Doctor granted honourary residency

I would also like to inform this Honorable House and our listening public that this afternoon another significant event is to take place.
The honor of Honorary Residency is to be bestowed by the Queens Representative upon Dr Katharine Bowden of New Zealand.
Recently Cabinet approved the granting of honorary Cook Islands residency to Dr Katherine Bowden, who with her late husband Dr Bernard Bowden, have provided their services to the country for many years free of charge. They have performed numerous eye surgeries, restoring the eyesight of many people. Most were provided with eye surgery and treatment that many normally could not have afforded. We all know that the gift of sight is priceless.
Ministry of Health made a verbal recommendation to the Minister of Health that Dr Katherine Bowden deserved to be awarded honorary residency in recognition of her services and to convey the appreciation of Government and the people of the Cook Islands.
The Bowden’s first began visiting the Cook Islands over 30 years ago.
Following the death of her husband, Dr Katherine established the Bernard Bowden Trust. One of the Trusts’ specific programmes organised through the Whangarei Rotary Club provides training to Cook Islands health workers from a wide range of disciplines.
Seventeen health staff from the Cook Islands have been placed by the Northland District Health Board and have been trained in Whangarei since that time. The programme is ongoing and managed through the Whangarei Rotary and Cook Islands Rotary Clubs.
Last month my Office met with Cook Islands Rotary Club to finalise specific criteria for applicants to the Bowden Trust and a user-friendly reporting system for the successful participants. This is now in place.
Dr Katherine, now in her late 70’s, recently revisited the Cook Islands to meet with the Minister and Ministry of Health and reaffirm support for Cook Islands health workers being able to benefit from the Bernard Bowden Trust.
This further indicates the long term commitment that Dr Katherine Bowden has to the well-being of the Cook Islands and upskilling of health workers in order to deliver better health services to our people.
Part I, Section 5A of the Entry, Residence and Departure Act provides the criteria involving the awarding of honorary residence in recognition of outstanding service. Dr Katherine Bowden falls within the criteria.
She is well deserving of being awarded honorary residency in recognition of her services to health and the people of the Cook Islands over many years.
Dr Katharine and your grand-daughter Zoe, welcome back to Rarotonga, and it really gives me so much joy and pleasure to be able to now say, welcome home.
Kia Orana

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