Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand shall be the Head of State of the Cook Islands.

There shall be a High Commissioner of the Cook Islands, who shall be the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in the Cook Islands, and shall also be the representative of the Government of New Zealand in the Cook Islands.

The High Commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of the Government of New Zealand who is responsible for matters relating to the Cook Islands, made after consultation by that Minister with the Premier of the Cook Islands.

The High Commissioner shall, before assuming the functions of his office, take and subscribe before the Chief Judge of the High Court the following oath:

I,  , swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her [or His] Majesty [Specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as thus: Queen Elizabeth the Second] as the Head of State of the Cook Islands, Her [or His] heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will uphold the dignity of the office of High Commissioner of the Cook Islands, and will justly and faithfully carry out my duties in the administration of the Cook Islands in accordance with the Constitution and the law. So help me God.

Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the High Commissioner in the performance of his functions as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen shall act on the advice of Cabinet, the Premier, or the appropriate Minister, as the case may be.

If the Cabinet, the Premier, or an appropriate Minister tenders advice to the High Commissioner as to the performance of any function as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen and if the High Commissioner does not, within fourteen days after the date on which the tendering of that advice comes to his notice, accept that advice or take some other action in relation thereto which he is entitled to take under the provisions of this Constitution or of any other law, the High Commissioner shall be deemed to have accepted that advice; and an instrument under the hand of the Secretary to the Cabinet, acting on the instruction of the Premier, to that effect shall operate as to the performance of the function concerned in accordance with that advice.

It shall be the duty of the Premier—

A Deputy of the High Commissioner may from time to time be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of the Government of New Zealand who is responsible for matters relating to the Cook Islands, made after consultation by that Minister with the Premier of the Cook Islands.

Whenever the office of the High Commissioner is vacant or the holder of that office is absent from the Cook Islands or is for any reason unable to perform any functions conferred on him by law, those functions shall be performed by the Deputy of the High Commissioner, or, if no person is for the time being appointed as the Deputy of the High Commissioner or if the person so appointed is for any reason unable to act, those functions shall be performed by the Chief Judge of the High Court, or, if the Chief Judge is also for any reason unable to act, those functions shall be performed by such person as the High Commissioner appoints from time to time.

Nothing in this Article shall preclude the High Commissioner from performing at any time when he is absent from the Cook Islands any of the functions conferred upon him by law.

No act done by the Deputy of the High Commissioner or by the Chief Judge of the High Court or by any person appointed as aforesaid in the performance of any function of the High Commissioner shall be questioned or invalidated on the ground that the occasion therefor had not arisen or had ceased.

There shall be a House of Arikis of the Cook Islands (hereinafter referred to as the House of Arikis).

The House of Arikis shall comprise the following members:

Subject to the provisions of this Article, the members of the House of Arikis shall be appointed by the High Commissioner.

If there is for the time being only one Ariki for any of the islands or groups of islands specified in paragraphs (a) to (h) of subclause (2) of this Article, that Ariki shall be appointed to be a member of the House of Arikis as representing that island or group; but, if there are two or more Arikis for any such island or group, the High Commissioner shall appoint the Ariki for that island or group who is nominated for appointment in the manner prescribed by law.

If there are for the time being not more than the number of Arikis prescribed by law to be appointed as representing the group of islands comprising the Islands of Rarotonga and Palmerston, those Arikis shall be appointed to be members of the House of Arikis as representing that group; but, if there are more than the number so prescribed, the High Commissioner shall appoint the Arikis for that group who are nominated for appointment in the manner prescribed by law.

Subject to the provisions of this Article, the qualifications of Arikis, the qualifications and disqualification of members of the House of Arikis, and the terms and conditions of their membership shall be as prescribed by law.

If any vacancy occurs in the office of a member of the House of Arikis, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as an appointment to that office, and the appointee shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of office of his predecessor.

The House of Arikis shall have the following functions:

Except for the purpose of enabling this Article to be complied with, no member of the House of Arikis shall be permitted to sit or vote therein until he has taken and subscribed the following oath before the High Commissioner, namely:

I,  , swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her [or His] Majesty [Specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as thus: Queen Elizabeth the Second] as the Head of State of the Cook Islands, Her [or His] heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will justly and faithfully carry out my duties as a member of the House of Arikis of the Cook Islands. So help me God.

The Premier may, at any time, attend and address the House of Arikis.

A Minister or a person appointed in that behalf by a Minister may attend the proceedings of the House of Arikis when any matter for which the Minister is responsible is under consideration by the House.

The presiding member of the House of Arikis, when in his opinion any matter before the House makes it desirable, may invite any member of the Legislative Assembly to attend meetings of the House relating to that matter.

A person attending the proceedings of the House of Arikis by virtue of the provisions of subclause (2) or subclause (3) of this Article shall be entitled to take part in the proceedings of the House relating to the matter for which the Minister has responsibility or in respect of which he was invited to attend, as the case may be, as if he were a member of the House:

Provided that he shall not be entitled to vote in the House or any of its committees.

The House of Arikis shall be presided over by one of its members, who shall be elected by the members of the House in the manner prescribed by law and shall hold office for such period and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by law.

The House of Arikis shall meet in Rarotonga at such times as may be prescribed by law:

Provided that the House of Arikis shall meet at least once in every period of twelve months.

Meetings of the House of Arikis shall be summoned by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier.

No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the House of Arikis if the number of members present is less than eight.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and to the provisions of any law, the House of Arikis may from time to time make, amend, and repeal Standing Orders for the regulation and orderly conduct of its proceedings and the despatch of business.

Subject to the provisions of this Article and to the provisions of any law, the House of Arikis shall determine its own procedure.

The House of Arikis shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy among its members, and any proceedings therein shall be valid notwithstanding that some person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted in the House or otherwise took part in the proceedings.

Provision may be made by law for the application to the House of Arikis, its members and officers, persons entitled to speak therein, and persons publishing by or under the authority of the House any report, paper, vote, or proceeding of any of the provisions of any law for the time being in force relating to the privileges and immunities of the Legislative Assembly, its members and officers, persons entitled to speak therein, and persons publishing by or under the authority of the Assembly any report, paper, vote, or proceeding.

The executive authority of the Cook Islands shall be vested in Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive authority of the Cook Islands may be exercised on behalf of Her Majesty by the High Commissioner, either directly or through officers subordinate to him.

Nothing in this Article shall prevent the Legislative Assembly from conferring functions on persons or authorities other than the High Commissioner.

There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers, comprising the Premier of the Cook Islands (who shall preside over Cabinet) and not fewer than three nor more than five other Ministers, which shall have the general direction and control of the executive government of the Cook Islands, and shall be collectively responsible therefor to the Legislative Assembly.

The Premier shall be appointed as follows:

The Ministers other than the Premier shall be appointed by the High Commissioner on the advice of the Premier. No person shall be so appointed unless—

Appointments under the provisions of this Article shall be made by instrument under the Seal of the Cook Islands.

If any employee of the Cook Islands Public Service is appointed to be a Minister, he shall forthwith be deemed to have vacated his office as an employee of that Service.

The appointment of the Premier who is in office immediately before the date of the holding of a general election of the Legislative Assembly may be terminated by the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, after the date of the holding of that election and before the date of the commencement of the first session of the Assembly following that election.

The appointment of the Premier who is in office at the commencement of the first session of the Legislative Assembly following a general election thereof shall be terminated by the High Commissioner on the seventh day of that session if the Premier has not sooner resigned.

The appointment of the Premier shall also be terminated by the High Commissioner—

The office of any other Minister shall become vacant—

Whenever, by reason of illness or of absence from the Cook Islands, the Premier is temporarily prevented from performing, in the Cook Islands, the functions of his office, the High Commissioner may, by instrument under the Seal of the Cook Islands, appoint another Minister to perform those functions until such time as the Premier is capable of again performing them or has vacated his office.

The power conferred on the High Commissioner under the provisions of subclause (5) of this Article shall be exercised by the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, if in his opinion it is impracticable to obtain the advice of the Premier by reason of the illness or absence of the Premier, and, in any other case, shall be exercised by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier.

The High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, may, by instrument under the Seal of the Cook Islands,—

Any Minister in respect of whom action has been taken under the provisions of subclause (7) of this Article shall not perform any of the functions of his office or sit in or otherwise take part in the proceedings of Cabinet or of the Executive Council until the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, has revoked the aforesaid instrument under the Seal of the Cook Islands.

Every Minister shall, before assuming the functions of his office, take and subscribe before the High Commissioner the following oath:

I,  , being chosen and accepted as Premier (or a Minister) and member of Cabinet, swear by Almighty God that I will to the best of my judgment, at all times when thereto required, freely give my counsel and advice to the High Commissioner of the Cook Islands for the good management of the affairs of the Cook Islands, and that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as shall be debated in Cabinet and committee and in Executive Council and committed to my secrecy, but that I will in all such things be a true and faithful Premier (or Minister). So help me God.

The Premier may, by direction in writing under his hand,—

The Premier may retain in his charge any Department or subject.

Cabinet shall be summoned only by the Premier or, in his absence, by such Minister as the Premier appoints in that behalf.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Cabinet may regulate its procedure (including the fixing of a quorum) in such manner as it thinks fit.

Cabinet shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy in the number of its members, and any proceedings of Cabinet shall be valid notwithstanding that some person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted in Cabinet or otherwise took part in the proceedings.

It shall be the duty of the Premier, if the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, so requires, to submit for the consideration of Cabinet any matter on which a decision has been taken by a Minister (including the Premier) but which has not been considered by Cabinet.

A decision of Cabinet shall be recorded in minutes, which shall, under the hand of the Secretary to the Cabinet, be communicated to the High Commissioner within forty-eight hours of the making of the decision or, if the decision is one to which paragraph (c) of subclause (1) of Article 19 hereof applies, within twenty-four hours of the making of the decision.

A decision of Cabinet shall not take effect except under the provisions of Article 19 hereof.

A decision of Cabinet shall take effect—

For the purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subclause (1) of this Article, the date of a decision of Cabinet shall be the date on which the minutes in which the decision is recorded are communicated to the High Commissioner under the provisions of subclause (4) of Article 18 hereof.

An instrument under the hand of the Secretary to the Cabinet certifying that a decision of Cabinet has taken effect shall be conclusive evidence that that decision has taken effect.

The person for the time being holding office as the Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall also be the Secretary to the Cabinet.

In this Constitution and in every enactment, unless the context otherwise requires, words directing or empowering any Minister to do any act or thing, or otherwise applying to him by his title of office, include any other Minister acting for, or, if the office is vacant, in the place of that first-mentioned Minister, and also his successors in that office.

There shall be an Executive Council of the Cook Islands, which shall consist of—

No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Executive Council unless there are present the High Commissioner and at least three members of Cabinet or, if there are for the time being only four members of Cabinet, unless there are present the High Commissioner and at least two members of Cabinet.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Executive Council may regulate its procedure in such manner as it thinks fit.

The Secretary to the Cabinet shall also be the Clerk of the Executive Council.

The Executive Council shall be summoned only by the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, or by the Premier.

A meeting of the Executive Council may be summoned to consider any decision recorded in the minutes of a Cabinet meeting.

If at a meeting of the Executive Council thus summoned the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, concurs in the decision concerned, that decision shall take effect as a decision of Cabinet.

If at a meeting of the Executive Council thus summoned the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, does not concur in the decision concerned or requests any amendment thereto, Cabinet shall thereupon be summoned under the provisions of Article 17 hereof and requested to reconsider that decision.

If Cabinet after that reconsideration reaffirms its original decision or accepts the amendment requested by the High Commissioner, the original decision or the decision as so amended, as the case may be, shall forthwith take effect as a decision of Cabinet.

If Cabinet after that reconsideration adopts a decision which incorporates an amendment to its original decision, other than an amendment requested by the High Commissioner, the decision as so amended shall operate as a new decision of Cabinet to which the provisions of subclauses (4) and (5) of Article 18 hereof shall apply.

There shall be a Public Seal of the Cook Islands (in this Constitution referred to as the Seal of the Cook Islands), to be in such form or forms as the Executive Council from time to time approves.

The Seal shall be in the custody of the High Commissioner.

The Seal may be used by the High Commissioner for the authentication of any public document in relation to the government of the Cook Islands or for the execution of any document required by law to be executed under the Seal of the Cook Islands.

Judicial notice shall be taken of the Seal in all Courts in the Cook Islands and in New Zealand (including Niue and the Tokelau Islands).

There shall be a Legislative Assembly to be called the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands.

The Legislative Assembly shall consist of twenty-two members, to be elected by secret ballot under a system of universal suffrage by the electors of the following islands or groups of islands and in the following numbers:

Subject to the provisions of this Article and of Article 28 hereof, the qualifications and disqualification of electors and candidates, the mode of electing members of the Legislative Assembly, and the terms and conditions of their membership shall be as prescribed by law.

Without limiting the provisions of any law prescribing any additional qualifications, a person shall be qualified to be an elector for the election of members of the Legislative Assembly or to be a candidate at any such election, if, and only if—

For the purposes of this Article a person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the Cook Islands if, and only if,—

The Legislative Assembly shall meet at such places and at such times as the High Commissioner from time to time appoints in that behalf:

Provided that the Assembly shall meet not later than ninety days after the holding of a general election and at least once in every year thereafter, so that a period of twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session.

Except for the purpose of enabling this Article to be complied with and for the election of a Speaker, no member of the Legislative Assembly shall be permitted to sit or vote therein until he has taken and subscribed the following oath before the Speaker of the Assembly, namely:

I,  , swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her [or His] Majesty [Specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as thus: Queen Elizabeth the Second] as the Head of State of the Cook Islands, Her [or His] heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will justly and faithfully carry out my duties as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands. So help me God.

The Legislative Assembly shall, immediately when it first meets after a general election and as soon as possible after any vacancy occurs in the office of Speaker otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Assembly, and before it proceeds to the dispatch of any other business, elect a person (not being a Minister) to be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The Speaker may be elected in such manner as the Assembly decides from time to time, either from among the members of the Assembly who are not Ministers or from among persons who are not members of the Assembly:

Provided that a person who is not a member of the Assembly shall not be elected Speaker unless he is qualified for election as a member of the Assembly.

Before a person who has been elected Speaker enters upon the duties of his office, he shall, unless he has already done so in accordance with Article 30 hereof, take and prescribe before the High Commissioner the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in that Article, substituting the word “Speaker” for the words “a member” where they appear in that oath.

The salary of the Speaker shall be determined by enactment, and shall be charged on the Cook Islands Government Account:

Provided that such salary shall not be diminished during his period of office, unless as part of a general reduction of salaries applied proportionately to all persons whose salaries are determined by enactment.

The Speaker may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and shall vacate his office—

The Legislative Assembly may elect a member of the Assembly, not being the Speaker or a Minister, to be Deputy Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and shall vacate his office—

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and of the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly, the functions conferred by this Constitution or those Standing Orders upon the Speaker shall, if there is no person holding the office of Speaker or if the Speaker is absent from the Cook Islands or is otherwise unable to perform those functions, be performed by the Deputy Speaker.

The Speaker, or in his absence the Deputy Speaker, shall preside over sittings of the Legislative Assembly. In the absence from any sitting of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, the members present shall choose one of their number (not being a Minister) to preside over that sitting.

Subject to the provisions of Article 41 hereof and of subclause (3) of this Article, every question before the Legislative Assembly shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present.

The person presiding over any sitting of the Assembly shall not have a deliberative vote, but, in case of an equality of votes, he shall have a casting vote.

No business shall be transacted at any sitting of the Assembly if the number of members present (excluding the Speaker if he is a member) is less than twelve.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislative Assembly may from time to time make, amend, and repeal Standing Orders for the regulation and orderly conduct of its proceedings and the dispatch of business.

The Legislative Assembly shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy among its members, including any vacancy not filled at a general election, and any proceedings therein shall be valid notwithstanding that some person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted in the Assembly or otherwise took part in the proceedings.

All debates and discussions in the Legislative Assembly shall be conducted in the Maori language as spoken in Rarotonga and also in the English language.

Every Bill introduced into the Legislative Assembly and every Act shall be in the Maori language as spoken in Rarotonga and also in the English language:

Provided that the Assembly may, by resolution, determine that any Bill or Act shall be in the English language only.

The records of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly or in committees thereof shall be in the English language, and such of those records as are specified in the Standing Orders of the Assembly shall also be in the Maori language as spoken in Rarotonga.

Where there is any conflict between the Maori version and the English version of any Bill or Act or of any such record, the English version shall prevail.

The validity of any proceedings in the Legislative Assembly or in any committee thereof shall not be questioned in any Court.

No officer or member or Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in whom powers are vested for the regulation of procedure or the conduct of business or the maintenance of order shall in relation to the exercise by him of any of those powers be subject to the jurisdiction of any Court.

No member or Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and no person entitled to speak therein shall be liable to any proceedings in any Court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in the Assembly or in any committee thereof.

No person shall be liable to any proceedings in any Court in respect of the publication by or under the authority of the Legislative Assembly of any report, paper, vote, or proceeding.

Subject to the provisions of this Article, the privileges of the Legislative Assembly and of the committees thereof, and the privileges of members and the Speaker of the Assembly and of the persons entitled to speak therein, may be determined by Act:

Provided that no such privilege of the Assembly or of any committee thereof may extend to the imposition of a fine or to committal to prison for contempt or otherwise, unless provision is made by enactment for the trial and punishment of the person concerned by the High Court.

The High Commissioner may at any time, by notice published in the Cook Islands Gazette, prorogue the Legislative Assembly.

If at any time the office of Premier is vacant, the High Commissioner shall, by notice published in the Cook Islands Gazette, dissolve the Legislative Assembly as soon as he is satisfied, acting in his discretion, that a reasonable period has elapsed since that office was last vacated and that there is no member of the Assembly who commands the confidence of a majority of the members.

The High Commissioner may at any time, by notice published in the Cook Islands Gazette, dissolve the Legislative Assembly if he is advised by the Premier to do so, but shall not be obliged to act in this respect in accordance with the advice of the Premier unless the High Commissioner is satisfied, acting in his discretion, that in tendering that advice the Premier commands the confidence of a majority of the members of the Assembly.

The High Commissioner shall dissolve the Legislative Assembly at the expiration of three years from the date of the last preceding general election, if it has not been sooner dissolved.

There shall be a general election of the members of the Legislative Assembly at such time within three months after every dissolution of the Assembly as the High Commissioner appoints by notice published in the Cook Islands Gazette.

There shall be a Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.

The Clerk shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and shall transmit a copy of those records to the High Commissioner as soon as practicable.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Legislative Assembly may make laws (to be known as Acts) for the peace, order, and good government of the Cook Islands.

The powers of the Legislative Assembly shall extend to the making of laws having extra-territorial operation.

Without limiting the generality of the power conferred by subclause (1) of this Article to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Cook Islands, that power shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, include the repeal or revocation or amendment or modification or extension, in relation to the Cook Islands, of any law in force in the Cook Islands.

Except to the extent to which it is inconsistent with this Constitution, no Act and no provision of any Act shall be deemed to be invalid solely on the ground that it is inconsistent with any law in force in the Cook Islands.

No property shall be taken possession of compulsorily, and no right over or interest in any property shall be acquired compulsorily, except under the law which, of itself or when read with any other laws,—

Nothing in this Article shall be construed as affecting any general law—

Subject to the provisions of subclause (2) of this Article, no Bill repealing or amending or modifying or extending this Constitution or any provision thereof or making any provision inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution shall be deemed to have been passed by the Assembly, unless—

and no such Bill shall be presented to the High Commissioner for assent unless it is accompanied by a certificate under the hand of the Speaker to that effect.

No Bill repealing or amending or modifying or extending any of the provisions of sections 2 to 6 of the Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964 or Article 2 of this Constitution or this Article or making any provision inconsistent with any of those provisions shall be submitted to the High Commissioner for his assent, unless—

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and of the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly, any member of the Assembly may introduce any Bill or propose any motion for debate in or present any petition to the Assembly, and the same shall be considered and disposed of in accordance with the Standing Orders.

Except upon the recommendation of the High Commissioner, the Legislative Assembly shall not—

No Bill shall become law until it has been passed by the Legislative Assembly and has been assented to by the High Commissioner.

Whenever any Bill which has been passed by the Legislative Assembly is presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, the High Commissioner shall, acting on the advice of the Premier, declare that he assents to the Bill or that he refuses his assent to the Bill:

Provided that the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, may summon a meeting of the Executive Council, to be held within fourteen days after the Bill is presented to him for his assent, to consider amendments to the Bill proposed by him or to consider whether he should refuse his assent to the Bill.

If at a meeting of the Executive Council thus summoned the Executive Council decides that the Bill should be returned to the Legislative Assembly for consideration of the amendments proposed or, as the case may be, that the High Commissioner should refuse his assent to the Bill, the High Commissioner shall, by Message,—

If at a meeting of the Executive Council thus summoned the Executive Council decides that the Bill should not be returned to the Legislative Assembly for consideration of the amendments proposed or, as the case may be, that the High Commissioner should not refuse his assent to the Bill, he shall declare that he assents to the Bill.

Where any Bill is returned to the Legislative Assembly under the provisions of paragraph (a) of subclause (3) of this Article, and the Bill is again passed by the Assembly with the amendments proposed, but with no other amendments, or in the form in which it was originally presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, then, when the Bill is again presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, he shall declare that he assents to the Bill.

Where any Bill is returned to the Legislative Assembly under the provisions of paragraph (b) of subclause (3) of this Article, and the Bill is again passed by the Assembly in the form in which it was originally presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, then, when the Bill is again presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, he shall declare that he assents to the Bill.

Where any Bill is returned to the Legislative Assembly under the provisions of this Article and the Bill is again passed by the Assembly with any amendments other than amendments proposed under the provisions of this Article, then, when the Bill is again presented to the High Commissioner for his assent, the foregoing provisions of this Article shall apply with respect to the Bill as if it had not previously been presented to the High Commissioner for his assent.

A Bill assented to by the High Commissioner as herein provided shall be known as an Act of the Legislative Assembly.

Every Act shall come into operation either on the day on which the Bill is assented to, or on any date (whether earlier or later than the date on which it is assented to) specified in that behalf in the Act, and different dates may be so specified in respect of different provisions of the Act.

No Act, and no provision of any Act, of the Parliament of New Zealand passed on or after Constitution Day shall extend or be deemed to extend to the Cook Islands as part of the law of the Cook Islands, unless—

Every such request and consent shall be made and given by resolution of the Legislative Assembly or, if the Assembly is not sitting at the time when the request and consent are made and given, by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of Cabinet.

There shall be a Court of record, to be called the High Court of the Cook Islands, for the administration of justice throughout those islands.

Except as provided in this Constitution or by law, the High Court shall have all such jurisdiction (both civil and criminal) as may be necessary to administer the law in force in the Cook Islands.

The High Court shall consist of such Judges and Commissioners of that Court as are from time to time appointed under the provisions of this Constitution.

If only one Judge is so appointed, he shall be deemed to be Chief Judge of the High Court, but, if more than one Judge is appointed, one shall be appointed Chief Judge of that Court.

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge or Commissioner of the High Court unless he possesses such qualifications as the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, prescribes.

A Commissioner of the High Court shall possess and may exercise such of the functions of a Judge of the High Court (whether judicial or administrative, but excluding those vested exclusively in the Chief Judge of that Court) as the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, from time to time determines, either generally or with respect to any particular Commissioner or Commissioners of that Court, and all references in any enactment to a Judge of the High Court shall be construed as applying to a Commissioner of the High Court within the limits of the jurisdiction so conferred on him.

The office of Commissioner of the High Court may, with the approval of the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, be held concurrently with the office of a Registrar of that Court or with any other position in the Cook Islands Public Service, or may be held concurrently with any other position, but a Commissioner of the High Court in the exercise of his functions as such shall not be under the control of the Secretary of the Premier’s Department.

Provision may be made by law for appeals from a Commissioner of the High Court to a Judge of that Court.

Where any vacancy exists in the office of the Chief Judge of the High Court or the Chief Judge of the High Court is absent from the Cook Islands or is, by reason of illness or any cause other than absence from the Cook Islands, unable to perform the office or exercise any function of Chief Judge of the High Court, the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, may authorise the senior other Judge of the High Court for the time being in the Cook Islands, or, if there is no other Judge of the High Court in the Cook Islands, the Chief Judge of the Land Court, to perform that office or exercise that function until a Chief Judge of the High Court is appointed or, as the case may be, the Chief Judge of the High Court resumes that office or exercises that function.

The High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, may authorise any Judge of the Land Court or, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, may authorise any other person who is qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the High Court, to act as a Judge of the High Court, if—

Any authority granted under this Article may be revoked at any time by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier or, as the case may be, the Judicial Service Commission.

There shall be a Court of record, to be called the Land Court of the Cook Islands, which shall have the jurisdiction and powers conferred upon it by law.

The Land Court shall consist of such Judges and Commissioners of that Court as are from time to time appointed under the provisions of this Constitution.

If only one Judge is so appointed, he shall be deemed to be the Chief Judge of the Land Court, but, if more than one Judge is so appointed, one shall be appointed Chief Judge of that Court.

A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge or Commissioner of the Land Court unless he possesses such qualifications as the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, prescribes.

A Commissioner of the Land Court shall possess and may exercise such of the functions of a Judge of the Land Court (whether judicial or administrative, but excluding those vested exclusively in the Chief Judge of that Court) as the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, from time to time determines, either generally or with respect to any particular Commissioner or Commissioners of that Court, and all references in any enactment to a Judge of the Land Court shall be construed as applying to a Commissioner of the Land Court within the limits of the jurisdiction conferred upon him.

The office of Commissioner of the Land Court may, with the approval of the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, be held concurrently with the office of a Registrar of that Court or with any other office in the Cook Islands Public Service, or may be held concurrently with any other position, but a Commissioner of the Land Court in the exercise of his functions as such shall not be under the control of the Secretary of the Premier’s Department.

Provision may be made by law for appeals from a Commissioner of the Land Court to a Judge of that Court.

There shall be a Court of record, to be called the Land Appellate Court of the Cook Islands, which shall have the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by law.

The Judges of the Land Court of the Cook Islands and the Judges of the Maori Land Court of New Zealand shall be the Judges of the Land Appellate Court.

Any two or more of the Judges (other than any Judge who determined the matter in dispute in the Land Court) shall have power to act as the Land Appellate Court:

Provided that two Judges at least shall concur in every decision of that Court.

The Land Appellate Court may sit in two or more divisions at the same time, and each division shall have all the powers and jurisdiction of the Land Appellate Court.

The Chief Judge of the Land Court of the Cook Islands shall preside at any sitting of the Land Appellate Court at which he is present. In his absence the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court of New Zealand, if present, shall preside, and in the absence of both of those Judges the senior Judge present shall preside.

The Judges and Commissioners of the High Court or of the Land Court shall be appointed as follows:

Except in the case of an appointment made under subclause (2) of this Article, no person who has attained the age of sixty-five years shall be appointed to or continue to hold office as a Judge of the High Court or of the Land Court.

Any person of any age who is not ordinarily resident in the Cook Islands (as defined in subclause (2) of Article 28 hereof) and who is qualified for appointment may be appointed to hold office as a Judge of the High Court or of the Land Court for a term of years.

Nothing done by a Judge of the High Court or of the Land Court in the performance of his functions shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only that he has reached the age at which he is required by this Article to retire or that his term of office has expired, as the case may be.

A Judge or Commissioner of the High Court or of the Land Court may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the High Commissioner.

A Commissioner of the High Court or of the Land Court shall not be removed from office as such except by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

A Judge of the High Court, other than a Judge appointed under the provisions of Article 51 hereof, or a Judge of the Land Court may be removed from office by the High Commissioner only for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or from any other cause) or for misbehaviour, and shall not be so removed unless the question of the removal of that Judge from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subclause (2) of this Article and that tribunal has recommended that the Judge be removed from office for inability as aforesaid or misbehaviour.

If the Premier advises the High Commissioner that the question of removing from office a Judge of the High Court or of the Land Court for inability as aforesaid or misbehaviour ought to be investigated, then,—

No person shall be qualified for appointment as a member of a tribunal under this Article, unless—

For the purposes of this Article, the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion, may designate as an approved country any country which in his opinion has a legal system similar to that existing in New Zealand.

No business shall be transacted by a tribunal appointed under this Article unless all three members are present, and all questions proposed for decision by the tribunal shall be decided by the votes of a majority of those members.

Subject to this Article, the tribunal shall determine its own procedure.

If the question of removing from office a Judge of the High Court or of the Land Court has been referred to a tribunal under subclause (2) of this Article, the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, may suspend the Judge from performing the functions of his office, and any such suspension may at any time be revoked by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Premier, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal does not recommend to the High Commissioner that the Judge be removed from office.

The salaries of the Judges of the High Court or of the Land Court shall be determined by enactment, and shall be charged on the Cook Islands Government Account.

The salaries of those Judges shall not be diminished during their period of office, unless as part of a general reduction of salaries applied proportionately to all persons whose salaries are determined by enactment.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court of New Zealand from a final judgment of the High Court—

Notwithstanding anything in subclause (1) of this Article, the Supreme Court of New Zealand may, in any case in which it thinks fit and at any time, grant special leave to appeal to that Court from any final judgment of the High Court, subject to such conditions as to security for costs and otherwise as the Supreme Court thinks fit.

The determination of the Supreme Court of New Zealand on any appeal from the High Court under Article 61 hereof shall be transmitted to the Registrar of the High Court by the Registrar of the Supreme Court under the seal of the Supreme Court, and judgment shall thereupon be entered by the High Court in conformity with that determination, or such other proceedings by way of a new trial or otherwise shall be taken in the High Court as are required by that determination.

There shall be no appeal to the Court of Appeal of New Zealand from any decision of the Supreme Court of New Zealand on an appeal from the High Court under Article 61 hereof.

The High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, may appoint Justices of the Peace for the Cook Islands, who shall hold office for such time as may be prescribed in their warrants of appointment and may be paid such remuneration as may be prescribed by enactment.

Any two or more Justices of the Peace for the Cook Islands acting together may exercise in the Cook Islands the jurisdiction of a Commissioner of the High Court, and Article 49 hereof, with the necessary modifications, shall apply as if references therein to a Commissioner of the High Court were references to two or more Justices of the Peace for the Cook Islands.

A Justice of the Peace for the Cook Islands shall not be removed from office as such, except by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.

Every Judge or Commissioner of the High Court or of the Land Court, every Judge of the Land Appellate Court who is not also a Judge of the Land Court, and every Justice of the Peace for the Cook Islands (being persons appointed to those offices on or after Constitution Day) shall, as soon as may be after his acceptance of office, take and subscribe before the High Commissioner the following oaths:

If any person mentioned in this Article declines or neglects, when the oaths required to be taken by him under this Article are duly tendered, to take those oaths, he shall if he has already entered on his office vacate the same, and if he has not entered on the same be disqualified from entering on the same; but no person shall be compelled in respect of the same appointment to the same office to take any oath more than once:

Provided that no proceedings before any such person may be questioned in any Court solely on the ground that that person has failed to take the oaths prescribed by this Article.

There shall be a Judicial Service Commission, which shall consist of—

No business shall be transacted by the Judicial Service Commission unless all three members are present, and all questions proposed for decision by the Commission shall be decided by a majority of the votes of those members.

Subject to this Article, the Judicial Service Commission shall determine its own procedure.

There shall be a Cook Islands Government Account and such other public funds or accounts as may be provided by law.

No taxation shall be imposed except by law.

All taxes and other revenues and money raised or received by the Government of the Cook Islands shall be paid into the Cook Islands Government Account unless required or permitted by law to be paid into any other public fund or account.

Except as provided in subclause (3) of this Article, or by any specific appropriation contained in any enactment, all expenditure in any financial year from the Cook Islands Government Account or from any other public fund or account shall be charged to votes specified in an Appropriation Act and in accordance with the statement of proposed expenditure for that financial year as approved by the Legislative Assembly.

Every Appropriation Act shall lapse at the end of the financial year to which it relates.

Subject to such limits and restrictions as may from time to time be prescribed by any enactment, the Minister responsible for finance, or, where any enactment so provides, the Executive Council, may approve the expenditure of such sums as he or it considers necessary—

A statement of the unauthorised expenditure for any financial year shall be included in the accounts for that year laid before the Legislative Assembly.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Article, the collection, receipt, custody, banking, issue, expenditure, care, and management of money credited or to be credited to the Cook Islands Government Account or to any other public fund or account shall be as prescribed by enactment.

The Audit Office of New Zealand shall be the auditor of the Cook Islands Government Account and of all other public funds or accounts, and of the accounts of all Departments and offices of executive government and of such other public, statutory, or local authorities or bodies as may be provided by law.

The Audit Office shall, at least once annually, forward to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for presentation to the Assembly a report containing such information as is required to be submitted by any enactment, together with such other information relating to the Cook Islands Government Account or other funds or accounts which under this Constitution or under any other enactment are required to be audited by the Audit Office as that Office considers desirable.

There shall be a Cook Islands Public Service, which shall comprise such persons in the service of the Government of the Cook Islands as may from time to time be prescribed by law.

There shall be a Secretary of the Premier’s Department, who shall be the permanent head of that Department and the principal administrative officer of the Government of the Cook Islands.

The Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall be appointed by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of Cabinet.

The Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall be deemed not to be an employee of the Cook Islands Public Service:

Provided that the provisions of any law for the time being in force relating to the tenure of office of employees of that Service, the grounds on which such employees may be dismissed or suspended, and the rights of such employees to appeal against dismissal or suspension shall apply with respect to the Secretary of the Premier’s Department as if he were an employee of that Service.

The salary of the Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall be determined by enactment, and shall be charged on the Cook Islands Government Account:

Provided that such salary shall not be diminished during his period of office, unless as part of a general reduction of salaries applied proportionately to all persons whose salaries are determined by enactment.

The Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall be responsible for the appointment, promotion, transfer, termination of appointment, dismissal, and disciplinary control of the Cook Islands Public Service, and shall have such other functions as may be prescribed by law.

In the performance of his functions under this Article, the Secretary of the Premier’s Department shall have regard to the general policy of Cabinet relating to the Cook Islands Public Service, and shall give effect to any decision of Cabinet defining that policy conveyed to him in writing by the Premier.

Except as provided in subclause (2) of this Article, the appointment, terms of service, disciplinary control, termination of appointment, and dismissal of the staff of the High Commissioner shall be matters for the High Commissioner, acting in his discretion.

The High Commissioner, if he so desires, may appoint to his staff such employees of the Cook Islands Public Service as he may select, acting in his discretion but after consultation with the Premier, from a list submitted by the Secretary of the Premier’s Department; and the provisions of subclause (1) of this Article (except so far as they relate to appointment) shall apply in relation to a person so appointed in respect of his service on the staff of the High Commissioner but not in respect of his service as an employee of the Cook Islands Public Service.

There shall be a Cook Islands Public Service Board of Appeal, which shall consist of—

The Chief Judge shall be Chairman of the Board of Appeal.

An Act—

Subject to the provisions of any Act, the Board of Appeal shall determine its own procedure.

In this Article the term “employee” does not include a temporary or probationary employee.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution,—

The person holding office immediately before Constitution Day as the Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands shall, without further appointment, hold the office of High Commissioner of the Cook Islands until an appointment has been made under the provisions of Article 3 hereof, which appointment shall be made within six months after Constitution Day.

[Repealed].

The Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands shall continue in being on and after Constitution Day, and the members of the Assembly immediately before Constitution Day shall be deemed to have been duly elected under the provisions of this Constitution.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly who are in office immediately before Constitution Day shall be deemed to have been duly elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, under the provisions of this Constitution.

For the purposes of subclause (4) of Article 37 hereof, the date of the general election at which the Legislative Assembly was elected shall be the date of the last preceding general election in respect of the Assembly in being on and after Constitution Day.

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly in force immediately before Constitution Day shall continue to be the Standing Orders of the Assembly, and they may be amended, repealed, or added to under the provisions of Article 34 hereof.

Every Ordinance made by the Legislative Council of the Cook Islands under section 2 of the Cook Islands Amendment Act 1946, and in force immediately before Constitution Day, shall be deemed to be an Ordinance of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands made before Constitution Day and shall continue in force as if it were such an Ordinance on and after Constitution Day.

All Ordinances made by the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands under section 38 of the Cook Islands Amendment Act 1957, and in force immediately before Constitution Day, shall continue in force on and after Constitution Day.

The High Court of the Cook Islands established by Article 47 hereof is hereby declared to be the same Court as the High Court of the Cook Islands established by the Cook Islands Act 1915.

The Judges and Commissioners of that Court in office immediately before Constitution Day shall continue to hold office on and after Constitution Day as if they had been appointed under the provisions of this Constitution, and those Judges shall receive the salary to which they were entitled immediately before Constitution Day as if that salary had been fixed by enactment.

All judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the High Court of the Cook Islands shall continue to have full force and effect on and after Constitution Day as judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the High Court established under this Constitution; and all proceedings, civil or criminal, pending in the High Court immediately before Constitution Day, and all appeals pending immediately before Constitution Day from decisions of the High Court, may be continued on and after Constitution Day.

The Land Court of the Cook Islands established by Article 52 hereof is hereby declared to be the same Court as the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands established by the Cook Islands Act 1915.

The Land Court of the Cook Islands shall also be deemed for all purposes to be the same Court as that which existed at the commencement of the Cook Islands Act 1915 under the name of the Cook Islands Land Titles Court, and all orders theretofore made by the last-mentioned Court shall have effect accordingly.

The Judges and Commissioners of the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands in office immediately before Constitution Day shall hold office on and after Constitution Day as Judges or Commissioners, as the case may be, of the Land Court of the Cook Islands as if they had been appointed under the provisions of this Constitution, and those Judges shall receive the salary to which they were entitled immediately before Constitution Day as if that salary had been fixed by enactment.

All judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands shall continue in full force and effect on and after Constitution Day as judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the Land Court of the Cook Islands; and all proceedings pending in the Native Land Court of the Cook Islands immediately before Constitution Day may be continued in the Land Court of the Cook Islands on and after Constitution Day.

The Land Appellate Court of the Cook Islands established by Article 55 hereof is hereby declared to be the same Court as the Native Appellate Court of the Cook Islands established by section 19 of the Cook Islands Amendment Act 1946.

All judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the Native Appellate Court of the Cook Islands shall continue in full force and effect on and after Constitution Day as judgments, decrees, records, and acts of the Land Appellate Court of the Cook Islands; and all proceedings pending in the Native Appellate Court of the Cook Islands immediately before Constitution Day may be continued in the Land Appellate Court of the Cook Islands on and after Constitution Day.

Every person holding office immediately before Constitution Day as a Justice of the Peace for the Cook Islands other than Niue shall continue in office as a Justice of the Peace for the Cook Islands, as if he had been appointed to that office pursuant to Article 64 hereof.

Subject to the provisions of subclause (3) of Article 64 hereof, every such person shall continue to hold office during the pleasure of the High Commissioner.

The Cook Islands Government Account established by Article 67 hereof is hereby declared to be the same account as the Cook Islands Assembly Account established by section 15 of the Cook Islands Amendment Act 1957; and all money in the last-mentioned account immediately before Constitution Day shall on and after Constitution Day be deemed to form part of the Cook Islands Government Account.

The person holding office immediately before Constitution Day as the Secretary to the Government of the Cook Islands shall, without further appointment, hold the office of Secretary of the Premier’s Department until an appointment has been made under the provisions of subclause (2) of Article 73 hereof, which appointment shall be made within six months after Constitution Day.

The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council made at the request and with the consent of the Government of the Cook Islands, make regulations, not inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution, for the peace, order, and good government of the Cook Islands.

Every such request and consent by the Government of the Cook Islands shall be made and given by resolution of the Legislative Assembly or, if the Assembly is not sitting at the time when the request and consent are made and given, by the High Commissioner, acting on the advice of Cabinet.

Regulations made pursuant to this section shall expressly declare that the Government of the Cook Islands has requested and consented to the making thereof.

The maximum penalty which may be prescribed for the breach of any regulation made under the provisions of this Article shall not exceed—

Regulations made under the provisions of this Article may be made applicable either to all of the islands of the Cook Islands or to one or more thereof exclusively.