The Kia Orana Podcast

It's been a great run but the Kia Orana Podcast has finally hit its last episode.

For all injuries or to contact me: [email protected].

Thank you everyone!
Haydn

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

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Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

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The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Thomas Tarurongo Wynne has journeyed home for a bereavement and a land succession court meeting for their grandfather, Papa Teavae Tarurongo. 

Together we chat about his gratefulness feelings towards their Enere line.... who have been a'ikā, and looked after their Ngati Ingatu interests, land, responsibilities and Are Metua in Areora. Enuamanu has given them so much, alongside their Rarotongan bloodlines, such a wealth of identity culture and Ngati Ingatu - Atiu Warrior Spirit. 

"Land is so important to our identity, connection and capacity to self determine our food, our shelter, our security and to honour our ancestors."

On a Serious Professional note: Thomas updates me about his current role working for, Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care - Run by New Zealand, Government. It investigates matters of great importance and difficulty, engaged in fact-finding and preventing future recurrences. Which then recommends policy or legislative changes to prevent it happening again. 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Today we chat to Paul Itaea Bob. A returning Cook Islander, his family decided to leave Aitutaki in the late 60's - emigrating to Auckland, New Zealand for approximately 15 years and then onto Sydney, Australia in the early 80's.

"The connection of land to family and family to land". This gives us all an insight into Paul's podcast conversation today. "Why would you leave Paradise to move to Government state housing overseas?" Paul says.

We talk together about Paul's life of growing up in the suburb of Miller, Liverpool, Sydney, Australia. A time when Cook Islanders and other Immigrants were collectively trying to find common ground in a new country.

Paul speaks about how as a child he and his brothers used to sing in their bedroom ALL the time and thus their singing career began when they were teenagers.

Paul is available in Rarotonga as an entertainer for private functions and weddings. R&B, Soul, Contemporary style musician / singer / recording artist. https://raropass.com/services/rarotonga/paul-bob-musician/

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

In this episode we speak with Becca, she is a mental health professional from the United States of America. In June of 2023, she decided to resign from her position and traveled to New Zealand spending six months there, to evaluate her career and her future. 
"It got very tough", Becca says.  She had worked for seven years with teenagers in high & middle school.

We chat about the repercussions of early childhood trauma, isolation, the social development, anxiety and stress felt by all of us and especially by children. 

Now on her way home, Becca decided to include a couple of weeks holiday in Rarotonga and Aitutaki. I appreciate Becca speaking to us.

Side Note: We have associations available to provide help for our people. CIFWA is one of them, Cook Islands Family Welfare Association, they are sponsored by IPPF, International Planned Parenthood Federation and also our Cook Islands Government. Te Marae Ora (TMO) our national health system also has counselling freely available. 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

True stories we can always remember! The narrative doesn't change because we are speaking truth. In September 2019, an unexpected girls trip to Aitutaki is how I started Kia Orana Podcast. 

While on holiday in Aitutaki, I found a book titled, "How I Fell In Love With an Island, Accidental Adventures", written by Haydn S Adams - (my now business partner). I got in contact with the author Haydn, a friendship was formed and before too long in May 2020 a podcast came out of our friendship. 

During lockdown I concentrated on the Podcast for two years, 2020-2021. Then in October 2022, Raro Pass also came about via this friendship with Haydn.

Enjoy this episode and I really appreciate you all listening. 
Meitaki,
Chantal

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

In this episode we meet Yahui, who is originally from the eastern province of China. 

Yahui has been travelling the world for the last eleven years, thus far visiting 60+ countries. In 2019 Yahui first travelled to Rarotonga, and has returned in 2024. 

Yahui shares with us his professional journey from studying at Police University in China. Working in a jail, suffering depression and making the life decision to resign and begin his travelling immersion of the world. 

Such an interesting episode, where Yahui shares with us different stories of the countries he has thus far visited. 

I feel privileged and appreciative to have captured this vulnerable and earnest conversation with Yahui. Thank you. 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Are you thinking of a tropical holiday destination? In this episode we chat with Michael, he is from Montreal in Canada. We also chat with Becca, she is from Virginia in the United States of America. They share with us why they individually decided to travel 'all' the way down here to the Cook Islands. 

Together we dive into a quick snap shot conversation, discussing their holiday adventures - visiting museums, boat lagoon rides, scootering around Aitutaki  and the food eateries available. 

Statement Quotes

"Aitutaki is Amazing"

"The people of the Cook Islands are warm, welcoming and helpful. Adding to a nice destination experience"

"Trying to escape our winter and I was looking for a warm hot climate"

"So many connecting flights to get here, and so worth it"

"Definitely try the marinated in lime or lemon raw fish, delicious"

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

In this episode we talk with Donna Jane Napa about her reasons for deciding to open a Spa in 2018 in Rarotonga. We dive into her story of making lifetime parental cross road decisions, deciding to leave her job because she had become a new mum, juggling motherhood...

She speaks about attending beauty school courses here at our local Cook Islands Tertiary & Training Institute, while simultaneously nurturing her one year old son - and her new born son.

We chat about being a mum, wife, business owner and what that looks like for Donna.

Visit her Miri Miri Spa details here on https://raropass.com/services/rarotonga/miri-miri-spa/

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

Welcome back to Rarotonga Eliana, and this time with your baby daughter Lily!

This episode was recorded on the fly - Saturday mornings at our Punanga Nui market is hustle and bustle. Over 200 vendors offer a variety of food, clothing & arts/crafts. I hear, "Hi Chantal", I turn and Eliana is approaching me with her 9 month old daughter Lily-Anne.

Eliana quickly reminds me of when we first met and a catch up conversation followed. We chat about the tours she has taken Lily to. A lagoon cruise with Koka Lagoon company, a fire night show at the Crown Beach Resort and so much more. 

It was a pleasure to record my youngest guest on the show, Lily at 9 months old! Lily joins Eliana and I, not wanting to miss out a good girly chinwag!

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.

This episode is a snap shot recording explaining to you about an amazing local Civil Society Organisation. Cook Islands Women, Au Vaine. 

(CSOs) are organised voluntary non-state institutions which mostly operate on non-profit basis. They are formed and led by citizens to champion their collective or common interests and concerns of the members, specific target groups or the general public. (Google definition)

Lydia and I chat about, Celebrating our Cook Islands Women in the Community while encouraging and supporting the promotion of women at all levels and in all structures. She mentions the founding members who in 2006 got together and initiated this program in 2007 to honour our women, for their volunteer time and work in their own communities. 

Lydia also mentions that every month Cook Islands Women nominate and host the Woman of the Month awards ceremony presentation dinner. Held at The Islander Hotel, so if you are visiting Rarotonga everyone is welcome to join the monthly dinner.  This coming month they will be hosting their 204th recipient. 

How amazing is this! Please find Cook Islands Women on their Facebook page. 

Kia Orana, May you live long
Aere Ra, Farewell
Kia Manuia, Good Luck and Good Health

--------------

Get the unofficial official guide to Rarotonga — for free!

The helpful 8-page PDF gets you completely ready for your holiday to Rarotonga. Inside the guide you'll find information on Transportation, WIFI, Customs, SIM/eSIM cards, Scooter Rental, and so much more/

Download the Rarotonga Holiday Guide & Checklist

--------------

The Kia Orana Podcast was created as a result of lock down Covid restrictions, in 2020.