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Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

Reviews of American Sāmoa, Hawai‘i, inflow of people to the islands” (cin, Sāmoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and 1 June 2017), so are able to anticipate Wallis and Futuna are not included in changes and demands for services and this issue. resources. However, eighteen months on, the official details of people’s Cook Islands mobility in and out of the country, This review covers the two-year period economic activity, housing, and well- from July 2016 to June 2018 and being are still not available. On the tracks a range of ongoing and emerg- face of it, it would seem that timely ing concerns. Featured here are the and informed public policymaking, implications from the 2016 population planning, and service provisions will census, Marae Moana (the national be impacted. But to some extent this marine park), the Cook Islands’ is not necessarily a bad thing, because impending Organisation for ­Economic population-related policies need to Co-operation and Development be informed by more than just demo- (oecd) graduation to high-income graphic trends, which invariably can country status, a controversial local be used to support the taken-for- tax amnesty, and events connected granted arguments typically associated with the 2018 general election. with the vulnerabilities and question- 2016 saw the five-year national able viability of small island state population survey get underway. development and economies (Baldac- Preliminary results of the 2016 cen- chino and Bertram 2009). sus, which was held on 1 December, Depopulation is a national concern recorded a total population of 17,459 and a political football (cin, 31 May (mfem 2018c). Including residents 2018), especially given its implications and nonresidents (mostly tourists), for the country’s labor force and its the count shows a 2 percent decrease ability to support the tourism indus- from the 2011 census (mfem 2018c). try. However, it is important to also However, official reporting on popula- take account of the cultural and social tion trends was delayed, as technical imperatives that play a part in people’s problems with equipment meant that mobility, aspirations, and experiences, the data had to be sent to New Zea- which may help deepen understand- land for compilation. Nevertheless, it ings when interpreting population is expected that the census data will patterns and trends. For example, the show a further population drop, espe- cost of living and the ability to earn cially on the Pa ‘enua (outer islands), a living wage were the main concerns where development economist Vaine of the 2018 Minimum Wage Rate Wichman pointed out that island lead- Review Report (Government of the ers and public health workers “have Cook Islands 2018). The review panel a fairly good handle on the ebb and agreed that the Cook Islands Census

187 188 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

2016 and 2016 Household Income make us a place that tourists want Expenditure Survey would serve as the to visit, cramming as many tourists analytical basis for setting the mini- on to Rarotonga isn’t the way to go” mum wage, along with a labor market (rnz 2017b). Despite the launch of assessment. However, in the absence the Cook Islands Sustainable Tourism of these major data sets, the panel Development Framework and Goals in concentrated on reviewing any major October 2016, which set some direc- changes since the previous report in tion for attending to the numerous 2017. The review panel considered tourism issues, Napa contended that that “the main employers of mini- without upgrading existing infrastruc- mum wage employees were the public ture and utilities, such as the roads, sector, small businesses and the few water, power, and sewerage and waste businesses in the Pa Enua” (Govern- disposal facilities, it would be difficult ment of the Cook Islands 2018, 3). to sustain the increasing number of As such, island administrations were visitors. Furthermore, demands on likely to respond to an increase in human resources, public services, and minimum wage by reducing the work accommodation capacity are increas- hours of minimum wage staff, assum- ing, as are the impacts on the lagoon ing that there was no increase in the environment. Of these concerns, Pa ‘enua funding model to help meet Prime Minister Henry Puna said, the new rate (Government of the “our elders gave birth to this industry Cook Islands 2018, 4). So while their but clearly, the future is in the hands take home pay would not change, of those growing up within it” (cin, workers would have more time for 13 Oct 2017). In this regard, urgency other activities, including subsistence is needed in meeting these demands, farming and fishing. Regardless, the which may include making use of cost of living remains relatively high donor partners and aid. due to the country’s small population, Increasingly, ocean matters are of the reliance on imports to meet local political and public concern. In July consumption needs, and the distances 2017, the Marae Moana legislation that imported goods must travel, caus- to protect and conserve the Cook ing transport costs to affect the price Islands’ marine environment came of goods (Government of the Cook into effect. It established a multiple- Islands 2018, 7). use marine park covering the county’s Another aspect of the Cook Islands entire economic exclusion zone of population to consider is the increas- 1.9 million square kilometers (Burton ing number of tourists to the Cook 2017). After five years of consultation Islands. The environmental and social and planning with island communities sustainability of the country is now and various interest groups, Marae being put to the test with record high Moana is now governed by a national numbers of tourists reaching over council, which is chaired by Prime 150,000 in 2017 (rnz 2017a). Titika­ Minister Puna. Current, related activi- veka Member of Parliament (mp) Sel ties include undertaking marine spatial Napa pointed out that “we should mapping, which is an important aspect be safeguarding the very things that of governing certain activities such as political reviews • polynesia 189 fishing, seabed mining, ocean explora- nz$320,000 rebuild, establishing the tion, and sustainable tourism activi- vaka’s status as a national treasure. ties. Marine protected areas around The Cook Islands Voyaging Society each island have been extended to aims to have “mama vaka” back in fifty nautical miles, designating an the water in 2019 to continue the area in which large-scale fishing and legacy of traditional sailing and navi- seabed mining activities are prohib- gation and ocean protection (cin, 3 ited (cin, 6 Feb 2018). As the world’s Feb 2018). largest marine protected area, Marae In response to being owed over Moana also contributes to the Pacific nz$33 million of back taxes, in 2017 Oceanscape project, of which the the Cook Islands Ministry of Finance Cook Islands is one signatory among and Economic Management (mfem) twenty-three other Pacific Island states put in place a tax amnesty. For a and territories. five-month period, all Cook Islands As ocean custodians, the Cook taxpayers were given an opportunity Islands’ governance and protection to clear tax debts or disclose evaded of our waters is also a key part of taxes without fear of prosecution. the indigenous renaissance of the The amnesty allowed all additional vaka moana (double-hulled voyaging taxes, such as late payment penalties canoe). The Cook Islands Voyag- and turnover taxes, to be written off ing Society has drawn on traditional (mfem 2017b). knowledge of vaka akonoanga (vaka News of the tax amnesty was part culture) to campaign alongside other of Prime Minister Puna’s Christmas Oceanic peoples, calling for the envi- message to the nation in December ronmental protection of the ocean and 2016. However, a law change was speaking out against climate change, required because the law at the time pollution, and unsustainable fishing only allowed a specific government operations. official, designated as the Collector of However, the Cook Islands Voyag- Taxes, the power to make individual ing Society suffered a setback when tax write-off decisions on a case-by- its vaka moana Marumaru Atua was case basis (cin, 12 Jan 2017). The damaged by fire in September 2017, move was supported by both sides requiring a complete rebuild (cin, 17 of the House, and the amnesty got Sept 2017). Funds toward the rebuild ­underway in August 2017. were offered from various local The amnesty was later extended to and overseas supporters, helping to the end of March 2018. During that establish the value of the Marumaru time, Minister of Finance Mark Brown Atua as a learning institution of vaka announced that the government culture and an icon of environmental decided to write off all outstanding sustainability. This was eventually tax prior to 1 January 2010 as part recognized by the government; Cook of the amnesty. Worth nz$18 mil- Islands Minister of Finance Mark lion, the intention behind the amnesty Brown announced a nz$255,000 was to ease the burden on people and (nz$100,000 = us$65,227) con- businesses as well as to enable the tax tribution toward the cost of the office to focus on the nz$14 million 190 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) debt, which had been accruing since do not calculate (Bertram 2016). 2010 (rci, 2 Feb 2018). This was Instead, the oecd was using gdp as a welcome news for those employees proxy to gni “to determine the gradu- and businesses with tax debts. Accord- ation status, which is wrong,” said ing to public accountant Mike Carr, mfem Financial Secretary Garth Hen- for those taxpayers who were up-to- derson (cin, 2 Oct 2017). The oecd’s date or had cleared their tax debts, dac took the unusual step of granting the news was less welcoming (cin, 19 the Cook Islands an extension to the Feb 2018). This raised questions about end of 2018 to sort out its gni data. the equity of law enforcement and the Whether or not graduation takes place influence of politicians and business sooner rather than later, successfully people on our tax administration (cin, managing the reclassification to a 19 Feb 2018). high-income developed country will An ongoing matter that reemerged require transitional arrangements to during this period of review was the be put in place, including restructur- Cook Islands’ impending graduation ing existing financial arrangements to and reclassification as a developed (Wyeth 2017). country by the Organisation for To this end, restructuring such Economic Co-operation and Develop- arrangements will likely include ment (oecd). Following the country’s changes to taxation. Bertram offered continued strong economic growth some key considerations, such as (mfem 2017a), this reclassification raising the country’s company tax would mean that the Cook Islands rate, which is currently low (Bertram would also graduate to high-income 2016, i). This is problematic because status. This is a disincentive for oecd of self-imposed tax percentage thresh- donor countries to provide conces- olds adopted as part of its financial sional loans and grants to the Cook management arrangements. Islands. Under the oecd’s Develop- Furthermore, Bertram suggested ment Advisory Committee (dac) that one way to “free up resources rules, financial assistance from donor for the financially stressed education, partners will not count toward the health and social impact sectors” official development assistance (oda) would be to stop or privatize the target of 0.7 percent of gross domestic nz$12 million annual subsidy that the product (gdp). government pays to Air New Zealand In October 2017, the oecd con- (Bertram 2016, ii). Bertram argued firmed the controversial graduation that, should the subsidy continue, “a had been delayed due to insufficient case can be made for having it paid for supporting data. In his analysis of by the private tourism sector which the possible implications of gradua- is the direct beneficiary” (Bertram tion, Dr Geoff Bertram argued that 2016, ii). Bertram also identified the oecd’s use of a country’s gross “an unidentified outflow of up to national income (gni) to determine [nz]$100 million per year from the their income status is problematic economy, which “is likely the after-tax because it is something that small private-sector profits and land rents economies such as the Cook Islands retained offshore rather than invested political reviews • polynesia 191 back into the Cook Islands economy” challenges in the graduation transition (Bertram 2016, i). It would seem that will be to find ways to deal with the Bertram’s suggestion of “capturing a lingering effects of the twenty-year-old greater share of this surplus” could Manila agreement. be achieved by dropping the airline Continuing on the theme of the subsidy (Bertram 2016, i). Cook Islands’ relationship with Related to the tax threshold New Zealand, in March 2018 the mentioned earlier, Bertram proposed Labour Party–led coalition govern- addressing the lingering effects of the ment arrived in the Cook Islands at Cook Islands’ “1998 austerity package the end of Prime Minister Jacinda agreed with its creditors New Zea- Ardern’s Pacific tour. Prime Minister land, Nauru, and the Asian Develop- Ardern announced that changes would ment Bank” (Bertram 2018, 44). At be made regarding Cook Island- a meeting in Manila in 1998, this ers’ eligibility for the New Zealand “cold-turkey cure” (Bertram 2018, Superannuation Fund. Making good 56) for the country’s fiscal excesses of on its promises to amend existing the 1980s and 1990s involved impos- entitlement restrictions, Cook Island- ing fiscal measures “in exchange for ers who have worked in New Zealand the writing-off of half of its [the Cook for over twenty years will no longer Islands’] debt” (Bertram 2018, 57). have to reside in New Zealand for five These measures stipulated that “public years from the age of fifty to qualify sector wages and salaries should be for the New Zealand Superannua- capped at 44 per cent of total revenue, tion. This is considered good news, falling to 40 per cent over time; debt as it means that these individuals will servicing should not exceed 5 per cent be able to remain in the Cook Islands of total revenue; the overall budget and continue to contribute to the local deficit should not exceed 2 per cent of economy without further exacerbating gdp; and net debt should not exceed existing demands on the labor force 35 per cent of gdp” (Bertram 2018, by leaving for a period of time (cin, 57). In addition, one fiscal measure 14 March 2018; rnz 2018c). considered the most “serious . . . The review period concluded with draconian . . . .[and] straight from the the 2018 general election, which was hard core of the neoliberal austerity held on 14 June with approximately playbook” (Bertram 2018, 58–59) was 8,000 of 10,917 eligible people vot- that tax revenue should not exceed ing (mfem 2018b; rnz 2018d). The 25 percent of gdp (Bertram 2018, final count showed that the Demo- 57). What has resulted is a situa- cratic Party won 11 of the 24 seats, tion in which the shortfall in meet- just one more seat than the Cook ing the costs of sustainable tourism Islands Party’s (cip) 10 seats. The infrastructure development over the One Cook Islands Party won 1 seat, medium-term is met through increas- with 2 seats going to Independent ing external aid, primarily because candidates. However, despite not the fiscal ratios cap the government’s winning the majority of the votes, it ability to raise revenue through taxa- was the cip that formed a majority tion and borrowing. Thus, one of the government with the two Indepen- 192 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) dents and One Cook Islands Party. electoral reform as an issue to be This gave them a majority of 13–11. addressed if elected. Voter distribution The offer of ministerial positions and and constituency size has long been a a reshuffle of portfolios saw first-time political conundrum, with neither of candidate for Tongareva (Penrhyn) the two major parties making moves Robert ­Tapaitau, Atiu candidate for to revisit the twenty-four-seat con- the ­Teenui-Mapumai constituency figuration while in power over the Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown, and the last twenty years. Apart from abol- One Cook Islands Party candidate ishing the overseas seat and reduc- and former Cook Islands Party mp for ing the electoral term from five to Tupapa-Maraerenga on Rarotonga four years, little else has happened. George Maggie Angene form the Cook Prime Minister Puna confirmed that Islands Party–led government. Of he would back moves for political course, the space for such offers came reform if reelected for a third term about when Rarotonga-based Teariki (rnz 2018b). However, if his previous Heather, the minister for infrastruc- two terms are anything to go by, such ture, Kiriau Turepu, the minister for moves seem unlikely without con- agriculture, and Minster for Health certed public pressure. Nandi Glassie lost their seats on Elec- Of note during this election were tion Day. the ambitions, gains, and losses of the A caretaker coalition government is women candidates making up 12 of now in place and awaiting the results the 52 candidates. This is an increase of six petitions lodged following the of 5 from the 7 who stood in the 2014 election. It is expected that judicial election (cin, 3 May 2018; mfem decisions will be completed by Sep- 2018a). The Democratic Party loss of tember 2018. If successful, the Cook first-time candidate Tina Browne was Islands Party–led government will certainly a blow after she had secured ­continue to govern for a third con- the confidence of the party to lead secutive term. them into the election. Despite winning the majority of Despite Browne’s loss, Te-Hani votes in this election, the Democratic Brown’s upset win over seasoned Party must surely be contemplating politician Norman George and cip just what went wrong. For the second incumbent Nandi Glassie can be seen time in a row, they obtained more as a significant flower in the young votes than the Cook Islands Party but candidate’s ei katu (flower crown). failed to form a government. When Under the Democratic Party flag, Tina Browne, a prominent lawyer she is at twenty-two years old set and Democratic Party leader, failed to become the youngest mp in the to cross the line to win the Raka­ ­country and region. Cook Islands hanga constituency, it must have been Youth Council President Sieni Tiraa an outcome they could have done said “If anything, this shows a strong without, as it weakened their abil- call for change . . . . most of all, ity to negotiate a possible coalition we hope that Te-Hani will use this arrangement. ­position of responsibility to empower All of the political parties touted the rest of our young Cook Island- political reviews • polynesia 193 ers, and to stand for something new” to be seen just what changes will take (cin, 18 June 2018). place over the next twelve-month Brown and her mother Rose Toki- review period. Brown’s successful wins of both Atiu christina newport seats is also another first: a mother and daughter clean sweep. As reported in the last review (Newport 2017), References Toki-Brown was originally elected as a cip candidate in 2014 before crossing Baldacchino, Godfrey, and Geoffrey the floor in 2016 to become the first Bertram. 2009. The Beak of the Finch: female opposition leader. Insights into the Economic Development of Small Economies. The Round Table 98 However, in June 2017 she quit the (401): 141–169. opposition coalition when William “Smiley” Heather was confirmed as Bertram, Geoff. 2016. Implications of the Democratic Party’s leader. This the Cook Islands’ Graduation from saw Toki-Brown return to the cip Develop­ment Assistance Committee (dac) ­Eligibility. 2 Dec. http://www.mfem.gov camp to contest the 2018 election. .ck/images/documents/DCD_Docs/ Yet, the move was short-lived with Development-Resources/Implications Toki-Brown again jumping out of _of_the_CKI_Graduation_from_DAC the cip vaka. She ran as an Indepen- _Eligibility.pdf [accessed 10 Feb 2017] dent because she had been made to feel unwelcome and untrustworthy ———. 2018. Why Does the Cook Islands Still Need Overseas Aid? The Journal of by the cip (cin, 15 June 2018). On Pacific History 53 (1): 44–63. winning her electorate, Toki-Brown subsequently rejoined the cip govern- Burton, Adrian. 2017. Dispatches: Cook ment, this time as a cabinet minister Islands Establish Marine Protected Area. responsible for health, justice, and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment ( ): . agriculture (rnz 2018a). With mother 15 7 353 and daughter now holding political cin, Cook Islands News. Rarotonga. Daily. power in Atiu, whether justified or Government of the Cook Islands. 2018. not, all eyes will be watching to see 2018 Minimum Wage Rate Review Report if the ­flip-flopping between parties for the Cook Islands. March. http://www continues. .intaff.gov.ck/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ Overall, the two years under review 2018-Minimum-Wage-Review-FINAL were the third and fourth year of the -8March2018.pdf [accessed 22 July 2018] current government term. As such, the mfem, Ministry of Finance and ­Economic pressure has been on the government Management. 2017a. Cook Islands and political leaders to deliver on their ­Graduation from Official Development promises and produce benefits for its Assistance. Press release, 12 Oct. http:// citizens. Despite the political to-ing www.mfem.gov.ck/images/MFEM and fro-ing, it seems the Cook Islands _Documents/CEO_Docs-from23Aug16/ Party–led government has managed to Press_Release_-_ODA_Graduation_12 do enough to stay in power. However, _October_2017.pdf [accessed 30 July with promises of political reform and 2018] tax increases a possibility, it remains ———. 2017b. Tax Amnesty 2017 Fact 194 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

Sheet. http://www.mfem.gov.ck/images/ ———. 2017b. Cooks mp Says Rarotonga documents/RMD_Docs/Guides/RM_204 Tourism Becoming Unsustainable. 30 Oct. _-_Tax_Amnesty_2017.pdf [accessed https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ 17 July 2018] pacific-news/342640/cooks-mp-says -rarotonga-tourism-becoming ———. 2018a. Cook Islands Parliamen- -unsustainable [accessed 15 July 2018] tary General Election 2018: Warrant of Declaration of the Election of ­Successful ———. 2018a. Cook Islands Cabinet Candidates and the Number of Votes Revealed. 11 July. https://www.radionz.co Received by Each Candidate. The Cook .nz/international/pacific-news/361512/ Islands Gazette 36/2018, 28 June. cook-islands-cabinet-revealed [accessed Available from http://www.mfem.gov.ck/ 20 July 2018] elections [accessed 30 July 2018] ———. 2018b. Cooks pm Backing Calls ———. 2018b. Elector Population as at for Political Reform. 23 May. https:// 12 June 2018. Available from http://www www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific .mfem.gov.ck/elections [accesssed 30 July -news/358042/cooks-pm-backing-calls-for 2018] -political-reform [accessed 20 July 2018] ———. 2018c. Preliminary 2016 Census ———. 2018c. Easier Access to NZ Pen­ results. http://www.mfem.gov.ck/census sion for Realm Countries. 8 March. [accessed 10 Sept 2018]. https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ pacific-news/352085/easier-access-to-nz Newport, Christina. 2017. Polynesia in -pension-for-realm-countries [accessed Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 20 July 2018] 30 June 2016: Cook Islands. The Contem- porary Pacific 29 (1): 127–134. ———. 2018d. Final Vote Count Com- plete in Cook Islands Election. 29 June. Pacific Women in Politics. 2018. Cook https://www.pacwip.org/resources/news/ Islands: Election Candidate Numbers cook-islands-election-candidate-numbers Increase by Six. 9 May. https://www -increase-by-six/ [accessed July ] .pacwip.org/resources/news/cook-islands 20 2018 -election-candidate-numbers-increase-by Wyeth, Grant. 2017. The Cook Islands -six/ [accessed 20 July 2018] Set to Graduate to “Developed” Nation Status. 6 Oct, The Diplomat. https:// rci, Radio Cook Islands. 2018. “The thediplomat.com/ / /the-cook Minister of Finance Mark Brown has 2017 10 -islands-set-to-graduate-to-developed announced that after much consideration -nation-status/ [accessed Oct ] Government have now written off all 10 2017 outstanding tax prior to 1 January 2010.” Facebook, 2 Feb. https://www.facebook .com/cookislandsparty/posts/the-minister French Polynesia -of-finance-mark-brown-has-announced -that-after-much-consideration-g/ The most important events during the 1488114901287382/ [accessed 21 July year under review were the territorial 2018] elections of late April and early May 2018, in which Édouard Fritch, after rnz, Radio New Zealand. 2017a. Cook Islands Visitors Up But Concern Over Sus- essentially ruling as a usurper for the tainability. 6 Dec. https://www.radionz last four years, was able to consolidate .co.nz/international/pacific-news/345519/ his power as the country’s new strong- cook-islands-visitors-up-but-concern-over man by receiving a democratic man- -sustainability [accessed 21 July 2018] date. Besides the elections, the period political reviews • polynesia 195 remained relatively calm and without Cook Islands, Aotearoa/New Zealand, major upheavals. While the tourism and Hawai‘i referring to the site. economy seems to be slowly recover- The inscription of Taputapuatea as ing, two controversial economic mega- a World Heritage Site marks what is projects remain hotly debated. On the so far the highest level of increasing international level, French defiance institutional recognition of traditional of UN resolutions on the territory Polynesian culture and spiritual- appears to continue unabated under ity. While Christian influence had the Macron administration. for about two centuries obscured The review period began with a and denigrated many aspects of that new boost of international acknowl- culture, it is increasingly coming back edgment for the country, and by in full force (Saura 2009). During extension the Pacific region at large, the review period, one of the leading when on 9 July the Executive Council figures in the contemporary spiritual of the United Nations Educational, revival movement, Sunny Moanaura Scientific and Cultural Organization Walker—who unapologetically identi- (unesco), at a meeting in Krakow, fies as a “pagan”—gained widespread Poland, declared Marae Taputapuatea, recognition when a known local a historical temple complex on the author published a biography about island of Raiatea, a World Heritage him (Ariirau 2017). Site. For several years, cultural orga- A more problematic aspect of nizations on Raiatea as well as several Taputapuatea’s world heritage list- local politicians had been campaign- ing, however, is that as long as the ing for the temple’s listing, and with country remains a French dependency, their lobbying the nomination of the unesco considers France, not the site slowly progressed. For the final country government, as the state party decision, both the President of French responsible for the site. In conse- Polynesia Édouard Fritch and the quence, Taputapuatea is now listed as mayor of the Taputapuatea municipal- a “French” heritage site on unesco’s ity on Raiatea, Thomas Moutame, website alongside such monuments traveled to Krakow to be present at as the Cathedral of Reims and the the historic occasion (ti, 9 July 2017). Palace of Versailles (unesco 2018), Marae Taputapuatea is an out- ­reinforcing France’s colonial claim standing example of Polynesian mega- over the site rather than identifying it lithic architecture, with walls made as a ­pan-Polynesian monument. out of coral stone slabs of a height Meanwhile, the country’s unre- of up to 3.5 meters each. The temple solved decolonization continued to complex also has a regional impor- be hotly debated within other UN tance that transcends today’s politi- agencies. During the annual hearings cal boundaries, as it was one of the before the UN Decolonization Com- most important spiritual and cultural mittee in New York at the beginning centers of Eastern Polynesia during of October, the political status of the centuries before European contact, French Polynesia was once again a with oral histories and temple names subject of contention. President Fritch in other parts of French Polynesia, the testified repeatedly that his country 196 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) was fulfilling all of the conditions of president, Emmanuel Macron, would a self-governing country and should finally bring a change in attitude from therefore be removed from the list of Paris were bitterly disappointed during territories to be decolonized. However, the review period, as his administra- since the country government actually tion’s actions made it clear that there only has administrative but no sover- would be no turn in France’s colonial eign powers, which remain France’s policy. exclusive prerogatives, the president Already Macron’s predecessor earned little recognition. Accordingly, François Hollande had disappointed the Overseas Territories Review blog many Polynesians, as he had promised stated that Fritch’s statements were in writing before his election to sup- nothing more than “Colonial Accomo- port the decolonization of the country dationist Antics” (otr, 4 Oct 2017). and then did the exact opposite. Many The fifteen other representatives of hoped that Macron, who had labeled French Polynesia who testified at the France’s former colonial policy a hearing all agreed and condemned “crime against humanity” during his their president and France’s refusal election campaign, and who comes to cooperate with the UN decoloniza- from a generation in which the decolo- tion agencies (otr, 4 Oct 2017; rnz, nization of most other French overseas 6 Oct 2017). territories had already been completed In late November, this assessment before he was born, would make a received additional confirmation when turnaround in this regard (Le Point, the International Olympic Commit- 16 Feb 2017). tee (ioc) in Lausanne, Switzerland, But in fact the Macron administra- responded to a request for subsidies tion continued Hollande’s scandal- to the local Olympic Committee of ous disregard for international law French Polynesia. The ioc stated that, as France was, for the fifth time in a unless French Polynesia becomes an row, reprimanded by the UN General independent state, its local committee Assembly for not transmitting infor- would not be recognized by Lausanne, mation on French Polynesia to the UN and the country could only partici- Decolonization Committee. In stark pate in international sporting events contrast to New Caledonia, where through affiliation with France’s ioc France has been dutifully cooperat- membership (ti, 30 Nov 2017). ing with the United Nations for years, Similarly, most international experts French Polynesia continues to be the agree that the premature granting of only one of the seventeen UN-recog- full membership in the Pacific Islands nized non-self-governing territories Forum (pif) to French Polynesia and for which the administrative power is New Caledonia in 2016 has essentially refusing to comply with article 71e of given France two seats in the pif, since the UN charter by failing to forward foreign affairs is a French national information about the territory to prerogative, not one devolved to the the UN Decolonization Committee country governments of either terri- (United Nations 2017). Macron has tory (Pareti 2017). thus turned out to be a hypocrite; Any hopes that France’s new under his leadership, France has political reviews • polynesia 197 defended international legal instru- April 2018, Tapura held a superma- ments such as the Paris Agreement jority of 33 out of 57 assembly seats, against the rogue attitude of Donald while Flosse’s party retained only 12, Trump’s US administration, all while with the rest consisting of 10 members acting as a rogue state itself in regard for former president Oscar Temaru’s to UN resolutions on decolonization. pro-independence Union pour la Macron also continued the notori- Démocratie (upld, which had also ous tradition of interference in French earlier lost a member to Tapura) and Polynesia’s domestic politics in favor the two Independents Vaiho-Faatoa of local pro-French forces when his and Tuihani Jr, who by then had party En Marche announced that it formed a new political party, Te Ora would officially support Édouard Api no Porinetia. Fritch’s party, Tapura Huiraatira, In the run-up to the election, in the upcoming territorial elections Temaru’s pro-independence camp was (Polynésie Première, 23 Feb 2018). further weakened, as upld, formed in This official endorsement from 2004 as a larger umbrella organization Paris only served to reinforce the including Temaru’s Tavini Huiraatira appeal of Tapura Huiraatira to both and several smaller pro-independence voters worried about financial subsi- or left-wing autonomist parties, fell dies from France and local turncoat apart. Tauhiti Nena, a former minister politicians looking to join whichever of sports, culture, and youth under political party is in power. The party Temaru who had already run under Tahoeraa Huiraatira—that of the his own party label in his unsuccessful doyen of local politics, eighty-seven- bid for a seat in the French National year-old former President Gaston Assembly earlier in 2017, formed Flosse—which had won a two-thirds a new coalition of splinter groups, majority of seats in the last elections named E Reo Manahune, which in 2013, and from which Tapura had included his own party Tau Hoturau split off in 2015, was reduced to a and the local Green party Heiura-Les small minority in the process. Already Verts, a former upld component. in June 2017, the Speaker of the Another former upld member party, Assembly Marcel Tuihani Jr and his Here Aia, joined Gaston Flosse’s father, former Tahoeraa party trea- Tahoeraa, and so did opportunistic surer Marcel Tuihani Sr, resigned their former Mahina Mayor Emile Ver­ Tahoeraa membership and became nau­don (whose now defunct Aia Api Independents due to differences with party had also been a component of Flosse (ti, 6 June 2017). In September, upld) and even two prominent vet- Tahoeraa assembly member Gilda eran Tavini members, Myron Mataoa Vaiho-Faatoa followed in Tuihani’s and Tamara Bopp-Dupont (ti, 9 April, footsteps (dt, 4 Sept 2017). Just a few 13 April 2018). This left Tavini to days later, Patricia Amaru and Juliette run as a single party, but at the same Nuupure also left Tahoeraa but, unlike time the departure of opportunists the two Tuihanis mentioned above, and turncoats provided it with an went directly over to Tapura (rnz, 13 opportunity to showcase its “moral Sept 2017). By the end of the term in purity”; the party pledged that none of 198 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) its candidates had ever been accused land (Tahoeraa Huiraatira 2018b), a of political corruption and would project attracting significant interest of immediately resign from politics if voters with anticolonial and Tahitian such a case should occur, whereas nationalist convictions and thus pro- both Tahoeraa and Tapura included viding competition to Tavini. many candidates against whom cor- But despite sustained campaigns by ruption trials were pending, including both opposition parties, the election President Fritch (ti, 17 Nov 2017). results were unequivocal in confirming At the same time, Tavini modernized Fritch’s political ascendancy. Already its political and economic platform, in the first round of voting on 22 not advocating independence as a April, Tapura stood clearly ahead with revolutionary rupture but rather as 43.04 percent of the vote. Tahoeraa the eventual outcome of a sustained scored second with 29.40 percent, decolonization process in cooperation while Tavini only won third place with France and UN agencies (Tavini at 20.72 percent. Tuihani’s Te Ora Huiraatira 2018). Api o Porinetia gained 3.68 percent, On the other hand, Tahoeraa was while Nena’s E Reo Manahune scored certainly benefiting from the several merely 2 percent. Still further off with defections from the pro-independence only 1.15 percent was another splin- camp. Joined by several prominent ter group: “Dignité Bonheur” led by labor union leaders, Flosse’s new French settler Jérôme Gasior, a local team gained the outlook of a party of offshoot of the populist French party nostalgics of an older political order— Union Populaire Républicaine (dt, 23 a party that feared Fritch’s neoliberal April 2018). reform program, much in line with In the runoff on 6 May, contested that of Macron on the French national between those party lists that achieved level. But Flosse’s campaign was ham- at least 12.5 percent in the first round, pered by the fact that he himself was Tapura won 49.18 percent, Tahoeraa not allowed to run due to the condi- 27.72 percent, and Tavini 23.11 per- tions of a suspended prison sentence cent. The outcome of the preliminary for corruption. In consequence, his round was thus largely confirmed, longtime confidant Geffry Salmon with Tapura winning most of the first- acted as Tahoeraa’s leading candidate round votes of the splinter parties and instead, even though election posters Tavini also showing some slight gains. still highlighted Flosse’s face, count- Voter turnout reached a historic low ing on the veteran leader’s unabated with only 61.51 percent in the first charisma. Additionally, Tahoeraa round and 66.82 percent in the second denounced the current French govern- round (dt, 7 May 2018). ment as colonialist and advocated for While the percentages alone created a more substantial autonomy arrange- a clear majority, the allocation of seats ment with France, presenting a draft in the state assembly was even more bill to make French Polynesia into massively in favor of Tapura, since the an “associated country” of France, electoral law grants the leading party somewhat similar to the Cook Islands’ list an automatic bonus of one-third current relationship with New Zea- of the seats beyond the proportional political reviews • polynesia 199 distribution of the remaining two- is questionable whether Tahoeraa will thirds of seats. Hence, Tapura received maintain itself beyond the life of the a two-thirds majority of 38 seats in charismatic “old lion” Flosse. the 57-seat assembly, while Tahoeraa Temaru’s Tavini clearly also suf- got only 11 (down from 38 seats at fered a massive electoral decline, not the last election in 2013) and Tavini only because of the collapse of upld gained only 8 seats (11 in 2013). and defections to Tahoeraa but also On 17 May, the new assembly con- because many voters see Temaru’s vened for its inaugural meeting, and presidencies in the mid-2000s as a Tapura member Gaston Tong Sang great disappointment, since nothing (another former president of the coun- concrete was done at that time to pre- try) was elected Speaker. Two days pare for independence. Nevertheless, later, the assembly confirmed Fritch as Temaru and his advisors have learned president with a majority of 39 votes, from many of their past mistakes and while Salmon received 10 votes and were careful not to succumb, as they Temaru 8 votes; one of the Tahoeraa did in 2008, to Flosse’s anticolonial members had already defected to rhetoric and to form a coalition with Fritch’s camp. In his inaugural speech, the “old lion.” Flosse’s proposal to Fritch expressed a conciliatory attitude form a common list of Tahoeraa and toward the opposition and invited all Tavini for the second round of the assembly members to work together election, in order to be able to beat for the development of the country Fritch, was rejected by Tavini—an (ti, 17 May 2018). important step away from the tactics Similar to the defection of Tong of power politics to moral integrity. As Sang from Tahoeraa in 2007 and the only party with a clear long-term his subsequent election victory in vision for the future, Tavini is clearly 2008, the 2018 election results mark the party with the best chances of a new cycle in the country’s ever- ­survival beyond the life of its founder. evolving political landscape. Just like Meanwhile, it cannot be denied Tong Sang, Fritch has taken most that Fritch’s prudent, pragmatic, of the convinced pro-French forces and technocratic style of governance within Tahoeraa with him, leaving has yielded some positive economic Flosse himself and his hard core to results. Tourism, currently the only move once more in the direction of substantial industry in the private independence. Tapura’s votes hence sector, has slowly picked up ­traction account for almost the entire French again as the number of visitors settler population (estimated at 10–15 increased to 198,959 in 2017 (ti, 16 percent of total inhabitants) and all May 2018). But this is still less than those locals who are concerned about at the height of the tourism boom in a stable and secure flow of subsidies the 1990s and early 2000s, when there from Paris. But it remains an open were far over 200,000 annual visitors question whether Fritch’s party, with (ispf 2002). such pure pragmatism and lacking a Increasing tourism in order to long-term vision, will have a future stimulate economic growth and over- beyond the current term. Similarly, it come dependency from French sub- 200 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) sidies is the main motivation behind polluted both chemically and radio- “Mahana Beach,” Gaston Flosse’s actively, leading to concerns about pet project envisioned during his last the quality of the fish produced at the term in office from 2013 to 2014; it facility (tpm, 17 May 2018). entails building a large resort area in Reflecting on both megaprojects, Punaauia on Tahiti’s northwest coast, French researcher Aurélie Bayen saw which would consist of various hotels a pattern of French Polynesian elites (some of them high-rise) and shopping searching for new sources of finan- and entertainment facilities, akin to cial support for their unsustainable Waikīkī on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, or Tumon levels of consumption, analogous to on Guam. While the Fritch adminis­ a “cargo cult” (Bayen 2017), with tration continues to support the Chinese investments having sup- project, it has been less enthusiastic planted the French military-industrial than Flosse, who kept promoting it on complex and its “manne nucléaire” the title page of Tahoeraa’s electoral (nuclear manna) during the period of program. The project remains contro- nuclear testing from the 1960s to the versial because of its potential envi- 1990s. Flosse’s new idea to finance ronmental impact, the massive injec- the Mahana Beach project by an Arab tion of foreign (most likely Chinese) billionaire from Abu Dhabi could capital needed to build the facilities, be seen in that same logic (Tahoeraa and the planned exemption of the con- Huiraatira 2018a). struction site from the minimum wage While the country is still figuring and other social benefits for workers out how to develop a self-sufficient in order to make it attractive for those and sustainable economy, the future investors (Rival 2017: 340–341). of the French colonial presence in the The second controversial economic region is far from clear, as French pol- “megaproject”—significantly more icy often seems to lack well-articulated advanced in its planning than Mahana long-term objectives (Regnault 2017). Beach—is the fish farm that is being At the same time, the inhabitants of built, also with Chinese capital, on the Marquesas Islands, who have the atoll of Hao in the Tuamotus. never really felt comfortable being Praised as a “blue economy” project part of a Tahiti-centered political that would provide a new type of entity, are still searching for a mean- income for the country besides French ingful status for their archipelago, subsidies and tourism, the project is either within or outside of the current also controversial because of envi- political system (tpm, 20 April 2018). ronmental concerns. First, the raising With the upcoming decolonization of thousands of fish in basins filled referendum in New Caledonia and its with millions of liters of water might potential ramifications for Wallis and entail massive impacts on the ecosys- Futuna (Maclellan and Regan 2018: 1, tem of the atoll’s lagoon (Rival 2017: 19), ripple effects toward the French- 339–340). Second, the site of the farm, affiliated islands further east are not a former support base for French impossible in the near future. nuclear weapons testing on other During the review period, the nearby atolls, is already significantly country lost several leaders in the political reviews • polynesia 201 political arena. On 29 August, former “Mama Pare”—an elder and ­cultural Papeete Mayor Louise Carlson (in authority of her home island of office 1993–1995 and the only woman Rurutu, author of an autobiogra­phy so far) passed away at age eighty- (Walker 1999), and mother of Moa­ seven (ti, 30 Aug 2017). Another local naura Walker (mentioned above)— politician, former Moorea Mayor lived to the age of eighty-seven at Teriitepaiatua Maihi, died on 24 Octo- her passing on 2 February (ti, 2 Feb ber aged only sixty-three (ti, 24 Oct 2018). 2017). On 20 February, seventy- six-­year-old businessman, Catholic I acknowledge Oscar Temaru and church administrator, and politician Gaston Flosse for sharing their per- Emmanuel Porlier, who was also a spectives during informal meetings former assembly member, passed before and after the election. Tapura away in Paris (ti, 20 Feb 2018). Two Huiraatira was unresponsive to my days later, former assembly member attempts at contacting the party. for the Tuamotus and government lorenz gonschor minister Moehau Teriitahi, one of the “turncoats” who had been part of virtually every assembly majority References during the political instability of the Ariirau. 2017. Le Païen: Biographie mid-2000s, died aged sixty-seven (ti, romancée. Pirae: Au Vent des Iles. 22 Feb 2018). On 6 April, leader of Bayen, Aurélie. 2017. Discours de séduc- the labor union O Oe To Oe Rima and tion de la Chine: Un nouveau Cargo Cult longtime assembly member Ronald pour la Polynésie française? In L’Océanie Terorotua, another turncoat politician Convoitée: Actes des colloques, edited by instrumental in making and unmaking Sémir Al Wardi, Jean-Marc Regnault, and ­majorities, also passed away prema- Jean-François Sabouret, 102–107. Papeete: turely at age sixty-three (tntv, ‘Api Tahiti; Paris: cnrs Éditions.

7 April 2018). dt, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. In the cultural realm, three person- http://www.ladepeche.pf alities passed away at rather young ispf, Institut de la statistique de Polynésie age, including popular radio and tv française. 2002. Le tourisme: Quel impact journalist, composer, and comedian sur l’économie? http://www.ispf.pf/docs/ Mario Brothers on 2 December at default-source/publi-pf-bilans-et-etudes/ age fifty-five (ti, 2 Dec 2017) and PF_2002_n05_Impact_du_Tourisme Wilson Mahuta, a musician, author- _EDT2001.pdf?sfvrsn=0 [accessed ity on traditional percussion, and 26 Aug 2018] jury member of the annual Heiva Le Point. Weekly magazine. Paris. competition, on 4 January, also aged https://www.lepoint.fr fifty-five (ti, 4 Jan 2018). Writer Maclellan, Nic, and Anthony Regan. 2018. Patrick Araia Amaru, a novelist and New Caledonia and Bougainville: Towards playwright in the Tahitian language, a New Political Status? Discussion Paper joined the ancestors on 18 June at the 2018/3. Canberra: Department of Pacific age of sixty (tntv, 18 June 2018). Affairs, The Australian National Univer- In contrast, Taaria Walker, known as sity. 202 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) otr, Overseas Territories Review. Blog. and Internet news. Tahiti. http://www http://overseasreview.blogspot.com .tahiti-infos.com Pareti, Samisoni. 2017. French in the tntv, Tahiti Nui Télévision (The country House: Pacific Islands Go French. Islands government’s television network). Business, Aug. http://tntv.pf

Polynésie Première (French Polynesia pro- tpm, Tahiti-Pacifique Magazine. gram of Outre-mer Première, the French ­Fortnightly. Tahiti. http://www.tahiti government television network for over- -pacifique.com seas departments and collectivities) http:// United Nations. . Question of French http://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie 2017 Polynesia. Resolution adopted by the Gen- Regnault, Jean-Marc. 2017. Formes eral Assembly on 7 December. UN General et méforme de la présence française en Assembly, 72nd session. a/res/72/101. Océanie. In L’Océanie Convoitée: Actes http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc des colloques, edited by Sémir Al Wardi, .asp?symbol=A/72/PV.66 [accessed 26 Aug Jean-Marc Regnault, and Jean-François 2018] Sabouret, 151–159. Papeete: ‘Api Tahiti; Paris: cnrs Éditions. unesco, United Nations Educational, ­Scientific and Cultural Organization. Rival, Yann. 2017. Investissements étrang- 2018. World Heritage List. http://whc ers en Océanie et développement durable: .unesco.org/en/list/ [accessed 26 Aug Projet de ferme aquacole de Hao et projet 2018] du Mahana Beach. In In L’Océanie Con- voitée: Actes des colloques, edited by Sémir Walker, Taaria. 1999. Rurutu: Mémoires Al Wardi, Jean-Marc Regnault, and Jean- d’avenir d’une île Australe. Papeete: François Sabouret, 337–343. Papeete: Haere Po No Tahiti. ‘Api Tahiti; Paris: cnrs Éditions. rnz, Radio New Zealand. Daily radio and Internet news. Wellington. Māori Issues http://www.radionz.co.nz The general election delivered Saura, Bruno. 2009. Tahiti Mā’ohi: Cul- 2017 ture, identité, religion et nationalisme en twenty-nine members of Parliament Polynésie française. Pirae: Au Vent des Iles. of Māori descent, twenty of whom are in government, with eight of Tahoeraa Huiraatira. 2018a. Abu Dhabi: those becoming ministers. Māori Le mandataire financier du groupe Al also featured in sporting successes, Manhal monte au créneau. Press release. Printed copy in author’s files. especially women’s rugby and men’s softball. At the same time, racism ———. 2018b. Programme Tahiti Nui against Māori became more blatant as 2035 – Des milliers d’emplois. Election decisions to allow Māori to have their program booklet. Printed copy in author’s own representation in local govern- files. ment were all successfully overturned. Tavini Huiraatira. 2018. Servir l’Avenir: Māori continue to be dispropor- Notre programme, avec vous, pour vous! tionately impacted by the effects of Election program booklet. Printed copy in poverty in stark contrast to the Pākehā author’s files. (European) population, which enjoys ti, Tahiti Infos. Weekday daily newspaper relative affluence. That drew criticism political reviews • polynesia 203 yet again from two United Nations long-serving members of Parliament. treaty bodies as Māori continue to be His father, Sir Eruera, his sister, Whetū denied our rights under both Te Tiriti (Tirikātene-Sullivan), and his nephew, o Waitangi and the United Nations Te Rino, have all served as members of Declaration on the Rights of Indig- Parliament for the Southern Māori or enous Peoples. Since coming to power Te Tai Tonga electorate (Waatea News in late 2017, the new government has 2018b). appeared to be more caring than the Artist, teacher, master carver, and last, but little has changed for the large heritage advocate Dr Cliff Whiting number of Māori struggling to survive of Te Whānau a Apanui passed away in increasingly harsh socioeconomic in July 2017. He worked on a num- conditions while still trying to protect ber of modern-day meetinghouses our natural resources from overexploi- including the spectacular Te Hono ki tation. Before reviewing these issues, Hawaiki on Rongomaraeroa Marae we will pause to remember a number at the Museum of New Zealand Te of leaders we lost during this period, Papa Tongarewa, Te Kupenga o Te all of whom spent their lives fighting Mātauranga at Palmerston North to achieve justice for Māori. Teachers’ College, Maru Kaitatea on Ngāi Tahu of Te Waipounamu (the Takahanga Marae in Kaikoura, and South Island) lost some well-loved and Tahu Pōtiki on Te Rau Aroha Marae widely respected elders and leaders. in Bluff. He also undertook large-scale Trevor Howse passed away in May murals for a number of government 2017. He helped organize and drive buildings including the New Zealand Ngāi Tahu’s treaty claim behind the MetService, the National Library of scenes, collating a vast amount of the New Zealand, and the Christchurch information that was presented to the High Court (Hunt 2017). Waitangi Tribunal. He was also part of Strong, outspoken, yet gentle Māori the Ngāi Tahu team that spearheaded rights advocate Nuki Aldridge of the negotiation process and resulted in Ngāpuhi passed away in November one of the biggest treaty claims settle- 2017. His expertise and knowledge of ments to date (Te Rūnanga o Ngāi northern history was legend, particu- Tahu 2014). So too was Kuao Langs- larly that relating to the formation of bury, who passed away in October. the collective of leaders, Te Whaka- He first took a leadership role in Ngāi minenga o Ngā Hapū o Nu Tireni, Tahu in 1961 when he was elected the who were responsible for the country’s chair of Ōtākou Rūnanga at the age first constitutional document, the of twenty-five (Waatea News 2017a). 1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangati- Then in January 2018 it was the gentle ratanga o Nu Tireni, or the declara- elder, leader, and Māori language, tion of hapū (grouping of extended culture, and history teacher Kukupa families) sovereignty often referred Tirikātene. He provided advice and to in English as the Declaration of support for Ngāi Tahu’s leadership Independence. Nuki was a key witness and contributed to the recovery of in the hearings of the Waitangi Tribu- their dialect of the Māori language. nal on the mid-northern claims. The Tirikātene came from a family of tribunal went on to issue in 2014 its 204 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) groundbreaking findings that Ngāpuhi that it could hear claims dating back did not cede sovereignty to the British to 1840. He was a strong supporter when they signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi of the Waikato-Tainui Kīngitanga and in 1840. New Zealand’s constitutional was influential in the 1995 settlement arrangements and parliamentary of Waikato’s Tiriti o Waitangi claims institutions have all been built on the (E-tangata 2018). false assumption that Māori had ceded We bade each of these leaders and sovereignty. many others farewell over the past Ngāpuhi also lost another dedi- year as they commenced their journey cated Māori rights advocate, the to join their ancestors. highly respected broadcaster, Māori The results of the 2017 General language expert, and Vietnam War Election included the usual mixture of veteran Kingi Taurua. He passed away wins and losses for Māori. The Māori in May 2018. Taurua was steeped in Party had the biggest loss; none of its the history, traditions, and values of members returned to Parliament. They his ancestors and used his radio pro- had made too many concessions in grams to bring them to the fore. His order to sit on the government benches broadcasts of the discussions he held with their National Party coalition with other holders of such knowledge partner, denying the very Māori treaty from around the country are greatly and human rights they had been treasured. He was well known for elected to defend. In the lead-up to the challenging those he considered as elections, the Māori Party’s minister not upholding the honor and integ- of Māori Development had become rity of their ancestors, and he had increasingly embattled with his own little regard for those who bullied the constituents. people. His patience and calm consis- The election results indicated that tency often averted crises at Waitangi, no fewer than 29 members of Parlia- especially during Waitangi Day com- ment of Māori descent are now in memorations. the House, spread across five parties: Keita Walker of Ngāti Porou of the National, Labour, the Greens, New East Coast also passed away in May. Zealand First, and act New Zealand. She was a champion of Māori lan- These members owe allegiance to their guage and culture. After a long career parties first, not to Māori. There are in education, she joined the Waitangi only 7 members (in a 120-seat Parlia- Tribunal in 1993. She also sat on ment) who are specifically mandated many tribal and land boards on the to represent Māori. However, even east coast, including chairing Radio they must put their party’s wishes Ngati Porou (Waatea News 2018a). ahead of the needs of their constitu- Dr Koro Wetere of Ngāti Mania­ ents. All 7 Māori seats went to Labour poto passed away in June. He was and resulted in 8 Māori becoming the Labour member of Parliament for ministers. Voter turnout of 67 percent Western Māori from 1969 until 1996 in the Māori seats continued to be and the minister of Māori Affairs from much lower than the overall turnout 1984 until 1990. He extended the of 80 percent (Electoral Commission mandate of the Waitangi Tribunal so 2018). political reviews • polynesia 205

The new prime minister, Jacinda improvement for Māori in all areas Ardern, presented a softer, more car- will not be straightforward. Some ing, and better-informed approach Pākehā who have derived great than that of previous governments privilege and prosperity off the back when she visited Waitangi for the of Māori poverty and deprivation annual Waitangi Day commemora- are adamant that the status quo must tions in February. She acknowledged be retained. They continue to fight the 1835 basis for New Zealand’s to stop Māori recovering our rights constitution, He Whakaputanga o and the resources they stole from us. te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni, the None has been as blatantly racist as Declaration of Māori Sovereignty. the group calling themselves Hobson’s Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the 1840 treaty Pledge, led by a past leader of the between Māori and the British Crown, National Party. In 2017 and 2018, is derived from the declaration. All they successfully campaigned and previous governments, in keeping overturned the decisions of five city with their colonizing agenda, have and district councils to have Māori eschewed the declaration because represented on their councils. They it threatens the legitimacy of their exploited discriminatory legislation constitutional arrangements. The that allows council decisions relating prime minister made commitments to Māori membership of councils (but to lift Māori out of poverty, create not other types of membership) to be more jobs, reduce the high incarcera- overturned by a referendum. To do so, tion and youth suicide rates of Māori, Hobson’s Pledge used their extensive and ensure that Māori have adequate resources to organize large turnouts housing (tvnz 2018). Her comments of their membership to vote against followed on from Governor-General Māori becoming decision makers in Patsy Reddy’s comments at the open- local government (Hobson’s Pledge ing of Parliament at the end of 2017 2017). when she pointed out, “No one should The Human Rights Commission have to beg for their next meal. No received a number of complaints about child should be experiencing poverty. the leaflets distributed by the group That kind of inequality is degrading but was unable to take any action to to us all” (New Zealand Government prevent the behavior. The commission 2017). What Reddy did not mention had earlier run a campaign against was that it is Māori who dispropor- racism that was fronted by 2017 New tionately bear the burden of poverty Zealander of the Year and award-win- in New Zealand and that the gap ning filmmaker, actor, and comedian between Māori poverty and New Zea- Taika Waititi (Mutu 2018a, 176). He land European affluence is now a gulf. has been talking for many years now At the last count in 2015, the median about how racist New Zealand is. In wealth of New Zealand Europeans April, Waititi was reported in an Eng- was nz$114,000, five times more than lish magazine as saying that New Zea- that of Māori at nz$23,000 (Stats NZ land is “racist as fuck” (Cafolla 2018). 2016). It went unreported by New Zealand Achieving desperately needed media for four days until Waititi 206 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) himself goaded them into reacting by iwi and Tāmaki Makaurau iwi after noting their silence in a Twitter post. lands of the latter two were included Predictably, racist elements in Pākehā in the settlement of the Hauraki iwi. media attacked him mercilessly, prov- Large numbers joined protest marches ing Waititi’s point. But his message during 2017 and 2018 in an attempt drew support from the race relations to persuade the government to adhere commissioner and the prime minister to tikanga (Māori law), but they were (Cafolla 2018), as well as from a num- largely ignored. ber of other commentators. The new minister of Treaty of Any hope that New Zealand might Waitangi negotiations indicated that be moving away from its White he was prepared to discuss the prob- supremacist foundations have been lems associated with the treaty claims quickly squashed by the government’s settlement policy with the National deeply racist and divisive treaty claims Iwi Chairs Forum. However, no dis- settlement process (Mutu 2018a, cussions have eventuated. For nearly 178–180), which has continued to pit twenty-five years now, the policy Māori against Māori over the past has been controlled by government year. Divisions within Ngāpuhi, the servants who have ensured adher- country’s largest iwi (nation) over ence to its original intent—an intent the mandate have continued and that was determined unilaterally by are reported on frequently by the the government in the early 1990s media (Mutu 2018a, 178–179). Like but is not widely known or under- Ngāpuhi, Whakatāohea of Te Moana stood (McDowell forthcoming; Mutu a Toi (the eastern Bay of Plenty) and 2018b). Recent research has focused Ngāti Wai of Northland went to the on government documentation that Waitangi Tribunal over their disputes spells out the aim of successive govern- arising from the government’s man- ments’ treaty claims settlement policy: dating process. The tribunal found it is not to “settle” claims but rather that for Whakatōhea there had been to remove Māori legal rights. That “a failure to fulfill the Crown’s duty includes the legal rights won in the to act reasonably, honourably, and in Court of Appeal in the 1980s to have good faith” and recommended that governments relinquish lands that they there be a temporary halt to nego- stole and return control and owner- tiations until the issues identified ship of those lands to the Māori from in relation to the mandate could be whom they stole them. The policy addressed (Waitangi Tribunal 2018). also aims to remove our human rights For Ngāti Wai, they found that the as spelled out in Te Tiriti o Waitangi body the Crown had recognized (the and in the United Nations Declaration Ngātiwai Trust Board, which had been on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, established to administer trust funds), particularly our right to self-deter- was “not fit for purpose” to negotiate mination (McDowell forthcoming; treaty settlements (Waitangi Tribunal Mutu 2018b). Its overarching aim 2017). Meanwhile, tensions have been is to uphold the Doctrine of Discov- high between a collective of Hauraki ery in New Zealand, a doctrine that iwi and neighboring Tauranga Moana falsely asserts that Whites are inher- political reviews • polynesia 207 ently superior and therefore can take tion was that the government “issue, over the lands, lives, and resources of without delay, a timetable for debat- Indigenous peoples as and when they ing, in partnership with Maori, . . . choose (Miller and others 2010; Mutu the proposals contained in the report 2018b). Government servants are of Matike Mai Aotearoa” for con- striving to meet these goals by a dead- stitutional transformation (United line of 2020. During the period under Nations Committee on the Elimina- review the government legislated the tion of Racial Discrimination. 2017; extinguishment of the claims of five see also Jackson and Mutu 2016). claimant groupings: Ngāti Pūkenga Predictably, nothing happened. Then of Tauranga, Rangitāne of Wairarapa in March 2018, the UN Committee on and Tāmaki Nui-a-Rua, Ngāti Kahu Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ki Whangaroa of the Far North, Ngāti held an interactive dialogue with the Kahungunu ki Heretaunga Tamatea New Zealand government as part of southern Hawke’s Bay, and Ngāi of New Zealand’s periodic report- Tai ki Tāmaki of Auckland (Office of ing. During the dialogue, committee Treaty Settlements 2018). members noted repeatedly that they The Doctrine of Discovery persists were mystified that a developed and in the former British colonies of New comparatively wealthy nation such as Zealand, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand has such appalling levels the United States of America to this of socioeconomic deprivation, and day (Miller and others 2010). It has especially among Māori. The com- resulted in numerous atrocities being mittee’s report was released in May perpetrated against Māori in the same (United Nations Economic and Social or very similar ways that the other Council 2018) and strengthened the three states have abused and mis- recommendation of the Committee on treated the Indigenous peoples in the the Elimination of Racial Discrimina- territories that they took over. Since tion on constitutional transformation the 1970s, New Zealand’s persistence by recommending that the government with this White supremacist approach “take immediate steps, in partnership has led Māori to call on the United with Māori representative institu- Nations for support and assistance. tions, to implement . . . the proposals The United Nations has repeat- put forward in the 2016 Matike Mai edly criticized New Zealand for its Aotearoa report” (Jackson and Mutu treatment of Māori (Daes 1988; 2016). They also recommended that Stavenhagen 2006; Anaya 2011). the government During the period under review, two United Nations treaty bodies issued • develop a national strategy to bring further criticisms and strongly worded legislation and public policy in line with the provisions of the United recommendations for how to rem- Nations Declaration on the Rights of edy the New Zealand government’s Indigenous Peoples; unacceptable treatment of Māori. • put in place effective mechanisms to In August 2017, one of the recom- ensure meaningful participation of mendations of the UN Committee on Māori in all decision-making pro- the Elimination of Racial Discrimina- cesses affecting their rights; 208 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

• take effective measures to ensure ment selling licenses to developers to com­pliance with the requirement of take water that does not belong to obtaining the free, prior, and informed them from the aquifer that supplies consent of Indigenous peoples, nota- the springs for commercial bottling. bly in the context of extractive and The hapū (grouping of extended fami- development activities. lies) of Porotī have been reduced to There were also strong recommenda- protesting in the streets, most recently tions regarding family violence and in September 2017, in order to stop child abuse, and adequate resourc- their water being stolen and their ing to address problems such as springs being damaged (Radio New unemployment, poverty, housing and Zealand 2017). homelessness, health, and education as Water-bottling consents are now a they impact Māori. A number of the pressing issue not only at Porotī but recommendations reflected submis- also in Whakatāne, with Ngāti Awa sions made to the committee by the appealing against resource consents National Iwi Chairs Forum’s Inde- that would allow a company to take pendent Monitoring Mechanism. The water for bottling (More 2018). The mechanism has been working through Waikato Regional Council put on this and other United Nations treaty hold an application to take water for bodies and the Expert Mechanism on bottling from the Blue Springs near the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Putaruru after an objection from the an attempt to shift the New Zealand Raukawa Settlement Trust (Waatea government toward compliance with News 2017b). Ngāti Tama at the its international obligations regarding top of the South Island are continu- Māori. ing to pursue a water conservation Despite the worsening socio­ order for their Waiporopupū springs economic situation of most Māori, after ­successfully appealing a consent we have continued to fight against to take water for bottling in 2017 excessive and unsustainable exploi- ­(Hindmarsh 2018). Underlying the tation of our natural resources. objections of Māori owners is the Fresh water continues to pose major ­government’s ongoing refusal to problems. Māori own the water but address the fact that Māori own the governments, including local govern- water, despite promises made to the ments, have usurped and then denied Supreme Court in 2013 that it would Māori ownership in order to retain do so. the benefits for themselves. As a result, In other areas of resource man- many rivers are now polluted and agement, consents for sand mining aquifers are coming under threat from in south Taranaki are awaiting the freshwater bottling companies who decision of the High Court on appeals pay nothing for the water they take from Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Rauru, and and then sell overseas. In some rare various other groups (Stowell 2018). cases, such as the Porotī springs in The members of a marae (communal Northland, Māori have been legally meeting complex) in Northland are recognized as the owners of water. But fighting to stop the largest poultry that has not stopped the local govern- factory farm in the country being political reviews • polynesia 209 built next to their cemetery (Earley Cafolla, Anna. 2018. Taika Waititi’s and Lambly 2018). Hapū members ­Comments on Racism in New Zealand from Ihumātao near Auckland airport Got People Talking. Dazed, 10 April. drew support from the United Nations http://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/ Committee on the Elimination of article/39632/1/taika-waititis-comments -on-racism-in-new-zealand-got-people- Racial Discrimination in their fight to talking [accessed 10 Aug 2018] stop a housing development on their sacred stone fields (United Nations Daes, Erica-Irene A. 1988. Confidential Committee on the Elimination of Report by Professor Erica-Irene A. Daes, Chairman-Rapporteur of the United Racial Discrimination 2017). And Nations Working Group on Indigenous Ngāti Kahungunu of Hawke’s Bay Populations, on Visit to New Zealand, led a protest against a consent issued 2–7 January 1988. Athens: E A Daes. without their knowledge for a walking track that has scarred the face of their Earley, Melanie, and Annette ­Lambly. sacred Te Mata o Rongokako range 2018. Northland Marae Takes on Tegel’s Chicken Farm Proposal. Stuff, 7 June. (Treacher ). 2018 https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/ On a brighter note, we were proud 104516436/northland-marae-takes-on to celebrate the performance of our -tegels-chicken-farm-proposal [accessed Black Ferns Women’s Rugby team 12 Aug 2018] as they won not only the Women’s Electoral Commission. 2018. Report of the Rugby World Cup in Ireland in August Electoral Commission on the 2017 General 2017 but also the Rugby World Cup Election. 10 April. https://www.elections Sevens–Women’s Tournament held in .org.nz/sites/default/files/plain-page/ San Francisco in July 2018 (Rugby attachments/report_of_the_2017_general World Cup Women’s 2017; Rugby _election.pdf [accessed 10 Aug 2018] World Cup Sevens ). Almost all 2018 E-tangata. 2018. Koro Wetere: A Para- of the team are either Māori or Pacific mount Influencer. 22 July. https://e-tangata Islanders. Likewise, our national .co.nz/history/koro-wetere-a-paramount softball team, the Black Sox, won their -influencer/ [accessed 10 Aug 2018] seventh world title in the Men’s World Hindmarsh, Nina. 2018. Protecting Te Softball Championship in Canada Waikoropupū Springs’ Purity Holds Deep in July 2017. They are one of New Spiritual Significance to Iwi. Stuff, ­Zealand’s most successful sporting 27 March. https://www.stuff.co.nz/ teams (Smith 2017). environment/102590168/protecting-te margaret mutu -waikoropup-springs-purity-holds-deep -spiritual-significance-to-iwi [accessed 12 Aug 2018] References Hobson’s Pledge. 2017. Petitions to Demand Vote on Separate Maori Wards. Anaya, James. 2011. The Situation of https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/signatures Māori People in New Zealand. 31 May. _needed_for_petitions_on_local_body Geneva: United Nations Human Rights _maori_wards [accessed July ] Council. Available at http://unsr 30 2018 .jamesanaya.org/country-reports/the Hunt, Tom. 2017. Cliff Whiting, Artist -situation-of-maori-people-in-new and Member of Order of New Zealand, -zealand-2011 [accessed 13 July 2017] Dies, Aged 81. Stuff, 17 July. https://www 210 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/94776220/ 30 June 2018. https://www.govt.nz/assets/ cliff-whiting-artist-and-member-of-order Documents/OTS/12-month-progress- -of-new-zealand-dies-aged-81 [accessed report-1-June-2017-to-31-March-2018 10 Aug 18] .pdf [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Jackson, Moana, and Margaret Mutu. Radio New Zealand. 2017. Hikoi through 2016. He Whakaaro Here Whakaumu Whangarei over Porotī Bottling. 4 Sept. Mō Aotearoa: The Report of Matike Mai https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/ ­Aotearoa—The Independent Working 338656/hikoi-through-whangarei-over Group on Constitutional Transformation. -poroti-bottling [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Auckland: University of Auckland. Rugby World Cup Sevens. 2018. rwc http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/ ­Sevens Fixtures and Results. 20 July. MatikeMaiAotearoaReport.pdf https://www.rwcsevens.com/fixtures [accessed 10 Aug 2018] -women [accessed 12 Aug 2018] McDowell, Tiopira. Forthcoming. Divert- Rugby World Cup Women’s. 2017. ing the Sword of Damocles: Why Did the Fixtures and Results. 9 Aug. https://www Crown Choose to Settle Māori Histori- .rwcwomens.com/fixtures [accessed cal Treaty Claims? Australian Journal of 12 Aug 2018] Politics and History. Smith, Tony. 2017. Black Sox Topple Miller, Robert J, Jacinta Ruru, Larissa Beh- ­Australia to Win Seventh Men’s World rendt, and Tracey Lindberg. 2010. Discov- Softball Championship. Stuff, 17 July. ering Indigenous Lands: The Doctrine of https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/ Discovery in the English Colonies. Oxford: 94795347/black-sox-topple-australia-to Oxford University Press. -win-seventh-mens-world-softball More, Eden. 2018. Whakatāne Iwi Appeal -championship [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Water Bottling Consents. Manu Korihi, Stats NZ. 2016. Wealth Patterns across Radio New Zealand, 5 July. https://www Ethnic Groups in New Zealand. 4 Nov. .radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/ http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for 361173/whakatane-iwi-appeal-water _stats/people_and_communities/Net -bottling-consents [accessed 12 Aug 2018] %20worth/ethnicity.aspx [accessed on Mutu, Margaret. 2018a. Polynesia in 12 Aug 2018] Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2016 to Stavenhagen, Rodolfo. 2006. Report of 30 June 2017: Māori Issues. The Contem- the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of porary Pacific 30:174–184. Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ———. 2018b. Behind the Smoke and of Indigenous People: Mission to New Mirrors of the Treaty of Waitangi Claims Zealand. Addendum E/CN.4/2006/78/ Settlement Process in New Zealand: No Add.3, 13 March. Geneva: United Nations Prospect for Justice and Reconciliation for Human Rights Commission. Māori without Constitutional Transforma- Stowell, Laurel. 2018. Groups Join to tion. Journal of Global Ethics 14:2. Fight South Taranaki Seabed Mining. New Zealand Government. 2017. Speech New Zealand Herald, 16 April. from the Throne. Beehive, 8 Nov. https:// https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-throne article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12031995 -2017 [accessed 12 Aug 2018] [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Office of Treaty Settlements. 2018. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. 2014. Trevor 12 Month Progress Report, 1 July 2017– Howse: A Legendary Ngai Tahu Claim political reviews • polynesia 211

Researcher. https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our Mourned. 25 May. https://www _stories/trevor-howse-nicknamed-wekafor .waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/ -prowess-uncovering-files-ngai-tahu-claim MTkxODI=/Keita-Walker-mourned -process/ [accessed 10 Aug 2018] [accessed 10 Aug 2018] Treacher, Aroha. 2018. Craggy Range ———. 2018b. Ngai Tahu Loses Gentle Demonstrators Make Way to Council Kaumatua Kukupa Tirikatene. 30 Jan. Steps. Māori Television, 22 May. http:// https://www.waateanews.com/ www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/ waateanews/x_story_id/MTgyODU craggy-range-demonstrators-make-way [accessed 10 Aug 2018] -council-steps [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Waitangi Tribunal. 2017. The Ngātiwai tvnz. 2018. Full Speech: Jacinda Ardern Mandate Inquiry Report, Wai 2561. Addresses Crowd from Waitangi’s Upper ­Wellington: Waitangi Tribunal. Marae. Video, 1 News, 4 Feb. https:// https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/ www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/ publications-and-resources/waitangi full-speech-jacinda-ardern-addresses-crowd -tribunal-reports/ngatiwai-mandate -waitangis-upper-marae [accessed 30 July -inquiry/#H2561.p.cip [accessed 30 July 2018] 2018] United Nations Committee on the Elimina- ———. 2018. The Whakatōhea ­Mandate tion of Racial Discrimination. 2017. Con- Inquiry Report, Wai 2662. ­Wellington: cluding Observations on the Combined Waitangi Tribunal. https://forms.justice Twenty-First and Twenty-Second Periodic .govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC Reports of New Zealand, CERD/C/NZL/ _136641091/Whakatohea%20W.pdf CO/21-22. 22 Sept. https://tbinternet [accessed 30 July 2018] .ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/ Download.aspx?symbolno=CERD%2fC %2fNZL%2fCO%2f21-22&Lang=en [accessed 12 Aug 2018] Niue United Nations Economic and Social Council. 2018. Committee on Economic, Niue’s political scene has been marked Social and Cultural Rights: ­Concluding by several significant events and activi- Observations on the Fourth Periodic ties over the past year. Most notably, Review of New Zealand. E/C.12/NZL/ Niue Premier Sir Toke Talagi secured CO/4. 1 May. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/ a fourth term in government follow- _layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download ing elections in May 2017, despite .aspx?symbolno=E%2fC.12%2fNZL coming in third in common roll polls %2fCO%2f4&Lang=en [accessed behind former member of Parliament 10 Aug 2018] (mp) and Niue High Commissioner to Waatea News. 2017a. Ngai Tahu Farewells New Zealand O’Love Tauveve Jacob- Consensus Leader. 18 Oct. https://www sen and long-serving common roll mp .waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/ Terry Coe. MTc1Nzg= [accessed 10 Aug 2018] The postelection atmosphere ———. 2017b. Raukawa Steps Up to quietly echoed the determination of Protect Blue Springs. 16 Aug. https://www those who were looking for a change .waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/ in government and working to chal- MTcwMjQ= [accessed 12 Aug 2018] lenge an administration whose politics ———. 2018a. Keita Whakato Walker were dominated by a generation of 212 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) career politicians. Other emerging the budget deficit. An increase in themes from Sir Toke Talagi’s govern- departure tax from nz$34 to nz$80 ment included reaffirming its posi- and increases in fuel prices and prices tion and preferences in regards to its for tobacco products are examples of free-­association relationship with New this (bcn, 4 July 2017). In his budget Zealand, capacity building and sus- statement for the 2018–2019 fiscal tainable resource management for the year, the premier made a statement island, an increase in activities related on working toward delivering a more to Niue’s international relationships, “fiscally prudent balanced budget” and questionable amendments to (Office of the Premier of Niue 2018b). legislation. However, economic opportunities in In August 2017, the legislative Niue for achieving self-sufficiency assembly passed a budget deficit and development going forward of nz$1.1million (nz$100,000 = remain stagnant, and we can there- us$65,227) for the fiscal year 2017– fore anticipate the types of controls, 2018 (Takelesi 2017). This shortfall adjustments, and changes that will be in the annual budget was met with implemented to achieve the premier’s great concern and many questioned goals. the government’s management of its In October, celebrations in honor finances in relation to its ability to of forty-three years of self-government achieve its objectives, projects, and were commemorated locally with for- election promises. In January 2014, eign dignitaries in attendance. Here, Niue’s Public Service was reduced to the premier emphasized the changes a four-day workweek, with public that Niue had experienced since 1974, servants continuing to be paid for and its wishes to work alongside New five full working days. However, this Zealand going forward, as opposed to scheme does not apply to some public the dominant-subservient or donor- servants, such as teachers. Public recipient relationship that the two servants had sought pay increases for have experienced at times (bcn, 24 a long time but were instead met with Oct 2017). The Niue Constitution Act this scheme, with decreased productiv- 1974 states that Niue is to be self-gov- ity within the public sector often cited erning, with the New Zealand govern- as a contributing factor to the deficit ment assisting in the management of in the government’s budget (rnz its external affairs and defense (Par- 2017). This is relatively concerning for liamentary Counsel Office 1988a)—a a small island nation whose budget relationship that should entail peaceful is predominantly made up of various and positive cooperation. Over time, sources of revenue from internal fees the budget support, aid, and develop- and tax measures and administrative ment assistance provided by the New assistance from New Zealand. Tax Zealand government has resulted in a increases throughout the 2017–2018 dominant-subservient type of relation- year were also met with mixed ship, and the premier criticized New reviews, with these increases often Zealand officials for their dominant cited by critics as being part of a plan behavior with respect to Niue’s inter- to generate more revenue to relieve nal affairs. political reviews • polynesia 213

In November 2017, the govern- in the Niue Constitution (see article ment was faced with its first vote of 22 [1]), in which assembly meetings no confidence since taking office, as are not held on a regular basis but are submitted by opposition mp Terry to be held once every six weeks, with Coe (bcn, 7 Nov 2017). The motion the Speaker, acting on request of the was put forward due to dissatisfaction premier, maintaining authority and with the government’s management the power to call each meeting (Parlia- of its finances, as well as the pre- mentary Counsel Office 1988c). mps’ mier’s notable absence from assembly opposition to the government’s use of meetings as a result of lengthy peri- the vote of no confidence to engage ods of time spent overseas due to ill with the government raises questions health. The premier’s absence during on the frequency of assembly meet- the assembly meetings in which the ings and the democratic nature of the motion was submitted and addressed, management of legislative affairs by along with one other minister who the premier and his cabinet. In a small was away overseas, meant that two island nation in which the notion of members assisting ministers (mams) party politics would not be viable, were given an acting ministerial role the intricacies of managing govern- to address the vote. In Niue, each of ment versus opposition politics can be the four cabinet ministers has an mp complex and, in this instance, there whose role is to assist them in their appears to have been limited engage- duties. In February 2018, a fourth ment with opposition members and mam was sworn in, increasing the perhaps the majority of members who number of people in the cabinet to are not directly part of the cabinet. eight (bcn, 5 Feb 2018). This therefore raises questions regard- In the Niue Assembly and in accor- ing the capacity that members in the dance with article 6(1)(b) of the Niue assembly have in keeping the premier Constitution Act 1974, “Any 4 or and his cabinet accountable, and what more members of the Assembly who the role and limitations of the consti- are not Ministers may give notice of tution are in this. their intention to move a vote of no Following the vote of no confi- confidence in the Cabinet” (Parlia- dence, an amendment to the Civil mentary Counsel Office 1988b). The List Act was heavily debated in the vote of no confidence was addressed assembly prior to being passed. This and defeated by a clear majority of amendment to the Civil List Act twelve votes against four (bcn, 14 saw increases in clothing allowances Nov 2017). The assembly engaged for mps. Payable once inducted, the in lengthy discussions on a variety of clothing allowance for the premier topics and, despite the unsuccessful has increased from nz$800 (2016) bid, mp Terry Coe highlighted that to nz$5000, for cabinet ministers this vote was a good opportunity and from nz$750 to nz$4000, and for another way for members to get their remaining mps, including the speaker, position across to the government, as from nz$500 to nz$4000 (bcn, well as members of the public. 3 Oct 2017). Questions were raised This identified a relatively grey area on whether it is a conflict of interest 214 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) for members to make and pass such New Zealand in October 2017, the changes, as unlike countries such as Niue premier met with the Deputy New Zealand, Niue has no indepen- Prime Minister Winston Peters in early dent body or review board for mps’ 2018 to reaffirm Niue’s bilateral ties salaries and allowances. Pursuant to and present the Niue government’s article 25 of the constitution, the Niue position on its free association rela- Public Service Commission, which is tionship with New Zealand (bcn, 1 Niue’s employment authority, makes March 2018). Discussions included recommendations to the ­assembly Niue’s preference for capital funds on the remuneration and other over the traditional monetary assis- entitlements of the premier, ministers, tance that New Zealand provides for Speaker, and other members (Parlia- local infrastructure and investment, as mentary Counsel Office 1988d). As well as avenues for revenue generation these are merely described as “recom- for Niue in the long-term to develop mendations,” it is not made clear in economic self-sufficiency and sustain- the constitution, or anywhere, who ability. has the final authority and decision In the same month, the New Zea- on such matters. This therefore raises land Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s further questions on how the entitle- Pacific Reset Tour, with her delegation ments of members of the assembly are of over fifty officials and guests, again measured and determined using vari- saw the premier echoing similar lines, ous factors, such as members’ duties reaffirming his wishes for a change and responsibilities and the appropri- in the Niue-New Zealand relation- ate remuneration for those within the ship and to substitute traditional aid public service. for investment (bcn, 6 March 2018). Niue’s politics were not without The premier also used this oppor- its moments, including one in which tunity to express Niue’s support for it received international media atten- its eligibility for the New Zealand tion following an altercation between Superannuation and its portability to a member and a cabinet minister after the realm countries, highlighting how an assembly meeting. mp Terry Coe New Zealand citizens living abroad in alleged that Minister for Ministry of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau Social Services Billy Talagi assaulted should be eligible for it and question- him following a heated debate inside ing why it is that those in the realm the debating chamber (bcn, 6 Feb countries are being treated differently. 2018). After initially denying these This highlights an area within Niue’s allegations, the minister was dis- constitution and its relationship with charged without conviction after New Zealand that warrants further pleading guilty to assaulting the mp. exploration and clarification: To This is a very rare occurrence within what extent does the free association Niue’s political scene, but it certainly relationship also extend the benefits gained media coverage locally and enjoyed by citizens living in New Zea- overseas (rnz 2018a; Fiji Sun 2018) land to include those citizens who are Following the swearing in of the living abroad in the realm countries? newly elected coalition government in The premier later announced Niue’s political reviews • polynesia 215 withdrawal of support for the Social mentally friendly and cost-effective Assistance (Residency Qualification) modes of transport. Legislation Bill, citing that it would While on the tour, Prime Minister encourage young people to leave the Ardern also honored women in Niue, island (rnz 2018b). Given the island’s highlighting that the Niue Assembly youthful population, the potential has the highest number of women mps passing of this bill will undoubtedly in any independent or self-governing increase long-term pressure on Niue’s country in the Pacific (bcn, 6 March local services by adding extra pres- 2018). sure to a health system that is already Over the past decade, Niue’s inter- struggling to cope with looking after national relations have grown. This the island’s older population. small island has managed to garner As a part of the Pacific Reset Tour, support in the form of economic and the New Zealand prime minister and development assistance from numer- her delegation pledged nz$750,000 ous big players. Visits by ambassadors toward improving the island’s road and high commissioners to New Zea- and water infrastructure, and a nz$5 land from various countries present- million boost was injected into a ing their credentials occurred quite project to help achieve Niue’s goal of often throughout the 2017–2018 year. ­having 80 percent renewable energy In September 2017, two consulate by 2025 (Ardern 2018). This injec- officials from the US Embassy in New tion of funds from New Zealand Zealand carried out a scoping visit to will increase the island’s capacity to Niue (bcn, 17 Sept 2017). With the develop solar farms in a bid to become aim of exploring development oppor- less reliant on fossil fuels. In addition tunities between the two countries, to this, the Niue government received this visit was certainly a display of a new electric vehicle, which the pre- greater commitment by the United mier has been trialing (bcn, 29 May States for increasing its support of and 2018). With the plan being to replace activities within the Pacific region. current vehicles used by cabinet Although Niue and the United States ministers and some departments with have no formal diplomatic relations, electric vehicles, Niue has certainly got a courtesy visit by US Ambassador its eyes set on investing in more envi- to New Zealand Scott Brown, who ronmentally friendly modes of trans- was appointed in June 2017 under port, including to roll these vehicles the Trump administration, further out to residents in the long run (bcn, highlighted the United States’ renewed 29 May 2018). With an estimated interests in working with Pacific coun- cost of nz$20,000 per vehicle, this tries (bcn, 3 May 2018). The Turkish figure remains relatively out of reach ambassador to New Zealand also pre- for many. Despite still being just a sented his credentials during a cour- concept—with explorations only into tesy visit (bcn, 24 Oct 2017). Since the viability of the government using Turkey established diplomatic ties electric cars—increasing fuel prices on with New Zealand in 2015, this was the island may become an incentive a milestone event as it was the first for some to invest in more environ- time a Turkish ambassador had visited 216 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

Niue. Italy’s ambassador to New Zea- garnering support from smaller island land also presented his credentials, as nations such as Niue by providing did the Australian high commissioner economic and development assistance and the Indian high commissioner to in exchange for support of their politi- New Zealand, further strengthening cal agendas. For instance, in exchange the bilateral ties. India has provided for economic assistance, Niue provides substantial development assistance to India support at international forum Niue, most notably with the provision election processes and, as mentioned, of nz$1.2 million in funding toward Niue endorses China’s “One China” upgrading the island’s mobile network policy (bcn, 26 Oct 2017). With the from 2g to 4g (bcn, 26 Oct 2017). United States now looking to increase By the time of publication, the 4g its assistance to the island, it will network will have launched. To date, be interesting to see how Niue will Niue has fifteen diplomatic relation- manage these relationships, compet- ships, including with China, Singa- ing interests, and the expectations of pore, India, Australia, Cook Islands, bigger countries of Niue, and how Sāmoa, Thailand, Turkey, Cuba, its relationship with its traditional Papua New Guinea, Kosovo, Japan, aid and development partner, New Italy, Brazil, and New Zealand, with Zealand, will continue going forward. which it has a constitutional relation- Because support for the island’s devel- ship (Niue High Commission 2018). opment has expanded, it has increased In December 2017, Niue and the Niue’s ability to be more critical People’s Republic of China celebrated of the support that it receives from ten years of diplomatic relations. A New Zealand. Chinese delegation of twelve visited Niue’s application to become a the island to mark the occasion, with member of the Asian Development a formal ceremony followed by a Bank (adb) has been marked with large display of fireworks, described great progress. In recent months, the as the largest fireworks display ever premier met with the president of seen on the island, held as celebrations the adb to discuss the viability and to mark the milestone (bcn, 13 Dec requirements for Niue’s member- 2017). Signed under the leadership of ship (Office of the Premier of Niue former Premier Young Vivian, the cur- 2018a). With a total membership of rent Niue premier reiterated that Niue sixty-seven countries, the aim of the stands by its endorsement of the “One adb is to reduce poverty in the wider China” policy and supports ongoing Asia Pacific region through “inclusive cooperation between the two countries economic growth, environmentally regarding economic and development sustainable growth, and regional assistance (bcn, 13 Dec 2017). integration” (bcn, 29 May 2018). In An economic and technical coop- 2017, it was reported that adb opera- eration agreement with China was tions totaled just over us$30 billion, signed with the purpose of upgrading with us$11.9 billion in financing the island’s road infrastructure (bcn, (bcn, 10 May 2018). The objectives 13 Dec 2017). We continue to see big- of the organization align with Niue’s ger players in the international scene emphasis on economic and environ- political reviews • polynesia 217 mentally sustainable growth, although first ever marine compliance strategy it would be worth exploring just how was compiled, in which consulta- in-depth regional integration would tions were held regarding the man- be carried out, given the economic, agement of Niue’s marine resources developmental, social, and cultural (bcn, 15 Feb 2018). This strategy will differences among many of the Asian help to put in place plans, rules, and and Pacific Island nations. regulations for the use of the island’s Membership with the adb would ­maritime spaces. expand Niue’s avenues for apply- Several other development initia- ing for financial support, in addi- tives were also undertaken, includ- tion to working with its traditional ing a mapping exercise of Niue’s development partners. This is the civil society engagement, in a bid to third time that Niue has applied for ­create a better understanding of local membership, and it is reported to be perspectives and the support required very close to meeting the required for grassroots projects, and so as to threshold for becoming a member, be better reflected in regional spaces including garnering support from and forums (bcn, 16 Nov 2017). Here various member nations including we are seeing greater regional support India, the United States, and Indo- for development and an increase in nesia (Office of the Premier of Niue Pacific-led capacity building projects, 2018a). A us$100,000 membership highlighting the strength and commit- fee is required to become a member ment of Niue to Pacific regionalism. (bcn, 3 May 2018). Consequently, it A vital observation made during will be interesting to see just how Niue the review period is that the current will make this payment, having to government appears to be exclusively balance this against a budget deficit as influenced by a limited number of well as government objectives to solve its members. Whether this is due to infrastructure issues, gain investments limitations of the constitution or the for future projects, and achieve other approach undertaken by the govern- long-term goals. ment, it will be interesting to see how Support from international agencies open and interactive with the popula- and organizations to the island has tion it will become going forward. enabled an array of capacity-building This calls for the Niue population to projects focusing on economic and be more active in the democratic pro- environmental sustainability. For cess, be more aware and demanding of instance, the Global Environment their local representatives, and to not Facility along with the United Nations be too complacent when it comes to Development Project provided funding politics. This observation reflects on for the Accelerating Renewable Energy the island’s political sophistication and and Energy Efficiency Applications the need for encouragement for the in Niue (arean) project (bcn, 15 population to become more involved Feb 2018). This project will spear- in decision-making processes. head Niue’s vision to have 80 percent This also calls for a review of the renewable electricity by 2025 and is Niue Constitution, given that some of set to be implemented in 2019. Niue’s Niue’s legislations are very old; Niue 218 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) has changed and developed signifi- and Niuean on YouTube by NIUEtv. cantly over the years since 1974. The Available from https://www.youtube.com/ language used in the constitution is channel/UCs9I7RgHxPqkhSvsgsHChlw very important and it is currently quite Fiji Sun. 2018. Niue Minister Admits Guilt “loose,” requiring tightening as some on Assault, Discharged. 15 May. Available articles may be interpreted in a variety from https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/fiji of ways, giving room for amendments -n/20180515/281964608366044 that may be questionable but not pro- Niue High Commission. 2018. A List of hibited by the constitution itself. Niue’s Diplomatic Partners. Copy of list in Overall, this review reflects Niue author’s possession. as a place that is still very much in Office of the Premier of Niue. 2018a. the developing phases of its political adb (Asian Development Bank) Member- existence, albeit with great potential. ship Meeting. Information release, 2 May. The premier’s preference for invest- https://niuepremierofficial.com/media ments over “aid” is worth noting, as -centre the use of such terms can influence ———. 2018b. Budget Statement donors’ and recipients’ perspectives on 2018/2019. Press release, 20 June. https:// the amount of and attitudes toward niuepremierofficial.com/press-release support provided to Niue. This places Parliamentary Counsel Office. 1988a. Niue at an advantage over other devel- Niue Constitution Act 1974 (Reprint): Act oping nations, as its small size and 3. New Zealand Legislation, 1 April. relatively untouched nature enables http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/ it to carefully build its capacity to 1974/0042/latest/whole.html#DLM412784 cater to its own needs and objectives ———. 1988b. Niue Constitution Act by observing the experiences of other 1974 (Reprint): Article 6(1)(b). New Zea- countries. It is hoped that Niue can land Legislation, 1 April. http://www manage all of the support it receives .legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0042/ and its numerous relationships so as latest/whole.html#DLM413403 to effectively and efficiently achieve its ———. 1988c. Niue Constitution Act long-term goals, including becoming 1974 (Reprint): Article 22(1). New Zea- more self-sufficient. land Legislation, 1 April. http://www salote talagi .legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0042/ latest/whole.html#DLM413422 ———. 1988d. Niue Constitution Act References 1974 (Reprint): Article 25. New Zealand Legislation, 1 April. http://www.legislation All websites accessed 8 September 2018. .govt.nz/act/public/1974/0042/latest/whole Ardern, Rt Hon Jacinda. 2018. NZ Sup- .html#DLM413425 porting Resilience of Niue Infrastructure rnz, Radio New Zealand. 2017. Big Wage and Renewable Energy. Office of the Prime Rise Pushes Niue Budget into Deficit. Minister, 6 March. https://www.beehive 15 Aug. https://www.radionz.co.nz/ .govt.nz/release/nz-supporting-resilience international/programmes/datelinepacific/ -niue-infrastructure-and-renewable-energy audio/201854817/big-wage-rise-pushes -niue-budget-into-deficit bcn, Broadcasting Corporation of Niue. 2017. News videos published in English ———. 2018a. Niue Minister Admits political reviews • polynesia 219

Guilt on Assault, Discharged. 14 May. Brexit, while also lobbying London https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ to ensure the territory’s interests were pacific-news/357316/niue-minister-admits safeguarded in the longer term. -guilt-on-assault-discharged A crucial meeting for Pitcairn ———. 2018b. Niue Premier Changes His was the European Union Overseas Mind on Pension Portability. 4 April. Countries and Territories Ministerial https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ Conference held in Brussels between pacific-news/354078/niue-premier-changes 20 and 23 February 2018. A range -his-mind-on-pension-portability of issues were discussed, including Takelesi. 2017. Budget 2017 Passed By climate change, sustainable energy, Niue Assembly. Tala Niue, 8 Aug. and biodiversity, and what EU funding https://www.talaniue.com/budget-2017 could best support initiatives in these -passed-niue-assembly/ areas (octa 2018). The highlight for Pitcairn was the signing of a European Development Fund (edf)–11 Focal Sector agreement, worth 2.35 mil- Pitcairn € lion (us$2.72 million), to upgrade the The islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, island’s medical center and to sup- Ducie, and Oeno (commonly known port several tourism-related activities, as Pitcairn) make up a single territory, including “improving accessibility to the last remaining United Kingdom Pitcairn, specifically by developing Overseas Territory (ukot) in the the Bounty Bay and Tedside landings Pacific Ocean. But much of the period and improving on-shore facilities” and under review (1 July 2017–30 June “constructing a shelter and informa- 2018) was concerned with Pitcairn’s tion centre for tourists and other visi- relationship with the European Union tors” (European Commission 2018a). (EU), which has been highly advan- A further €480,000 (us$556,000) tageous to the territory. However, a was allocated under the EU’s Pacific long shadow has been cast over these Regional Funding to cover two-thirds relations due to the upcoming depar- of the preliminary budgeted cost of ture of the United Kingdom from the the introduction of solar-powered European Union (Brexit), which was renewable energy to Pitcairn (Pitcairn officially scheduled for 29 March Miscellany 2018b). 2019. Because of the frequent time lag in Pitcairn is an Overseas Country getting EU funds disbursed, Pitcairn and Territory (oct) of the Euro- also benefitted from some edf-10 pean Union. octs are not part of the money during the period under review. European Union and thus are not For example, a number of local road directly subject to EU law, but they improvement projects were under- do have associate status and thus taken through the European Union’s receive various forms of assistance integre (Territories Initiative for from Brussels. As a consequence, the Regional Management of the Envi- limited resources of the Pitcairn Island ronment) program (Pitcairn Miscel- Council were focused on securing as lany 2017a). integre also supported much EU funding as possible before a glass recycling project, whereby 220 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) empty glass bottles were recycled into UK government has not given any souvenirs for the tourist market (Pit- reassurances that it will make good cairn Miscellany 2017b). The projects any shortfalls in support. More gener- linked into integre’s focus on build- ally, there is still great uncertainty over ing resilience and sustainable develop- what a post-Brexit relationship with ment in the Pacific octs in the face the European Union will look like. of climate change. In addition, funds And so, Pitcairn and the other over- from edf-10 paid for a new goods seas territories are largely beholden to shed (Pitcairn Miscellany 2017a). trusting the UK government to make The importance of these funds was the best possible deal for them. made clear in July 2017, when Pitcairn The view from the European Islands Councillor Leslie Jaques gave Commission and the octs is rather evidence to the House of Lords Select mixed in terms of whether Pitcairn Committee on the European Union on and the other UK territories will be the likely impacts of Brexit. He noted able to maintain a relationship with that the European Union provides them once the United Kingdom has “a significant amount” of funding— withdrawn from the European Union. accounting for about 30 percent of In its political declaration after the Pitcairn’s overall budget (House of European Union Overseas Countries Lords 2017, 6). He also explained the and Territories Ministerial Conference importance of being part of a regional in February 2018, oct representa- envelope of funding, which helps to tives recommended that the Euro- facilitate cooperation with French pean Union “explore how [the UK] Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and octs can continue to benefit from New Caledonia. Pitcairn gains benefits preferential trade arrangements post in other respects too; the European Brexit” (octa 2018, 3). They also Union is one of Pitcairn’s largest suggested that the United Kingdom markets for its honey exports, and the could “contribute to the EU financial free movement of Pitcairners to French support earmarked for octs . . . with Polynesia, and particularly Tahiti, for a view to maintain ukots within or medical treatment is crucial. alongside the octs grouping” (octa As a consequence, Pitcairn has 2018, 9). Overseas Countries and Ter- much to lose from Brexit, and Jaques ritories Association (octa) Chair and did not mince words during his time French Polynesia Vice President Teva with the House of Lords committee. Rohfritsch stated, “We will not turn He said that the loss of EU funding our backs on our friends from Pitcairn and freedom of movement to other Island because of Brexit. Regional European Union territories would be co-operation will continue” (Pitcairn “catastrophic”; he went on to say that Miscellany 2018b). “we trust in the [Brexit] process and The European Commission was we hope for the best” (House of Lords more noncommittal, and in June 2018 2017, 19). Jaques also cautioned that published a draft for a new “Council “we do not know [who will fill the Decision on the Association of the funding gap], which is a concern” Overseas Countries and Territories (House of Lords 2017, 6). So far the with the European Union,” which political reviews • polynesia 221 specifically excludes the UK territo- needed. But there was also consider- ries: “The proposed Decision will take ation of whether a survey should be into account the consequences of the undertaken to see if current residents withdrawal of the United Kingdom of wanted to leave Pitcairn and what Great Britain and Northern Ireland support they might require to resettle from the European Union and the fact elsewhere (pic 2018c, 2; 2018d, 3). that the special regime set out in Part Nevertheless, there was frustration Four of the tfeu [Treaty on the Func- over the lack of concrete measures tioning of the European Union] would to start addressing Pitcairn’s perilous no longer apply to the 12 British future. One Islander remarked “that octs” (European Commission 2018b, we had spoken repeatedly on the same 9). So there are real concerns that, issues but nothing had happened to when (and if) a final Brexit deal is take things forward” (pic 2018d, 3). agreed to, the interests of Pitcairn and Despite heightened concerns over the other territories will be sidelined. the future of Pitcairn, several new With the potential loss of support initiatives were taken in an attempt to from the European Union, debate boost its economic viability. ­Perhaps over Pitcairn’s long-term viability was the most significant was the plan to placed into even sharper focus. The designate Pitcairn as a Dark Sky Sanc- population remains at a near histori- tuary. To date only four locations in cally low level—in the mid-forties— the world—Aotea/Great Barrier Island and it continues to age. Only seven (New Zealand); Cosmic Campground people in paid employment are under (United States); Gabriela Mistral the age of 50, and there are none in (Chile); and Rainbow Bridge National the 20–30 age group (UN 2018, 7). Monument (United States)—have The new UK governor of Pitcairn, this status. A Dark Sky Sanctuary is Laura Clarke, who assumed her post “public or private land that has an in January 2018, said the issue of exceptional or distinguished quality of the island’s future was “an existen- starry nights and a nocturnal environ- tial question with no quick or easy ment that is protected for its scien- answers” (Pitcairn Miscellany 2018c). tific, natural, or educational value, In an attempt to move this debate its cultural heritage and/or public forward, several workshops on Pit- enjoyment” (International Dark-Sky cairn’s future were held during the Association 2018). Pitcairn looked to period under review, although there the Aotea/Great Barrier Island in par- were concerns that the younger mem- ticular, which, after becoming a dark bers of the community did not engage sky reserve in 2012, saw a significant (pic 2018a, 2). Discussions included growth in so-called astro-tourism. whether Pitcairners’ attitude toward In February 2018, John Hearnshaw, migrants needed to improve; who emeritus astronomy professor from should Pitcairn be targeting as pro- the University of Canterbury, New spective migrants; and whether a more Zealand, visited Pitcairn and indicated realistic marketing campaign—one that the island met the criteria, and which also highlighted the difficulties­ it was expected that an application of migrating to the territory—was would be made to the International 222 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

Dark-Sky Association later in the year tember 2017, and according to the UK (Pitcairn Miscellany 2018a). government these enabled a successful However, the issue of Pitcairn’s reconciliation process to take place inaccessibility, which would need (UN 2018, 8). Then in November addressing if “astro-tourism” was 2017, two child safety reviewers con- to become viable, was starkly high- tracted by the United Kingdom visited lighted when it was noted that in the Pitcairn “to undertake an independent six months prior to November 2017, review of [its child safety] systems and there were no cruise ship arrivals, and processes and overall culture of the even when Le Boreal did arrive the island” (pic 2017b, 1). Pitcairn was sea conditions were too rough to land still struggling to offer some form of the passengers (Pitcairn Miscellany public recognition of what had taken 2017c). As a result of these and other place. Also, one problem of manag- constraints, including the continued ing the process of rehabilitation was failure of the campaign to bring new highlighted when Pitcairn’s Internet (and younger) residents to Pitcairn, connectivity was closed to other users UK budgetary support—worth £3.1 in order to allow a recently released million (us$4 million) in fiscal year offender to hold Skype meetings with 2018–19—remained crucial (dfid his psychologist (pic 2017a, 5). 2018). This support was criticized by Reports that Henderson Island the Daily Mail, a widely read, right- had the highest density of man-made wing newspaper and long-term critic debris recorded anywhere in the of the UK aid budget. An article by world, weighing a combined total the paper’s deputy political editor, of 17.6 tonnes, elicited a response headlined “The paradise island that from Governor Clarke. Researchers can’t persuade ANYONE to move from the University of Tasmania and there: UK gives Pitcairn £6.5m aid the United Kingdom’s Royal Society after drive to boost population fails,” for the Protection of Birds made the mocked the failure of the recruitment discovery and suggested that about campaign and quoted official docu- 13,000 new items were washed up ments from the Department of Inter- daily (The Guardian 2017). Gover- national Development (dfid), stating nor Clarke highlighted the problem that the aid was needed because the in her blog and announced that the “able bodied population has declined Pew Charitable Trusts, with support to a critical level,” and that “the from the Blue Belt Programme (a UK likelihood of a significant increase in government initiative to help provide population is low and the prognosis is long-term protection for the marine very pessimistic” (Stevens 2018). environment) would send an expedi- Another reason why it has proved tion to Henderson to undertake a so difficult to attract new residents is forensic analysis of the plastics to highlighted by the continuing effort identify the sources of the litter and to overcome Pitcairn’s legacy of past track the extent of the impact. There and more recent cases of child sexual were also plans to clear a section of abuse. A series of child safety meetings the beach, convert the plastic into a took place in August and early Sep- substitute for aggregate in concrete, political reviews • polynesia 223 and add it into pathways and tour- effective “British” presence on the ist trails on Pitcairn (fco 2018). islands. The expedition was initially planned peter clegg for the latter half of 2018, but it was pushed back to early 2019 (pic 2018b, 4). References Elections for the local council took place on 8 November 2017. dfid, Department for International The position of deputy mayor was Development. 2018. Development Tracker: Pitcairn Islands. https://devtracker.dfid.gov uncontested, so Charlene Warren-Peu .uk/countries/PN [accessed 28 July 2018] retained her position. The five council- lors elected were Michele Christian, European Commission. 2018a. Pitcairn: Darralyn Griffiths, Leslie Jaques, Sue Tourism Sector Reform Performance Con- O’Keefe, and Kevin Young (Pitcairn tract. Available from https://ec.europa.eu/ europeaid/european-development-fund Miscellany 2017d). -programme-factsheets-pitcairn_en So the year under review was one [accessed 28 June 2018] of uncertainty and continued vulner- ability, particularly in relation to what ———. 2018b. Proposal for a Coun- will happen with Brexit. It is possible cil Decision on the Association of the that the UK government will agree Overseas Countries and Territories with to a “softer” version, which would the European Union including relations between the European Union on the one mean maintaining a relatively strong hand, and Greenland and the Kingdom alignment with the European Union. of Denmark on the other (“Overseas And the closer the United Kingdom ­Association Decision”). Brussels, 14 June. remains to the European Union, the COM (2018) 461 final. Available from better the outcome for Pitcairn. But https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better there is no certainty of that and, as -regulation/initiatives/com-2018-461_en ­Councillor Jaques warned, the impact [accessed 28 June 2018] of Brexit could be “catastrophic” fco, Foreign and Commonwealth Office. if there is a significant breach. This 2018. Henderson Island: Plastic Pollution threat comes at a time when Pitcairn in Paradise. 10 April. https://blogs.fco.gov (along with the UK government) .uk/lauraclarke/2018/04/10/henderson remains unable to mitigate in any -island-plastic-pollution-in-paradise/ real way the ­(long-standing) “exis- [accessed 20 July 2018] tential” ­problems facing the territory. The Guardian. 2017. 38 Million Pieces The Dark Sky Sanctuary initiative of Plastic Waste Found on Uninhabited is ­certainly an interesting one, but South Pacific Island. 15 May. https://www without a comprehensive,­ viable, .theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/ and ­sustainable plan for Pitcairn, the 15/38-million-pieces-of-plastic-waste future is looking increasingly bleak. -found-on-uninhabited-south-pacific-island The ­waste­-management crisis on [accessed 20 July 2018] neighboring Henderson is perhaps House of Lords. 2017. Corrected Oral indicative of this malaise: that the —Evidence: Brexit: Overseas Territories. islands are too remote and the fund- Select Committee on the European Union, ing too small to maintain a viable and 10 July. http://data.parliament.uk/ 224 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) writtenevidence/committeeevidence %20May%209th%202018.pdf [accessed .svc/evidencedocument/european-union 20 July 2018] -committee/brexit-overseas-territories/ ———. 2018d. Minutes of the Special oral/69288.pdf [accessed 12 June 2018] Public Meeting held at the Public Hall. International Dark-Sky Association. 2018. 25 May. http://www.pitcairn.pn/minutes/ International Dark Sky Sanctuaries. http:// Approved%20Council%20Special%20 darksky.org/idsp/sanctuaries/ [accessed Public%20Meeting%20Notes%20 28 July 2018] May%2025th%202018.pdf [accessed July ] octa, Overseas Countries and Territories 20 2018 Association. 2018. 2017 octa Ministerial Pitcairn Miscellany. 2017a. All in a Day’s Conference, Political Declaration. Work. 60 (7 [July]): 4. Brussels, Belgium. 22 Feb. http://www .octassociation.org/IMG/pdf/-10.pdf ———. 2017b. Glass Re-cycling Project. [accessed 25 Aug 2018] 60 (8 [Aug]): 5. pic, Pitcairn Island Council. 2017a. ———. 2017c. Welcoming Sight as First ­Minutes of the Council Meeting held at the Cruise Ship to Visit Pitcairn in 6 Months Public Hall. 9 Aug. http://www.pitcairn.pn/ Arrives. 60 (11 [Nov]): 5. minutes/Approved%20Council%20 ———. 2017d. Elections for Council. Meeting%20Minutes%20Aug%209th 60 (11 [Nov]): 9. %202017.pdf [accessed 20 July 2018] ———. 2018a. Development of Astro ———. 2017b. Public Meeting Notes: Tourism on Pitcairn Gets the Go Ahead Community Consultation Meeting with Light. 61 (3 [March]): 6. Child Safety Reviewers Moyna Fletcher & Alan McGlade and Assistant Attorney ———. 2018b. Pitcairn Councillor General, Danielle Kelly. Held at the Public Attends Overseas Meetings in Europe. Hall. 19 Nov. http://www.pitcairn.pn/ April: 4. minutes/Community%20Consultation ———. 2018c. Governor (Community %20Meeting%20Notes%20Nov%2019th Member). 61 (4 [May]): 2. %202017.pdf [accessed 20 July 2018] Stevens, John. 2018. The Paradise Island ———. 2018a. Minutes of the Special that Can’t Persuade ANYONE to Move Council Meeting held at the Public Hall. There: UK Gives Pitcairn £6.5m Aid after 14 Feb. http://www.pitcairn.pn/minutes/ Drive to Boost Population Falls. Daily Approved% Council% Meeting% 20 20 20 Mail, 12 Jan. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ Minutes% Feb% th% .pdf 20 2014 202018 news/article-5264809/Pitcairn-given-6-5m [accessed 20 July 2018] -aid-population-fails-boost.html [accessed ———. 2018b. Minutes of the Special 29 June 2018] Council Meeting held at the Public Hall. UN, United Nations. 2018. Pitcairn: April. http://www.pitcairn.pn/minutes/ 18 Working Paper prepared by the Secre- Approved% Council% Meeting% 20 20 20 tariat. Special Committee on the Situation Minutes% April% th.pdf [accessed 20 2018 with regard to the Implementation of the July ] 20 2018 Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- ———. 2018c. Minutes of the ­Council dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Meeting held at the Public Hall. 9 May. 12 Feb. Available from http://www.un.org/ http://www.pitcairn.pn/minutes/Approved en/decolonization/workingpapers.shtml %20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes [accessed 5 Sept 2018] political reviews • polynesia 225

Rapa Nui leaders), the Council of Elders, and the Parlamento Rapa Nui along with Rapa Nui political events, issues, the support of the Municipality of legislation, and social movements Easter Island and the International from 2017–2018 articulated across a Working Group on Indigenous complex spectrum of local, national, Affairs (iwgia) (Sandoval 2017). regional, and global scales that tran- Speakers included representatives sected terrestrial as well as oceanic of Indigenous peoples of the Basque and discursive fields. Disputes over territory of Europe, Bolivia, Chile, control of Rapa Nui cultural heritage, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, sacred places, and the ocean that and Tahiti; scholars with expertise on occurred during the prior review self-determination in Cook Islands, period remained focal. Ley de Residen- globalization, and Indigenous rights cia—the law for controlling Chilean in Mexico; Rapa Nui representatives; and international migration to Rapa attorneys for Rapa Nui people in Nui, which was approved by Chile’s state and international arenas; and national legislature at the close of anthropologists of Rapa Nui, includ- review last year—was officially imple- ing myself and Grant McCall. mented in 2018 with the general sup- The seminar participants’ peaceful port of Rapa Nui leadership. As the dialogue was contrasted by the signs review year concluded, movement to encircling the cultural center, which change the official name for the island traced an island world entangled in continued to gain support; however, a “battle order” (Foucault 1980, the election of a new Chilean president 16). Outside, the offices of the gov- forebodes a future that could radically ernor were covered in banners and differ from the broadly progressive flags coded in Spanish, Rapa Nui, present that Rapa Nui realized under and ­English that condemned the the left-of-center administration led by ­Chilean government as an “usapa- President Michelle Bachelet. dor” (usurper) conducting “consultas Some of the breadth of island ilegalas” (illegal consultations). politics were visible during a visit to Signs also demanded that “their own the island in September 2017, where people” and not the “Government I participated in a locally organized of Chile decide for us.” Up the road, international seminar entitled “Dia- large banners and black flags deni- logues Sobre Derechos Humanos grated the front gate of the five-star Desde La Perspectiva Del Pueblo hotel Hangaroa Eco-Village and Spa Mā‘ori Rapa Nui” (Dialogues on with slogans like “Hanga Roba Hotel Human Rights from the perspec- Pirata” coupled with graphic images tive of the Mā‘ori Rapa Nui people), of guns paired with skull and cross- held at the Toŋariki Cultural Center bones and statements that the hotel in Haŋa Roa. The seminar included was “built on stolen land.” Inside approximately thirty speakers and the seminar venue, Nancy Yáñez, was organized by the Rapa Nui– the leading attorney for Honui and a determined organization Honui (an descendant of the Indigenous Mapu- assembly of “family clan” (hua‘ai) che people of Chile, emphasized that 226 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) self-determination for Rapa Nui was (Anarte 2017). Yet as the review supported by the “founding prin- period closes, there are no new reports ciples of the United Nations,” which ­regarding the case since the register- require all member state governments ing of testimony by Matías Riroroko, to provide “tools for people to freely given during a commission hearing in define their political status” (Sandoval March 2017 that denounced histori- 2017). Attorney Ciro Colombara— cal and ­contemporary “use of vio- who is currently representing Parla- lence and police repression” by Chile mento Rapa Nui and the Council of (Organization of American States Elders in an ongoing­ legal case filed 2017). Erity Teave, vice president of against the Chilean state in 2015 at Parlamento Rapa Nui, emphasized the Inter-American Court of Human that the case regards the restoration of Rights (iachr) within the Organiza- the rights of Rapa Nui people to “the tion of American States (Economía y collective property of its territory,” Negocios, 15 Nov 2015)—advised the which the state of Chile undermined Rapa Nui people that “the outcome as it colonized the island beginning of the lawsuit” will be fundamental to in the late nineteenth century, doing the “path” that they should organize so in violation of the 1888 bilateral for self-determination in the coming treaty known as the “Agreement of years (Sandoval 2017). An outcome Wills” (Acuerdo de Voluntades) signed statement of the seminar asserted that by Rapa Nui and Chilean representa- Rapa Nui people consider any “state tives (El Ciudadano, 25 Sept 2017). title” or “concession” regulating their José Rapu, an elected commissioner of ancestral territory as an unacceptable the Island Development Commission “limitation of the territorial rights of (codeipa), saw the state delays with the Rapa Nui people,” and that they the iachr as ­reflective of a history aspire to “have full ownership rights of state “paternalism and colonial- over their lands and territories” based ism” that fails to build the capacity on “ancestral occupation” that is of the Rapa Nui people “to develop” “regulated by customary law.” The on their own terms and to truly solve outcome statement and the voices of “the problems of the island” (Bertin participants from within the semi- 2017). While the state assured the nar, as well as the symbolic banners commission of its “willingness to outside, constitute useful regimes of engage in dialogue” (Organization ­“veridiction and jurisdiction” for of ­American States 2017), Chile was assessing the indigenous politics of noted as not responding within the the review period (Foucault 1991, period requested by the court (Valle- 79); that is, what should politically be jos 2017). Irrespective of the delays, known (verdiction) and done (jurisdic- attorney Colombara insisted he had tion) in the island world. “no doubt about the legal soundness Following the seminar in Sep- of the case” and its consistency with tember, global media attention to the history of “the jurisprudence of the Rapa Nui case at the iachr was the Inter-American Court of Human notably linked to the Catalunya Rights” that has “recognized the col- independence movement from Spain lective property rights of indigenous political reviews • polynesia 227 peoples over their territories” (Bertin Park! Leave the ocean of the Rapa Nui 2017). people alone!). Inside the seminar, a As the seminar concluded on 9 leading elder fisherman gave a speech September 2017, a date that marked contesting the July and August consul- the anniversary of the 1888 initia- tations, stressing that the final plebi- tion of Chilean colonization in Rapa scite amounted to a set of “papers” Nui, the Chilean state announced (parau) “for taking” (me‘e toke) “the the official designation of a Marine ocean” (te vaikava) of the Rapa Nui Protected Area (mpa) of multiple uses people. His critique accorded with an around Rapa Nui. Pew Charitable 18 July letter to President Bachelet Trusts commended the declaration and signed by the leading representatives highlighted its own role in the “edu- of Honui, a copy of which I obtained cation and training” that helped to as a seminar participant. The letter facilitate the process (Pew Charitable characterized the entire consultation Trusts 2017). The declaration fol- processes as not only “illegal”—given lowed a series of public consultations that it did not work within interna- that began in July (Gobernación Isla tional frameworks of self-determina- de Pascua, 13 July 2017), continu- tion—but also as a tool of “assimila- ing until a vote on 28–29 August that tion” and potential “genocide.” The was later tabulated as resulting in a local environmental nongovernmental 62 percent approval of coadministra- organization Kakaka Ecological Here tion of the mpa (Gobernación Isla de Henu‘a Mā‘ori Rapa Nui and the Pascua, 4 Sept 2017). Coadministra- women’s group Movimiento Komari tion is supposed to include elected also registered public criticism of the representatives of the Rapa Nui people designation. They historically contex- within codeipa and of island fishing tualized it as extending state “viola- organizations; both had previously tion” of the 1888 Agreement of Wills, been excluded in the 2015 presiden- which they anticipate will be “detri- tial proposal for the mpa and conse- mental to current and future genera- quently denounced the proposal, as tions.” They think that the purported well as its coordination with Pew, as goal of the mpa to help conserve colonial (Young 2018, 198–202). world diversity is a “false premise” Though a positive step for Rapa that conceals its entanglement in the Nui working within Chilean regimes production of benefits for “external of veridiction and jurisdiction in com- systems alien to our ancestral culture” parison to the 2015 proposal, island (El Ciudadano, 31 Aug 2017). communication within and outside of Rapa Nui alarm is substantiated the September 2017 seminar resonated by a diversity of global concerns with significant public dissonance regarding mpas. Though mpas worldwide are the declaration. Next to the afore- promoted in mass media as tools of mentioned banners surrounding the ocean conservation, they are ulti- governor’s office, signs also declared mately embedded in the goliath World “Pew—Go Home!” and commanded Bank project of a “blue economy” “No Parque Marino! Haka rē te that values the ocean in the trillions vaikava o te Rapa Nui!” (No Marine of US dollars (World Bank 2018). 228 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

This regime of capital accumulation people while selling and leasing monetizes the ocean for aquaculture, terri­tory to “green grabbing” billion- blue-carbon trading, industrial fisher- aires privatizing nature for a variety ies, and seabed mining (Campbell and of interests (Holmes 2014). Amid others 2016, 518–528), which local announced proposals of Trans-Pacific and indigenous peoples worldwide Partnership (tpp) megaprojects like an have experienced as a form of “ocean underwater fiber-optic cable linking grabbing” that jeopardizes their China and Chile through the ocean of ­livelihood (Pedersen and others 2014). Rapa Nui (Young 2018, 201), the mpa As a regime of marine governance could indeed be an oceanic exten- that helps standardize their access to sion of Chile’s neoliberal “market- and control over “blue resources” enabling” policies for the environment (Barbasgaard 2018, 145), “powerful (Tecklin, Bauer, and Prieto 2011, actors” like rent-seeking state officials, 882–884). Development projects have large-scale international conservation been known to be implemented for organizations, big tourist companies, their “side-effects” (Ferguson with and state treasuries promote mpa- Lohman 2016, 192–193). Since Chile style conservation (Benjaminsen and implemented environmental policy on Bryceson 2012, 337); however, the the continent in the context of nafta, “scientific basis” underlying mpas and as China has intensified its politi- is questioned (Campbell and oth- cal economic investments in Oceania ers 2016, 535–536), and the overall (Wesley-Smith 2013), the mpa could capacity of blue economy projects to ultimately prove to be less about the restore and sustain “ocean health” is conservation of marine life and more unknown (Barbasgaard 2018, 145). about establishing the environmental Chilean interest in increased regula- conditions that would enable Chile tion of the ocean may thus be read in to catch big Chinese fish in the World accord with its broader history of neo- Bank sea of blue economic growth. liberal environmental agendas. While Indigenous politics of Chinese capital green policies often emerged in states in Cook Islands (Webb 2016, 54–55) in the 1960s and 1970s in response to and Chile (Aylwin, Silva, and Vargas internal social organization of citizens 2018, 220) continue to be on the motivated by a “concern for health horizon for Rapa Nui. Although the and ecological conditions,” in Chile mpa designation would be seemingly such policies were formed by external designed to protect the island from concerns with “trade and investment,” megaprojects, as the review period especially in relation to satisfying the ended, public discussion of the fiber- conditions of participation in global optic cable development continued trade associations, like the North with state authorities. American Free Trade Agreement On 23 November 2017, President (nafta) (Tecklin, Bauer, and Prieto Bachelet signed a decree on the hal- 2011, 884–886). Chile has imple- lowed grounds of Ahu Toŋariki, estab- mented neoliberal environmental poli- lishing full indigenous administration cies throughout the south of the state of the Chilean National Park (Rapa that dispossess Indigenous Mapuche Nui National Park) on the island. The political reviews • polynesia 229 change marks the end of a colonial Toŋariki ceremony (El Ciudadano, state policy that began in 1935 that 18 Nov 2017). While appreciative of territorialized Rapa Nui “sacred progression from coadministration to places” (vahi tapu) and “ancestral full, Rapa Nui denouncing the conces- valuables” (hauha‘a tupuna) within sion contest the legitimacy of the state the park—a policy created without authority to cede land to Rapa Nui the consultation of the Indigenous in terms similar to the ways ­families people (Teave and Cloud 2014, 410). have disputed state authority to grant Full administration emerged after “titulo dominio” (land titles) to island two years of struggle against man- territory. Rapa Nui leaders have dated coadministration implemented long maintained that the state can- through state force (Young 2017), not coherently give titles to territory which followed indigenous reclama- because they deny the state has any tion of the territory and heritage in titles to give. Many Rapa Nui people March 2015 led by Parlamento Rapa conceive their entitlement to land as Nui (Young 2016a). Full administra- not constituted “from the Chilean tion is based on a fifty-year “conces- government” but through “genealogy sion” of state management to the traced to Hotu Matu‘a,” the founding indigenous community organization Rapa Nui chief of the island (Young known as Ma‘u Henua (Gobernación 2016c, 140). de Isla de Pascua, 23 Nov 2017). The politics of Rapa Nui control While the concession is conceived as of hauha‘a tupuna were not limited an important step toward self-determi- to the island itself during the year nation by Rapa Nui people generally, under review. On 27 January 2018, like the mpa, it was opposed by key New Zealand’s Canterbury Museum, leaders and indigenous institutions. the Museum of New Zealand Te Honui representatives protested the Papa Tongarewa, and the Otago concession in letters to UN Special Museum returned “ancestral bones” Rapporteur on the Rights of Indig- (ivi tupuna) to the Rapa Nui people— enous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz the first international repatriation to as well as the iachr. Concession is Rapa Nui in history (El Programa seen in the letters to undermine Rapa de Repatriación Rapa Nui, 1 Feb Nui claims to “territorial rights” 2018). The repatriation included that would reestablish the collective two skulls and was organized by El indigenous “ownership” of the land Programa de Repatriación Rapa Nui: (El Ciudadano, 18 Nov 2017). In Ka Haka Hoki Mai Te Mana Tupuna, August 2018 interviews, Erity Teave a grassroots organization created by described the concession as a “slap Indigenous leader Piru Huke Atan in the face,” reflecting a history of and ­fellow Rapa Nui cultural leaders state strategy of attempting to avoid in 2013 with leading coordination comprehensive conflict resolution with by Jacinta Arthur and Mario Tuki. Rapa Nui by offering them “huŋa El Programa de Repatriación Rapa huŋa” (crumbs). Island Mayor Petero Nui is the first repatriation program Edmunds also contested the conces- created in Chile and has received sion and refused to participate in the recognition from the National Monu- 230 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) ments Council (Arthur 2019). The change is that prior to this law a Chil- ivi tupuna were returned following ean national could continue to stay a departure ceremony at the ceremo- in Rapa Nui beyond a visit for tour- nial Marae Tuahiwi, followed by a ism (Colegio Abagados 2018). The welcoming ­ceremony at the Mataveri codeipa commissioners of Rapa Nui International Airport in Rapa Nui; publicly voiced general approval of they are to be held temporarily at the law, though Commissioner Zoilo the Father Sebastian Englert Anthro- Huke acknowledged “it is not per- pological Museum until community fect,” and Commissioner José Rapu dialogue with the state establishes a noted that it did not achieve “what protocol for their final reburial. Piru we aspired to in its entirety.” Com- Huke emphasized that she and her missioner Poki Tane Haoa highlighted fellow “children of Hotu Matu‘a” are it as promoting the “common good,” “deeply grateful” to the Māori “for and Commissioner Anakena Manu- returning their tupuna” to their land tomatoma described it as establishing (El Programa de Repatriación Rapa an important step for “ordering” and Nui, 1 Feb 2018). The process of “caring” for our territory “sustain- repatriation was a political struggle. ably.” In a context where uncontrolled Despite initial recognition of El Pro- migration was perceived as resulting grama de Repatriación Rapa Nui, the in problems with managing energy, Chilean National Monuments Council pollution, waste, and water as well as opposed many of their efforts in terms loss of “respect for traditions,” Com- of an agenda of “neoliberal multicul- missioner Irene Haoa considered the turalism” that manages cultural and law a valuable “tool of protection” biological heritage as state patrimony that could help Rapa Nui “return to valued for scientific study rather than live with umaŋa” (Gobernación Isla “ontological restoration” of indig- de Pascua, 23 March 2018); that is, a enous peoples (Arthur 2019). way of life of solidarity. Parlamento Ley de Residencia was implemented Rapa Nui Vice-President Erity Teave, 1 August 2018, following its March in interviews with me, also ­supported 2018 publication in the state govern- the law; she hoped, however, that ment gazette as Ley 21,070 (Gober- some of the content of the first articles nación Isla de Pascua, 23 March would be refined and become more 2018). The official purpose of the restrictive. In the current version, a law is to “regulate the exercise of the settler with a residency on the island rights to reside, stay and move to and can authorize island migration of from the special territory of Easter their extended family; many Rapa Island” (Colegio Abagados 2018). Nui would like that to be limited to According to article 5, “Any person, nuclear family only. Chilean or foreign, who enters Easter As the review period came to a Island, may remain in the special ter- close, changes in Chilean national ritory for a maximum period of thirty politics suggested that some of the days”; qualifications of residency political progress achieved by Rapa terms are detailed further in the con- Nui under President Bachelet, irrespec- text of sixty-two articles, but the key tive of its limitations, could come to political reviews • polynesia 231 a screeching halt. Sebastian Piñera, now empowered by new weapons “Chile’s Donald Trump” (Arostegui and “armored vehicles,” trained to 2018), was reelected president of fight “terrorism” by military forces Chile under the right-wing Reno- “of the United States and Colom- vación Nacional party during Novem- bia” that the state intends to use to ber and December 2017, officially combat the Indigenous Mapuche replacing President Bachelet on 11 people of Southern Chile (Santiago March 2018. On assuming office, Times, 29 June 2018). Disturbingly, he activated a cabinet that included these actions follow increased use of officials historically supportive of the State Terrorist Act to criminalize infamous dictator Pinochet as well Indigenous peoples of Chile in 2017 as the Colonia Dignidad­ organiza- (Aylwin, Silva, and Vargas 2018), an tion of German Chileans used by act that originated under Pinochet to Pinochet to torture and murder criminalize leftist opposition (Richards opponents of his regime (The Guard- 2013, 103) and began to be applied ian, 23 Jan 2018). ­Leviante Araki, to Indigenous peoples in Chile during president of Parlamento Rapa Nui, the 1990s under the administration ­encouraged “all Chileans” to not vote of Patricio Aylwin in conflicts with for Piñera (Biobio, 27 June 2017). He Mapuche (Carruthers and Rodriguez denounced the candidacy of Piñera 2009, 749). Today, it is criticized as in terms of his prior record of human violating international “due process rights violations against Indigenous guarantees” (Amnesty International peoples of Chile generally, and par- 2018) and broadening the scope of ticularly in Rapa Nui where Piñera is terrorism so as to criminalize cases of held responsible for the violence that indigenous land and property conflict state special forces known as “Gope” beyond standard definitions of the inflicted upon Rapa Nui during the term (Richards 2010, 73–76). Mapu- 2010 political conflicts (cnn Chile, 27 che incarcerated by the act identify June 2017). State brutality led to the themselves as “political prisoners” successful granting of precautionary (Carruthers and Rodriguez 2009, measures against Chile at the iachr, 749). In 2017, experts to the Office investigations by the United Nations, of the United Nations High Commis- condemnations on the US Congres- sioner for Human Rights (ohchr) sional floor, and detailed articula- “urged” Chile to stop prosecuting its tions of state violation of the United indigenous peoples under antiterror- Nations Declaration of the Rights ism legislation (ohchr 2017), which of Indigenous Peoples by the iwgia consequently came under official (Young 2016b, 264–266). Piñera’s review by the United Nations Com- initial actions against Indigenous mittee Against Torture the following peoples during his second presidency year (El Mostrador, 14 Aug 2018). suggest his new administration is From 2017–2018, as in the rep- capable of imposing further oppres- resentation of the 2010–2011 indig- sion of the Rapa Nui island world. enous political occupations and In June, he announced the expansion consequent state violence, there are of his Gope team of special forces, competing discourses for “placing” 232 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) the Rapa Nui world and ascrib- upon alternative paths of indigenous ing meaning to the “various things, ­creation. people, histories, and events” (Young forrest wade young 2012, 2–3). Within the discourse of Chilean law, this year Rapa Nui people significantly destabilized forces References and institutions that have long mar- Adprensa. Daily Internet news. 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