Cook Islands Mama's lose their Taonga and their trust...
The Kuki Airani Mama’s who were left high and dry in Europe, had to sell one of their treasured Tivaevae to buy food to feed the group on their 3 week ordeal.
People have come together to rally behind the Mama’s who travelled to Europe only to be left in the lurch by an organiser who they say had “promised them so much, and yet failed to deliver on almost every aspect.”
After a shock announcement midway through their journey to Europe that costs for their accommodation and food wouldn’t be covered as promised, the Mamas say they were forced to put together their small pool of funds to come up with a budget solution.
Part of this solution was one of the mama’s selling her personal tivaevae which was to be used for display during one of the organised workshops in order to help with food expenses for her friends, most of whom are in retirement and living off their meagre pensions.
Tiare Taina Mama’s at a workshop the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Ngamata Uriaro, the mama’s group leader says “we survived by buying food from Sam’s 99pence store. Sardines, bread, whatever we could afford, we bought and ate that.”
The Green Room Hotel in London is currently holding 2 Tivaevae and a painting in lieu of accommodation costs, which the group are working to retrieve. Many people have been trying to reach out to the group to offer help and monetary donations to try to pay off the outstanding bills and see the Taonga rightfully returned but Ngamata says that the mama’s are “not wanting a handout “
One of the bunks inside the dormitory where the Mama’s spent the better part of three weeks.
“All we want is an apology from the tour organiser, NiaVal [Tali]. We want her to apologise to us for not giving us the full story before we left and then for calling us liars after we told our story.” They would like to work with Ms. Tali herself to get their artwork back into the country, and in their possession as they feel she is accountable.
The Mama’s say that they felt left out during the entire trip and that the respect they receive here was not evident on the tour. They were not included in the official Cook Islands dawn service at Arras, weren’t included in meals with their tour organiser and feel they were left penniless. They also described having to sleep in dormitories with three other men they didn’t know.
In response to the allegations, tour organiser Nia-Val Tali says “I believe I have been falsely accused of many things… and did not commit any misconduct or illegal offence involving this tour. I can admit there may have been a miscommunication which is fair to say, but there has been no disrespect intended and action from myself to assume this.” In a 10 page response, Ms. Tali goes on to deny specific accusations made by several members of the touring party.
Her brother, National MP and Minister for Pacific Peoples, Alfred Ngaro (pictured below) has offered the Mamas support, offering to reimburse $600 to each Mama who went on the trip.
One of the Mama’s who travelled with the group is the Paramount Chief of Takitumu, Rarotonga, Pa Ariki. Her excitement about the trip soon turned to dismay when she overheard the tour organiser saying that the mama’s would have to fork out for their accommodation and food while on this tour when they were on a layover in Dubai. Prior to leaving New Zealand they had been told to contribute $2500 each to the trip, saying accommodation and food would be covered by grants.
To say she was upset is an understatement – “I think we all wanted to go back home at that point, but what can you do? The fares have been paid for and we didn’t know how much it would cost us to change the ticket.” They pressed on with the tour, and one disaster led to another culminating in their artwork being held ransom by the hostel where they stayed!!
From L: Queens Rep to the Cook Islands, Hon. Tom Marsters, Mrs. Tuaine Marsters, Pa Ariki, & Isaac Solomona (far right) in Wellington Tunnel, Arras, France
It was a difficult time for all five of the 'Tiare Taina Mama’s'. Far from home and with barely any contacts in London, they found a way to enjoy the sights of the city. They walked as far as they could go, caught buses and trains and made friends with various personalities including a Spanish reporter, New Zealand’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK and passers-by.
According to Pa Ariki, there were definitely highlights to their trip, but the negatives far outweighed the positives. “We enjoyed the sights of London and Paris, but that’s not why we went to Europe” she says. “We delivered our workshops and brought our tivaevae to be added to the exhibition. We delivered on our promise, but she [tour organiser] didn’t”.
By: Adrian McBirney