The 60 namnalternativen which is now being evaluated have been submitted by citizens in the nation. The option that is finally considered to be the most appropriate will then be selected and be subject to a referendum, before a name change can possibly be implemented.
the Nation which is today called the cook islands consists of 15 tropical islands located north-east of new Zealand in the south Pacific. The islands population is around 17.500 people.
in January, according to uk’s The Guardian had a growing support from the local authorities, which shall allow for a referendum sometime in the coming months.
the Name in itself should be tightly interconnected with the local culture and history, according to Danny Mataroa, the chairman of the committee, to the uk’s The Guardian.
” It must have a part of our christian faith, and say a lot about our maoriska heritage. And it must instill a sense of pride in our people, and to unite our people, ” he says to The Guardian.
the publicly announced, but a likely option seems to be the Avaiki Nui, which is a local name for the islands.
the Nation’s deputy prime minister Mark Brown says to the RNZ news that he is to the country are exploring all options regarding the name change, and that he looks forward to hearing what citizens have in mind.
“I look like a traditional name for our country, one that is more reflective of our island-nation’s true polynesian nature,” he says.
a referendum was held regarding a potential name change. The time voted, by a majority of the country’s inhabitants in order to retain the cook islands as the name.
Danny Mataroa believe in a different outcome if a new name will be the subject of a referendum in the future. And because traditional leaders from all of the önationens twelve inhabited islands have participated in the selection process.
According to him, it is important that the name not only represents the local heritage and cultural aspects.
– It must be easy to say, ” he says to The Guardian.
