Cook Islands Takes Leadership Role in Pacific Culture and Arts

The Cook Islands has taken a leading role in advancing Pacific cultural cooperation by chairing two key regional gatherings: the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC) meeting and the Pacific Ministers of Culture Meeting (PMCM), held this week in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Building on the outcomes of CPAC, the Ministers of Culture Meeting set the cultural agenda for the region, strengthening collective action to safeguard and promote Pacific heritage, identity, and creativity. Over two days, Ministers and their representatives exchanged country updates, reviewed cultural policy progress, and considered technical recommendations from CPAC to inform political decision-making. Discussions also focused on the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, the Pacific Regional Culture Strategy 2022–2032, international frameworks such as the WIPO Treaties on Traditional Knowledge, and preparations for the UNESCO Mondiacult World Conference on Culture Policies and Sustainable Development.

Representing the Cook Islands internationally, IFACCA Fellows Secretary Emile Kairua and Policy Manager Jane Poa highlighted the Cook Islands’ contributions to strengthening Pacific cultural voices on the global stage. Earlier this year, they participated in the World Summit on Culture in Korea, where the Cook Islands delegation led conversations on sustainable culture, with a particular focus on language preservation and revitalisation as a cornerstone of Pacific identity.

The Cook Islands’ role in chairing these forums underscores its commitment to ensuring that culture remains central to regional cooperation, resilience, and sustainable development, while amplifying Pacific perspectives in global cultural dialogue.