Kia orana (Greetings)

In celebration of Cook Islands language week (3 - 9 August 2015) we have installed a kumete roāroā (bowl) and a reru (pounder) in our Te Kākano display case. Tauraki Raea selected the works and wrote both the English and Cook Islands labels.

Kumete Roāroā

Ko te kumete roāroā, e ta’anga’anga putuputu iāna no te ma’ani vaīrakau. Ko tōna vaēvaē potopoto, na te reīra e akatu i te kumete kiā kore e inga, ināra no te tu oki o teīa vaevae ka ngoie ua i te akatakataka i te kumete i te tuatau reru vairakau. Ko te au tuanga o te vairakau kare e inangaro ia, e akateke iana ki te tua kokota o te kumete, e ko te reru’anga e rave iana ki te tuā punupunu.

Ko te rakau putuputu e taangaanga iana no te maani kumete koia ko te Tamanu, to e te Miro

Kumete Roāroā (Bowl)

This kumete roāroā or bowl is associated with the preparation of traditional herbal remedies. The short legs give it some stability to prevent spillage, but it can also be rolled and twisted with ease.

During the preparation of remedies, the shape of the kumete roāroā allows for the separation of the different ingredients such as the stems, stalks, or seeds. These ingredients are pushed to the narrow part of the kumete, while the pounding occurs at the round end.

Like any wooden artefacts in the Cook Islands the most commonly used timber is the tamanu or the Polynesian Mahogany (calophyllum inophyllum), toū or the Cordia (cordia subcordata) and the miro or the Pacific rosewood (thespesia populnea).

Reru

Ko teia reru, e reru toka kerekere, e kitena iana i Rarotonga. No te tarai’anga o teia reru, kare e pateka inara no te mou’anga mai i nga mangamanga rima na runga mai  ka ririnui atu te reru no te rerureu i te au apinga tei anoano’ia kia pa’i’i.

Reru (Pounder)

This basalt pounder is the most commonly used in Rarotonga. The shape and size of this pounder allows for good grip with fingers over the top preventing the hand from slipping but allowing for more force into the pounding.

Kia manuia (Farewell / Good luck)