Paramount Chief of Cook Is

Cook Is.

Mrs. Takau Love Wins Ariki Case

BY decision of the NZ Supreme Court on June 18, Mrs. Takau Rio Love, elder daughter of the late Makea Nui Tinirau, has finally been awarded the title of Ariki Nui (Paramount Chief) of the Cook Islands.

The case has been in the courts, both in Rarotonga and Auckland, for over two years. Appeals were made against Judge Ayson’s original decision to grant Mrs. Love the title by both Mr. W. P.

Browne (Putua Rangatira) and his wife, Tuvaine Rangatira.

In his summary, Supreme Court Judge Ostler declared that Tuvaine’s claim was so hopelessly out of the running that if she had not been married to Mr. Browne nothing would ever have been heard of any claim from her. He further stated that Mr. Browne’s own claim was “ridi culous”. He dismissed both appeals, with £3O costs.

Now in NZ, Mrs. Love is expected to return to Rarotonga almost immediately, to take up permanent residence at Taputapuatea (the Ariki home). She is an attractive young woman, wife of Cap tain Tiwi Love (member of a prominent Maori family), who now is overseas with the NZ Forces, and they have twin daughters. Mrs. Love’s official title will be Makea Nui Takau Ariki.

Mrs. Love, Ariki Nui of Rarotonga, with the young High Chief of Samoa, Malietoa Tanu— a photograph taken in Apia last year.