Cook Islands launches first-ever National Awards system: Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki

The Office of the Prime Minister is proud to announce the establishment of Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki: The Cook Islands National Awards, an historic milestone to recognise and honour outstanding service, leadership, and achievement across all sectors of Cook Islands society.

The Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki Act, introduced by Prime Minister Mark Brown, was passed in Parliament this week, laying the legislative foundation for a principled and enduring framework to celebrate excellence, service, and achievement. The Act establishes a national awards system that recognises outstanding achievements in fields such as arts, sciences, cultural preservation, literature, sports, acts of bravery, environmental and humanitarian work, to honour individuals and to inspire others to strive for greatness.

“This is more than a procedural initiative, it is a cultural investment,” Prime Minister Brown said during the second reading of the Bill. “We are creating a national mechanism to honour those who uplift, serve, and inspire us; who live out the very best of our values, often without seeking recognition. Through a dignified and transparent process of national recognition, we not only honour individual contributions, we also affirm the values we want to see flourish in our society: service, leadership, innovation, cultural stewardship, environmental guardianship, and courage in the face of adversity.”

The awards system, which will be administered by the Office of the Prime Minister, includes a tiered structure of Grand and Premier Awards, celebrating accomplishments that contribute positively to the nation’s development and reputation and by allowing the persons who are honoured to serve as symbols of national achievement and solidarity. Recipients will be selected through a transparent process overseen by the Cook Islands National Awards Selection Committee, which will include representatives from diverse backgrounds and expertise relevant to the scope of the awards, and of recognized integrity and impartiality.

“This is a whole-of-government, nonpartisan initiative that honours excellence on its merits,” said Chief of Staff Karopaerangi Ngatoko. “Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki: the Cook Islands National Awards aims to provide a uniquely Cook Islands platform for national recognition, ensuring that honourees are celebrated in a manner that aligns with our values, traditions, and culture. National awards give us the opportunity to celebrate stories of impact, stories of Cook Islanders who are preserving our heritage, driving sustainable development, excelling in education, advancing health and well-being, and representing us with pride on the regional and international stage.”

Reflecting the Office of the Prime Minister’s collaborative approach to policy development, the policy settings underpinning the Bill were jointly shaped through a working group comprising the Office of the Public Service Commissioner, Crown Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, and Parliamentary Services, alongside public input.

Importantly, Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki complements the King’s Birthday Honours, which are awarded through New Zealand’s Royal Honours system. Together, these two systems offer a dual platform for recognition, allowing Cook Islanders to be honoured both within our national context and through the realm-wide honours framework.

Until now, the Cook Islands had no legislated system for national awards. With this initiative, the country establishes its own means of recognition, directly supporting the objectives of the National Sustainable Development Agenda (NSDA+), reinforcing national identity, cultural heritage, and social cohesion.

“The awards will be a mirror to our society,” said Prime Minister Brown. “They will reflect the stories that define who we are and where we are going. In recognising our own, we reaffirm our values as a Pacific nation grounded in mana, respect, and responsibility to one another.The passage of this Act lays the foundation for a national tradition that celebrates the best of who we are, and who we hope to become.”

The first national awards ceremony is planned for later this year, coinciding with the Cook Islands’ 60th anniversary of self-governance. Public nominations will be welcomed, and more information on categories, eligibility, and nomination procedures will be announced in the coming weeks.