Te Maeva Nui is an annual celebration of Cook Islands culture that brings groups from all the country's islands to Rarotonga. The cost of this year's festivities has blown out to US$2 million. Photo: RNZ Sally Round
The Cook Islands government has defended spending $US2.06 million (NZ$3.04m) on this year's Te Maeva Nui celebrations on Rarotonga.
The opposition Democratic Party said the cost for this year's independence celebrations are four times what was budgeted for.
The Democratic Party is especially critical of the $US1.6 million ($NZ2.38m) to transport people from the outer islands to Rarotonga.
People from the nation's far flung islands are descending on the main island for a week of culture, dance and feasting to celebrate the Cook Islands birth as an independent nation on August 4.
The deputy prime minister Mark Brown said the government can afford it, and he told the Cook Islands News it's important people coming in are able to travel in safety and comfort.
He said Te Maeva Nui is also a chance for the people on the other islands to take advantage of medical services on Rarotonga and buy supplies to take back home.
The Democratic Party said it supports the celebrations but they say if they'd organised them they would have saved about $US700,000.
