Nikao Cemetery Restoration Project Rarotonga

On the anniversary of their passing we remember two elderly Canadian sisters who while visiting Rarotonga as tourists in March 1981, tragically drowned in the lagoon.

Frances Hayden Chadwick (nee Moss) and Elizabeth DeLatre O'Donnell (nee Moss) had quite a famous younger sister in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada in the 1930's. Miss Judith Moss (later Mrs Judith Sullivan) won the gold medal in the 3 metre springboard diving event at the 1934 British Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games). Following the Empire Games, Judith Moss returned to Canada to a heroes welcome.

Our cemetery residents really have some incredible stories to tell.

Rest In Peace and Love Frances Hayden Chadwick (nee Moss) and Elizabeth DeLatre O'Donnell (nee Moss). You were buried on foreign shores a long way from home but you haven’t been forgotten. 💐🇨🇦

On the anniversary of their passing (Australian time) we remember cancer patient’s Gloria Walker and Anne (Annie) Oliver who passed away on Rarotonga on March 23 1978.

Gloria and Annie flew to Rarotonga from Australia in search of a miracle cancer cure from the self-proclaimed cancer therapist Milan Brych. After Brych’s sudden departure from Rarotonga mid-1978, he was jailed in the USA in the 1980's on several cancer quackery charges which included practicing medicine without a licence and grand theft.

Gloria and Annie are two of the 65 Milan Brych cancer patients from overseas who were buried in the Nikao cemetery on Rarotonga in 1977/78. Most were Australian, and some of their graves have been lost to the sea.

Rest In Peace and Love Gloria and Annie. You may be buried on foreign shores a long way from home, but you will never be forgotten. ❤️💐🇦🇺

“Treasured memories of our beautiful mother Gloria Merle Walker. 28.12.1940 ~ 23.3.1978. You are always present in our lives and will never be forgotten.
Forever loved and sadly missed by your daughters Melissa, Catherine & Louise. Sunshine On My Shoulders.”

Gloria Walker’s online “FindAGrave” memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=166907561

“In loving memory of Anne May Oliver.
Beloved wife of John and loved mother of Robert, Janet, Garry, Lee-Ann.
Passed away 23rd March 1978 aged 52 years.”

Anne Oliver's online memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167126070

Thank you to our friends in Rarotonga who visited today with a beautiful ei. 🌺❤️

Today’s post makes us reflect on those who have lost a loved one at such a tender age. As 2025 draws to a close, we also remember all of those who have lost a precious family member this year. You are in our thoughts this Christmas.

On the anniversary of his passing (Cook Islands time), we remember five year old Australian cancer patient, Jarrod John Nutt who is buried in the Nikao Cemetery.

Jarrod and his family flew to Rarotonga from Adelaide, South Australia in 1977 in search of a miracle cancer cure from the self-proclaimed cancer therapist Milan Brych. Brych was jailed in the USA in the 1980's on several cancer quackery charges including practicing medicine without a licence and grand theft.

Jarrod passed away on December 23rd (Cook Islands time) which was Christmas Eve in Australia. He was only 5 years of age.

Our team of local and foreign volunteers restored Jarrod’s headstone in September 2015, and repainted his resting place and placed flowers in June 2016 during Stage One of the Nikao Cemetery Restoration Project.

Rest in peace and love little Jarrod. You may be buried on foreign shores a long way from home, but you haven't been forgotten. 💐🇦🇺

Jarrod Nutt’s online memorial:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=167031785

With sincere thanks to the maintenance team from Cook Islands Investment Corporation for continuing your grounds work in the cemetery. It is looking wonderful. Meitaki! 🌺

Here are website & Facebook links to a long piece article published today.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1P3uQrnz1H/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/10-09-2025/new-zealands-greatest-conman

The almost unbelievable story of New Zealand’s greatest conman The almost unbelievable story of medical grifter Milan Brych.

During the week of the anniversary of his passing, we remember Papa Joe Munokoa Totoo who passed away on the 23rd August 1976 aged 81. Papa Joe was born on the island of Manihiki and worked for many years across the road from the Nikao Cemetery at the Rarotonga International Airport. Papa Joe’s final resting place is close to the road and faces the airport where his family told me he loved his job.

Papa Joe’s relative Emma William recalled that when he was working at the airport, he was know as Papa Joe Base. He worked at the Rarotonga airport for over 40 years and has a plaque inside the tower in his memory.

Gillian Vaiimene told us that when a plane like a Hercules stayed overnight, he would be there on the tarmac looking after it all night.

Papa Joe’s family have always maintained his resting place beautifully and this makes a beautiful entrance from the main road into the Nikao cemetery.

Rest In Peace Papa Joe Munokoa Totoo. 🌺

Papa Joe’s online memorial:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167420992

During the week of the anniversary of their passing, we remember New Zealander Mr Brian Latchford and Australian Mr John Watson who were buried in the Nikao Cemetery on Rarotonga in early August 1977 (Brian) and 1978 (John).

Brian Latchford from New Zealand loved adventures and moved to Rarotonga in 1977 where he operated a laundromat at the current site of the Islander Hotel. Sadly, Brian was involved in a motorbike accident and passed away in early August 1977 aged 35 years.

John Watson from Australia travelled to Rarotonga in 1978 seeking a miracle cancer cure from the controversial self-styled cancer therapist Milan Brych. John passed away on August 3rd 1978 aged 57 years.

After Brych abandoned his cancer patients and clinic on Rarotonga mid 1978, he entered the USA illegally via Canada. The law caught up with him in Los Angeles in the early 1980’s when he was found guilty of a number of offences, including practicing medicine without a licence and grand theft. In 1983, he was sentenced to prison in California for six years. In 1986 he was released from prison due to good behaviour and after a short sojourn in Tahiti and New Zealand returned to Europe.

Since 2016, our team of volunteers have restored many graves in the Nikao cemetery and cleared the former jungle to reveal the largest group of Cook Islands NZEF WWI returned servicemen buried throughout the Cook Islands.

Rest In Peace Mr Brian Latchford and Mr John Watson. You were buried on foreign shores a long way from home but you will never be forgotten. 🇳🇿 🇦🇺 🌺

Lest We Forget 🌺

“Following recent improvements at Nikao Cemetery, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) has commenced essential grounds maintenance work at Panama Cemetery, situated just outside the Catholic Cemetery in Panama, Rarotonga.”

“This work is part of a broader effort to strengthen the management of cemeteries on public land, ensuring that they are well-maintained, accessible, and appropriately cared for now and into the future.”

Initial care and planning begin for Panama Cemetery - Cook Islands News Following recent improvements at Nikao Cemetery, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) has commenced essential grounds maintenance work at Panama Cemetery, situated just outside the Catholic Cemetery in Panama, Rarotonga.

“Willie John and his sister Manongi Latham are on a mission to locate their grandmother’s grave, believed to be in the Nikao Cemetery on Rarotonga.”

Their grandmother, Manongi, passed away in 1955. Despite official records confirming her death, the exact location of her burial remains unknown.

Siblings on a quest to find grandmother’s lost grave in Nikao Cemetery - Cook Islands News Willie John and his sister Manongi Latham are on a mission to locate their grandmother’s grave, believed to be in the Nikao Cemetery on Rarotonga.