PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
2022 – 2023
Parliamentary committees are a group of members of Parliament who work together to investigate and consider matters and issues of national interest on behalf of Parliament. They are able to meet with people and call for documents to assist them in their work. They report their findings to Parliament and can make recommendations for changes to laws and administration. Parliament must officially respond to the recommendations made by Committees.
There are three types of Parliamentary committees in the Parliament of the Cook Islands:
- Select Committee
- Standing Committee
- Special Committee
Select Committees and Standing Committees are established at the commencement of each Parliament, at the first sitting and remains convened until Parliament is dissolved.
Special Committees are established by Parliament for a particular purpose or issue of national concern and may continue in existence until it submits its reports to Parliament.
- Select Committees
There are two select committees of the Parliament, they are –
1.1. Public Accounts Committee and their functions are to scrutinize and review on
- the annual financial statements, the Audit Report on the annual financial statements of the Government, budget policy statements, fiscal strategy reports, economic and fiscal updates and annual reports and other financial reports required to be submitted to Parliament;
- ministerial and departmental financial management and performance;
- any legislation or petition relating to public finance, revenue or taxation;
- all accounts and expenditure of the Parliament (including expenditure and reports on constituency allowances);
- any other matters within its subject area;
- Consider and report back to the Parliament on any matter referred to it as stated above.
1.2. Bills, Petitions and Papers Committee and their functions are to –
- Scrutinize and review any Bill, petition, report or other matter referred to it by the Parliament;
- Consider and report back to the Parliament on any matter referred to it as stated above.
2. Standing Committees
Standing Committees primarily focus more on internal matters of Parliament. Parliament has the following standing committees –
2.1. Business Committee – which determines the business to be considered by Parliament each sitting day;
2.2. Privileges Committee – a Parliamentary Committee responsible for the oversight of processes dealing with the rights and privileges of Members of Parliament, which considers breaches of privilege that may be committed by any person; and
2.3. Standing Orders Committee – The functions of the Standing Orders Committee are to –
- at least once in every term of Parliament review the Standing Orders, procedures, and practices of the Parliament:
- consider and report to the Parliament on any matter relating to the Standing Orders, procedures, and practices of the Parliament:
- recommend to the House the amendment, revocation, or addition of any Standing Order or the alteration of any procedure or practice of the Parliament:
- consider and report to the Parliament on any matter referred by the Parliament or otherwise under the Standing Orders.
3. Special Committees
Special committee are established by resolution of Parliament to carry out the assignment specified in the resolution. It continues in existence until it completes its assignment with a report to Parliament; or Parliament resolves to discharge the committee.
PARLIAMENT OF THE COOK ISLANDS
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
2022 – 2023 – 2024 -2025
STANDING COMMITTEES
BUSINESS COMMITTEE (established 22 March 2023 & amended 23 March 2023 & February 2024)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tai Tura, Speaker of Parliament
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Tuakeu Tangatapoto, Member of Mitiaro
- Member: Hon. Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown, Member for Teenui-Mapumai
- Member: Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Member of Rakahanga
- Member: Hon. Robert Heather, Member for Akaoa
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Member for Amuri-Ureia
- Member: Hon. Vaine Mokoroa, Member for Nikao
Former Member:
Former Deputy Speaker, Hon Tingika Elikana, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE (established 22 March 2023 & amended 23 March 2023)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tingika Elikana, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
- Member: Hon. Agnes Armstrong, Member for Ivirua
- Member: Hon. Mark Brown, Member for Takuvaine-Tutakimoa
- Member: Hon. Robert Heather, Member for Akaoa
- Member: Hon. Wesley Kareroa, Member for Oneroa
- Member: Hon. Stephen Matapo, Member for Mauke
- Member: Hon. Akaiti Puna, Member for Manihiki
STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE (established 22 March 2023 & amended 28 Feb 2024)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tai Tura, Speaker of Parliament
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Tuakeu Tangatapoto, Deputy Speaker
- Member: Hon. Mark Brown, Prime Minister
- Member: Hon. Vaine Mokoroa, Minister
- Member: Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Leader of the Opposition
- Member: Hon. Robert Heather, Non-government member
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Non-government member
Former Member:
Former Deputy Speaker, Hon Tingika Elikana, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
SELECT COMMITTEES
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE (established 22 March 2023, amended 23 March 2023 & amended May & July 2024)
- Chairperson: Hon. Teokotai Herman, Member for Vaipae-Tautu
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Vaitoti Tupa, Member for Matavera
- Member: Hon. Te Hani Brown, Member for Atiu-Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua
- Member: Hon. Robert Heather, Member for Akaoa
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Member for Amuri-Ureia
- Member: Hon. Stephen Matapo, Member for Mauke
- Member: Hon. Sonny Williams, Member for Titikaveka
Resigned PAC Members in May 2024:
Hon. Minister Tingika Elikana, Chairman, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Member for Rakahanga
Reappointed PAC Members in July 2024:
Hon. Robert Heather, Member for Akaoa
Hon. Vaitoti Tupa, Member for Matavera 3
BILLS, PETITIONS AND PAPERS COMMITTEE (established 22 March 2023)
- Chairperson: Hon. Akaiti Puna, Member for Manihiki
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Member for Rakahanga
- Member: Hon. Tukaka Ama, Member for Ngatangiia
- Member: Hon. Robert Heather, Member for Akaoa
- Member: Hon. Tai Herman, Member for Vaipae-Tautu
- Member: Hon. Stephen Matapo, Member for Mauke
- Member: Hon. Tetangi Matapo, Member for Tamaru
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW SPECIAL COMMITTEE
(established 13 December 2023)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tingika Elikana, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Member for Rakahanga
- Member: Hon. Agnes Armstrong, Member for Ivirua
- Member: Hon. Te Hani Brown, Member for Atiu-Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua
- Member: Hon. Teariki Heather, Member for Murienua
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Member for Amuri-Ureia
- Hon. Tereapii Maki-Kavana, Member for Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara
TAINTED CRYPTOCURRENCEY RECOVERY BILL SPECIAL COMMITTEE
(established 14 December 2023)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tukaka Ama, Member for Ngatangiia
- Deputy Chairperson: Hon. Vaitoti Tupa, Member for Matavera
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Member for Amuri-Ureia
- Member: Hon. Tetangi Matapo, Member for Tamarua
- Member: Hon. Akaiti Puna, Member for Manihiki
- Member: Hon. Tuakeu Tangatapoto, Member for Mitiaro
- Member: Hon. Timi Tunui Varu, Member for Ruaau
RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE
(established 03 December 2024)
- Chairperson: Hon. Tingika Elikana, Member for Pukapuka-Nassau
- Member: Hon. Tina Pupuke-Browne, Member for Rakahanga
- Member: Hon. Hon. Vaitoti Tupa, Member for Matavera
- Member: Hon. Timi Tunui Varu, Member for Ruaau
- Member: Hon. Albert Nicholas, Member for Avatiu-Ruatonga-Palmerston
- Member: Hon. Toanui Isamaela, Member for Amuri-Ureia
- Member: Hon. Tereapii Maki-Kavana, Member for Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara
