By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands News
a photo taken on December 28, 2024 off Porkkalanniemi, Kirkkonummi, in the Gulf of Finland, shows oil tanker Eagle S (R), which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, next to Finnish border guard ship Uisko (back C) and tugboat Ukko (front L). Photo: AFP / Jussi Nukari
The Leader of the Opposition has called for a full, independent investigation into Maritime Cook Islands (MCI) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) following the release of Official Information Act (OIA) documents from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) linking Cook Islands-flagged vessels to international illicit activity.
The call highlights the need to reveal lapses in the country's registry which is being highlighted by New Zealand's concerns.
In response to Cook Islands News' queries, opposition leader Tina Browne described the findings in the OIA documents as "deeply troubling", saying they reflect ongoing international concerns that directly impact the Cook Islands' global credibility and partnerships.
"The Opposition firmly believes there must be a full, independent investigation into the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Cook Islands," Browne said.
"The public has a right to know how vessels registered under our flag came to be implicated in international illicit activity, and why oversight mechanisms failed to detect or prevent it."
Cook Islands News last week sent questions to Maritime Cook Islands, the Ministry of Transport, and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas.
The OIA documents, requested by RNZ Pacific, centered around an incident where the Eagle S vessel, registered under the Cook Islands flag, was seized on December 25, 2024, in the Baltic Sea by Finnish authorities who believed the vessel severed the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia. The vessel is linked to Russia's shadow fleet, which seeks to evade sanctions on the sale of Russian oil.
RNZ Pacific requested all correspondence sent and received between the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration regarding the ship from 25 December 2024 to 14 January this year.
The OIA document released to RNZ Pacific and published on the MFAT website is divided into three parts:
- Part one: Two email chains were identified, one relating to RNZ's media inquiry (27 December 2024 to 6 January 2025), and another concerning a meeting on Eagle S and the shadow fleet (10-13 January 2025). Some content was withheld to protect national security, international relations and privacy.
- Part two: MFAT confirmed that it had no correspondence with Maritime Cook Islands concerning the seizure of the Eagle S, and therefore this part of the request was refused.
- Part three: Several documents were released that included formal messages and reports related to the incident. However, information was again withheld under various sections of the OIA to protect sensitive material.
According to the documents, Eagle S, was marked as severe in terms of non-compliance in November 2024 by New Zealand authorities, and the information was shared to Cook Islands government. MFAT also says Maritime Cook Islands has been given all the information it needs to act against non-compliant vessels.
The documents reveal a growing concern from New Zealand and the international community regarding the administration of Maritime Cook Islands, the Cook Islands shipping registry.
According to the background provided in the OIA release, the Cook Islands registry has come under fire for:
- Lack of integrity and oversight: Concerns have been raised about whether the Cook Islands is fulfilling its international obligations as a Flag State.
- Involvement with the "shadow fleet": The Cook Islands registry reportedly includes vessels associated with the Russian "shadow fleet," which are suspected of evading sanctions, avoiding insurance and conducting illegal operations.
- Sanctioned vessels: MFAT wants assurances that all sanctioned vessels have been formally de-registered or are in the process of being removed from the registry.
- Environmental and security threats: These vessels often lack proper maintenance, are under-crewed, uninsured, and pose threats to marine safety and environmental protection.
- Flag hopping: There are signs that some vessels are shifting between registries - like Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands - to avoid regulation and detection. The Cook Islands has been implicated in this practice.
- International expectations: New Zealand stresses that managing the registry responsibly is key to upholding peace, security and shared values established under agreements like the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration.
- To help address these issues, New Zealand has offered to provide experts to assist the Cook Islands with a thorough review of its shipping registry, including vetting, auditing and improving monitoring systems.
Browne said the MFAT documents reveal a pattern of oversight failures, and a government that appears unwilling to respond with the urgency the situation demands.
"The government's passive stance is not only irresponsible - it is alarming," she said. "At a time when the eyes of the international maritime community are on us, silence and complacency only reinforce suspicion. This is not the time for political convenience or spin. It is time for firm leadership, accountability, and decisive action."
She confirmed that the Opposition is officially calling for an investigation and outlined how it should be carried out.
"Yes, we are (calling for an investigation). We formally call for an immediate investigation, led initially by local authorities, to assess compliance and internal processes. However, given the cross-border nature of these incidents and the concerns raised by New Zealand, we are also open to collaboration with relevant international bodies, including New Zealand's regulatory authorities," said Browne, the leader of the Democratic Party.
"This is about national credibility. We must not shy away from external scrutiny when our reputation is on the line."
Browne said the government must urgently act to prevent further damage to the Cook Islands' international standing.
"Yes, our international standing is at risk," she warned. "The Cook Islands cannot afford to be perceived as a jurisdiction that turns a blind eye to potential criminal misuse of its flag. We are a proud nation with a strong diplomacy, compliance, and maritime stewardship tradition."
"To restore confidence, the government must urgently review the current registry system, enhance oversight protocols, and re-establish trust with our international partners."
Browne also criticised what she described as a deeper systemic failure within the current administration.
"This situation highlights a deeper governance problem - one of unchecked agencies and a government reluctant to act until external pressure is applied," she said. "The Opposition is committed to restoring transparency and ensuring that the Cook Islands' flag is not used as a shield for wrongdoing."
"We will continue to push for systemic reform, stronger oversight, and above all, a government that protects our national reputation - not one that endangers it through neglect."
Browne said the issue will be raised in Parliament, where the Opposition will press the government to make its position clear and to take immediate corrective action. The Parliament will meet next month from 23 to 27 May.
Additional reporting by RNZ Pacific.
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
