Parliament will sit again on Monday, November 22 and will first deal with who is defined as a Cook Islander.

The Clerk of Parliament, Tangata Vainerere, said the third reading of the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2021 was first on the agenda alongside the third reading of the Immigration Bill 2021.

The Immigration Bill is about who can enter the Cook Islands and the conditions that need to be fulfilled to reside in the Cook Islands.

It also covers who is defined as a Cook Islander, which according to the Act is “a person who is part of the Polynesian race indigenous to the Cook Islands”. The Act includes recognising children adopted by Cook Islanders.

In June when Parliament last sat, Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously agreed to change the Cook Islands Constitution which will allow adopted overseas children to receive permanent residence status.

The amendment to the Constitution repealed clause(s) in the Constitution in reference to child adoption.

After it passed its second reading in June the Constitutional Amendment Bill had to sit for 90 days. After the third reading, which will happen in just over a week, it will be made law.

To Tatou Vai Bill 2021 will also be addressed following refinements based on the public consultations and the Judicature Bill 2021.

The new Parliament Standing Orders will also be addressed.

Vainerere said any new Bills the Government might bring in over the next few days will also be addressed.