AGP Executive Report

Opposition Priorities: Incoming Opposition Leader Robert Heather says health services, living costs and government accountability will top his agenda for the next four years. Parliament and Petitions: Parliament is unlikely to sit until 2027, while electoral-petition hearing dates remain unset; the court registry expects hearings next month. Mauke Health: Work has begun to strengthen Mauke Hospital against climate impacts, including roof and water-storage upgrades, accessibility improvements and planned solar infrastructure. The project is part of a US$13.4 million programme to build more resilient health facilities across the Cook Islands.

Pacific Development: The ADB’s new five-year Pacific strategy prioritises economic opportunity, essential services and climate-resilient infrastructure, issues central to island governments. Government Priorities: Prime Minister Mark Brown is turning to recovery after Cyclone Wati, while work begins on a climate-resilient upgrade to Mauke Hospital. Parliament and Opposition: Parliament may not sit until 2027 as electoral-petition hearing dates remain unsettled. Incoming Opposition leader Robert Heather has put health care, living costs and government accountability at the top of his agenda.

Parliamentary Delay: Cook Islands Parliament may not sit again until 2027, as electoral petitions remain unresolved and hearing dates are still unclear. Opposition Priorities: Incoming Opposition Leader Robert Heather says health services, the cost of living and stronger government accountability will top his agenda. Mauke Health Services: Work has begun on a climate-resilient upgrade to Mauke Hospital, including roof and water-storage improvements, accessibility works and planned solar infrastructure. The project is part of a NZ$23.4 million programme to strengthen health facilities across the Cook Islands.

Opposition Priorities: Incoming Opposition Leader Robert Heather says health services, living costs and government accountability will top his agenda. He and independent MP George Angene have joined forces after years of political division. Parliament Watch: Parliament may not sit until 2027. Electoral petition hearing dates remain unconfirmed, though the court registry expects hearings next month. Public Services: Central agencies have aligned public-sector leaders around budget, workforce and national development priorities. Meanwhile, work is under way to make Mauke Hospital more climate-resilient, with roof, water-storage, access and solar upgrades planned.

Opposition Priorities: Incoming leader Robert Heather says the opposition will focus on health services, living costs and government accountability. His new alliance with Independent MP George “Maggie” Angene also ends a decade-long political feud. Parliament: A return to sittings may be delayed until 2027, with election-petition hearings still unscheduled; the court registry expects them next month. Public Service: Central agencies have aligned leaders around national goals, funding and workforce constraints to guide Cabinet advice and policy priorities. Health Resilience: Work has begun to upgrade Mauke Hospital, including its roof, water storage and accessibility, with solar infrastructure also planned. Seabed Mining: US companies are seeking rights to large areas of the Pacific’s international waters, raising questions for regional governance as commercial mining has yet to begin.

Parliament: Cook Islands Parliament is unlikely to sit until 2027, with no firm hearing dates yet for electoral petitions; the court registry says hearings are expected next month. Mauke Health: Work has begun to make Mauke Hospital more climate-resilient, including roof and water-storage upgrades, accessibility improvements and planned solar infrastructure. The project is part of a US$13.4 million programme to strengthen health facilities nationwide. Public Service: Central agencies have brought public-sector leaders together to align workforce, funding and national priorities, drawing on progress measures across 15 development goals. Seabed Mining: US mining claims in Pacific international waters are expanding, sharpening concerns for the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has reaffirmed safeguards as a report highlights economic risks. Regional Development: The Asian Development Bank’s 2026–30 Pacific strategy includes the Cook Islands, with a focus on resilience, infrastructure and stronger everyday services.

Tourism Policy: Public consultation is open on the Cook Islands’ draft National Tourism Policy. The Tourism Corporation says the plan should reflect what communities want tourism to contribute to their culture, environment and livelihoods. Cyclone Recovery: Prime Minister Mark Brown has shifted attention to recovery after Cyclone Wati hit the Cook Islands, as the region enters cyclone season. Public Service: Central agencies have aligned government leaders around budget pressures, workforce needs and national goals to guide policy priorities for the year ahead. Regional Development: The Asian Development Bank’s 2026–30 Pacific strategy includes the Cook Islands, with a focus on resilience, infrastructure and stronger local capacity. Infrastructure: Cook Islands officials returned from a New Zealand study tour exploring public-private partnerships and other ways to improve project planning and delivery. Language Funding: A letter to the editor questions the government’s $15,000 allocation to the national language commission, arguing it falls short of the state’s legal duties to preserve Cook Islands Māori. Seabed Mining: U.S. plans to expand deep-sea mining claims in Pacific waters are raising concerns for the Cook Islands and the region.

Immigration: A Sri Lankan woman stranded in Rarotonga since 2023 says she may accept detention to secure a way home. Cook Islands authorities cannot arrange her departure without transit permission from Australia or New Zealand. Tourism Policy: Public consultation has opened on a draft national tourism policy, with the Tourism Corporation seeking views on how the industry should serve communities, culture and the economy. Seabed Mining: A report says US-backed claims in the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone now cover an area about half the size of seabed designated by the international regulator. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority says it will protect national interests amid concerns over mining’s economic risks. Public Services: Central agencies have brought public-sector leaders together to align workforce, funding and national priorities, drawing on progress reports covering 15 development goals. Regional Development: The Asian Development Bank’s 2026–30 Pacific strategy includes the Cook Islands, with a focus on climate resilience, institutional capacity and services suited to dispersed island communities.

Public Service Priorities: Cook Islands central agencies shared data on national goals, budget and workforce pressures at a leaders’ conference, aiming to guide Cabinet advice and policy for the year ahead. Tourism Policy: Public consultation is open on a draft national policy intended to shape tourism’s contribution to communities, culture, the environment and the economy. Seabed Mining: The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority says it is safeguarding national interests after a report raised economic risks from deep-sea mining; separate reporting finds US-backed claims in the Pacific’s high seas are rapidly expanding. Cyclone Recovery: Prime Minister Mark Brown says damage assessments and clean-up are under way after Cyclone Wati, with Aitutaki bearing the storm’s full force and support being organised for affected communities. Regional Development: ADB’s 2026–30 Pacific strategy includes the Cook Islands, with a focus on climate resilience, stronger institutions and reliable services. Language Funding: A letter to the editor questions the Government’s $15,000 allocation to the national Māori language commission, arguing it falls short of legal duties to preserve the language.

Immigration: A Sri Lankan woman stranded in Rarotonga since 2023 is now an overstayer and says she would accept detention to prove she wants to go home. Cook Islands Immigration cannot arrange her departure without Australia or New Zealand approving transit. Regional Development: The ADB’s 2026–2030 Pacific strategy puts resilience, infrastructure and stronger local capacity at the centre of its work with the Cook Islands and 11 other island countries. Cyclone Response: Prime Minister Mark Brown says clean-up and damage assessments are under way after Cyclone Wati, with support being organised for affected communities. A letter to Cook Islands News, however, criticises Emergency Management Cook Islands’ public communication during the storm. Seabed Mining: The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority says it is safeguarding national interests after a report highlighted economic risks. Separately, US companies are seeking seabed rights in international waters, raising concerns about ocean governance and the implications for the Pacific. Tourism Policy: Public consultation has opened on a draft national tourism policy, with residents invited to weigh in on tourism’s effects on communities, culture and the environment. Infrastructure: Cook Islands Investment Corporation and Finance Ministry representatives have returned from a New Zealand study tour exploring alternative ways to plan, finance and deliver public infrastructure.

Cyclone Recovery: Prime Minister Mark Brown says clean-up and damage assessments are under way after Cyclone Wati struck Aitutaki, with support being organised for affected communities. A letter to the editor, however, criticised Emergency Management Cook Islands’ public communication during the storm. Seabed Mining: U.S. companies’ claims in the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone now cover an area about half the size of seabed already designated for mining by the international regulator. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority says it is safeguarding national interests after a report raised economic risks; local concerns also centre on environmental impacts and international ocean governance. Tourism Policy: Public consultation has opened on a proposed national policy, with residents invited to shape tourism’s impact on communities, culture, the environment and the economy. Infrastructure: Cook Islands officials have examined New Zealand’s public-private partnership models, with a study tour stressing that such arrangements are not a solution on their own. Regional Development: A new ADB strategy for 2026–2030 includes the Cook Islands and aims to strengthen climate resilience, institutions and essential services across 12 Pacific countries.

Cyclone Recovery: Prime Minister Mark Brown says clean-up and damage assessments are under way after Cyclone Wati hit Aitutaki, with support being organised for affected communities, including in the northern islands. He said the storm arrived before the official cyclone season, raising concerns about changing weather patterns. Pacific Development: The Asian Development Bank’s 2026–30 strategy includes the Cook Islands among 12 countries set to receive support for jobs, essential services and resilient infrastructure, with projects tailored to island needs. Seabed Mining: A US company is seeking permits to mine a proposed 65,000-square-kilometre area of the Pacific seabed through a US process, not the International Seabed Authority. The application has not been approved, but the bid has prompted concerns about ocean governance and potential effects on the Cook Islands.

Seabed Mining: U.S. companies’ claims in the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone now rival a large share of the area designated by the International Seabed Authority. A proposed U.S. permit for a 65,000-square-kilometre area has raised concerns in the Cook Islands about ocean protection and international rules. Regional Security: Pacific police chiefs have launched PACPOL to strengthen intelligence-sharing and joint action against cross-border crime. Women’s Rights: The Cook Islands defended its progress at a CEDAW exchange as calls grow for reforms, including raising the marriage age. Pacific Partnership: The Cook Islands and the Pacific Community have begun consultations on a five-year partnership.

Seabed Mining: A US company’s bid to pursue deep-sea mining permits through a domestic process, rather than the International Seabed Authority, has raised concerns about ocean governance and the precedent for Pacific states. The application has not been approved. Cyclone Response: Aitutaki reported limited damage from Cyclone Wati as island authorities and government agencies activated emergency operations and monitored conditions. Gender Reform: The Cook Islands defended its progress on women’s rights at a regional CEDAW exchange, amid calls for a higher minimum marriage age and other reforms. Press Freedom: Newly appointed Cook Islands News senior journalist Shalveen Chand says censorship, intimidation and attacks on journalists in Fiji and Samoa underscore why a free press is vital to holding power accountable.

Seabed Mining: A US company is seeking permits to mine a vast area of the Pacific under US law, outside the International Seabed Authority process. The application has not been approved, but Cook Islands groups warn it could affect ocean governance and Pacific states. Women’s Rights: Cook Islands representatives raised women’s rights and small-island concerns at a CEDAW exchange, amid calls to review marriage-age rules and pursue reforms. Parliamentary Accountability: The Opposition has opened an interim office after its former premises were designated for a Cabinet minister. A new column questions whether Parliament still gives opposition voices room to scrutinise power. Government Coordination: The Prime Minister has called for unified action across the public service, while Cook Islands and the Pacific Community have begun consultations on a five-year partnership.

Cyclone Wati: Aitutaki activated its emergency centre as the Category 2 storm approached, with damaging winds, heavy rain and rough seas forecast. The island reported minor damage, including power cuts and a tree falling on a home. Seabed Mining: Te Ipukarea Society warns a US bid to authorise deep-sea mining could undermine international ocean governance and affect Pacific states. The application is still under assessment; a mining company says it is also evaluating Cook Islands opportunities. Opposition Politics: United Party leader Teariki Heather and independent MP George Angene have ended a decade-long feud. Their reconciliation comes as the Opposition works from an interim office after the former site was allocated to a Cabinet minister; Parliament rents space from Heather, with a conflict of interest declared. Women’s Rights: UN experts challenged the Cook Islands over patriarchal barriers and the legal exception allowing marriage at 16, urging reforms and better support for women in remote communities.