WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - EIPUATIARE TUA

EIPUATIARE TUA 

FOOD HARVESTER/GROWER, PHOTOGRAPHER & RED CROSS VOLUNTEER 

COOK ISLANDS 

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My aunt named me Eipuatiare.   As a child growing up in New Zealand, no one could pronounce my name.  To this day, it annoys me when people pronounce my name (or any pacific names) incorrectly. The remedy, my teachers at school shortened my name to Pua, with my parents’ permission.  Eipuatiare means Ei like lei, a garland of Puatiare flowers (Fagraea berteriana) that flourish on Rarotonga. I'm of Cook Islands descent, my Father, the late Iaveta Arthur is from the island of Mangaia, one of the oldest islands in Polynesia, from the district of Oneroa, Tavaenga and my mother the late Kimiora Mami Arthur of Rarotonga from Vaka Takitumu, Ngatangiia Muri.

I was born in Auckland and raised in central Auckland.  Lived my whole life in Herne Bay; previously a working class predominantly Polynesian stronghold and now one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Auckland City.  I had the privilege of holidaying in Rarotonga almost every year since birth.  I’m the second born of five children. I have one brother and three sisters and am married to Donalder Tua, also a Cook Islander and we have 7 children.  I returned home to the Cook Islands when my father passed away in 2009.  Making the decision to come home was easy but getting a job here was not.  I was overlooked for jobs in the Government agencies.  I did a few jobs in the private sector, training staff in customer service, coffee making, bartending; all skills I acquired from managing cafes, bars and, nightclubs in both Rarotonga and Auckland.  I have a few tricks and ‘know- hows’ up my sleeve and living the ‘island life’ you have to know how to compromise and get creative, as it can get you down when you can’t find work to support your family.

We, my honey and I starting working for ourselves and putting effort into what we enjoy and do best – Food!  We sell fresh produce -lemons and limes, rukau, fresh nu, whole pigs and goats (fresh and cooked), including the roto (intestines), avocado, homemade relish, taro and maniota (Red Cross plug -  all the Non-Communicable Disease free foods).  I also pursued my passion for Photography and my personality and attitude led me to becaome an active volunteer for the Red Cross.

You've recently come back from the Northern Group doing work with the Red Cross.  How was that experience and how did you come to be part of the Red Cross?

The Northern Cooks blew me away. I got the privilege to travel there aboard Te Kukupa the Cook islands Police Patrol Boat with an awesome qualified crew, Infrastructure CI and Emergency Management CI.  I had to laugh, but before we boarded we had to sign an indemnity form basically saying "if we die on this trip it’s not the Governments fault!"   I wasn’t going to let that happen, so I got a full medical and prepared myself both physically & mentally before travelling.  It was my first time travelling by boat and I have fabulous sea-legs because I didn’t get sea-sick at all which was a shame because I was hoping to lose some weight hahaha.  

The Northern Group Islands are so beautiful!  Untouched!  Paradise!  For me because I’m such a hippy….It was like I got to see what God Ccreated!   I made sure to ask the Captain for our ETA because I wanted to see and feel what our tupuna felt when they saw land. ETA was always before 0600 hours and I woke up for every arrival . Each time we approached land, In my head I would say to myself “E enua, E enua” and chuckle to myself.  The Northern group looks nothing like the Southern group and this is evident with every sunrise; the land and sea look very different to Rarotonga and Mangaia.  I prayed and thanked the Lord for our safety first and then for the gifts of the North. Palmerston, Nassau, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Tongareva and Suwarrow 

The people are so amazing, kind, helpful, shy and nice.

I had more than my fair share of chaperones.  Some looking to take a wife but all proud to show off what their island home has to offer.  My Cook Islands Maori is limited; about the same as their English, so with honed acting skills, we all understood each other perfectly.  

The people are hospitable and the islands are abundant with crayfish, coconut crab and different dishes with coconut, uto and wawa (taro). If you’re lucky and they have flour on the island they will make you some fresh bread or buns.  No shops, junk food, alcohol or cigarettes, perfect location to detox from western conveniences.

A neighbour of mine forced me to volunteer for the Cook Islands Red Cross.  I’m glad she did! At a moment’s notice, she would call me and I’d be on the first plane to Aitutaki, Atiu and even Fiji to conduct a survey, workshop or first aid training.  I was tossed in the deep end and continue to be so, but a lot of the teachings relate to life experience and common sense. I have learned so much in my years as a Red Cross volunteer and I have given a lot of myself to this cause.  I am a true ambassador believing in the teachings and taking every opportunity to educate our Cook Islands communities. It turns out that engaging an audience is something I am very good at. My sociable personality and humour make training fun.  And when I travel throughout the Cook Islands, everyone I have trained, young and old, all remember me and never fail to say Kia Orana. They always ask me to come back and visit. 

Faces that understand are happy faces;  this is what I know.  This opportunity also gave me the chance to do photography and capture the beautiful faces of our people and their islands. I was so meant to be here.

What would be a highlight of your trip to the Northern Group of the Cook Islands and would you recommend more Cook Islanders experience the trip at least once in their lifetime?

The Northern Group is a highlight. No doubt about it! Everything was a highlight for me. The Islands, her people, the dialect, the features, the hospitality, the Northern cuisine, the lagoons so crystal clear, the sharks so close; all a highlight.  The Cook Islands are made of North and South and we need an economical way to travel around our Pa Enua, to bring our islands closer together. Our Cook Islands Government need to make this a priority. We as Cook Islanders need to know and see every aspect of our islands and waters because we are the land owners of it all. The waters can only divide us but not separate us.

You've also been teaching local Cook Islanders lifesaving skills - how did you get into this and why do you think it's important especially in the Pacific Islands?

Yes I travel to Aitutaki and hold trainings for First Aid Comprehensive, Refresher First Aid and the Water Safety component.  Basically water safety education. So as you can imagine, swimming all day and training on best practice techniques to save a life.  Hardly a stressful day at the office. I love it because you get to swim and tan at the same time and have fun with the participants!  Learning to swim is very important! Being comfortable in the water.  There are a lot of Pacific Islanders who can’t swim.  I’m not an Olympic swimmer but I know how to swim and I know the correct techniques to save a life.  I ask my students would you jump in the water and try to save someone if you can’t swim?” They answer ‘Yes’ every time!

The water safety message is simple:

Call for help FIRST
Throw a rescue device
Row or paddle out
If you can confidently swim out, do so with a rescue device
IF IN DOUBT – ALWAYS CALL FOR HELP

The water safety component is new to Cook Islands Red Cross and now with the help of the Italian Red Cross a water safety training will be held in October 2018. I’m the Red Cross Water Safety Project Officer.  An intense 10 day Red Cross volunteer’s course hosted by Italy and facilitated by the Cook Islands will not only certify our participants Red Cross First Aid but also Water Safety. At the end of the course 5 participants will be selected to travel to Italy and undergo the 5 day trainer of trainers Water Safety course.  An opportunity for our Red Cross volunteers to become a trainer and help me do my job now and in the future.

How has your upbringing & culture shaped you into the woman you are today?

In every way. I am a Cook Islander, brown and proud.  I know everything about my home it makes me wonder why we hire outsiders to promote our islands…what do they know? I’m a Cook Islander rooted to the land and anchored to the seas of my ancestors. I am a landowner and that makes me proud!

Education has always been at the forefront. My father preached education to us day in, day out. Coming from a poor upbringing, my father strived hard to get a better life and to give a better life for us.  I have so much to be thankful for from my parents. Always encouraging us and never giving up. All the hidings helped too. They taught me who I am, where I’m from, who I’m related to so I don’t marry my cousin.  My mum was a nurse and my dad was as a politician. I do remember asking my dad what politicians do and he said ‘they work for the people and the country to find a common path they can all travel on without struggle’, hmm that sounds like a joke to me today.  So I guess that’s how I get to Red Cross, through my parents. Bless their hearts.

Who or what is your biggest inspiration and why?

My parents are my inspiration. They always will be. No one has taught me like they have especially the teachings of my father. I am so happy we got to have him for 19 years more after our mum passed away. All that I am today I owe to them. My birth, my culture, my upbringing, my education, my guidance, where I lived and where I live now.  When I think about my life, my parents are definitely the ones that provided this path for me and this path can only take me on to better things.

What do you have coming up any plans for the future?

I just started a new role at CI Red Cross as the Project Officer for Water Safety. We will be working closely with the Italian Red Cross to conduct our Water Safety course in October 2018.  This will be the first time that CIRC and IRC have collaborated and because I have a passion for the Italian language and culture, I am excited and look forward to the experience.

All photographs by Eipuatiare - you can check out more of her photography on her Facebook page here