Mark Brown (Cook Islands) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Brown
Brown in 2023
12th Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 October 2020
Monarch	Elizabeth II Charles III
Deputy	Robert Tapaitau
King's Representative	Tom Marsters
Preceded by	Henry Puna
Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
In office 14 June 2018 – 1 October 2020
Prime Minister	Henry Puna
Preceded by	Teariki Heather
Succeeded by	Robert Tapaitau
Personal details
Born	(1963-02-28) 28 February 1963 (age 62) Avarua, Cook Islands
Political party	Cook Islands Party
Alma mater	Massey University University of the South Pacific
Ministerial offices Minister of Finance and Economic Development Incumbent Assumed office 3 December 2010 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Wilkie Rasmussen Attorney General of the Cook Islands Incumbent Assumed office 1 October 2020 Prime Minister Himself Minister for Energy and Renewable Energy In office 1 October 2020 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Himself Succeeded by Robert Tapaitau Minister for the Outer Islands In office 1 October 2020 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Himself Succeeded by Robert Tapaitau Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration In office 1 October 2020 – 8 February 2024 Prime Minister Himself Succeeded by Tingika Elikana Minister of Police Incumbent Assumed office 1 October 2020 Prime Minister Himself Minister of Financial Services Development Authority In office 1 October 2020 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Himself Succeeded by Vaine Mokoroa Minister of the Financial Intelligence Unit In office 3 December 2010 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Wilkie Rasmussen Succeeded by Vaine Mokoroa Minister of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation Incumbent Assumed office 3 December 2010 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Robert Wigmore Minister of Telecommunications In office 3 December 2010 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Jim Marurai Succeeded by Patrick Arioka Minister of PERCA/Audit In office 3 December 2010 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Wilkie Rasmussen Succeeded by Vaine Mokoroa Minister of Superannuation In office 3 December 2010 – 2 June 2021 Prime Minister Henry Puna Himself Preceded by Wilkie Rasmussen Succeeded by Rose Toki-Brown Member of the Cook Islands Parliament for Takuvaine–Tutakimoa Incumbent Assumed office 17 November 2010 Preceded by Ngai Tupa Succeeded by

Mark Stephen Brown (born 28 February 1963) is a Cook Islands politician and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister under Henry Puna. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.

Early life

Brown was born in 1963 in Avarua on Rarotonga, and educated at Nikao Maori School, Nikao Side School, Tereora College and Gisborne Boys' High School in New Zealand. He holds a Diploma in Public Sector Management from Massey University in New Zealand and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific. He has worked as a public servant, including as a policy advisor for the Prime Minister's Office and as head of the Ministry of Agriculture, and as a property developer. He has served as Vice-President of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Cook Islands Touch Association.

Political career

Brown is currently vice-president of the CIP. He unsuccessfully contested the electorate of Takuvaine–Tutakimoa in the 2006 elections, but was elected at the 2010 election.

Cabinet minister, 2010–2020

Brown was appointed to Cabinet in December 2010 as finance minister. He was re-elected at the 2014 election, and again in 2018. Following the 2018 election he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Teariki Heather.

In December 2019 a private prosecution for fraud was lodged against Brown and Prime Minister Henry Puna, alleging that a government-chartered aircraft had been misused. In March 2021 the charges were dismissed by the High Court.

Prime Minister, 2020– present

In June 2020 Prime Minister Henry Puna announced his intention to stand down in September in order to compete for the role of Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum. He nominated Brown as his replacement. On 1 October, following the retirement of Henry Puna, he was elected Prime Minister. He retained almost all of his and Puna's portfolios in his initial Cabinet, surrendering only Education and Tourism to other Ministers. He plans to re-allocate major portfolios such as Finance and Foreign Affairs to other Ministers in 2021.

In mid-December 2020, Prime Minister Brown and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern announced that a travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Islands would be established next year, facilitating two-way quarantine-free travel between the two countries.

A cabinet reshuffle on 2 June 2021 saw him distribute half his portfolios to other Ministers.

Brown signing the book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House on 17 September 2022

He was re-elected at the 2022 election and reappointed Prime Minister after securing the support of two independents.

In early February 2024, Brown advocated a trilateral defence and security co-operation arrangement between the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. This proposed agreement would supplement the Cook Islands' existing defence and security arrangements with New Zealand.

In mid October 2024, Brown advocated the introduction of a separate Cook Islands passport during the 53rd session of the House of Ariki Annual General Meeting but declined to explain whether this would affect the New Zealand citizenship status of Cook Islanders. In response, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters questioned whether the people of the Cook Islands supported Brown and other politicians' proposal for a separate Cook Islands passport, warning of its implications for the territory's status as an associated state. Brown responded that the Cook Islands passport proposal would not affect the territory's constitutional relationship with New Zealand. Tuaine Unuia, the Clerk of the House of Ariki, said that the House supported Brown's proposal.

On 23 December, the office of Foreign Minister Peters clarified that the Cook Islands would not be able to have its own passport, citizenship and United Nations membership without becoming an independent country. Any changes to the territory's constitutional relationship with New Zealand would have to be decided by the Cook Islanders via a referendum. According to BBC News, several Cook Islanders residing in New Zealand questioned whether Brown and the Cook Islands government had consulted the public over the proposal and expressed concern that any possible change to the Cook Island's sovereignty would affect their access to healthcare and other services in New Zealand.