Dear Editor, I am writing as a concerned local resident and eligible voter regarding the ongoing promises made around the First Home Owners Grant by the Cook Islands Party.

On Facebook, in July 2022, before the 2023 general election, Prime Minister Mark Brown and the Cook Islands Party announced the First Home Owners Grant — a policy that gave many of us hope.

Now, on 21st May 2025, during the Government Budget Breakfast, the Prime Minister has announced a new policy for the First Home Owners Grant, once again ahead of an upcoming election in 2026.

This leaves me wondering — is the Prime Minister trying to get back in the good books of the people? Was the original grant simply a campaign promise in 2022, and now it’s suddenly being repackaged as a policy mandate? Is the CIP just baiting the public ahead of another election cycle?

Frankly, I no longer know what to believe.

Many in our community are still waiting to see the tangible results of the 2022 announcement. Recycling the same promise every few years without clear updates or accountability leads to deep public distrust.

We deserve leadership that communicates clearly, follows through on commitments, and treats voters with respect.

What happened to the original policy? What exactly is “new” this time around? And are we seeing real progress or just more political posturing?

Sincerely,

A concerned local Cook Islander resident and eligible voter

(Name and address supplied)

Response from Prime Minister Mark Brown:

I appreciate the engagement from our community on issues that matter deeply to our people, like the aspirations of home ownership. The First Home Owners Grant is one such initiative born from our commitment to invest in our people and provide real, tangible opportunities for the next generation of Cook Islanders.

This isn’t about politics, it’s about people.

The grant was first announced as part of our vision to support first-time homeowners. Since then, our Government has worked rigorously to design a policy that is responsible, equitable, and sustainable. That takes time. Unlike a simple campaign slogan, real policy must stand the test of sound financial management, inter-agency collaboration, and economic resilience.

We did not want to distort the housing finance market. We needed to ensure the scheme worked across all three banks and that Government has the resources to back it. These were not small considerations, and we made no apologies for doing that job properly.

Now after due diligence, fiscal planning, and wide-ranging policy analysis by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, we are delivering. We are proud to fulfil this promise, not in a manifesto, but in a national Budget.

What’s new is that the Government has chosen a direct, simple, and transparent method: a cash grant that delivers the same benefit as long-term interest subsidy. Without the administrative burden, hidden complexity, or fiscal risk to the taxpayer.

I understand that public trust is built not just on words, but on delivery. That is why our Government has not only made this announcement but is funding it, and implementing it.

So to the concerned resident, I say this: your concerns are heard. But this is not a recycled promise. This is a real policy: costed, funded, and in motion. And it is yet another way we are investing in the future of Cook Islanders.