Rarotonga, December 10, 2024 – Recently, His Excellency Sakias Tameo presented his Letter of Introduction to Prime Minister Mark Brown, formally accrediting him as the High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea to the Cook Islands, based in Wellington.
While the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea established formal diplomatic relations in 1995, the relationship between the two countries dates back to over 150 years ago when Cook Islands missionaries arrived in the Papua New Guinea village of Hanuabada to share the gospel. These missionaries had a profound impact on several coastal communities in Papua New Guinea, with Cook Islands cultural ties still celebrated today.
Prior to meeting with the Prime Minister, H.E. Tameo paid a courtesy visit to Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Ms. Tepaeru Herrmann. “Our rich history with Papua New Guinea has built a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration between our countries. We look forward to furthering that cooperation through the development of a Memorandum of Understanding, which will define the key areas in which we can deepen our partnership” said Secretary Herrmann.
Foreign Affairs officials will work together to develop the MoU in 2025, with the goal of signing during the 50th celebration of PNG’s Independence in September, which Prime Minister Brown has been invited to attend. In addition to honouring the legacy of those first Cook Islands’ missionaries and the relationships they built, the MoU will serve to structure a number of areas of ongoing cooperation, including fisheries, education, tourism, business, church-to-church collaboration, and health.
Following his meeting with the Prime Minister, H.E Tameo met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Tingika Elikana, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, the Business Trade and Investment Board, Cook Islands Tourism, CICC, the Religious Advisory Council, and Bank South Pacific (BSP). The High Commissioner concluded his stay in the Cook Islands with an evening with the Papua New Guinea community in Rarotonga.
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