[Cook Islands Government office opening]. 1975-11-12.

The opening ceremony of the Cook Islands Government Office in Auckland.

An unidentified Master of Ceremonies invites ministers of various denominations to speak. Roman Catholic church representative Father Brookman [?] gives a prayer and a hymn is sung; a representative of the the Church of Latter Day Saints gives a reading; Rev Ta'a Upu Pere [?] of the Pacific Islands Church speaks in Cook Islands Māori and English. The Seventh Day Adventist Church choir sing a hymn in Cook Islands Māori and Pastor Woolf [?] gives a prayer.

Tupui Henry, the Cook Islands Minister of Internal Affairs and Social Welfare speaks about services the new office will offer. He mentions that the ceremony is being broadcast back to the Cook Islands.

George Ellis, the Cook Islands Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism speaks. He says the opening of the office is another milestone in the relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand and a manifestation of the growing economic freedom of the islands.

Norman King speaks on behalf of the New Zealand government.

Premier of the Cook Islands, Sir Albert Henry speaks about the past relationship between the two countries. [The recording ends part way through his speech]

Tapes 1 and 2 of 2. Tape 2 (TX2296 is blank).