Papa Paiere Mokoroa is one of Atiu's last living storytellers. Retired teacher of Atiu College, trained in sociology and anthropology, co-author of the book "Atiu - An Island Community" and "Cook Islands Culture", he is a rich source of knowledge, the ideal prerequisite to do an

HISTORICAL TOUR.

A number of his stories take you back to his childhood days some 6 decades ago. Others even to pre-missionary times. The two-hour tour (which is more likely to turn into a four-hour tour, because it awakens your interest and questions) starts right at his place where he explains the background of the name of his section Taparere, also the name he gave his lodge. You will learn about teachers and schools, missionaries and churches and eventually descend (literally!) to dwelling places and legendary sites of his forefathers.
There is the natural swimming pool, now dried out, of ariki (chief) Rongomatane's 12 wives (of whom he sent back home 11 when he embraced Christianity!), and, near his former homestead, the 37 m long platform wall (patu paepae- wall enclosing chief's traditional meeting place) called Vairakaia with its 47 limestone slabs.