Prime Minister announces reappointment of the King’s representative

Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, the Honourable Mark Brown, has announced the reappointment of His Excellency Sir Tom Marsters as the King’s Representative in the Cook Islands, for a further three-year term. The reappointment follows confirmation received from His Majesty King Charles III.

The announcement was made during the official Constitution Day celebrations on Monday 4 August 2025, where Prime Minister Brown took a moment to personally honour Sir Tom, whose 80th birthday coincided with the 60th anniversary of the nation’s self-government.

“For the past decade, Sir Tom has shared his birthday with our country by attending to his duty on Constitution Day,” said Prime Minister Brown. “He has put our country’s interest ahead of his own.”

Sir Tom Marsters has served as the King’s Representative since 2013, following a distinguished public service career that spans decades.

“Sir Tom has demonstrated the best of our Cook Islands values – values of service, leadership, and duty,” said the Prime Minister. “The breadth and depth of his public service, his wisdom, dignity, and grace have been an inspiration to us all.”

H.E Sir, Tom John Marsters, was born on the Island of Palmerston on the 4th of August 1945 and is married Lady Tuaine (nee Wichman) Marsters, with three sons, a daughter and a number of grandchildren.

He was Knighted as Bachelor Commander of the British Empire by His Royal Highness Prince Charles – Duke of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace in 2018.

Sir Tom was first appointed Queen’s Representative on the 29th July 2013 and reappointed in July 2016 and in July 2019. In his role as Queens’s Representative, he has presided in numerous ‘Executive Councils’ as Chairperson, 2013 – 2025.

His Parliamentary service has also been longstanding having first been elected as a Member of Parliament of the Cook Islands in a By-Election of 1991; re-elected in the General Elections of 1994, 1999, 2004 and on the 26th September 2006, during a Snap Election.

Sir Toms Ministerial roles included the Deputy Prime Minister, Associate Minister of Finance, Works, Tourism the Public Service Commission, Environment Services, Energy, Youth, Sports and Recreation, Police, Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Transport (Civil Aviation and Shipping) and Seabed Minerals.

Working in the Public Service Sir Tom first began as an Agriculture Officer was the Director of Fisheries Clerk of the House of Ariki, Chief Administration Officer (Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries) and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. He has also served on a number of Government Agencies and Boards serving as a member of the Cook Islands Teachers’ Guild and member of the Public Service Appeal Board as well as a time as the Harbour Master.

Politics has been a realm where Sir Tom has contributed solidly with his involvement having started at the inception of our democracy, demonstrated by his time as Secretary General of the Cook Islands Party 1968 – 1999, entering Parliament in 1991 as Member for Murienua, a constituency of Rarotonga that he held until 2006.

His time in politics also saw him take the roles of Deputy leader of the Cook Islands Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Minister of the Crown, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition.

Sir Tom Marsters is also an avid sportsmen and has represented the Cook Islands in Boxing , Rugby and Golf and he also excelled in Cricket , Tennis and Lawn Bowls. Bu it was martial Arts where he found a real passion and was an exponent in the Japanese Art of “Kei – Shin- Kan”.

In his Constitution Day remarks, the Prime Minister also took the opportunity to extend his warmest wishes to Sir Tom on the occasion of his milestone 80^th birthday:
“May this year, and all your years to come, be filled with health, happiness, and continued blessings.”

Sir Tom’s reappointment affirms the strength and continuity of the Cook Islands’ constitutional arrangements, and the enduring bond shared with our Sovereign.