Cook Islands Amendment Bill 2023 and Land Facilitation of Dealings Amendment Bill 2023 is not a government bill, but a private members bill, says Prime Minister Mark Brown.

The Bill and its recommendation report was submitted to Parliament last week by Member of Parliament Akaiti Puna, of which PM Brown raised that it was timely to remind members and the public that this was not a government bill but a private members bill.

 “I am well aware that from the public consultations that took place around Rarotonga, there were a number of concerns raised by members of the public about the consequences of this particular bill.”

He said there had been calls for more consultation to take place.

In that regard, Brown suggested that recommendations on the bill be prioritised in the recommendation of the report, that is an appointment of a sub-committee to assist the committee to review the bill to take place as a precedence before any further consultations take place.

He said it had occurred to him that the bill had not gone through proper government rigor of assessment that would have been normally done, if it was a government sponsored bill.

“I welcome the input of our Crown Law office, Ministry of Justice and other government entities to very seriously review this particular Bill.

“And as proposed in recommendations, ensure that there are no unintended consequences.”

Leader of Opposition Tina Browne said she will support the bill as she is the deputy chair of the committee.

Browne said it is a recommendation of the committee to appoint a subcommittee who are experts in the said field.

She said they will then conduct a public consultation.

It was earlier reported, that the Koutu Nui presented its submission to the Parliamentary Select Committee considering two amendments to the Cook Islands Act 1915, proposed by Opposition Leader Browne.

Koutu Nui had said that it recognised the merit of clarifying which landowners appearing on the Registers of Title have died without successors, as this could facilitate the process of obtaining the necessary consents for an Occupation Right.

Koutu Nui members, including some from the Pa Enua, stated that they were unable to afford to file their succession applications until the Land Court fees were reduced in February 2023.

Instead of rushing to address a small portion of the Act, which could lead to unintended consequences, Koutu Nui advocates for a comprehensive review of the entire Cook Islands Act 1915.