Tribute to a Cook Islands Media Icon
“She stood as a giant amongst all giants having travelled with many dignitaries including several Governor Generals, Prime Ministers and Ministers from NZ and the Pacific on overseas excursions throughout Pacific in her capacity as a journalist”

The legendary Elma Maua, Cook Islands media icon, Pacific broadcaster, journalist, radio announcer, host sports commentator, netball enthusiast and friend to many, is no longer following her cremation at Waikanae NZ last week following a long period of illness. In fact, you can imagine a celebration of sorts as Elma left this world knowing that she had achieved and gone where no other Cook Islands person had gone as far as broadcasting and media was concerned.
She was highly respected not only within the broadcasting/media profession but also within the political as well as community circles that she was known to have associated with. Her rasp but brazen voice was heard globally via Radio NZ of which her association spans some 30 odd years keeping listeners abreast of the latest in sports or community activities.
For those who knew Elma and worked with her, they can only appreciate the mutual professionalism to which she was accustomed to working under even under the most trying of conditions. Her enthusiasm, her wit, her tenacity and journalistic inquisitiveness often put her on the wrong side of people but at the end of her search for balance, you can be assured, her coverage would be spot on and she would spare no end to ensure her story was reflected in a manner that would be in the public’s interest.
Elma will always be remembered as a jovial, fun loving person who got on with everyone from all walks of life. If you were in her good books, you would be a friend for life but if you were in her bad books, look out!
Elma’s passion and involvement in Cook Islands issues was beyond reproach as she often put those interests before her own family. She loved everything about her people, the culture, the language, the music, the lifestyle and even spoke with the deepest admiration of many women role models including the late Poko Morgan, Louisa Crawley and the formidable Fanaura Kingstone who now resides in Tokoroa NZ.
Much of her professional working life was spent in Wellington and Porirua and during her early experiences with the old NZ Broadcasting Corporation, she was mentored by the infamous Ian Johnstone, a well known broadcasting personality who saw the potential in Elma’s ability to convey information to the public via the media.
Mind you, Elma was no push over and could stand her ground with even the best of what broadcasting could offer but she was content on just reporting the news as it came to hand.
On her last visit to the Cook Islands during the World Youth Netball Championships last year, Elma spoke of her illness with a sense of regret but at the same time, drew strength from the fact that she was able to visit the Cook Islands possibly for the last time as the prediction to the outcome of her illness was not favourable.
Although she had no hair due to the chemotherapy treatment, she had a sense of humour that would make you laugh instead of feeling sympathy for her. She would jokingly say “have a drink or two for me” and would then revert to her sarcastic but simple way of saying, don’t feel sorry for me because I am the author of my own demise, see I’m having another smoke!”
Her sense of humour, her smile, her joking mannerism and her ability to lighten you up, are memories that will always remind us of the real Elma Maua, a caring, beautiful woman with selfless commitment to quality, her love and passion for our people and her dedication to striving to get information to where it should go.
She stood as a “giant amongst all giants” having travelled with many dignitaries including several Governor Generals, Prime Ministers and Ministers from NZ and the Pacific on overseas excursions throughout the Pacific in her capacity as a journalist.
She won their respect and admiration for the manner in which she was able to bring the news right into the homes of our Pacific people’s keeping them informed on events as they unfolded.
As Pacific media journalists, we will always have our differences but the one thing that unites us and will serve as a constant reminder as to who we are, will be the memory of one woman who fought the battle against institutional discrimination against Pacific women within the media circles and won. Sadly, her battle against cancer finally took its toll therefore to the Late Elma Maua and her family, our deepest condolences and sympathy and long may she be remembered.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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