Culture & History
Language and greetings: a little goes a long way
📍 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Where
Island-wide
Opening hours
Always
Typical cost
Free
Cook Islands Māori and English are both official. Everyone you deal with as a visitor will speak English, but the language you hear around you is te reo Māori Kūki u2019Āirani.
Worth learning
- Kia orana — the standard greeting. Literally "may you live on".
- Meitaki — thank you. Meitaki maata — thank you very much.
- Aere ra — goodbye.
- Kia manuia — good luck, be well. Often used as a farewell or a toast.
Why it matters
Not because anyone expects it, but because using the greeting rather than "hi" marks the difference between passing through a place and being in it. It is noticed, and it is appreciated.
💡 Local tip
Kia orana. Use it — walking into a shop, passing someone on the road, at the start of any conversation. It is the single most useful word you will learn here.
Listed as a local guide entry — not bookable through CI Booking. Details can change; it is worth confirming before you go.
Book something on Rarotonga
Booked direct with local operators — no booking fees.
For local operators
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