New Zealand Governor General receives warm Cook Islands welcome

New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and her delegation were warmly welcomed to the Pa Ariki Palace with a traditional turou by Puati Mataiapo George Ngapare and Paitai Rangatira Steven Kavana.

Dame Kiro arrived in Rarotonga on Wednesday afternoon on her first official visit to the Cook Islands and was received at the Rarotonga International Airport by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) staff and Head of State King’s Representative, Sir Tom Marsters and Lady Tuaine Marsters.

Earlier today, Dame Kiro met with Prime Minister Mark Brown, Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tepaeru Herrmann and senior government officials.

Dame Kiro, her husband Dr Richard Davies and other visiting officials attended Aotearoa New Zealand’s Matariki Day celebrations at the New Zealand High Commissioner’s residence at Ngatipa this evening.