Cook Islands Parliament Takes First Formal Steps Toward AI Adoption in Partnership with Pacific Group AI

Cook Islands Parliament Takes First Formal Steps Toward AI Adoption in Partnership with Pacific Group AI

A Pacific-first approach to responsible AI: governance before tools, people before technology

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, May 2026 — The Parliament of the Cook Islands has formally introduced AI into its operations, becoming one of the first legislatures in the Pacific to do so in a structured, governed way.

The initiative was delivered in partnership with Pacific Group AI, the region's first AI transformation agency, with support from UNDP through the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Staff have been trained across multiple AI tools. Two AI agents are now operational within Parliament, with a public-facing tool available through the Parliament website. A formal AI Governance Protocol and Declaration sets clear boundaries on what AI can and cannot do, and parliamentary authority, decision-making and accountability remain entirely human-led.

This is the beginning of a journey, not the destination. And that is exactly the point.