The
REAP report - Island Heritage
[The
following article was written by Senior 2 Students at Mangaia
School. It is now posted on the internet and has received very
favourable comments from young people around the world.]
The
island of Mangaia is the second largest island in the Cook Islands.
It is located 200km ESE of Rarotonga and has a population of
about 700.
It
has a volcanic origin and has a surrounding crater-like wall
of makatea (a raised coral reef). The interior part of the island
consists of hills slopping outwards towards the surrounding
makatea cliff. At the base of the cliffs are swamps used to
grow the staple crop taro.
The
island is divided into six districts or six catchment areas.
Streams from the hills feed into the lower swamp areas and drain
through underground channels into sea.
Mangaia
has rich volcanic soil for planting. This is the reason for
our quality crops. Our climate is very warm in the daytime and
cool in the evenings.
Mangaia
is more than 18 million years old. It is the one of the oldest
islands in the South Pacific. Geologists are interested in visiting
our island because they find the old rocks fascinating. Also
anthropologists visit the island and we have had a number of
"digs" here in the past 10 years. We have many caves in the
old coral makatea with incredible stalagmites and stalactites
formations. The highest point on the island is Rangimotia where
you get a great view of the island and the ocean surrounding
us. Our caves, lakes, rocky beaches and spectacular cliff views
are special to our island paradise.
We
use our own language which is Cook Islands Maori and we also
speak English. Mangaia has its own dialect and this makes us
unique. Our craft, hats, baskets, shell eis, stone and wood
carvings, are popular with the visitors and tourists. We have
a lot of pride in our traditions and also in who we are. Mangaia
is an adventurous place full of great legends, myths and a great
place for scenery. Many of our legends have been passed from
the old people to the present generation.
We
have an undisturbed environment with no industries. We have
almost no pollution and we manage our wastes fairly well. Mangaia
is so peaceful and a very nice place to relax on hot days underneath
the trees.
Mangaia
is a beautiful island and it has friendly and beautiful people.
The best thing about our island is freedom. It is a safe secure
place. You can go anywhere you want, anytime you want. Our paradise
is a wonderful and peaceful island. This is especially important
to us at this time because the world is not at peace. There
are wars and conflicts in big countries and small islands.
"Pride
in Uniqueness of Our Island Home"
Cook
Islands News 30th April 2003
