Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

Reviews of American Sämoa, Hawai‘i, in Hawai‘i (CIN, 28 July 2007, 5). Niue, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Hundreds attended his state funeral on Wallis and Futuna are not included in 27 July at the Are Kari Oi Nui (CIN, this issue. 30 July 2007, 1). Landowners of two outer-island Cook Islands airports were dissatisfi ed with the Issues in the Cook Islands during the government. At one point Manihiki period under review highlight contro- Airport landowners, angry about versial government decisions as well as lease terms, initiated a forced airport some notable judicial and parliamen- closure by spreading debris over the tary amendments. Government indif- runway to render it unusable (CIN, 5 ference to voter concerns was refl ected July 2007, 1). They later agreed to in confl icts at Aitutaki and Manihiki a new lease arrangement for sixty airports, a drawn out debate over an acres of land at an estimated value of indoor stadium for the country, the nz$200 per acre (CIN, 1 Feb 2008, 1). sudden discontinuation of the vaka (One nz dollar was the equivalent of (district) council, unfair cost-of- living us$.69 as of August 2008.) Despite adjustments (cola), and even a chal- the agreement, a fl ight to Manihiki lenge from the traditional leadership was turned back by some disgruntled in the House of Ariki. This review Manihiki airport landowners (CIN, 14 underlines the growing disconnect May 2008, 1). A police patrol boat between the Cook Islands government was required to help keep the peace and Cook Islanders, and the margin- (CIN, 16 May 2008, 1). alization of Cook Islands Mäori and Confl ict at the Aitutaki airport their paramount chiefs. focused on the desire of local residents The loss of one of the greatest sons to keep the Sabbath holy (CIN, 12 of the Cook Islands was a sad event June 2008, 1). About 300 protestors for all Cook Islanders. Dr Thomas strongly, yet peacefully, expressed their Robert Alexander Harries Davis kbe displeasure at government-sponsored (1917–2007), former prime minister efforts to land planes on the island of the Cook Islands and a United on Sundays (CIN, 23 June 2008, 1). States Apollo Space Program scientist, The peaceful demonstration was in passed away on 23 July 2007 (CIN, 24 contrast to previous occasions when July 2007, 1, 5). He was a well-known debris was spread on the runway. medical doctor, scientist, statesman, In recognition of continuing high author, voyager, and Pacifi c politi- emotions, the government agreed to cian, who played a major role in the a six-month trial period, although formation of the East-West Center’s expressions of resistance to Sunday Pacifi c Islands Development Program

145 146 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) landings continue (CIH, 28 June 2008, infrastructure. Aggressive approaches 2). by some local operators proved The courts were busy this year counterproductive. The Rarotonga beginning with what is believed to be Beach Resort, for example, gener- the fi rst successful defamation case ated some negative publicity when it in the Cook Islands. The case was charged a man nz$100 for using its successfully argued by lawyer Charles beachfront (CIN, 18 Sept 2007, 1). Little for William Framhein against The Crown Law Offi ce contributed property developer Tim Tepaki (CIN, to the debate by pointing out that the 2 July 2007, 1). The judge awarded resort’s property ended at the high- nz$90,000 to Framhein. Prominent water mark, which can be diffi cult to businessman Richard Barton was defi ne because of erosion, rising sea convicted on fi ve charges of will- level, or land reclamation (CIN,21 Sept fully fi ling false income tax returns 2007, 1). and fi ned (CIN, 10 Nov 2007, 1). The In spite of these challenges, the high American owners of the South Pacifi c standards maintained by some opera- School of Medicine indicated that they tors attracted global attention. At the plan to take the government to court World Travel Awards held in Sydney for reneging on a contract to open on 10 June 2008, the Cook Islands a school in the Cook Islands (CIN, received several prestigious accolades. 12 June 2008, 1). Meanwhile, Vai Additionally a proposed new Kia Peua, the member of Parliament for Orana Air group sought an operating Pukapuka Island, criticized the Cook license so that it could compete against Islands High Court and Justice System the successful Air Raro (CIN, 6 May for sending criminals to the outer 2008, 1). However, rising fuel costs islands to serve out their sentences. will be a major challenge for the new He also lashed out at the police for airline. For example, one-way fares on failing to monitor a criminal who shot Air Raro from Rarotonga to Manihiki three people on his island (CIN, 31 July went up during the year from nz$682 2007, 1). to nz$1150, an increase of 69 percent The tourism industry faced both (CIN, 17 Oct 2007, 1). challenges and opportunities. Cook Development needs also extend Islands Tourism Corporation chief to health. In a report presented to a executive Chris Wong resigned after Cook Islands health conference, Dr pressure from various sectors of the Kevin Palmer of the World Health public for alleged fi nancial discrepan- Organization indicated that the coun- cies (CIN, 28 July 2007, 1). John Dean try was in dire need of more health was selected to succeed Wong (CIN, 20 personnel. However, Dr Palmer also Feb 2008, 1) and now faces several horrifi ed many local residents when he major challenges in maintaining declared that Reslin spraying was one tourism as the country’s major indus- of the safest insecticides in the world, try. The Asian Development Bank and recommended the use of ddt, outlook highlighted the vulnerability a substance that is banned in many of the tourism industry in the Cook countries (CIN, 13 July 2007, 1). Islands, with its inadequate and aging The shipping issue continues to pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 147 heat up in Parliament and, in spite was washed up on Avatiu harbor and of the public uproar, the government then his fv Ana was grounded on the has reportedly incorporated a con- reef two months later (CIN, 17 March tingency budget allocation for the 2008, 1). Fortunately, fv Ana was suc- purchase of a ship (CIN, 12 Feb 2008, cessfully and safely removed (CIN, 19 1). Express Cook Islands Line had March 2008, 1). However, the wreck- sought approval for a ten-year ship- age of mv Maungaroa remains on the ping license to enable it to build a new Avatiu reef (CIN, 2 April 2008, 1). 114-meter-long cargo ship to service At one point, controversy erupted the country. The government now over government plans to scuttle the faces the need to upgrade the harbor, derelict mv Mataora seven miles off which cannot accommodate ships this Rarotonga, fully laden with asbestos long, and remove the current two-year waste (CIN, 29 Oct 2007, 1). Locals license restriction (CIN, 5 March 2008, were disturbed by the government’s 1). By March 2008, a nz$6 million secrecy and rushed approach to the harbor extension was being imple- dumping, and called on Greenpeace mented (CIN, 7 March 2008, 1). to intervene (CIN, 29 Oct 2007, 1). In the fi shing area, a two- member Despite the protests, and although bad team from Greenpeace, Nilesh weather interceded, the sinking was Goundar and Sari Tolvanen, visited eventually carried out (CIN, 3 Nov the Cook Islands to lobby for a sus- 2007, 1). tainable and equitable Pacifi c fi shery Continuing its support of various (CIN, 17 July 2007, 7). Prime Minister Cook Islands development projects, Jim Marurai agreed to champion the China loaned nz$9.3 million to assist campaign to save the Pacifi c tuna (CIN, in the construction of an indoor 18 July 2007, 1). Several troubling stadium and the relocation of the incidences occurred within Cook Ministry of Education offi ces. Foreign Islands waters. Two Koreans and a Affairs Minister Wilkie Rasmussen Vietnamese employed on the fi shing initially questioned some of Deputy vessel fv Matira were left stranded Prime Minister Dr Terepai Maoate’s on Rarotonga for three months when statements about the China loan, the shipowner refused to pay their suggesting that Maoate should have salaries, accusing the men of damaging walked away from it (CIN, 30 Aug his vessel (CIN, 18 July 2007, 1). The 2007, 1). The confl ict escalated when Korean Embassy in Wellington was Rasmussen threatened to push to drawn into the matter, and fi ghting remove Maoate from the cabinet (CIN, between the Korean and Vietnamese 3 Sept 2007, 1). Prime Minster Jim crewman further complicated commu- Marurai shied away from the public nication diffi culties (CIN, 9 Aug 2007, spat between his two ministers, prefer- 1; 10 Aug 2007, 1). In September, the ring to deal with it “in house” (CIN, 7 fv Moana sank in rough seas forty Sept 2007, 1). Meanwhile the Cham- kilometers off Rarotonga, although ber of Commerce weighed in request- the three Fijian crewmen were rescued ing more discussion of the indoor (CIN, Sept 2007, 1). In early 2008, stadium contract, and mounting public Tapi Taio’s cargo ship mv Maungaroa opposition forced the government to 148 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) place the project on hold (CIN, 7 Sept public comments and indicated that 2007, 1; 11 Sept 2007, 1). By October the soft loan might be withdrawn (CIN, 2007, the cabinet fi nally approved 30 April 2008, 1; 7 May 2008, 1). The the new indoor sports stadium for government revitalized its commit- the 2009 Pacifi c Mini Games. The ment to the loan but promised that 50 expected grant from China would go percent of the money will be given to toward the cost of constructing the local contractors. At the close of the stadium, but the source of funding for year in review the loan was fi nalized the hosting of the mini games, esti- (but not signed), and contracts to con- mated at nz$2.715 million, was still struct the stadium were in place. unclear (CIN, 25 Oct 2007, 1). The While open public confl ict over government later sought to increase the national stadium continued, the the amount of the soft loan from University of the South Pacifi c–Cook China to nz$13 million (CIN, 16 Feb Islands committee suggested that the 2008, 1). proposed Pacifi c studies campus on Mini games ceo David Lobb Rarotonga was far more important expressed outrage that the planned than the stadium. A sixty-year lease sports complex had not been fully for fi fteen acres of land had already discussed with the local sports com- been approved for such a campus, but munity, and his criticism received planning was delayed pending a more support from Cook Islands National positive government response (CIN, Olympic Committee President Tiki 5 Sept 2007, 1). Matapo (CIN, 16 Feb 2008, 1; 22 Feb A major issue throughout the 2008, 1). The government’s indecision year was the cost of living adjust- over the hosting of the world youth ment (cola) for Cook Islands public netball championship also caused servants. President of the Cook Islands anxiety among sports organizers (CIN, Workers Association Anthony Turua 5 March 2008, 1). Amid public criti- was critical of how the politicians’ cism, the prime minister reconfi rmed 4 percent cola was quickly approved, that the government will deliver on the backdated, and paid out, while public sports facility (CIN, 6 March 2008, 1; servants had to wait (CIN, 9 July 2007, 8 March 2008, 1). The International 1). The opposition members of Parlia- Netball Federation board subse- ment joined the censure by question- quently reaffi rmed the Cook Islands ing the government’s mishandling of as the host for the 2008 World Youth budgeting and payouts (CIN, 11 July Netball Tournament (CIN, 8 April 2007, 1). The Workers Association 2008, 1). opted to go to court over the cola The projects sank further into issue, with Turua pointing to increases confl ict when the Chamber of Com- in fuel prices, power and phone merce renewed its demands that the bills, freight costs, and a 100 percent government stop the multimillion-dol- markup on the cost of commodities. lar China loan and abandon plans for He also highlighted the fact that cola the indoor sports complex (CIN, 25 had been ignored since 2001 (CIN, 14 Feb 2008, 1). The Chinese government Sept 2007, 1). In October, the cabinet expressed concern about the negative agreed to a limited 4 percent cola pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 149 payout, but union members said that port from the communities they served the decision fell short of what had (CIN, 10 Oct 2007 1). already been approved for public ser- Relationships with the House of vants (CIN, 18 Oct 2007, 1). Also, the Ariki also plagued the government proposed payout was not backdated during 2007–2008. Established in as it had been for politicians (CIN, 19 1967, the House of Ariki has become Oct 2007, 1). Opposition spokesman an important and recognized voice Norman George agreed with the pub- on traditional culture and land issues lic servants and criticized the govern- (CIN, 26 July 2007, 5). However, the ment for its mishandling of the cola institution has been marginalized by and sports stadium issues (CIN, 24 Oct the government and maintains merely 2007, 1). an advisory role with no real powers. As the cola debate continued, new This may have made Ariki leaders vul- salaries for heads of ministries were nerable to outsiders who come in with recommended (CIN, 18 Feb 2008, 1). promises of respect as well as support Unlike public servants, “secret” pay for land control and cultural integrity. increases for members of Parliament Bruce Ruatapu Mita, an eloquent were reportedly approved. The prime Australia-based New Zealand Mäori minister received an increase from with an appreciation of traditional nz$75,000 to nz$105,000, and the leadership, exploited this vulnerability. mp base salary was increased from While the government quickly labeled nz$35,000 to nz$50,000 (CIN, 7 Mita as a scam artist seeking seabed June 2008, 1). Subsequently, it was mineral rights, Mita organized secret revealed that the fi nance secretary was meetings with traditional chiefs and to receive nz$120,000 per year (CIN, convinced many to follow his advice 8 June 2008, 1). The salary review (CIN, 2 May 2008, 1; 30 May 2008, for other heads of ministries fi nally 1). Calling themselves Te Ui Ariki established top salaries at nz$75,000 Ngateitei O Te Kuki Airani, several of plus per annum (CIN, 9 June 2008, 1; the country’s paramount chiefs signed 14 June 2008, 1). a proclamation declaring that they There was also controversy when no longer recognized the government, the government suddenly abolished Parliament, the Crown, and ties to the Rarotonga Island’s Vaka Council, the British queen, and that the coun- which was scheduled to cease operat- try’s natural land and sea resources ing by February 2008. Minister of belonged to them. Spokesmen Vakatini Internal Affairs Ngamau Munokoa Ariki and Vaeruarangi Teaukura Ariki explained that the locally elected publicly read the proclamation, stating Vaka Council was not maintaining that now was the time to rid the coun- the upkeep of community roadsides, try of government politics, which had road drainage systems, and streams. marginalized and ignored traditional Council mayors challenged Munokoa’s leaders. reasoning and pointed out that they The prime minister turned down had accomplished much more than a request by Vakatini Makea Ariki their budget allocation called for, and to meet, and Deputy Prime Minister that mayors had always received sup- Terepai Maoate suggested that the Ui 150 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009)

Ariki proclamation appeared to be The export of fresh maile lei treasonous (CIN, 12 June 2008, 1; 13 (garland made from the leaves of the June 2008, 1). After pressure from fragrant maile vine) from the Cook the government, the House of Ariki Islands to Hawai‘i was seriously and reaffi rmed their support of the queen abruptly affected by the shutdown as head of state. Opposition members of Aloha Airlines, which prevented also urged the government to refrain the shipment of thousands of dollars from legal or negative responses, and worth of the plants (CIN, 2 May 2008, to respect the basis of the concerns 1). On a more positive note, the anz expressed by the paramount chiefs. Bank opened a solar-powered branch Bruce Mita was not the only person in Aitutaki Island, a fi rst in the to show interest in seabed mining Pacifi c. The forty-eight solar panels (CIN, 29 April 2008, 1). US Ambas- produce 12,000 kilowatt-hours of sador William F McCormick met with electricity per year (CIN, 25 Oct Maoate and expressed interest in a 2007, 1). joint US–Cook Islands exploration Perhaps the most tragic develop- of the manganese nodule in the Cook ment for the Cook Islands occurred Islands exclusive economic zone (CIN, on the road, with seven accidental 10 Nov 2007, 1). A Canadian mer- deaths in twelve months. Rarotonga’s chant bank also sought access to the per capita death toll from traffi c Cook Islands seabed minerals, describ- accidents is the highest in the world ing them as being worth billions (CIN, (CIN, 10 Aug 2007, 1). Recognizing 20 Nov 2007, 1). the seriousness of the situation, the Maoate agreed to reinstate the nod- government pushed for an amendment ule advisory committee and alluded to to the Transport Act 1967. It sought ongoing discussions with the Norwe- to change the speed limit, introduce gian government, International Finan- immediate fi nes, and require motor- cial Corporation, Commonwealth cycle riders to wear helmets. The Secretariat, and Asian Development amendment called for jail terms and Bank (CIN, 17 April 2008, 1). When heavy fi nes for reckless driving that the opposition boycotted the nodule results in bodily harm (CIN, 15 Sept committee, its leader, Tom Marsters, 2007, 1). After public consultations, explained that seabed mining “is the the amendment was refi ned, and the future of the Cook Islands” and that speed limit on the island of Raro- the government should leave it to the tonga was reduced from sixty to fi fty professionals (CIN, 18 April 2008, 1). kilometers per hour (ie, thirty-seven Instead of a committee, the opposi- to thirty-one miles per hour). Exceed- tion recommended that the prime ing the speed limit would result in minister create a nodules portfolio fi nes up to nz$250 (CIN, 27 Oct (CIN, 23 April 2008, 1). The World 2007, 1). A petition against motorcy- Bank offered to provide support for clists being required to wear helmets development of the country’s seabed emerged, with the anti-helmet group resource in the most environmentally arguing that the headgear should not sustainable and fi nancially secure be mandatory (CIN, 26 March 2008, manner (CIN, 28 April 2008, 1). 1; 3 April 2008, 1). Bowing to pres- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 151 sure, the government scrapped the Hawai‘i was no longer justifi ed, it was compulsory helmet law, inadvertently closed (CIN, 1 March 2008, 1). leaving some retail shops stuck with jon tikivanotau m jonassen pre ordered supplies of helmets (CIN, 4 April 2008, 1). Police also began using laser guns to catch speeding drivers References (CIN, 16 April 2008, 1). CIH, Cook Islands Herald. Rarotonga. In the 2007–2008 period, the Cook Weekly Islands Parliament passed an electoral amendment act that clearly defi nes CIN, Cook Islands News. Rarotonga. Daily. the process by which a prime minister may be removed from offi ce, either by the defeat of an annual appropriations French Polynesia budget, or a vote of no confi dence. The act also forces members to vote With three changes of governments, according to party lines or automati- political instability in French Poly- cally lose their seats. This part of the nesia increased further during the act attempts to prevent the party period under review. Reform of the hopping that has led to the formation country’s political system and fresh of new governments outside of Parlia- elections, both unilaterally imposed ment (CIN, 11 Aug 2007, 1). by Paris, served to further aggravate Secretary of Foreign Affairs Edwin the situation. Meanwhile, the local Pitman resigned from his post after political scene was being reconfi gured, fi fteen years of service (CIN, 14 Nov with once staunchly pro-French leader 2007, 1). To the surprise of many, Gaston Flosse allying himself with Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilkie his pro-independence archrival Oscar Rasmussen selected fellow lawyer and Temaru, while many of Flosse’s former former British honorary representa- allies formed a heterogeneous pro- tive Mike Mitchell to succeed Pitman French coalition under Gaston Tong (CIN, 16 Jan 2008, 1). Public criticism Sang. emerged over the appointment because In mid-July, the governing pro- Mitchell is only a permanent resident, French coalition under President Tong not a Cook Islander (CIN, 17 Jan Sang, formed in late December 2006 2008, 4). This was especially troubling out of Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (People’s Rally) party and several is responsible for immigration, and splinter groups opposed to the previ- controls the process for issuing perma- ous pro-independence president, Oscar nent-resident status. It was noted that Temaru, broke apart after barely Mitchell’s expertise lay in areas other six months in existence. An internal than foreign affairs, and Cook Island- power struggle between Flosse and ers were insulted that qualifi ed local Tong Sang had been going on for candidates were not considered (CIN, several months, but it escalated dur- 19 Jan 2008, 1, 4). Mitchell reviewed ing Tong Sang’s visit to Paris in early the Cook Islands’ overseas offi ces, and July. Tong Sang and his delegation after determining that the consulate in met French President Nicolas Sarkozy 152 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) and negotiated contracts with several scape in Paris. Since Sarkozy took over French ministries (NT, 10 July 2008). the presidency from Jacques Chirac However, assembly Speaker Edouard in May, the latter’s close friend Flosse Fritch, Flosse’s son-in-law, and other no longer receives special support leading Tahoeraa members were not from Paris. Instead, Sarkozy has made part of the delegation and complained his preference for Tong Sang quite about the lack of discussion about the obvious. As he demonstrated earlier contracts in the assembly before the in his career, Flosse is much more a trip (NT, 7 July 2007; TPM, Aug 2007). power politician than an ideologue (he As a result, shortly after Tong changed from an apologist of authori- Sang’s return from Paris, the fi ve tarian colonial rule to an ardent sup- Tahoeraa ministers in Tong Sang’s porter of local autonomy in the early cabinet resigned, and the party 1980s). He was ready to ally with decided to withdraw from the coali- the pro-independence camp in order tion, leaving Tong Sang and his to undermine the new Sarkozy–Tong remaining coalition partners in a Sang axis and keep himself in a posi- minority position (DT, 19 July 2007). tion of power. One day later, Flosse announced After Tong Sang’s attempts in that he had had talks with opposition consultations with Tahoeraa lead- leader Temaru and was ready to form ers to save his minority government a new governing coalition (DT, 20 failed, Temaru’s upld (Union for July 2007). He advocated a reconcili- Democracy) coalition fi led a motion of ation of the two historically opposed censure against the government. This political blocks, and an agreement to was adopted by the assembly on 31 respect each other’s political convic- August with an ample majority of 35 tions and work for the common good votes, combining those of upld with (NT, 21 July 2007). When French those of Tahoeraa (TPM, Sept 2007). Secretary of State for Overseas Ter- Tong Sang had attempted to delay ritories Christian Estrosi criticized his overthrow by fi ling a procedural the proposal, Flosse accused him of complaint, and on 8 September about having a colonialist attitude (NT, 23 2,500 people marched through the July 2007). In an extraordinary party streets of Papeete in support of the convention on 25 July, Tahoeraa ousted president (DT, 9 Sept 2007). approved the withdrawal from Tong However, the show of force was to no Sang’s government and the negotia- avail (TPM, Sept 2007). tions with Temaru. However, Flosse For the election of a new president had insisted on an open vote instead on 13 September, Tahoeraa came up of a secret ballot (DT, 26 July 2007). with a new twist. It denied any alli- Subsequently, the party encountered ance with the upld and presented many problems with dissidents who Edouard Fritch as its own candidate deserted to Tong Sang, thus weakening to run against Temaru and Tong Sang. Flosse’s position (TPM, Oct 2007). As none of them could receive the Flosse’s maneuver surprised many overall majority required to be elected, observers, but it can be explained in Flosse’s strategy was apparently to terms of the changing political land- force a second round of voting, in pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 153 which he hoped Tong Sang’s support- years ago, and from which ancient ers would vote for Fritch because voyages of exploration departed for of their ideological opposition to destinations as distant as New Zea- Temaru. However, two days before land and Hawai‘i. The guests included the election, the French Council of Mäori King Tuheitia, Paramount Chief State (the highest administrative court) Tumu Te Heuheu of Ngäti Tüwhare- decided that a relative majority would toa (who was also Chairperson of the be suffi cient in the second round of unesco world heritage committee); voting. Temaru was elected president the president of the Cook Islands’ once more with a relative majority of House of Ariki, Ada Rongomatane 26 votes, and in his inaugural speech Ariki; several other Cook Islands he thanked Flosse for his indirect sup- high chiefs and the country’s prime port (DT, 12 Sept 2007; NT, 12 Sept minister, Jim Marurai; Princess Malia 2007; DT, 14 Sept 2007; TPM, Oct Kulimoetoke of Uvea (Wallis); a chief 2007). from Futuna; a delegation of chiefl y On 18 September, Temaru pre- descendants from Rapa Nui; and a sented his new cabinet of sixteen min- chiefl y descendant from Hawai‘i. Also isters, almost identical to that during present were two Kanak chiefs from his previous term. The only new faces the Customary Senate of New Caledo- were former assembly Speaker Antony nia. During the three-day meeting, the Geros as vice president instead of delegates discussed the role of tradi- Jacqui Drollet, and pearl dealer Marc tional leaders in the contemporary Collins as minister of tourism (DT, 19 Pacifi c, and signed a declaration to Sept 2007; NT, 19 Sept 2007; TPM, Oct commit themselves to the preservation 2007). Tahoeraa refused to participate of the cultural heritage of Polynesia. in the government, but agreed not to In the presence of unesco offi cial Te fi le a motion of censure against Tema- Heuheu, the participants also sup- ru’s minority government and cooper- ported listing Marae Taputapuatea as ate with the upld in the assembly. a world heritage site (DT, 11, 13, 15 The change of government cast Sept 2007; TPM, Oct 2007). a cloud over the meeting of Pacifi c Invitees from Sämoa and Tonga, Islands royal families on Marae on the other hand, cancelled their Taputapuatea on the island of Raiatea already confi rmed participation at the from 12 to 14 September. The meeting last minute after receiving a diplo- was organized by the royal custom- matic note cosigned by Gaston Flosse ary council association Na Huiarii and Oscar Temaru urging them not Mata Ara e Pae under the leadership to attend the meeting because of the of Tahitian royal family descendant ongoing change of government (TP, Joinville Pomare and with the sup- 6 Sept 2007). The two leaders appar- port of the Tong Sang government. ently feared that the meeting, spon- The organizers hoped to reunite all sored by Tong Sang, could give the the chiefl y families of Polynesia on the latter an unintended boost by raising famed marae (ancient temple), which his profi le among Pacifi c Islands lead- was the spiritual and political center ers. Temaru initially refused to hold of Eastern Polynesia until about 600 the reception for the chiefl y guests 154 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) scheduled by Tong Sang in the Papeete constant political instability, the presidential palace. After some nego- French government revised the politi- tiations, the reception did fi nally take cal statute governing the territory. On place in a lukewarm atmosphere. 1 August, Secretary of State Estrosi Temaru and Pomare, both long announced that his offi ce was prepar- time pro-independence leaders, have ing this, and anticipated elections strong disagreements on the political in early 2008 (TPM, Sept 2007). He shape the future independent country consulted various local political lead- might take. While Temaru favors a ers during the two following months, system of Western-style democracy, receiving mixed reactions. Tong Sang Pomare advocates the restoration of and his allied splinter parties sup- a political role for traditional leaders, ported Estrosi’s proposal, while the as well as the re-creation of customary two large parties, Tahoeraa and upld, land tribunals. Because of these and declined. In order to create more other disagreements, Pomare has allied stable majorities, the revision included himself with Tong Sang and other pro- a new voting system for the assem- French politicians. bly of French Polynesia, which in the Since Tong Sang was ousted by future will be elected through a pro- his own party, it was not surprising portional system in two rounds of vot- that soon after the consolidation of ing. Only lists that receive more than the new Tahoeraa-tolerated Temaru 12.5 percent in the fi rst round can minority government, he formally participate in the runoff ballot, and resigned his Tahoeraa membership and lists that receive more than 5 percent founded his own party on 28 Sep- are allowed to merge with one of the tember. It was named O Porinetia To larger lists. In addition, the president Tatou Ai‘a (Polynesia Is Our Country), of French Polynesia can no longer be and consisted of Tahoeraa dissidents overthrown in a motion of censure, mainly from the Leeward Islands, as but only in a “motion of defi ance,” well as a few veteran politicians with which means the simultaneous elec- other affi liations (TP, 28 Sept 2007). tion of a successor. The Speaker of the On 11 October, Tong Sang signed a assembly, whose yearly reelection had partnership agreement with former caused political turmoil in the past, Temaru ally Emile Vernaudon’s Ai‘a will in the future be elected only once Api (New Homeland) party, Philip for the full fi ve-year legislative term. Schyle’s formerly centrist Fetia Api Furthermore, the new statute includes (New Star), and several small pro- more stringent control mechanisms French splinter parties under the on the use of French subsidies by the umbrella name of To Tatou Ai‘a (Our local government in order to prevent Land) (TPM, Nov 2007). After some embezzlement, corruption, and bad hesitation, the alliance was also joined governance (NT, 20 Sept 2007; TPM, on 27 November by Jean-Christophe Oct and Dec 2008). Bouissou’s Rautahi (Unity) party, On 4 October, the assembly held another, earlier Tahoeraa dissident a nonbinding vote on the proposal, group. and rejected it with an overwhelm- Meanwhile, in reaction to the ing majority; upld and Tahoeraa pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 155 denounced it as interference in the of Emile Vernaudon in the fi rst two country’s autonomy, and as remi- Temaru governments, had grossly niscent of colonialism. However, abused these privileges and embezzled when Temaru met Sarkozy in Paris large amounts of funds, a scandal that a few days later, on 9 October, he provoked massive public criticism was informed that early elections in (TPM, Nov 2007). January under the new system were On 29 November, a Papeete court a done deal (TPM, Nov 2007). In confi rmed the sentences of 23 individ- spite of overwhelming local opposi- uals including former President Flosse tion, the reform was rushed through for embezzlement of public funds the French parliament. It passed the through the creation of so-called “fi c- National Assembly on 22 November tional employments,” ruling that they and the Senate on 30 November, with needed to reimburse a total of 308 votes from Sarkozy’s ump (Union million cfp francs (us$3.5 million) of for a Popular Movement) and allied fraudulently received salaries, in addi- right-wing parties prevailing over the tion to fi nes (TPM, Dec 2007). opposition French Socialist party (TPM, The most spectacular effort by the Dec 2008). This episode proved once local judiciary in the prosecution of more that the statute of autonomy corruption was the arrest of Emile does not guarantee real local self- Vernaudon on 4 December for his role government, as France remains able in the post offi ce embezzlement scan- to make arbitrary modifi cations to its dal. In sharp contrast to the previous political system against the explicit lenient treatment of corrupt politi- will of the local assembly. cians, Vernaudon was placed in deten- It was only logical, therefore, that tion for the following four months at the Pacifi c Islands Forum meeting until completion of the judicial inquiry in Nuku‘alofa, Tonga, on 15 Octo- (TPM, Jan 2007). ber, President Temaru reiterated the The specter of outer-island seces- demand to reinscribe French Polynesia sion also reemerged. On 31 October, on the UN list of non-self-governing the mayor of Hiva Oa in the Mar- territories, from which France had quesas, Guy Rauzy, and his colleague removed the territory unilaterally in Teina Maraeura of Rangiroa in the 1947 (TPM, Nov 2007; July 2008). Tuamotus suggested to Secretary of Political corruption is a pressing State Estrosi that their respective issue, now affecting every politi- archipelagos should remain French cal camp. Efforts to fi ght it through territories in the event of Tahiti’s political and judicial means have been independence (TPM, Dec 2007). largely ineffective. On 12 October, During the Marquesas Islands festi- Jean-Paul Barral, the new Temaru val on 17 December, which Estrosi appointee at the head of the Post and attended, Mayor Joseph Kaiha of the Telecommunications Offi ce, drasti- Marquesas island of Ua Pou publicly cally cut his own salary and removed demanded the creation of a separate all additional benefi ts associated with French overseas entity for the Mar- the position. Previous offi ceholders, quesas. This led to strong and polemic especially those under the ministry reactions from Temaru and Flosse, 156 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) who accused Kaiha and Estrosi of high moral standards and that did not attempting to dismantle the territo- participate in power plays—reached rial integrity of the country. A protest the fourth position with 5.40 percent, march called by Temaru’s party on 22 and was thus the only minor party December attracted 1,200 participants qualifi ed for an eventual merger with in downtown Papeete (TPM, Jan 2008). one of the three leading lists. Ten other The idea of Marquesan secession has lists received less than 1 percent each existed in local political debates for (TP, 28 Jan 2008). decades, but it had never sparked such During the campaign, and even passionate reactions. more so between the two election The focus on the country’s unity rounds, the actions and attitude was probably a result of the electoral of Secretary of State Estrosi were campaign of December and January. strongly criticized. Over a period of While President Temaru attempted several months preceding the election, to revive the popular support for Estrosi visited Tahiti unusually often, change that had brought him to power each time demonstrating a conspicu- in 2004 and 2005, and focused on ously positive attitude toward Tong denouncing ongoing French colonial- Sang. Immediately after the fi rst ism, Tong Sang claimed to be the only election round, Estrosi telephoned competent and reasonable politician Nicole Bouteau and Gaston Flosse, capable of reunifying the population and advised them to merge with Tong and working constructively with Paris. Sang’s list for the second ballot. Bou- Flosse, on the other hand, distanced teau refused and expressed her indig- himself from Temaru and stressed his nation at the secretary’s interference pro-French ideology, while denounc- in the electoral process, preferring to ing Tong Sang as an imposter and uphold her dignity and leave active emphasizing the long period of politi- politics for the time being (TPM, Feb cal stability under his previous term 2008). Flosse also refused, so the three in offi ce from 1991 to 2004 (TPM, Jan leading lists went unchanged into the and Feb 2008). runoff. At the same time, the leader- The two election rounds, on 27 ship of the ruling French ump party January and 10 February, brought a congratulated Estrosi for the “suc- surprising development as Tong Sang’s cessful carrying out of the election,” recently formed alliance of splinter reinforcing the impression that he parties won a relative majority in both had interfered in the election process of them. In the fi rst ballot, To Tatou in Tong Sang’s favor. Both Flosse and Ai‘a, including allied party lists on Temaru expressed their indignation, the Tuamotu and Marquesas islands, and Temaru subsequently fi led a legal achieved 36.52 percent of the vote, complaint against Estrosi (TPM, Feb considerably more than the upld with 2008). 32.83 percent, while Tahoeraa with The results of the runoff ballot 21.82 percent came far behind. Nicole reinforced the tendencies apparent in Bouteau’s small No Oe E Te Nunaa the fi rst round. To Tatou Ai‘a received (For You, People) party—the only 45.12 percent and gained 27 of the 57 one that had constantly upheld its seats in the assembly, two short of the pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 157 overall majority. upld received 37.18 second session on 23 February, how- percent of the votes and 20 seats, ever, during which Tong Sang was sup- whereas Tahoeraa fell further behind, posed to be elected president, Flosse gaining only 17.16 percent and 10 made yet another unexpected move. seats. The night before he had suspended To Tatou Ai‘a’s lists led the ballot in the ongoing talks with Tong Sang, and four of the six electoral constituencies. instead made an agreement to form In the traditional Tahoeraa strong- a governing coalition with upld. At hold of Pirae, To Tatou Ai‘a gained the last minute, Temaru withdrew an absolute majority of votes. upld his candidacy, and Flosse was elected was the leading party in Temaru’s president with a bare majority of the stronghold of Faa‘a, as well as in the combined 29 votes of Tahoeraa and Tahoeraa-ruled municipalities of Paea, upld against the 27 votes for Tong Papara, Moorea, and Taputapuatea, Sang. One unknown representative and in the constituency of the Eastern had abstained. Assembly Speaker Tuamotu islands. Tahoeraa, on the Fritch subsequently resigned, and other hand, which had lead the vote Temaru was elected on 29 February in most of the outer islands in the last to replace him. As another part of the elections in 2004, achieved a majority deal, upld and Tahoeraa formed a only in the Austral Islands constitu- common parliamentary caucus called ency (NT, 11 Feb 2008; DT, 11 Feb udsp (Union for Development, Stabil- 2008). ity and Peace), which enabled them In spite of Tong Sang’s surpris- to obtain the leading positions in the ing success, no party held an overall assembly’s administration and on majority in the assembly, necessitating the various committees (TPM, March the formation of a governing coali- 2008). tion. Estrosi once more attempted to In his inaugural speech, Flosse said interfere in the election process by it was time to stop the ideological calling on Flosse to ally with Tong debate between independence sup- Sang, an action which suggested that porters and autonomists (in local Paris wanted to remove Temaru from politics, the autonomists are consid- the presidency at all cost (DT, 11 Feb ered pro-French), and form instead a 2008). government of unity in order to work Tong Sang and Fritch subsequently for the future of the country. As the began negotiations to form a coalition, most experienced of the three leaders, but these failed because of Tahoeraa’s he claimed to be the most suitable to excessive demands. Flosse then negoti- lead the coalition and act as arbiter ated with Temaru, but the talks were between the two opposing factions of suspended when Tong Sang declared To Tatou Ai‘a and upld (TP, 23 Feb he would fulfi ll all of Flosse’s requests. 2008). According to their coalition agree- Temaru argued that Flosse was ment, Fritch was reelected Speaker the lesser of two evils, considering it of the assembly with the votes of To more important to prevent the elec- Tatou Ai‘a and Tahoeraa in the consti- tion of Tong Sang, who he regards as a tuting session on 22 February. In the French puppet. The latter, on the other 158 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) hand, vehemently refused Flosse’s siderable amount of support, as many offer to participate in the government, voters became disappointed with the and many To Tatou Ai‘a members and performance of Temaru’s governments, supporters were outraged at what they which failed to suffi ciently implement perceived as a distortion of the elec- their electoral platform of good gov- tion results and thus a defrauding of ernance and social justice. A decisive the voters. On 1 March, a large pro- element for the upld’s loss of a major- test march was organized by To Tatou ity was also the defection of Emile Ai‘a in downtown Papeete, rallying Vernaudon’s Ai‘a Api party, originally about 9,000 people (TPM, March and the second-largest component of the April 2008). However, the protestors upld, to Tong Sang’s party. The core seemed to forget that French Polyne- element of upld, Temaru’s pro-inde- sia has a parliamentary, rather than pendence Tavini Huiraatira (People’s a presidential system, and a relative Servant) party, on the other hand, majority of seats does not guarantee a remains comparatively strong. party the right to hold the presidency. Most remarkable was Tong Sang’s Secretary of State Estrosi refused performance and his ability to gain to congratulate Flosse and merely a relative majority when his party “took notice” of his presidency. A had been in existence for only a few spokesperson of the ump party, of months. He successfully presented which Flosse has been a member for himself as the embodiment of renewal decades, announced it would break and good governance, despite the fact off all offi cial contacts with Tahoeraa, that he had been a cabinet minister which used to be the ump’s local affi li- under Flosse for many years and was ate. He accused Flosse of betraying the under judicial inquiry because of his ideals of ump by forming an alliance involvement in a corruption affair in “against nature” (TP, 24 Feb 2008). the early 2000s. In addition, many of On 28 February, President Flosse his allies are suspected of corruption, presented his cabinet, consisting of 15 or regarded as notorious opportun- ministers—5 from Tahoeraa, includ- ists. One explanation for his electoral ing Edouard Fritch as vice president, success was that many voters felt and 10 from upld, primarily those insecure because of France’s uncoop- who served in Flosse’s and Temaru’s erative attitude toward the Temaru previous cabinets. An exception was governments, and longed for political Temaru’s daughter Teua Temaru, a stability and a secure fl ow of fi nancial young marine biologist with no previ- subsidies from Paris. This made them ous political experience, who became feel compelled to vote for the candi- minister of environment (TP, 28 Feb date favored by Paris. Also important 2008). were the massive number of votes cast Analyzing the election results and for Tong Sang by the steadily growing their aftermath and comparing them number of French settlers, as well as with those of 2004 (outer islands) those of the economically infl uential and 2005 (by-election on Tahiti and Chinese community, of which Tong Moorea), one can make the following Sang is a part. observations. The upld lost a con- The demise of the once all-powerful pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 159

Tahoeraa can be explained through Buillard was reelected, but only after the party’s split following the quarrel having switched his allegiance from between Flosse and Tong Sang. An Tahoeraa to To Tatou Ai‘a. In the important section of the former Taho- township of Mahina, the long-serving, eraa electorate, including the French now Tong Sang–allied Mayor Emile settlers, the Chinese community, and Vernaudon, was reelected in absentia, the Polynesian upper class, almost since he was detained on embezzle- completely defected to Tong Sang, ment charges throughout the electoral an observation clearly confi rmed by campaign (TP, 10, 17 March). Tong Sang’s absolute majorities in all On the outer islands, the picture upper-class suburban neighborhoods. was less clear, with many lists refl ect- Apart from a few individuals from ing local issues more than Papeete pol- these social classes who are personally itics. Two of Tong Sang’s allies most tied to Flosse, Tahoeraa only retains notorious for their frequent change of hold on its core electorate among the allegiance, Marcellin Lisan of Huahine rural and working-class Polynesian and Temauri Foster of Hao in the Tua- population, which tends to be critical motus, lost their mayoralties to local of France. Since Temaru’s core elector- alliances between Tahoeraa and upld ate comes from the same social class, (TP, 17, 22 March 2008). the political alliance of the two leaders After the municipal elections, politi- is not as illogical as it might seem at cal agitation calmed down a little, fi rst glance. and the new government was able to Electoral campaigning was far from deliver its fi rst major achievement. On over, however. On 9 and 16 March, 19 March, the udsp majority in the municipal elections took place, which assembly adopted the 2008 budget of largely confi rmed the tendencies of the 161.29 billion cfp francs (us$2.03 preceding territorial elections. Unsur- billion), which had been originally prisingly, Oscar Temaru was reelected introduced by Temaru’s government in with an overall majority in the fi rst December 2007 but was then vetoed round as mayor of Faa‘a, the country’s by Tahoeraa. largest municipality, a position he has Another example of the construc- held since 1983. In a similar land- tive policy of the udsp alliance was slide, Gaston Tong Sang was reelected the nuclear issue. The government- mayor of the island of Bora Bora. affi liated Orientation Council on President Flosse’s Tahoeraa, on the the Follow-up on Nuclear Testing other hand, suffered further defeats. (coscen) was maintained by the In the party’s former stronghold of Flosse government. In early March Pirae, Edouard Fritch lost the mayor- it met with the French government’s alty to Beatrice Vernaudon (To Tatou delegate on nuclear safety, Jurien de Ai‘a), and in the third largest township la Gravière, to coordinate the cleanup of Punaauia, long-serving Tahoeraa of military sites on the islands and mayor Jacques Vii was defeated by atolls surrounding the former testing another Tong Sang supporter, Rony ground. While visiting Mangareva, Tumahai. In Papeete, the capital and one of the islands targeted for cleanup, second largest city, Mayor Michel de la Gravière, along with a coscen 160 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) delegation, supervised the deconstruc- following session of the assembly on tion of a 1960s antinuclear shelter, 15 April, however, the motion of defi - the material of which will be used to ance was passed with a bare majority seal parts of the island’s road (TP, 2, 3 of 29 votes against 27 and 1 absten- April 2008). He promised also to help tion. After less than two months in in the restoration and maintenance of offi ce, the Flosse government had been Mangareva’s St Michael’s Cathedral, overthrown and Tong Sang was once the oldest and largest nineteenth-cen- again president (TP, 15 April 2008). tury Catholic church building in the In his inaugural speech, the new Pacifi c. The cathedral is a historic president emphasized that his elec- monument that has fallen into disre- tion fi nally took into account the pair and is threatened with collapse popular election results of February, (TP, 5 April 2008). A few weeks after and promised to pursue an impartial de la Gravière’s visit, the territorial and citizen-oriented form of gover- health offi ce announced a series of nance. Flosse and Temaru, on the missions to examine and supervise other hand, questioned the legitimacy the health of former test workers and of the change of government because inhabitants exposed to radiation (21 it was the result of representatives’ March 2008). fl oor-crossing. Even though electoral campaign- The French government demon- ing was defi nitely over, a new twist in strated once more its partisan support the political drama began to unfold for Tong Sang, as President Sarkozy in early April. Michel Yip and Justine and other French government offi cials Teura, two upld assembly representa- congratulated the new Polynesian tives from the outer islands, resigned president immediately after his elec- from the udsp caucus and allied them- tion. Two months before, Flosse had selves with a group of outer-island not received any such congratulations representatives of To Tatou Ai‘a, who from Paris (TPM, May 2008). had previously formed a third parlia- On 19 April, Tong Sang announced mentary caucus named Te Mana o te his cabinet, composed of 14 ministers, Motu (The Power of the Islands). This most of them unchanged from those was apparently a tactical maneuver in in his cabinet in 2007. Jules Ienfa order to make Yip’s and Teura’s fl oor became the new vice president (TP, 19 crossing appear less extreme (TP, 8 Apr 2008). Interestingly, Teva Huiotu- April 2008). Shortly after the forma- Hapaitahaa, son-in-law of Michel tion of the new caucus, Tong Sang Yip, became minister of pearl farm- and his supporters fi led a motion of ing and interisland communications, defi ance against Flosse (TP, 10 April and Justine Teura’s daughter Ottine 2008). Teura obtained the portfolio of outer- At fi rst Temaru and Flosse appeared island development. This reinforced little impressed, and the next day they the impression that the two turncoat presented a declaration underlining representatives were “bought” by the commitment to their coalition promising them ministerial portfo- government with a detailed govern- lios for their family members (TP, 19 ing platform (TP, 11 Apr 2008). In the Apr 2008). Tong Sang also convinced pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 161

Tahoeraa representative Armelle previously left a poor record as admin- Merceron to join the cabinet as istrator of another territorial agency minister of solidarity and housing. In (TPM, June 2008). In June, the daugh- addition, he offered a fi fteenth cabinet ter of Hiro Tefaarere—a To Tatou Ai‘a position to a member of upld, but representative notorious for his erratic this was declined (TPM, May 2008). switches of allegiance—was appointed The latest change of government to a minor position at the post offi ce, demonstrated that the chronic politi- after her father had threatened another cal instability continues despite the fl oor-crossing (TPM, July 2008). political reforms intended to end it. The political unrest continued Since 2004, the country has seen only throughout the month of May, bare majorities, and an ever-increasing taking the form of a constant quar- number of politicians have adopted rel between Tong Sang’s government an opportunist pattern of behavior, and the udsp opposition. When the whereby they join whichever party is government submitted a series of most likely to form the majority. contracts of fi nancial assistance and Only eleven days after his inaugura- cooperation that were to be signed tion, Tong Sang reshuffl ed his cabinet, with the French government and sub- appointing Louis Frébault as minis- mitted to the assembly for approval ter for development planning after on 6 May, Speaker Temaru refused to his wife, a To Tatou Ai‘a assembly open the session, deferring it instead member from the Marquesas islands, to a date after the president’s planned had threatened to cross the fl oor. Two trip to Paris. A subsequent attempt weeks later, To Tatou Ai‘a representa- by the To Tatou Ai‘a caucus members tive Fernand Roomataroa from the to hold their own assembly session in Austral Islands was appointed min- another building was declared invalid ister of agriculture, after he criticized by the French High Commission (TP, Tong Sang and threatened defection to 7 May 2008). The contracts were Tahoeraa (pir, 16 May 2008). eventually approved, while Tong Sang Despite his promises of good was already in Paris, and signed by governance, President Tong Sang’s President Sarkozy on 27 May. The administration has thus followed the two presidents spoke of “turning the patterns of opportunism and nepotism pages” toward a new era of transpar- that have become typical of all local ency and cooperation between Paris governments. Another example is the and Papeete, denouncing “ancient Offi ce of Postal Services and Tele- practices” that had been detrimental communications, where Tong Sang to the country’s image (TPM, June resumed the deplorable practice of 2008). This was quite ironic, as Tong replacing existing offi cers with politi- Sang and his supporters have partici- cal cronies. The honest and effi cient pated in these “ancient practices” just Jean-Paul Barral, maintained in offi ce as much as their adversaries. While under Flosse, was removed by Tong promising a stricter scrutiny of the Sang on 9 May and replaced as direc- French government over the local tor by Jean-Christophe Bouissou’s government’s fi nances, the signed associate Moana Blanchard, who had contracts essentially renewed French 162 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) subsidies for various local businesses References and government agencies. A real, sub- stantial difference from the practices DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. of previous administrations remains to NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. be seen. TP, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. Meanwhile, all indicators showed Tahiti. http://www.tahitipresse.pf that the country’s economy was not performing well. The tourism sector TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com continued to decline, and many territo- rial services did not function well, due pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet to constant changes of staff positions news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter depending on the current governments .org/pireport in offi ce. These effects can be ulti- mately linked to the country’s political instability, which is deplored by all Ma¯ori Issues sectors (TPM, May and June 2008). On 29 June, the territorial holiday In the latter part of 2007, relations commemorating the enactment of the between Mäori and the New Zealand 1984 statute of internal autonomy, government came close to the break- as well as the annexation of Tahiti by ing point. A raid carried out by a France in 1880, was celebrated by the New Zealand Police armed defenders presidency with great pomp. During squad in full combat gear trauma- the evening of the controversial holi- tized a small Mäori community in the day, Temaru and his supporters held central North Island on 15 October, their traditional ceremony at a monu- just weeks after the NZ government ment in Faa‘a to honor Tahitian sol- had joined Australia, Canada, and the diers who fell during the resistance to United States to vote against the adop- French colonization in the 1840s. This tion of a United Nations declaration year, Gaston Flosse, who had briefl y on indigenous rights. The raid coin- attended parts of the autonomy cel- cided with the release of a government ebrations in the morning, participated report showing that almost 20 percent in the Faa‘a ceremony for the fi rst of Mäori currently live in Australia. time. He laid a wreath and spoke in Many had left New Zealand for better honor of Polynesian resistance against economic opportunities, but also France, including on his home island “to escape the perceived prejudice of of Mangareva. He called for a greater, Päkehä (New Zealanders of European more visible monument to be built descent) and mainstream negativity (TP, 30 June 2008). Since for decades about Mäori issues” (Hamer 2007, Flosse had denounced the monument 14). Yet by mid-2008, with polls indi- and Temaru’s commemorations as cating the likelihood of a change of anti-French propaganda, his shift in government in the upcoming general attitude once more caused widespread election, Mäori started reaping the consternation (TPM, Aug 2008). benefi ts of a government desperate for our support, particularly in settling lorenz gonschor Mäori land claims. pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 163

On 15 October 2007, the fi rst under the 2002 Terrorism Suppres- reports of early morning police raids sion Act. According to police, those around the country started appear- arrested had been running terrorist ing, as environmental and Mäori training camps in the very remote sovereignty activists were targeted for Urewera Ranges. However, the Mäori alleged terrorist activities. Both the media quickly identifi ed the so-called commissioner of police and the prime “training camps” as camping sites minister had been briefed prior to the used by local hunters. According to raids, several of which involved single media reports, the evidence police households in urban areas where there appeared to have relied on was mainly was minimal disturbance to neigh- recordings of conversations, including bors and the wider community. But telephone conversations, texts, and e- in Ruatoki, a small, remote Mäori mails. Eventually, the solicitor general community in the Urewera Ranges refused to allow terrorism charges located in the heart of Tühoe tribal to be laid and the six people held in territory, the media reported a massive custody were released on bail. police presence. The Mäori Party later In Parliament, the Labour minor- reported that seventy armed police ity government’s Mäori members were in Ruatoki that morning when remained silent, claiming it was a three people were arrested (Mäori police matter (NZH, 29 Oct 2007). Party 2007a). A roadblock was set up The Mäori Party, however, bitterly on the only road out of the commu- attacked the police and the govern- nity, with people, cars, and a school ment for violating the community bus being searched and photographed. of Ruatoki and leaving the Tühoe Houses and property were inspected people traumatized. Mäori Party mp and some were damaged. Four rifl es Hone Harawira drew particularly and 230 rounds of ammunition were strong personal criticism and abuse seized. Many people were detained from Päkehä for speaking out against and transported to Rotorua, only to the police actions. He responded by be subsequently released to fi nd their issuing a press release citing the full own way home. The whole com- text of his attack in Parliament and munity was traumatized, including refusing to back down (Mäori Party preschool children, who referred to 2007c). His claim that his statement the black-clad, helmeted, gun-carrying accurately refl ected the feeling in paramilitary police who boarded their many Mäori communities around the school bus as “the ninja army” (Mäori country was supported by the results Party 2007b). of a survey showing a high level of Ruatoki is the home of the well- concern about the raids among Mäori known Mäori rights campaigner and participants (Mäori Party 2007d). In activist, Tama Iti. He was one of the his statement he said, “I will not sit seventeen people from around the quietly by, while State forces terrorise country arrested and charged under my people. If this requires of me that the Firearms Act, and one of six held I speak out against the rule of law in custody while the police tried to that would impose terror on Mäori gather evidence to justify charges communities in this country, then I 164 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) will speak out. I will speak out against minimal standards to eliminate the it in this chamber, on television, in racism, discrimination, marginaliza- newspapers, and anywhere else I tion, and exploitation that inhibits the possibly can” (Mäori Party 2007c). development of indigenous peoples. Nationwide protests followed. The Mäori had been involved in the human rights commissioner received drafting of the declaration from the offi cial complaints, as did the United outset, in the early 1980s. One of the Nations human rights committee who reasons the document took so long asked the New Zealand government to formulate was that the four states for an explanation. In November, the who voted against it had consistently police commissioner conceded that impeded its progress, thereby drawing the raids had badly damaged relations widespread condemnation from the with Tühoe, which could take decades global indigenous community. None to heal (NZH, 9 Nov 2007). In March of the opposing countries consulted 2008, he acknowledged and expressed properly with the indigenous peoples regret over the hurt caused (NZH, 30 they claimed to represent. In addi- March 2008). tion, they did not want the injustices One month before the raids, the suffered by those peoples scrutinized, Mäori Party had launched a blister- nor did they want it known that cur- ing attack on the government for rent legal ownership of lands by states voting against the United Nations and nonindigenous individuals derives Declaration on the Rights of Indig- from an initial theft (Taonui 2007). enous Peoples (UN 2007). It had been The declaration urges that land be adopted by the UN General Assembly returned where possible, but where it on 13 September 2007 by an over- is not possible it recommends compen- whelming majority of 143 to 4. The sation at full value. In New Zealand, four states who voted against it—the Mäori have been forced to accept very United States, Australia, Canada, and much less, calculated to be an aver- New Zealand—all share a history of age of 0.06 percent of losses (Mutu British colonization, which has left the 2004, 201). The New Zealand govern- indigenous peoples of those countries ment does not want to admit that its marginalized, deprived, and oppressed processes of providing restitution are minorities in their own lands, stripped unfair and unjust. of their lands and natural resources, The adoption of the declaration denied sovereignty, and subjected to by the United Nations received scant racism and discrimination. The dec- attention in mainstream media in New laration, in its forty-fi ve articles, sets Zealand, and the government tried out the human rights and fundamental to play down its importance. How- freedoms of indigenous peoples: the ever, Mäori Party mp Hone Harawira rights to self-determination, cultures, toured the North Island delivering traditions, languages, institutions, seminars on it. The New Zealand worldviews, and ways of life. It calls Human Rights Commission issued on states to prevent and redress theft a statement saying the contents of of land and natural resources, and the declaration would guide its work forced assimilation, while establishing (nzhrc 2007). With the change of pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 165 government in Australia in November of Waitangi claims against the Crown. 2007, the Australian Human Rights Of the 48 reports disseminated by the and Equal Opportunity Commission tribunal, only 12 had issues addressed announced that the new government or implemented, and it was unclear supported the declaration (ahreoc what had happened to the rest (Ben- [2007]). And by April 2008, news nion 2007 [Sept], 8). from Canada’s indigenous peoples Finally, in October, the deputy indicated that the Canadian Parlia- prime minister and minister of fi nance ment now also supported it (Assembly took over the portfolio for Treaty of of First Nations 2008). With New Waitangi negotiations. Almost imme- Zealand becoming more isolated in its diately, direct negotiations between stance, a change in the government’s claimants and the Crown took on a attitude toward Mäori, particularly sudden urgency as the meanness of with respect to its loathed Treaty of spirit and bad faith on the part of the Waitangi claims settlement policy and government that had plagued negotia- process, became more inevitable. tions for more than a decade appeared In March and again in June 2007, to be set aside. In the Central North the Waitangi Tribunal issued reports Island, where the Waitangi Tribunal severely critical of the government’s issued the fi rst two parts of a seven- settlement policy and process (Wai- part report on the largest inquiry it tangi Tribunal 2007a, 2007b). When had made to date (Waitangi Tribu- the government ignored them, the nal 2008), eight iwi came together Federation of Mäori Authorities and to develop their own solution for the New Zealand Mäori Council pur- the settlement of their claims to the sued the matter through the courts. At 176,000 hectares of land under the the same time, iwi (tribal groupings) in eight Central North Island forests. The various parts of the country continued forests include the country’s largest with the repossession of lands the gov- exotic forest, Kaingaroa. They pre- ernment refused to return to them and sented their proposal for the return of was trying to sell off (Mutu 2008). the forestlands and related assets in In April 2007 the government had April 2008, and reached agreement delayed the sale of some of the blocks with the government in May. The deal for three months. It announced in was promoted as being worth nz$419 September that several had been with- million, implying that the govern- drawn from sale for four years. But ment was far exceeding the previous the government was unable to gain largest payouts of nz$170 million suffi cient support in the House to pass each for the Tainui fi sheries and Ngäi several of its proposed settlements Tahu settlements. Yet nz$223 mil- into law. In September the minister lion of the nz$419 million was made of Mäori affairs was ridiculed when up of accumulated rentals from the he tabled the fi rst report in twelve forests. The rentals belong to the years outlining the progress of suc- iwi, not the Crown, as a result of the cessive governments in implementing tribunal upholding their claims to the the recommendations of the Waitangi forestlands. The remaining nz$196 Tribunal with respect to Mäori Treaty million is the value the Crown has 166 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) put on the 176,000 hectares of land followed. Crown policy for settling under the forests. The amount of land treaty claims was largely abandoned. being returned is proportionally larger Instead, the negotiations focused on than has been achieved elsewhere in the social, economic, and spiritual the country, but it is being returned needs and mana whenua (traditional already encumbered. In purely mon- sovereign authority, power, and etary terms, the settlements of each control) considerations of the fi fteen for the eight iwi are on par with other hapü (grouping of extended families) treaty settlements, and as such still and their associated marae (tradi- do not amount to fair, reasonable, or tional venue for gatherings of the local just recompense for all the violations tribal group), which make up Ngäti they have suffered at the hands of the Kahu. By the end of June, the Crown Crown. Yet one of the iwi involved, made an offer that broke a lot of new Te Arawa of the Bay of Plenty, was ground in terms of treaty settlements. able to use the deal to improve its It involved the return of the control own proposed settlement signifi cantly, of more than 10,000 hectares of land including no longer having to pay for to Ngäti Kahu, with fee-simple title geothermal wells and fi ve school prop- to more than half of it, including erties (Mana 2008 [Aug], 16–17). Rangiputa station. The rest will come In the Bay of Plenty, the mountain under the control of a statutory board Mauao, also known as Mt Maun- made up of equal Ngäti Kahu/Crown ganui, was fi nally returned to its right- membership, chaired by Ngäti Kahu, ful owners in May 2008. However, and with all its business conducted in a sleight of hand that amazed legal according to Ngäti Kahu customary observers, the government managed to law. The offer also included a cash retain the mountain’s historic reserve contribution of nz$7.5 million to status, and the minister of conserva- be used to rebuild the fi fteen marae tion continues to have all the rights and their associated housing, which and obligations of a freehold owner are currently either nonexistent or (Bennion 2008 [May], 4). in a very poor state of repair. Ngäti In the Far North, Ngäti Kahu had Kahu is in the process of drawing up returned to the tribunal to seek orders an agreement in principle with the for the return of 5,095 hectares of government, which they are planning state-owned lands and forests after to sign in early September, before the negotiations failed and they repos- general election. sessed the 3,711-hectare Rangiputa During the year we lost several station to stop the government selling Mäori icons who had made huge it. In April 2008, the tribunal gave contributions to the well-being of the government three months to their people. In September, Sid Jack- make an offer that was acceptable to son passed away. He was a prominent Ngäti Kahu. For the fi rst time ever, Mäori leader who had conducted the Crown apologized to Ngäti Kahu, a lifelong campaign for justice for and intensive negotiations with a chief Mäori, with a totally unswerving negotiator appointed by the minister commitment to revolution and freeing pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 167

Mäori from the oppression of Brit- tion Point) were also commemorated. ish immigrants. Later that month, Those lands were also returned, Anglican Archbishop Whakahuihui although not until 1987. Vercoe passed away; he was a priest It was the third year in a row that for fi fty-four years and former bishop peaceful commemorations had been of Aotearoa. In his address at Wait- held at Waitangi on Waitangi Day, angi for the commemoration of the although the prime minister, fearing 150th anniversary of the signing of a backlash over the terror raids on the Treaty of Waitangi, he told Queen Tühoe, refused to attend the formal Elizabeth II that Mäori were marginal- ceremonies. The peaceful commem- ized in their own land. orations at Waitangi are largely In January 2008, we lost a tower- attributed to the Mäori Party presence ing literary fi gure: poet, and author, in Parliament and the role they have Hone Tuwhare. He wrote the fi rst played as the independent Mäori voice book of poetry by a Mäori author in unafraid to bring Mäori issues to the English, and will be remembered as attention of the House and the nation. a great artist and philosopher whose However, the highlight of the real talent was his simplicity. Then, Mäori year was the award of the one month later, it was Barry Barclay. Victoria Cross to Corporal Willie He was a leading light in the world of Apiata in July 2007. This was the indigenous fi lmmaking, having been fi rst time the award has been made the fi rst Mäori to direct a feature fi lm. to a living Mäori; the two previous Barclay made a number of documen- awards were posthumous. There has taries and was a fi erce advocate been a great deal of bitterness among against injustice, particularly what he Mäori servicemen that many Mäori saw as racism against Mäori in the who should have been given Victoria fi lm industry and barriers to telling Crosses, especially during World War Mäori stories (Mana 2008 [Aug], 17). II, did not receive them, even though He was also a dedicated writer and returned servicemen and their families had most recently published Mana pursued it for more than fi fty years. Tüturu: Mäori Treasures and Intellec- Corporal Apiata received his Victo- tual Property Rights (Barclay 2005). ria Cross for valor in Afghanistan in There were also commemorations 2004 for saving the life of a comrade for the arrests thirty years ago of Eva while under heavy fi re from opposing Rickard and sixteen others at Raglan forces. Huge hui (traditional gather- for trespassing on their ancestral ings) to celebrate the award were held lands, which had been taken and used at Te Kaha on the East Coast and at as an airfi eld during World War II. Waitangi. In April 2008, in a gesture The lands had then been given to of remarkable generosity, and to mark the local golf club and it wasn’t anzac Day, he gifted his Victoria until much later that were eventu- Cross to the nation. In Mäori we say, ally returned to the rightful owners. he mahi tino rangatira, a most noble The 1978 arrests of 222 people at and selfl ess deed. Takaparawhau (also known as Bas- margaret mutu 168 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009)

References http://www.maoriparty.com/index.php ?option=com_content&task=view&id=141 Assembly of First Nations. 2008. News 5&Itemid=28 [accessed 15 August 2008] release, 9 April. http://www.afn.ca/article .asp?id=4067 [accessed 15 August 2008] ———. 2007d. It’s Looking Good for 2008 Says Maori Party. Press release, 10 ahreoc, Australia Human Rights and November. http://www.maoriparty.com/ Equal Opportunity Commission. [2007] index.php?option=com_content&task Your Views Needed on Australia’s Support =view&id=1417&Itemid=2 [accessed of the Declaration of the Rights of Indig- 15 August 2008] enous Peoples. http://www.humanrights ———. 2008. Willie Apiata’s Remarkable .gov.au/social_justice/declaration/ anzac Day Gift. Press release, 25 April. comments.html [accessed 15 August 2008] http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/ Barclay, Barry. 2005. Mana Tüturu: Mäori S00577.htm [accessed 15 August 2008] Treasures and Intellectual Property Rights. Mutu, Margaret. 2004. Recovering Fagin’s Auckland: Auckland University Press. Ill-gotten Gains: Settling Ngäti Kahu’s Bennion, Tom, editor. 2007. The Mäori Treaty of Waitangi Claims against the Law Review: A Monthly Review of Law Crown. In Waitangi Revisited: Perspec- Affecting Mäori. Wellington. tives on the Treaty of Waitangi, edited by Michael Belgrave, Merata Kawharu, and ———. 2008. The Mäori Law Review. David Williams, 187–209. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Hamer, Paul. 2007. Mäori in Australia: Ngä Mäori i te Ao Moemoeä. Te Puni ———. 2008. Mäori Issues. Polynesia in Kökiri, Wellington, and Griffith Univer- Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2006 to sity, Sydney. http://www.tpk.govt.nz/mi/ 30 June 2007. The Contemporary Pacific in-print/our-publications/publications/ 20:232–238. maori-in-australia/download/tpk nzhrc, New Zealand Human Rights -maorinaustralia2007-en.pdf [accessed Commission. 2007. Press release, 15 August 2008] 14 September. http://www.hrc.co.nz/ Mana. Bi-monthly Mäori news magazine. home/hrc/newsandissues/indigenousrights Auckland. declarationtoguidecommissionwork.php [accessed 15 August 2008] Mäori Party. 2007a. Protected Disclo- sures Amendment Bill. Speech by Hone NZH, New Zealand Herald. Daily. Harawira, 23 October. http://www Auckland. .maoriparty.com/index.php?option=com Taonui, Rawiri. 2007. Unburdening _content&task=view&id=1375&Itemid Future Generations. New Zealand Herald, =28 [accessed 15 August 2008] 8 October. ———. 2007b. Tell the Truth about the UN, United Nations General Assembly. Bus Says Te Ururoa Flavell. Press release, 2007. United Nations Declaration on the 23 October. http://www.maoriparty Rights of Indigenous Peoples. http://www .com/index.php?option=com_content .un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html &task=view&id=1371&Itemid=2 [accessed 15 August 2008] [accessed 15 August 2008] Waitangi Tribunal. 2007a. Tamaki ———. 2007c. “I will not sit quietly by Makaurau Settlement Process. wai 1362. while State forces terrorise my people.” Available at http://www.waitangi-tribunal Speech by Hone Harawira, 8 November. .govt.nz/ pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 169

———. 2007b. Final Report on the The dissidents subsequently called Impacts of the Crown’s Settlement Policy for an election of the council’s presi- on Te Arawa Waka and Other Tribes. wai dency, which was held in late August 1353. Available at http://www.waitangi in semi-offi cial fashion in a Hanga -tribunal.govt.nz/ Roa school building. The three can- ______. 2008. He Maunga Rongo: Report didates were Mario Tuki, Leviante on Central North Island Claims. Stage Araki, and Agterama Huki, all of 1, parts I and II. wai 1200. Available at whom are known for their pro-inde- http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/ pendence position and their bitter opposition to Hotus. The election was won by Tuki, but only a minor- ity of about 200 voters participated. Rapa Nui Alberto Hotus refused to participate Politics on Rapa Nui during the or even acknowledge the election. review period focused mainly on the When Chilean President Michelle organic law bill for the future special Bachelet visited Rapa Nui for the administrative status of the island. annual ceremony commemorating the The bill was subject to continuous 1888 annexation of the island on 9 debates, until being fi nally introduced September, she was greeted by Hotus, in Congress in a watered-down ver- presenting himself as the president of sion. On the local political scene, the the Council of Elders. However, Tuki established politicians are clearing the protested and tried to interrupt Hotus, way for a new generation of leader- arguing that it was he, Tuki, who was ship, some very reluctantly, others in fact the legitimate president follow- more freely. ing the election (trn, undated article The process of replacing the politi- circa Sept 2007). cal elite started in early June 2007, Many observers questioned the when pro-independence opposition purpose of the election. In fact, neither leaders Mario Tuki and Raúl Teao Hotus’s nor Tuki’s interpretations is won the highest numbers of votes in line with the original purpose of in the elections to the Easter Island the Council of Elders, which was to Development Commission (Gonschor consist of the eldest representative 2008, 242). This electoral success of each family name existing on the boosted the ambitions of the opposi- island. These family representatives tion leaders, and their next campaign would then elect one among them as aimed at unseating veteran community president. There is no basis for claim- leader Alberto Hotus from the presi- ing the presidency for life, nor does it dency of the Council of Elders. Hotus, make sense to elect the president by who is politically affi liated with the popular vote. Furthermore, the posi- Chilean ruling center-left coalition, tion of president should not be that claims to hold the presidency of the important in relation to the whole council for life, even though this claim council, which is supposed to be a col- has never been universally accepted lective organ, representing each family. and has been an issue dividing the Shifting the focus to the presidency is community for the last two decades. thus a manipulation for political pur- 170 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) poses and a distortion of the council’s draft, arguing that the proposal was intended function. anathema to the national unity of While factional political struggles Chile and also racially discrimina- continued with less intensity, the tory because of the reservation of key reform process of the island’s politi- offi ces for native Rapanui (Edmunds cal status was also slowly progressing. 2007). This move by the mayor—criti- A constitutional reform to create the cizing the draft from a pro-Chilean category of “special territories” out- perspective—came as quite a surprise. side the normal Chilean administrative In two interviews given to Chilean and system was passed on 5 June 2007 Argentinean journalists in December after being stalled in Congress for two 2006 and January 2007, Edmunds had years. President Bachelet signed the advocated a diametrically opposed reform into law on 27 July, clearing position—one that was radically the way for an organic law to specify a autonomist if not pro-independence— system of administration for the island calling for the island to be decolonized (Gonschor 2008, 242). However, the and freed from Chilean rule (El Ojo process of drafting that bill was far Digital, 26 Jan 2007; trn, Nov 2007). from complete. The mayor’s vehement opposition to Over a period of several months the community draft was probably during 2006, community workshops due to the prominent participation had produced a draft bill that was of the local opposition in its making. presented to the public in January He felt that his status as mayor was 2007. This draft bill, which was exten- not properly acknowledged, as he sively analyzed in last year’s review explained in a later interview (trn, 27 (Gonschor 2008), proposed an island May 2007). administration headed by a Santiago- Although President Bachelet con- appointed governor and a locally fi rmed her approval of the special stat- elected council with strong powers of ute bill during her visit on 9 September control. It reserved both governorship (Noticias Correa, 9 Sept 2007), and and council membership to ethnic there were rumors that the bill would Rapanui. It also created a commission be introduced in Congress before the appointed by the Council of Elders end of the year, nothing happened for to take over the management of all a long period. Apparently the Chilean public lands from Chilean govern- government took the mayor’s objec- ment agencies (Government of Chile tions seriously, and another draft bill, 2007a). At the time of my visit to the prepared by the Ministry of Interior, governor’s offi ce in July 2007, Gov- was released in September 2007. In ernor Carolina Hotu still considered contrast to the community draft, the this draft to be the basis for the fi nal ministry’s version contained no offi ces bill (Hotu, pers comm, 17 July 2007). reserved for ethnic Rapanui; replaced But earlier, in a 28 February letter to the name “Rapa Nui” with “Easter Claudia Serrano, the undersecretary Island”; increased the power of San- for regional development and admin- tiago-appointed offi cials in relation to istration, Mayor Petero Edmunds had locally elected institutions; and deleted complained about the community the paragraphs pertaining to the pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 171 reorganization of land tenure (Govern- Island Development Commission, as ment of Chile 2007b). their new candidate for the mayoralty With the two strongly different (trn, undated article). versions circulating, endless discus- Edmunds’s outspokenness also cre- sions on the fi nal draft followed. On ated uproar on another occasion. On 17 December, Undersecretary Ser- 26 March 2008, Finnish tourist Marko rano visited the island and met with Kulju broke off the ear of a moai Governor Hotu, Mayor Edmunds, (megalithic statue), a crime for which Hotus from the Council of Elders, and he was arrested, fi ned us$15,750 the fi ve elected members of the Easter and banned from Rapa Nui for three Island Development Commission to years. The mayor publicly stated that discuss the new version of the bill and one of Kulju’s ears should be cut off as win their approval for it (subdere, an appropriate punishment (RNJ, May 17 Dec 2007). However, in contrast 2008, 77; trn, March 2008). to the undersecretary’s visit in 2006, The occasional vandalism exem- there was no community participation plifi ed in Kulju’s case is only one of in the meeting. the problems intensifying with the In the months following Serrano’s growth of mass tourism. The num- return to Chile, no visible action ber of visitors, presently estimated at took place regarding the bill. Public about 50,000 annually, is increasing attention focused once more on the by 20 percent every year, a develop- local political scene. Mayor Edmunds ment that causes not only satisfaction continued to attract attention with but also increasing concern among the contradictory statements and erratic Islanders. During the review period, moves, such as his sudden shift from a new luxury hotel named Posada an anticolonial to a pro-Chilean posi- Mike Rapu opened its doors, and tion the previous year. Edmunds and several more are being planned. Edgar the intendente (regional administra- Hereveri, president of the island’s tor) of Valparaíso region, Ivan de la Chamber of Tourism, expressed con- Maza, had a strong falling out in June cerns that the appropriate infrastruc- 2007, accusing each other of bro- ture is lacking to accommodate more ken promises and inaction (RNJ, Oct visitors and warned that the island 2007, 165). In early 2008 Valparaíso had collapsed once before—referring regional councilor Enzo Muñoz wrote to the collapse of ancient Rapanui a letter of complaint about the mayor’s culture in the seventeenth or eigh- lack of performance (trn, undated teenth century due to overpopulation article). In May, Edmunds announced and depletion of resources (RNJ, May that he would not seek reelection in 2008, 76–77). the municipal elections scheduled for As a result of the tourism boom, October 2008. This was later con- and the accompanying mass infl ux fi rmed by the Christian Democratic of migrants from Chile, observers see Party of Chile, of which Edmunds the cultural heritage of the island as used to be the local candidate. The increasingly endangered. While some party endorsed Luz Zasso Paoa, the Islanders are very defensive about their only female member of the Easter cultural identity, others are becoming 172 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) increasingly westernized. Confronted Ministry of Interior draft than to the by a mix of ideas from Chile, the community draft, can be summarized United States, and other Polynesian as follows: The current province of islands, the Rapanui “cannot agree Easter Island, subject to the Valpa- on whether they should follow in the raíso region, will be abolished and footsteps of Tikopia or Las Vegas,” replaced with the Special Territory of as one critical voice put it (Shawn Mc Easter Island, directly dependent on Laughlin, in RNJ, May 2008, 67). the central government in Santiago, In December 2007, the island tragi- and no longer part of any region. The cally lost one of the bearers of hope insular administration will be headed for the future of its heritage, when by an island governor, appointed by Clemente Hereveri passed away at age the Chilean president, with preroga- thirty-two. Hereveri was one of the tives similar to a regional intendente most profi cient experts of Rapanui (articles 2–3). Qualifi cations for the language, culture, and oral history island governorship include two among the younger generation. He years of residency in the territory had studied archaeology in Chile, prior to appointment (article 4), but served as the secretary of the recently do not include Rapanui ancestry or formed Rapanui Language Academy, knowledge of the Rapanui language, and worked for the defense of indig- as in the 2007 community draft. All enous rights throughout Chile. He government agencies on the island, was also a leading participant in the both those of the insular administra- discussions about the special statute tion and those depending on metro- bill (RNJ, May 2008, 79). politan Chilean government depart- Toward the end of the review ments, will be under the authority of period, the issue of Rapa Nui’s status the governor (articles 13–23; 37–39). came up again. From 5 to 6 May The island governor will be assisted 2008, a Chilean government del- by, and preside ex offi cio over, an egation visited the island in order to Island Development Council consist- pre sent the latest government draft ing of six elected members, four of version of the bill. They discussed it whom must be ethnic Rapanui; the with local political leaders in Gover- president of the Council of Elders will nor Hotu’s offi ce, to prepare for its also serve as an ex-offi cio member, impending introduction in Congress. along with the mayor, who has a right During the meeting, participants made to speak but not vote (articles 24–29, proposals for modifi cations and in 48–49). The council’s main preroga- the end agreed on a list of additions tives will be budgetary appropriations to perfect the bill (subdere, 12 May and confi rmation of votes on projects 2008). On 4 June, the bill was fi nally proposed by the governor (articles 21, completed and sent by President 30, 43, 46). In contrast to the provi- Bachelet to the Chamber of Deputies sions of the 2007 community draft, (Government of Chile 2008), where the council will have no powers to it was formally introduced on 2 July initiate the governor’s removal from (subdere, 3 July 2008). offi ce or to confi rm his appointments The current bill, more similar to the of civil servants. The presently exist- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 173 ing municipality, with the elected is not likely to either solve the island’s mayor and six councilors, will remain administrative problems or satisfy the structurally unchanged, but it will be Rapanui’s demands for autonomy. The dependent on the island governor’s bill severs ties with Valparaíso region offi ce instead of the Valparaíso and places the island directly under regional administration. However, its Santiago, but the relationship between administrative responsibilities will be the island community and the Chil- increased (article 67). ean-appointed government apparatus Special attention is given to the remains essentially the same. With protection of the Rapanui identity and the powerful chief executive still cultural heritage, which the governor appointed rather than locally elected, has an obligation to protect (articles it is diffi cult to see the statute as one 1, 11, 15a). The Council of Elders of internal autonomy. In addition, is recognized as a legitimate local the bill increases rather than reduces institution with advisory powers in bureaucracy, by creating new institu- all matters pertaining to Rapanui tions but failing to abolish existing culture and language (articles 51–52). ones. The continuing existence of two Furthermore, the bill creates a Rapa parallel administrations—the munici- Nui Lands Commission, to be formed pality and the governor’s offi ce, each in place of the present Easter Island with its own elected council, execu- Development Commission, which will tive head, and numerous supporting be disbanded (article 76). Composed staff—seems absurd for a community of the governor (who will preside ex consisting of only one settlement with offi cio), fi ve elected ethnic Rapanui a few thousand inhabitants. councilors, the president of the Coun- One must wonder why the island cil of Elders, a representative of the cannot follow the example of all other Chilean Ministry of Public Lands, and dependent but internally autonomous the local representative of the Chilean Pacifi c Islands territories such as Offi ce for Indigenous Development, French Polynesia, American Sämoa, the Rapa Nui Lands Commission will Norfolk Island, or Tokelau. Each of supervise the administration and use these territories has a local govern- of Chilean state-controlled lands and ment consisting of an elected assembly coordinate grants of land title to Rapa and an elected chief executive, respon- Nui families (articles 53–58). sible for all local affairs, while the In conclusion, it is worth noting metropolitan executive government that while the 2007 community is represented by a high commission draft was already a compromise (French Territories), administrator between Rapanui calls for autonomy (New Zealand and Australian terri- and Chilean claims of centralized tories), or a federal offi ce (US ter- authority, the 2008 bill represents an ritories) to administer its sovereign extremely watered-down version of prerogatives. A similar arrangement the original proposals for a genuine was advocated for Rapa Nui in one statute of autonomy made by Mayor of the earlier draft proposals (Hacia Edmunds and others in 2002–2003 un Estatuto de Autonomía para Isla (RNJ, Oct 2003, 150). As such, the bill de Pascua [2003]), but apparently no 174 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009)

Chilean legislator even took up this and Administration Claudia Serrano. idea. With no elected local chief execu- 28 February. Posted on Te Rapa Nui tive in existence to represent the island Web site. http://www.rapanui.co.cl/ internationally, it seems that Chile, CARTA%20ALCALDE.htm [accessed despite all the apparently liberalizing 23 April 2008] measures of the last few years, is still Gonschor, Lorenz. 2008. Rapa Nui. Poly- determined to prevent Rapa Nui from nesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July taking its rightful place in the Pacifi c 2006 to 30 June 2007. The Contemporary region as, at the very least, an inter- Pacific 20:238–244. nally self-governing political entity. Government of Chile. 2007a. Borra- Finally, the bill says nothing about dor-Proyecto de Ley (Draft Bill [for the controlling immigration to the island, administrative status of Easter Island]). and the issue was not taken up dur- Computer-typed document, acquired by ing its preparation, even though this the author from the provincial governor’s was one of the most important points office in July 2007. of concern raised in the 2006–2007 ———. 2007b. Borrador discusión interna workshops. The immigration issue had Ministerio del Interior–subdere (versión therefore been included in the commu- 14-09). Ley Orgánica Constitucional que nity draft as another piece of legisla- establice el estatuto especial del territorio tion to be prepared in parallel. If the de Isla de Pascua. (Draft internal discus- Chilean government is really commit- sion Ministry of the Interior–subdere ted to the “preservation of the identity [version 14-09]. Constitutional Organic Law that establishes the special statute for of the Rapanui people” as it states in the territory of Easter Island.) Posted on Te article 11 of the bill, something must Rapa Nui Web site. http://www.rapanui.co be done soon to stop the uncontrolled .cl/ESTATUTO%20DEL%20GOBIERNO infl ux of Chilean settlers that as of a -1.htm [accessed 23 April 2008] few years ago had already turned the Rapanui into a minority on their own ———. 2008. Mensaje No. 350-356. Mensaje de S. E. La Presidenta de la island. República con el que se inicia un proyecto In summary, if the present bill de ley que establece el estatuto especiales passes, it will certainly count as a de gobierno y administración para el terri- fi rst step in the right direction. But in torio de Isla de Pascua. (Message No. 350- order to create a meaningful autono- 366. Message of H E the President of the mous government that can address the Republic through which is initiated a law island’s long-term needs, much more project that establishes the special statute substantial political reform will be of government and administration for the necessary in the near future. territory of Easter Island.) Document dated 4 June 2008. Formal entry to Congress lorenz gonschor dated 2 July 2008. Posted on Chilean Congress Web site. http://sil.congreso.cl/ References cgi-bin/sil_abredocumentos.pl?1,6325 [accessed 10 July 2008] El Ojo Digital. Daily Internet news. Argen- Hacia un Estatuto de Autonomía para Isla tina. http://www.elojodigital.com de Pascua (Toward a Statute of Autonomy Edmunds, Petero. 2007. Letter to Under- for Easter Island). [2003] Computer-typed secretary for Regional Development document; copy in author’s possession, pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 175 acquired from the office of the Rapanui The most controversial issue, Parliament; authorship attributed to an which has led to some fragmentation unidentified member of the Easter Island in the hrpp political machinery, was Development Commission. the adoption of a policy that banned Noticias Correa. Internet news. Chile. left-hand-drive motor vehicles, and http://www.noticiascorrea.cl changed the side of the road on which traffi c travels from the right to the left. RNJ, Rapa Nui Journal. Bi-annual academic and news journal. Los Osos, California. Horse carriages and motor vehicles http://www.islandheritage.org/rnj.html have been driven on the right-hand side of the road in Sämoa since 1899, subdere, Subsecretariá de Desarrollo so it was a shock when the country Regional y Administrativo (Under-sec- learned in early September 2007 that retariat for Regional Development and the Tuilaepa government was draft- Administration): Various online news items. http://www.subdere.gov.cl ing a bill to change that. Perhaps it was not so much the policy itself that trn, Te Rapa Nui. Sporadically updated prompted public opposition, but the Internet news site. Hanga Roa. manner in which it was introduced: http://rapanui.co.cl There was no consultation with stake- holders, no proper scientifi c study to determine the effects of such a change, rejection of expert opinion by Sa¯moa the Chamber of Commerce and the During the year in review, the Human Institute of Professional Engineers, Rights Protection Party (hrpp) Samoa (ipes), and inattentiveness to maintained its dominance over the public opinion. In other words, there unoffi cial minority parties. However, was a perceived lack of transparency the introduction of several controver- and accountability in the formulation sial policies led to some fragmentation of the new government policy, leading of the party following the defection to charges of recklessness and pos- of two hrpp stalwarts. With the sible underhanded dealings. Public breakup of the Samoa Development accusations against the prime minister United Party (sdup) the previous over the issue were simply laughed year, there was no offi cial opposition off, which made public relations even party in the Samoan Parliament, so worse. effective opposition to government The reason the prime minister gave measures was missing. The year may to the Samoa Observer for implement- be described as one where the Human ing the policy was the need to align Rights Protection Party, principally with neighboring countries, namely through its leader, the effervescent New Zealand and Australia (SO, 18 Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malie- Sept 2007). Of course, it was only the legaoi, attempted to test the limits fi rst shot fi red in a propaganda war of its political power. The result was that pitted the prime minister and the emergence of people power, but his Human Rights Protection Party will that be enough to halt the hrpp against some of the most powerful juggernaut? civic forces in the country—a war 176 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) that was to last the better part of a car accidents and serious injuries; the year. Never has an issue dominated high cost of changing infrastructure the editorial section of the Samoa (roads, signage, traffi c lights, etc); and Observer for so long, with the great the environmental impact of scrapped majority of letter writers opposed to left-hand-drive cars. They estimated the switch. In response, the govern- that the total cost to the economy ment used its own newspaper, the would be at least 790 million Samoan Savali, and the government-owned tala (SO, 5 Nov 2007). (Currently, one sbc tv and sbc Radio to counter the Samoan tala [sat$] equals approxi- arguments of its opponents. mately us$0.38.) The nongovernmen- The immediate reaction to the tal organizations called on the prime announcement came from the Samoa minister to withdraw the decision, to Rental Car Association, which engage in a process of public consulta- opposed the switch. There was no tion, to release any reports that had doubt in the mind of the association informed the government’s decision, president that such a change would and to establish a commission to look have dire consequences for the car- into the issue. Another prominent rental business in Sämoa, the belief opponent, the Institute of Professional being that tourists would feel uncom- Engineers, Samoa, warned that the fortable because they were used to switch could cost the country one driving on the right side of the road. billion tala, a fi gure approaching the The switch would also pose a major entire gross domestic product (SO, problem to the association’s members, 16 Dec 2007). Representatives of the because all their new vehicles are left- Samoan insurance industry also asked hand drive. Above all the association the government to properly research condemned the government’s failure the social and economic impact of to consult with stakeholders (SO, 19 the switch, indicating that it would Sept 2007). Other areas of concern to take years before the proportion of the association were the high cost of left-hand-drive vehicles on the roads conversions (which could amount to would diminish signifi cantly. millions), potential lawsuits, death, The prime minister and his ardent and compensation. supporters were just as vociferous The next round of opposition came in their announcements in public from a group of nongovernmental and through the government-owned organizations (ngos) made up of the media. In an interview with Savali Samoa Chamber of Commerce, the (SO, 11 Nov 2007), Prime Minister Samoa Umbrella of Non-Government Tuilaepa dismissed all the opponents’ Organizations (sungo), the Samoa concerns as trivial or based on incor- Association of Manufacturers and rect assumptions. His primary justifi - Exporters, Women in Business, and cations were saving energy by doing the Taxi Association of Samoa. These away with gas-guzzling American organizations argued that the switch cars, and helping ordinary people would cause enormous hardship whose families live in Australia and to all Samoans, and they expressed New Zealand acquire affordable concern about the potential for more cars from those countries. A week pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 177 after Tuilaepa’s Savali interview, switch, and that the claim that the Minister of Works, Transport and change would cost only sat$5 mil- Infrastructure Tuisugaletaua Sofara lion “just shows how silly that sort of Aveau announced that the cabinet had statement is as it lacked any basis.” approved the new policy, opening the Key decisions require consulting the way for drafting the legislation and public, he added, and not doing so parliamentary discussion. Moreover, runs counter to the culture and demo- the government had estimated the cost cratic ideals on which Samoan society of the switch to be sat$5 million and is based (SO, 27 Nov 2007). called the ngo estimate “way out of Hundreds turned up to the meet- kilter.” Addressing safety concerns, the ing, and it was decided to hold a minister noted that the government protest march to Parliament. On 17 planned to implement a driver-train- December, an estimated 15,000 people ing program for those who needed it, marched, and Speaker Tolofuaivalelei and that bus stops and one-way streets Falemoe Leiataua adjourned Parlia- might be introduced in the city. He ment to enable the prime minister also rejected any suggestion that the and members to meet them. Toleafoa road switch had to do with economic presented a petition with more than pressures from Sämoa’s overseas devel- 33,000 signatures to the Speaker. The opment partners and donor agencies. Speaker said the petition would be Shortly after the minister’s presented to Parliament that day, but announcement, a citizen’s group reminded the marchers that the legisla- called the People Against Switching tion had not yet been tabled in Parlia- Sides (pass) emerged, with prominent ment, and that the petition could not lawyer Toleafoa Solomona Toailoa as be considered until it was (SO, 18 Dec convener and later chairman. Toailoa 2007). The next day, the pass petition called a public meeting on 30 Novem- was tabled in Parliament, along with ber 2007 to discuss the issue. Toleafoa a second petition from the Institute of said that the issue should have been Professional Engineers, Samoa. put to the public fi rst, and that he Parliament appointed four govern- had decided to take action only after ment members and three indepen- seeing all the letters to the editor and dents to form a petitions committee. hearing people’s complaints. The Toleafoa warned that if the petition swiftness of the government’s action did not receive a favorable reception, also gave the appearance that the deci- he would resort to legal options. He sion was a fait accompli. Toleafoa had promised that the measure would called the meeting, he said, on his own not become law. However, the pass initiative and was not doing it because rhetoric fell on deaf ears. On 10 he was against the prime minister. He March 2008, the petitions commit- also asked politicians to not attend the tee tabled a nineteen-page report in meeting so that they could not use it Parliament. The report recommended for their own political purposes. The that the government carefully consider crucial issue, Toleafoa explained, was the concerns of the petitioners, but that the public was not convinced by reminded members that they represent the government’s arguments for the their constituencies and are authorized 178 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) to make laws for the benefi t of the The government’s intransigence country. They also noted that the cost over the traffi c issue led directly estimates by the petitioners confl icted to the later resignation of two key with those of the government (SO, 11 hrpp members, Safata mp Palusalue March 2008). While the pass mem- Faapo II and Aleipata Itu I Lalo mp bership responded with shock, its Muagututia Siaosi Meredith. A third chairman, Toleafoa, was not surprised. hrpp associate minister, Hans Joachim He described the report as a farce, Keil, opposed and voted against the since four members of the committee right-hand-drive bill, but chose to represented the hrpp majority and remain with the party. Keil, one of two only three represented the unoffi cial representatives of the Individual Vot- minority parties, independents, and ers’ Roll, said his constituency opposed the Samoa Development United Party. the switch and pointed out some major While the committee sought the views shortcomings in the petitions commit- of the nation, these views were not tee report. Palusalue also stated that refl ected in the report, Toleafoa said. his constituency opposed the switch, The pass group did not remain idle and that the Human Rights Protection while the Road Transport Reform Bill Party had failed to take into account worked its way through Parliament. It its immediate impact. He predicted carried out a second protest march on that there would be deaths on the road 14 April 2008, when Parliament was as a result. Muagututia said that as a scheduled to reconvene to discuss the member of the Institute of Professional bill. The estimated number of people Engineers, Samoa, he supported the who joined the march was higher ipes position and was disappointed than before (18,000 this time), caus- that the report of the petitions com- ing Toleafoa to declare that the great mittee did not adequately address the majority of the population was against problems of cost and safety. That only the switch (SO, 15 April 2008). Never- two hrpp members defected from theless, the bill was eventually passed the party as a result of these events is on 18 April 2008. The legislation puts certainly a credit to the management an end to the importation of left-hand- skills of the prime minister. There was drive vehicles (as of 2 May 2008), and no mass exodus, as some critics of the drivers will be required to travel on bill had hoped. the left side of the road beginning in Another major consequence of the the second half of 2009. road transport reform issue was the pass chair Toleafoa said the day formation of a new political party the Road Transport Reform Bill was made up of those members of Parlia- passed would be remembered as Black ment who opposed the switch, includ- Friday, a day when the government ing the independents, members of the ignored the voice of the people to pass Samoa Development United Party, and a law that would cost lives and cripple the two members who defected from the economy. Citing unconstitution- the Human Rights Protection Party. ality, in March the pass group fi led Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi , the chair- a legal action in the Supreme Court man, said the party was formed due against the bill. to the immediate need for a strong pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 179 parliamentary opposition, and to them. What the bill would do, he gain power in the 2011 general elec- went on, is provide for registration of tions. But despite having the requisite freehold land. (There is much uncer- numbers (fourteen), the new party tainty in the ownership of freehold cannot yet be recognized in Parliament land under the current deeds system, because, according to the Standing even if a person holds a deed to con- Orders of Parliament, registration of fi rm ownership). The prime minister members and the formation of a new pointed out that the bill introduces the party can only take place after a gen- Torrens system for registering freehold eral election and before a new Parlia- land—under which ownership would ment is formed. be more secure—and only deals with The second major issue that con- customary land with regard to leasing fronted the governing Human Rights it. If a person or a business defaults in Protection Party during the year under repayment of a loan, the bank is not review was the Land Titles Registra- authorized to take customary land tion Bill 2007. The bill was controver- as compensation. Instead it can only sial from the start due to the provision take over the lease of a person who that ownership of customary land defaults on repayments, and advertise must be registered under the name of a for another person to continue the family chief. Traditionally, ownership lease. In his comments, however, the of Samoan customary land was vested prime minister did not address the in the primary heirs (suli tau toto) of main question relating to registration a title, which means a family corpora- of customary land under the name of tion. For any major activity requiring an individual chief. the use of a family’s customary land, The sungo chairperson, Vaasilii- all the primary heirs had to be con- fi ti Moelagi Jackson, said that Land sulted for their approval. Under the Registration Bill 2008 was unconsti- new bill, ownership would be vested in tutional, unethical, and un-Samoan. the name of individual matai (chiefs) She reasoned that customary land and not under the title representing the in Sämoa is not private; holders of family corporation. As critics of the matai titles are trustees, not owners, of bill have argued, this means that the Samoan customary lands; and matai named chief could will the land to his titles, not individual chiefs, are vested own descendants, begging the ques- with proprietorship of such lands. tion: What about the property rights Therefore, private property registra- of the other heirs, such as those con- tion systems cannot be applied in prin- nected through collateral lines? ciple or practice to Samoan customary When the bill came up for discus- land, unless there is consensus from all sion in Parliament, Prime Minister of the heirs (SO, 10 March 2008). Tuilaepa said that passing the bill Sua Rimoni Ah Chong, leader of would in no way affect rights over the Samoa Party, said the registration customary land. Such rights, he of customary land under any matai’s stressed, were already in the Samoan own name would signal the death constitution and hrpp members were of the fa‘a-Sämoa because it would well aware of the need to protect transfer authority over customary 180 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) land from a group title to that of an Act may return to haunt the Human individual. This was inconsistent with Rights Protection Party in the next article 102 of the Samoan constitu- general election. tion, and if the prime minister wanted The government has also been to change the constitution, then it grappling with other land issues. Due would have to be done properly (SO, to land-related grievences, the people 18 May 2008). of Satapuala village occupied govern- The government appointed the Task ment land located opposite the Inter- Force on the Economic Use of Cus- national Airport terminal at Faleolo. tomary Land, which visited villages Violence was narrowly averted as a around the main islands of ‘Upolu and result of face-to-face meetings between Savai‘i to canvass people’s views about the village matai and the prime min- the bill. A member of the task force, ister. The compromise reached was Masinalupe Tusipa, chief executive the formation of a joint committee offi cer of the Justice Ministry, said it made up of representatives from the was not the function of the committee village and the government to discuss to explain the contents of the Land concerns about boundaries, compensa- Titles Registration Bill but rather to tion, priorities in lease grants within obtain the views of the country regard- the government’s proposed township ing the leasing of customary land, to at Faleolo, and so on. explain that leasing of customary land A similar event occurred when was not new, and to counsel people persons from a village in the Siumu about where to obtain help if they district occupied private land several wanted to lease their land. miles inland. Again, the occupation Despite widespread opposition to had to do with grievances against the the bill, the government approved it government over land matters. Even- on 13 June 2008 under its new title, tually, the squatters were removed and the Land Act 2008. True leasing of charged by the police. The occupation customary land for development has was not as serious as the Satapuala been in the law books for at least situation, however, because most thirty years, yet there has been very people in Siumu district were against little sign of any extra boost to agri- the action of the squatters, preferring cultural development. It remains to be instead to continue their fi ght in the seen how successful this act will be in courts. fulfi lling the government’s intentions Further, the government deci- of promoting development through sion to relocate the inhabitants of the use of idle customary land. Sogi village, just behind the Kitano Asiata Saleimoa Va‘ai, leader of Hotel, Apia, has led to resentment the unrecognized Samoa Development among the residents, who have been United Party, believes the Land Act living there for generations. Eventu- resulted from pressure by aid donor ally, Minister of Natural Resources countries and international fi nancial and Environment Faumuina Tiatia institutions. This is also the popu- Liuga told the thirty families involved lar view among the public. Like the that they had to relocate from public right-hand-drive legislation, the Land land to an inland site at Falelauniu pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 181 because the government needed to general election. It also recommended protect the mangrove environment, the prosecution of individuals who prevent fl ooding, and accommodate make bribery payments to others in population increases. Each family was order to infl uence them not to lodge, entitled to one quarter acre of land at or to withdraw, an election petition, a reduced price, a generous repayment as well as those who extort money period without interest, a 15 percent for the withdrawal of petitions. discount if the entire amount is paid Finally it recommended the creation in one lump sum, and relocation costs of additional parliamentary seats for of sat$3,000 per family (SO, 9 April Vaimauga Sisifo and Faleata Sisifo, 2008). In addition, the government in keeping with population trends agreed to donate two and a half acres (SO, 13 Nov 2007). at Falelauniu to the Congregational Hans Joachim Keil, as current Christian Church in return for its representative of the Individual Voters’ quarter-acre section at Sogi, and the Roll, argued that there is no need to Samoan Land Corporation would legislate away the existence of the provide sat$100,000 for the construc- roll, as it will die a natural death. He tion of a new church and a residence pointed out that currently there are for the pastor. only two members, while previously In July 2007, the Land and Titles there were fi ve. The number of people Court declared invalid the bestowal who qualify for the roll will gradually of the Malietoa title on Papali‘i diminish, and the number of those Fa‘amausili Moli, son of the late head who take on matai titles will increase. of state, and ruled that the protocol unasa l f va‘a of a court decision in 1939 must be followed in choosing a successor. The protocol applies to the three main lin- References eages (Malietoa Moli, Malietoa Natui- css, Centre for Samoan Studies. 2006. tasina, and Malietoa Talavou) when Samoa National Human Development they reach agreement on a candidate. Report. Papaigalagala, Apia: css, However, some observers are of the National University of Samoa. opinion that it may take a long time Islands Business. Monthly. Suva. for such a consensus to be reached. http://www.islandsbusiness.com The Electoral Committee, which Newsline Samoa Newspaper. Three times was tasked to look into the Report a week. Apia. of the Commission of Inquiry into the 2006 general elections, recom- Savali. Weekly. Prime Minister’s Depart- mended that the Individual Voters’ ment, Apia. Roll be abolished before the 2011 SO, The Samoa Observer. Daily. Apia.