Political Reviews Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 michael lujan bevacqua, landisang l kotaro, monica c labriola, clement yow mulalap Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 peter clegg, lorenz gonschor, margaret mutu, christina newport, steven ratuva, forrest wade young The Contemporary Pacic, Volume 29, Number 1, 93–188 © 2017 by University of Hawai‘i Press 93 Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 Reviews of American Sāmoa, Hawai- departments. They include the first- ian Issues, Niue, Sāmoa, Tokelau, time appointment of seasoned public Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna are servants who have worked their way not included in this issue. up the ranks. Tepaeru Herrmann was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Cook Islands Foreign Affairs and Immigration, and The year under review was a pivotal Gail Townsend replaced the retiring one as the Cook Islands celebrated its secretary of the Ministry of Education, fiftieth anniversary of independence. Sharyn Paio. Reappointments included Over the last twelve months, immedi- Elizabeth Wright-Koteka as chief of ate and longer-term concerns have staff for the Office of the Prime Min- seen old relationships revisited and ister, Elizabeth Iro as secretary of the new ones forged. In this review, partic- Ministry of Health, Bredina Drollett ular attention is given to highlighting as secretary of the Ministry of Internal the leadership of women in advanc- Affairs, and Daphne Ringi as chief ing the Cook Islands across different executive officer of the Office of the sectors and issues as political powers Public Service Commissioner (opsc continue to shift and take hold. 2015). Although women are increasingly This year also saw Teremoana elected and appointed as parliamen- Yala appointed as Cook Islands’ high tarians, heads of government depart- commissioner to New Zealand. With ments, chairs and directors of statu- thirty-five years of public service tory bodies and private entities, and experience, including fourteen years customary titleholders, there appears as a senior official at the Cook Islands to be little progress made toward High Commission in New Zealand, transforming the gendered nature of Yala is very familiar with Cook Cook Islands politics. Indeed, despite Islands’ development and diplomatic women’s making up approximately representation needs (CIN, 3 June 50 percent of the country’s popula- 2016). Although not the first woman tion and positions held in the public to be appointed to the position, she is service, their representation remains the first to take up the office; tradi- low across positions of authority and tional leader and former head of the leadership (Ministry of Finance and Koutu Nui (traditional leaders group) Economic Management 2012; Minis- Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid was try of Internal Affairs 2011). announced in April 2011 to take up Nevertheless, key appointments the role but passed away unexpect- have been made this year. Six women edly before being able to assume the were appointed as heads of minis- appointment (CIN, 23 June 2011). tries among the thirteen government A less obvious but nevertheless 127 128 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) noteworthy appointment was also tariat implementation of the Pacific made with Caren Rangi taking up a Regionalism framework (CIN, 6 May directorship on the Board of Direc- 2015). She provides the committee tors for the Cook Islands Investment with a small island states perspective, Corporation (ciic). Based in New supported by her private sector and Zealand and with ties to Northern and economic development experience. Southern group islands in the Cooks, Having served on the Cook Islands she holds a range of community and Tourism Corporation Board of Direc- national level governance roles. She is tors for ten years, she is credited with the national president of pacifica Inc, transforming the agency’s financial a pan-Pacific women’s organization in management (CIN, 3 Nov 2015). As New Zealand, and serves as a board an executive member of the national member of the Creative New Zealand private sector organization, the Arts Council as well as the Pacific Chamber of Commerce, she has also Homecare Services and Charities Reg- been instrumental in the capacity istration Board (pacifica Inc 2016). development of local businesses (CIN, Responsible for the oversight of all 21 Sept 2015). government assets including land and Recognition can also be given to a number of state-owned enterprises, the country’s young women. Despite ciic makes use of Rangi’s expertise in the controversy between the legiti- attending to its affairs. These include macy of two pageant associations, the development of seabed minerals Natalia Short was crowned one of two and preparation of the contract with Miss Cook Islands. Having won the the United Nations International Sea- Miss Cook Islands Association title, bed Authority, which gives the country Natalia has been an ambassador for mineral rights to a specified area of its key causes. A business management exclusive economic zone, and a joint- graduate, she attended the General venture agreement with gsr (Global Assembly of the Red Cross in Geneva Sea Mineral Resources nv). This as the youth ambassador of the Cook allows the Belgium-based private com- Islands Red Cross. She also supported pany the opportunity to explore and the End the Violence campaign as mine the designated area held by the the #ENDtheviolence Ambassador Cook Islands (ciic, 15 July 2016; CIN, for Punanga Tauturu, a Cook Islands 26 July 2016). Caren Rangi’s appoint- women’s voluntary organization (CIN, ment can be seen as a reflection of 30 April 2016). the government’s openness to looking But concern about women’s par- beyond its geographical boundaries in ticipation in politics is not just about making use of skilled Cook Islanders increasing the numbers in leadership to provide expertise for the country. positions. As one of four women mem- As an example of Cook Islands bers of Parliament (mps), Democratic women’s leadership outside of the Party mp for Titikaveka Selina Napa is country, Teresa Manarangi-Trott was active in her parliamentary work. She appointed to the new Specialist Sub- is a member of the select committee Committee for Regionalism support- for the Family Law bill, which is set to ing the Pacific Islands Forum Secre- table overhauled and outdated family political reviews • polynesia 129 laws. More protection for survivors of outside of the Pacific Islands Forum sexual offenses is a part of the bill; this leaders group in Palau (pir, 26 June includes criminalizing marital rape, 2016). which is not an offense in current law. The parliamentary session was After two separate incidents of rape chaired by Brown, the Cook Islands against young women were reported, Party’s only woman member and and drawing on the 2014 report on deputy Speaker of the House, and family health and safety (Te Marae attended by the Opposition members. Ora and others 2014), Napa stated Democratic Party mp Albert Nicho- that “we are such a small nation, but las, who last year crossed the floor the figures advise us that one in three to take up a cabinet position with women are subjected to some form the cip government, also attended of physical and sexual abuse” (CIN, the session (CIN, 22 June 2016). The 17 March 2016). Napa has called on members subsequently voted Brown as all parliamentarians to support the the prime minister; however, she was bill, which is waiting to be tabled in not sworn in by Queen’s Representa- Parliament. tive Tom Marsters. He upheld Speaker This year also saw a woman chal- of the House Niki Rattle’s ruling of lenge the prime minister’s position for adjourning Parliament sine die (with- the first time. Rose Brown, mp for the out a designated future date) (Pearl- Teenui-Mapumai electorate in Atiu, man 2016). While Brown may not became central to continued political be given the accolade of first woman maneuverings within the country and prime minister, she is the first woman a failed coup to oust the current prime to be nominated by an Opposition minister and his government. After coalition to be sworn in to the highest winning her seat in the 2014 election, office in the Cook Islands. first-time mp Brown crossed the floor In speaking out about the move to to join the Opposition coalition. In a change the government, mp Brown as bold move, the Opposition coalition the current leader of the Opposition sought to remove the Cook Islands coalition expressed her shock at the Party (cip) government when Parlia- dirty politics and failure of all politi- ment retired from its 17 June 2016 cians over the years to make neces- sitting. The Opposition members met sary political reforms. In pointing out at Parliament on Monday 20 June and that the government has sat for only asserted that the parliamentary session ninety-three days in the last five years, that ended on the previous Friday had Brown is looking for political commit- not followed the procedure correctly, ment to make changes. She stated, “I whereby no proper resolution to close am not interested in the power, I am the sitting was carried. Being of the interested in helping my people, no view that Parliament was still in ses- matter what they think about politics sion, the members undertook to hold or the people who continue to feed a no-confidence vote against Prime off the system” (CIN, 30 July 2016). Minister Henry Puna, who flew out Elected by the Democratic and One of the country to attend the inaugural Cook Islands parties “as the leader of Small Island States meeting being held Unity in Parliament not as the leader 130 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) of the opposition,” Brown aspires the tribe is left behind, and no one in to have the Cook Islands Party join the village is forgotten” (Cook Islands and connect with efforts for a “real Sun 2015).