Apology

Under the name Ruth Tangiiau Mave the Cook Islands News published in its issue of 4 November, 2024 an article that referenced the agreement between the Cook Islands and the European Union entered into when Mr Ben Ponia was the Secretary of Marine Resources and Mr Henry Puna was the Prime Minister.

That article alleges that Mr Ponia and Mr Puna caused the Cook Islands to enter into the agreement in secret, that doing so was an act of sabotage leaving the Cook Islands earnings only $0.16 per kg of fish and leaving the Government with an income of $9 million over 8 years when, if properly negotiated, the income would have been at least $9 million per year.

It alleges Mr Ponia and Mr Puna then went onto mislead the public about the benefits of that deal.

Cook Islands News acknowledges these comments are both defamatory and false. It unreservedly apologies to Mr Ponia for allowing them to be published.”