Villages of Aitutaki

Seven villages ring Aitutaki’s coastline, each with its own dance team and character.

Western side & eastern side, north to south

Western side	Eastern side
Amuri (A-moo-ree)	Vaipeka (Vai-pek-a)
Uraea (Ou-ra-ear-a)	Vaipae (Vai-pie)
Arutanga (A-ra-tounge-a)	Tautu (Ta-oo-too)
Nikaupara (Nik-a-para)

The villages I lived in were the port and CBD village of Arutanga, then Nikaupara village in the south-west, then Amuri village. Amuri sits on the leeward side of Aitutaki during the strong south-east trade wind season — which is also the tourist season and, climatically, the dry season. Amuri has the fewest mosquitoes in the wet season. On calm wet-season days, the lagoon water near Amuri is very clear; there’s a small beach near “Black Rock” and, further north, good snorkelling towards Amuri airport.

Arutanga Harbour in Arutanga Village

All Aitutaki villagers are friendly. Take care when driving at night on village roads — my son Tai ended up in Aitutaki hospital after a collision with a drunk driver on a motorbike, riding without lights.

Villages on the eastern, sunrise side of Aitutaki are more traditional. Cycling past village halls at sunset, as it starts to cool off, is a good time to watch and hear cultural hula dancing practice. Each Aitutaki village has at least one dance team, which used to compete annually at the Nikaupara village hall in early August.