Rarotonga - Cook Islands Tourism, Air New Zealand, and Pacific Resort Hotel Group are proud to announce that Rakiki Brown and Kubethreana Taripo have been awarded the Cook Islands Tourism Leadership Programme scholarships. The two promising young ladies were formally presented with their awards at the Tereora Prize Giving on Friday 17 November and this week they formally accepted the award at the Cook Islands Tourism office, accompanied by their respective families.

Rakiki Brown, a recent graduate of Tereora College, was recognised as the school's Top Year 13 Tourism student, a testament to her academic excellence in tourism. This honour made her an ideal candidate for the scholarship, and she eagerly accepted the award. Rakiki's family were overjoyed with her achievement, recognising the opportunities this scholarship would provide for her future endeavours in tourism. Her parents, who own and operate a tourism accommodation business, are particularly excited for Rakiki to further her knowledge and skills in the industry, contributing to the family business and the broader tourism sector.

Kubethreana Taripo, also a recent graduate of Tereora College, was awarded the scholarship after the programme partners opened expression of interest applications for the scholarship on 30 October. Her application showed her passion for the tourism industry in the Cook Islands and her proven leadership skills made her an excellent candidate for the scholarship. The selection panel, composed of representatives from the programme partners, was particularly impressed by Taripo's enthusiasm and her ability to articulate her vision for her future in tourism.

The programme is the first of its kind in the Cook Islands which has been designed to nurture and empower the next generation of tourism leaders in the Cook Islands. The programme offers a comprehensive package of support, including a 17-week Leadership and Performance course study at Queenstown Resort College based in the Bay of Islands, return airfares, and a six-month work placement at leading Cook Islands operator Pacific Resort Hotel Group. It is also a testament to the commitment of Cook Islands Tourism, Air New Zealand, and Pacific Resort Hotel Group to investing in the next generation of tourism leaders. They are confident that these promising young ladies will make the most of this opportunity and will be successful in their learning endeavours.

Rakiki and Kubethreana are both excited for the opportunity to embark on this new chapter in their lives. They are eager to learn from this experience and gain the skills to succeed in their chosen tourism fields. They will depart from Rarotonga in late January 2024. Stay tuned for regular updates of their journey.