Support Oire Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s Journey to Te Maeva Nui 2025

In the heart of Wellington, a powerful movement has formed — a vibrant collective of nearly 100 performers brought together by a shared love of Cook Islands culture. From tamariki to grandparents, dancers to drummers, singers to storytellers — this group represents unity, pride, and legacy. Week by week, they gather with purpose, learning, teaching, and growing in strength as they prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to represent their community at Te Maeva Nui 2025 in Auckland.

Oire Te Whanganui-a-Tara is more than a dance group — it’s a village of cultures, identities, and generations bonded through movement and music. With guidance from a seasoned cultural practitioner and visionary leader (Te Hau Winitana), this group has blossomed into a stronghold of Cook Islands pride in Aotearoa. In October, they’ll proudly stand as the only team outside Auckland to take the Te Maeva Nui stage — showcasing Wellington’s diverse Cook Islands diaspora to the nation.

Preparing and sending such a large group comes with many costs. With humility, we invite the support of our wider whānau, friends, and community to help us raise $20,000 by August 12, 2025. Your contribution will help fund travel, accommodation, food, traditional costumes, and uniforms — everything our performers need to stand proudly and prepared in this cultural celebration.

Every donation, big or small, helps . Together, we can lift this community to new heights and carry Cook Islands culture boldly into the future.