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AT U TA K I
Voyager, sail forth, to seek and find GENERAL MANAGER OF TAMANU BEACH IN AITUTAKI, NICK HENRY, HAS ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING MOST OF US ONLY DREAM ABOUT, AND THAT IS CAPTAINING A POLYNESIAN VAKA FOR TWO YEARS AROUND THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE OCEANS, AND GETTING PAID FOR IT!
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randson of the Cook Islands’ first premier, Albert Royle Henry, Nick could not be more proud of his family and his family’s history.
returning to the Cook Islands in the mid 1960s. “He wanted to help change the way the Cook Islanders were living. As independence was in the air, he got into politics,” said Nick.
Built on family land, Tamanu Beach has been in existence for eighteen years. Nick said the resort was his father Hugh’s vision: “Dad always wanted a beachfront resort. He made a sketch of it years ago, which we still have,” said Nick.
Albert son, and Nick’s father, Hugh was brought up in New Zealand, as was Nick’s mother Helen. Nick said that Albert Henry had told Hugh in the late 1960s: “It's time to come home”.
“This was a voyage to the South Pacific Festival of Arts in American Samoa. There were sixteen crewmembers, and after lots of preparation we sailed off encountering some massive storms, which damaged our sails, so we limped into Pago Pago seven days later. We were the heroes of the South Pacific Festival of Arts - these unshaven warriors, the only Pacific Islanders to come by sea. Everybody had flown in!”
Even though Nick wasn’t supposed to shoot video: “I became a crew with a camera. I made a documentary called ‘Seven Days to Pago Pago,’ which aired on Cook Islands Television, and we showed it at the Festival of Arts. I edited it there on my laptop!”
“As the youngest brother, it’s now my turn to contribute Nick Henry and son Harry at Tamanu’s island night Nick became an active to the operation and member of the Cook development of our family Hugh returned in 1969 with Islands Voyaging Society, resort,” said Nick, who arrived his wife and boys: Michael, ultimately as a captain: “I went at the Aitutaki resort in 2015 Paul, Stuart, and Nick. Sister to New Zealand to get the with wife Diane and newly Katherine was born in 1972: qualifications. So that really born son Harry. “Dad became Secretary of was my next career move - to Public Works working in the “This year we have had move from the media into Government.” another son Arapati, named this ‘cultural revival’. Then I after his great-grandfather just sailed for two years. I got After a stint at uni in Albert Royle Henry.” paid as a captain of one of the Auckland, Nick returned vakas by an organisation called to Rarotonga to work for Nick said the family name Okeanos (Foundation of the the Cook Islands Tourism Henry originated from Sea).” Corporation in sales and Reverend Henry Royle: ‘He marketing. By1996 Nick was was in Aitutaki preaching with Edgewater Resort’s sister the gospel with the London Missionary Society in the mid- property Club Raro as general manager. Soon he left Club 1800s. Our ancestor Tetaura Raro to help set up the Bond Raru sought permission from Liquor Store. the Reverend to "borrow" his name and then placed the After seven years with Bond, name "Henry" on his Son”. Nick left and created a video
“Grandpa died when I was 12 in 1981, so we knew our grandparents well. He insisted on having his children and grandchildren around him every week”. Albert Henry spent many years in New Zealand before
After five years Nick believes in ‘Aitutaki for Aitutaki’, meaning that when Aitutaki people are ready to develop more tourism, then that’s when it should happen. Not before! Tamanu bungalows facing the lagoon
Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and Cook Islands. The voyage demonstrated the genius of Pacific vaka design and the power of the almost lost culture of celestial navigation. Nick then headed off to Tahiti for a couple of years. On his return, he was asked by the Prime Minister, Henry Puna to chair the 50th Anniversary
of Independence Committee, which took place in July and August 2014. In 2015, Nick headed off to Aitutaki to take over the family business as general manager of Tamanu Beach. Tamanu Beach is a friendly, adults-only (12+), airconditioned, roomy bungalowstyle resort overlooking the beach, lagoon, ocean, or tropical gardens on the
“My sentiment is I want Cook Islanders to own Cook Island tourism. I think that Aitutakians should decide what they want. Right now, there is not enough Aitutakians on this island to grow the industry. So until they come home, or until the Aitutakians here are equipped and ready to take tourism to another level, only then am I happy for us to go to that next level”.
“It was an unforgettable arrival with a big crowd at the harbor, and the Governor there to greet us. I remember hearing the Cook Islands drums; just an incredible feeling!”
Nick’s father sadly died a few years before the definitive Tamanu Beach opened in 2006, but two of Nick’s older brothers Michael (from the original Are Tamanu 2000) and Stuart (who developed the neighbouring Manea Resort 2004) partnered up choosing to name the amalgamated property Tamanu Beach in honour of their father.
The name Henry ended up later in the century being used as a surname: “So by the time my grandfather was born on 1907, he was Christened Albert Royle Henry. My full name is Nicholas Royle Henry!”
sunset side of Aitutaki. With 23 bungalows and all the amenities anyone needs for a tropical holiday, including a spa and massage, a beachfront restaurant and bar, and two fresh water pools, Nick describes the resort as ‘Casual Luxury.’
documentary during their forthcoming trip to American Samoa. “He told me they had no room for a cameraman on the vaka, but had room for a crew!
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production company, The Digital Factory, with two partners making commercials, documentaries and videos on sporting and cultural events: “I also helped start 88 FM in Rarotonga around that time”. With his video experience Nick became involved with the Cook Islands Voyaging Society, through its president, Ian Karika.
“In 2008, I was at Trader Jack's having a drink with Ian and I asked him if I could go on the vaka and make a
Island Night dancers performing beachside
…when Aitutaki people are ready to develop more tourism, then that’s when it should happen
In 2010, Okeanos began working with voyaging societies across the Pacific to develop and build a fleet of seven traditionally designed, fossil fuel free double masted Vaka Moanas, representing 26 island nations. Nick was involved in the famous voyage Te Mana O Te Moana (The Spirit of the Ocean), which began in April 2011 and launched a renaissance in traditional vaka culture, ocean stewardship and engagement. Over the course of two years, hundreds of sailors navigated from Aotearoa to Hawai’i to the US with a historic arrival at San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and back, making stops at 15 Pacific nations along the way. After the voyage, Dieter Paulmann of Okeanos gifted four Vaka Moana from the Te Mana O Te Moana fleet to
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