About
Atiuans of the 12th century colonized the islands of Mitiaro and Mauke, which are known by the name Nga Pu Toru – it means three islands. Each has three Ariki and three tribal communities (matakeinanga). We regard ourselves the ‘three in one’, related by blood.
E enua a Atiu no te Pa Enua Kuki Airani, e rima takau kiromita ki te ma’akarua o Rarotonga. E rua ngauru ma ta’i kiromita i te takapini.
E tūkē a Atiu no te mea te no’o ra te tangata ki runga i te take maunga. Na te au orometua i tauta i te tangata kia neke mei raro enua ki te take o te maunga. Tei reira e rima oire tangata vaitata mei teta’i ki teta’i.
Kua tupu to matou reo mei roto mai i te araara tei apai mai to matou tupuna ia Mariri e tōna pupu tangata mei Avaiki mai. I te au mataiti i muri mai kua piri mai teta’i au kupu mei te reo Rarotonga, reo Tahiti e te reo papa’a tei apai’ia mai e te Evangeria tei tae mai ki Atiu i te mataiti 1823.
Te manata nei matou i to matou reo no te mea taki ta’i ‘ua te metua e api’i nei te reo enua. Te apī’i’ia nei te tamariki i te reo Peritane i te api’i te akamata nei ratou i te araara i roto i teia reo. Inangaro matou i te akamou e te akamaro’iro’i i te au tangata katoatoa kia araara i te reo, i te enua Kuki Airani.