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Three Kura
Rimatara Lorikeets,
Atiu, Cook Islands
on a white T-shirt
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to the Southern Cook Islands. It was extinct here
before European contact, because of over-harvesting
of the colourful feathers. Fortunately it survived on
Rimatara, an island in French Polynesia, because
it was protected by the Rimatara queen.
In 2007 the community of Rimatara generously
agreed to give Atiu 27 birds to establish a second
population to help protect this beautiful lorikeet from the
modern threat of rats. Atiu, like Rimatara is still free of
ship rats (Rattus rattus), and is monitored closely
to remain a sancutary for the precious Kura,
the Rimatara Lorikeet.
The shirts are good quality, 100% cotton, sizes: Unisex: S, M, L, XL or women's S, M, L
NZ$45 each, plus handling and airmail NZ$15 per order
Cook Islands Fishes
on a royal blue t-shirt
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The 15 islands of the Cook Islands are host to
more
than 500
different
species of colourful reef fishes.
These three are, from
top down:
Picasso Triggerfish
are very common in the lagoons.
They occasionally
defend their territory boldly against
snorkellers.
Longjaw Squirrelfish are nocturnal and
hide during
the day in
cavities
under corals.
Orangespine Unicornfish are gracefully
cruising around
coral heads,
left alone by predators because
of their
two sharp spines at the base
of their tails.
Dance is the most important art form in
the
Cook Islands. A dancer is telling a story
with
the hands, while the hips and knees
keep the
beat, fast and rhythmic in
a drum dance, slower
and sensual in
an action song.
Every year in April, the best dancers are
competing for the title “Dancer of the year”,
and in August, groups from Rarotonga and
the outer islands perform to celebrate the
birthday of the nation.
on black, white and sand t-shirts
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Cook Islands Reef Life
on a black or navy t-shirt
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The coral reefs surrounding each of the 15 Cook Islands
are complex
eco-systems supporting a huge variety
of animals. Crabs, sea-cucumbers,
starfish, sea-slugs,
shellfish and fishes live together on the big underwater
structures built by millions of tiny coral polyps.
The reefs protect our tropical islands, but they are fragile
and can only thrive
in clean, clear water of a temperature
around
27°C (75°F).
Palmerston,
Cook Islands on a dark blue (navy) t-shirt
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Palmerston is an atoll in the Cook Islands
where Green Turtles breed. The island is
very
remote, there is no airport and a boat
takes two
days from Rarotonga or Aitutaki
to get there.
About 50 people live
on Palmerston and it has a
school with
two teachers and 15 students at
different
levels.
Part of the revenue of this T-shirt goes to
the
school on Palmerston to buy supplies
and for
the maintenance of the school.
Palmerston,
Cook Islands
on a white t-shirt
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Cook Islands Male and Female Drum Dancers
on a white, black or navy t-shirt, also available on singlets.
In the Cook Islands, we know how to have a good time and
we express
our joy of live with our dances.
We dance to the beat of five or more drums in our dynamic
drum dances.
The graceful action songs are performed
to songs, accompanied by
ukuleles and guitars.
Dancers and choreographers enjoy a lot of freedom
to be creative, and we have a great variety of dances,
which all tell a story
about the past or present.
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a unique bird of Mangaia, the most southern island in
the Cook Islands. Most land birds that made it to these
isolated places in the middle of the South Pacific,
without the help of humans, evolve to become endemic,
a species found no where else in the world.
There are only about 600 Tanga‘eo on Mangaia,
and it is considered an endangered species.
It’s population is monitored by local environment
agencies.
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