The Cook Islands Voyaging Society is expecting to meet with the prime minister Henry Puna this week over assistance to restore the country's flagship traditional ocean voyaging canoe.
Te Marumaru Atua just outside Avana Channel in Rarotonga. Seven canoes left at different stages from here to sail to Aotearoa, navigating by the stars. Photo: Cook Islands Voyaging Society
Fire destroyed the starboard hull of Te Marumaru Atua and the estimated repair bill is nearly $US207,000.
Voyaging Society Secretary General Cecile Marten said they had been advised by a New Zealand damage assessor not to rule out that the fire could have been deliberately lit
She said they may never know the cause of the fire as the double hulled canoe wasn't insured and the Voyaging Society couldn't engage an independent fire insurance inspector from New Zealand.
The Voyaging Society will be starting a new Givealittle page after just under US$9,000 was raised.
Ms Marten said if every Cook Islander at home and abroad gave a few dollars, the ocean voyaging canoe could be easily restored to her former glory.
