Shaking hips, swaying arms and pulsing drums: Dance is an an integral part of how Cook Islands culture.
Every year on the last weekend of September, Wellington’s Cook Islanders come together for Cook Islands Day.
“I always thought this was a guilt trip, but [my mum] would always say to us that ‘it was the one time of the year where you could be a Cook Islander’, it was the one time of the year where you can celebrate your culture, you can be proud of where you're from, and you can take part,” says Kaivai Andrews, 29.
As an adult living out of home, Andrews, who works in marketing and communications at Wellington City Council says he realised at 21, when he wasn't being forced to take part in Cook Islands Day, how important it actually is to him.
“Anyone who has an ethnic culture like ours can appreciate learning that it [dance group] has value in a modern society. There's value in learning how to participate and also learning how to lead. There are lessons about dealing with people and teaching things in a way that are clear and easy to understand.”
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