Mark Brown

In a statement issued from Mark Brown's office Sir Tom Marsters said he was "satisfied" that Mark Brown had the majority of the MPs elected to Parliament.

Following the final count of the Cook Islands general elections, the Cook Islands Party (CIP) gained 12 seats including the Ngatangiia seat which was initially tied between CIP's candidate Sonny Williams and Cook Islands United Party's Margaret Matenga.

Mark Brown thanked the community for a fair and peaceful election process.

The new Deputy Prime Minister is Robert Taipatau.

Brown and his cabinet took the Oath of Allegiance and were issued with their warrants during a formal ceremony at Government House conducted by the Queens Representative, Sir Tom Marsters.

He replaces Henry Puna who stood down to contest the Secretary General's role at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Brown, who has spent 10 years in parliament, was educated at Gisborne Boys High School, Massey University and the University of the South Pacific.

The area on the Pacific seafloor, spanning six million square kilometres - a size comparable to the United States - already has 15 other countries and private companies vying for exclusive rights over certain parts.

The Cook Islands seabed minerals authority minister, Mark Brown, has been in Jamaica at the International Seabed Authority headquarters to work out the final issues related to the signing of the contract.

The government is looking at three areas, with a total of 75,000 square kilometres.

The CCZ spans six million square kilometres and the Cook Islands will join around 15 other countries and private companies which have been allocated exclusive areas.

Seabed Minerals Authority minister Mark Brown has been in Jamaica at the International Seabed Authority headquarters to work out the final issues related to the signing of the contract with the International Seabed Authority for the three areas in the CCZ designated for the Cook Islands. The three areas total 75 thousand square kilometres.