Changes expected in Cook Islands

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 3

Changes expected in Cook Islands

(By

TREVOR HENRY,

N.Z.P.A. political correspondent)

WELLINGTON, January 27. A constitutional adviser from New Zealand is expected in the Cook Islands shortly to prepare the way for separating the roles of Head of State and High Commissioner.

The resignation of the present High Commissioner (Mr G. J. Brocklehurst) “for personal reasons’’ will take effect on Wednesday, and the post will be vacant until a new appointment is made in a couple of months.

Under the Cook Islands Constitution, the New Zealand High Commissioner is also Head of State, representing the Queen. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will take over responsibility for relations with the Cooks from the Island Affairs Division on April 1, made it clear last year that it wanted the roles separated. Mr Brocklehurst, a retired public servant, managed to combine the jobs, but encountered conflict periodically. For example, when Sir

Albert Henry, the Cook Islands Premier, told him last year that he was calling an election and wanted the assembly dissolved, Mr Brocklehurst had to wait for the notice to appear in the official Gazette before he could advise Wellington. The Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) and Sir Albert are believed to have agreed on separating the roles when in Apia last month for an unofficial meeting of the South Pacific Forum.

No replacement has been appointed for Mr Brocklehurst yet, and the Cook Islands Chief Judge will act as Head of State in the meantime.

The adviser going to the Cooks is believed to be one of the authors of the original Constitution. He has been given the task of advising the New Zealand and Cook Islands Governments on the steps that may be required to separate the roles.

Eventually, a constitutional amendment will be necessary, and this will have to be agreed upon by both the ruling Cook Islands Party and the opposition Democratic Party. Sir Albert’s party lost its twothirds majority — necessary to pass a constitutional amendment — at the last election, and the Premier will need the support of the Opposition before any change can be made. Sir Albert has often been suggested as the first resident Cook Islands Head of State, but he has always denied any interest in the role. He favours the appointment of one of the Arikis to head the Cook Islanders.

The logical choice is Makea Ariki Nui, regarded as the paramount Ariki, but she is a staunch Democratic Party supporter and Sir Albert would find it difficult to ask her. The Opposition party believes that Sir Albert wants the job, and its leader, Dr Tom Davis, is unlikely to agree. He, too, wants an Ariki in the role, and favours Makea Nui.

Mr Brocklehurst’s resignation was not entirely unexpected. His term actually finished on November 15, but at the request of the New Zealand and Cook Islands Governments he agreed to extend it for 12 months. However, Sir Albert told Mr Brocklehurst before the election that he would be finishing up on March 31, and there was speculation that Mr Brocklehurst would pick his own time for finishing.