The Ra'ui system

Traditional marine protection

Puati Mataiapo Tere Ngapare declares ra'ui at Akapuao in February 2000.
© WWF/Jason Brown

The Koutu Nui of the Cook Islands (a Council of Traditional Leaders) actively brought together various communities, stakeholders and private sector to successfully re-establish the Ra'ui system of traditional marine protection, which had not been practiced for over 50 years, in Rarotonga.

The Koutu Nui consider themselves to be custodians of the Land, that includes everything from the mountain to the sea, environment, traditional knowledge and practice, language, cultural heritage and the welfare of the people.

WWF's role
In the past, WWF has also helped build the capacity of Koutu Nui to raise funds, through the sale of calendars. A capacity building workshop which discussed leadership skills was held in the middle of 2005. WWF encouraged leaders to enforce the ra'ui system through customary law to further protect the traditonal system, which is fraught with problems of enforcement where poachers often come from other villages.

According to an article by Ana Tiraa, published in the July issue of the Te Kura Ora, a lack of monitoring, control, and surveillance capacity is one of the major constraints to enforcing the ra'ui.

Ra'ui Marine Reserves

5 marine Ra'ui are in place in the lagoon on Rarotonga to protect the marine environment and to allow marine plants and animals an opportunity to grow and breed, and spread to other parts of the lagoon and sea. The total Raui area accounts for about 8% of the reef circumference of Rarotonga.

Here, the harvest of marine life, particularly those traditionally used for food, is restricted or prohibited. Markers have been placed on the boundaries in the lagoon to identify the Raui areas. Blue signposts on the roadside also indicate areas under Raui.

Tikioki
An area with abundant wildlife. There are least 80 different fish species, not to mention numerous invertebrates and more than 30 species of marine plants and corals.

Aroko / Nukupure
The most unique feature of this area is the tidal salt marsh consisting of kiukiu (salt water paspalum grass) and Mauku tatau tai (sedge). It is a breeding ground for several species of fish and crab, and has one of the few remaining populations of a native date mussel species. Rare migratory birds such as the bar tail godwits and sanderlings also use this area.

Matavera / Pouara
This area contains various invertebrate reef species, including kina, rori, paua and ariri.

Nikao
This reserve includes extensive reef flats, which provide an important habitat for marine invertebrates, including ariri, kina, paua, rori, trochus, ungakoa and vana.