Grant Funding agreement for the funding agreement for Rakahanga PV project
SPEAKING NOTES FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
HON. HENRY PUNA 29 September 2011

Your Excellency, the Ambassador of Japan to New Zealand, Mr Hideto Mitamura; the Acting Secretary General for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Mr Feleti Teo; and PEC Program Manager Jonathan Mitchell - I extend to you a very warm Kia Orana and welcome to the Cook Islands. Thank you for your kind remarks.
To my Cabinet Ministers, Caucus members and Leader of the Opposition, tatou katoatoa, Kia Orana I te aroa korereka o to tatou Atua.
I am very proud to see my brothers and sisters from Rakahanga at this very memorable occasion today. Member of Parliament for Rakahanga, Taunga Toka and your lovely wife and Council Member Vaeau Hagai who have joined us today to witness the signing of an agreement between the Forum Secretariat and the Cook Islands Government to start our journey towards achieving our renewable energy policy goals; the conversion of 50% of our island’s electricity needs by 2015 and 100% by 2020. This means we aim to convert 50% of our islands by 2015 and all islands by 2020.
This is the beginning of our journey to achieve our vision for renewable energy our country – and the first step towards shaking off the shackles of ever increasing oil prices that have imprisoned us for centuries. This is our advance towards more certainty in planning as a nation.
At this point in time, I would like to sincerely thank the Government of Japan for its initiative and generosity in granting the Pacific US$66 million of which the Cook Islands was allocated $4 million. We are very grateful for your country’s foresight and knowledge that the Cook Islands will be in need of such funds.
I would also like to thank the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for its prudent management of funds and for allocating it equally amongst the Forum Pacific member countries.
I am sure this will forge a closer and stronger working relationship between your organization and my Government and also the Government of Japan.
In choosing the order of islands for energy conversion, the most vulnerable and most isolated was chosen to begin with. This is to emphasise that our people’s energy needs - even those islands with the smallest number of inhabitants – represent a genuine concern for us and must be taken care of with a sense of economic and environmental responsibility.
Economics. Having lived on an isolated island like Manihiki, the economics of doing this also makes so much sense. The cost of living and doing anything on those islands are dictated by the price of oil. Everything has the price of oil label on it. From food to education to infrastructure and doing business, oil is intricately intertwined with them. As the price of oil continuously increases, so does the cost of living and doing business. Those who cannot pay the price either leave our shores or abstain from using electricity in their homes. This is a sad predicament for our people to be in.
Environment: Rakahanga is the sister island to my island of Manihiki. There, we depend very heavily on the health and wellbeing of our lagoon and environment to support our livelihoods and our Black Pearl Farms. We know very well that the use of fossil fuels is a big contributor to carbon emission into the atmosphere which is a significant contributor to climate change. Although our emission is very tiny compared to bigger countries, and the impact of natural disasters are much harsher on us, we all need to work together to do our bit to make sure our environment can sustain us and future generations, and ensure our small islands like Rakahanga stay above water.
To show that this is high priority area for my Government, we have established a Renewable Energy Development Division under the umbrella of the Office of the Prime Minister. That Division has the enviable task of ensuring that money allocated under this agreement is spent wisely. I will ensure Mr Acting Secretary General - that my staff works earnestly to ensure the remaining funds are captured before the three years is due. And perhaps even capture the allocation of those countries that have yet to submit a proposal!
We all know renewable energy is a necessity for the Pacific, especially for small islands states like the Cook Islands. Pacific leaders have affirmed this many times. It is our lifeline, to save us from the economic and environmental degradation of fossil fuels. I can tell you that the Cook Islands will be quick to take that lifeline, hence the short timeline in achieving our policy targets. What we have done this morning is the start of moving on that journey.
In closing, I would like to again thank Government of Japan for its very generous assistance; the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat; staff of the Energy Division (now the Renewable Energy Division) for their hard work in securing these funds; and of course the people of the Rakahanga for accepting this project to start on their island. I believe we will achieve more if we work together as partners.
I am confident we can achieve our policy goals because I know I stand on the shoulders of many giants - giants who are our friends and who are willing to uplift our country when times are tough. These are partners both local and international…and I do this with our people close to my heart. Kia Orana e kia manuia.

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