French Polynesia’s Temaru first to arrive

As the first Pacific leader to arrive in Rarotonga for the Forum, French Polynesian president Oscar Temaru (above) can expect a hearty Cook Islands welcome.

Temaru arrives with two others at 2.50pm today on the weekly flight from Tahiti, and Prime Minister Henry Puna is taking pains to ensure he is properly received.

French Polynesia, while not a member of the Forum, is an associate member. Still, Temaru is the first leader to arrive and to boot represents the Cook Islands’ nearest neighbour, so Puna wants the turou being staged in his honour to be special.

Titikaveka College students and a dance team will put on a turou and a performance for him on the tarmac, and his liaison officer and driver will meet him there. French Polynesia senator Richard Ariihai Teheiava has also confirmed his attendance, but is not arriving until tomorrow.

Temaru and other high-profile leaders are likely to be staying at Edgewater Resort & Spa or in private homes.

The prime minister of Tonga, Lord Tu’ivakano, is the next to arrive, on the same Air New Zealand flight as the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat this afternoon.

- Rachel Reeves