Cook Islands National Disability Council

23/08/2025

Another angel lifted, On behalf of the Cook Islands National Disability Council, we offer our deepest condolences to Princess’s family and to all who were moved by her light. Her dedication, empathy, and fearless advocacy opened paths to inclusion for many in our community and the Council. We will miss you taeake.😇😇😇

📸 President of CINDC, Mama Tara being presented with a sponsored laptop from the Ministry of Internal Affairs representative, late Princess Heleina Raukete during the Councils AGM 2025 🥰🥰🥰🥰

22/08/2025

🌺 🥳Breaking Barriers with Sign Language 🌺🇨🇰🇨🇰

The Cook Islands National Disability Council had the opportunity today to support the staff of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) learn the basic fundamentals of Sign Language.

The session was led by our Administrative Support Officer and Lead for the Cook Islands Deaf Association, Veronica George, who continues to champion the importance of sign language as part of our Australia Government–funded project to promote communication, inclusion, and accessibility across the Cook Islands 🇨🇰 — making workplaces and communities more inclusive and connected💙 ♥️

Big meitaki ma‘ata to the staff of CIIC lead by Anna Glassie, for showing their commitment to breaking down communication barriers! ✨ your support helps us spread awareness and empower our people with the gift of language without barriers.

Together, we are building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to be heard and understood. 💙🤟

✅ We will be supporting this initiative every Thursdays for the staff at CIIC. We do come with open arms and would like our Ministers to give it a go!!! 🤙🥰🥰 PM us for more details!!!

13/06/2025

💥💥💥🥳🥳Cook Islands National Disability Council Annual General Assembly💥💥💥🥳🥳

The Cook Islands National Disability Council (CINDC) held its Annual General Meeting tonight, Thursday 12 June 2025, 5.30pm at ArePua Gateway Church, bringing together representatives from the women’s council, Family Welfare, Sports, InTaff, Tourism, researchers, and community members.

The meeting highlighted ongoing initiatives, future plans, and the importance of inclusive development across the Cook Islands.

Key discussions included strategies to improve accessibility, support for persons with disabilities, and fostering stronger community engagement.

The presentation shared insights into recent achievements and upcoming projects, reflecting the council’s commitment to empowering persons with disabilities.

A special presentation was also made, thanks to the generous efforts of UNDP and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Council was honoured with the donation of a new laptop for the office—an invaluable resource that will support our ongoing work and enhance service delivery.

Once the new Board is elected, we plan to conduct an Organizational Review; change of name, change of logo and review of the current constitution.

We also held our elections and are pleased to announce the new CINDC Board:

President - Mama Tara
Vice President - John Paul Lindsay
Board Members;
Grace Brown
Tiare Brown
Makiroa Mitchell-John
Rose Benns
Jeanie Nootai.

Elizabeth Nootai joins as an observer.

The Board will appoint three additional members soon to strengthen our efforts.

Congratulations to everyone involved. 😘😘🥳🥳🥳

Thank you for your dedication to creating a more inclusive Cook Islands. 🇨🇰🇨🇰🇨🇰

🥰 Together, we are making a difference.😘😘😘

06/06/2025

🥰🥰🥰🤩🤩🤩 Te Potiki Arorangi School Pepes 🥰🥰🥰🥰🤩🤩🤩🤩

Our visit to Arorangi School was truly inspiring as we conducted a sign language programme with the Arorangi Potiki class, the youngest group we’ve worked with. Mama Tara, our Co-Chair, led the session with warmth and enthusiasm, sharing the beauty of sign language in the Reo. The children eagerly learned to sign numbers, engaging with excitement and curiosity. We also taught them how to sign the Cook Islands' national anthem, fostering pride and connection to their culture. A special moment was when Mama Tara showed them how to greet with “Kia Orana,” using sign language, which brought big smiles and a sense of achievement. It was heartwarming to see how eager and quick they were to learn. This programme was part of our contribution to celebrating 60 years of self-governance, highlighting the importance of preserving language and cultural heritage for future generations.

05/06/2025

🌺 Cook Islands National Disability Council Annual General Assembly

The Cook Islands National Disability Council warmly invites all members and the wider community to attend our Annual General Assembly.

📅 Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025
🕠 Time: 5:30pm
📍 Venue: Are Pua Gateway Church, Takuvaine

Join us as we reflect on the year’s progress, share important updates, and look ahead to future goals in supporting and empowering our disability community.

For more information, contact us on (682) 75-917 or email: cookislands.disability@outlook.com

🥰🥰🥰Together for an inclusive Cook Islands🥰🥰🥰

27/05/2025

💥💥We're Off to a Great Start🥰🥰🥰

A big meitaki ma’ata to Nukutere College and Apii Nikao for being the first schools to warmly welcome us and join our journey to promote inclusion through sign language.

Our amazing Kuki learners had their first experience with:

• The sign language alphabet
• Counting from 1 to 20
• Signing the Cook Islands National Anthem

As we celebrate 60 years of self-governance in the Cook Islands this year, we're planning something truly special — a performance of our national anthem in sign language.

This will showcase our commitment to:

• Accessibility
• Cultural pride
• Learning for all

We reminded our students that sign language is a global language — a powerful way to connect with others, break down barriers, and help build a more inclusive world.

Thank you again to the Australian Government for your support in making this initiative possible.

23/05/2025

04/05/2025

We are proud to share that on Friday, May 2, 2025, the Australian Government and the Cook Islands National Disability Council officially signed a funding agreement to promote sign language education in schools. The official signing took place at the Australian High Commission to Cook Islands office at Mana Court, Avarua. This initiative aims to support children with hearing impairments by integrating sign language into the education system, fostering inclusivity, and celebrating cultural diversity. As part of the project, there will be training, community awareness campaigns, and a special performance of the national anthem in sign language—marking the Cook Islands’ 60th anniversary of self-governance. This partnership highlights the importance of accessibility and equal opportunities for all children, ensuring they can participate fully in society.

PC: 📸 EO

18/04/2025

🥰🌼 Happy Easter🌼 🥰

As we celebrate this special holiday, we want to inform you that the Cook Islands National Disability Council office will be closed on Friday, 18 April, and Monday, 21 April 2025, in observance of Good Friday and Easter Monday. We will resume office, on Tuesday 22 April 2025.

Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Easter 😍😍😍 🐇🐇🐇

11/04/2025

🥰Empowering Change: Understanding the CRPD and Inclusive Education 🥰

Today, the Cook Islands National Disability Council Co-Chair, facilitated and hosted two enlightening presentations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), focusing on how it supports individuals with disabilities and the importance of inclusive education.

In the first session, we explored the CRPD's significance, emphasizing that it ensures equal rights and protections for people with disabilities.

Key takeaways included the necessity of accessible communities, inclusive decision-making, and the government's role in removing barriers.

The second presentation delved into Article 24, which guarantees the right to quality education in inclusive settings.

Participants discussed the impact of inclusive education, highlighting its ability to foster understanding and collaboration among students of all abilities.

Together, we learned that everyone has a role in advocating for accessibility and inclusion. Let’s continue to champion these rights and work towards a future where no one is left behind.

08/03/2025

🤩🙌Inclusive Education Programme for Deaf Children in the Pacific 🤩🙌🇨🇰🇨🇰🇨🇰🇨🇰🇨🇰

The Cook Islands 🇨🇰 National Disability Council Board members are pleased to share the latest updates on the Deaf Cook Islands, Inclusive Education Programme, aimed at improving access and quality learning for deaf children across the Pacific region. Meeting was held at the Cook Islands Red Cross Conference room on Thursday, 6 March with guest facilitator, Ms Elena Jenkin.

Here are some of the program updates
* Cook Islands Country Programme: The purpose and scope of this initiative align with our overarching goal. Each country programme will develop a specific theory of action that contributes to the regional objectives.
* Short Term Outcomes (STOs): We have established five STOs that provide a common framework for designing effective educational options and program logic.
* Regional Support: Our programme serves as an umbrella initiative supporting five countries and beyond, addressing key educational needs.
* Activity Scope: The activities will encompass eight thematic areas and align with the five STOs. However, the SCALE of these activities is still being refined.
* Budget: The total budget for this initiative is approximately $4 million NZD, which will support five country programmes and one regional programme, covering both activities and personnel.
* Implementation Timeline: The programme is set to run from August 2025 to 2029.
* Resource Considerations: We emphasize context connectivity, monitoring and evaluation capacity, and support for in-country leads to ensure effective implementation.
* Quality Standards: Our approach is rights-based, led by the Deaf community and Pacific nations, ensuring that the voices of those we serve are at the forefront of our efforts.

The Deaf Cook Islands team has been assigned the important task of developing a traditional name for this exciting initiative. This new name should resonate with the cultural significance of the project and align with the spirit of collaboration seen in Fiji, where they have chosen the name "Rogoci Au." By crafting a name that reflects our unique identity and values, we aim to foster a sense of pride and connection within our community as we embark on this meaningful journey together.

08/03/2025

🌟 Empowering Women for a Brighter Future: UIKARAURAU Workshop Kicks Off! 🌟
Highland Paradise, Maungaroa – March 3, 2025

UIKARAURAU: KONITARA VAINE TINI O TE KUKI AIRANI workshop, where women from across the Cook Islands gather to discuss critical themes surrounding health, happiness, and safety in our homes. Under the inspiring motto, "Women want happy, healthy and safe homes," participants are ready to accelerate action for positive change.

The Cook Islands National Disability Council got to sit among the ladies from the Pa Enua listening to discussion on Healthy Homes. Non-communicable diseases and mental health, fostering a supportive environment where women could share their experiences and solutions.

Following that, the Happy Homes session, by the Chamber of Commerce, highlighted economic empowerment and the importance of embracing our native language, te reo. It was a vibrant discussion filled with innovative ideas and shared aspirations for financial independence and community growth.

The CINCW President’s report for 2023-2025, was tabled and it contained celebrating achievements and setting the stage for future initiatives.

We got to reflect on the connections made and the knowledge gained. The council hopes to empower women (vulnerable) and promote community wellbeing.