Cook Islands prime minister to attend inauguration of new vessel in China

Prime Minister Mark Brown will travel to Wuzhou, China next week for the official launch of the MV Tuitui Moana, the country’s newly built inter-island vessel, the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) says.

The boat's name means “stitching the ocean” and was selected through a national competition involving young people across the Cook Islands.

MFAI says it reflects the government’s aim of strengthening connections between Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.

Built under a 2024 technical agreement between the Cook Islands and China, the project was jointly funded, with both sides contributing US$1.5 million (NZ$1.82m).

It forms part of the Government’s domestic shipping programme to improve reliability, safety and economic resilience for island communities.

Sea transport remains essential across the Cook Islands, providing vital links for goods, services and daily life between the outer islands and Rarotonga.

MFAI says the vessel is an important step in strengthening these connections and supporting long-term development across the country’s dispersed islands.

The visit also marks a milestone in the 29-year diplomatic relationship between the Cook Islands and China, which has focused on cooperation and development partnerships.

“In 2023, we set out our roadmap for domestic shipping to ensure reliable transportation for our Pa Enua," a MFAI statement read.

Cook Islands and Chinese officials at the steel-cutting ceremony for the MV Tuitui Moana in Guangxi Province, China, in September 2025. Photo/Ministry for Finance and Economic Management, Cook Islands

"We are proud that our first newly built vessel is completed, a project co-funded by the Cook Islands and China.

"We are pleased to have partnered with China’s world-class ship-building industry in delivering this important investment for our people and communities.”

Prime Minister Brown will be accompanied by officials from MFAI, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), and the Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington.

MFAI says the inauguration highlights ongoing cooperation between the two countries as the Cook Islands continues to invest in transport infrastructure to improve connectivity for outer island communities.