There are plenty of islands in the Pacific closer to New Zealand than Rarotonga; Fiji, Tonga and New Caledonia to name a few. But none can match that familiarity you may need if you’re wanting to escape winter and make the most of a few days break in a tropical environment.
Tagata Pasifika’s John Utanga said someone described his home island as “another suburb of Auckland.” I could see where he was coming from, even when lying on golden sands and swimming with tropical fish in the lagoon at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, while winter has descended upon New Zealand, a few thousand kilometres south-west of us.
The Cook Islands gained independence from New Zealand in 1965 but still has ties as a nation with free association. That association is everywhere, from the Kiwi currency used to pay for everything, to everyday conversations with the locals, who say most of their family is living in either New Zealand or Australia. Like Niue, the status of free association makes keeping the people from being drawn by the bright lights and economic attraction of New Zealand all the more difficult. Nevertheless, on an island of this size, the 8000 people who live in Raro added to tourist numbers, which range from 1000-2000 at any one time, is enough to create a certain buzz about the place.
having a culture as vibrant and prolific as theirs. I couldn’t. On Island Night at The Rarotongan we were entertained by Orama, headed by Sonny Williams, who have represented the Cook Islands with pride at festivals around the world. Sonny used to run a performing group in Auckland during the 1980s but says in far off places like Europe, seeing a group like theirs from one of the most far-off tropical islands on earth has a special appeal to them.
