Ministry of Cultural Development Cook Islands

30/05/2026

TE MIRE URA NUI 2026 - OFFICIAL RESULTS

29/05/2026

Highlights from Te Mire Ura 2026 - Ura Penu

26/05/2026

Beyond the Stage | Tunui Araka Mati

As we get closer to Te Mire Ura Nui 2026, we wanted to take a moment to share more than just the performances. Behind every costume, every rehearsal and every moment on stage is a person with a story, a family and a reason why they dance.

For many of our dancers, this journey is deeply personal - shaped by the people who raised them, the communities that support them and the traditions they carry proudly with them.

Through this series, we hope to give you a small glimpse into who they are beyond the stage and what this experience truly means to them.

This is only the beginning of the journey to Te Mire Ura Nui 2026, and we look forward to sharing many more stories and moments with you.

25/05/2026

You saw him take out our National Te Mire Ura Seniors 2026 - now he's set to return to the stage for Te Mire Ura Nui 2026 - International Dancer of the Year

Join us for two unforgettable nights celebrating Cook Islands dance and culture:

📍 Thursday 28 May – Night 1: Ura Penu
📍 Friday 29 May – Night 2: Slow & Fast Beat

With 21 talented dancers competing for the coveted Te Mire Ura Nui title - including 16 international participants who qualified through regional competitions - this is set to be our biggest year yet.

🎟 Tickets and livestream access are available now: https://taurangavananga.com/international-dancer-of-the-year/

24/05/2026

The dancers are arriving, rehearsals are underway and the excitement for Te Mire Ura Nui 2026 is building 🌺✨

Join us for TWO unforgettable nights celebrating culture, dance and entertainment:

📍 Thursday 28 May – Night 1: Ura Penu
📍 Friday 29 May – Night 2: Slow & Fast Beat

With 21 talented dancers competing for the coveted Te Mire Ura Nui title - including 16 international participants who qualified through regional competitions - this is set to be our biggest year yet.

🎟 Tickets & Livestream Access are now available for purchase:

https://taurangavananga.com/international-dancer-of-the-year/

Physical tickets are also available from the National Library.

22/05/2026

E Avaiki Toku | Episode 8: Hon. George Maggie Angene, Minister of the Crown.

"No matter where I go, I will take my language with me."

The Honourable George Maggie speaks with the kind of conviction that stops you in your tracks. For him, our reo is not something to set aside, it is something to carry proudly into every room, every plane, every platform 🗣️🌺.

And what gives him hope? Our young people. He sees them uniting, holding onto their peu Māori, choosing culture, and it brings him joy.

"I see a great transformation. I can see a good way forward, a good omen for our culture, that the youth are holding onto."

20/05/2026

🎟️ Te Mire Ura Nui 2026 Tickets & Livestream Access are NOW AVAILABLE for purchase!

This year’s Te Mire Ura Nui will be held across TWO spectacular nights of competition, culture, and entertainment.

Night 1 - Ura Penu
Night 2 - Slow & Fast Beat

With the biggest lineup yet, 21 talented dancers will be vying for the coveted Te Mire Ura Nui title.

This includes 16 international participants who have competed through their regional selection rounds to qualify for this year’s event here in Rarotonga.

Online tickets and livestream access are now available via:
https://taurangavananga.com/te-mire-ura-nui-tickets/

Physical tickets will also be available for purchase from this Thursday at the National Library.

19/05/2026

🇨🇰Nominations take less than 2mins - Have you nominated someone yet?

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/vkFur9F0Jb

Nominations for Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki: The Cook Islands National Awards 2026 close 31 May at 4pm.

19/05/2026

Tauranga Vananga are incredibly proud to see our iti tangata carrying the spirit of the Cook Islands beyond our shores and onto the world stage 🌍🇨🇰

Congratulations to the talented team selected as one of only 9 projects chosen through the Boosted x Moana initiative by The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and Creative New Zealand. From the beating of our pa‘u to the stories woven through every performance, this is a beautiful reminder that the heartbeat of our culture can be felt across the world.

Meitaki ma‘ata for carrying our reo, rhythm, and traditions with pride ❤️

From the islands to the Alps 🇨🇰✈️🇨🇭

We’re deeply honoured to have been selected by Boosted x Moana, The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi, and Creative New Zealand! Out of 60 projects, 9 were chosen - and thankfully. our little Cook Island drums made enough noise to be one of them 🇨🇰 Meitaki Ma'ata .nz for the hand up 🙌🏽

Now, with Switzerland on the horizon, our travelling tere of pa metua and mapu need our oire/village behind us 🙏🏽 Keep an eye out as we share our journey to bring the rhythm, stories and spirit of the Cook Islands to the international stage at the International Folklore Festival in Fribourg, Switzerland this August. Head over to our Boosted page https://www.thearts.co.nz/boosted/projects/te-au-o-tamaaru-take-on-switzerland to read our story and make a donation big or small to our cause 🙏🏽

Culture this powerful deserves to be shared, but we cant do it without you! 🌺 Operation TAMA'ARU TAKES ON SWITZERLAND ie Kokoooo

19/05/2026

Iriirikapua no te Tata Purua e te au tua potopoto

Iriirikapua no te Tata Purua e te au tua potopoto