Cook Islands PM: Pacific needs action, not more promises

The Pacific needs to move from making plans to delivering results, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says, as the leaders of the Realm meet in Auckland to discuss the region's changing security, climate and economic challenges.

Brown used the first meeting of the four Realm leaders to call for a shift away from more strategies and towards action on issues facing Pacific countries.

“For us, I think the refocusing on deliverables rather than rehashing strategy, as a region, you know it's time for us to really get down to the nuts and bolts in delivering on what is a concern to Pacific Island countries,” he told journalists.

“So rather than pledges and promises, we actually need to start seeing some commitment and action.”

The meeting brought together Brown, Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Ulu-o-Tokelau Petelo Alapati Tavite and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for the first Realm leaders' meeting in this format.

For Brown, that action includes climate resilience, regional cooperation and making sure Pacific countries have more say over decisions affecting them.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Ulu-o-Tokelau Petelo Alapati Tavite and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the first Realm leaders’ meeting in Auckland. Photo/PMN News

He says the Cook Islands sees security through a wider lens than some larger countries, with economic resilience and climate change central to its national security.

“For us, economic security, economic resilience is vital and important to deliver the services that our people want. Climate security is another area of great concern for us increasingly so, where we're seeing the formation of a super El Nino, which will impact directly countries like us.”

Brown says Pacific countries also need to make their own decisions about their resources, including the Cook Islands' seabed minerals.

Ulu-o-Tokelau Petelo Alapati Tavite joins fellow Realm leaders in Auckland for the first meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Photo/PMN News composite

“Decisions made on our seabed and on our resources are made by the Cook Islands for the interests of Cook Islanders only.”

He says the Cook Islands remains in the exploration and research phase and wants to better understand its seabed resources before deciding whether to move towards extraction.

Niue's Tagelagi, who pushed for the Realm meeting, says the relationships between the four countries remain grounded in their people, despite their different constitutional arrangements.

“Across Niue, New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Tokelau, families, communities and generations remain closely linked and those ties continue to be one of the greatest strengths of the round.”

He says the relationships need to keep evolving as the needs of Pacific people change.

“We maintain our stance and respect for the constitutional arrangement that we have. We respect that.”

Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during Annual Leaders' Meeting in November 2025. Photo/Facebook/Christopher Luxon/file

Tagelagi also pointed to the need for Pacific countries to work together rather than relying solely on New Zealand or other partners.

“I think the Pacific also needs ourselves to reach out further and try and help ourselves and other donor partners.”

Climate change is expected to be a major issue when Pacific leaders meet at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau next week.

Brown says the region's priorities should be backed by funding and practical support, while Tagelagi says world leaders need to come to the Pacific and see the impacts of climate change for themselves.

New Zealand's Luxon says the Realm countries have a shared interest in strengthening cooperation, including on security, economic opportunities and critical infrastructure.

He says New Zealand is also preparing for the possible impacts of El Niño and has increased its emergency supplies and response capacity across the region.

Watch Dalton Tagelagi's full interview on Pacific Mornings earlier this year.

The leaders' meeting comes as the Cook Islands prepares for the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, with New Zealand due to host the regional meeting in 2027.

For Brown, the message going into the Forum is clear. “I think the time for us to to strategize is now over. It's now time for us to operationalise.”

The Realm leaders will now take those discussions into next week’s Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Palau, where climate resilience, regional security and economic development are expected to remain key issues for Pacific countries.

The 55th Forum leaders summit will be held from 30 August to 4 September. Visit PIF for more details.