What Are the People’s Choice Awards in the Cook Islands?

What makes the People’s Choice Awards particularly interesting for travellers is that nominations and votes come directly from the public. Visitors can recognise someone who made their Cook Islands holiday memorable, while locals can nominate people they see making a difference within their community.

That means recognition isn’t necessarily about having the flashiest facilities or biggest tourism operation. It might come from remembering a visitor’s name, sharing local knowledge, going the extra mile when somebody needs help or simply making guests feel genuinely welcome.

That’s the sort of stuff you don’t always find on a tour itinerary.

Nominations and voting take place as part of the annual awards programme, so check the official Cook Islands People’s Choice Awards page for the latest information on how and when you can nominate someone who made a difference to your trip.

So, why should you care about the People’s Choice Awards when planning a trip to the Cook Islands? In short, they can help point you towards the people who have made a genuine impression on previous visitors and their communities.

A tourism business can have a beautiful website, impressive photos and a tempting list of inclusions, but none of those things necessarily tells you what your guide or host will be like.

The People’s Choice Awards approach this from another direction. They recognise individuals because somebody remembered what they did and took the time to nominate or vote for them.

That makes previous People’s Choice Award winners and finalists worth looking out for when choosing tours and experiences in the Cook Islands.

Of course, the awards shouldn’t be your only consideration. Compare what an experience includes, check whether it suits your interests and budget and look at recent traveller reviews too. But if you discover that the person behind an experience has received People’s Choice recognition, it’s another useful piece of information to have before you book.

Perhaps more importantly, the awards highlight something we’ve experienced ourselves in the South Pacific: an unforgettable trip isn’t always about what you do, but who you meet while doing it.

The Tourism Legacy Award is a special honour presented alongside the People’s Choice Awards, although it is not awarded every year. It recognises people whose contribution to tourism has left a lasting legacy for the Cook Islands, its communities and future generations.

Past recipients include Kave Tamaariki (1965-2023), founder of Ariki Adventures and a pioneer in the Cook Islands tourism industry, whose work helped shape adventure tourism and visitor experiences in the islands.

The award has also honoured George Teariki-Mataki Mateariki (1958-2025), affectionately known as the “Birdman of Atiu”. A major presence in tourism on Atiu, George shared his extensive knowledge of the island, its birds, stories and way of life with visitors while also spearheading bird conservation and biodiversity efforts on the island.

These recipients are good examples of what the Tourism Legacy Award is all about, celebrating the people who have spent years sharing that connection with visitors and leaving something valuable behind for the next generation.

Want to know who visitors and locals are recognising right now? The best place to check is the official Cook Islands People’s Choice Awards page, where you can find the latest finalists and winners.

It’s worth taking a look when researching tours and experiences for your trip. If you spot a finalist or winner connected with something you’re thinking about booking, you’ll know that people have taken the time to recognise the individual behind the experience.

And once you’ve visited the Cook Islands, you might have someone to nominate yourself. Keep an eye on the Cook Islands People’s Choice Awards for details of upcoming nominations and voting.

After all, if somebody turns a great Cook Islands holiday into an unforgettable one, this is your chance to say meitaki.