Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
The final preparations are underway on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the gospel to that island.
The London Missionary Society under the leadership of the Rev John Williams arrived at Rarotonga on July 25, 1823, after making earlier stopovers on the nearby islands of Atiu, Mitiaro and Mauke. Communities from those islands celebrated their anniversaries last week, now it’s the turn of Rarotonga.
At the Takamoa Theological College, the final touches were being added to a new memorial while in the village of Arorangi several new monuments will be unveiled in honour of the first Ariki to become a christian, Tinomana Enuarurutini, as well as for Papehia the Tahitian Missionary who’s largely credited with converting the population.
Celebrations on Tuesday, Rarotonga-time, kick off with a re-enactment of the arrival of the missionaries on the Avarua waterfront, followed by a service at nearby ‘Avaiki Tautau’ where it’s believed Papehia conducted his very first sermon.
