The Constitutional Review Special Select Committee is awaiting confirmation from Parliament Services regarding flight arrangements for their consultations on the three Constitutional Amendment Bills in the Northern Pa Enua.

This was confirmed by the Committee chair and Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Tingika Elikana yesterday.

Presenting a verbal report in Parliament last week, Elikana said they were awaiting the arrival of fuel into the Northern Group to enable the committee to travel and undertake consultations there.

“I understand that the boat is now in Rakahanga or Manihiki and will be delivering fuel for the aircraft to enable the committee. The committee is working well and once we undertake consultation with those in the Northern Group then hopefully by the next sitting of Parliament, we will be presenting our report,” he said on Monday.

The three Constitutional Amendment Bills were presented to Parliament in the last sitting of 2023 in December and were referred to a Special Select Committee for review and consideration.

The Constitution Amendment (No. 30) Bill proposes increasing the number of Cabinet Ministers and removing the ability to appoint a non-MP Minister. The Constitution Amendment (No. 32) Bill provides for the ability for MPs to hold a proxy vote for a fellow MP, and Amendment (No. 31) Bill will allow a new Parliament to commence its work after a general election without waiting for the outcome of any election petitions. 

Consultations on the Bills have been completed in Rarotonga (Te-Au-O-Tonga, Puaikura and Takitumu), Aitutaki, Mangaia and Nga-Pu-Toru.

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere had earlier stated that the Northern Group consultations have yet to be completed due to various factors, primarily transportation issues.

Vainerere said that attempts have already been made to make this happen but the conditions didn’t present the ideal opportunity for the Committee to visit the Northern Group.

He had also stated that there were some exploratory inquiries on the possibility of holding the Northern Group consultations by Zoom but connectivity and equity issues have prevented that avenue from being pursued.

The Constitutional Review Special Select Committee chaired by Elikana includes Opposition leader Tina Browne, MPs Te-Hani Brown, Tereapii Maki Kavana, Teariki Heather, Toa Isamaela and Agnes Armstrong.

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