The deputy prime minister of the Cook Islands, Dr Terepai Maoate, says anti-party hopping legislation remains a top priority.
Howver, he says it is important to get it right.
Dr Maoate says top constitutional lawyers in the Cook Islands and New Zealand are working on the anti-party hopping bill to make sure that it is consistent and will work.
He has admitted that the government has come under intense public pressure and media criticism because the anti-party hopping legislation has not progressed into this parliamentary session.
Dr Maoate says no other country in the Pacific, including New Zealand, has yet managed to properly legislate against party hopping.
He says while many have tried, all have failed or produced faulty legislation.
