The 23rd round of the Vaka Pride awards, held on Tuesday, distributed a total of $11,000 towards a series of community initiatives.

The awards celebrate sustainability and promotion of Cook Islands culture and tourism.

Among the recipients was Dr Michael Baer of Te Are Manu vet clinic, who received $3500 towards the next stage of the dog desexing programme.

Baer said he was “absolutely delighted” with the prize, as it would ensure there was enough resources for the third desexing programme to occur next year.

Each village on Rarotonga did a fantastic job but there were just those few who definitely stood out and impressed the Vaka Pride Judges.

Members of the Vaka Pride committee and the team at CI Tourism presented the first lot of awards to 3 of the Puna on Rarotonga last Friday the 15th of May. The first groups to receive a cash grant of $1,000 were Takuvaine, Titikaveka and the Ruaau puna. The cash grant will go towards a pre-nominated community project of their choice.

The next TIOTO judging is scheduled for the end of October, marking the fourth round and first full year of activities.

For this round of the competition the three villages on the island of Mauke have been allocated TIOTO funding to produce limestone paint (NGAIKA) to whitewash their historic roadside walls.  The objective of this chosen activity is to revive this traditional practice in the community, and pass on the knowledge and skill to the younger generation.

This week Cook Islands Tourism and partners announced the winners of the 16th round of the Vaka Pride Competition for Rarotonga.   Prizes to the total value of $10,000.00 in cash were shared out to community groups and individuals who work to maintain our little paradise.

Each Puna on Rarotonga received a cash grant of $1,000 to support a pre-nominated community project. Members of the Vaka Pride committee with the team at CI Tourism finalised their Puna presentations with the remaining 4 Puna last Friday the 29th of May.

This week the prizes for the twelfth round of the Vaka Pride competition on Rarotonga will be awarded.  More community groups will be rewarded for their initiatives to help keep our little paradise safe and clean. 

Want to learn how your community group can win prizes in the Vaka Pride competition?  Contact a member of your Kumiti Tama Oire (Village Cleaning Committee), or Sieni Tiraa at CI Tourism for more information. 

The next round of the Vaka Pride competition has been adapted to respond to our current state of affairs, as part of our Kia Orana Community campaign.

The spirit of unity has shone brightly recently as we have come together during this COVID19 crisis.  The Vaka Pride committee made a unanimous decision to share the prize pool of $10,000 equally amongst all the Puna on Rarotonga.  So Vaka Pride has evolved from a competition style to an award based programme for this special round to acknowledge and support the hard work of the Puna.  The Vaka Pride programme has adapted to respond to our current state of affairs as well as align to the Kia Orana Community campaign.

This week Cook Islands Tourism and partners announce the winners of the 14th round of the Vaka Pride Competition for Rarotonga.   Prizes to the total value of $10,000.00 in cash will be shared out to community groups or individuals who work to maintain our little paradise.