The group comprising the country’s sub-chiefs are ‘just too demanding and don’t want to listen’, says president of the House of Ariki.

The Koutu Nui must return to their tribes and stop behaving as if they are at the same level or above the Are Ariki, says the Kaumaiti Nui of the Are Ariki (president of the House of Ariki).

Tou Travel Ariki made these comments after the 50th conference of the Are Ariki that was held last week.

Previously, the abolishment of the Koutu Nui had been agreed on by the Are Ariki, however, the consensus at the conference was that the Koutu Nui return to their “matakainanga” (tribes).

Tou Ariki, who was first elected as the Kaumaiti Nui in 2001, said: “I had a good relationship with them (Koutu Nui) back then, but today, they are stabbing me in the back, I am very disappointed with them.”

He expressed that the Koutu Nui are not working with the Are Ariki, “instead they (Koutu Nui) are only doing work for themselves and not passing on their discussion outcomes to the Are Ariki to consider”.

Tou Ariki said he had never received a request from the Koutu Nui for an opportunity to speak or have their views heard at community meetings on Rarotonga.

“They are just too demanding and don’t want to listen.”

Explaining the roles and responsibilities of the two groups, Tou Ariki says when the Are Ariki receives a matter of discussion from government, they deliver the message to the Koutu Nui. Koutu Nui is supposed to discuss the matter and report the outcome back to the Are Ariki, he said.

The Koutu Nui is an assembly of the sub-chiefs, namely the Kavana, Matapaio and Rangatira of the Cook Islands. It was established by section 2 of the House of Ariki Amendment Act 1972, which introduced a new Part II into the Act of 1966.

According to section 23(1) of the 1966 Act (as amended), its functions are to “discuss and make recommendations or resolutions on any matter relating to the customs and traditions of the Cook Islands.” Section 23(2) states these are to be conveyed to the House of Ariki, who may consider whether to make recommendations to the legislature.

In a statement earlier this month, the executive committee of the Koutu Nui said at a public meeting held in Matavera in March 2021, the majority of those who attended did not agree with abolishing the Koutu Nui.

When a Cabinet submission from the Are Ariki and its Minister George “Maggie” Angene to abolish Koutu Nui was made last year, former president of the group, Terea Mataiapo Paul Raui Pokoati Allsworth said: “Our united members say that this inappropriate recommendation to our Cabinet is a ‘knee jerk reaction’ that will have dire political consequences if pursued.”

According to Allsworth, to amend the Koutu Nui legislation, an amendment to the Constitution will need to be made. This he then said would require a two thirds majority of the Members of the Parliament.

“Te Koutu Nui has been and will continue to be vocal against government policies that do not support various public and community concerns and the will of the people,” Allsworth then said.

The Koutu Nui’s mandate is clear under the Cook Islands Constitution, Allsworth told Cook Islands News last year.

“That is to ‘consider such matters relative to the welfare of the people of the Cook Islands’. I believe we have listened to the voice of the people and we have tried our best to deliver what is good for our people.”

Meanwhile Tou Ariki has hit back strongly at wellknown businesswoman, Ellena Tavioni, who last week questioned the recent issue of warrants to Rongomatane Nicholas Ariki and Ngamaru Tupuna Ariki into the Are Ariki.

“She is trying to bring the Are Ariki down, we are established in our Constitution; the Head of State (Queen’s Representative) issues the warrant to endorse an Ariki.”

The Are Ariki was created by section 8 of the Constitution of the Cook Islands, it comprised all the Arikis, or paramount chiefs, of the principal islands and is primarily a reviewing and advisory body, Tou Ariki explained.

Section 9 of the Constitution, as amended, provides that its functions are 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 make recommendations thereon to Parliament”; and to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law.

Section 8(2) of the House of Ariki Act 1966 provides that the House of Ariki “may of its own motion make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly upon any question affecting the customs or traditions of the Cook Islands or any of them or of the inhabitants thereof provided that before considering any such motion the President of the House shall invite the Premier or any minister or person the Premier shall appoint to be present and take part in the proceedings …”