Minister of Education Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa says a “multi-sector approach” rooted in Cook Islands cultural knowledge is critical to building strong foundations for early childhood development (ECD).

Mokoroa shared this insight during the Pacific ECD Forum 2025 held in Samoa, where he joined Minister of Internal Affairs Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown to present the Cook Islands’ national statement.

The forum earlier this month gathered Pacific leaders and development partners to discuss the importance of nurturing children from birth to five years old.

Speaking in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration podcast, Mokoroa highlighted the need for cooperation across government agencies to support children in their earliest years.

“Some key insights from this forum is how do we engage and mobilise multi-sector approach towards ECD,” he said.

“For instance, the Ministry of Health has a big role in ensuring they check the screening of our mothers during the pregnancy period, after the period of birth.

“Then we have the welfare, women welfare back home that comes in to teach our mothers—new mothers—how to prepare nutritious diet for our children. And then we also have the Ministry of Education coming in.”

Mokoroa said the Ministry is focusing on encouraging early learning at home by supporting new parents.

“We are teaching mothers how to start the singing, talking, and starting to teach our kids the early stage from birth up to the time they enter the education classroom,” he explained.

“So basically, the first thousand days of a child is very critical in what this forum is promoting.”

The forum also championed indigenous languages and knowledge systems. Mokoroa said traditional ways of raising children still have much to offer.

“It is also looking at promoting our language, our local dialect, our culture, and our tradition. And this forum is encouraging us to go back and look at how our grandparents, great-grandparents have brought up their children from birth to the period they join and go to school.

“And use some of those as best methods and strategies for us to start teaching our new mothers.

“Not only the mothers, we also need to start teaching our new fathers as well.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Mokoroa and Toki-Brown stood side-by-side during a joint presentation at the regional forum, both wearing green and black to represent national pride and support the global “Thursdays in Black” campaign to end violence against women and children.

Toki-Brown opened with a chant and a symbolic message that celebrated strength, resilience and cultural heritage.

The Cook Islands’ presentation set a powerful tone for regional collaboration.

“Talofa – the language of the angels, and Kia Orana – the language of the heavens,” the two Ministers greeted delegates.

The message of unity and purpose was further echoed in Mokoroa’s earlier remarks during the forum’s opening session, where he challenged leaders to move beyond lip service and make meaningful changes.

“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,” Mokoroa said.