Rutherford Community Education tutor Tauraki Rongo passed away in March.

Tauraki made a significant contribution to the organisation through his teaching and his commitment to learners. He was a dedicated advocate for the preservation and promotion of the Māori Cook Islands language and worked consistently to strengthen cultural knowledge within the community.

In addition to his tutoring role, Tauraki was a producer for Pacific Media Network’s Cook Islands programming, supporting the visibility and continuity of Cook Islands language and culture through broadcasting.

His work has had a lasting impact on learners and colleagues at Rutherford. ACE Aotearoa extends condolences to his family, friends and the many people who worked and learned alongside him.