The Constitutional Review Special Select Committee is currently in the Northern Group holding its final public consultations on the three proposed constitutional amendment bills.

Clerk of Parliament Tangata Vainerere confirmed to Cook Islands News that the team departed yesterday morning for Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Pukapuka for the public consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bills 30, 31, and 32.

The team members are Deputy Chair Tina Browne, MPs Toa Isamaela, Apii Kavana, Agnes Armstrong, Tangata Vainerere (Principal Adviser), Papaterai William (Hansard Editor) and Unuia Unuia (IT Technician).

They are expected to return to Rarotonga on Saturday evening.

It is understood committee chair and Foreign Affairs Minister Tingika Elikana is away on official duty.

The Special Select Committee is reviewing and considering three Constitutional Amendment Bills that were presented to Parliament in December 2023. The Constitution Amendment (No. 30) Bill proposes increasing the number of Cabinet Ministers and removing the ability to appoint a non-MP Minister. The Constitution Amendment (No. 32) Bill provides for the ability for MPs to hold a proxy vote for a fellow MP, and Amendment (No. 31) Bill will allow a new Parliament to commence its work after a general election without waiting for the outcome of any election petitions.