We would like to acknowledge the recent passing of our Cook Island Pasifika Matua Council member Matua Papa Tuau Rorani. Matua Papa served on our council since its establishment in 2022, providing strategic oversight and leadership to our Principal Pasifika Advisor and leadership teams, as well as offering matua cultural support to our frontline kaimahi working with Cook Island whānau and young people.
Matua Papa led the Cook Island community contingency to name the Tango Mou (Tango Atui'anga Ki Te Papa Tupuna) framework – the first-of-its-kind Pasifika cultural competency/humility framework commissioned by Oranga Tamariki, which aims to grow the Aotearoa children’s workforce capability to work with Pacific families.
He also supported our Pasifika Komiti to help deliver Cook Islands Language Week activities and training workshops, and prior to joining the council helped us develop the Cook Island version of our Pasifika Uputāua therapeutic framework training resource.
We humbly thank Matua Papa's children and mokopuna, espeically Pastor Serena and husband John, Briana and Natalia for their care and support of Papa Tuau, particularly after Papa became unwell and wanted to keep going with his mahi. Meitaki Ma'ata from the bottom of our hearts.
On behalf of our Kia Puāwai whānau, we send our aroha and thoughts to Papa’s children and mokopuna during this sad time. Fly high Papa - Te Atua te aroa ia tatou Katoatoa.