House of Ariki

Arikis at the opening of the 39th Annual General Meeting of the House of Arki in December 2010
Politics of the Cook Islands

The House of Ariki (Cook Islands Māori: 'Are Ariki) is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. It is composed of Cook Islands high chiefs (ariki), appointed by the King's Representative. While it functions in a similar way to the House of Lords and the Senate of Canada, the country's parliament is officially unicameral. There are up to twenty-four members,[1] representing different islands of the Cooks.[2]

Its function is to:

"consider such matters relative to the welfare of the people of the Cook Islands as may be submitted to it by [Parliament] for its consideration, and it shall express its opinion and make recommendations thereon to [Parliament]"[3]

It may only discuss matters put to it by the democratically elected Parliament, and may only voice suggestions in return.

  1. ^ "Since the 2002 constitutional amendment" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 8".
  3. ^ Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 9