Cabinet of the Cook Islands

The Cabinet of the Cook Islands is the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch of the Cook Islands Government. It consists of the Prime Minister and a number of other Ministers, who are collectively responsible to Parliament.

Legislative basis

Unlike other Commonwealth Realms, the Cook Islands Cabinet has a formal legislative basis in the Cook Islands Constitution. Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and up to six other ministers. The Constitution as originally enacted allowed for between three and five cabinet ministers. The Constitution was amended in 1970 to allow up to six cabinet ministers besides the prime minister, in 1991 to between six and eight ministers, and most recently in 1999 again restricted to no more than six. The 1999 amendment had also specified that while five ministers would be appointed from members of parliament, any sixth minister would have to be appointed from someone outside parliament. In 2026, the Constitution was again amended to require all six potential ministers to be appointed from within parliament.

Members are appointed by the King's Representative on advice of the Prime Minister.

All Cabinet ministers also serve as members of the Executive Council, which advises the King's Representative. Cabinet decisions take effect after four days, or when formally confirmed by the Executive Council.

Current members

As of 8 February 2024, the Cook Islands Cabinet consisted of:

Cabinet ministers

Incumbent Portfolios and responsibilities Since
Mark Brown
(Cook Islands Party)		 1 June 2020
Albert Nicholas
(Cook Islands Party)		 16 February 2024
Rose Toki-Brown
(Independent)		 2 June 2021
Vaine Mokoroa
(Cook Islands Party)		 2 June 2021
George Angene
(Cook Islands Party)		 10 July 2018
Tingika Elikana
(Cook Islands Party)		 31 January 2024

References

  1. ↑ , s13 (1). Accessed 13 September 2026.
  2. ↑ Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964, New Zealand Legislation, 1964 No 69. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Constitutional Amendment (No.5) Act 1970 No. 21, Parliament of the Cook Islands. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Constitutional Amendment (No.14) Act 1991 No. 21, Parliament of the Cook Islands. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  5. ↑ Constitutional Amendment (No.23) Act 1999 No. 4, Parliament of the Cook Islands. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  6. ↑ Constitutional Amendment (No.30) Act 2026 No. 1, Parliament of the Cook Islands. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  7. ↑ Mika, Talaia (10 February 2026). "Parliament approves move to appoint additional Cabinet Minister", Cook Islands News. Accessed 13 September 2026.
  8. ↑ Cook Islands Constitution, s13 (3).
  9. ↑ Cook Islands Constitution, s19.
  10. ↑ "Cabinet Services". www.pmoffice.gov.ck. Office of the Prime Minister Cook Islands. Retrieved 18 May 2025.