Countdown to Takurua 2026
Takurua returns for its second year with a fresh format: Taste of the Season - a focused celebration of one local crop and the stories, skills, and flavours that come with it.
In 2026, Takurua celebrates taro and rukau, recognising the full life of one of the Cook Islands’ most important traditional crops.
Taro has long been a cornerstone of Cook Islands food culture. The taro root is valued as a sustaining staple, prepared for everyday meals, celebrations, and ceremonial occasions. The rukau leaves, most commonly cooked slowly with coconut cream, are equally significant, forming one of the most loved and recognisable dishes in Cook Islands cuisine.
By honouring both the root and the leaves, Takurua 2026 highlights the importance of the whole crop, reflecting traditional knowledge where nothing is wasted and every part has value. This approach also acknowledges the skill of growers, home cooks, and families who have passed down methods of planting, harvesting, and preparing taro across generations.
This year’s focus invites visitors to experience taro and rukau not just as ingredients on a plate, but as a living part of Cook Islands culture, connecting land, food, and community through seasonal storytelling and shared meals.
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The Rukau Royal Rumble
Saturday 21 February 2026
Punanga Nui Market
A lively Saturday market cook off celebrating home cooks and the comfort food favourite, rukau. Local competitors bring their best rukau dish, while the public is invited to taste, vote, and help crown the winning pot. This is a fun, family-friendly market activation that brings together food, community, and friendly competition in the heart of Rarotonga.
What to expect: Tastings, public voting, prizes, vibrant market energy, and great food stories.
Takurua Taro Exhibition
Saturday 21 February 2026
Punanga Nui Market
Running alongside the Rukau Royal Rumble, this interactive market exhibition offers visitors a chance to learn more about taro in an easy, engaging way.
The exhibition shares practical knowledge about growing, preparing, and using taro, helping visitors better understand the importance of this traditional crop. Where possible, storytelling elements and short video content will bring the taro journey to life.
What to expect:
Bite-sized information, practical tips, visual displays, and a deeper connection to the taro story.
Ta'u Umu: From Soil to Umu
Friday 27 February 2026
Tauranga Vananga
Ta'u Umu is a hands-on learning experience designed for secondary school students, focusing on the journey of taro and rukau from land to plate.
Through cultural storytelling and practical activities, students learn about traditional growing methods, preparation techniques, and umu practices. This experience supports the passing on of cultural knowledge and strengthens youth connection to local food systems.
Takurua Mystery Dining Tour:
Taro After Dark
Saturday 28 February 2026
Ticketed Event
A one-night-only dining experience for food lovers and curious travellers. Guests board a bus and are taken on a progressive journey to a series of surprise venues, each offering a taro or rukau-inspired dish.
Short storytelling moments connect each course to Cook Islands culture, land, and food traditions.
What to expect:
Mystery locations, curated courses, intimate storytelling, and a memorable Takurua night out. Tickets now all SOLD OUT!
The contenders of the Rukau Royal Rumble
