Buildings
(Click on a picture to see a larger version.)
Most houses on Rarotonga were of a simple concrete block construction, with corrugated iron rooves. We were told that thatch construction was not allowed on Rarotonga, but on Aitutaki there seemed to be plenty of families living in houses that ranged from pure thatch construction to combinations of thatch and more modern building materials.
Most yards were well-maintained. There seemed to be two schools of thought concerning yard maintenance though: some yards were filled with flowers, coconuts, mangoes, and all sorts of other tropical fruits. Other yards consisted solely of immaculately mowed lawns. Given how profuse the vegetation was elsewhere, perhaps maintaining a well-manicured lawn is a sign of diligent housekeeping. Or perhaps people were sick of the encroaching jungle in their fields, and didn't feel like gardening at home.
Security didn't seem to be a big issue, especially on Aitutaki. Most houses had venetian glass shutter windows, and some thatch houses didn't even have doors.
A thatch building in the Cultural Village on Rarotonga, and an old thatch shed on Rarotonga.
And now for some of those thatch houses on Aitutaki.
There were some beautiful old churches (well, built before this century, which counts as old if you are from New Zealand). The churches and even the little bell tower here were made of coral covered in a white plaster.
Preamble Buildings Dancing Coconut husking