AGP Executive Report

Pacific Diplomacy in Palau: The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is underway in Koror, Palau, but a third of leaders may be missing, raising fresh questions about regional unity as geopolitics, crime and ocean resources dominate the agenda. Cook Islands Politics: China has congratulated Cook Islands PM Mark Brown on winning another term, saying it wants to deepen ties with the new government. Deep-Sea Mining Pressure: A new report warns Pacific governments could face costly investor-state lawsuits if they change course on deep-sea mining, including potential “chilling effects” on stronger environmental rules—highlighting Cook Islands exposure. Health Focus: The Cook Islands health ministry has launched a 2026–2030 NCD Action Plan with 129 strategic actions to tackle rising non-communicable diseases across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Sports—RLWC & Youth Football: Fiji’s Rugby League World Cup coach Mick Potter says the Bati aim to beat Australia and New Zealand, while the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa kicks off with World Cup qualification spots on the line, with PNG and Solomon Islands starting Group A after PNG qualified via the Cook Islands. Pa Enua Shipping: PM Brown says the MV Tuitui Moana is a “lifeline” delivering on the Domestic Shipping Roadmap for safer, more reliable inter-island service.

Pacific Diplomacy in Palau: Pacific leaders are heading to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau with unity under strain after multiple high-profile pullouts, including concerns about how geopolitics and outside pressure are shaping attendance. Realm of New Zealand Talks: In Auckland, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown met Realm partners Niue and Tokelau alongside NZ PM Christopher Luxon for a first four-way leaders meeting focused on shared priorities ahead of Palau. Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace: French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson used a Palau roundtable to warn that deep-sea mining, plastic pollution and climate change threaten the “Ocean of Peace,” calling for a regional response. Deep-sea Mining Legal Threats: A new report warns Pacific governments could face costly investor-state disputes if they tighten rules or change mining decisions. Cook Islands Health & Community: The health ministry launched a 2026–2030 NCD Action Plan with 129 strategic actions, while students on Mauke and Atiu completed citizen-science reef monitoring pilots blending culture and marine science. Local Governance & Services: The MV Tuitui Moana is hailed as a “lifeline” for Pa Enua shipping, and education welcomed proposed NZ vocational subjects for 2029. Banking Outage: Customers report online banking lockouts and security issues after a manual password reset error, though the bank says funds are safe. Sport (Cook Islands links): Fiji’s Rugby League World Cup campaign includes the Cook Islands in the pool, and the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship begins in Samoa with two finalists qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.

Pacific Islands Forum in Palau: Cook Islands PM Mark Brown heads to the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting as several Pacific leaders pull out, with New Zealand’s Winston Peters calling the absences “disappointing” while stressing the summit still matters. Realm talks in Auckland: Luxon met Brown, Niue PM Dalton Tagelagi and Tokelau’s Ulu Alapati Tavite for the first four-way Realm leaders meeting, with Brown urging a shift from promises to delivery. Deep-sea mining pressure: Pacific governments face legal and political risks as investor-state dispute threats grow, while the US moves ahead with seabed mining auctions—raising fresh sovereignty concerns for the region. Cook Islands health push: The health ministry launched a 2026–2030 NCD Action Plan with 129 strategic actions to tackle rising non-communicable diseases. Pa Enua shipping boost: MV Tuitui Moana is hailed as a “lifeline” delivering on the Domestic Shipping Roadmap promise for safer, more regular inter-island service. Local updates: Police arrested two after a weekend crime wave; and a citizen science reef-monitoring programme is underway on Mauke and Atiu.

Arts & Funding: Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust says it’s “deeply disappointing” after losing its main CNZ funding source beyond 2026, putting a 40-year platform for Pacific artists and communities in review. Rarotonga Sport: Tupapa Panthers start round two of the Rarotonga Super Club 15s on top after beating Avatiu Eels 29-14, with the Eels to face the Bears and the Panthers taking on TKV Reds at Victoria Park. Pa Enua Marine Care: Students on Mauke and Atiu complete the first field pilots of a citizen science reef programme, mixing traditional knowledge with hands-on monitoring to protect local waters. Health: The Cook Islands Ministry of Health launches a 2026–2030 NCD Action Plan with 129 strategic actions aimed at tackling non-communicable diseases across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Security & Crime: Police report two arrests after a weekend crime wave, including burglaries and stolen motorbikes, while investigations continue. Regional Politics: Prime Minister Mark Brown heads to the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, urging the region to shift from promises to deliverables as Realm leaders meet in Auckland. Shipping for the Pa Enua: MV Tuitui Moana is hailed as a “lifeline” fulfilling the Domestic Shipping Roadmap promise for safer, more regular inter-island service.

Matavera MP switch: Former police officer Taneao Ngamata is set to take up the Matavera seat in Parliament, trading policing for politics but keeping the same focus on serving Cook Islands people. Pa Enua shipping lifeline: MV Tuitui Moana has arrived as a “lifeline” to deliver on the Domestic Shipping Roadmap promise for safer, more reliable inter-island service to the Pa Enua. Health push on NCDs: The health ministry has launched a 2026–2030 NCD Action Plan with 129 strategic actions aimed at tackling rising non-communicable disease rates across Rarotonga and the outer islands. Realm talks in Auckland: Prime Minister Mark Brown met with Realm partners Christopher Luxon, Dalton Tagelagi and Tokelau’s Alapati Tavite ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, with Brown urging more delivery and less promise-making. Banking outage anger: Customers are upset after online banking lockouts linked to a manual password reset error, with the bank saying funds are safe. Crime update: Police arrested two people after a weekend crime wave including burglaries and stolen motorbikes, with investigations ongoing.

Realm Talks in Auckland: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met Cook Islands PM Mark Brown, Niue PM Dalton Tagelagi and Tokelau Ulu Alapati Tavite for the first four-way Realm leaders meeting, with Luxon calling it a chance to talk ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau. Cook Islands Election Aftermath: Brown is set to return as PM for a historic fifth term after the Cook Islands Party won 13 of 24 seats, with support from six independents. Health Focus: The health ministry launched an NCD Action Plan 2026–2030 with 129 strategic actions to tackle non-communicable diseases across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Banking Disruption: Customers are outraged after online banking lockouts linked to a manual password reset error, with the bank saying funds are safe. Sports & Youth: A six-week school tennis programme is back, giving students a pathway into national training. Regional Security Agenda: Pacific leaders are heading to Palau with geopolitics, economic pressure, resilience and transnational crime high on the agenda.

Cook Islands Politics: Mark Brown is set to return as Prime Minister after the Cook Islands Party won 13 of 24 seats in the 2026 election, giving a historic fifth term and a strong parliamentary position with support from independents. Pacific Diplomacy: Brown is now heading to Palau for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, with regional leaders also meeting in Auckland first as pressure grows over geopolitics, transnational crime and unity. Health: The health ministry has launched a new NCD Action Plan 2026–2030 with 129 strategic actions aimed at tackling non-communicable diseases across Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Community & Education: A six-week school tennis programme is back in action across several schools, feeding into the National Training Programme. Pa Enua Support: Mangaia entrepreneurs can access free Business Trade and Investment Board training next month, covering planning, costing, pricing, forecasting and bookkeeping. Public Safety: Police arrested two people after a weekend crime wave that included burglaries and stolen motorbikes. Drugs Case: A Cook Islands fisherman says he feared for his life after finding a suspected cocaine package washed ashore on Mitiaro reef. Banking Concern: Customers are outraged after online banking lockouts linked to a manual password reset error, with the bank saying funds are safe.

Realm Talks in Auckland: New Zealand says its ties with Realm partners Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are “strong and stable” as Luxon hosts the first four-way Realm leaders meeting ahead of Palau’s Pacific Islands Forum summit. Cook Islands PM Pushes Action: Mark Brown used the gathering to urge the Pacific to move from plans to deliverables, calling for climate resilience, regional cooperation and more Pacific say in decisions. Election and Delegation: Brown is set to return as Cook Islands PM for a historic fifth term after the Cook Islands Party won 13 of 24 seats, with support from independents; he has departed for Palau to lead the delegation. Pa Enua Business Training: BTIB’s free Mangaia workshop runs Sept 15–17 at CITTI, covering soft loans, UCI branding, planning, costing, forecasting and bookkeeping. Crime Update: Police arrested two people after a weekend crime wave in Rarotonga, including four burglaries and five stolen motorbikes. Drugs Discovery: A fisherman in Mitiaro reported finding suspected cocaine packages washed ashore, with preliminary testing indicating cocaine. New Vessel for Outer Islands: The government’s new cargo-passenger ship, Tuitui Moana, was welcomed to Rarotonga to improve Pa Enua services. Regional Appointments: Pamela Maru becomes the first Cook Islander appointed to an executive role at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, starting Jan 2027.

Cook Islands Election: Mark Brown’s Cook Islands Party is set to return with a historic fifth straight term after winning 13 of 24 seats, with six independents backing the government for a 19-seat caucus. The Democratic Party has been wiped out, while the Cook Islands United Party took four seats and independents won seven. Pa Enua Shipping: The government’s new US$3m inter-island cargo-passenger vessel, Tuitui Moana, was welcomed to Rarotonga as part of the Domestic Shipping Roadmap. Drugs on the Reef: A fisherman from Mitiaro feared for his life after discovering suspected cocaine packages washed ashore; police testing indicates more than 26kg of cocaine. Sports—Bowling & Table Tennis: National Triples finals are set for Thursday after a postponement, and table tennis players Peter Tauraki and Moana Rakei have departed for the ITTF-Oceania Championships in Ballarat. Regional Policy Watch: A report warns deep-sea mining could trigger costly investor-state disputes, putting Pacific sovereignty at risk.

Cook Islands Election: Mark Brown’s Cook Islands Party is set to return to power for a historic fifth term after official results showed it won 13 of 24 seats, giving it an absolute majority; the Democratic Party lost all seats, while the Cook Islands United Party took four and independents won seven. Government Appointments: The Cook Islands also saw major public service moves, with three Permanent Secretaries sworn in to lead key ministries, including Finance and Treasury, Police/National Security/Corrections, and Culture and Tourism. Pa Enua Shipping: The government welcomed its new US$3m inter-island cargo-passenger vessel, MV Tuitui Moana, aimed at improving services for outer islands. Drugs at Sea: A fisherman in Mitiaro reported finding suspected cocaine packages washed ashore, with Cook Islands Police conducting tests after the haul exceeded 26kg. Sports & Culture: Cook Islands pickleball players have departed for the World Cup debut in Da Nang, while table tennis athletes Peter Tauraki and Moana Rakei head to the ITTF-Oceania Championships in Australia.

Deep-sea mining sovereignty warning: A new Pacific report says investor-state dispute rules could let foreign mining firms sue Pacific governments if they tighten environmental or regulatory protections, raising “chilling effect” fears; it flags exposure including the Cook Islands. Cook Islands election count: Final results are still being tallied after 12 seats were declared in the 2026 general election, with remaining close races including Rakahanga, Pukapuka-Nassau, Ngatangiia and Matavera. Cocaine haul on Mitiaro reef: A Cook Islands fisherman found a suspected cocaine package washed ashore on Mitiaro weighing over 26kg; police testing confirmed cocaine. Government appointments: Three Permanent Secretaries were sworn in to lead Finance and Treasury, Police/National Security/Corrections, and Culture and Tourism. Sports—Cook Islands at Oceania table tennis: Peter Tauraki and Moana Rakei depart for the ITTF-Oceania Championships in Ballarat. Community safety: Police report a weekend spike in burglaries and stolen motorbikes, with several areas now under active inquiry.

Cook Islands Election: The final count is entering day two with 12 seats declared and 11 more to be counted today, leaving tight races in places like Rakahanga, Pukapuka-Nassau, Ngatangiia and Matavera. Cook Islands Crime: Police are investigating 19 packages of suspected cocaine washed ashore on Mitiaro on July 28, weighing about 26.49kg, after a fisherman feared it could be a body or even a bomb before reporting it. Deep-Sea Mining Debate: A new Pacific report warns investor-state dispute rules could let foreign mining firms sue Pacific governments if they try to protect the environment or regulate deep-sea mining. Governance Appointments: Three Permanent Secretaries were sworn in to key Cook Islands ministries, including Finance and Treasury, Police/National Security/Corrections, and Culture and Tourism. Sports & Culture: Table tennis players Peter Tauraki and Moana Rakei have departed for the ITTF-Oceania Championships in Australia, while Miss Cook Islands Tiare Henry-Anguna used Miss World’s head-to-head stage to spotlight cultural identity. Public Safety: Police report a weekend spike in burglaries and stolen motorbikes across multiple Rarotonga areas, alongside fire and crash incidents.

Miss World Spotlight: Cook Islands’ Tiare Henry-Anguna shared a powerful identity message at the Head-to-Head challenge in Vietnam, speaking about her father’s wish to return home before he passed. Government Appointments: Three new Permanent Secretaries were sworn in to lead Finance and Treasury, Police/National Security/Corrections, and Culture and Tourism, with David Teika Dennis, Trevor Unusu and reappointed Bunyan Sivoro taking up the roles. Marine & Fisheries: Cook Islands representatives attended the Pacific Tuna Commission science session in Apia, feeding local and regional data into decisions on tuna stocks, bycatch and monitoring. Deep-Sea Minerals Scrutiny: A US scientist’s attachment to the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has sparked criticism from a local environmental group over potential conflicts with Washington’s commercial push for ocean minerals. Drugs & Policing: Police are investigating 19 packages of suspected cocaine washed ashore on Mitiaro reef, weighing about 26.49kg. Public Safety: A Vaimaanga house fire is being linked to rubbish being lit too close to homes in windy conditions, with firefighters and volunteers responding. Sports & Culture: Cook Islands sports official Michelle Paiti has begun her first OSEP Chef de Mission course in Fiji, while local creators were recognised through the Te Maeva Nui Content Creator Programme.

Government Appointments: Three new Permanent Secretaries were sworn in at Government House, with David Teika Dennis taking Finance and Treasury, Trevor Unusu leading Police, National Security and Correctional Services, and Bunyan Sivoro reappointed to Culture and Tourism. Public Safety: Police report a weekend spike in crime, including burglaries and stolen motorbikes across Arorangi, Nikao, Ruatonga and Tutakimoa, alongside other incidents stretching resources. Drugs Update: Cook Islands Police are investigating 19 packages of suspected cocaine, about 26.49kg, washed ashore on Mitiaro reef and reportedly labelled “888”. Marine & Fisheries: The Cook Islands took part in WCPFC science talks in Apia, feeding regional tuna management with data from local fleets and waters. Environment & Governance: A US scientist attachment to SBMA has sparked backlash from a local environmental group over potential conflict-of-interest concerns. Sport (Pacific): PNG Chiefs confirmed Cook Islands–Māori star Joseph Manu as Player #007 on a two-year deal from 2028. Culture & Tourism: Miss Cook Islands Tiare Henry-Anguna is pushing for a Miss World Top 40 spot via People’s Choice voting, while Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort earned Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best 2026 recognition.

NRL & Pacific Pride: Cook Islands-born star Joseph “Joey” Manu has been unveiled as PNG Chiefs player #007 on a two-year deal from 2028, with the PNG prime minister’s pitch helping seal the move and Manu saying it’s about backing a “Pacific team.” Sports Leadership: CISNOC’s new chef de mission Michelle Paiti has left Rarotonga for her first OSEP course in Nadi to prepare for LA28. Marine & Fisheries: Cook Islands officials attended the WCPFC science session in Apia, feeding local tuna data into regional management ahead of December talks. Drugs & Safety: Police are investigating 19 packages of suspected cocaine, about 26.49kg, washed ashore on Mitiaro reef after a fisherman reported it. Local Incidents: Police report a weekend spike in burglaries and stolen motorbikes across Arorangi, Nikao, Ruatonga and Tutakimoa. Environment & Governance: A local environmental group has criticised a US scientist placement at SBMA over perceived conflicts tied to deep-sea minerals. Culture & Identity: Miss Cook Islands Tiare Henry-Anguna shared a personal story of returning home and championing cultural belonging at Miss World.

Drug Bust: Cook Islands Police are investigating 19 packages of suspected cocaine, about 26.49kg, washed ashore on the Mitiaro reef; the bundles are labelled “888” and were found by a local fisherman on July 28, then taken to Rarotonga for preliminary testing. Rugby League (Pacific ties): Kiwi centre Joseph Manu has been confirmed as PNG Chiefs player #007 on a two-year deal starting 2028, with the club highlighting his Cook Islands heritage and Pacific connection. Local Sport: Tupapa Panthers host Arorangi Bears in Cook Islands Rugby Union Super 15s, with Panthers aiming to keep their strong start going after early wins. Culture & Community: Vodafone’s Te Maeva Nui Content Creator Programme has wrapped up with awards for emerging local storytellers, backing more youth-led cultural content. Marine & Traditional Knowledge: Workshops in Rarotonga and Mangaia are exploring how Traditional Knowledge can guide Marine Spatial Planning, with leaders debating how custom knowledge and science should work together. Diplomacy: Cook Islands reaffirmed support for international humanitarian law at a Pacific roundtable in Brisbane, aiming to strengthen domestic coordination.