‘Strong as steel and unbreakable’- Cook Islands celebrates 60th anniversary

As the morning sun rose over Rarotonga yesterday, the national flag of the Cook Islands fluttered proudly once again, marking not only the 60th anniversary of the nation’s self-governance in free association with New Zealand, but also the enduring strength of a relationship that has weathered decades of political, economic and cultural shifts.

Held at the National Auditorium, hundreds gathered including Cook Islanders from here and abroad and dignitaries from all over the region and internationally, to celebrate this milestone.

Prime Minister Mark Brown in a stirring address at the ceremony, emphasised an affirmation of the Cook Islands’ journey to self-determination, its global reach and the unshakable connection to New Zealand.

“Our relationship with New Zealand is well established since ancient times,” Brown told the gathering.

“It is too well entrenched and too strong like steel that nothing will break it. It is too strong that even disagreeing governments will not break it.

“In the times to come when we look back, we will see this as a bump in the road on our shared journey.”

The Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship, which was the cornerstone of yesterday’s 60th Constitution Celebrations, has recently been under strain. New Zealand government leaders did not attend the celebration on Monday, following a disagreement with the Cook Islands government over deals with China. This disagreement led to New Zealand pausing $18.2 million in development assistance funding in June.

However, the two governments put their differences aside to celebrate the occasion with New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro representing Aotearoa at the event yesterday, reaffirming the deep friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

In his speech, Prime Minister Brown reflected on the milestones and hardships that have shaped the Cook Islands since the people chose self-governance in 1965.

“Natural disasters with the loss of life, drastic economic reforms, a pandemic –but each test we survived and we came back stronger. And I have no doubt that we will have the same result this time.”

He emphasised that the relationship with New Zealand is a living one, “evolving as our people evolve and as the world changes around us”.

“As we turn our focus towards the horizon, we must do so with clear eyes and clear hearts,” he said. “We value this relationship deeply and we will continue to invest in it with honesty, respect and purpose.”

Prime Minister Mark Brown breaks into a dance yesterday to celebrate the Cook Islands’ 60th anniversary of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. Photo/Cook Islands 25080408/25080427

“In this 60th year of self-governance, I call on all our officials to keep our values at heart, to continue to engage with grace and dignity, and to ensure that we strengthen our relationship with a view towards the next 60 years of voyaging in our shared vaka.”

Among the crowd was 79-year-old Maruata Pureau, a proud Mama from Atiu, who spoke to Cook Islands News after witnessing the flag raised once again – just as she had six decades ago.

“I was a trainee teacher back then, and I witnessed the first flag raising of the Cook Islands when it became a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, things started to change,” she recalled.

Before 1965, she said, life was not easy.

“It was really hard because we were in the colonial system and we had to do everything we can to survive on our own. Being a teacher back then, we had to bear the costs of the things we need from our own pockets to teach the children, we don’t get rewarded, but we prayed and were hopeful that bright days are ahead and that’s where we are now.”

Pureau now celebrates life as a mother of five, grandmother to more than 10, and great-grandmother to 12.

“I am beyond happy to still have the strength to see my children and I know any parent that’s over 70 years old would understand too, that our children are reaping the benefits of our struggles back then and we couldn’t be any prouder of how far our country has become.”

‘The bonds of true friendship’

Representing His Majesty King Charles III and the people of New Zealand, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro addressed the auditorium with heartfelt sentiments of unity, kinship and shared future.

“This is my second visit to the Cook Islands during my term as Governor-General – and on both occasions, I have been so struck, and so moved, by the warmth and generosity with which my husband Dr Davies and I have been received,” Kiro said.

She spoke of the voyaging ancestry that binds the Cook Islands and New Zealand, and the many family ties that span across both nations.

“That whakapapa now finds expression in the many family ties which straddle and bind our two countries: the whanaungatanga forged and enforced over generations, and through all the cycles of life – the loves and losses; the triumphs and tragedies shared.”

From left: Dr. Richard Davies, NZ Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro, Daphne Brown and Prime Minister Mark Brown. Photo/Cook Islands News 25080406

She also reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by Cook Islanders during global conflicts, referring to the bronze conch sculpture in Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park – Te Reo Hotunui o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa – as a symbol of shared history and deep respect.

“At a time when we still see so much instability and suffering in the world ... the bonds of true friendship, of care and sharing and understanding, are so precious.”

Kiro concluded with a powerful message of enduring unity, “It is the people –that bond of deep friendship between our two peoples – that will transcend all else as we continue to face the challenges, and celebrate the joys of the future, together.”

She extended warm congratulations to Prime Minister Brown, and heartfelt acknowledgements to King’s Representative Sir Tom and Lady Tuaine Marsters for their hospitality and for reaching their own milestones. Sir Tom’s 80th birthday and their 50th wedding anniversary was also celebrated during the ceremony.

After the formalities, Sir Tom and Lady Tuaine, PM Brown and his wife, and Dame Cindy and her husband were presented with gifts from each island as part of the celebration.

A cake-cutting ceremony concluded the event outside the auditorium where PM Brown and all those who reached 60 years of birth yesterday, blew the candle and cut the cake to mark the event.