Te Kauono Tutara e te Mana Tiaki - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is the Government’s primary, specialist agency responsible for representing and advancing the Cook Islands’ interests internationally and for providing an effective national immigration service that enhances the security of the country’s borders.
It carries out its functions across the full range of economic, political, social, environmental, security and other national priorities as contained in the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) and other national and international policy documents and commitments (e.g. the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)).
Addressing the challenges facing the Cook Islands in a rapidly-evolving geo-political environment is a long-term, sustained process requiring concerted action and elevated levels of engagement by the Ministry, both within the country and overseas. This necessitates MFAI keeping abreast of regional and international developments, providing advice to the Government on the implications of those developments, and working to protect and promote the Cook Islands’ national interests in accordance with agreed priorities.
Within this rapidly evolving context, the Ministry recognizes that our foreign affairs and immigration activities need to be strategic, focused and most importantly, responsive to our shifting political, economic, social and environmental priorities.