Former National MP Alfred Ngaro, along with his wife, son, brother, and nephew, have been cleared of assault claims made by a sibling, according to Cook Island police.
The police spokesman stated that no charges were being pursued due to a lack of evidence.
The allegations arose following a family dispute that reportedly turned violent during the funeral of Ngaro’s late mother, Toko Kirianu, in the Cook Islands. The incident allegedly occurred as her coffin was being carried into her home for burial preparation. Kirianu had passed away in an Auckland rest home on Christmas Day, and the family had taken her body back to her native Cook Islands for burial.
The dispute among the Ngaro siblings led to the involvement of Aitutaki police. However, after interviewing nine witnesses, the police concluded that there was insufficient evidence to sustain charges. The complainant was informed of this outcome.
Alfred Ngaro described the situation as particularly hard for his father, Daniel, who was mourning his wife’s death and witnessing conflict among his children. Ngaro expressed relief that the police investigation had concluded, allowing the family to grieve and prepare for the burial of their mother. He mentioned the difficulty of the situation and the impact on their family’s ability to grieve.
Ngaro served as a National MP from 2011 until 2020 and was the leader of the Christian party NewZeal in 2023, although he did not win re-election.
