Cook Islands Language Week 2024

Sapper Hosea Taripo

Cook Islander Sapper Hosea Taripo’s faith, culture and family life have taught him the importance of being an example to those around him, whether he is in uniform or not.

“I am a qualified builder in the army. An average day could be on a job building, in camp doing PT and other army related training, or participating in different sports.

I grew up in Rarotonga in the village of Nikao and lived there until I was 15 years old. I then completed my schooling in Sydney Australia before eventually moving back to Rarotonga. I was living in Rarotonga when I enlisted in 2015 as a gunner in the RNZA.

Growing up in an extended family/village type scenario has moulded me to be who I am and instilled the values in me that make me the father, husband and man I am. If it wasn’t for my upbringing and family, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I come from a strong Christian family who are rich in faith, love and culture. Now that I have a family of my own I aspire to lead a life of faith love and culture.

I am the same person in uniform as I am out of uniform. I have been raised to always treat people equally regardless of their job title, or social status or anything else.

My wife and my kids have influenced the person I am today, and it wasn’t until becoming a father and husband that I really valued my upbringing and my culture. Now that I have a family of my own it’s important to me that they know where they come from.

Everything I do is with them in mind and my ultimate goal is to one day move home and emerge ourselves (especially our children) in to our cultureMy younger self would likely be proud of how far I’ve come. From the vibrant life in Rarotonga to enlisting in the army and achieving personal goals. My commitment to family, culture, and personal growth would probably resonate deeply with the values I was raised with. My journey reflects a blend of discipline, faith, and dedication, qualities that my younger self would admire.

Speaking Cook Islands Maori means I can pass on knowledge to my young family and teach them as much as possible about our culture. It is on my heart to also give them the opportunity to live in Rarotonga or the outer islands to fully embrace and learn a side to their culture that I wouldn’t be able to give to them living here in Aotearoa.

One of my favourite things about the organisation, and I speak for a lot of other pacific islanders, is the amount of time you get to do sports. I have had the privilege to represent NZ Army Rugby League, NZ Army Rugby and NZDF Rugby League on multiple occasions throughout my career making connections and a lot of friends on the way. Throughout the year too there’s a lot of inter unit sports competitions that go on, so its not a bad gig getting paid to play various sports that you enjoy.”

Aircraftman Chanelle-Erica Kuka-O’Brien

Aircraftman Chanelle-Erica Kuka-O’Brien not long started the journey learning about her Cook Island heritage and she is enjoying bringing her culture into her workplace.

“I joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in September 2020 because I was interested in the various opportunities the Defence Force had to offer in regards to sports, culture, travel, gaining trade qualifications and creating life-long friendships.

I work in the Ground Support Equipment Maintenance Flight vehicle workshop at Base Auckland and am in my third year of my heavy diesel apprenticeship. Day-to-day I carry out service work and defect repairs on various vehicles such as Pinzgauers and Unimogs.

I was born in Tokoroa but grew up in Tauranga where I have spent most of my life. Moving to Blenheim for the recruit course was pretty much my first move away from home.

Despite growing up in mostly Te Ao Maori, I always identified as Cook Island Maori. However, only recently I have begun learning about my papa ‘anga and making connections with my Cook Island whanau after wanting to for so long.

My people are hardworking, resilient, willing to learn and creative.

I think people with a diverse background like mine allows us to bring more to the table. This includes how we are raised with our cultural practices, traditions and work ethic. We also implement things like this in our everyday lives and can bring them to work.

Although my journey to learning about who I am and my connections to the Cook Islands started only in the last few years, I am grateful that I made the decision to find out more because it is such a stunning culture and I really have been missing out most of my life.

Most of my values revolve around tea o Māori – such as manaakitanga (generosity andcaring for others), mahi tahi (working together) , whakapono (honesty), leadership and being my authentic self.

My greatest influence in life is my Mum. It was just us two for a while and of course the village that helped raised me, however I’ve seen her go through the good, bad and ugly and come out to be the wāhine she is today and for that I’m so grateful. She inspires me every day to be better and do better, not only for myself but for future tamariki/mokopuna.

I think my younger self would be proud of who I am today. I’ve ticked off milestones that I had been manifesting for years. I’m excited for what’s in store next.

Preserving my language means using it everyday – reading, writing and mostly speaking it whether it be in everyday conversations or adding a word in here or there and using it within your home, workplace and whenever you can.

One of my proudest moments in my career was opening the door for wāhine Māori within the Air Force to get their moko kauae. This was a personal journey my mum and I were taking together and I actually did not realise I was the first in uniform within the Air Force. But now I see those who followed behind me and gone on their own journey and it made mine that much more rewarding.

Aircraftman Molly Bullock

Aircraftman Molly Bullock hopes her Pasifika heritage will inspire other Pacific Islanders to join the Defence Force.

“I joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in May 2022. I was fresh out of high school and decided university wasn’t for me. I wanted to do something that was new and going to challenge me.  

I am a logistics operator completing my advanced trade training. We basically help facilitate the movement of aircraft parts, people, and equipment within the Air Force and wider Defence Force.

I grew up in Whanganui and I describe my ethnicity as a fruit salad - Cook Island, Samoan, and Maori.

I would describe Pasifika people as humble, passionate, loving and dedicated to their faith.

I think being a mix of ethnicities allows me to be more relatable with a diverse group of people. This has helped me to connect and build relationships with people throughout my career in the Defence Force.

I like to think of my culture as a beautiful tapestry of traditions, values, and customs that have been passed down through generations.

My pride in my languages and culture comes from its integral role in identity, preserving heritage, resilience amidst change, and gaining respect and recognition.

My culture plays a huge part in how I serve, especially because of the low percentage of Pacific Islanders in the Defence Force and especially Air Force. Being Pasifika in the Air Force I believe helps to break stereotypes around us ‘brown people’. It allows me to have a sense of pride in my work. At the end of the day I want to be able to inspire other Pacific Islanders to join.

I think values such as respect, humility, and hard work are strongly embedded in all Pasifika cultures. Embracing these values within my work place helps to create an inclusive and diverse work environment.

There are a few people who have influenced who I am today including my parents but my Grandfather, Ps Iliafi Esera is someone I hold very close to my heart. He was the first non-European General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in New Zealand. He recently stood down from the committee after 23 years, 12 of those as the General Superintendent.

He was also honoured as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the Samoan community and Christian Community. His humble, loving nature and the faith he has in God inspires me to be a better person.

I think my younger self would be proud of the career and life I chose to pursue. Joining the Defence Force has offered me unique opportunities that have allowed me personal growth and skill development but also given me a sense of purpose different to a traditional university education.

Preserving my language looks like using it daily, pursuing education, engaging in cultural events, consuming media in the language, utilising technology, and participating in community initiatives.

A moment that I am proud of in my career was being selected for the Defence Force Women’s Netball team and playing in the Defence Force Mixed Netball Team at the 2024 Mixed Netball Nationals.

Supporting Pasifika culture in the Defence Force involves cultural awareness training, celebrating Pasifika festivals, offering language support, recruiting and engaging with Pasifika communities, and providing leadership opportunities. These efforts aims to foster inclusivity and support Pasifika personnel within the Defence Force.”

Sergeant Matatunoa Mata

Sergeant Matatunoa Mata is an active member of his Cook Island community and is proud his role in the Royal New Zealand Air Force allows him help in the Pacific.

“I joined the Air Force in May 2006 as a logistics specialist. I mainly wanted to play sports and get paid while learning the trade. I didn’t want to accrue student debts by enrolling into university.

A typical day for me, would be to go through a file for a scheduled flight of the day, identify everything getting loaded onto the flight, like freight, passengers and bags. I delegate jobs out to the team, such as checking-in personnel, loading the flight and driving the forklift. I also ensure everything is on board the aircraft before the flight and it takes off without anything or anyone left behind.

I have flown in various air load teams deploying units and their gear all around the Pacific, south-east Asia and Australia. I have also deployed to the Middle East and to Iraq.

I live in Auckland now, but until I was 16 I grew up Mauke in the Cook Islands. I identify as a Cook Island Māori. 

I have participated in Te Maeva Nui for the last couple of years for Mauke Enua as a dancer/performer and continue to do so. It is an event that happens every two years. I also danced for Ivanui in 2022 in a competition called Kapa nui.

My people are easy and outgoing, friendly and very laid back as if time is not a worry in the world.

I’m proud that I am bilingual. It connects me back to my ancestors, knowing that I am who I am from my upbringing. I’m also very family orientated.

My culture influences how I serve by being humble and friendly towards my peers and troops.

My grandparents raised me and they mean the world to me, although they are no longer here, they were the foundation of everything I am today.

I think younger me would be impressed with where I am today. Although, he would also think, I could’ve done or achieved a lot more or become a sport star.

I preserve my language by being able to speak it on a daily basis and passing it on to my children. It’s important to generate interest for young people so they engage in learning the language.

I am so proud to be working in my role when we are needed on the ground, helping our Pasifika neighbours through delivering disaster relief aids whenever they call upon New Zealand for assistance