The House of Ariki (Cook Islands Māori: 'Are Ariki) is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. It is composed of Cook Islands high chiefs (ariki), appointed by the King's Representative. While it functions in a similar way to the House of Lords and the Senate of Canada, the country's parliament is officially unicameral. There are up to twenty-four members,[1] representing different islands of the Cooks.[2]
Its function is to:
"consider such matters relative to the welfare of the people of the Cook Islands as may be submitted to it by [Parliament] for its consideration, and it shall express its opinion and make recommendations thereon to [Parliament]"[3]
It may only discuss matters put to it by the democratically elected Parliament, and may only voice suggestions in return.
Formation
The establishment of the House of Ariki was suggested in May 1965 during negotiations on the new constitution of the Cook Islands prior to independence. The initial proposals were for it to have six Ariki from Rarotonga and eight from the outer islands, with the House meeting annually under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner.[4] Amendments to the legislation on the new constitution were passed by the New Zealand Parliament in June, providing for the creation of the House.[5]
The House was established in September the following year, consisting of ten chiefs.[6] It was intended to confer additional legitimacy and strength to the newly self-governing nation, and to help it define its national identity.[7] Henry stated:
"The ariki [and other chiefly ranks] and their tribes are the backbone of all nations in this world. For any nation to allow this backbone to be broken or to disappear would mean that they are relying on a foreign backbone for their survival."[8]
The House was inaugurated by the High Commissioner Leslie James Davis on 23 September 1966. Vakatini Tepo of Rarotonga was chosen as its first president.[6]
The incumbent president of the House of Ariki is Tou Travel Ariki (Mitiaro). The vice-president is Kainuku Kapiriterangi Ariki (Takitumu).[9]
Criticism
According to Ron Crocombe and Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen:
"The House of Ariki was created to marginalize the ariki. Most of them had opposed the party that won the election at self-government, so it created and quarantined them in a House with dignity but no power. To marginalize ariki further, that party later created a Koutu Nui of mata'iapo and rangatira (lesser chiefs) many of whom had supported the party."[10]
June 2008 coup claim
On 13 June 2008, a small majority of members of the House of Ariki attempted a coup, claiming to dissolve the elected government and to take control of the country's leadership. "Basically we are dissolving the leadership, the prime minister and the deputy prime minister and the ministers," chief Makea Vakatini Joseph Ariki explained. The Cook Islands Herald suggested that the Ariki were attempting thereby to regain some of their traditional prestige or mana.[11][12]
Prime Minister Jim Marurai described the take-over move as "ill-founded and nonsensical".[13] Police commissioner Pat Tasker added that it was "laughable", and that the police did not intend to take it seriously.[14] By 23 June, the situation appeared to have normalised, with members of the House of Ariki accepting to return to their regular duties.[15]
^"Premier Albert Henry stressed that the retention and recognition of the nation’s 'royal heritage' would associate the Cook Islands with the more fortunate nations of the world, that is, with nations such as Great-Britain [or] Tonga […] which had maintained a strong sovereign identity. [...] The choice before the people of the Cook Islands was, therefore, a clear one – either to follow the path of Great Britain, the 'Mother Country,’ and retain an indigenous spine, or to follow that of the New ZealandMāori and allow 'the backbone of Polynesian existence to disappear'. […] Ariki, like the British monarchy, lent historical depth to this nation while increasing its prestige (at least in its own eyes) within the Pacific region." Sissons, Jeffrey. Nation and Destination: Creating Cook Islands Identity. Suva: University of the South Pacific (Institute of Pacific Studies), 1999, ISBN982-02-0142-X, pp.61–62.
^Crocombe, Ron; Jonassen, Jon Tikivanotau (10–12 July 2004). Political culture, representation and the electoral system in the Cook Islands. Political Culture, Representation and Electoral Systems in the Pacific. Port Vila, Vanuatu.
