The Parliament of the Cook Islands has formally declared itself an AI-enabled legislature, becoming one of the first parliaments in the Pacific to adopt artificial intelligence tools aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and public access to parliamentary services.
The initiative was supported by the United Nations Development Programme through the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative, with funding assistance from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
UNDP said it partnered with the Cook Islands Parliament to help establish the foundations for responsible adoption of artificial intelligence within parliamentary operations.
Parliament Clerk Tangata Vainerere said the introduction of AI tools followed a deliberate and carefully governed process designed to support parliamentary functions rather than replace human oversight and decision-making.
“The introduction of the tool reflected a deliberate and carefully governed process to introduce artificial intelligence into parliamentary services not to replace human judgment, but as a tool to bridge real operational gaps,” Vainerere said.
Staff members have undergone training on both AI platforms introduced under the initiative, while a formal AI Governance Protocol and Declaration signed by the Clerk outlines clear boundaries governing the technology’s use.
According to the framework, parliamentary authority, accountability and decision-making functions will remain fully human-led.
UNDP congratulated the Parliament of the Cook Islands and Pacific Group AI for collaborating on the initiative, describing the project as an important step toward digital transformation and institutional strengthening within Pacific legislatures.
The development reflects growing regional interest in the use of artificial intelligence across public sector institutions while emphasizing governance safeguards, transparency and responsible deployment practices.
The Cook Islands initiative also aligns with broader efforts across the Pacific to modernize parliamentary systems and improve public engagement through digital technologies.
