture through visual Arts, the children at Daystar investigated different visual Art forms of the Cook Islands, especially the Art of Tivaevae, which is well-known in the Islands. Tivaevae was introduced to the Cook Islands with the arrival of the missionaries and Christianity which continues today.
Daystar children loved designing their own tivaevae patterns and cutting them out and gluing them on to paper. They enjoyed practicing and developing their scissors and cutting skills.
The children also learned to make their own Ei (flower) garland. Flower garlands or Ei, it is customary in the Cook Islands to greet and welcome visitors with an Ei and as well as worn daily by the women of the Cook Islands.
The children learnt a new greeting song to use at our mat- times.
”Kia Orana, kia Orana, peea koe” – Hello, hello how are
“Meitaki, meitaki, meitaki au” - I am fine thank you
Cook Islands music is a very distinct sound of fast and slow paced drumming accompanied with the sound of Ukulele, guitar and singing. Cook Islands use the lyrics in the songs to tell their stories through the movement of their hands. Daystar children came dressed in their floral clothes and made their own Ei – flower head garlands for our learning experiences. All the children enjoyed dancing to Cook Islands music and we all had a great Cook Islands Day at Daystar.
Kia Manuia – All the best
Meitaki maata – Thank you very much. Ka kite – See you
