Political Reviews

Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 michael lujan bevacqua, landisang l kotaro, monica c labriola, clement yow mulalap

Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 peter clegg, lorenz gonschor, margaret mutu, christina newport, steven ratuva, forrest wade young

The Contemporary Pacic, Volume 29, Number 1, 93–188 © 2017 by University of Hawai‘i Press

93 in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016

Reviews of American Sāmoa, Hawai- departments. They include the first- ian Issues, , Sāmoa, , time appointment of seasoned public Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna are servants who have worked their way not included in this issue. up the ranks. Tepaeru Herrmann was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, and The year under review was a pivotal Gail Townsend replaced the retiring one as the Cook Islands celebrated its secretary of the Ministry of Education, fiftieth anniversary of independence. Sharyn Paio. Reappointments included Over the last twelve months, immedi- Elizabeth Wright-Koteka as chief of ate and longer-term concerns have staff for the Office of the Prime Min- seen old relationships revisited and ister, Elizabeth Iro as secretary of the new ones forged. In this review, partic- Ministry of Health, Bredina Drollett ular attention is given to highlighting as secretary of the Ministry of Internal the leadership of women in advanc- Affairs, and Daphne Ringi as chief ing the Cook Islands across different executive officer of the Office of the sectors and issues as political powers Public Service Commissioner (opsc continue to shift and take hold. 2015). Although women are increasingly This year also saw Teremoana elected and appointed as parliamen- Yala appointed as Cook Islands’ high tarians, heads of government depart- commissioner to . With ments, chairs and directors of statu- thirty-five years of public service tory bodies and private entities, and experience, including fourteen years customary titleholders, there appears as a senior official at the Cook Islands to be little progress made toward High Commission in New Zealand, transforming the gendered nature of Yala is very familiar with Cook Cook Islands politics. Indeed, despite Islands’ development and diplomatic women’s making up approximately representation needs (cin, 3 June 50 percent of the country’s popula- 2016). Although not the first woman tion and positions held in the public to be appointed to the position, she is service, their representation remains the first to take up the office; tradi- low across positions of authority and tional leader and former head of the leadership (Ministry of Finance and Koutu Nui (traditional leaders group) Economic Management 2012; Minis- Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid was try of Internal Affairs 2011). announced in April 2011 to take up Nevertheless, key appointments the role but passed away unexpect- have been made this year. Six women edly before being able to assume the were appointed as heads of minis- appointment (cin, 23 June 2011). tries among the thirteen government A less obvious but nevertheless

127 128 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) noteworthy appointment was also tariat implementation of the Pacific made with Caren Rangi taking up a Regionalism framework (cin, 6 May directorship on the Board of Direc- 2015). She provides the committee tors for the Cook Islands Investment with a small island states perspective, Corporation (ciic). Based in New supported by her private sector and Zealand and with ties to Northern and economic development experience. Southern group islands in the Cooks, Having served on the Cook Islands she holds a range of community and Tourism Corporation Board of Direc- national level governance roles. She is tors for ten years, she is credited with the national president of pacifica Inc, transforming the agency’s financial a pan-Pacific women’s organization in management (cin, 3 Nov 2015). As New Zealand, and serves as a board an executive member of the national member of the Creative New Zealand ­private sector organization, the Arts Council as well as the Pacific ­Chamber of Commerce, she has also Homecare Services and Charities Reg- been instrumental in the capacity istration Board (pacifica Inc 2016). development of local businesses (cin, Responsible for the oversight of all 21 Sept 2015). government assets including land and Recognition can also be given to a number of state-owned enterprises, the country’s young women. Despite ciic makes use of Rangi’s expertise in the controversy between the legiti- attending to its affairs. These include macy of two pageant associations, the development of seabed minerals Natalia Short was crowned one of two and preparation of the contract with Miss Cook Islands. Having won the the International Sea- Miss Cook Islands Association title, bed Authority, which gives the country Natalia has been an ambassador for mineral rights to a specified area of its key causes. A business management , and a joint- graduate, she attended the General venture agreement with gsr (Global Assembly of the Red Cross in Geneva Sea Mineral Resources nv). This as the youth ambassador of the Cook allows the Belgium-based private com- Islands Red Cross. She also supported pany the opportunity to explore and the End the Violence campaign as mine the designated area held by the the #ENDtheviolence Ambassador Cook Islands (ciic, 15 July 2016; cin, for Punanga Tauturu, a Cook Islands 26 July 2016). Caren Rangi’s appoint- women’s voluntary organization (cin, ment can be seen as a reflection of 30 April 2016). the government’s openness to looking But concern about women’s par- beyond its geographical boundaries in ticipation in politics is not just about making use of skilled Cook Islanders increasing the numbers in leadership to provide expertise for the country. positions. As one of four women mem- As an example of Cook Islands bers of Parliament (mps), Democratic women’s leadership outside of the Party mp for Selina Napa is country, Teresa Manarangi-Trott was active in her parliamentary work. She appointed to the new Specialist Sub- is a member of the select committee Committee for Regionalism support- for the Family Law bill, which is set to ing the Secre- table overhauled and outdated family political reviews • polynesia 129 laws. More protection for survivors of outside of the Pacific Islands Forum sexual offenses is a part of the bill; this leaders group in (pir, 26 June includes criminalizing marital rape, 2016). which is not an offense in current law. The parliamentary session was After two separate incidents of rape chaired by Brown, the Cook Islands against young women were reported, Party’s only woman member and and drawing on the 2014 report on deputy Speaker of the House, and family health and safety (Te Marae attended by the Opposition members. Ora and others 2014), Napa stated Democratic Party mp Albert Nicho- that “we are such a small nation, but las, who last year crossed the floor the figures advise us that one in three to take up a cabinet position with women are subjected to some form the cip government, also attended of physical and sexual abuse” (cin, the session (cin, 22 June 2016). The 17 March 2016). Napa has called on members subsequently voted Brown as all parliamentarians to support the the prime minister; however, she was bill, which is waiting to be tabled in not sworn in by Queen’s Representa- ­Parliament. tive . He upheld Speaker This year also saw a woman chal- of the House Niki Rattle’s ruling of lenge the prime minister’s position for adjourning Parliament sine die (with- the first time. Rose Brown, mp for the out a designated future date) (Pearl- Teenui-Mapumai electorate in , man 2016). While Brown may not became central to continued political be given the accolade of first woman maneuverings within the country and prime minister, she is the first woman a failed coup to oust the current prime to be nominated by an Opposition minister and his government. After coalition to be sworn in to the highest winning her seat in the 2014 election, office in the Cook Islands. first-time mp Brown crossed the floor In speaking out about the move to to join the Opposition coalition. In a change the government, mp Brown as bold move, the Opposition coalition the current leader of the Opposition sought to remove the Cook Islands coalition expressed her shock at the Party (cip) government when Parlia- dirty politics and failure of all politi- ment retired from its 17 June 2016 cians over the years to make neces- sitting. The Opposition members met sary political reforms. In pointing out at Parliament on Monday 20 June and that the government has sat for only asserted that the parliamentary session ninety-three days in the last five years, that ended on the previous Friday had Brown is looking for political commit- not followed the procedure correctly, ment to make changes. She stated, “I whereby no proper resolution to close am not interested in the power, I am the sitting was carried. Being of the interested in helping my people, no view that Parliament was still in ses- matter what they think about politics sion, the members undertook to hold or the people who continue to feed a no-confidence vote against Prime off the system” (cin, 30 July 2016). Minister , who flew out Elected by the Democratic and One of the country to attend the inaugural Cook Islands parties “as the leader of Small Island States meeting being held Unity in Parliament not as the leader 130 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) of the opposition,” Brown aspires the tribe is left behind, and no one in to have the join the village is forgotten” (Cook Islands and connect with efforts for a “real Sun 2015). government of national unity.” This In reflecting on these words in real intention is particularly poignant at terms, the Cook Islands examined its this time as Brown reported that the relationship with its associated state cip executive had recently agreed to partner, New Zealand. While the Henry Puna’s stepping down as prime Cook Islands remains responsible for minister (cin, 30 July 2016). Over- its domestic and foreign affairs, New all, the diverse leadership of women Zealand provides development assis- expressed in the year under review tance through a traditional donor-aid highlights the quality of women’s recipient relationship. In 2015, a new participation in the country’s affairs aid agreement was signed between despite the ongoing everyday chal- the Cook Islands and New Zealand. lenges women face and the need for The performance-based agreement increased representation locally and is touted as a historic arrangement further afield. because of the shift from project-based The celebratory nature of this to the higher aid modality of budget year culminated on 4 August 2015 support. This modality will see a with the official commemoration of working group set up, consisting of the country’s fiftieth anniversary of the two countries’ respective govern- self-governance. The proceedings took ment representatives, to engage in place with full island-style ceremony higher-level domestic policy dialogue and entertainment. Attended by a rather than deal with the opera- wide range of local and international tional details of projects (cin, 7 Nov dignitaries, the warm, cloudless day 2015). On the one hand, this kind included commemorative speeches, a of ­modality favors the country-own- religious dedication, flag raising, cake ership ­principle with the use of the cutting, and cultural performances. Cook Islands’ own country systems to A flyover by an Air New Zealand manage external development activi- ­commercial flight, a twenty-one-gun ties and funds. On the other hand, salute from a New Zealand navy with increased levels of policy influ- ­vessel, and gift giving to the diplo- ence accorded a donor, budget support matic corps also took place. In his can be seen as eroding small island Constitution Day speech, the prime developing state sovereignty, whereby minister acknowledged the challenges its policy space shrinks as external the country has faced in its journey actors and mechanisms get involved as a nation. He paid homage to past in a country’s decision making (Khan leaders and partners who have shared 2007; unctad 2014). Having this and shaped the journey so far. Look- particular development partner at the ing to the future, Puna noted that the Cook Islands’ policy-making table in key lies in embracing a cohesive and this way reflects an “inverse sover- inclusive approach, as in the vision of eignty” effect (Murray and Overton the Cook Islands’ first premier, Papa 2011) wherein such a policy ­dialogue Arapati Henry, in which “no one in arrangement can be seen as an political reviews • polynesia 131 increased demand and conditionality resident in the Cook Islands to lead, placed on the Cook Islands. serve, and live among their people as a During a year that has also been contributing factor to the diminishing about celebrating the new and not mana (authority) of the Ui (cin, just what has happened over the past 25 July 2016). fifty years, another relationship has There are 23 Ariki in the Cook also taken a notable historic turn. In Islands, with 16 sworn in as members October 2015, a signing ceremony of the constitutionally formed Are took place between the Cook Islands Ariki (House of Traditional Chiefs). government and Te Kīngitanga (the This is a parliamentary body that King Movement) at Tūrangawaewae provides advice to the government on Marae, in Ngāruwāhia in New a range of issues. In September 2015, Zealand. This Koreromotu (cultural the Are Ariki undertook its first-ever ­covenant) gives recognition to the tour of New Zealand and “historical, ancestral and cultural ties since it was formed in 1966 (Radio between the Maori people of the Cook New Zealand 2015). Taking advan- Islands and Aotearoa” (cin, 27 Oct tage of this opportunity to connect 2015). Areas of cooperation include and consult with Cook Islands com- “environmental issues including munities, they held discussions on freshwater, climate change and fisher- a range of matters. These included ies; economic development including absentee titleholders; the role of investment and commercial oppor- the Aronga Mana (group of chiefs, tunities; social and cultural issues sub-chiefs and heads of families) in including language preservation and granting Cook Islands residency to development and health and social foreign nationals; and the occupation well-being” (cin, 27 Oct 2015). Seen rights and vesting orders related to as strengthening ancestral ties and the land-tenure system (cin, 21 Sept acknowledging the indigenous author- 2015). Also on the agenda were the ity of both countries, the covenant fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the also reflects the ability of the Cook establishment of the Islands government to engage in part- that would take place in 2016. nerships that go beyond its sovereign The three-year wait for Teina state–defined relationship with the Bishop, the leader of the One Cook New Zealand government. Islands Party, to have his day in court Closer to home, the government on corruption charges came to an end took to challenging its own indigenous during this year of review. In Novem- leaders, the Ui Ariki. Prime Minister ber 2015, Chief Justice Thomas Puna invited the Ui Ariki to consider Weston granted leave to prosecute their roles, functions, and contribu- the former cabinet minister on two tions to their tribes and the country charges of bribery and corruption as a whole in the twenty-first century (cin, 10 Nov 2015). Bishop was found before seeking more funding from guilty of corruption when he received the government. Puna pointed to the funds from a subsidiary of Chinese prolonged absenteeism of chiefs who fishing company Luen Thai toward reside overseas and are not physically the purchase of hotel accommodations 132 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) in . Bishop’s sentencing will signature of the prime minister as the take place in August 2016. He could minister of marine resources. face jail time of up to fourteen years, Sadly, this year also saw the pass- ending his seventeen years of service ing of two prominent artists who, as a member of Parliament and forcing through their creative work, reflected another by-election to be held for the their dedication and advocacy for Arutanga-Nikaupara-Reureu elector- Cook Islands culture and authority. ate in Aitutaki (cin, 30 July 2016). From Atiu and , Ian George In the face of the impending worked as an educator and was a prosecution and subsequent verdict, well-known painter and sculptor. In Bishop continued to lobby to resolve particular, he drew on Oceanic totems marine resources management issues, such as Tangaroa (God of the Sea) to which remained active throughout provoke comment on the loss of Cook the year. Following on from the 2015 Islands and Pacific indigenous control public debate and petition opposing and cultural imperialism (Art Associ- purse seine fishing, the prime min- ates 2016). ister agreed with Bishop, who was Eruera Te Whiti Nia was a film- Opposition coalition leader at the maker, sculptor, activist, and tradi- time, to establish a select committee tional titleholder from Ngati Makea to examine the issues, including the in Rarotonga and Te Ati Awa in anti–purse seining petition especially New Zealand. He safeguarded Cook concerned with the use of fish-aggre- Islands culture through his art, which gating devices (fads) (cin, 18 May included his sculptural and spatial 2016). The signing of the Sustainable responses to the concept of the Are Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Korero (house of history and learn- the is also proving to ing) within the paepae Ariki (chief’s be a controversial part of the debate. palace) of Taputapuatea in Rarotonga Advice from Foreign Affairs Secretary (Nia 2010). He protested for politi- Tepaeru Herrmann called for removal cal change as a member of Nga Tama of a clause that was interpreted as Toa (an indigenous activist group as undermining the government’s author- part of the Māori sovereignty and land ity: “This kind of text is objectionable rights movements of the 1970s and and Pacific Islands countries have 1980s in New Zealand) (Ngā Taonga collectively resisted long and hard 2016; cin, 13 June 2016). Both men against such text appearing in any were strong advocates for the collabo- kind of access arrangement or Treaty ration of cultural and artistic efforts Convention language in this region” across Oceania. (cin, 7 June 2016). However, the Overall, the half-century milestone advice was considered unfounded or of independence was celebrated with lacking in substance according to the much fanfare. The year’s events have European Union and the Ministry of shown that old and new relationships Marine Resources (cin, 7 June 2016), can be established, redefined, and with the European Union ratifying advanced. While the economic, social, the agreement. The cabinet-endorsed cultural, and environmental matters agreement is now waiting for the continue to require attention, the political reviews • polynesia 133 meaningful contribution of the coun- Overton. 2011. The Inverse Sovereignty try’s women in these matters has been Effect: Aid, Scale and Neostructuralism in highlighted. Calls for political reform Oceania. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 52 (3): still remain at the forefront of much 272–284. public opinion. It would seem timely Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. 2016. then that a woman prime minister Remembering Eruera Te Whiti Nia. lead the 2017 elections as an option http://www.ngataonga.org.nz/about/news/ to ­pursue an inclusive approach where remembering-eruera-te-whiti-nia [accessed no one is to be left behind and forgot- 26 June 2016] ten. Nia, Eruera Te Whiti. 2010. Are Korero. Master’s thesis, Auckland University of christina newport Technology. opsc, Office of the Public Service Commis- References sioner. 2015. People. http://www.psc.gov .ck/?page_id=3092 [accessed 30 July 2016] Art Associates. 2016. Ian George. http:// www.artassociates.co.nz/our-artists/ian pacifica Inc. 2016. National Executive. -george/ [accessed 15 May 2016] http://www.pacifica.org.nz/?page_id=21 [accessed 1 Aug 2016] ciic, Cook Islands Investment Corpora- , Pacific Islands Report. . Small tion. 2016. International Seabed Authority pir 2016 Islands State Leaders Gather in Palau for Contract Signing. 15 July. http://ciiconline .com/latestnews/international-seabed Inaugural Meeting. 26 June. http://www -authority-contract-signing/ [accessed .pireport.org/articles/2016/06/26/small -island-state-leaders-gather-palau 30 July 2016] -inaugural-meeting [accessed 26 July 2016] cin, Cook Islands News. Rarotonga. Daily. Pearlman, Jonathan. 2016. Queen’s Repre- Cook Islands Sun. 2015. The Cook Islands sentative Steps in to Stop Attempted Coup Celebrates 50th Year of “Self-Govern- on Tiny Cook Islands. The Telegraph, ment.” January–June edition, 3. https:// 22 June. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ issuu.com/cookislandssun/docs/cis007 news/2016/06/22/queens-representative _jan-jun_edition_2015_8.0 [accessed -steps-in-to-stop-attempted-coup-on-tiny 23 Aug 2016] -co/ [accessed 26 June 2016] Khan, Shahrukh Rafi. 2007. wto, imf Radio New Zealand. 2015. Cook Islands and the Closing of the Development Policy Chiefs Visit Expats. 7 October. http:// Space for Low-Income Countries: A Call www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific for Neo-Developmentalism. Third World -news/286300/cook-islands-chiefs-visit Quarterly 28 (6): 1073–1090. -expats [accessed 5 May 2016] Ministry of Finance and Economic Te Marae Ora, Cook Islands Ministry of ­Management. 2012. Cook Islands Demo- Health, Cook Islands National Council of graphic Profile 2006–2011. Rarotonga: Women, United Nations Population Fund. Government of the Cook Islands. 2014. Te Ata O Te Ngakau: The Cook Islands Family Health and Safety Study. Ministry of Internal Affairs. 2011. Cook October. Rarotonga: Government of the Islands National Policy on Gender Equal- Cook Islands. ity and Women’s Empowerment. May. Rarotonga: Government of the Cook unctad, United Nations Conference on Islands. Murray, Warwick E, and John Trade and Development. 2014. Trade and 134 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017)

Development Report, 2014 Global Gover- Fenua Communication already owns nance and Policy Space for Development. the weekday newspaper -Infos. New York: United Nations. Unsurprisingly this change in owner- ship transformed tpm, once feared by local oligarchs for its investigative reporting and scathing editorials, into French Polynesia a more docile publication. While du In the often-turbulent recent politi- Prel continues to write good editori- cal history of French Polynesia, the als occasionally and the magazine year under review was a relatively still contains investigative articles, the calm one. Against all odds, Edouard publication has clearly become more Fritch consolidated his power as the mainstream and now contains a lot country’s president, transforming his of trivia, missing some of the intellec- tenuous tenure in office into one based tual depth of the old monthly edition. on a comparatively solid majority, and Also, for outsiders, the both reliable uniting under his leadership all politi- and manageable chronicle of impor- cal forces that oppose both indepen- tant political and social events that dence and Fritch’s predecessor Gaston tpm provided is being missed. Flosse. Meanwhile, for the first time What remained the dominant in over a decade, the country hosted a topic in local politics for the first half French presidential visit, which made of the review period, however, was some hopeful impressions, but at the the ongoing power struggle between same time the French government con- President Edouard Fritch and his tinues to stubbornly refuse to engage predecessor, Gaston Flosse, until it with United Nations institutions to was essentially won by the former work with them toward the country’s in early 2016. In September 2014, decolonization. when Flosse was removed from office The review period started with because of a definitive conviction in a yet another unfortunate change in corruption case, his longtime confi- the local media landscape. In August dant and former son-in-law Fritch had 2015, at the end of the summer break routinely taken over the presidency (as one of its many anachronistic with the understanding that Flosse colonial absurdities, French Polyne- would continue to hold the reins of sia follows the French metropolitan power from behind the scenes. Fritch, calendar and is thus the only country however, developed his own taste for in the southern hemisphere to have its political power, and tensions between long “summer vacation” during the the two soon become apparent. In pleasant austral winter and not during May 2015, the majority party Taho- the very hot season at the beginning eraa Huiraatira split when Fritch of the year), the formerly monthly formed his own caucus in the local news magazine Tahiti Pacifique (tpm) assembly named Tapura Huiraatira, became a weekly, after having been and on Flosse’s order all members of sold by its founder and editor Alex the new formation were expelled from W du Prel to local Chinese business Tahoeraa. Fritch subsequently formed tycoon Albert Moux, whose company a minority coalition government with