Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort

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The Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, called the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa until March 2018, is resort located on the islet of Akitua in Aitutaki, in the Cook Islands. The resort has a 45-year lease on the islet, and consists of 36 bungalows, a restaurant, a bar, spa, gym, and associated facilities. [1] The resort was used as the location for Air New Zealand's Safety in Paradise video and the Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary swimsuit edition. [1]

The resort was originally developed by Tamatoa Ariki. [2] It was purchased by businessman Tata Crocombe in 2003. [3]

Catriona Rowntree, the presenter for Australian Nine Network's travel show Getaway , has called the resort her favourite destination. [4] [5]

In February 2005, the resort was evacuated in preparation for Cyclone Meena. [6]

The resort was offered for sale in 2014, [3] but found no buyers. In March 2018 it was renamed the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort. [7]

The resort been for sale on Trade Me since March 2018 for NZ$32 million. [1] [8] A major fire in July 2018 destroyed the kitchen, bar, and three bungalows. [9] [10] The resort was forced to close in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [11]

In May 2020 the resort's restaurant, bar, and kitchen were completely destroyed by fire. [12]

Related Research Articles

Politics of the Cook Islands Political system of Cook Islands

The politics of the Cook Islands, an associated state, takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy within a constitutional monarchy. The Queen of New Zealand, represented in the Cook Islands by the Queen's Representative, is the Head of State; the prime minister is the head of government and of a multi-party system. The Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand and are fully responsible for internal affairs. New Zealand retains some responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent years, the Cook Islands have taken on more of its own external affairs; as of 2005, it has diplomatic relations in its own name with eighteen other countries. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the islands' parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislatures.

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Aitutaki

Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araʻura and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of 1,712 in 2016. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The main village is Arutanga (Arutunga) on the west side.

Ruatapu was a son of the great chief Uenuku, and a master canoeist in Polynesian tradition who is said to have lived around 30 generations ago. Most Māori stories agree he was an older half-brother of Paikea and 69 other sons, while traditions recorded from the Cook Islands sometimes state he was Uanuku Rakeiora's only son.

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Rakahanga Pacific island in Cook Island chain

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Parliament of the Cook Islands Unicameral legislature of the Cook Islands

The Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand’s United Nations mandate it became the national legislature on independence in 1965.

Akitua

Akitua is one of 22 islands in the Aitutaki atoll of the Cook Islands. It is on the northeastern perimeter of Aitutaki Lagoon and is 750m long and up to 310m wide. The island is owned by The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa, a 5 star hotel equipped with luxury bungalows, restaurant and bar. It is known for its beautiful turquoise, indigo blue, beach.

Tavaerua

Tavaerua is one of 22 islands in the Aitutaki atoll of the Cook Islands. It is located on the eastern perimeter of Aitutaki Lagoon to the south of the smaller island of Tavaeruaiti, four kilometres to the east of the main island of Aitutaki. The island is 290m wide and 500m long and has an elevation of 7 metres (23 ft) above sea level.

House of Ariki

The House of Ariki is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. It is composed of Cook Islands high chiefs (ariki), appointed by the Queen's Representative. There are up to twenty-four members, representing different islands of the Cooks.

An ariki, ꞌariki, aliki, ali‘i, ari'i, aiki or hakaiki, akariki or ‘eiki (Tonga) is or was a member of a hereditary chiefly or noble rank in Polynesia.

Te Ariki Terau Mana Strickland was a Cook Island educator and politician. He was the Minister of Education in the first Cook Islands government after self-government was obtained in 1965.

George Angene

George Maggie Angene is a Cook Islands politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a former member of the Cook Islands Party, and is now a member of the One Cook Islands Movement.

Pa Upoko Takau Ariki High Chiefess of Takitumu

Pa Upoko Takau Ariki was a sovereign of the Cook Islands. She was the ariki of the Pa dynasty, one of the two chiefdoms of the Takitumu tribe on the island of Rarotonga.

Dr. Marjorie Tuainekore Tere Crocombe is an author and academic from the Cook Islands. She is the Cook Island's "most venerated living author".

Tingika Elikana is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.

<i>Marumaru Atua</i>

Marumaru Atua is a reconstruction of a vaka moana, a double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe. It was built in 2009 by the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea. In 2014, it was gifted to the Cook Islands Voyaging Society. It is used to teach polynesian navigation.

Papeiha

Papeiha was an evangelist of the London Missionary Society. Trained by John Williams, he converted the islands of Aitutaki and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to Christianity.

Margaret Makea Karika Ariki

Margaret Makea Karika Ariki, also known as Pauline Margaret Rakera Taripo, was a Cook Islands ariki and holder of the Makea Karika Ariki title from 1949 to 2017. She was President of the House of Ariki from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1990 to 1992. She also served on the Legislative Assembly from 1958 to 1961.

Rongomatane Ngaakaara Ariki was an ariki of the island of Atiu in the Cook Islands. He established Atiuan domination over the neighbouring islands of Mitiaro, and Mauke through a succession of raids. He was converted to Christianity in 1823 by John Williams of the London Missionary Society, and showed him the way to Rarotonga.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lorna Thornber (31 May 2018). "'Iconic' private island and resort for sale in Cook Islands for $32 million". Stuff. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Tribute to my friend Tamatoa Ariki!". Cook Islands News. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 Emmanuel Samoglou (3 October 2014). "Crocombe selling local business interests". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Visit Getaway Host Catriona Rowntree's favourite destination at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa". Travel Blackboard. 2008-06-18. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  5. ↑ "GETAWAY's Catriona Rowntree returns to her honeymoon destination ~ Aitutaki!". Travel Blackboard. 2009-04-23. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  6. ↑ "Cook Islands prepares for cyclone". TVNZ - One News. 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  7. ↑ "2018 - 2019 Qantas Holiday Brochure Amendments" (PDF). Qantas. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  8. ↑ "Global interest in Aitutaki resort sale". Cook Islands News. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. ↑ Rashneel Kumar (31 July 2018). "Fire razes Aitutaki resort units". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "Cook Islands Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa loses accommodation units to fire". New Zealand Herald. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Famed Cook Islands resorts to close". RNZ. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  12. ↑ Rashneel Kumar (29 May 2020). "Fire razes restaurant at Aitutaki resort". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

Coordinates: 18°51′00″S159°45′25″W / 18.8500°S 159.7570°W / -18.8500; -159.7570


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