18th Cook Islands Parliament

The 18th Cook Islands Parliament was the previous term of the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Its composition was determined by the 2022 elections on 1 August 2022. The opening of parliament was delayed by over 7 months due to petitions over the election results. The 18th parliament finally opened on 21 March 2023, and was dissolved on 25 July 2026.Gazette No. 6 – Dissolution of the Eighteenth Parliament of the Cook Islands, Cook Islands Gazette, 25 June 2026. Accessed 28 August 2026.

Officeholders Presiding officers Speaker of the House: Tai Tura (Cook Islands Party) Deputy Speaker of the House: Tuakeu Tangatapoto (Cook Islands Party)

Other parliamentary officers Clerk: Tangata Vainerere Deputy Clerk: Tai Manavaroa

Party leaders Prime Minister: Hon. Mark Brown (Cook Islands Party) Deputy Prime Minister: Hon. Albert Nicholas (Cook Islands Party) from 16 February 2024 Hon. Robert Tapaitau (Independent) until 31 January 2024 Leader of the Opposition: Tina Browne (Democratic Party) Leader of the Cook Islands United Party: Teariki Heather

Floor leaders Leader of the House: Akaiti Puna (Cook Islands Party)

Whips Government Whip: Sonny Williams (Cook Islands Party)

Members Initial party standings

Initial MPs NamePartyElectorateTermTukaka AmaCook Islands PartyNgatangiiaFirstGeorge AngeneCook Islands PartyTupapa–MaraerengaFourthAgnes ArmstrongDemocratic PartyIviruaSecondMark BrownCook Islands PartyTakuvaine–TutakimoaFourthTe-Hani BrownIndependentTengatangi–Areora–NgatiaruaSecondTina BrowneDemocratic PartyRakahangaSecondTingika ElikanaCook Islands PartyPukapuka–NassauSecondRobert Stanley HeatherCook Islands United PartyAkaoaFirstTeariki HeatherCook Islands United PartyMurienuaFifthTeokotai HermanCook Islands PartyVaipae–TautuFirstToanui IsamaelaOne Cook IslandsAmuri–UreiaThirdWesley KareroaDemocratic PartyOneroaThirdTereapii Maki-KavanaCook Islands PartyArutanga–Reureu–NikauparaSecondStephen MatapoIndependentMaukeFirstTetangi MatapoDemocratic PartyTamaruaFourthVaine MokoroaCook Islands PartyNikao–PanamaSecondAlbert NicholasCook Islands PartyAvatiu–Ruatonga–Palmerston ThirdAkaiti PunaCook Islands PartyManihikiSecondTuakeu TangatapotoCook Islands PartyMitiaroSecondRose Toki-BrownIndependentTeenui–Mapumai ThirdRobert TapaitauCook Islands PartyPenrhynSecondVaitoti TupaDemocratic PartyMataveraSecondTimi VaruCook Islands United PartyRuaauFirstSonny WilliamsCook Islands PartyTitikavekaFirst

Summary of changes Independent MP Stephen Matapo joined the Cook Islands Party on 25 August 2022. The Penrhyn seat became vacant due to Robert Tapaitau's conviction. A by-election was held and Sarakura Tapaitau was elected on 12 March 2024.

Committees The 18th Parliament has 3 standing committees, 2 select committees and 3 specialist committees:

Committee Chairperson Deputy chairperson Government–Opposition divideStanding committees Business Committee Tai Tura (CIP) Tuakeu Tangatapoto (CIP) 4–3 Privileges Committee Tingika Elikana (CIP) 4-3 Standing Orders Committee Tai Tura (CIP) Tuakeu Tangatapoto (CIP) 4-3Select committees Public Accounts Committee Teokotai Herman (CIP) Vaitoti Tupa (Demo) 4-3 Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee Akaiti Puna (CIP) Tina Pupuke-Browne (Demo) 4–3Special committees Constitutional Review Special Committee Tingika Elikana (CIP) Tina Pupuke-Browne (Demo) 3–4 Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill Special Committee Tukaka Ama (CIP) Vaitoti Tupa (Demo) 3–4 Religious Organisation Special Select Committee Tingika Elikana (CIP) Tina Pupuke-Browne (Demo) 3–4

References