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Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg
Flag of the Cook Islands
Coat of arms of the Cook Islands.svg
Coat of arms of the Cook Islands
Mark Brown 2023 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Mark Brown

since 1 October 2020
Abbreviation PM
Member of Cabinet of the Cook Islands,
Parliament
Seat Avarua
Appointer King's Representative to the Cook Islands
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrument Constitution of the Cook Islands
Precursor Leader of Government Business
Formation 4 August 1965
First holder Albert Henry (As Premier)
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands


The prime minister of the Cook Islands is the most important political leader in the Cook Islands. This person is the head of government, meaning they lead the country's daily operations. The Cook Islands is a self-governing territory. This means they manage their own affairs. However, they have a special partnership called "free association" with New Zealand.

The job of prime minister started in 1965. This was when the islands first gained the right to govern themselves. At first, the leader was called the "Premier." But in 1981, the title changed to "Prime Minister."

Who Are the Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands?

This section lists all the people who have served as the top leader of the Cook Islands. It shows when they started and ended their time in office. It also shows which political party they belonged to.

Key

      Cook Islands Party       Democratic Party

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Time in Office Political Party Elected Ref.
Started Ended Length of Time
1 Albert Henry 1969 (cropped).jpg Albert Henry
(1907–1981)
4 August 1965 25 July 1978 12 years, 355 days Cook Islands Party 1965
1968
1972
1974
2 No image.png Thomas Davis
(1917–2007)
25 July 1978 13 April 1983 4 years, 262 days Democratic Party 1978
3 No image.png Geoffrey Henry
(1940–2012)
13 April 1983 16 November 1983 217 days Cook Islands Party 1983 (Mar.)
(2) No image.png Thomas Davis
(1917–2007)
16 November 1983 29 July 1987 3 years, 255 days Democratic Party 1983 (Nov.)
4 No image.png Pupuke Robati
(1925–2009)
29 July 1987 1 February 1989 1 year, 187 days Democratic Party
(3) No image.png Geoffrey Henry
(1940–2012)
1 February 1989 29 July 1999 10 years, 178 days Cook Islands Party 1989
1994
1999
5 Joe Williams 7 April 2011.jpg Joe Williams
(1934–2020)
29 July 1999 18 November 1999 112 days Cook Islands Party
6 Terepai MAOATE.jpg Terepai Maoate
(1934–2012)
18 November 1999 11 February 2002 2 years, 85 days Democratic Alliance Party
7 No image.png Robert Woonton
(born 1949)
11 February 2002 11 December 2004 2 years, 304 days Democratic Alliance Party 2004
8 Jim Marurai.jpg Jim Marurai
(1947–2020)
14 December 2004 29 November 2010 5 years, 350 days Democratic Alliance Party
(2004–05)
Cook Islands First Party
(2005–06)
Democratic Party
(2006–2010)
2006
9 Henry Puna 2015.jpg Henry Puna
(born 1949)
30 November 2010 1 October 2020 9 years, 306 days Cook Islands Party 2010
2014
2018
10 Mark Brown Oct 2020.jpg Mark Brown
(born 1963)
1 October 2020 Incumbent 4 years, 266 days Cook Islands Party 2022

Learn More About the Cook Islands

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