About

Based in Rarotonga and fluent in Pukapukan, Rarotongan Maori, various Maori dialects and English language, Romani brings over 22 years of experience in a wide range of skills and expertise within the built environment throughout the Cook Islands. Raised in the Northern Group, Romani grew up and was immersed in the deep traditional and cultural relationships with the environment ‘ko te moana, ko te enua, ko te rangi’, providing a unique perspective and approach to sustainable climate resistant tropical design and asset resilience management. Romani has led multi-disciplinary teams in private and public sectors that have taken projects from conception, through to successful implementation in some of the most isolated and logistically challenging communities in the Cook Islands and Pacific.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Design, Auckland University of Technology Auckland, 2000

Design Certificate, Auckland University of Technology  Auckland, 1995

Specialization

Tropical, Cyclone & Environmental Building Design

Project and construction management

Languages

Pukapukan, Rarotongan and English

Associations

Member of Designers Institute of New Zealand – DINZ

Projects range from cyclone management centres on small communal islands, to large scale commercial/institutional projects on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. As well as currently managing the Arutanga Harbour Development on Aitutaki, Romani is also managing the Cook Islands Renewable Energy Development Programme with the conversion of all the outer islands to 100% RE; an initial investment of up to USD $100m across the Southern and Northern Cook Islands, Aitutaki and Rarotonga.

Romani has extensive experience in managing across multiple disciplines in the infrastructure sector while communicating effectively at all levels, to motivate and coordinate challenging projects, possessing a unique understanding of local, traditional, sustainable knowledge and use of local/international resources. Romani’s strengths are in cultural traditional tropical design, master planning and concept design, contract documentation, local project budgeting and programming, expediting project issues with all stakeholders, onsite supervision and contract administration.

Romani is involved with the ‘Te Tau Papa o Avarua’ the Avarua Town Plan report the first town plan for Rarotonga and the Cook Islands as well as ‘Te Papa Tau o Araura’ The Aitutaki Master Plan and has been engaged as project manager to oversee its implementation.  More recently, the Vaikapuangi Government Building is a centralized facility to house most of Cook Islands government agencies.  It will be the largest building complex in the Cook Islands, designed and to be built by Cook Islanders.

Additionally, Romani has maintained a professional association with Eclipse Architecture Ltd, collaborating on a number of projects since 2007. 

Works completed

Residential

Over 255 residential buildings designed and built on Rarotonga, Aitutaki and outer islands ranging from small scale to $3.5m+

Most notable:

  • Matatui Luxury Villa
  • Pickering Beach Luxury Villa
  • Atupa Heights
  • Stanaway Beachside Loft
  • Ponia Residence
  • Manarangi Pods
  • Gillian & Bill Gee Estate
  • Dearlove House

Education                           

  • Ministry of Education Administration building 2010 (China Aid)
  • Mangaia & Aitutaki Schools 2003-2005,
  • Te Uki Ou New Entry Building 2016 and Te Uki Ou Culture Space 2021 (Japan Aid). Master-planning for future expansion ongoing

Institutional

  • Vaikapuangi Cook Islands Government Building – ongoing, concept design, developed design, 2021
  • Cook Islands Investment Corporation – Avarua Township, Aitutaki, Nikao and Panama Township Masterplans, 2019 ongoing
  • Rarotonga Airport Terminal Extension – Covid Readiness Facility, ADB 2022
  • Aitutaki Harbour Development – Master planning, harbour and passage dredging, 2021 ongoing
  • Cook Islands Maritime Building, Rarotonga – design and build, 2022 (Aus Defence Fund)
  • Southern CI Renewable Energy Project, Office of the Prime Minister – ADB Renewable Energy Project 2015-2022 (ADB, EU, GEF, GCF, PEC, Japan, NZAid)
  • Rarotonga Airport Terminal – Concept Design & Masterplan 2018
  • National Auditorium 50th Celebrations Project ‘’The Domes’’ (2015)
  • Northern Group Water Harvesting Project across Pukapuka, Nassau, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Penryhn 2011 (NZ Aid),
  • Manihiki Cyclone Centre Renovations 2010 (NZ Aid),
  • Pukapuka Cyclone Centre 2011 (EU Aid)
  • Cook Islands Investment Corp Office renovations
  • Ministry of Marine Resources Masterplan, Avatiu Harbour
  • Ministry of Transport Renovations
  • Ministry of Tourism Renovations

Health                                 

  • Pukapuka Hospital Extension 2021
  • Aitutaki Hospital Renovations 2007

Hospitality/Tourism      

  • Aramoana Properties Developments Deluxe Villas 2019
  • Aitutaki Game Fishing Club, CI Tourism, Aitutaki (NZ Aid)
  • Orongo Harbour Development Master Plan, Aitutaki 2014(NZ Aid)
  • Are Tamanu Hotel renovations 2017-2018
  • Master Plan 2015-2020 Revision, Arutanga, Aitutaki. Ports Authority
  • Are Tapaeanga, Rarotonga – Public Toilet facilities at Avatiu harbour, 2015
  • Pacific Resort Hotel Group – Rarotonga and Aitutaki concept and masterplan.
  • Te Manava Deluxe Villas
  • Etu Moana, Master plan and design, Aitutaki
  • Hilton Group Renovation Project 2006-2008
  • Crown Beach Resort Expansion project, 2006-2007
  • The Rarotongan Beach Resort – Master Planning: Design and Renovations to bungalows, administration buildings and restaurants 2001-2006
  • The Aitutaki Beach Resort – Akitua, Master planning and renovations
  • Bamboo Jacks Restaurant and Trader Jacks
  • Little Polynesian
  • Tuoro Restaurant and Accommodation
  • Kuras Kabanas
  • Samade Bar Accommodation
  • Muri Beach Resort, Rarotonga
  • Huahine Bungalows, Huahine, French Polynesia,

Sports/Recreational       

  • Tupapa Maraerenga Sports Association Multi-Sport Stadium – Full Design & Project Management, 2020 ongoing
  • Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) and FIFA Goal Projects 2004 – 2015
  • Oversight of all CIFA Goal Projects Master plans and development including:

Solar PV Array 50kva Renewable Project Stadium Floodlights Project,

Administration Building Extension & Technical Education Centre, Aitutaki,

New Administration Building –Rarotonga,

New National Football Stadium, Matavera: Roof structure & seating-Rarotonga, New National Football Stadium: Players & Officials Facilities- Rarotonga

New National Headquarters & Training Facility- Rarotonga

  • Olympic House Renovations, CISNOC
  • Rarotonga Golf Club renovations
  • Cook Islands Canoeing Association Vaka Village, Avarua and Avana master planning.
  • Cook Islands Voyaging Society Are Vaka, Avarua – design & master planning, Rarotonga

Commercial      

  • Te Aponga Uira Power Authority Proposed Building, Rarotonga – concept design, 2022
  • Ports Authority Renovations to Admin building and master planning to Avatiu Harbour, recreational, commercial and institutional areas, Rarotonga
  • Bank of the Cook Islands Renovation
  • Prime Foods Outlet Renovations
  • Bermuda House (HSBC) Renovations
  • Telecom CI Renovations
  • Te Aponga Uira Admin building Renovations

 

Heritage                                              

Takamoa Theological College – Historical Building Restoration Project (est. 1839, built 1842) Oldest Missionary building in the Cook Islands and South Pacific) restored 2007

  • Cook Islands Christian Church, Avarua – (est 1831, restored 1853, 1995) to be restored by July 1823, to mark 200 years since the arrival of Christianity on Rarotonga.

Community                       

  • Aitutaki 200 year Celebrations 2021 – 60m x 30m Marquee Design
  • Pukapuka Rarotonga Hostel Project 2013
  • Manihiki Are Apii Sapati, Tauhunu 2008
  • Vaka Village Master plan, Avana
  • Rakahanga Fishing Club
  • Manihiki Fishing Club
  • Ngatangiia Netball Courts and Facilities upgrade 2020
  • Manihiki SDA Church