Arai-Te-Tonga Marae

Arai-Te-Tonga is one of the most important maraes in Cook Islands history. A marae is a sacred meeting place where our ancestors would gather. The stone structure at this marae were koutu chiefly courts where the political function of the investiture of an ariki (chief) took place. The Koutu could properly be called the royal court of the reigning ariki or high chief. It was a special place where all offerings to the ancient Gods were first assembled prior to being conveyed to and placed upon the marae where all tribal annual feasts and the presentation of first fruits were held. The outstanding surviving feature of Arai-Te-Tonga is a rectangular platform approximately 12 feet long, 7 feet and 8 inches high offset from the central.