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The House of Ariki () is a parliamentary body in the Cook Islands. It is composed of Cook Islands high chiefs (''ariki''), appointed by the Queen's Representative. There are up to twenty four members,〔(Since the 2002 constitutional amendment )〕 representing different islands of the Cooks.〔(Constitution of the Cook Islands ), section 8〕 Its function is to: :''"consider such matters relative to the welfare of the people of the Cook Islands as may be submitted to it by () for its consideration, and it shall express its opinion and make recommendations thereon to ()"''〔Constitution of the Cook Islands, section 9〕 It may only discuss matters put to it by the democratically elected Parliament, and may only voice suggestions in return. ==Formation== It was established in 1967 by Prime Minister Albert Henry, shortly after the country obtained self-government from New Zealand. Henry stated that the ''ariki'' were the Cook Islands' "royal heritage". The House of Ariki was intended to confer additional legitimacy and strength to the newly self-governing nation, and to help it define its national identity.〔"Premier Albert Henry stressed that the retention and recognition of the nation’s ‘royal heritage’ would associate the Cook Islands with the more fortunate nations of the world, that is, with nations such as Great-Britain () Tonga () which had maintained a strong sovereign identity. () The choice before the people of the Cook Islands was, therefore, a clear one – either to follow the path of Great Britain, the ‘Mother Country,’ and retain an indigenous spine, or to follow that of the New Zealand Māori and allow ‘the backbone of Polynesian existence to disappear’. () Ariki, like the British monarchy, lent historical depth to this nation while increasing its prestige (at least in its own eyes) within the Pacific region." Sissons, Jeffrey. ''Nation and Destination: Creating Cook Islands Identity''. Suva: University of the South Pacific (Institute of Pacific Studies), 1999, ISBN 982-02-0142-X, pp.61–62.〕 Henry stated: :''"The ''ariki'' (other chiefly ranks ) and their tribes are the backbone of all nations in this world. For any nation to allow this backbone to be broken or to disappear would mean that they are relying on a foreign backbone for their survival."''〔Albert Henry, quoted in Sissons, Jeffrey, ibid〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「House of Ariki」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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