13 Feb 2015

Cook Islands wants own honours list

9:58 am on 13 February 2015

The Cook Islands government is planning a national honours list to coincide with celebrations of 50 years of self government.

Cook Islands Finance Minister Mark Brown

Cook Islands finance minister Mark Brown Photo: Cook Islands News

The Finance Minister Mark Brown says they want to honour a wide range of individuals for their contribution to the nation.

He says the government wants a Cook Islands Honours system to complement the Queen's Honours list in New Zealand.

The Cook Islands News reports Mr Brown saying that as a mature developing nation it is time for the Cook Islands to take responsibility and honour those achievements.

Every year the Cook Islands is allocated four places on the New Zealand list but Mr Brown says a Cook Islands honours list would enable the country to honour a much wider range of people.