Cook Islands to Have ‘Two’ Names Soon

In the next couple of weeks, Cook Islands will have 'two' names. A government backed committee is coming up with a Cook Islands Maori name. However, the paramount chiefs want the island nation to use an indigenous Maori name. And this has been widespread support at home and on the social media as well.

Tina Browne, the Opposition Leader, says there is widespread resistance to the name 'Cook Islands' being dropped completely. Browne said the Democratic Party had given cautious support to the proposed complete name change.

Travel Tou Ariki, the House of Ariki president said they chose this option to calm the nation. He said the idea of dropping the Cook Islands name, entirely for a traditional Maori name has been met with considerable resistance. He further said that their decision to use the two names is a sensible compromise.