Dear Editor, I would like to respond to the rather objectionable statement by Kiriau Turepu in the Cook Islands News re Eric Short’s objection to the Pa Ariki introducing a new Rangatira into the tribe and the rather rude and rough way they tried to muscle him out of the marae compound when he rightly raised a voice of objection to the investiture of a new Rangatira under Pa.

For a start let’s look at the facts:

1. Who is this new Avatea io Pa Rangatira – there is no such Rangatira under Pa – this is a new creation by the present Pa – did she discuss this with her Ui Rangatiras or kopu ariki – no because Takau Rangatira did not know and others also did not know about this new creation.
2. Does Pa have the right to create a new Rangatira without consultation with her Mataiapos and Ui Rangatiras?  No. Not without the approval of her kopu Ariki and the Ui Rangatira.
3. Why the need for a new Rangatira – perhaps she has lost the support of her own legitimate Rangatiras so she’s just stacking up new Rangatiras because the new Rangatiras will be yes people?
4. Is the new Rangatira going to get new Pa lands? Pa do not have that many lands and Ngati Pa is a large kopu – they are not likely to allow some of their lands to be given out to the new Rangatiras.
5. Eric Short is the Takau Rangatira – the Short family. Let’s get some history right – that Pa Ariki title should have been given to Eric’s grandfather Tupe Short from the senior line of Ngati Pa. The Government Administration in Avarua working in cahoots with some people in Avarua passed a law prohibiting half castes from holding a traditional title. That eliminated Tupe Short who was half caste from holding the title. It was Tupe Short that passed the Title on to Te Rito and Tupe was custodian. It was doubtful whether Te Rito was in fact a daughter of Taiteariki – the Pa line at the time? So uneasy is the head that holds the crown.
6. Eric as Takau Rangatira was manhandled at the investiture – he had every right to voice his objections and he was well behaved but he was pushed around and assaulted. Eric was an ex-SAS in New Zealand – these are well trained special force soldiers who parachute into enemy territory and fight. These are military human killer machines. Luckily those who pushed him around when he was legitimately protesting that he did not give them a taste of what SAS people do.

So Kiriau should keep quiet. Is it true that he was not the person Ngati Maoate elected to be the Maoate Mataiapo – it was Tama Tuavera but you Kiriau ran to Pa and Pa overlooked the Ngati Maoate Family decision and appointed you – so where is your family now?

Concerned Takitumu Resident ,

(Name and address supplied)