Mark Brown (Cook Islands) Explained

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^[1] in Avarua on Rarotonga, and educated at Nikao Maori School, Nikao Side School, Tereora College and Gisborne Boys' High School in New Zealand.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[3] He unsuccessfully contested the electorate of Takuvaine–Tutakimoa in the 2006 elections, but was elected at the 2010 election.

Brown was appointed to Cabinet in December 2010 as finance minister.^{[4] [5]} 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.^[6]

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.^[7] In March 2021 the charges were dismissed by the High Court.^[8]

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.^[9] He nominated Brown as his replacement. On 1 October, following the retirement of Henry Puna, he was elected Prime Minister.^[10] He retained almost all of his and Puna's portfolios in his initial Cabinet, surrendering only Education and Tourism to other Ministers.^[11] He plans to re-allocate major portfolios such as Finance and Foreign Affairs to other Ministers in 2021.^[12]

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.^[13]

A cabinet reshuffle on 2 June 2021 saw him distribute half his portfolios to other Ministers.^[14]

He was re-elected at the 2022 election and reappointed Prime Minister after securing the support of two independents.^{[15] [16] [17]}

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.^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hon. Mark Stephen BROWN . Parliament of the Cook Islands . 11 August 2022.
2. Web site: ADB Cook Islands: Handbook for ADB Missions . Asian Development Bank . 20 October 2018.
3. Web site: Opposition to focus on welfare and financial stability . Cook Islands Herald . 18 August 2010 . 19 November 2010.
4. Web site: Cooks PM announces cabinet line up . . 2 December 2010 . 18 June 2020.
5. Web site: Who's who in Cabinet . Cook Islands Government . 18 June 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110113031353/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/cabinet.php . 13 January 2011 .
6. Web site: Brown DPM in new cabinet . Cook Islands News . 10 July 2018 . 19 October 2018.
7. Web site: Cook Islands PM, deputy PM accused of fraud . . 11 December 2019 . 17 June 2020.
8. Web site: BREAKING: Judge dismisses case against PM Brown and Puna . Losirene Lacanivalu . Cook Islands News . 19 March 2021 . 20 March 2021.
9. Web site: The Cook Islands PM to stand down in September . . 17 June 2020 . 17 June 2020.
10. Web site: Mark Brown new Cook Islands leader . . 1 October 2020 . 1 October 2020.
11. Web site: PM takes on 17 portfolios . Cook Islands News . Emmanuel Samoglou and Rashneel Kumar . 8 October 2020 . 9 October 2020.
12. Web site: PM Brown to divest key portfolios in 2021 . Rashneel Kumar . Cook Islands News . 9 October 2020 . 10 October 2020.
13. News: Covid 19 coronavirus: Cook Islands, New Zealand travel bubble without quarantine from early next year . 11 December 2020 . . 12 December 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211231224/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-cook-islands-new-zealand-travel-bubble-without-quarantine-from-early-next-year/5N3ZUPLQHGFLNJEMEV5SL2QTAA/. 11 December 2020.
14. Web site: PM announces Cabinet reshuffle . Rashneel Kumar . Cook Islands News . 3 June 2021 . 5 June 2021.
15. Web site: 'Super Browns' side CIP in coalition talks . Cook Islands News . Matthew Littlewood . 5 August 2022 . 6 August 2022.
16. Web site: Brown reappointed PM . Matthew Littlewood . Cook Islands News . 12 August 2022 . 13 August 2022.
17. Web site: Mark Brown confirmed as Cook Islands prime minister . . 13 August 2022 . 13 August 2022.
18. News: Mark Brown proposes trilateral defence and security deal between Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia . 2 February 2024 . . 2 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240201222150/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/508228/mark-brown-proposes-trilateral-defence-and-security-deal-between-cook-islands-new-zealand-and-australia . 1 February 2024. live.