DIAMOND CELEBRATION OF A NATION

The Cook Islands is having the biggest celebration in its history.  2025 sees a whole year of events marking 60 years of self-government and this is a special edition of Kukicast  as the main events get underway. Pride in identity is reflected in the chosen theme for the year, "I know who I am. I have a homeland" (Kua Kite au i toku turanga, a Avaiki toku"). The Islands have a past to be proud of but face an uncertain future with threats from climate change, fears about deep sea mining and even from rapidly growing tourism.  

In this "birthday card" I look at milestones from the past, at today's Cook Islands and ponder the nation’s future. This an audio version of a documentary video I created which is available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vw_NwmviY3w

Acknowledgements: New Zealand National Film Unit at archives.govt.nz; Cook Islands Ministry of Cultural Development; Cook Islands Television News; Cook Islands Tourism; Cameron Peterson’s YouTube channel ‘Living Life Unpeeled’. End music: Tiare Maori sung by Katu (T.Bones)

ABOUT ME
I'm a retired BBC radio and TV journalist and presenter who's been having a long distance love affair with the Cook Islands for nearly 40 years and I've featured in media worldwide as an expert on this remote islands nation. CONTACT ME if you'd like to sponsor this podcast or just want to ask questions about the Cook Islands. Email kiaoranawebsiteauthor(at)cookislands.org.uk (Replace “at” with @)

MY BOOK ABOUT THE ISLANDS
Whether you're planning a visit or just armchair travelling, you'll discover stories of buried treasure, ghostly fire, real-life Robinson Crusoes and the mafia, and a wealth of useful information. 'Around the Corner from Nowhere: The Cook Islands Rediscovered' is available as an ebook (https://getbook.at/Cook_Islands-ebook) or paperback (https://getbook.at/cookislandsbook) through Amazon. An updated 2025 version has just been published. All profits are donated to dementia charities

EXPLORE ALL 15 OF THE COOK ISLANDS
My website is the most detailed guide on the net at Cook Islands complete guide. It's also THE ONLY TOTALLY INDEPENDENT GUIDE ON THE INTERNET with information about each and every one of the 15 islands