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Legal Division

Click on the read more link to find out more about our Legal Division

The Ministry's Legal and Treaties Division is responsible for advising the Government on the Cook Islands’ international obligations, including international treaties and matters of customary international law. This advice covers all legal aspects of the conduct of foreign policy.

Contact Us: Legal and Treaties Division

It includes responsibility for the Acts and the statutory regulations that the Ministry administers, and for advice on international legal issues that arise in connection with the legislation and other work of other Ministries. As well, the Division advises on new developments in international law such as the establishment of the international criminal court, anti-terrorism and climate change initiatives.

The Legal and Treaties Division advises on the negotiation, conclusion, application, implementation and interpretation of international treaties. It ensures that the Government is informed and approvals properly sought in respect of all proposed New Zealand treaty actions. It maintains a register of multilateral treaties signed by the Cook Islands.

The treaty register is the Cook Islands government’s official record of Cook Islands binding legal obligations at international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, is responsible for maintaining records of all treaties to which the Cook Islands is party or to which the Cook Islands is eligible to become party. It is also responsible for responding to enquiries about treaties. The Legal and Treaties Division of the Ministry is responsible for the administration of the register.