Rarotongans at Tokomaru Bay, 1934

Rarotongans at Tokomaru Bay, 1934

The Cook Islands are one of the most likely origins of the Māori people. In 1934 the New Zealand government paid £1, 500 for 30 Cook Islanders to attend the opening of the Treaty House at Waitangi. They also visited Tokomaru Bay, giving the Ngāti Porou marae there a second name – Te Hono ki Rarotonga (that which binds us to Rarotonga).