Cook Islands PM on track for election win, media say

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown was on track for an election victory on Thursday, according to early local media results, after a campaign shaped by China ties and possible deep-sea mining.

Brown's ruling Cook Islands Party was on track to win 12 seats, making it the largest bloc in the South Pacific nation's 24-seat parliament, according to preliminary results reported by local media.

Brown said he would work with independent lawmakers to form a majority coalition of at least 13 seats.

"We will wait for the final counts to come in and we will form our government in the coming days," Brown told Cook Islands Television News.

The rival Cook Islands United Party won four seats, seven independents were elected, and one seat had not been called, according to the preliminary results.

The vote followed debate over Brown's 2025 agreements with Beijing on regional cooperation and closer economic ties. New Zealand, the Cook Islands' closest partner, temporarily halted millions of dollars in aid after the deals, citing a lack of consultation.

The Cook Islands is a self-governing nation of about 17,000 people in free association with New Zealand, which provides budget assistance and help on foreign affairs and defence.

The Cook Islands and New Zealand later signed a defence and security pact, but Brown's dealings with China remained contentious during the election.

Deep-sea mining also divided voters. Brown has led efforts to explore waters around the Cook Islands for possible mining, while his main challenger, former deputy prime minister Teariki Heather, criticised Brown's China policy and pledged a national referendum on seabed mining.

Large areas of seabed around the Cook Islands contain polymetallic nodules with cobalt, nickel, manganese and other metals. Some Cook Islanders see mining as a source of jobs and investment, while others fear environmental harm.