
The first Premier of the Cook Islands, the late Albert Henry was responsible for establishing the National Archives in 1974. The Archives was a division within the Premier’s Department at the time. Initially, the Takitumu Hostel at Takamoa had been the Archives temporary location.
The Archives Research Officer Tom Tixier administered the Archives, assisted by George Paniani. In August 1975, the Archives moved to one end of the Library and Museum Society building. In April 1987, the National Archives under the control of Archivist George Paniani was moved to the Seismological Observatory at Takuvaine Valley which is its present location. Kauraka Kauraka joined the Archives in 1988 as Principal Archivist and remained there until he was transferred to the Anthropology Division in 1990. In that same year, the National Archives went under the umbrella of the Ministry of Cultural Development – Tauranga Vananga.