Pacific / Cook Islands

Cooks PM backing calls for political reform

16:30 pm on 23 May 2018

The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, has confirmed he will back moves for political reform in the country if he wins a third term next month.

Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins

Mr Puna, who for many years has been the MP for Manihiki, has avoided action on proposed political reforms despite widespread calls for change going back 20 years.

The Cook Islands News reported him saying he is keen to bring balance back to the number of constituents each MP serves.

One electorate on Rarotonga has nearly 1200 voters, but others, especially in the outer islands, have just a handful.

While reforms could lead to a smaller parliament, Mr Puna says it's not about saving money.

The Cook Islands poll is on 15 June.