Prime Minister Mark Brown has reiterated his message of welcoming robust discussion as well as making it clear that the government values transparency, consultation and open dialogue.

Addressing concerns of a public protest against the Government’s abandoned Cook Islands passport proposal and the recent Joint Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030 agreement with China, Brown said: “I am aware that some in our community feel unheard in recent decisions.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged yesterday’s protest was “not just about one issue, it is about many”.

In his ministerial statement delivered to Parliament yesterday, the first sitting of the year, Brown said: “It is about the future of our country. It is about trust. It is about ensuring that every Cook Islander feels heard.”

“I see you. I hear you. And I respect you. Let me say this. We are all Cook Islanders. We all want the best for our country.”
Brown said Cook Islanders must never allow division to weaken them and never let fear be stronger than their hope for the future.

“I want to be clear: this government values transparency, consultation, and open dialogue. Our engagement with international partners, including China, has always been conducted in the best interests of our people.

“I welcome robust discussion, and I assure our people that every agreement we sign, every partnership we enter, and every step we take is guided by a single question: Does this serve the long-term interests of the Cook Islands?

“I have full confidence in the ability and capability of my Cabinet and of our senior officials, to effectively advance and protect the Cook Islands interests.”

Opposition leader Tina Browne, who led the protest alongside Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather and advocate Jackie Tuara, questioned the Prime Minister about his absence from Parliament during yesterday’s public rally.

PM Brown said they were informed that there would be no speaking opportunity for the government.

He said that his team shared the workload, and part of the government team went to Parliament to welcome the protesters.

“And mindful that today (yesterday) was the tabling of our (supplementary) budget, and having just returned last night (Sunday), my time was consumed with preparing the ministerial statement to address our people as a result of this protest march, where I knew I would be afforded appropriate time to be able to speak freely,” Brown said.

“I was taking the time this (yesterday) morning also to prepare for the budget speech.

“But that is not to say that we are dismissing the protest march or disrespecting the protesters. We welcome everybody’s opportunity to place their protest before the Parliament.

“And as a government and as a Parliament, we have heard numerous over the past 15 years, various protests that have come before our Parliament.”
Brown recalled the protest on the purse seine fishing and others, including the helmet legislation.

“There were people who had very strong views against the decision that the government took on all of these issues,” he said. “But when carefully analysed, people began to understand that the decision we made was in the benefit of them and all of our people. And I have every confidence that when the details of our Action Plan (with China) are provided for open and free discussion, people will see the benefits that clearly will emanate from this.

“So as I said in my ministerial statement, we have seen and we have heard and we have listened to our people, and we have understood the need for more consultation that has been asked for. And this is something that we definitely will be committing to.”