Ui Ariki Day in 2025

When is Ui Ariki Day?

Ra o te Ui Ariki is a public holiday in the Cook Islands and it is observed on the first Friday in July each year.

History of Ui Ariki Day

In December 2011, former government minister Teariki Heather confirmed a new public holiday “Ra o te Ui Ariki”, commemorating the Ariki and the aronga mana of the Cook Islands.

Initially, the holiday was commemorated annually on July 6th - the date that the House of Ariki met for the first time in 1967.

The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. People inhabited the islands about 1000 years ago, and the first European contact happened in 1595. In 1890, the Cook Islands became aligned to the United Kingdom and became part of British dominions in 1900. The United Kingdom made the islands part of the colony of New Zealand one year after.

In 1965, the islands became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. In the same year, the House of Ariki, a parliamentary body, was suggested, which was built in 1967. The House of Ariki is composed of 24 Cook Islands high chiefs (Ariki). As a result, Ra o te Ui Ariki can be translated as "Day of the high chief council".

The council does not have real legislation powers, and it plays an advisory role to the parliament.