RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS, 13 March 2026. The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) together with Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) confirms continued progress under the Rarotonga Safety Shelter Program (RSSP), with renovation works now entering their final stages on three community halls, including Ngatangiia CICC Ekalesia Sunday School Hall.
The Ngatangiia CICC Ekalesia Sunday School Hall is one of several halls progressing under the safety shelter programme. Since receiving funding in 2025, the Ngatangiia CICC community quickly mobilised to begin internal renovation works. Within the first few months, significant improvements were completed, including the installation of a new disability-accessible toilet and washroom, accessibility ramps throughout the hall, the replacement of damaged ceiling areas, and a full interior repaint.
With these internal upgrades completed early in the project, works paused for approximately six months due to the temporary unavailability of the community’s project lead for unforeseen health reasons. With works now back underway, the community has regained strong
momentum. The focus has been on the halls roof, where ageing and rusted roofing materials were replaced over the weekend to ensure the building meets structural and safety requirements. Now, with that complete, only minor finishing works remain.
Mr. Keta Williams, of Ngatangiia CICC Ekalesia says “We’ve now completed the roof replacement. Because it’s a big building, we replaced it section by section to protect the hall from weather while we work on it. The next steps is to reinstall the solar panels and complete a few things like the handrails. A lot of people have been putting in their own time to help get the upgrades done. If the weather holds, we expect everything to be finished in the coming weeks.”
Alongside Ngatangiia, other halls approved for funding in 2025 are also progressing well. Renovation works at the Tutakimoa Meeting House are now largely complete, while the Pokoinu Meeting House is also in its finishing stages. At the Matavera Catholic Church Sacred Heart Parish, construction works have begun following the Parish’s engagement of local contractor Site Worx.
Mr. Allan Jensen, Chief Executive Officer of CIIC says “The progress we are seeing across these halls reflects the commitment of the communities involved. While the programme provides support for essential upgrades, the halls themselves are contributing their own time, resources and leadership to see the work through. It’s this shared effort that allows us to strengthen buildings that will serve communities both in times of emergencies and in everyday use.”
Mr. John Strickland, Director of EMCI says “The Rarotonga Safety Shelter Programme is a critical part of our broader efforts to strengthen national disaster preparedness— providing safe refuge for both residents and visitors. While RSSP is currently focused on Rarotonga, EMCI continues to support a range of emergency preparedness initiatives across all islands. Together, these efforts contribute to building a safer and more resilient Cook Islands for everyone.”
The RSSP is funded by Cook Islands taxpayer funds, with each eligible community hall able to access up to NZ$100,000.00 under the RSSP framework. All eligible community halls have been contacted by CIIC, any queries regarding the programme can be directed to ciic.rsspcoordinator@cookislands.gov.ck.
Further information
Enquiries about this news release should be made to Rebecca Tavioni on +682 56621 or by email to ciic.rsspcoordinator@cookislands.gov.ck
About the Rarotonga Safety Shelter Program
The Rarotonga Safety Shelter Program (RSSP) was established in 2021 to support remediation works to community/public buildings designated or identified as suitable cyclone shelters. Through collaborative efforts and careful management, the programme aims to ensure that a significant portion of Rarotonga’s population has access to safe shelters during emergencies. The programme represents a crucial step towards enhancing community resilience to cyclones and other disasters.
About Emergency Management Cook Islands
Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) is a dedicated subsidiary division within the Cook Islands Office of the Prime Minister constituted with the management of the Disaster Risk Management Act 2007. EMCI is dedicated to protecting the community, environment, and cultural heritage by effectively managing and mitigating the impacts of natural and human caused emergencies (https://emci.gov.ck/)
About Cook Islands Investment Corporation
The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) is a statutory incorporation of the Cook Islands Government. CIIC was established through the Cook Islands Investment Incorporation Act 1998, tasked with the management of Crown assets and interests within the Cook Islands, their vision is “quality assets that serves the Cook Islands people”. (https://www.ciic.gov.ck/)
About the Office of the Prime Minister
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is a Central agency that supports the Prime Minister and Cabinet. OPM deliver core government functions for Public Sector and coordinate governance activities across agencies, their vision “a well governed, resilient and secure Cook Islands”. (https://www.pmoffice.gov.ck/)
About the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing democracy comprising 15 islands in the South Pacific of c. 15,000 people operating in free association with New Zealand.
