22 Jan 2009

No shortage of help as Tokomaru Bay residents prepare to host 500 Cook Islanders

2:36 pm on 22 January 2009

There'll be no shortage of food or sleeping space, as the residents of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island prepare to host around 500 Cook Islands people.

The visitors who come from Australia, New Zealand and Rarotongam including four Ariki families, will join the local residents to mark 75 years since a Cook Islands delegation visited Tokomaru Bay in 1934 and gave the Ngati Porou marae a second name Te Hono Ki Rarotonga.

Codi Pewheirangi says its easy hosting big numbers because of the peoples support.

"We've got many donations from our farms around from Tokomaru and the East Coast, we've got mattresses from a number of marae north of us so we're very lucky our marae has come to the fore with supplying not only the mattresses but the Taonga the pillows and sheets that go with it."

Codi Pewheirangi says there's also an abundant of sea food available for the two day event which will start with a welcome for the Cook Islands delegation on Friday night while the official powhiri will be held on Saturday morning.