Our history
The Cook Islands Child Welfare Association (CICWA) is the oldest non-profit organisation in the Cook Islands, operating continuously for over 90 years.
It was formed in 1931 by Dr Edward Pōhau Ellison, Chief Medical Officer to the Cook Islands. Dr Ellison worked with the formidable Au Vaine, womens commmittee, who volunteered their time to help clinical nurses conduct community health checks and house inspections (Tutaka) across Rarotonga until the 1950s, presenting the winning village with the Ellison Cup.
Today, we work closely with Te Marae Ora and public health nurses to monitor the health of young children aged 0-4 years, hosting Paunu clinics (baby health checks) across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.
Dr Ellison and his wife Tini
Our founder
Dr. Edward Ellison - 1885-1963
Dr. Edward Pohau Ellison, QBE, was a New Zealander of Māori descent, who - over the course of his government career - gave a lifetime of service to Polynesians in New Zealand and its island territories.
After studying Medicine at Otago University, Dr Ellison took up his first position in the Pacific Islands in 1919 as Resident Medical officer for Niue. In 1926, Dr Ellison was appointed Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Resident Commissioner to the Cook Islands, a position he held until 1927 and again from 1931 until his retirement in 1946.
During his first term in the Cook Islands, Dr Ellison and his wife Tini laid the groundwork for the establishment of a Child Welfare service, working with local communities and convincing the formidable Au Vaine women's organisation to take up public health duties alongside their agricultural crop inspection work. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1926 when Tini died suddenly of acute rheumatic fever while they were in Rarotonga.
After a brief stint in New Zealand, Dr Ellison returned to Rarotonga in 1931 and the Cook Islands Child Welfare Association was officially launched during his second term as Chief Medical Officer. With the help of the local community, Child Welfare went on to build 30 clinics on Rarotonga and establish branch associations in the outer islands, reducing the infant death rate from 130 per thousand to just 68 per thousand by 1938.
As well as overseeing the growth of Child Welfare, Dr Ellison became the driving force behind disease control and the building of a Tuberculosis Sanitorium on Rarotonga (which later became Rarotonga Hospital), lobbying the New Zealand government relentlessly for the 20,000 pound funding to build it.
In 1938, Dr Ellison was awarded an O.B.E. for service to New Zealand's island peoples. He died at his home in Napier in 1963, aged 78. Dr Ellison's family maintain close links with the Cook Islands, with his grandson and other descendants settling permanently in Rarotonga.
Dr Ellison with CICWA’s founding members in 1937
Timeline
1926 - 1927 - Dr Ellison's first term as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Resident Commissioner in the Cook Islands. Dr Ellison and his wife Tini work closely with the Au Vaine women’s committee to monitor the welfare of children in Rarotonga villages.
1931 - The Cook Islands Child Welfare League is founded.
1931 - 1946 - Dr Ellison's second term as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Resident Commissioner in the Cook Islands.
1944 - The first Baby Show was held in the Cook Islands.
1946 - Dr Ellison officially opens Rarotonga’s Tuberculosis Sanatorium, later to become Rarotonga Hospital. Dr Ellison retires from his role and returns to New Zealand.
Pue Clinic - 1960
Child Welfare continues to grow
After it’s formal establishment in 1931, the Child Welfare League continued to grow rapidly, with welfare branches set up in every village in Rarotonga by 1933 and 100 voluntary nurses from the Au Vaine taking part in the work.
Starting in the village of Nikao, reception huts (now known as clinics) were built by each branch and used for baby health checks and the training of new workers. Just as they are today, the infant health checks - known as Paunu - were all run by community volunteers and district nurses, with support from the New Zealand government.
By the 1960’s, there were 30 Child Welfare clinics operating on Rarotonga, and branch associations in the outer islands.
The Baby Show
In the 1940’s, the first Baby Show was held in Rarotonga and was so popular that it became an annual event. October 25 1944 was even declared a public holiday, in honour of the Baby Show.
Run by the Child Welfare Association and judged by the Resident Medical Commissioner, the Baby Show involved the medical inspection and judging of children aged 0-4 years, with certificates, prizes and trophies going to winners in each category. Categories included:
Best teeth
Best skin
The last Baby Show was held on Rarotonga in ????
Child Welfare today
Each year, we seek funding to run a range of educational workshops in our communities for parents, caregivers and children. These workshops all relate to child-health and wellbeing of tamariki and families. Past workshop topics have included:
first aid for babies
fevers in children
healthy meals and nutrition for children
oral health and teeth brushing
gardening for kids
cooking displays
massage for babies
breast feeding and lactation support
mums and bubs yoga
Check our events schedule or Facebook page for upcoming workshops in your vaka.
Our vision is for high quality health care and support for young children, parents and caregivers in the Cook Islands.
