Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007

Reviews of American Sämoa, Hawai‘i, clearly designed to counter the provi- Niue, Tokelau, Tonga, and Tuvalu are sions of New Zealand’s civil union not included in this issue. legislation (CIN, 19 July 2006, 1). Government also committed itself Cook Islands to a variety of programs including the The period under review was domi- development of geotourism through nated by an unprecedented call for an agreement signed by Tourism general elections, parliamentary con- Minister Wilkie Rasmussen and Sarah fl icts, and budget approval constraints Laskin, vice president of public and that at times tested the interpretation business development for National of the powers of the head of state. Geographic. The agreement obligated Ongoing out-migration of Cook the island country to adhere to four- Islanders, environmental problems, teen geotourism principles designed and continuing infl ation slipped under to sustain and enhance the geographic the radar as politicians pushed for character of a given place, including major salary increases and most Cook the environment, culture, aesthetics, Islanders struggled from paycheck and the well-being of its people. In to paycheck. The popular American return, National Geographic prom- television series Survivor, and some ised to produce maps and brochures sporting successes, provided some “which identify the unique features of respite, but an unpredictable tourist the Cook Islands” (CIN, 2 Aug, 2006, industry, technical personnel limita- 1). The Cook Islands becomes only tions, and occasional invasive diseases the fourth country to accede to the and insects reminded Cook Islanders charter. to be constantly vigilant. In July Teina Bishop, member for July 2006 began with continuing Arutanga (Aitutaki), resigned from his concern by many observers about the cabinet post realigning himself with leak of the Queen’s Honours list from the opposition Cook Islands Party the offi ce of Prime Minister Jim Maru- (cip). Not long after, Kiriau Turepu rai, which he dismissed as “unimport- (cip) won the snap election for the ant” (CIN, 5 July, 4). Perhaps of more Matavera (Rarotonga) constituency, concern to Marurai were political potentially changing the balance of undercurrents aimed toward replac- power in Parliament and creating a ing him and the Speaker of the House footing for a change of government (CIN, 6 July 2006, 1). Meanwhile, (CIN, 20 July 2006, 1). The political one of the laws fi nalized by the Cook battle intensifi ed when opposition cip Islands Parliament was a Marriage members met in Parliament without Amendment Bill outlawing marriages Democratic Party (Demo) govern- between homosexuals. The law was ment members. After swearing in the

216 pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 217 newly elected Kiriau Turepu, they candidate Tepure Tapaitau CIN, 10 voted the Demo government out. The Aug 2006, 1). Apparently catching the event was broadcast live on national campaign committee off guard, the radio, attracting accusations of a coup Cook Islands Party failed to nominate attempt bordering on sedition and a substitute candidate, so Rasmus- treason. The extraordinary chain of sen entered the election unopposed. events became even more confusing The election was hotly contested when Queen’s Representative Sir Fred- for 23 of the 24 seats. After some erick Goodwin called for a general recounts—and allegations of bribery election. This essentially negated the involving bread, fi sh, pearls, and an by-election just won by Turepu and excavator—the Democratic Party preempted the later attempt by cip won a majority of seats and formed a parliamentarians to use a vote of no government (CIN, 14 Oct 2006, 1; CIN, confi dence to force a change of gov- 27 Oct 2006, 1). ernment (CIN, 25 July 2006). The high During this intense election period, court was drawn into the drama amid the caretaker government faced accusations of political maneuvering budgetary limitations, and the queen’s on both sides of the aisle. Meanwhile, representative issued an unprecedented caretaker Prime Minister Jim Marurai decree authorizing bridging expen- tried to reassure the general popula- diture from 20 November to twelve tion that there was no cause for alarm sitting days after the fi rst meeting of (CIN, 25 July 2006, 1). The election the newly elected Parliament (CIN, was set for 26 September 2006. 18 Nov 2006, 1). In the subsequent Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry debate over the intervention, New announced his retirement from the Zealand constitutional expert Dr Cook Islands Party leadership effec- Alex Frame warned that the claim tive 31 August 2006, and as mem- of “necessity” cited by the head of ber of Parliament representing the state was diffi cult to justify (CIN, 18 Takuvaine (Rarotonga) constituency. Dec 2006, 1). A second legal opinion Mark Brown replaced Henry as cip by Dr William Hodges, a member of candidate for Takuvaine, and Tom the Auckland University law faculty, Marsters, the member of Parlia- supported Frame’s remarks but added ment for Murienua (Rarotonga), was that the queen’s representative “does eventually elected to lead the Cook have reserve powers ‘to sustain and Islands Party in Parliament (CIN, 13 not to destroy’ peace, order and good Dec 2006, 1). The party now faces government as provided by the consti- multiple challenges: new leadership, a tution” (CIN, 21 Dec 2006, 13). seemingly overzealous head of state, The national police provided one possible court challenges, and a pend- focus for the newly constituted Demo ing general election. government when an eagerly awaited As candidates fi led their nomina- review identifi ed poor leadership, tions for the elections, Wilkie Ras- fi nancial mismanagement, and lack of mussen switched his allegiance to the public confi dence as key issues fac- Democratic Party. He had originally ing the force (CIN, 5 Dec 2006, 1). In won his seat by nine votes over Demo April, the cabinet appointed Patrick 218 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

Tasker, a New Zealand inspector, as Cook Islands Investments Corporation the new commissioner of police. The (ciic) board chairman Julian Dash- new commissioner will be expected wood over plans to tour Auckland to manage necessary changes while ports in February 2007. The decision sustaining police operations (CIN, 28 to terminate Beer may have also been April 2007, 1). In another change, infl uenced by a December 2006 audit local Shola Ivaiti was named to replace that claimed improper payments of Kevin Carr as fi nancial secretary (CIN, over nz$30,000 for consultancy work 23 Feb 2007, 1). Earlier, former Solici- (CIN, Feb 2007, 1). Dashwood himself tor General Janet Maki became the was later terminated after the change country’s fi rst woman ombudsman, of government. “Maybe it’s because beginning her new job 15 November I was trying to weed out corruption. 2006 (CIN, 1 Nov 2006, 1). Her stated I guess my standards are higher than goal was to provide a public service theirs,” declared Dashwood (CIN, 22 that ensures government accountabil- Feb 2007, 1). The Chamber of Com- ity (CIN, 3 Nov 2006, 3). merce weighed in on the controversy The issue of fi sheries poaching by expressing concern at the “appar- emerged in December, when long-liner ent political interference shown by FV Tim Tam was captured by a police the sacking of Dashwood (CIN, 23 squad fi shing ninety nautical miles Feb 2007, 1). Local businessman Sam south-southwest of Penrhyn Island. “Gumby” Crocombe replaced Beer as The Tim Tam had a Korean captain the new chairman of the Ports Author- and a crew made up of a Samoan, ity Board, while Tapi Taio replaced Fijian, Chinese, and three Taiwanese Dashwood as ciic chairman (CIN, 9 sailors (CIN, 6 Dec 2006, 1). About March 2007, 1). seventeen tons of mostly albacore tuna In April 2007, the Chinese-funded on board were sold off cheaply to the National Police Headquarters in general public in Rarotonga (CIN, 14 Avarua was fi nally opened with a Dec 2006, 1). Skipper Yeong Bae Han ceremony led by Queen’s Representa- was convicted and fi ned the minimum tive Sir Frederick Goodwin and the nz$100,000, a far cry from the legal Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yuan- maximum of nz$1 million (CIN, 16 yuan (CIN, 2 April 2007, 5). The Dec 2006, 1). In May 2007, a Taiwan- government revealed a Chinese-funded ese long-lining vessel FV Yin Chen nz$7.5 million road-upgrading project No 1 was caught fi shing illegally and for the 5.5-kilometer stretch of back Captain Man Liu Tsai was convicted road from Nikao to Takuvaine, to be in the high court. Noting that the ves- completed in time for the 2009 South sel had made multiple excursions into Pacifi c Mini Games (CIN, 14 March the Cook Islands exclusive economic 2007, 1). China also agreed to fund zone, the court ordered a fi ne of a new sports stadium for the Cook nz$200,000 plus nz$50,000 in costs Islands with nz$4 million in aid, plus (CIN, 24 May 2007, 1). a further nz$2 million in concessional Another focus for controversy was loans (CIN, 20 March 2007, 1). the Ports Authority Board, whose In January, Minister of Foreign chairman Don Beer Jr was sacked by Affairs and Immigration Wilkie Ras- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 219 mussen noted an increase in foreigners In March 2007, Parliament changed illegally working in the country. He a law empowering the cabinet to give warned that it was a serious issue and, members a pay raise without being after meeting with communities of bound by the independent Remunera- Samoans, Fijians, Kiribati, and others, tion Tribunal (CIN, 8 March 2007, some twenty foreigners were given 1). Proposed adjustments would forty days to leave the country (CIN, 5 increase the prime minister’s salary Jan 2007, 1; CIN, 25 May 2007, 1). from nz$75,000 to nz$105,000, with As of December 2006, the Cook members of Parliament going from Islands total population including nz$35,000 to nz$50,000 per year visitors was 19,569 (9,932 men and (CIN, 12 April 2007, 1). The increases 9,637 women), an increase of 8.6 are apparently exclusive of many addi- percent compared to the last census tional allowances. A group for politi- in 2001. Large population declines cal change challenged the government were noted for the Northern group, to justify the change, and the Chamber especially Manihiki Island, from 515 of Commerce’s Teresa Manarangi- in 2001, to 351 in 2006 (CIN, 13 April Trott described the raises as extremely 2007, 1). disturbing (CIN, 10 March 2007, 1; The budget estimate for the 2006– CIN, 20 March 2007, 1). 2007 fi nancial year tabled in Parlia- Tourism remained the largest indus- ment by Minister of Finance Dr Tere- try in the Cook Islands. Spotlight- pai Maoate totaled nz$106.9 million ing that market, Air New Zealand’s (CIN, 14 Dec 2006, 1). The 2007–2008 short-haul group general manager budget policy estimates the govern- Norm Thompson and Air Rarotonga’s ment’s net worth at nz$133.6 million managing director Ewan Smith signed in the new fi nancial year, noting that a new code-share agreement to pro- aid to the Cook Islands is expected to vide joint schedules between Aitutaki total nz$28.7 million. This represents and Rarotonga beginning in May a drop of nz$8.6 million, partially 2007 (CIN, 5 April 2007, 1). Air Tahiti explained by the removal of a one-off began its fi rst Tahiti-Rarotonga con- Australian payment of nz$4.5 million necting fl ight under a code-shared ser- for the upgrade of the patrol boat Te vice with Air Rarotonga (CIN, 3 April Kukupa in the 2006 budget (CIN, 3 2007, 1). The joint venture offers a April 2007, 1). New Zealand retained twice-a-week service (CIN, 4 April its designation as the highest donor to 2007, 1). Cruise ship tourism contin- the Cook Islands with nz$10.3 million ued during the year, and the 119,000 in aid. Government debt is expected to ton, 750-cabin Sapphire Princess, be nz$54.8 million by June 2007. The carrying 2,670 passengers, became budget statement anticipated that pro- the largest cruise ship yet to visit ceeds from the pearl industry would Rarotonga (CIN, 30 April 2007, 1). increase by 10 percent (from nz$2.1 During this review period, the million in 2006), while the fi shing government launched the country’s industry would continue exporting an fi fteen-year sustainable develop- estimated nz$9.9 million worth of fi sh ment plan titled “Living the Cook a year (CIN, 3 April 2007, 1). Islands Vision—A 2020 Challenge” 220 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

(Te Kaveinga Nui—Pathway for Apostolic Church denominations, was Sustainable Development in the Cook regularly called on to offer invoca- Islands). In a public meeting, hotel tions and benedictions at government entrepreneur and economist Tata functions and events. In July 2006, the Crocombe called it a plan to nowhere, council issued a call for a national day pointing out that it failed to incor- to pray and fast for the political “cir- porate some of the country’s big- cus” occurring in the Cook Islands. gest problems such as depopulation, The rac chairman, Pastor Tutai Pere, human resource development, aid declared that the tiny nation needed dependence—and politicians. More- “deliverance from further political over he observed that the government bondage of disunity, instability and was too big (CIN, 25 Jan 2007, 1). uncertainty” (CIN, 6 July 2006, 1). Cabinet Minister Wilkie Rasmussen In another public display of political defended the government by point- pressure, Ngatangiia Cook Islands ing out that the issues mentioned by Christian Church Pastor Iana Aitau Crocombe were not new, labeling asked police to enforce a ban prevent- his comments as “purely ideals and ing people from swimming or surfi ng theories of convenience” (CIN, 26 Jan on Sundays. The police responded 2007, 4). that they could only ask people but During the year, Tata Crocombe’s in effect could not enforce such a rule sweetheart deal in purchasing the (CIN, 11 July 2006, 1). government-owned Rarotongan Hotel In 2007 Cook Islanders appeared reemerged in the news. Tata Cro- in third place on a list of the world’s combe had been recruited by Sir Geof- fattest countries. Nauru topped the list frey Henry’s government to broker the with the greatest percentage of over- sale of state assets, but ended up pur- weight adults (94.5 percent) followed chasing the hotel himself for nz$3.25 by Federated States of Micronesia, million with no money down, and a Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, Sämoa, grace period of ten years to pay back Palau, and Kiribati. The United States the money with no interest charges. follows in ninth place (74.1 percent). The media noted that the ten-year Conducted by the United Nations period was ending in September 2007 World Health Western Pacifi c Regional (CIN, 18 Jan 2007, 1). Crocombe was offi ce and the London-based Interna- also linked to a proposed Black Rock tional Obesity Task Force, researchers tourist development scheme incorpo- looked at the adult population over rating the current golf course, Black age fi fteen. Obesity rates highlighted Rock preschool, and Harley Street in imbalances between levels of physical Rarotonga (CIN, 25 Nov 2006, 1). activity, and signifi cant changes in diet Throughout the year under review, (CIN, 21 Feb 2007, 1). religion maintained a powerful The review period also saw a sharp infl uence on politics. The Religious rise in dengue fever cases (CIN, 14 Feb Advisor Council (rac), representing 2007, 1). The Cook Islands Ministry the Cook Islands Christian Church, of Health fi nally responded with plans Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Lat- for a mosquito-spraying blitz (CIN, ter-day Saints, Assembly of God and 15 Feb 2007, 1). Although the use of pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 221

Reslin in the spray and its potentially is that outside entertainment value toxic effects received some heavy criti- that reality tv shows provide, viewers cism from the public, spraying con- will fi nd the natural attractions of the tinued anyway (CIN, 18 April 2007, country highly appealing and consider 1). A total of 1,394 cases of dengue the Cook Islands as an option for an have been recorded since May 2006, island vacation” (CIN, 20 Jan 2007, 7). with most (1,296) having occurred Another attraction in the Cook in Rarotonga. Some nineteen tourists Islands during the year was the tradi- were affected. tional canoe-building project, Te Mire Educational initiatives were also in Tarai Vaka (CIN, 18 July 2006, 1). the news during the year. Thirty-fi ve However the most challenging sport- students enrolled in the University ing event was the third Vaka Eiva, of the South Pacifi c’s new Master of a canoe race around the island of Business Administration program, Rarotonga involving thirty-fi ve teams most being heads of departments of canoe paddlers from New Zealand, paying their own way (CIN, 16 Feb Australia, Hawai‘i, Fiji, Niue, Tahiti, 2007, 1). The usp center also received and Cook Islands (CIN, 17 Nov 2006, a nz$300,000 upgrade (CIN, 25 June 1–17). 2007, 1). On the downside, the Cook The year under review was also Islands government withdrew its marked by drug and criminal activi- support for the South Pacifi c School ties. Cocaine bound for Rarotonga of Medicine set up in Rarotonga on and valued at nz$5.6 million was 16 March 2004. It was to be a two- seized in Auckland. Hidden in the year course costing foreign students linings of two suitcases, the cocaine is us$39,000 (nz$56,000). The govern- believed to have come from São Paulo, ment removed its backing after discov- South America. It is uncertain whether ering that the founder, controversial Rarotonga was the fi nal destination or American Dr Larry Sands, had been a transit point to the Australian mar- convicted of mail fraud, and disci- ket (CIN, 29 Nov 2006, 1). An unpro- plined for prescribing wrong medi- voked stabbing of an unarmed youth cines (CIN, 21 March 2007, 1). brought the realities of big city vio- By July of 2006, the popular televi- lence to Rarotonga, with Cook Islands sion series American Survivor had police declaring their determination begun fi lming its “reality game” on to stamp it out (CIN, 21 Dec 2006, Aitutaki. Filming in Cook Islands was 1). The Religious Advisory Council completed by 4 August, and Tour- reacted to the stabbing by calling for ism Authority chief executive Chris the formation of a youth action team Wong revealed that the production dubbed “Youth for Life—Mapu Kia had injected an estimated nz$3 mil- Ora” (CIN, 22 Dec 2006, 1). lion into the Cook Islands economy Cook Islanders continued to take a (CIN, 5 August 2006, 1). Exposure deep interest in environmental issues. of the Cook Islands to over 16 mil- As active participants in the United lion people in the United States alone Nations Framework Convention was expected to increase visitors to on Climate Change and the Kyoto the country. Wong stated, “Our hope Protocol since 1992, the Cook Islands 222 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) joined other island countries in a plea bird, which was once plentiful on the for a reduction of greenhouse gas island of Atiu. Before it became almost emissions to larger countries that con- extinct, its feathers were used for the tribute most to global warming. Island cloaks and headdresses of high chiefs. nations have been described as “the In a joint effort in April, naturalists conscience” on climate change (CIN, and Atiuans brought in twenty-seven 21 Dec 2006, 5). The Cook Islands birds from Rimatara Island in French is already being impacted by climatic Polynesia (CIN, 28 April 2007, 1). changes, particularly with regard to As part of its Unit Titles Bill initia- its tourism and pearl industries (CIN, tive the Tepaki group purchased the 16 April 2007, 3). twelve-unit Castaway property for As part of the government’s plan nz$2.3 million, adding to their recent to reduce dependency on fossil oil, purchases of Manea Beach for nz$1.8 a wind energy farm project was million, and Lagoon Lodges for nz$4 proposed at Kiikii on the island of million, with expected settlements for Rarotonga (CIN, 24 Jan 2007, 1). the Aquarius and the Manuia Beach Preliminary testing for persistent properties (CIN, 2 May 2007, 1). The organic pollutants (pops) in Raro- Tepaki group also maintains a keen tonga lagoons indicated concentra- interest in building a high-rise apart- tions of chlorinated pesticide (ddt ment block on the Cook Islands High and methoxychlor), polycyclice Commission offi ce location in New aromatic hydrocarbons (pah) and Zealand. The New Zealand High phthalates (dehp) above the detec- Court had ruled against Tepaki’s so- tion limit. Environmentalist Imogen called “diplomatic project,” which Ingram pointed out that the govern- planned to turn the Cook Islands High ment needed to take positive action Commission chancery in Wellington to remedy the environmental chal- into a high-rise offi ce and apartment lenge because it was a signatory to the complex. Originally approved by the Stockholm Convention that agreed to Cook Islands government, the deal a total eradication of pops (CIN, 15 was canceled when certain conditions Nov 2006, 7). were not met and when the govern- Another problem that emerged ment changed (CIN, 18 Oct 2006, 1). during the year took the form of the jon tikivanotau m jonassen glassy-winged “sharpshooter” bug. Discovered in Rarotonga, and sus- pected to have arrived on plants smug- References gled in from Tahiti, the insect feeds on more than three hundred host plants CIN, Cook Islands News. Rarotonga. Daily. including trees, crops, and plants such as hibiscus, gardenia, and papaya. It is also known to transmit Pierce’s French Polynesia disease, which affects grapevines (CIN, 4 April 2007, 1, 7). In more positive Political instability continued in environmental news, the year marked French Polynesia during the year the return of the kura or lorikeet under review. The barely two-year- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 223 old pro-independence government ground testing and communicated the of Oscar Temaru lost power to a results of his study in an open letter to pro-French coalition when assembly President Temaru, who read it in front members switched their allegiances. of the Assembly of French Polynesia However, the new government stood (TP, 4 Aug 2007). on very unstable foundations from On 4 August the French State the beginning, and its internal divi- Council removed Representative sions became more and more apparent Nicole Bouteau from the assembly and toward the end of the review period. declared her ineligible for one year. July 2006 started with the highly This was after the electoral audit offi ce publicized inauguration of a monu- detected a procedural mistake during ment for the victims of nuclear testing the election campaign in 2005, when by President Temaru on the fortieth Bouteau’s party No Oe E Te Nunaa anniversary of the fi rst French nuclear did not properly designate its fi nancial test on Moruroa Atoll (TPM, July delegate (TP, 4 Aug 2007). The harsh 2006; TP, 2 July 2006). While former punishment of a young politician with territorial governments had supported no prior record of misdealings, for an the French policy of denying the issue accidental mistake, seemed at odds of irradiation, Temaru’s administra- with the lenient treatment of other tion took sides with the test victims individuals previously charged with association, Moruroa e Tatou (Moru- corruption. Although sentenced for roa and Us), and supported their embezzlement of public funds earlier claims for transparency, independent in 2006, Emile Vernaudon remained inquiries, and medical follow-up for eligible, and on 13 July a court abbre- the former test workers and inhabit- viated Henri Flohr’s fi ve-year period ants of the islands closest to the testing of ineligibility for political corruption base. French High Commissioner (TP, 17 July 2007; TPM, Sept 2007). Anne Boquet, however, declared the Bouteau, one of the country’s most inauguration to be an “unfriendly ges- popular and respected politicians, was ture” toward France (TP, 3 July 2006). replaced in the assembly by Thilda In late July, Florent de Vathaire, a Fuller of the Fetia Api party, led by radiation expert from the National Philip Schyle. The Fetia Api party now Institute for Health and Medical had two representatives, and Bouteau’s Research (inserm) of France, pre- party was no longer represented. sented the results of a long-term study In mid-October, another political of thyroid cancer in French Polynesia. crisis occurred when trade union mem- The study demonstrated a correlation bers attempted to force the Temaru between exposure to above-average government to resign. After union radiation and the increase in cases of leader Ronald Terorotua unsuccess- thyroid cancer, making him the fi rst fully called for a general strike, on 12 agent of a French government offi ce October members of his trade union O to confi rm the harmfulness of the tests Oe To Oe Rima (You Are Your Own (TP, 2 Aug 2007). He called for the Hand) blocked the main road into immediate declassifi cation of all medi- downtown Papeete. They were joined cal fi les since the beginning of above- by members of the former territorial 224 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) militia Groupement d’Intervention de While the French intervention la Polynésie (gip, Polynesian Inter- reinforced the position and credibility vention Grouping) under its ex-com- of the French state, it raised questions mander Léonard Puputauki. The gip about the credibility of Temaru and had been dissolved by the Temaru his government, since he had vigor- government in January but continued ously denounced the French security to erect roadblocks throughout the forces in the past. While ordering following months. Members of a bus them to intervene on his behalf, he drivers’ union reinforced the road- made strong declarations criticizing blocks with their buses. The protesters France at the Pacifi c Islands Forum did not give clear reasons for their meeting (TPM, Nov 2006). actions, expressing only a general In a communiqué on 1 November, sentiment of dissatisfaction, and the the presidency explained its strategy to Temaru government refused to negoti- pursue the reinscription of the country ate with them. Temaru then left the on the UN list of non-self-govern- country to attend the Pacifi c Islands ing territories. This would guarantee Forum in Fiji, where French Polynesia an international process of decolo- and New Caledonia were admitted as nization, and allow the population associate members (TP, 25 Oct 2007). to choose between various options, After the president left, the protesters including independence (TP, 1 Nov removed the roadblocks, but on 21 2006). Nevertheless, Temaru con- October they occupied the presidential tinued to be attacked by pro-French palace, the vice president’s offi ce, and forces for his alleged support of the assembly building. Temaru inter- independence. Throughout the second preted this as an attempted coup and, half of the year, controversial state- from Suva, requested that the French ments by the president, his cabinet, security forces intervene. During the and assembly members continued to night of 22–23 October, French para- provoke heated debate. At the opening military police squads, under orders of the agricultural show in September, from the high commission, intervened Temaru deplored the increasing inabil- to liberate the occupied buildings. ity of young Tahitians to farm and They used teargas to disperse the pro- fi sh, and accused the French educa- testers in front of the assembly build- tion system of producing only “idiots ing after some of them turned violent and unemployed” (TP, 4 Sept 2007; (TP, 23 Oct 2007). TPM, Sept 2007). During an assembly After the president’s return, the session in December, Union pour la strike leaders called a demonstration Démocratie (upld) representative and demanded the resignation of High Ruben Teremate raised his concerns Commissioner Boquet, but only about about the immigration of French two hundred people showed up for the settlers, referring to “‘ofe popa‘a” march. The blockades were inter- (foreign bamboo) displacing the “‘ofe preted, not as expressions of public ma‘ohi” (native bamboo) on the west dissatisfaction, but rather as maneu- coast of Tahiti. During the same ses- vers manipulated by the political sion, Temaru welcomed the assembly opposition (TPM, Nov 2006). members with the words “Greetings to pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 225 the ho‘o ‘äi‘a [sellouts] and to the here reata under the leadership of Tahu‘a ‘äi‘a [patriots]” (TP, 10 Dec 2006). (traditional priest) Sunny Moanaura The French high commissioner and Walker. The celebrations once more the pro-French opposition denounced epitomized the new cultural policy of these speeches as provocative, racist, traditional revival and reintegration and xenophobic. into the wider Polynesian community On 10 November, Health Minister (TP, 19 and 21 Nov 2007). Pia Hiro resigned, accusing Temaru While the government thus contin- of giving inappropriate guidelines for ued to pursue its policy of pan-Pacifi c health policy. While Hiro wished to cooperation and cultural renaissance, maintain the present French standards its political foundation in the assembly in the local health system, Temaru became more and more shaky. Months had suggested keeping costs down by before, insurmountable tensions had applying the standards of the indepen- developed within the bare majority dent Pacifi c Islands countries instead. upld coalition, and in April 2006, Temaru appointed Tahitian physician Temaru’s main coalition partner Emile Dr Charles Tetaria as the new minister Ver naudon left the coalition and allied for health (TPM, Dec 2006; TP, 12 Nov himself with the pro-French Tahoeraa 2006). opposition of former President Gaston Amid all these political troubles, Flosse. Temaru, however, had tem- the government sponsored the cel- porarily saved his assembly majority ebrations for the new local holiday through a makeshift alliance with four Matari‘i i Ni‘a on 20 November. The opportunistic representatives from the rising of the Pleiades (Matari‘i i ni‘a) Tuamotu and Marquesas islands, who marked the beginning of the most fer- were originally elected on a Taho- tile season in ancient Tahitian culture. eraa list in 2004 but had frequently The Temaru government had made changed sides. Due to the unreliability this the new offi cial local holiday, of the four representatives, Temaru’s replacing 29 June, which marked the new majority proved to be very annexation of the Tahitian kingdom to unstable. In October and November, France in 1880. Under the Flosse gov- threats of a new political switch were ernment 29 June had been celebrated expressed by the four, subsequently as the “day of autonomy.” While the known as “Islanders,” and by late latter was politically controversial, 20 November it was unclear who held the November was intended to be a purely majority (TP, 22 Nov 2006; TPM, Dec cultural celebration of Polynesian 2006). However, after long debates identity and spirituality (TP, 30 Oct and delays, the budget for 2007 was 2007). The 2006 celebrations became fi nally passed on 7 December with the a large pan-Polynesian cultural festi- votes of the upld, including the four val, with groups from Aotearoa, “Islanders,” so that the government’s Tonga, Sämoa, Tokelau, Hawai‘i, and majority appeared to be once more Rapa Nui participating. The festival secured (TP, 7 Dec 2006). was opened with a kava ceremony as Only a few days later, the opposi- well as traditional proceedings led by tion fi led a motion of censure. Sur- the religious revival group Te Hivare- prisingly, the motion was passed on 226 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

13 December, with a bare majority actually Gaston Flosse who pulled the of twenty-nine votes, making it clear strings (To‘ere, 21 Dec 2006). that two of the “Islanders” had indeed The new president, born to a Chi- changed sides again, while the two nese-Polynesian family on Bora Bora, Fetia Api representatives had given up received an engineer’s diploma in their neutrality and joined the opposi- France and headed the municipality of tion (TP, 13 Dec 2006). In the follow- his home island since 1989. Within the ing two weeks, while Temaru’s govern- Tahoeraa party he was considered to ment remained in offi ce as a caretaker be a rational technocrat (DT, 27 Dec administration, a new majority coali- 2007). tion under the name of “Autonomist Three days after his election, Tong platform” was formed, comprising Sang presented his cabinet of fi fteen Flosse’s Tahoeraa, Vernaudon’s Ai‘a ministers. Temauri Foster, Mayor Api, Jean-Christophe Bouissou’s Rau- of Hao atoll and leader of the four tahi (which had split from Tahoeraa), “Islanders,” was appointed vice and the four “Islanders.” As both president and minister for Munici- Flosse and his son-in-law and desig- pal Development. Seven ministers nated successor Edouard Fritch were were from Tahoeraa, most of them unacceptable to the smaller coalition former ministers under Flosse, includ- partners, Bora Bora Mayor Gaston ing Teva Rohfritsch (Economy and Tong Sang, who had been lands minis- Labor), Armelle Merceron (Finance), ter under Flosse, was designated as the Tearii Alpha (Education), Jules Ienfa new majority’s presidential candidate (Health), Madeleine Brémond (Social (pir, 21 Dec 2007). and Family Affairs and Housing), and On 26 December, Tong Sang was Frédéric Riveta (Agriculture). Interest- elected to be the new president with ing to note was the absence of Gaston a majority of 31 votes, against 26 for Flosse and most of his inner circle. Temaru. Besides the members of the Also striking was the overrepresenta- new coalition, the two representatives tion of the “Islanders,” with four cabi- of Fetia Api had also voted for Tong net ministers—besides Vice President Sang. In his inaugural speech, the new Foster, there were Moehau Teriitahi president promised to consolidate the (Outer Island Development), Louis country’s fi nancial situation and coop- Frébault (Equipment), and Michel Yip erate more constructively with the (Postal Services, Telecommunications, French government (NT, 27 Dec 2006; and Pearl Farming)—and of the two DT, 27 Dec 2006; l’Hebdo, 28 Dec small coalition parties with two min- 2006). Temaru, on the other hand, isters each: Maina Sage (Tourism and denounced the change of govern- Environment) and Moana Blanchard ment, which he attributed to a con- (Transportation) for Rautahi; Nata- spiracy directed from Paris designed cha Taurua (Culture) and Clarenntz to sabotage his administration (Fenua Vernaudon (Youth and Sports) for Info, 19 Dec 2006; NT, 27 Dec 2006; Ai‘a Api. The “Islanders” had thus DT, 27 Dec 2006). Some upld mem- played the political power game very bers also maintained that behind the successfully. Beginning as Tahoeraa formal leadership of Tong Sang, it was backbenchers, within two years they pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 227 rose to become the “kingmakers” in his government undertook only a the assembly and received leading few concrete steps to implement this positions in the new cabinet (DT, vision. Further, despite the promise to 30 Dec 2007). break with the system of nepotism and This pattern of opportunistic corruption established under Flosse, behavior by the “Islanders” led to many upld government offi cials had strong criticism among the population. engaged in similar activities. In addi- In more general terms, it was pointed tion, Temaru’s plans to lead the coun- out that the outer islands were over- try into independence were regularly represented in the new cabinet in com- attacked by the opposition, and many parison to Tahiti (where more than people were infl uenced by their pro- 70 percent of the population live). French propaganda. Unfortunately, Besides that, within a few days of most upld politicians failed to rigor- the appointment of the new cabinet, ously uphold their moral standards tensions developed within Tahoeraa, and implement their political visions. between the hard core of Flosse fol- After their initial attempt to oust lowers and the rest of the party. At the Tong Sang government proved the fi rst assembly session of the New unsuccessful, the now opposition Year on 11 January, the new govern- upld announced that it would still ment lacked a majority because Flosse continue to do whatever it could to and two other Tahoeraa representa- get the new government, which they tives were absent. The upld therefore considered illegitimate, removed from immediately fi led a motion of censure offi ce. For several consecutive weeks against Tong Sang, but it was eventu- during late January and February, ally defeated (TPM, Feb 2007; TP, several hundred Temaru followers 18 Jan 2007). held weekly demonstrations against The turning of the year thus Tong Sang, demanding his resigna- marked, for the time being, the end tion. The reason for the protests was of the barely two-year-long politi- an ongoing judicial inquiry against cal experiment of “Taui” (change) Tong Sang, who as Flosse’s minister under Temaru’s leadership. This was of land affairs had been involved in a regarded with mixed feelings. Most corruption affair in the early 2000s. people seemed to be generally disap- At one of the protest events, Temaru pointed with politics and showed argued that ethical standards require a neither grief nor joy about the change politician to at least temporarily resign of government. While there was a from offi ce during a judicial inquiry degree of discontent regarding the (TP, 31 Jan, 7 Feb 2007). Temaru return of the Tahoeraa after the previ- also expressed his hope that Social- ous experience of almost twenty years ist candidate Ségolène Royal might of increasingly corrupt rule by Flosse, win the upcoming French presidential the initial euphoria for Temaru’s elections, and subsequently his party “Taui” policy had also begun to fade campaigned vigorously for her. This away. Even though Temaru is indeed was something completely new, as one of the few local politicians to have Tavini Huiraatira used to boycott a true vision for the country’s future, French presidential elections. 228 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

In early January, Tong Sang trav- affi liated Orientation Council for the eled to France to meet President Follow-up on the Consequences of Jacques Chirac and other French Nuclear Testing (coscen), established government offi cials in order to revive by the Temaru government (TP, 9 relations with Paris that had cooled March 2007; TPM, April 2007). down under Temaru (TP, 16 Jan While the new government proved 2007). That the new French Poly- to be an obedient puppet of Paris nesian president was able to get an regarding the nuclear question, it appointment with Chirac barely two remained very unstable. On 1 March weeks after his election, while Temaru the “Islanders” had founded their had had to wait more than a year for own party, called Te Niu Hau Mana- such a meeting, clearly confi rmed that hune (the foundation of democracy). Paris was politically biased toward Together with the two other minor Papeete. Tong Sang was also able to coalition parties, Rautahi and Ai‘a successfully lobby the French Parlia- Api, they created a third parliamentary ment, and on 24 January the National group named “Polynésiens Ensemble” Assembly voted to change the election (Polynesians Together) in the assembly system of French Polynesia by delet- (TP, 1 March 2007). This proved to ing the one-third-of-seats bonus. This be another destabilizing factor for the provision had been inserted into the majority. Several members of Taho- new organic law of French Polynesia reaa broke away from their party and in 2004 at the request of Flosse, but joined the new group, while Flosse in effect it had helped Temaru win the clashed with some of the “Islanders” 2004 and 2005 elections. The modi- over budgetary issues (TP, 23 and 24 fi cation was confi rmed by the French March 2007). Senate and validated by the Constitu- On 12 April, the deep rift within tional Council in mid-February (TPM, the ruling coalition became even more Feb and March 2007). apparent when two pro-government In March 2007, the struggle over candidates were presented for the nuclear follow-up resumed. The yearly reelection of the assembly’s French delegate for nuclear safety, Speaker. While Edouard Fritch repre- Marcel Jurien de la Gravière, went to sented Tahoeraa, Hiro Tefaarere (an Tahiti to present an offi cial report by ex-upld representative who is now the French Ministry of Defense on the part of Ai‘a Api) was the candidate of radiological impact of nuclear testing the Polynésiens Ensemble group. In the (TP, 6 March 2007). The report admits fi rst round of the election, upld can- some negative effects, but continues to didate Antony Geros received a major- downplay their signifi cance. Moruroa ity of 26 votes, against 21 for Fritch, e Tatou strongly criticized the report. 8 for Tefaarere, and 2 abstentions (the The Tong Sang administration, how- two Fetia Api representatives). In a ever, had weakened the position of second round, Fritch received only 18 the test victim association by replac- votes and Tefaarere 11, while Geros’s ing anti-nuclear assembly members votes remained constant. In a fi nal and Moruroa e Tatou members runoff, Fritch received a majority of with bureaucrats in the government- only 28 votes against 27 for Geros and pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 229

2 abstentions. One of the government The nine other candidates received less representatives had apparently voted than 2 percent of French Polynesia’s for Geros rather than for Fritch (TP, votes each. In the runoff election, Sar- 12 Apr 2007). kozy barely won with 51.89 percent While the upld opposition stood (53.06 percent nationally) against strong and united, President Tong 48.11 percent for Royal. At 69.12 Sang’s coalition government experi- percent at the fi rst round and 74.81 enced a serious crisis only four months percent at the runoff, the participation after his inauguration. Apparently, rates in the territory were unusually a power struggle was being fought high for a French presidential election between Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa (French Ministry of Interior Web site; core group and a heterogeneous TP, 22 April and 6 May 2007). group of younger, more opportu- While few local voters take an nistic politicians who stood behind interest in metropolitan French Tong Sang. The latter group was on politics, French presidential elections the winning side, at least it seemed have been used by local politicians so at fi rst. While the Flosse faction to measure their own infl uence by had won some points by electing endorsing one of the candidates (TPM, Fritch as the assembly speaker, more Feb and March 2007). In this case, all representatives defected to the other the pro-French parties of the ruling faction. Immediately after Fritch’s coalition supported Sarkozy, as he was election, three Tahoeraa representa- the candidate of Chirac’s ump party tives from the Leeward Islands, Tong (TP, 18 April 2007). The upld fi rmly Sang’s home archipelago, entered the supported Royal, and lead a march of Polynésiens Ensemble group, and were 5,000 people in her favor before the subsequently threatened with exclu- election, hoping that her administra- sion from Tahoeraa. Rumors spread tion would adopt a more construc- regarding the possible resignation or tive attitude toward Tahiti than the exclusion from the party of even Presi- strongly partisan Chirac administra- dent Tong Sang himself (TPM, May tion (TP, 14 April 2007). The result of 2006; TP, 16 April 2007). the two election rounds shows that the The next signifi cant political event polarization of the political landscape was the French presidential elections into two almost equal camps had of 21 April and 5 May. Winning can- consolidated, while the parties of the didate Nicolas Sarkozy from Chirac’s “third way,” Fetia Api and No Oe E right-wing party, Union pour un Te Nunaa, which supported Bayrou, Mouvement Populaire (ump), was also were in decline. leading the votes in French Polynesia. It was interesting to note that In the fi rst election round, he received Sarkozy was not leading the runoff 45.23 percent of the votes (31.18 per- vote in all municipalities of Tahiti, cent in France), against 41.68 percent and was leading in only a few of the for Ségolène Royal (25.87 percent in outer islands. In the Windward Islands France). The third place was claimed (Tahiti and Moorea), Royal had the by the liberal François Bayrou with lead not only in the municipality of 7.15 percent (18.57 percent in France). Faaa (where Temaru is the mayor) but 230 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) also in Hitiaa O Te Ra, Papara, Paea, with 29.73 percent. Incumbent Béa- and Moorea. As for the outer islands, trice Vernaudon, who had been elected Royal lead the vote in the Leeward, in 2002 for Tahoeraa but had declared western Tuamotu, and Marquesas herself to stand above partisan divi- islands. Tahoeraa had won in all these sions in 2004, received only the third archipelagos at the last territorial elec- position with 33.53 percent (TP, 2, 3 tions in 2004 that brought the upld and 5 June 2007). to power. In the 2005 by-elections, In the runoff election, Buillard won which reinforced the upld majority, the western constituency with 54.07 the outer islands did not participate. percent against Temaru with 45.93 That the same islands now voted for percent, and Sandras did likewise in the candidate supported by upld the eastern constituency with 56.96 might be seen as an indication that percent against Frébault with 43.04 the upld has now established itself percent. The participation rate was on the outer islands as well. Interest- considerably lower than at the presi- ingly, Royal led the vote even on Tong dential elections, with only slightly Sang’s home island of Bora Bora (TP, over 50 percent in the fi rst round, and 6 May 2007). slightly over 60 percent in the runoff. The Pro-French forces were vic- The strong increase in votes for the torious again when the two deputies Tahoeraa candidates in the second of French Polynesia in the French round was due to the endorsement by National Assembly were elected on 2 Bouissou and other minority candi- and 16 June. In the Western constitu- dates. As a result, the victorious can- ency (western half of Tahiti island, didates led the vote nearly everywhere Moorea, the Leeward and Austral in the western constituency, except islands), the Tahoeraa incumbent and for Temaru’s municipality of Faaa and Papeete Mayor Michel Buillard led the Austral islands of Raivavae and the vote in the fi rst round with 41.50 Rimatara. In the east, Frébault led the percent, slightly ahead of his upld vote in two districts on Tahiti, and on challenger, ex-President Oscar Temaru some of the Tuamotu islands, but also (40.16 percent), the difference being in the Marquesas Archipelago (TP, only 700 votes. On Tahiti and Moorea 16 June 2007). islands as well as on some of the outer Unsurprisingly, the governing islands, Temaru led the vote. Jean- coalition saw the election results as a Christophe Bouissou (Rautahi) scored popular legitimization of the change of third with 8.21 percent, ahead of government in December. At the same Nicole Bouteau (No Oe E Te Nunaa) time, however, the tensions between with 7.24 percent. In the Eastern the two factions of Tahoeraa (Flosse Constituency (eastern half of Tahiti, versus Tong Sang) surfaced again very Tuamotu-Gambier, and Marquesas prominently, as Tong Sang refused to Islands), the Tahoeraa candidate and offi cially endorse Sandras (a Flosse Papara Mayor Bruno Sandras led the protégé) in the eastern constituency vote with 36.98 percent, followed by (TP, 5 June 2007). Sandras’s election upld candidate Pierre Frébault (for- victory was thus seen by Flosse as a mer minister of labor under Temaru) confi rmation of his leadership and pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 231 a rejection of Tong Sang. The upld medals distributed. Tong Sang and was disappointed by the results, but his coalition partners gave speeches in Temaru remarked that it was clear which they praised the dependence of that his party had a stable electorate their country on France and expressed of at least 40 percent, and that their their gratitude to King Pomare V for defeat was only due to the cooperation signing the convention of annexation. of all local pro-French forces as well The president then demonstrated his as the massive vote of French settlers ignorance by claiming that, thanks to for the Tahoeraa candidates (DT, 17 France, Tahiti had the only university June 2007; TPM, July 2007). in the Pacifi c, bluntly ignoring uni- Meanwhile, the crisis within Tong versities in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Sang’s majority continued, when on and Sämoa that were all founded 5 June, Minister of Pearl Farming, well before the University of French Postal Services, and Telecommunica- Polynesia. In a press conference on tions Michel Yip resigned, denouncing the same day, Temaru and leading irregularities and corruption among members of his party denounced his fellow ministers from the outer the celebration and talked about the islands. His portfolios were redistrib- true history of colonization, and the uted among President Tong Sang and background of the 1880 treaty (TPM, Vice President Foster (TP, 6 June 2007; July 2007; DT, 30 June 2007). It was TPM, July 2007). Subsequently, the interesting to observe that Flosse and upld fi led another motion of censure his Tahoeraa core group were absent on 19 June (pir, 20 June 2007), and from Tong Sang’s celebration. Flosse while Yip added his vote to those had also stopped publicly denouncing of the upld, it was defeated in the Temaru for quite some time, which assembly on 23 June. has been interpreted by observers as Tong Sang’s government seems to an indication that he might eventually be in a permanent state of instabil- break apart the majority and strike a ity. Both the upld and Flosse’s group deal with the upld. apparently want to provoke the lorenz gonschor dissolution of the assembly and new elections. However on 22 June, new French Minister for Overseas Territo- ries Christian Estrosi stated there will References be no dissolution before the regular DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. elections of 2009 (TPM, July 2007; Fenua Info. Weekly. Tahiti NT, 27 June 2007). The review period ended with French Ministry of Interior Web site the celebration of the controversial < http://interieur.gouv.fr > autonomy holiday of 29 June, which L’Hebdo. Weekly. Tahiti. Publication was reinstated by Tong Sang and ceased May 2007 < http://www.hebdo.pf > celebrated at the presidential palace with great pomp. The Order of Tahiti NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. Nui, created by Flosse but abolished TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. under Temaru, was reactivated and Tahiti. < http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com> 232 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

TP, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. than twenty years and was the major Tahiti. < http://www.tahitipresse.pf > force behind the Ngäti Whätua Treaty pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily of Waitangi claims to the Auckland Internet news. Honolulu. < http://pidp area. His determination to break .eastwestcenter.org/pireport > through government mean-spiritedness To‘ere. Weekly. Tahiti. Publication ceased and intransigence in order to settle December 2006 the claims saw him taking on a hugely punishing workload after he retired as professor and head of the Department of Mäori Studies at the University Ma¯ori Issues of Auckland in 1993. He signed an agreement in principle toward settle- While political tension increased for ment of those claims shortly before his Mäori during the year, there was death (Bennion 2006 [Oct], 2). also great sadness. Like our Tongan In April 2007, veteran Mäori actor and Samoan relations we lost sig- and fi lmmaker Don Selwyn, one of nifi cant leaders. In August 2006 the New Zealand’s most outstanding tele- Tainui confederation of tribes lost vision and fi lm producers and direc- their arikinui (paramount chief) of tors, passed away. He was Ngäti Kurï, forty years, Dame Te Atairangikähu. Te Aupöuri, and Ngäti Kahu of the As the hereditary leader of Tainui’s Far North. His greatest masterpiece Kingitanga movement, she was their was Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Wëniti: queen. Tainui established the Kingi- The Mäori Merchant of Venice, the tanga in the 1850s in an attempt to fi lm version of Shakespeare’s famous stop the confi scation of their territo- play, which had been translated into ries by European immigrants. They Mäori by Pei Te Hurinui Jones in are the only tribal confederation in 1945 (Mäori Party 2007a). New Zealand to have established a On the political scene over the British-style monarchy, and although past year, the racist attitudes toward the Kingitanga does not include most Mäori that continue to dominate the iwi (tribal groupings), it nevertheless New Zealand Parliament resulted enjoys widespread support and respect in on going and increasing tension within Maoridom. Thus despite the between Mäori and the government on fact that Dame Te Ata held no con- many issues. Mäori have once again stitutional position in New Zealand had to resort to protest actions, as the law, she was often referred to as “the government repeatedly denied us our Mäori Queen.” She was a strong legal rights. This time, however, coor- fi gure in Mäori politics and a staunch dinated protests across the country in supporter of Mäori sports and culture response to refusals to return stolen (Bennion 2006 [Aug], 1; [Oct], 1; lands resulted in the government’s Mana, Oct–Nov 2006). backing down and calling a tempo- In September 2006, Ngäti Whätua rary truce on that particular issue. For lost their paramount chief, Emeritus apart from strong judicial backing, Professor Sir Hugh Käwharu. He particularly from the Waitangi Tribu- was the chair of the Ngäti Whätua o nal, and international condemnation Öräkei Mäori Trust Board for more from the United Nations (Stavenhagen pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 233

2006), the presence of the small but up unilaterally by the government very effective independent Mäori with no Mäori input, and is deeply voice in Parliament, the Mäori Party, racist in intent. Even in the face of is ensuring that Mäori issues are no ongoing and strident Mäori, judi- longer determined solely according to cial, and international criticism, no the racist whim of the major parties in National or Labour government has the House. been prepared either to amend the The area that continued to be policy or to withdraw it and start the major source of the tension was again. As more and more claimants the settlement of Treaty of Waitangi are being bullied into accepting pitiful claims. British immigrants, who settled settlements, it is now becoming clear New Zealand in large numbers begin- that the primary aim of the policy is to ning in the 1850s, have long sought get Mäori around the country to agree to get rid of the Treaty of Waitangi. that they should extinguish rather For over a century they simply ignored than settle their Treaty of Waitangi the treaty, and the courts sanctioned claims. Furthermore, in doing so, they their behavior. But in the aftermath are also effectively agreeing to a sys- of World War II, international agree- tematic extinguishment of the Treaty ments outlawing racial discrimination, of Waitangi itself. along with highly visible and embar- Legislation is currently before rassing Mäori protests, forced the Parliament to remove all references to New Zealand government to estab- the principles of the Treaty of Wai- lish the Waitangi Tribunal in 1975. tangi from all legislation, and to date The brief of the tribunal is to inquire this has had the support of the present into Mäori claims of breaches of the coalition government. To try to mini- treaty. Initially, the government of mize international backlash, the New the day did not expect the tribunal to Zealand government joined Austra- hear many claims, meet often, or cost lia, Canada, and the United States in much (Oliver 1991, 9–10). But by the November 2006 in opposing the adop- 1990s the tribunal was building an tion of the United Nations Declaration extremely bleak and ever-expanding on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. record of extensive and serious atroci- Mäori have supported and worked on ties committed against Mäori. In an the declaration for twenty years. effort to limit its liabilities in the area, The Treaty of Waitangi Claims the national government announced Settlement policy is designed to leg- in 1994 that it wanted to settle the islatively absolve the Crown of any claims. It accepted responsibility for and all liability and responsibility for the atrocities and was prepared to its innumerable historical breaches of compensate Mäori—but the money the Treaty of Waitangi and the theft of set aside for the settlements would be more than 90 percent of the country’s restricted to an arbitrarily set nz$1 lands and resources from Mäori. The billion, and the government would government does this by bullying avoid returning any land if it could get select groups of Mäori, purportedly away with it. representing “large natural group- Since 1994 Mäori have fought ings” of many thousands of other against this policy, which was drawn Mäori, into agreements that are legally 234 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) binding and unchallengeable. The courts have repeatedly confi rmed that primary aim of the agreements is to the treaty is the country’s founding provide (1) full and legally unchal- document. Had the Crown been able lengeable removal of legal liability for to control the rapacious greed of Brit- all breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, ish immigrants in the nineteenth and both identifi ed and unidentifi ed, twentieth centuries, it would not now committed in a particular geographic be faced with remedying the wrongs as area prior to 1992; (2) full and legally well as addressing the racism that has unchallengeable acceptance by the been allowed to develop and become iwi of all discriminatory legislation, deeply entrenched in the Päkehä including the Foreshore and Seabed psyche. Mäori have made it very clear Act 2004, along with all assertions that delaying remedies to the situation of Crown authority, dominance, and will not make it go away. And neither sovereignty over Mäori; and (3) full can legislative sleights of hand ever and legally unchallengeable acceptance extinguish the Treaty of Waitangi. that the iwi has relinquished all their Since mid-2006 the Crown has sovereign rights and authority over been dealing with twenty settlements. the identifi ed geographic area to the The Ngäti Mutunga Settlement Bill Crown. was enacted in November. It provides In exchange for that agreement the nz$14.9 million for Ngäti Mutunga Crown is prepared to make an apol- to buy back some of the 150,000 acres ogy for the breaches committed prior the Crown had stolen from them. The to 1992 (but not to stop committing land alone has an estimated monetary further breaches) and to transfer a value of nz$5.19 billion (based on few acres of land. And while money the nz$34,545 per acre paid to a is always mentioned as being part of Päkehä who had his land confi scated settlements, if claimants want land for Te Röroa’s treaty claims)—mak- returned they must use the money ing the settlement payment equivalent offered (and often borrow more as to less than 0.3 percent of the value well) to buy the land from the Crown. of the land stolen. The Settlement Act As one would expect, the policy has acknowledges that the settlement does caused huge divisions and strife within not compensate Ngäti Mutunga for iwi. The Crown actively and openly the atrocities committed against them. fosters and exploits such divisions as it These include the rape, murder, and moves on relentlessly to achieve maxi- illegal incarceration of large numbers mum implementation of its policy. of the iwi; the government’s waging Of course, protection of Mäori war on them when they refused to from all of these situations is presently give their lands to British settlers; the guaranteed by the Treaty of Waitangi. government’s confi scating all of their The authoritative Mäori version lands; and many other breaches of promises that the Crown shall have the Treaty of Waitangi that they have governance over its own subjects only, suffered and continue to suffer. But that Mäori sovereignty is recognized the act then says that Ngäti Mutunga and upheld, and that Mäori have has foregone full compensation, as its the rights of all British citizens. The contribution to the “development of pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 235

New Zealand,” and thus the settle- ble-talk. It is a negotiations process ment is full and fi nal (Bennion 2007 that masquerades as being fair and [Feb], 6). During the House debate on reasonable in the circumstances but the bill, the Mäori Party was scathing which, in fact, is anything but, and an of the government’s mean-spiritedness, empty insistence by the Crown that referring repeatedly to the Crown as all settlements be full and fi nal—an “the thief.” Party members advised insistence that will haunt this Cham- Ngäti Mutunga to revisit the settle- ber long after it is cleared.” They ment in generations to come with a warned that unfair settlements such view to being properly compensated, as the one imposed in 2007 would be and not to accept the “full and fi nal” revisited by future generations. They stipulation of the Crown (Mäori Party also noted that considerably less land 2007b). than what the Waitangi Tribunal had Te Röroa’s Claims Settlement Bill recommended was being returned to came before the House in March Te Röroa. They informed the House 2007. Te Röroa is a hapü of Ngäti “that an apology and a return of less Whatua who were left virtually land- than 3 percent of the claim value less. (A hapü is a grouping of a large pepper-potted throughout the tribal number of extended families.) They homeland of Te Röroa will simply not fi rst complained to the Crown about suffi ce” (Bennion 2007 [March], 6, 7). breaches of the treaty one hundred In June 2006, Ngäti Whätua ki sixty-fi ve years ago, yet for several Öräkei hapü signed an agreement in generations they have been under principle to settle their claims to the relentless attack from Crown offi - Auckland isthmus. It agreed to vest cials who denied them their legal and three volcanic cones and land around human rights. The Waitangi Tribunal Pürewa Creek in the hapü, but the upheld all their claims in 1992, detail- lands are to be managed jointly by the ing countless atrocities perpetrated hapü and the Auckland City Council against them by the Crown (Waitangi with the council controlling the funds. Tribunal 1992). Te Röroa has been The settlement is for nz$8 million, to in negotiations for more than fi fteen be used as partial payment for up to years. The settlement is for nz$9.5 nz$80 million of Ministry of Defence million to be used to buy back from lands at Devonport—which they can the Crown a small portion of Te buy from the Crown, provided they Röroa’s land, now being used com- lease them back to the Crown and mercially. Extensive wähi tapu (sacred the Crown pays no rent for thirty sites) were stolen from them, and two years (Bennion 2006 [June], 8). The thousand acres of these are returned in agreement came under serious threat the settlement (Offi ce of Treaty Settle- when six other hapü with claims ments 2005). over the same area took the matter to In the House, the Mäori Party the Waitangi Tribunal for an urgent protested that Te Röroa had been hearing to prevent their claims being subjected to “a negotiations process extinguished by such a settlement. The drafted by the Crown, and the Crown hearings took place in March 2007. alone, based on false faith and dou- The Offi ce of Treaty Settlements, 236 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) which manages negotiations for the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, which Crown, came under severe criticism was set up in 1990 to hold forestry from the tribunal when it was revealed rental money in trust pending success- that, in addition to wrongfully treat- ful claims to forestry lands. The trust ing claimants and fomenting divisions now holds well over nz$400 million, among the iwi of Auckland, they had of which almost nz$190 million is for withheld crucial evidence from the the Kaingaroa forest. On top of that tribunal during the inquiry and misled the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 the tribunal (Waitangi Tribunal 2007, provides for the transfer of Crown 101). forest land, plus compensation to In September 2006, the Te Arawa Mäori once their claims to the land Lakes Settlement Bill was enacted. have been upheld by the Waitangi The lakes in the central North Island Tribunal. Claims to the central North include Lake Rotorua and have been Island, including the Kaingaroa forest, severely polluted by farm runoff and have been before the tribunal for some sewage disposal. The nz$10 million time and the tribunal issued its report settlement returns the lakebeds to upholding the claims in June 2007. Te Arawa, leaving them to consider In a truly staggering example of a cleanup that is estimated to cost arrogance and deceit the Crown man- nz$200 million, even though Te aged to persuade part of the Te Arawa Arawa is specifi cally not liable for confederation of iwi, who are one of a the pollution. The settlement extends very large number of claimants to the Crown theft of Mäori assets in that Kaingaroa forest, to settle Te Arawa’s it claims ownership not only of the historical claims by giving over to the water in the lakes but also the air- Crown nz$40.985 million in forestry space above them. (The term “Crown rentals set aside for the Mäori owners stratum” is currently being used to of the lands. In addition, the Crown describe the redefi ned space above persuaded them to use the remainder the lakebed.) In the House during the of their rental money plus another debate on this bill, the Mäori Party nz$8 million (which they have to tabled a report on Mäori experiences borrow from elsewhere) to buy from of the Treaty of Waitangi Settlement the Crown the land that is rightfully negotiations that demonstrates strong theirs under the Crown Forest Assets and universal condemnation of the Act 1989. The Crown stands to make process by claimants. Once again the a nz$90 million profi t if they pass leg- Mäori Party warned that these settle- islation to settle the claims along these ments cannot be full and fi nal and will lines. It will be able to do so after hav- be revisited. ing convinced the claimants to enter Attempts by the government to into an agreement that allows the force a settlement of a portion of the Crown to become a benefi ciary of the huge central North Island forestry Crown Forestry Rental Trust (at pres- claims relating to the Kaingaroa for- ent only those with successful claims est and other lands around Rotorua to the land can be benefi ciaries of triggered a series of court actions. Of the trust). The claimants also have to direct relevance to these claims is the agree to the Crown’s selling the land pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 237 in question to Mäori (land that the from sale. Each of the iwi concerned tribunal is likely to fi nd belongs to the is now pursuing binding recommenda- claimants and other Mäori anyway). tions through the Waitangi Tribunal, The Federation of Mäori Authorities a mechanism that allows the tribunal and the New Zealand Mäori Coun- to order the Crown to return State cil are currently pursuing the matter Owned Enterprise land, Crown Forest through the courts. The Waitangi lands, and certain other Crown lands Tribunal has issued a strongly worded to their Mäori owners. report saying that it cannot endorse margaret mutu the settlement and that it has grave concerns over the potential negative impacts on the interests of other iwi Bennion, Tom, editor. 2006. The Mäori with claims on the same land. Law Review: A Monthly Review of Law However, in the Far North, one Affecting Mäori. Wellington. iwi, Ngäti Kahu, took a very differ- ———. 2007. The Mäori Law Review. ent approach. They withdrew from negotiations after the Crown started Crown Forestry Rental Trust. 2006. Notes to sell off part of Ngäti Kahu’s Ran- to the Financial Statement for the Year giputa block, currently being used by Ended 31 March 2006. Note 17: Forest Rental Proceeds Held in Trust at 31 March the government’s farming enterprise, 2006. Available at http://www.cfrt.org.nz/ Landcorp. In 1997, the tribunal had doclibrary/public/thestorehouse/rta2005 indicated that it would make binding -2006/RentalProceeds0506.pdf [accessed recommendations in order to return 22 August 2007] Rangiputa to Ngäti Kahu if negotia- Mana. Bi-monthly Mäori news magazine. tions with the government failed. Since Auckland. 1997, successive governments have threatened Ngäti Kahu that if they do Mäori Party. 2007a. Poroporoaki: Don seek binding recommendations under Selwyn. Press release, 16 April. Available the State Owned Enterprises Act 1986, at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ PA0704/S00272.htm the government will repeal the act. Once negotiations with the Crown ———. 2007b. Flavell: Ngati Mutunga. had ceased, Ngäti Kahu moved on to Press release, 27 July. Available at http:// the land, repossessing it. Their stance www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00483. started a chain reaction as other iwi, htm whose lands were also being sold by Mutu, Margaret. 2007. Te Rünanga-ä- Landcorp, took similar action. A pro- Iwi o Ngäti Kahu Land Claims Report test march in the Far North town of for February–March 2007. Kaitäia: Te Kaitäia in support of the repossession Rünanga-ä-Iwi o Ngäti Kahu. was the biggest the town has ever seen. Office of Treaty Settlements, Government In the House the Mäori Party relent- of New Zealand. 2005. Summary of the lessly pursued the government over the Te Roroa Deed of Settlement, signed 17 issue, calling on all iwi to follow suit December 2005. http://www.ots.govt.nz/ and repossess their lands. After two [accessed 22 August 2007] weeks the government backed down Oliver, W H. 1991. Claims to the Waitangi and temporarily withdrew the lands Tribunal. Wellington: Waitangi Tribunal. 238 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008)

Stavenhagen, Rodolfo. 2006. Report of scape, there was a shift away from the the Special Rapporteur on the Situation local elite at the election for the local of Human Rights and Fundamental Free- Development Commission, with two doms of Indigenous People. Mission to opposition and pro-independence can- New Zealand. E/CN.4/2006/78/Add.3. didates receiving the highest numbers 13 March. Geneva: United Nations of votes. Human Rights Commission. The period under review started Tuuta, Dion. 2003. Maori Experiences of with the loss of one of the most the Direct Negotiations Process. Welling- important political fi gures of the ton: Crown Forestry Rental Trust. island’s recent history. In mid-August UN, United Nations Committee on 2006, veteran opposition and pro- the Elimination of Racial Discrimina- independence leader Juan Chávez tion. 2005. Report on the New Zealand passed away at age eighty-two (Rapa Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004, Decision Nui resident Stephanie Pauly, pers 1(66), 66th Session, 11th March 2005. comm, 13 March 2007). One of the UN Doc cerd/c/66/nzl/Dec.1. cofounders of the Rapanui Council of Waitangi Tribunal. 1992. The Te Roroa Elders in the 1980s, Chávez had led Report 1992. wai 38. Available at http:// various initiatives of resistance against www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/ the Chilean government, and since northislandnorth/ 2001 he had been the president of the ———. 2007a. Tamaki Makaurau Settle- pro-independence Rapanui Parlia- ment Process. wai 1362. Available at ment. He was also renowned as one of http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/ the island’s most culturally knowledge- ———. 2007b. Central North Island able koro (elders). At the time of this Inquiry. wai 1200. 3 August. Available at writing, no successor has been named http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/ to head the Rapanui Parliament, but ———. 2007c. Final Report on the within the months following Chávez’s Impacts of the Crown’s Settlement Policy death, the pro-independence forces on Te Arawa Waka and Other Tribes. consolidated themselves once more wai 1353. Available at http://www under its umbrella. .waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/ At the same time, the controversy about a planned casino on the island was resolved in September 2006, when the Chilean authorities once Rapa Nui again refused to grant permission, The year under review marked the thus stopping the project indefi nitely. beginning of great political change on The reason for the refusal was the Rapa Nui. In a long process initiated incompatibility of the juridical status by the Chilean president, a draft bill of the island with Chilean gambling for an organic law providing a spe- legislation. Also the nonexistence of cial political status for the island was income taxes on the island would have elaborated, while the Chilean constitu- made it impossible for the Chilean tion was fi nally amended to create the fi scal authorities to track the earn- administrative category of a special ings of the casino (Noticias de Rapa territory. On the local political land- Nui, Sept 2006). The casino project, pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 239 a joint venture between the Chilean outside of the normal Chilean admin- company Grupo Martinez-am Hold- istrative system, and will be placed ing and Rapanui entrepreneur Petero directly under the national govern- Riroroko, had stirred up passionate ment in Santiago. The fi rst step toward debates within the community. While achieving this new political status will it had the support of Mayor Petero be to change the Chilean constitution Edmunds and Council of Elders in order to create the administrative President Alberto Hotus, former Gov- category of a special territory. Sec- ernor Enrique Pakarati had strongly ond, an organic law must be passed opposed the project, along with to specify the administrative system Rapanui organizations on the Chilean in that territory. Debates regarding continent, and apparently most of the the new statute have been going on local population. The demise of the both locally and in Chile for years, plan was therefore greeted with much and thus the parliamentary process joy and relief on the island, while it has progressed very slowly. On 2 May represented a severe setback for the 2006, the Chilean Senate unanimously political ambitions of Edmunds and adopted the constitutional reform Hotus. (Senate of Chile Web site, reviewed 19 Although there will be no gambling June 2006; subdere, 10 May 2007; on the island, the tourism industry and RNJ, Oct 2006), but in order for it to the immigration of Chilean settlers become law, the Chamber of Deputies continue to grow, leading to constant still had to vote on it. infrastructure problems such as traffi c The organic law bill for a Special jams and electricity blackouts (RNJ, Statute, on the other hand, has so far Oct 2007). In November 2006, Chile’s not even been introduced in either Public Works Ministry announced house of Congress. An offi cial Special that it would spend us$2.4 million on Statute proposal published in August improving the road network in order 2005 (Government of Chile 2005) to facilitate access from the capital stirred up much controversy, because Hanga Roa to Ovahe and Anakena only three local individuals—Mayor beaches, and to some of the more Edmunds, Elders Councilor Hotus, remote moai (statues) for which the and then Governor Pakarati—were island is famous. It was announced involved in its making. Rapanui that once the road network has been opposition leaders had vigorously completed, Rapa Nui would have protested and demanded more popular a forty-six-kilometer-long circuit, input (Chávez and others 2005), while intended to attract more tourists to the alternative proposals had been ignored island (Santiago Times, 12 Nov 2006). by the Chilean authorities. The main issue during the year, However, new Chilean President however, was the project for a special Michelle Bachelet, inaugurated in administrative statute for the island. March 2006, proved to be more atten- Currently a municipality and a prov- tive to those concerns than the previ- ince within the continental Chilean ous administration, and during a visit region of Valparaíso, Rapa Nui is to the island in May 2006 she declared supposed to become a special territory that she favored a new debate on the 240 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) project, with broad community par- rently claimed by the Chilean state is ticipation (Government of Chile 2006; classifi ed as title held in trust on behalf subdere, 8 May 2006). While the of the Rapanui people (article 3). 2005 proposal was declared obsolete, The new administrative framework a working group gathered community created by the bill would consist of input over a nine-month period and a a governor, a Rapanui Development new bill was drafted (Governor Caro- Council, directors of the local gov- lina Hotu, pers comm, 17 July 2006). ernment departments, the Council of On 1 December 2006, the Undersec- Elders, and a Rapanui Development retariat for Regional Development Corporation. The governor would be within the Chilean Ministry of the appointed by the Chilean president Interior held a workshop on the stat- and must be ethnic Rapanui. As the ute project on the island (subdere, 4 Chilean State representative, he or she Dec 2006), and a Chilean government would direct all the responsibilities of delegation led by Undersecretary Clau- the Chilean government on the island, dia Serrano traveled to the island for and would be at the same level as an a two-day fi nal seminar from 24 to 26 intendante (regional administrator) on January 2007, organized by Governor the Chilean continent. The governor Carolina Hotu. The results of the nine- would also direct the local administra- month working group were publicly tion in collaboration with the Rapanui discussed at the seminar—with the Development Council (articles 8–16). participation of both the local authori- This council would be composed of ties and the general public—and the the governor and six members elected conclusions were presented to the for a four-year term by the native undersecretary for further elaboration Rapanui community. The council with the president (subdere, 24 and would have the right to formulate 26 Jan 2007). The process of drafting development policies in all social, cul- the bill has thus become much more tural, and economic fi elds, similar to a transparent, with the local opposition regional council in Chile, and have a now willing to participate (Rapanui say in the attribution of funds within Parliament member Inés Teave, pers the local administration. The gover- comm, 12 July 2007). nor would have the power to veto its The draft bill, currently still in the decisions within ten days, but the veto making, can be summarized as follows could be overridden by a two-thirds in its latest version as of July 2007 majority of the council (articles 17–28, (Government of Chile 2007a): An 30–33). The council would also have introduction recognizes the Rapanui the authority to recommend to the as an indigenous people with a special Chilean president the removal of the ethnic, social, and cultural identity governor (article 11g). (article 1). While the bill reinforces the The local government apparatus sovereignty of Chile by citing the 1888 would be structured into fi ve depart- annexation document signed by the ments (infrastructure, lands and local chiefs, the title of the Rapanui resources, economic development, population to all the land of the island culture and education, planning and is clearly recognized, and any title cur- social affairs), each headed by a direc- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 241 tor appointed by the governor after poration (corfo), which includes the being approved by the Development valuable soils of the Vaitea state farm Council. Each department would exer- in the island’s interior, as well as the cise the responsibilities of the respec- Hotel Hanga Roa, currently owned by tive national Chilean ministry or min- a Chilean company (transitory articles istries on the island (articles 33–36). 1, 2, 5). In addition, the cdprch While the Rapanui governor’s offi ce would also have the oversight over the and the Development Council would island’s water reserves (article 47). be within the budget of the Chilean In conclusion, the bill would defi - Ministry of Interior (article 37), an nitely reform the administrative system investment fund would be established of Rapa Nui. It contains no refer- for local development projects (articles ence to Valparaíso region; the island’s 38–42). administrative relationship would be The Council of Elders, as a recog- exclusively with Santiago. Most, if not nized traditional institution represent- all, Chilean government offi ces on the ing each native family, would have a island that are currently dependent on prominent function in the new admin- various Santiago- or Valparaíso-based istrative system, as it would have agencies would become centralized consultative authority on all matters under the local administration. There involving the Rapanui cultural heri- is also strong cultural reference in the tage (article 29). It would also have an bill. For the fi rst time in a Chilean executive branch, called the Corpora- legal document, the name “Rapa Nui” tion for the Defense and Protection would be used to refer to the island, of the Rapanui Culture and Heritage though sometimes alongside the name (cdprch). This corporation would “Easter Island.” It would also be the consist of fi ve members designated fi rst offi cial document to mention the by the Council of Elders. It would Rapanui fl ag (article 12e), and the have all the responsibilities currently teaching of Rapanui language and cul- exercised by the local offi ce of the ture would be made mandatory at all National Corporation for Indigenous levels of the public education system Development and some other Chilean (article 48). The bill also mentions the government agencies concerned with possibility of a future administrative cultural preservation (articles 43–44). division of the island conforming to The most important task of the the traditional clan districts (articles corporation, however, would be the 12v, 15i, 28h). handling of land matters. The draft On the other hand, however, the bill recognizes all the lands without local chief executive would still not be a private Rapanui titleholder to be elected locally but would continue to traditionally owned by the Rapanui be appointed from Chile. The gover- community (article 45). The title to nor’s serving as both representative of all of those lands, currently claimed the Chilean state and head of the local by the Chilean state, would be trans- government might lead to confl icts of ferred to the cdprch, including all the interest. Concerning the Council of rights and assets currently held by the Elders: If that institution is given an Chilean National Development Cor- administrative function with substan- 242 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) tial amounts of power, questions arise vote of 100 to 1 (Informativo Provin- regarding how it will be composed cial, June 2007, 1st issue; subdere, and how it will function internally. 5 June 2007). The reform was signed The “Council of Elders” currently into law by President Bachelet on 27 recognized by Chile consists of a fac- June (Government of Chile 2007b), tion led by Alberto Hotus, who claims thus creating Rapa Nui and the Juan council presidency for life, although Fernández Islands off the Chilean the legitimacy of his claim is widely coast as Special Territories, to be gov- contested. If the council is to become erned according to organic laws for an administrative agency, it ought to each territory. This cleared the way for be reformed and democratized, but the the Special Statute bill to be debated draft bill does not address this issue. and eventually passed in Congress. Also unclear is the future position and While the slow process of admin- role of the currently existing munici- istrative reform continues, elections pality. Its functions are not clarifi ed, for the members of one of the exist- but its mention several times in the ing political institutions, the Easter draft bill seems to imply the continu- Island Development Commission ity of its existence. If that situation (codeipa) were held on 10 June is maintained in the fi nal version, it 2007, with some surprising results. would mean continuing the absurdity According to the 1993 Indigenous of having two parallel administrations Law, the commission operates as a (governor’s offi ce and municipal- consultative institution on all matters ity) for a community consisting of concerning the economic, social, and only one village with a few thousand cultural development of the indig- inhabitants. In summary, one could enous Rapanui population, including say that in spite of several progressive land matters. The commission consists elements, the draft bill would only of fi ve elected ethnic Rapanui, seven restructure the Chilean administrative representatives of Chilean state insti- system rather than create a system of tutions, as well as the governor, the true internal autonomy comparable mayor, and the president of the Coun- to that provided by the statutes of the cil of Elders. At the 2007 elections, French or US Pacifi c territories. among 25 candidates, including all 5 One other burning issue in the incumbents, the highest numbers of debate on the special statute—the votes were won by 2 non-incumbent ongoing immigration of Chilean set- pro-independence activists, Mario tlers—was raised by many participants Tuki and Raúl Teao, who received 248 at the January seminar (subdere, 26 and 234 votes, respectively. Tuki and Jan 2007), but no provision for regu- Teao have been known as outspoken lating immigration is included in the land rights activists since the 1990s, draft bill. The draft only promises fur- and were coauthors of a 2003 report ther discussion of that issue in parallel commissioned by the Chilean Histori- with the pursuit of the statute bill. cal Truth Commission, in which they Meanwhile, on 5 June 2007, the denounced the Chilean takeover in Chilean Chamber of Deputies fi nally 1888 and argued that the island is passed the constitutional reform by a still an independent kingdom (Tuki pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 243 and others 2003). Also newly elected of life is being improved as well. A was Luz Zasso Paoa with 152 votes, new hospital, promised by President who became the fi rst female mem- Bachelet during her visit in May 2006 ber of the commission. Among the (La Tercera, 6 May 2006), will fi nally incumbents, Jorge Emilio Pont and be built. In June 2007, a model of the Marcelo Ika, who is also a municipal hospital was presented to the public councilor, were reelected with 195 and by the governor and health offi cials 149 votes, respectively. Famed veteran from Chile (Informativo Provincial, community leader Alfonso Rapu, who June 2007, 2nd issue). led the 1964 popular uprising that Finally, a rare occasion of interna- ended arbitrary military rule over the tional publicity for Rapa Nui arose in island, and who was the island’s fi rst late June, when in a campaign to name elected mayor in the 1960s, curiously the new seven wonders of the world missed being reelected, securing only through online voting, the moai of 109 votes. The two other incumbents, Rapa Nui made it to the fi nal selec- Rafael Tuki and Luis Pate, also missed tion of the top fourteen. Not only did reelection, each receiving fewer than the local political leadership partici- 100 votes (Informativo Provincial, pate enthusiastically in campaigns for June 2007, 1st issue; Resultados Elec- their island, but the competition also ciones codeipa 2007). boosted Chilean pride in claiming The election results seem to point, possession of the island. The campaign on the one hand, to a growing dissat- was also used to raise awareness about isfaction on the part of the community the special statute and development with the local political elite (affi liated projects on Rapa Nui (La Nación, with the ruling Chilean center-left Special Edition, 22 June 2007). In the parties), which has been running local end, however, the island did not make institutions for more than a decade, it to the top seven (New Seven Won- and on the other hand, to a rise of ders Web site). Rapanui nationalists. Most of the Rapa Nui may thus not be one of latter had also previously overcome the seven wonders of the world, but their differences and reunited them- it is certainly a wondrous place to be selves under the Rapanui Parliament, watched closely, in this crucial period whereas previously Tuki and Teao of political change, which will hope- had led their own respective organiza- fully be for the best of its people. tions. The leadership of Alberto Hotus lorenz gonschor in the Council of Elders is now more contested than ever, and Mario Tuki is likely to challenge him in an upcoming References election (Alberto Hotus, radio inter- Chávez, Juan, and others. 2005. Letter view, broadcast 18 July 2007; Mario of protest against the proposed special Tuki, public speech in the Rapanui administrative statute to Chilean President Parliament, 20 July 2007). Ricardo Lagos, 30 August. Copy in the While great changes are being author’s possession. initiated in both political institutions Government of Chile. 2005. Propuesta and local politics, the island’s quality Estatuto Especial de Administración para 244 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) la Isla de Pascua, Agosto 2005. (Proposal subdere, Subsecretariá de Desarrollo for a Special Statute of Administration for Regional y Administrativo (Under-sec- Easter Island). Printed official document, retariat for Regional Development and no author or editor specified. Administration): Various online news items. http://www.subdere.gov.cl ———. 2006. Press release, 7 May. http:// www.chileangovernment.cl Tuki, Mario, Tera‘i Hucke, Raúl Teao, ———. 2007a. Borrador-Proyecto de Ley Antonio Tepano, and Makari Zenteno. (Draft Bill [for the administrative status of 2003. Informe preparado por los señores Easter Island]). Computer-typed document Mario Tuki Hey, Tera‘i Hucke Atán, Raúl given to the author by the Office of the Teao Hey, Antonio Tepano Hito y la Provincial Governor. señorita Makari Zenteno. In: Government of Chile: Informe de la Comisión Verdad ———. 2007b. Ley Num. 20.193. Histórica y Nuevo Trato, 3:445–482. Reforma Constitucional que establice los http://www.serindigena.org/territorios/ territorios Especiales de Isla de Pascua recursos/biblioteca/monografias/historia/ y Archipielago Juan Fernández (Law [accessed 10 March 2007] No. 20.193. Constitutional Reform that establishes the Special Territories of Easter Island and Juan Fernández Archi- pelago). http://www.bcn.cl/leyes/pdf/ original/263040.pdf Sa¯moa Informativo Provincial. Monthly or twice- As expected, Sämoa’s economy monthly government information news- continued to thrive during the year. letter (formerly called Te Rongo And again as expected, the main Rapa Nui). Hanga Roa. political developments of the latter La Nación. 2007. Daily. Santiago. Special half of 2006 concerned the aftermath Edition titled Rapa Nui herë a tato‘u! of the 31 March general elections, (Rapa Nui we are going to win!) 22 June. the breakup of the Samoa Develop- La Tercera. Daily. Santiago. http://www. ment United Party (sdup), and the latercera.cl monopoly of political power by the New Seven Wonders Web site. http://www. governing Human Rights Protection new7wonders.com [accessed 12 Aug 2007] Party (hrpp). In the fi rst half of 2007, the major political development was Noticias de Rapa Nui. Monthly Internet newsletter, 2001–2006. http://www.iorana the passing away, at age ninety-fi ve, .net/noticias.htm of one of the world’s oldest heads of state, Malietoa Tanumafi li II, and the Resultados Elecciones codeipa. 2007. election of Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Table of election results given to the author Tupuola Efi to replace him. by the Office of the Provincial Governor. Although election petitions fol- RNJ, Rapa Nui Journal. Bi-annual academic lowed the general elections, there were and news journal. Los Osos, California. not as many as in some previous years. http://www.islandheritage.org/rnj.html Besides the usual disputes between the Santiago Times. Daily. Santiago. http:// political parties, this time some of the www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes petitions concerned members of the Senate of Chile Web site http://www. same political party. In one case, the senado.cl Supreme Court found sdup mem- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 245 ber Paepae Kapeli Su‘a guilty of two case, the respondent acquired the counts of bribery during the election services of a cultural specialist, Fuima- period and deprived him of his seat. ono Fereti Tupua, who argued that it The petitioner, Tautoloitua Farani was acceptable for an o‘o to be made Posala, was also found guilty of three outside the boundaries of an electoral counts of bribery and three of treating constituency because all electors were (favorable treatment). Both were ruled entitled to their share of the gifts. In ineligible to contest the by-election. In other words, Fuimaono stated, an o‘o another case, hrpp Member of Parlia- should follow electors wherever they ment Leanapapa Laki brought an were (SO, 5 Aug 2006). Mulitalo had election petition alleging bribery and already presented an o‘o to Lano, treating against his successful oppo- Asaga, and Pu‘apu‘a, the three villages nent Pa‘u Sefo, who countersued. The in the constituency. Supreme Court upheld four allegations The legal opinion from lawyer of bribery and one of treating against Daryle Clarke of the Attorney Gener- Pa‘u and his election was declared al’s Offi ce did not help the minister’s void. Ten allegations of bribery and case. Representing Electoral Commis- one of treating were also proved sioner Tanuvasa Isitolo, Clarke argued against Leanapapa. The court stated that if such an activity occurred that neither could stand as candidates outside the physical boundary of a in the by-election. constituency, it could not be regarded The case that attracted the most as an o‘o. The implication was that interest, however, was brought by if it was not an o‘o and legitimized Samoa Party Leader Su‘a Rimoni Ah by custom, then it was bribery and Chong against Minister of Communi- therefore illegal. After nine days of cations and Technology Mulitalo Vui hearings, the Supreme Court ruled Siafausa, alleging bribery and treating. that the o‘o at Vaimoso was illegal On 3 August 2006, the Supreme Court and found Mulitalo guilty of bribery. dismissed all charges relating to brib- In a thirty-fi ve-page decision, the court ery or treating against the minister on said it was not satisfi ed that there had the grounds of insuffi cient evidence. been a change in custom to allow an This left one charge against him, o‘o to be made outside a constitu- involving an o‘o or gift presentation ency. Mulitalo’s election was therefore (fi ne mats, food, or money, separately declared void. or together) he had made at Vaimoso, In a counter-petition, Mulitalo an urban village in Apia. The question fi led criminal charges against Su‘a for for the court to decide was whether treating and bribery. Three charges of such an o‘o was legal. bribery were brought against Su‘a, one Su‘a’s petition stated that the o‘o of which was later withdrawn. Su‘a at Vaimoso was illegal because it was accused of giving Faalafi Tau- occurred in a village that is not in ave sat$50 to induce him, his wife, the minister’s constituency, while and their children to vote for him in Mulitalo’s lawyer, Toleafoa Solomona, the general elections (currently, one argued it was an o‘o regardless of Samoan tala [sat$)] = us$.36). He where it was made. To support his was also charged with giving a brand 246 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) new television set to the family of Integrity Award that he had won in Muliaga Faalafi to solicit his support May 2003. and that of his family (SO, 28 Sept Both Mulitalo and Su‘a come from 2006). Su‘a denied both charges, say- Lano village, and they were the only ing his gift of money was motivated two candidates in the general elec- only by custom and appreciation for tions. Their rivalry split the village the generous hospitality shown to him into two factions. When Su‘a lodged by the family. The television set was his petition against Mulitalo, he was a gift to a relative and his acts were banned from the village by the opposi- the result of kindness and charity tion. Mulitalo denied having anything (SO, 20 Sept 2006). On 26 September to do with the ban. And when Muli- 2006, the court found that the brib- talo lost, Su‘a’s family home at Lano ery charge relating to the sat$50 gift was burned by a person who was to Faalafi Tauave was not proven, later caught and charged by police. but upheld the charge relating to the In retaliation, Su‘a complained to the television set. Supreme Court, which ordered the Chief Justice Patu wondered Lano village council to revoke the why Su‘a presented the television to ostracism order against Su‘a or risk Muliaga Faalafi ’s mother, Malama, going to jail. In making the order, two days before the election, when he Justice Pierre Slicer said the village did not give out his usual Christmas council’s power was not greater than gifts to the other poor, elderly, and that of the Legislative Assembly, the sick residents of Lano. He noted that constitution, the electoral act, the the family had not asked for a televi- head of state, or the Supreme Court. sion set, but had only asked that Su‘a The banishment was illegal because it take the old one for repairs in Apia. violated the right of citizens to a free Su‘a need only have told Malama that election (SO, 8 Aug 2006). However, the television set could not be fi xed, after further consultations between or give her a new set after the elec- Chief Justice Patu and the two Aus- tions. The important factors to be tralian judges of the court, the order considered, the chief justice said, were was amended to enable the village the imminence of the election, and the council to fi le a petition with the Land value of the television set and aerial, and Titles Court to settle the dispute more than sat$300—a big gift to a within seven days, failing which pros- poor family. Patu concluded that “the ecutions would follow. Eventually, the dominant motive behind the giving of village canceled its banishment order. the tv set to Malama was not charity Several by-elections took place but to induce her to support and vote following the election petitions and for the defendant at the election” (SO, the death of two sitting members of 29 Sept 2006). Su‘a was “shattered” Parliament. In the by-election for by the decision, which incurred a Faasaleleaga No. 2 in September, sat$300 fi ne. It was clear, he said, that Pa‘u’s daughter and hrpp candidate the law did not distinguish between Letoa Rita edged out another hrpp relatives and electors. He vowed to candidate, Papalii Samuelu Petaia. At return the Transparency International age thirty, Letoa Rita was the young- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 247 est of the candidates and the fi fth As of June 2007, then, the composi- woman to be elected to the current tion of the political parties had hardly Legislative Assembly. But the politi- changed since the time of the general cal struggle in this constituency did elections on 31 March 2006, when not end there, because Papalii lodged the Human Rights Protection Party another election petition against Letoa commanded 35 seats, the others being Rita, alleging eleven counts of corrupt split between the Samoa Development practices. The latter reciprocated by United Party and Independents. After fi ling a counter petition, alleging nine the election petitions and by-elections, instances of corrupt practices. After a the Human Rights Protection Party fi ve-day hearing, the Supreme Court controlled 36 seats (an increase of upheld fi ve allegations of bribery and one), the Samoa Development United three of treating against Letoa, but Party 7 seats, and Independents 6 found that the allegations against seats. Papalii had not been proven beyond Soon after the general elections the reasonable doubt. The election was stresses that had affected the Samoa declared void and Letoa Rita was Development United Party as a result ordered to pay costs of sat$5,000 to of its poor performance in the elec- Papalii. In his third attempt, Papalii tions were made manifest, dealing a Samuelu Petaia was fi nally in luck. He blow to party politics in Sämoa. In topped the poll with 384 votes, some August 2006, fi ve of the nine members 62 votes more than his nearest rival, of the party staged a coup d’état by Papalii Masipa‘u. The incumbents ousting party leader Lemamea Ropati for Sagaga le Falefa and Faleata West and substituting lawyer Asiata Vaai retained their seats after the election with Mulipola Oliva as deputy leader. petitions, and hrpp candidates Vui The “rebels” claimed that under the Tupe Ioane and Muagututia Siaosi constitution, the majority had the right Meredith gained a further two seats in to decide the party leader. However, by-elections held 6 October 2006. changes in the command structure Two members of Parliament passed are normally carried out in a formal away: Sililoto Tolo Tuaifai, age sixty- caucus meeting, and the only person seven, member for Vaimauga West, who had the authority to call such a and Manuleleua L Leleua, age eighty- meeting was Lemamea. Accordingly, two, member for Faleata East. The Lemamea and others—including vet- Vaimauga West by-election was won eran Aeau Peniamina, former Speaker by Patu Ativalu Togi II, a former sdup of the Legislative Assembly; Fuimaono member of Parliament, but running Naoia Tei, member for Falealili; and under the hrpp ticket. The Faleata Sililoto Tolio Tuaifaiva, member for East by-election was won by former Vaimauga West—refused to accept the Member of Parliament Patauave rebels’ “misguided” action. Etuale, who was solidly backed by The rebel members claimed the rea- Vaimoso village, while the only other son for their change of allegiance was candidate, Aveau Niko Palamo, had Lemamea’s poor leadership qualities. strong backing at Lepea and Vailoa For instance, Asiata said, the party villages. had no plans for the next fi ve to ten 248 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) years, and if the party was to succeed but Chief Justice Patu ruled that the in toppling the Human Rights Protec- Speaker’s actions were in accordance tion Party from power, it had to move with the provisions of Standing Order forward under new leadership (SO, 31 20 that covers such matters (SO, 22 Aug 2006). Lemamea in turn accused March 2007). Asiata of wanting to be the party’s These developments were not leader since he joined the Samoa forced on the country by the ruling Development United Party. In a letter Human Rights Protection Party. In to the Samoa Observer, he accused fact, when the leadership struggle Asiata of removing Tupua Tamasese within the Samoa Development United Efi as leader and Leilua Manuao as Party came out into the open, Prime deputy leader of the Samoa National Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Development Party (sndp). Asiata was urged moderation. He said if the issue also responsible for changing the par- was not resolved, and if there was ty’s name from sndp to sdup. Having only one political party in Parliament, accomplished these goals, Lemamea that was “not what democracy is said, Asiata continued to try and have about.” He said it was important to Lemamea removed as leader. Despite have a good opposition leader, because attempts at reconciliation, the differ- such a person was a potential future ences between the two factional lead- prime minister of the country (SO, 16 ers were too deep. Finally, Lemamea Sept 2007). Given the rapid social, decided to step down as leader of the economic, and political development party. In tears he told supporters he being successfully pushed by the hrpp could never work with Asiata again. government, it is diffi cult to envision However, he wished the new party the emergence of another dominant leader well for the future (SO, 28 Sept political party in the near future. 2006). The passing away of His Highness But this was not the end of the Malietoa Tanumafi li II Sämoa’s head political drama. Under House regula- of state since 1962, on 10 May 2007, tions, a political party has to have marked the end of an era. Malietoa a minimum of eight members to be represented an era of decoloniza- recognized by the Speaker. At the end tion, when the New Zealand colonial of the March general elections, the administration attempted to make Samoa Development United Party peace with Samoan political dissidents had ten members, but lost one as a (the Mau) and prepare Sämoa for result of an election petition against independence. In 1945 New Zea- Paepae Kapeli Su‘a. As a result of the land began to send Samoan students ensuing struggle for leadership, both on scholarship to New Zealand to Lemamea Ropati and Sililoto Tolo train them to take over public service Tuaifaiva resigned from the party to positions from expatriates. In 1949, become Independent members. This Malietoa was appointed to the highest left only seven party members, one position possible for an indigenous short of the required minimum. Asiata person in Sämoa, that of Fautua, took the matter to the Supreme Court, or chief adviser to the administra- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 249 tor, together with Tupua Tamasese identity, and a place in the world. He Meaole. In that same year, he was is eminently suited to help the Samoan made chairman of a committee to people achieve their goals and aspira- prepare Sämoa for independence, and tions. when this fi nally came in 1962, he and unasa l f va‘a Tamasese were appointed co-heads of state for life. Unfortunately Tamasese died in 1963, leaving Malietoa to References serve as the sole head of state until the time of his death. His tenure was css, Centre for Samoan Studies. 2006. marked by an attitude of tolerance Samoa National Human Development Report. Papaigalagala, Apia: css, National and moderation in all things. He had a University of Samoa. great impact on the judicial system by refusing to allow capital punishment, Islands Business. Monthly. Suva. always commuting death sentences < http://www.islandsbusiness.com > to life imprisonment. Several years Savali. Weekly. Prime Minister’s Depart- ago, the Samoan Parliament abolished ment, Apia. capital punishment, thanks indirectly SO, The Samoa Observer. Daily. Apia. to the infl uence of Malietoa. Within weeks of Malietoa’s death, all the political parties unanimously Tuvalu Update supported the election of former Prime Minister Tupuola Efi as the In this special segment, Bikenibeu new head of state for a term of fi ve Paeniu, Tuvalu Minister for Finance, years, in accordance with the constitu- Planning, and Industries, provides his tion. Tupuola Efi was prime minister own account of some events analyzed from 1976 to 1979, and from 1979 by Tauaasa Taafaki in a 2004–2006 to 1981, and, over the years, acquired review of Tuvalu ( The Contemporary two higher matai titles as well: Tui Pacifi c 19 (1): 276–286 [2007]). Atua and Tupua. He is also a noted scholar of Samoan language, folklore, In the review, Taafaki discussed and culture. His academic achieve- events surrounding a march on Parlia- ments have been recognized by Te ment in April 2006 organized by the Matahauariki Institute at Waikato Chamber of Commerce. Paeniu notes University, which made him an associ- that the controversy involved a grant ate member; by Te Whare Wänanga provided by Taiwan for Small/Medium o Awanuiärangi, the tribal university Enterprises and administered by his where he is an adjunct professor; and ministry: “The article gave the impres- by the National University of Samoa, sion that this grant was intended for where he is a frequent speaker. Tui the Chamber of Commerce. However, Atua Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Efi is it was for small and medium sized very much a product of the postcolo- enterprises, not for the Chamber of nial era, characterized by the people’s Commerce. To protect the grant from desire for education, upward mobility, being politicized, I outlined in a mem- 250 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) orandum to the secretary for Finance Minister Toafa to investigate the Ger- how the funds would be administered: man proposal. “He handed me the us$100,000 was to be administered documentation and especially a ‘red’ by the Small Business Centre in the [book] that contained all the details of Department of Commerce and Indus- the proposal. I expressed my reserva- tries and used for training entrepre- tions, but the prime minister insisted neurs; $30,000 would take the form of that I take it on board. It so happened a direct grant to the Chamber of Com- that the Head of the Pacifi c Financial merce (this amount was determined Technical Assistance Centre (pftac) based on an earlier written submission was visiting, so I gave him the ‘red’ by the chamber); and the balance of book and requested his advice. The the money would be administered pftac came back and advised no. by the Development Bank of Tuvalu However the Prime Minister insisted I (dbt). In the same memo I asked take a closer look at it. In early 2005 the secretary for Finance to work we traveled to Germany, where we out clear terms of reference for the visited the oecd [Organisation for administration of the dbt grant, and Economic Co-operation and Develop- I subsequently obtained the approval ment] as well as the Centre for Money of cabinet for the policy overall. When Laundering and Tax Offi ce in Bonn. I returned from an overseas trip I Although we agreed for the German learned that the secretary and the investors to come to Tuvalu to make a president of the Chamber of Com- presentation to Cabinet and members merce had lobbied all the ministers, of the public, their proposal was yet to including the prime minister. After be offi cially endorsed. I still had many the Speaker refused a request to allow serious questions about a proposal them to meet with Parliament, they that seemed too good to be true. called on their members to march. Negotiations continued, the proposal I met with the marchers when they got more complex, and the press got arrived at Parliament and explained involved. The late Robert Keith Reid the government’s side of the story. My was preparing to publish an article, department secretary, accountant, and and I managed to consult him in time aid coordinator were also present to and provided my side of the story. clarify the situation with regard to the He fi nally wrote an article for Islands grant and the disbursement of funds. Business, which I liked very much The marchers started disbursing as the (Keith-Reid and Pareti 2005). As the members came to understand my side dialogue continued, I came to realize of the story.” that the German proposal was becom- Bikenibeu Paeniu also took excep- ing more complicated, when by this tion to an assertion in the review that time it should have been more easily as Minister of Finance he was “fi rmly understood, so I came to the conclu- behind” a German-based proposal sion that it was a scam. Eventually I to establish a bank in Tuvalu, which said no to the proposal and informed turned out to be a scam. Paeniu states the cabinet accordingly. My decision that in 2004 he was asked by Prime was not the result of pressure from pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 251

Australia, New Zealand, or anybody time this had occurred in Wallis and else. The whole proposal was a fake, Futuna. Unfortunately, a breakdown and I came to believe that the inves- in the aging plane that provides tors were simply after Tuvalu’s Trust domestic fl ights for the two-hundred- Fund.” thirty kilometer journey between Wallis and Futuna caused a problem for certain candidates in recording Reference campaign messages. Keith-Reid, Robert, and Samisoni Pareti. While the health of the elderly 2005. Tuvalu’s Next Big Hope. Islands lavelua (paramount chief, or king) Business, August. Online at http://www remained precarious (see the account .islandsbusiness.com/archives of the 2005 customary law crisis in Angleviel 2006), the question of his succession was not an issue in this campaign. The rate of voter participa- Wallis And Futuna tion, always very high, was 75 per- cent. Twenty of the twenty-six party On Sunday, 1 April 2007, the 11,165 lists obtained a seat. Seventeen incum- registered voters in Wallis and Futuna bent representatives ran for reelec- elected the twenty members of the tion, and fourteen of them succeeded. Territorial Assembly. Thirteen of the Two women were voted into the new twenty incumbent assembly members assembly with a fi ve-year mandate. were part of the national presidential Ermenegilde Simete was reelected, majority lead by Ermenegilde Simete despite being beaten by Donald (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire Mercier (a candidate with Socialist [ump], from Mua). The archipelago is leanings) in Mua. Simete won 481 divided into fi ve electoral constituen- votes, compared to his competitor’s cies, with thirteen territorial repre- 392. ump deputy Victor Brial came sentative seats for the three Wallisian in fi rst in the Sigave electorate with districts (Mua, Hahake, and Hihifo), 309 votes. The departing ump major- and seven seats for the two kingdoms ity representatives were either directly of Futuna (Sigave and Alo). Twenty- reelected (as was the case for ten of six party lists were fi led for these elec- them), or replaced by new representa- tions just before the proportional vote. tives also favoring this majority. Three women were listed at the head Due to the wide range of vot- of their parties along with Victor Brial, ing possibilities, negotiations were the ump territorial deputy. held to strengthen the ump majority. An audiovisual campaign, moni- The ump/consolidated right parties tored by the French media authority came out slightly ahead in the end, (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel winning twelve seats to the Social- [csa]), was broadcast by rfo (Réseau ist/consolidated left’s eight seats. On France Outre-mer) on both radio and 11 April, Pesamino Taputai, a member television—the only media currently of the udf (Union pour la démocra- available there. This was the second tie française)–MoDem (Mouvement 252 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) démocrate), a centralist party, became factors: Likuvalu’s strong support for president of the Territorial Assembly, the former lavelua during the 2005 with Victor Brial elected vice presi- customary law crisis, internal confl icts dent, and Ermenegilde Simete presi- in the local ump chapter, and private dent of the permanent commission. problems in Futuna. On 22 April 2007, 7,208 voters The 2007 legislative elections were (64.5 percent) went to the polls for the held on 10 and 17 June 2007. In the French presidential elections, with the fi rst round, Victor Brial received 2,624 following results: Olivier Besancenot votes (33.7 percent); Albert Likuvalu 71 votes (0.99 percent); Marie-George 2,424 votes (31.1 percent); Atonia Buffet 40 votes (0.56 percent); Gérard Ilalio 973 votes (12.5 percent); Pesa- Schivardi 15 votes (0.21 percent); mino Taputai 661 votes (8.5 percent); François Bayrou 804 (11.20 percent); and Ermenegilde Simete 1,101 votes José Bove 41 votes (0.57 percent); (14.1 percent). The smaller parties Dominique Voynet 60 votes (0.84 then joined forces with the larger ones, percent); Philippe de Villiers 14 votes as they usually do. Simete (ump) and (0.20 percent); Ségolène Royal 2,832 Taputai (udf) from the territorial votes (39.46 percent); Frédéric Nihous majority gave their support to Vic- 25 votes (0.35 percent); Jean-Marie tor Brial and, once Atonio Ilalio, the Le Pen 86 votes (1.20 percent); Arlette third candidate, had been eliminated, LaGuiller 63 votes (0.88 percent); and he asked his supporters to vote for Nicolas Sarkozy 3,125 votes (43.55 Likuvalu. In the meantime, Donald percent). Mercier, though Socialist, stated prior Sixty-nine percent of Wallisians and to the fi rst round that he would vote Futunians turned out to vote during for Brial, asking his territorial voters the second round of the presidential to do the same. election on 6 May 2007; 3,866 voted In the second round on 17 June for Nicolas Sarkozy (50.17 percent), 2007, Likuvalu received 4,152 votes while 3,840 voted for Ségolène Royal. (51.79 percent), while Brial only There has been a clear shift in Wal- received 3,865. It should be noted lis and Futuna toward the left, which that in the fi rst round the number of may be due either to a change in atti- people voting by power of attorney tude or to voters being weary of the was 20 percent, while the number of principal local authorities, who have abstaining voters was 29.67 percent. been in offi ce for a long time. In the second round, 27.50 percent The victory of the departing ump abstained. Likuvalu, the new deputy, deputy following the presidential elec- was born on 14 November 1943 in tions seemed to be a foregone conclu- Alo. He was the fi rst Wallisian to sion in June 2007. However, surpris- obtain a baccalaureate, and after ingly, Victor Brial was beaten by earning a master’s degree in geogra- Socialist Albert Likuvalu. This result phy from the University of Lyon, he was due to declining support for those became the fi rst certifi ed teacher in his- in power too long (which is often a tory-geography. His opposition party, problem in small insular areas), as Alliance d’opposition (opposing the well as a combination of several other ump), was recently absorbed by the pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 253 local chapter of the national Socialist d’Infanterie de Marine du Pacifi que party (ps) to which he belongs. Victor [Nouvelle Calédonie] or rimap-nc) Brial has appealed the results of the aboard. They were quartered in the election. village of Halalo, where they built a In customary law matters, the fale (traditional house) as part of their Administrative Court of Mata‘utu tour of duty. studied approximately fi fty appeals The Wallisian and Futunian com- presented by the leaders of Uvea on munity in New Caledonia, number- 12 March 2007. These were intended ing over 20,000 people, remains the to render null and void the prefecto- archipelago’s key link with the outside rial decrees made by Xavier de Fürst, world. A special agreement among the who represented the French State State, New Caledonia, and the island during the 2005 crisis. At that time territory of Wallis and Futuna, speci- the prefect had, among other things, fi ed in Article 225 of the organic law published several decrees recognizing dated 19 March 1999 affecting New the customary law chiefs who were in Caledonia, was signed into law on 1 favor of change. The court fi nally ren- December 2003. This agreement for- dered null and void the decrees made malized relations between Wallis and by Fürst and ordered the State to pay Futuna and New Caledonia. Articles damages to the territorial constitu- 1 and 2 of the agreement concern ency of Uvea, or in other words, to the the organization of services provided members of the lavelua’s governing by the State, with the latter provid- body. The court cited Article 3 of the ing that services in New Caledonia 1961 statute that in part specifi cally and the island territory of Wallis and “prohibits any involvement of the Futuna can be organized separately. Republic’s institutions in the opera- A private civil aviation department tion of customary law institutions, specifi cally for Wallis and Futuna was and does not give any administrative therefore created by interministerial authority either to the State or the ter- decree on 12 July 2006, fully inde- ritory in questions of customary law.” pendent of the one existing in New Lavelua Tomasi Kulimoetoke, king Caledonia. A defense ministry decree of Wallis since 1959 and father of dated 22 November 2005 replaced a six, died on 7 May 2007 at the age national police detachment stationed of eighty-eight. A six-month period on the islands of Wallis and Futuna of mourning was decreed and a new with a company, and increased the lavelua cannot be named until it is number of staff. The creation of the over. Some people have raised the pos- Department of Health and Social Ser- sibility of amending customary law to vices within the Work Inspection and replace the lavelua by the three district Social Services Administration was chiefs (faipule), thereby reinforcing formalized by a Territorial Assembly their authority. decree of 2 August 2006. This decree In military affairs, the French frig- was necessary to better coordinate the ate Jacques Cartier arrived in Wallis territory’s health and social policy. on 5 May with a detachment of Article 4 of the agreement allows twenty naval infantrymen (Régiment for New Caledonia and the island 254 the contemporary pacifi c • 20:1 (2008) territory of Wallis and Futuna “to in Noumea. Following sixteen months discuss (when necessary) subjects hav- of construction, the Wallisian and ing an impact on the . . . expatriate Futunian community of Vallon-Dore community.” Periodic meetings take inaugurated a new church dedicated place between Wallis and Futuna’s to St Theresa on 24 September 2006. Territorial Assembly president and the Aloisio Vaitulukina, president of the president of the government of New kingdom of Sagave’s expatriate com- Caledonia, to discuss specifi c subjects. munity since 1994, died on 12 June On 1 September 2006, the City 2007 at the age of seventy-one. of Noumea’s Jeudi du Centre-Ville frédéric angleviel (Thursday evening open air market) was dedicated to Wallis and Futuna and its expatriate community. On Reference 13 September 2006, the Territorial Angleviel, Frédéric. 2007. Wallis and Advisory board for the women of Futuna: Issues and Events, 1 July 2005 to Wallis and Futuna put on an exhibit of 30 June 2006. The Contemporary Pacific Wallisian and Futunian arts and crafts 19:286–290.