This is the forth editorial in a series of opinion pieces covering the Cook Islands development journey. Written by Secretary for Cultural Development, Emile Kairua The journey of the Cook Islands from 1965 to 2025 is not only a tale of political evolution and economic development, but also equally a profound story of cultural resilience,…
The Government of the Cook Islands will welcome island leaders from across the Pa Enua to Rarotonga next week for the Pa Enua Governance Forum 2025, a national gathering dedicated to strengthening collaboration between the Pa Enua and Central Government. The Forum, hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister – Pa Enua Governance Unit,…
Last week, on Thursday 10 July 2025, senior officials from the Cook Islands met with New Zealand counterparts in Auckland, New Zealand, to discuss the bilateral relationship through the Joint Ministerial Forum Working Group (JMF-WG) mechanism. The JMF-WG is an annual meeting between the two countries and provides a platform for officials to engage on…
This is the third in a series of opinion pieces covering the Cook Islands development journey. Written by Dr Alex Frame LL.D (VUW) Dr Alex Frame grew up in 1950s Tahiti where his father was a flying boat pilot in the days before landplanes, attending the old Arue School and Collège Paul Gauguin in Papeete.…
The Office of the Prime Minister is pleased to announce the conclusion of Exercise Itiki’anga, a national emergency preparedness simulation that brought together government agencies, first responders, private sector, NGOs, and community representatives to test the country’s disaster coordination systems. Running throughout this week, the exercise has played a critical role in strengthening national readiness,…
This is the second in a series of opinion pieces covering the Cook Islands development journey. Written by Financial Secretary, Garth Henderson. As we mark 60 years of self-governance, we also mark a critical economic shift, from transition to transformation. Transition was our response to crisis. When COVID-19 brought global tourism to a halt, the…
Understanding the nature and practice of free-association as we reflect on our development journey – By Hon. Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands This is the first in a series of opinion pieces covering the Cook Islands development journey. Future editions will invite contributions from subject matter experts and examine the Cook Islands socio-economic development,…
The Office of the Prime Minister is proud to announce the establishment of Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki: The Cook Islands National Awards, an historic milestone to recognise and honour outstanding service, leadership, and achievement across all sectors of Cook Islands society. The Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki Act, introduced by Prime Minister Mark Brown,…
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Hon. Mark Brown, today reaffirmed the nation’s sovereign right to engage internationally in accordance with its Constitution and national interests, following recent public discussions surrounding Cook Islands’ bilateral agreements and development partnerships. In an address to Parliament, the Prime Minister emphasised that while the Cook Islands remains in…
Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced the Cook Islands’ intention to establish Ra’ui To’ora, a Dynamic Ocean Protection Zone for whales, a Pacific-led innovation grounded in Indigenous stewardship and cutting-edge marine science. Unveiled at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), Ra’ui To’ora will provide seasonal protection for the endangered Oceania sub-population of humpback whales as…