Kia Orana tatou katoatoa e te iti tangata tapu na Te Atua.

Te tomo atu nei tatou ki te akamaara’anga o te ra anau’anga o to tatou Akaora, To tatou Atu ko Iesu mesia.  Ariki mai I teia reo aroa kia tatou katoatoa.  Kotou te noo nei e te tiaki nei te kiritimiti I to tatou Pa Enua e pera katoa ko ratou te noo mai ki te enua mamao I Aotearoa e Otireria.

Pera katoa tatou tei runga I to tatou enua ko Rarotonga, Mery Christmas kia tatou pourua. Kia akameitaki ia tatou katoatoa I to tatou Atu I teia tuatau o te orote.

Noatu e e tuatau orote teia ka angaanga rai te tai pae ia tatou.  Te aere atu nei te reo akamaroiroi e te reo akameitaki ki te au Taote e te au Neti I runga I to tatou aremaki – te aronga tiaki e te tam ate angaanga mai nei I teia tuatau

Pera katoa ta tatou anau akava te angaanga nei I te tiaki e te paruru ia tatou, te au taiki I roto I te are tapeka’anga.

Kare e ngaropoina te aronga anga’anga nei I roto I te au otera ten ga tamataora.

Te irinaki nei e kua akamako ia ta kotou shift, kia rauka tetai tuatau orote no kotou a teia epetoma ki mua.

This is also a first Xmas for some of us where a dear member of the family or friends has passed away and will not be with you to celebrate – our thoughts are with you.  By the same token some of you will have welcomed a new addition to the family – a first Xmas for a new baby is always an occasion for joy and celebration.

And we do have a lot to celebrate for this year – what a year it has been – from the 50^th celebration of the opening of our airport in January, a momentous occasion that acknowledged the hard work and vision of those who established our gateway to the world in January 1974, right through to another successful Cook Islands Games with over 4000 athletes taking part.

These games reminded us of the unity and strength that come from our shared love of sport and culture. They brought together communities from across our islands, blending competitive spirit with a deep sense of camaraderie and cultural pride. This celebration of our identity was a shining example of what makes us unique as Cook Islanders.

And in between a number of events that we as a country can be rightfully proud of, our tourism rebound has been nothing short of remarkable. Our country has led the way in economic recovery that benefits our local businesses and entrepreneurs – from AirBnB to market vendors to food sellers to tour operators, etc.  As a country, we have a lot to be thankful for the blessing we received.

I ended by chairmanship of the PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) in August and handed over to Tonga. Representing our Pacific region at the regional and international stage with our Pacific neighbours and international partners has been both great responsibility and a huge privilege. The effects of climate change have been front and centre in many discussions and decisions this year. We can be proud of the way our country has promoted initiatives that will benefit all of our Pacific region. 

Kotou te tiaki nei e Kiritimit na roto I te imene e te uapou – kia noo Mataora kotou.

Kotou te ka tamataora I teia tuatau, kia maru e kia Mataora takotou tamataora’anga, akono Meitaki I to kotou au taeake kia kore tatou e rokona ia I te tumatetenga.

As we celebrate this festive season, let us not forget the reason for the season – the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His presence on Earth brought hope, peace, and joy, and this season is a time to reflect on His teachings. Let us give thanks for our many blessings. Let us remember those less fortunate than ourselves and honour the memories of those who are no longer with us.

I encourage you to treasure your family and friends, hold them close, and savour every moment together. Celebrate with joy and responsibility, always looking out for one another.

No reira te na roto atu nei iaku, maua ko Daphne, ta maua anua, to tatou kavamani, te ruru minita, te au mema Paramani, te orronga atu nei te reo aroa kia tatou katoatoa.

Meri Christmas, Kia orana e kia manuia.

• Prime Minister Mark Brown