RAROTONGA, Cook Islands — Gov. Togiola Talalelei Tulafono of American Samoa extended best wishes to the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG) during its meeting at the Muri Beach Hotel, here in Rarotonga over the weekend.

“My term as governor legally comes to an end at the end of the year and under US laws I cannot run for office again,” said Togiola. “But I am very happy to have been a part of this exciting group at its early stages.”

“I see tremendous potential for this group to bring positive development and changes to our Polynesian people, our respective Polynesian countries. I leave knowing that it is in very capable hands and I will make sure my successor will continue the support and momentum that we have managed to achieve, in whatever way I can influence it (successor),” he said.

“I’d like to thank the Forum chair for his guidance today and particularly Prime Minister Tuilaepa (Sailele Malielegaoi) for his drive and vision in pushing for this group to be established,” he said.

PLG chair and Cook Islands premier Henry Puna thanked Togiola for his support and contributions to the PLG.

Meanwhile, less than a year after it was launched in Apia, the fledgling PLG could soon expand from its core eight members. Three Polynesian communities on Saturday presented practical and emotional submissions for membership of  the PLG at the Rarotonga meeting.

Persuasive among them was a presentation by the Maori of Aotearoa – representing 56 iwi – who impressed upon the leaders the growing economic and commercial strength of the Tangata Whenua of New Zealand.

Maori, they claimed, now have NZ$36 billion worth of assets and are keen to engage in a myriad of economic and commercial ventures with “our Polynesian brothers and sisters.”

“They gave us a very long presentation...which illustrated their vast experience in terms of managing the affairs for such a large group of 56 tribes,” said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, credited as the architect of the PLG.

“And we are looking at that kind of experience which would be extremely valuable in the sense of looking at possible, practical ways of utilizing that experience in the development of our PLG group.”

“So can I say that this evening that we have the addition of the Hawaiian community, the Maori of New Zealand, as well as the Rapa Nui, Easter Island, and we will be addressing this finally in the final communiqué.”

The three submissions have been referred to officials to research and report back to the leaders with recommendations before the end of the Forum meeting this week.

Tuilaepa said the group expects a jump in interest from other Polynesian communities in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and even the Torres Straits.

“The group now seems to be perceived as a revival of Polynesian heritage, Polynesian pride and what can be achieved by us Polynesians – a Polynesian nation,” he said.  “Of course, we provided in our MOU for membership of countries and minority populations of Polynesians within a bigger grouping.”

The leaders also discussed at length the expansion of telecommunications services in the Polynesian region, the development of shipping cooperation, economic investment, alternative energy generation, education, sports and culture.

“ICT development is very important to our group, to our region It is the only means to eliminate the isolation. ICT development contributes enormously to health and  medicine, distance education, development of tourism, commerce, tourism and shipping,” said Tuilaepa.

He said the recent cancellation of two marine cable connections to the islands of Polynesia meant combined action was required.

“So we are now moving to another, other alternatives like a connection of a marine cable between Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. These are one of the examples of projects that are so important to the development of the Polynesian Leaders Group which requires a more intensive focus in our discussion with our donor partners and other possible sources of funding,” he said.

Tuilaepa said funding agencies have been slow to include sports in their assistance packages.

“Sports development not only poses a secure income for young athletes who progress on to the professional ranks but also keeps young people positively and meaningfully occupied without turning into antisocial behavior and habits that youth often get up to,” said the Prime Minister.

PLG members comprises the Cook islands, French Polynesia, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Niue, American Samoa and Tokelau.

[Samoa News editor’s note: This story was first published in the Samoa government owned newspaper Le Savali, whose editor Tupuola T. Tavita has granted Samoa News permission to reprint this story as well as accompanying photos.]