Te Maeva Nui o Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust will host its annual Tu Rangatira awards to celebrate Cook Islanders who have made a significant mark on the world.
These people have made advances in fields ranging from community service, to business and enterprise. The Tu Rangatira Awards is our opportunity to bring recognition to their achievements – giving each recipient a platform to share their strengths.
Awarded to an individual
in business, or governance who has created channels for trade and enterprise – developing products, and services identified as uniquely Cook Islands, or for the benefit of Cook Islanders, and delivering them on a large and measureable scale across New Zealand.
Awarded to a Cook Islander who has been instrumental in engaging or promoting Cook Islands goods and services, or culture across the globe.
The winner will be chosen based on the level of advancement and recognition developed in the international community for Cook Islands, its goods and services and/or its culture.
Awarded for high achievement in sports, excelling in their sports code, and representing their country of residence, as proud Cook Islanders.
The scope of the Sports award will be wide, covering all sports codes across many decades.
A special award in which a young person between 16 and 25 are chosen for their excellence in any field, where their interaction and contributions have lead to a significant uptake in that field, or where their influence has brought about positive change. This broad spectrum award aims to celebrate the achievement of young people, who are often overlooked because of their youth.
Awarded to an individual
in business, or governance who has created channels for trade and enterprise – developing products, and services identified as uniquely Cook Islands, or for the benefit of Cook Islanders, and delivering them on a large and measureable scale across New Zealand.
Awarded to a Cook Islander who has been instrumental in engaging or promoting Cook Islands goods and services, or culture across the globe.
The winner will be chosen based on the level of advancement and recognition developed in the international community for Cook Islands, its goods and services and/or its culture.
Awarded for high achievement in sports, excelling in their sports code, and representing their country of residence, as proud Cook Islanders.
The scope of the Sports award will be wide, covering all sports codes across many decades.
A special award in which a young person between 16 and 25 are chosen for their excellence in any field, where their interaction and contributions have lead to a significant uptake in that field, or where their influence has brought about positive change. This broad spectrum award aims to celebrate the achievement of young people, who are often overlooked because of their youth.
The Awards Gala Dinner will launch the three day Te Maeva Nui NZ festival. This festival has been celebrated in the Cook Islands for the last 58 years, capturing the essence of our cultural identity through music, dance, language, performance, food and also arts and craft.
Tu Rangatira Awards is one of the three pillar’s that hold the fort of the Te Maeva Nui NZ.
The Awards Gala the one and only event where we are able to celebrate an indvidual for his or her excellences in their fields.
© 2025 Te Maeva Nui O Aotearoa NZ Charitable Trust.
