The Parliament of the Cook Islands 60th Legacy award presentations brought together families, children and grandchildren into the Chamber to recognise, acknowledge and pay tribute to former as well as present Parliamentarians and Parliamentary Service staff.

As part of Parliaments celebration of the nation’s 60 years of self-governance legacy programme, families of esteemed leaders who have passed on accepted the special wooden commemorative plaques marking their loved ones contributions to the nation.

On Thursday, each recipient received a symbolic carved wooden plaque to commemorate his or her legacy and services to the nation.

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere, who initiated the recognition awards, said these awards should have been done ages ago.

“But, we never do, because we are bogged down with the politics, we are bogged down with jealousy, we are bogged down with an uncaring spirit - those are the things that prevent us from acknowledging the important contributions of people in our nation.

“We rather enjoy punishing people and destroying their character. We should focus more on embracing contributions and also promoting our own people.”

Vainerere says he felt a responsibility to initiate these special recognition awards.

“I know people are saying we should do it when people are alive… that’s why I’m doing it.”

Although several recipients have already passed away, Vainerere wanted their contributions to be remembered.

“For me, as the Clerk of Parliament I don’t just appreciate what people do here with me, I tell them. And every leader in this country should do the same.

Sarah Tamangaro has worked in Parliament for 37 years. a deserving recipient which Vainerere  was pleased to acknowledge her for her incredible work.

He believes that today people are not interested “in rewarding somebody who’s walking around… “I’m not in that frame of mind, so I promote those who deserve recognition”.

Vainerere has spent countless of hours learning the history of the Parliament of the  Cook Islands, searching through archives to reconstruct what happened in the nations parliamentary history and saw that “our people were doing exceptional things.

“Those who died, their stories have died with them, so I thought this was an opportunity to bring those stories back to life,” he said.

Vainerere recognises people who are “alive and kicking” and tells them how he appreciates what they do.

“If more people think this way then we’ll have a better society- one that our forefathers originally believed we could have.

“Today we have the opportunity to do the right thing, opportunity to do better than we have, the opportunity to put aside any prejudices that we have and reward those where credit is due.”

In the Parliamentary Services Legacy series, Vainerere emphasises that the history of the Cook Islands government system is recounted accurately.

On October 25, later this year he has plans for a celebration of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, as we know it today when the New Zealand government set it up.

According to Vainerere, in 1958 the first elections was held under that system from then until now, however the governance system has changed, and people have to understand the difference.

“I’m not changing the history; I’m sharing it in the correct way exactly how it happened… but people are terrified of fading these whings because they are afraid of criticisms I’m not… I get criticised every day. I’m still here, I don’t give up.”

Vainerere aspires to initiate features  that “will bring quality and blessings” to our people.

The 2025 60^th Legacy Parliament Awards, recognised the service and dedication of the following parliamentarians and the Parliamentary Service:

- The Longest serving Parliamentarian – Sir Dr. Pupuke Robati (39yrs), accepted by his youngest daughter Mikara Pupuke

- Longest serving Speaker – Mama Marguerite Story (13 yrs), accepted by Lawton Story

- Longest serving Prime Minister – Papa Albert Henry (13 yrs), accepted by his grandson Robert Graham

- Father of the House – Minister George Angene

- Mother of the House (eldest female Member of Parliament) – MP of Manihiki Akaiti Puna

- Youngest Parliamentarian – Te-Hani Brown

Double Appointments Award Presentation (Prime Minister & Speaker):

- Sir Dr. Pupuke Robati (Prime Minister 1987-89; Speaker of Parliament 2001-2004), accepted by Mikara Pupuke

- Sir Geoffrey Henry (Prime Minister 1983, 1989-1999; Speaker of Parliament 2010-2012) accepted by his eldest son Walter Henry.

The Special Awards Presentation are aimed at those serving in the current 18th Parliament:

-Mother and Daughter Service Award – Minister Rose Toki-Brown and daughter MP Te-Hani Brown

-Brother and Brother Service Award – MP Teariki Heather and MP Robert Heather

-Brother and Sister Service Award – MP Akaiti Ama and MP Tukaka Ama.

Parliamentary Services Awards Presentation:

-Longest serving Clerk – Manuela Puna (17 yrs), accepted by his wife Vaine Puna Ioane

-Longest serving Deputy Clerk – Nga Valoa (17 yrs + 14 yrs as Clerk), accepted by his daughter-in-law Francis Valoa

-Longest serving Staff Member – Sarah Takairangi (37 yrs)

-Parliament Staff elected to Parliament – Sonny Williams (2022)

Tomorrow, Sunday April 20, the church service to commemorate the Anniversary of the 1965 General Elections that was held on 20 April 20, 1965, will be held at the Nikao CICC at 10am.

Longest-serving MP

In a tribute to a life dedicated to public service, the late Sir Pupuke Robati KBE Sir Pupuke Robati KBE (April 9, 1925 – April 26, 2009) was one of several parliamentarians finally recognised for his commitment to the nation.

His youngest daughter Mikara Pupuke proudly accepted the special award on his behalf at Parliament House on Thursday, from the Speaker of Parliament Tai Tura.

Sir Pupuke Robati holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Member of Parliament having served parliament for 39 years (1965 – 2004) with the final three years of his service (2002 – 2004) as Speaker of the House.

Mikara was overwhelmed as she reflected on her father’s long service.

She felt privileged and touched at the gesture of recognition for her father by parliament but also sad that this did not happen at a time when he could be present.

“But, I’m happy that it has happened and I’m honoured that my sister (Leader of the Opposition Tina Pupuke Browne) designated me to accept this on our family’s behalf,” said Mikara.

She says her father was “deeply committed” to public service and politics in the Cook Islands, particularly in representing his constituency of Rakahanga and the Pae Tokerau.

“Our family understood that ‘na mua ko te iti tangata’ - the people come first. Although we were usually in the background, we supported him wholeheartedly, we understood his passion was to serve his people above all else.

“His awards are dedicated to the people of Rakahanga, to the families for their love and support throughout the years,” said Mikara.

Sir Pupuke is one of 13 children (six brothers and six sisters) to parents Robati Tapaha Sema and Mehau-Pa Maryanne a Pupuke of Rakahanga. He is child number nine.

According to the Parliament of the Cook Islands, Sir Pupuke trained at the University of Otago in 1966 graduating with a Diploma of Public Health - a first for the Cook Islands.

In 1965, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as an independent representing Rakahanga. He was re-elected in the 1968 election.

In 1972, Sir Pupuke joined the new Democratic Party. He was re-elected in eight further general elections in the Democratic Party.

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1991 New Year’s Honours List, and in 2001, he was promoted to Knight Commander By Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1978, Sir Pupuke was the Deputy Premier in the cabinet of Premier Tom Davis. On July 29, 1987, he succeeded Davis as Prime Minister, at that time he was the Chairman of the Government Caucus.

Sir Pupuke served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from July 29, 1987 to February 1, 1989.

The defeat of the Democratic Party in the 1989 elections ended his tenure as Prime Minister. He continued to represent Rakahanga until 2002 when he was elected Speaker of Parliament.

In 1997, he introduced into Parliament the Private Members Bill that added a preamble to the Constitution, which recognised the “heritage of Christian principles” in the Cook Islands and declared that the people of the Cook Islands “remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day…” The Constitution Amendment (No. 20) Bill was adopted by the Government and the parliament of the Cook Islands enacted the Amendment Act (no. 20) 1997 on March 19, 1997.

Sir Pupuke was a skilled boxer, and in 1944, was the Cook Islands Champion bantamweight boxer. He also served as the Chairperson of the Cook Islands Amateur Boxing Federation for more than 30 years. He was also active in fishing and agriculture.

Mikara and several of her siblings who reside overseas were visiting Rarotonga to host the unveiling ceremony for their mother Lady Tereapii Robati nee Pittman, in Ngatangiia.

Also present at the awards ceremony at Parliament House were children of her father’s siblings - #2 Hauanui George Faimau line, sibling#3 Tupou Apolo Sema line, sibling #8 Rubena line, and sibling # 9 Pupuke line.

-         Melina Etches/Excerpts from Parliament of the Cook Islands 60^th Legacy