A historic moment as George Taripo (centre) walks towards his investiture as Makea George Karika Ariki in Avarua yesterday. Hundreds of people watched as the oﬃ cial party walked to the Makea Karika palace. 18121263

One of the most important traditional ceremonies to be held on Rarotonga for many years brought crowds of spectators to Avatiu yesterday morning as the historic investiture for Makea George Karika Ariki began.

There was an open invitation for the public to attend the ceremony and both locals and tourists filled every available vantage port at Avatiu and soon afterwards at Avarua, where Makea George Karika disembarked from a vaka, paddled by a mixed crew of 12.

At Avarua, Karika Ariki walked though smoke from fires burning in front of the landing point, before completing a ritual cleansing. He was then escorted up the road via the roundabout to the Karika palace, where speeches were made and huge parcels of food served.

George Freddric Taripo (Tama Ariki) succeeded to the title after the death of his mother, the late Dame Makea Margaret Karika Ariki last year.