Commonwealth In Dialogue: Parliamentary Speaker Series

Questions

1. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) exists to develop, promote and support Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and to implement the enduring values of the Commonwealth. How has membership of CPA helped Cook Islands parliament in strengthening Good Governance?

Being a Member of the CPA brings about a sound & secure partnership of likeminded partners to share and gain experience that ensure good practices in reaching and maintaining a democratic Parliament. Not only in its human resources, but systems and processes to deliver its functions to the best according to the needs of the people and the availability of finances. The Benchmark for Legislatures is the standards that are desired and for Cook Islands MPs, taking the Oath is the beginning of their code of conduct, a Pecuniary Declaration is signed by all MPs, the Code of Conduct is in the Standing Orders and these are being Reviewed which will be presented to the Standing Orders Committee to approve and presented to the Parliament to endorse. The Privileges Committee is formed to consider and improve the Code of Conduct in the Standing Orders and the new Draft Code of Conduct that have considered the CPA recommendations and report to Parliament by Dec 2019. An induction Seminar is held for the MPs after Election to inform them of their ethical conduct according to their behaviour in role and responsibilities and they have a duty to their electors who have put their trust in them and expect a certain standard of behaviour. There should also be certain instruments of bringing them to answer for their unacceptable behaviour. The Code of Conduct needs to be an ongoing part of their term of office to keep them alerted to not being side tracked,

2. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) collaborates with Parliaments and other organisations, including the intergovernmental community, bringing Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff together to exchange ideas among themselves and with experts in various fields to identify benchmarks of good practices and new policy options. How has Cook Islands Parliament benefited with this exchange of ideas, interaction with intergovernmental community and benchmarks of good practices?

The Cook Islands MPs, staff and Speakers have at any opportunity taken up the offers of collaborations, partnerships at regional and international levels to expand the knowledge, skills in doing things differently and better for the advancement of our Parliament. It is also about weighing the benefits and making sure that the changes that are made are suitable for the local needs. CIP has certainly embraced the field visitsto other Jurisdictions to share and learn within our means but also seeking resources to enable what are considered of assistance. We have brought in other Jurisdictions staff and MPs to give support so we are able to meet the benchmarks like the PAC, Women MPs going to other Jurisdictions to pair with other MPs out in the field and for the Clerk who is new to learn from others. Hansard staff and IT have done attachments to raise our standards of services in serving the MPs.

3. Cook Islands claims the highest rate of women in senior public sector management roles in the Pacific at 48 per cent, what good practices can rest of the world take away from Cook Islands?

Girls are brought up in an enabling home, education, social, cultural, religious, sports lives that allow them to develop reaching their potential early and as they become women, they have gained the confidence and expertise to perform well and prove themselves to be trusted and considered as hard workers. There is the freedom of speech and expression. The Ministry of Education has a Policy that allows young girls who fall pregnant while at school to continue with their education up to having the baby and after delivery. The system of job interviews and selection are structured fairly and women compete with men and at the end it is the best person who will do the job well according to the credentials, interviews and personality that exuberates confidence in doing the job at a high level. Women are now out working as opposed to the days when women stayed home to raise families. There are now families with revered roles where the fathers are the child carers. However we are having to work on increasing the number of women in Parliament as it has been a male dominated area and slowly but surely the change is taking place with a slight increase in Women Parliamentarians.

I am the second woman Speaker in 30yrs with a female Deputy Speaker in 2006-2010.

4. Cook Islands Constitution provides for New Zealand to be responsible for defence and some aspects of international relation foreign policy initiatives. Playing a critical role in Cook Islands’ engagements with Great Britain. Do you see any possible change in this posture by the two-nation states in the aftermath of Brexit?

At this point, I would have to say NO! Our ties with UK is well rooted in to our culture and systems and the hearts of the people at all levels with the Queen’s Representative as the Head of State and as a Member of our Executive Council and holds high standing in the country. The QR calls Parliament to a sitting at the recommendation of the Prime Minister. There will not be a change with the status with NZ either as we are NZ citizens and only hold NZ Passports and therefore being NZ citizen with special arrangements that are accepted and well suited to both countries. To date the arrangements or relationships have worked to both our advantages and there have been discussions about the situation and everything remain the same and will do so in to the future with no changes.

5. Cook Islands’ parliament represents fifteen islands from various political parties - Cook Islands Party, One Cook Islands, Democratic Party and Independents. Can you provide e non-partisanship across political parties and islands?

The Speaker of Cook Islands is a Non-MP but as per Constitution the Prime Minister appoints the Speaker which of course will be seen to be a Government Speaker! Prior to 2008, each of the two major political party nominated a person that was put to the vote by the house and the person with the majority votes was sworn in by the Queen’s Representative as the Speaker. In 2008 due to some issues that occurred with the Speaker, the government amended the Constitution for the Prime Minister only to appoint the Speaker which was an obvious attempt to have a government Speaker in the seat. However, at the General Election in 2010, that Party lost the Election and the Opposition became the government who implemented the amendment for the first time up to now which brings complaints by the Party that made the change but there it is.

I had not been involved in politics as I was the Secretary General of the Cook Islands Red Cross for 19yrs that observes as 4 of its 7 Fundamental Principles, Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence. These were the grounds the Prime Minister used to appoint me as the Speaker. Yes, I do observe these FPs and in the Legislative Services Act of Cook Islands Parliament, Impartiality is to be observed by all those who work in the Organization. In fact I find myself leaning towards the opposition in giving extra time as they have the least time for business in Parliament. The observation of “Separation of Powers” in the 3 arms of governance is very important in order to keep the functions in order. However it does not matter how one tries to operate in an anti-partisan manner, there will always be the impression of those who don’t understand the procedures of Parliament to think otherwise. Where the main island and outer islands are concerned, there is no issue with the procedures of Parliament as everyone has the same right and amount of time and it is up to them if they want to use it. It is usually about the Budget allocations that are debated to be unfair sometimes but that is the Executive business of allocations.

Parliament of Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has a Westminster parliamentary style of government similar to that of New Zealand and England.

The Nation is a self-governing State in free association with New Zealand. While the Constitution provides for New Zealand to be responsible for defence and some aspects of international relation, this can only be enacted upon request by the Government of the Cook Islands. The Government is responsible for enacting legislation and is fully competent to enter into an international agreement and conduct its own international relation.

Parliament consists of a single chamber of members are from the main island of Rarotonga and from the outer islands.