GOVERNMENT OF THE COOK ISLANDS

16^{th June 2006}

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY SIR TEREPAI MAOATE

Kia Orana,

We, the people of this beautiful Pacific island country, are extremely fortunate to have a lifestyle that is peaceful and blessed by the many freedoms we enjoy under our democratic system of self-governance.

We are renown throughout the world for these things – the beauty of our islands and our peaceful, friendly way of life. Because of these very things we have, people travel from all over the world to visit our country and we can take pride in the way we welcome visitors to our shores.

Last week a misguided and irresponsible event took place involving some of our ui Ariki who were persuaded by an unscrupulous foreigner to make public statements that have no credibility with Government and thinking Cook Islanders.

This has resulted in world wide reports that some sort of internal turmoil caused by our ui Ariki, is happening in the Cook Islands. These negative reports about our peaceful nation will impact on our tourism, the very industry that the economy of our country relies on most.

It is for this reason, amongst others, that Cabinet has not taken these statements lightly.

Cabinet views with profound concern the claim by some ui Ariki that they are dissolving the position of Queens Representative, the Government of the day and are assuming leadership and ownership of this country of ours.

Allow me to reassure the people of this country that this claim by some ui Ariki of removing the sovereignty of the Crown, removing the Government elected by you the people of this country and trampling on our democratic rights is misguided and it is wrong.

I am aware that many, many Cook Islanders find this claim offensive and have been hurt and disappointed by the actions of some ui Ariki.

Some of these ui Ariki have been awarded honours by Her Majesty the Queen, it now appears that they have demonstrated disloyalty and disrespect for Her Majesty and the very honours bestowed upon them by the Crown.

A meeting of Cabinet was called on Saturday and we discussed the proclamation to claim leadership and ownership of our country made by some ill-advised ui Ariki.

The Prime Minister has formally requested the Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to summon an urgent meeting of all the members of the House of Ariki this week.

The meeting of the House of Ariki will be held this week in Parliament chambers as soon as all ui Ariki from our outer islands can be present. At this meeting, our Ui Ariki will be given guidance on the Constitution of the Cook Islands, the very laws upon which this country is founded and governed.

Cabinet urges and encourages our ui Ariki to attend this meeting. I have no doubts I also speak on behalf of the people of this beautiful country of ours when I say that the Cook Islands people also urge our ui Ariki to attend this meeting on Wednesday morning.

I take this opportunity to remind our ui Ariki of the oath they have all taken to be loyal to the Crown, the Government of the day and the people of this country.

Kia Orana