Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cook Islands

✨❤️ COMMUNITY KINDNESS IN ACTION ❤️✨

Yesterday, the Family Protection Service team had the privilege of meeting a wonderful couple from New Zealand, Allan and Alison Howie, who are currently enjoying a holiday here in beautiful Rarotonga. 🌴☀️

With generous hearts and a genuine desire to give back, they donated two boxes of brand-new adult clothing to support vulnerable individuals and families within our community. 👕👖💝

Allan Howie, who is a Supply Chain Manager for Cloke, a well-known New Zealand clothing brand. Through this generous contribution, Allan and Alison have demonstrated the true spirit of compassion, kindness, and community service.

On behalf of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Family Protection Service, we extend our heartfelt MEITAKI ATUPAKA to Allan and Alison for their generosity and support. May God continue to bless you both during your time in Rarotonga and in all that you do. 🙏❤️

🌺 If you see Allan and Alison around the island, please give them a warm Cook Islands smile, share some aroa, and say “Meitaki Atupaka” for their thoughtful donation. 🌺

📢 CLOTHING AVAILABLE

If you or someone you know could benefit from adult clothing, please don’t be shy to reach out to our team. We would be happy to assist.

📞 87633
📞 29370 (Monday - Friday; 8am to 4pm)
Or facebook messenger!

💙 Together, through kindness, compassion, and community support, we can make a difference in the lives of others.

🤝💙🌺

📢 FRIENDLY REMINDER!

Parenting with a Purpose – Community Awareness Program

🌿 Vaka Puaikura – We are coming to you next week!

📅 Tuesday, 2 June 2026

This is a call out to everyone in our community: parents, grandparents, caregivers, church leaders, community leaders, sports coaches, youth leaders, teachers, and anyone who works with or supports children and young people.

💙 This program is for you.

Join us as we explore positive parenting, child wellbeing, family relationships, and how we can all play a role in creating safe, supportive, and nurturing environments for our children.

It takes a village to raise a child, and together we can build stronger families and stronger communities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

✨ PARENTING WITH A PURPOSE ✨

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual - BUT no one has to do it alone. 💛

Join us as we bring together families, caregivers, community leaders, and support services to share practical parenting tools, helpful resources, and positive conversations for stronger and safer homes.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to parents, grandparents, caregivers & families
🤝 Meet agencies and services here to support you
💬 Learn, share, connect, and ask questions
🍽️ Enjoy good kai and learn together

📍 3 Workshops • 3 Vakas
🕟 Starting at 4:30PM

📅 Monday 25 May – Vaka Takitumu
Venue: Ngatangiia CICC Sunday School

📅 Wednesday 27 May – Vaka Te-Au-O-Tonga
Venue: Sinai Hall, Avarua

📅 Tuesday 2nd June – Vaka Puaikura
Venue: Ruaau meeting house, Arorangi

💛 Safe Children • Strong Families • Happy Homes 💛

Hosted by the Family Protection Services and partner agencies.

👂Listening to Our Children and Youth on Safety and Wellbeing🧒👦

🌴🌼As part of Korero o te Orau’s two-week holiday programme, the Ministry of Internal Affairs engaged with children and youth aged 9 to 18 years to focus on their safety and wellbeing.

A key focus was raising awareness on bullying through the STOP, BLOCK & TELL Campaign. Bullying whether physical, verbal, social or online, we wanted to encourage our young people to:

✋STOP when something feels wrong
🙅‍♀️🙅‍♂️BLOCK harmful behaviour or influences
🗣️TELL a trusted adult

The programme also included the review of the 💜Cook Islands National Youth Policy (2021–2026) – Te Mana o te Mapu, which sets out five key priorities:

🟢Youth are proud of their culture, traditions and identity
🟡Youth are learning and developing
🔵Youth are healthy and resilient
🟣Youth are accepted, respected and connected
🟠Youth are environment action ready

Through a simple survey, our youth shared what matters most to them. Many wrote the importance of mental health, a more hands-on education scheme, and the need for accessible support systems. The survey will help produce effective action plans for our mapu.

Meitaki maata Kōrero o te 'Ōrau for having us, and especially for your heart and dedication, and investing in our tamariki and children!

❤️Atiu Voices – Real Talk, Real Change 🌺

Something powerful happened in Atiu.

On the 21st of April 2026, the Ministry of Internal Affairs joined the Atiu community for a Gender & Gender Based Violence consultation — and it was nothing like a typical workshop.

There was laughter. Honest debate. Tears. And real, from-the-heart conversations about respect, safety, and what it means to protect our families.

People spoke openly. And we listened.

💬 "This way of talking made it easier… we felt comfortable to share."
💬 "Don't just come once — keep coming back."
💬 "Now we understand more about where to go for help."

Our debate got everyone fired up 🔥 — "Are men better caregivers than women?" — Strong opinions flew! But what came out of it was something bigger: a real conversation about shared responsibility and ending violence in our homes.

Here's what Atiu told us loud and clear:

✅ Keep the conversations coming — don't stop at one visit
✅ Make it clear where people can go for help
✅ Create safe spaces to talk about the hard stuff
✅ Everyone — women, men, youth — has a role to play

These voices won't just be heard. They will directly shape the Gender Equality & GBV Policy for the Cook Islands.

This is what real change looks like🙌🏼

Meitaki ranuinui Atiu — for your openness, your humour, and your strength. We heard you. We will be back. Thanking Pacific-Community-SPC also for making this visit possible to support our people with these polices.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

💛🖤Our children are watching, learning, and growing in the environments we create💛🖤

Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAFF) continued its pa enua consultations in Aitutaki, on the renewal of the National Policy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (NPGEWE) and the development of the Vai Marino GBV Policy

Through the community consultation and the GBV survey done by 80 participants, we heard a shared hope to do better for the heart of our homes - our tamariki, our future leaders (mapu), and our knowledge-holders (pa metua) - alongside all our families🏡

There is a strong call for good role models and mentors to guide our children and mapu 🧍‍♀️🧍, and for communities to look out for one another and taking shared responsibility for the wellbeing of all. It is this kind of environment we want our children to grow in and more.

Moving forward, we are working to:
🥇Support parents and caregivers with practical tools to raise children in safe, positive environments
🥇Create more accessible and trusted counselling and mental health support
🥇Improve community support systems alongside the Aitutaki Family Protection Board and service providers
🥇Create safe, supportive spaces and programmes for men and boys

The Ministry of Internal Affairs delegation, led by Hon. Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown and Secretary Ms. Grace Chynoweth, would like to say meitaki atupaka🙏 to the people of Aitutaki for their openness and meaningful contributions, and to the Pacific-Community-SPC for its continued support in helping our people succeed❤️

📣Cook Islands ANZAC Day 2026: What You Need to Know

The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that ANZAC Day will be observed on Saturday, 25th of April 2026.

Unlike other public holidays, ANZAC Day is always observed on its actual date, it is not moved to a Monday, even when it falls on a weekend.

🔍 What this means for you under the Employment Relations Act 2012:

• If Saturday is not your usual working day, you are not entitled to payment for the public holiday.

• If a business that would normally operate on a Saturday chooses to close, employees who would have worked that day must still be paid their normal wages.

• If a business remains open on the public holiday, ‘public holiday pay’ rules apply. This may include:

- payment at double time, or
- payment at normal time plus an additional day off, or
- payment at normal time plus time off in lieu for the hours worked, to be taken on another day.

💬 Employers and employees are encouraged to plan ahead and agree on arrangements to avoid confusion.

📧 Need clarification? Contact Labour Services: [email protected]