One is bad enough, but, if it happens once every 20 years we can live with that. The beginning of 2005, however, saw five major cyclones in a row closely following each other's destructive footsteps. The first two, Meena and Nancy, were the most destructive for our little island.

We are all relieved that no lives were lost. Soon after the last one had left, life could continue as normal; but the winds have left their scars especially in our forests that will take quite a while to heal. These pictures were taken in between the first two cyclones.

Thanks to the brave and efficient men of our hurricane committee, damage to property and nature was removed or repaired as soon as that was possible.

The primary school lost its roof that was blown into the valley behind the school.

The Mapumai's water catchment roof was rolled up like with a can opener.

The wind played football with plastic water tanks at private home sites.

The high seas broke huge chunks out of the access ramp to the harbour basin.

On 27th of June 2005, Atiu's CICC pastor, Rvd. Tangaroa Uea, saw his dream come true:Behind the new CICC Sunday School Hall the doors opened to the newly established vairanga puka (library), TEKURUTARA.

Invited guest from Rarotonga, president of the CICC church Rvd. Tangimetua Tangatatutai was given the honour to cut the ribbon (right).

Rvd. Tangatatutai, Papa Tinokura and Rvd. Tangaroa Uea.

The library's pride is an entire encyclopedia. The library depends on donations and the shelves will take a while to fill, however visitors on the opening day eagerly leafed through the books they will now be able to read at Tekurutara library. Rvd. Tangaroa plans to build up a collection of literature and documentaries relative to facts on the Cook Islands in general and Atiu in particular. The library will have a reading room equipped with a TV where videos and DVDs can be watched. He also hopes to install a computer for the the library's administration and the storage of data on the island's history and culture.

The 27th of June 2005 was also Papa Tinokura's 71st birthday, which was celebrated along with the opening ceremony.

The hurricanes also held up the development of the new stadium for MANEA GAMES initially to be held on Atiu in October 2005. The games have now been postponed to April 2006. Major earth moving works (right) have cut off a hill (below left and centre) and filled in a valley (below right) to level the site for our new sports stadium big enough to accommodate not just the dwindling number of our island's residents, but also up to a thousand visitors who will flood Atiu to watch the performance of some 500 athletes. The Manea Games are a nation wide competition in international games such as soccer, volleyball, rugby, tennis and netball and traditional sports such as tipi rore - "wresting" on stilts, pei pua - throwing a disk of breadfruit, peipei tiporo - juggling with limes, ko akari - husking coconuts, tuki poi - mashing taro, rangaranga plaiting coconut leaves and many others.

Former mayor Aneru Tautu invested in major earth moving machinery

Andrea Eimke
Information and Media Officer
Atiu Tourism Society Inc.