Rarotonga, Cook Islands , 20 May 2026- Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown will travel to Wuzhou, China next week for the formal inauguration ceremony of the MV Tuitui Moana, the Cook Islands newly built inter-island vessel.
The MV Tuitui Moana – meaning “threading the ocean” – was named through a national competition open to young people across the Cook Islands. The name reflects the vessel’s role in guiding the many threads of trade, people, cargo and connectivity across the ocean, strengthening transport links and bringing Rarotonga and the Pa Enua closer together.
Constructed under the 2024 Technical Agreement between the Cook Islands and China, the vessel is co-funded with each party contributing US$1.5 million. The MV Tuitui Moana is a key component of Government’s domestic shipping roadmap, designed to enhance economic resilience and ensure safer, more reliable connections for communities across the Cook Islands.
The visit marks a significant milestone in the 29-year diplomatic relationship between the two nations, which continues to be anchored in mutual respect and a shared commitment to sustainable development.
“In 2023, we set out our roadmap for domestic shipping to ensure reliable transportation for our Pa Enua. Today, we are proud that our first newly built vessel is completed – a project co-funded by the Cook Islands and China. We are pleased to have partnered with China’s world-class ship building industry in delivering this important investment for our people and communities.”
The inauguration marks a significant milestone in the Cook Islands relationship with China. Having formalised diplomatic relations 29 years ago, both countries continue to cultivate a partnership centred on mutual respect and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Brown will be accompanied by a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) and the Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington.
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