Cook Islands Minister of Education, Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa, has urged Pacific nations to embrace a “back to the future” approach to early childhood development (ECD), calling for a return to traditional values while integrating modern improvements.

Speaking at the Pacific ECD Forum 2025 in Samoa this week, Mokoroa challenged the gathering to move beyond merely attending conferences and instead commit to making tangible changes when they return home.

“Not like all of us come away to the regional meeting over here, collect all of our allowance, and then when we go back, we all go on our own way and we forget about the ECD. We need to change that mindset,” he said.

He emphasised that strong leadership alone is not enough to make progress, calling for bold and sometimes unpopular decisions to prioritise ECD at the national level.

Mokoroa pointed out that in the Cook Islands, a return to cultural roots could offer solutions to current challenges.

“So, maybe the bold decision is this, that to go forward, we must go backward and we must choose to go forward. We must go backward and we must choose to go forward together,” he said.

“Something like ‘back to the future’. So, maybe this is a ‘back to the future platform’.”

Mokoroa said the Cook Islands, as one of the last countries to develop a national ECD policy, has an opportunity to blend traditional values, cultural heritage and modern strategies.

He highlighted the importance of incorporating language, culture and faith into the development of young children.

The Minister also called for a community-based approach to ECD, urging collaboration between faith-based organisations, private sectors, NGOs, CSOs and local communities.

He acknowledged existing efforts, including the Cook Islands Child Welfare Association’s free community-based programme for pregnant mothers, which supports health screening, baby checks and cooking classes for young families.

Despite progress, Mokoroa acknowledged ongoing challenges, including workforce shortages and the need for better training and capacity building, particularly in the outer islands.

He proposed utilising online platforms to enhance training opportunities for health professionals and ECD staff.

Mokoroa is in Samoa with an eight-member Cook Islands delegation, including Minister of Health Rose Toki Brown, to discuss strengthening ECD strategies and collaboration within the region.

“Investing in the children of today means investing in a more prosperous nation for us and the Pacific,” he said.