Cook Islands Law Reports / CILCR

CILCR: Cook Islands Land Court Reports, 1902 to 1965

The decisions and evidence of the Land Titles Court and the Land Court of the Cook Islands, from Walter Gudgeon’s first sittings at Avarua in 1903 to 1965, taken from the Rarotonga and outer-island minute books. Decisions of importance are reported as the volumes of the series reach them; each minute book’s own index of lands is given, so that a land can be found in the book before its cases are reported. Cited by minute book and page: (1912) 5 MB 167A.

On this page

The reports, in order of the minute book

One row per decision, in the order of the minute books, each with its own anchor (#mb-5-167a for (1912) 5 MB 167A). The Report column opens the report; until a report is written it opens the minute-book pages. Decisions are added as the volumes of the series reach them.

CitationLandDecidedJudgeHeadnoteReport
(1912) 5 MB 167AAvatiu lands1912MacCormickThe 1823 return “as if there had been no conquest”; the mata‘iapo never driven outPages
(1937) 12 MB 232Parako section 1345 May 1937Ayson CJNo jurisdiction to re-open a sealed order unless fraud is proved (ss 390, 391, 414); application to re-open the 1908 investigation dismissed; Tuokura confirmed as Tairi te Rangi. Report with the hearing and the Ngāti Arera genealogies attachedReport
(1953) 22 MB 78Taputapuatea sections 72, 39, 40 and 72A, Avarua24 April 1953MorganNothing connects the Makea with Taputapuatea in ancient history; no defined districts until Pa fixed the boundariesPages

The minute-book pages held, with transcriptions

Decisions of importance are added to the Reports as the chapters reach them, cited by book and page, for example (1912) 5 MB 167A. Each minute book’s own index of lands is transcribed as the book is worked through, so that a land can be found in it before its cases are reported. The Rarotonga books and the years they cover: Book 1, 2 April 1903 to 18 April 1905 (index of lands, below); the others to follow.

Rarotonga Minute Book 5 (1912), the Avatiu case: pp. 101–200, 238, 243–244, 285

pp. 101–150: Raea Rupe at 116–117, Vaikai Maoate at 121–122 · pp. 151–200: Vaikai Maoate at 162, Judge MacCormick’s decision at 167A–167C · pp. 238, 243–244 and 285: Parakoti, cross-examined by Savage; Pa Ariki (pp. 261–267, Stephen Savage, 2–3 May 1912, to follow)

Raea Rupe (pp. 116–117, “the mata‘iapo were never driven out”), Vaikai Maoate (pp. 121–122, 162, the war over Kainuku’s wife Akaiti), Parakoti (p. 238) and Pa Ariki (p. 285) on Makea Takau’s parents, and Stephen Savage (p. 267, 3 May 1912, “Vakaatini was not a son of Te Paatuakino”; the court: “very singular … immaterial”). Judge MacCormick’s decision of 1912 is cited as (1912) 5 MB 167A.

The decision is entered in the reports above as (1912) 5 MB 167A. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Rarotonga Minute Book 7: p. 88 (1913), the Arera Ariki genealogy sworn by Pittman; pp. 325–332 (25 October 1916), the Makea genealogies given by Paaro, with pp. 329A and 331A

pp. 325–332 (PDF) · p. 331A on its own · p. 88

Page 331A is the Makea Nui genealogy from Karika that Browne showed in 1949 to be impossible. Page 325 (14 October 1916) on succession by native custom where a name was put in a title as a gift.

Entered in the reports above as (1913) 7 MB 88 and (1916) 7 MB 325. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Rarotonga Minute Book 12: p. 183 and the exhibits glued after it (29 April 1937), Vaike Ruariki’s Arera genealogy; pp. 289–291 (2–3 May 1939), Willie Parau Browne’s genealogy of the Putua line, Re Makea Ariki

pp. 289–290 (PDF) · as a document, with the chart · the chart

On 3 May 1939 Browne withdrew his claim to the Makea arikiship “considering public interests” and gave his genealogy on oath to show he was “one of Kopu Ariki”; he stated that “Pa Atuakino was an adopted son of Rangi Makea”. The court recorded that the position of titles in relation to long occupation of lands applies equally to an ariki title. The transcription of pp. 289–290 and the Vaike Ruariki exhibits, with the photographs of every page, are on the Volume One archive, Chapter 5, sections 19.5 and 19.6.

Entered in the reports above as (1939) 12 MB 289. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Rarotonga Minute Book 15, pp. 117–124 (12–13 January 1943): Vaike Ruariki’s genealogy from Arera Ukarau, Ikurangi section 131; the Tamaiva title

The pages (PDF)

Entered in the reports above as (1943) 15 MB 117. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Rarotonga Minute Book 22, pp. 78–89 (24 April 1953): Judge H. J. Morgan, Taputapuatea sections 72, 39, 40 and 72A, Avarua

The decision whole, eight pages (PDF) · the passages as printed in the first edition

Nothing connects the Makea with Taputapuatea in ancient history; no defined tribal districts until Pa fixed the boundaries just before the Gospel. Cited as (1953) 22 MB 78.

Entered in the reports above as (1953) 22 MB 78. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Aitutaki Minute Book 12, p. 63 (19 May 1947): Tupou Tiraa before Judge Morgan, Toenae section 63

The page (PDF)

A Pa ariki married Vaieturangi; their children Pa Te Ruaroa and Moeavaroa; Moeavaroa married Po te Anuanua called Tuakino; their children Taitua, Te Pa Tuakino and Te Tauira; Taitua’s line in Aitutaki to the witness.

Entered in the reports above as (1947) Aitutaki 12 MB 63. Relied on in the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026: the documents, on the Research page.

Rarotonga Minute Book 1, 2 April 1903 to 18 April 1905: the index of lands

Transcribed from the book’s own handwritten index pages, by land name as the clerk wrote it, with the minute-book pages on which the land appears. Each land has its own anchor on this page, and the Report column fills as the book’s decisions are reported in the Cook Islands Land Court Reports, cited as (1903) 1 MB 3. A reading that is not certain is marked. Readers who know a name or can read a word we could not are asked to tell us through Have your say; the index is corrected and their help acknowledged.

Land or matter, as writtenPages in Minute Book 1NoteReport
A
Arakuo Karika3, 20, 28reading uncertainNot yet reported
Arakuo Makea4, 145reading uncertainNot yet reported
Arorangi boundary10Not yet reported
Arepaaki18, 47Not yet reported
Araiava18Not yet reported
Arapaonga19Not yet reported
Akaoa47, 50, 59–69, 150, 188Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 874, 139, 143Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 975, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1077, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1178, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1278, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1379, 90, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1478, 174, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1579, 174, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1678, 174, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 17107, 119, 136, 139, 244Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 17A138 (178), 139, 244Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 18139, 193, 211, 224, 242Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 1979, 193, 139Not yet reported
Avaavaroa, section 2079, 139Not yet reported
Arakuo Karika ki Uta85, 141reading uncertainNot yet reported
Arerenga67, 150Not yet reported
Angaroa173Not yet reported
Te Aratapu, Beach Road192Not yet reported
Areiti196, 301Not yet reported
Arepua197Not yet reported
Aroa197, 253Not yet reported
Akapuao249, 265Not yet reported
Aroka284Not yet reported
Aretumu309, 313, 329Not yet reported
Anautangata310, 313, 330Not yet reported
Arakeke378Not yet reported
B
Beach Reserve146Not yet reported
Beach Road192Not yet reported
C
Cricket Club lease195Not yet reported
E
Enua Kura19Not yet reported
Enua o Keu173Not yet reported
Ereka190Not yet reported
I
Iipula74reading uncertainNot yet reported
K
Karika, will of1Not yet reported
Katoti2, 29, 70, 71Not yet reported
Koeanga14, 27Not yet reported
Koteanu196reading uncertainNot yet reported
Kaopuleroa196reading uncertainNot yet reported
Konati253Not yet reported
Karaii266, 280, 293, 300Not yet reported
Te Kauarikirangi337, 344, 345Not yet reported
Kaviri382Not yet reported
M
Moringa21Not yet reported
Mission (LMS) lands92Not yet reported
Matavai196Not yet reported
Mangaiti Kairoa306, 313, 329, 346second word uncertainNot yet reported
Manuae310, 313, 330Not yet reported
Te Matepo335Not yet reported
N
Nauparotoa60, 335Not yet reported
Te Nutuilai289, 295, 300reading uncertainNot yet reported
Nukupure301, 303Not yet reported
Ngaruveli378, 381reading uncertainNot yet reported
P
Papaaroa5, 11, 22, 69Not yet reported
Puaao19Not yet reported
Parai19Not yet reported
Pakua43Not yet reported
Pukutapu187, 253Not yet reported
Te Puna3Not yet reported
Punaroto330Not yet reported
Te Piri368, 372, 379Not yet reported
R
Rautara2Not yet reported
Rarokawa368Not yet reported
Te Ruakina378, 381Not yet reported

Index pages photographed in the Cook Islands Land Court, Rarotonga; the letters A, B, C, E, I, K, M, N, P and R are the pages the book’s index carries entries for. Page last changed 25 October 2026.

Cook Islands Customary Law

The customary law, history and land of the Southern Cook Islands, from the records and from the people who kept them.

Cover of Volume One: an engraved portrait of a Cook Islands man
Cover of Volume Two: a large group of Rarotongans in traditional dress
Cover of Volume Three: an engraving of a mission house among palms
Cover of Volume Four: Pa Ariki, Queen Makea, Hon C H Mills and Tinomana Ariki, photographed by G A Read
Volume OneVolume TwoVolume ThreeVolume Four