The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) announced the appointment of former Prime Minister and former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Mr Henry Puna, as Chairperson of To Tatou Vai (TTV), effective 8 June 2026.
Mr Puna succeeds Mr Brian Mason, whose resignation as Chairperson has been accepted by the CIIC Board.
CIIC Board Chair Mr Fletcher Melvin acknowledged Mr Mason’s significant contribution to the organisation during an important period in To Tatou Vai’s development.
“The CIIC Board sincerely thanks Brian Mason for his dedicated service and valuable contribution to To Tatou Vai and the wider CIIC Group,” Mr Melvin said.
“His leadership, insight and commitment have played an important role in strengthening governance and advancing To Tatou Vai’s strategic direction. We wish Brian every success in his future endeavours.”
Mr Melvin said CIIC was pleased to welcome Mr Puna to the role and looked forward to the experience and leadership he would bring.
“We are delighted to welcome Henry Puna as Chairperson of To Tatou Vai. Henry brings extensive governance, leadership and stakeholder engagement experience gained through Mr Puna’s decades of service across both the Cook Islands and the wider Pacific region.
“His experience working across the public and private sectors, together with his legal background and proven ability to build strong partnerships, will be invaluable as To Tatou Vai continues its work to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water services for the people of the Cook Islands.”
Mr Puna has held a number of senior leadership and governance positions throughout his career, including serving as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2010 to 2020 and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum from 2021 to 2024.
Mr Puna is currently employed as an Interim Director of Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), an agency of the East-West Center (EWC) in Honolulu, Hawai‘i and is also a Member of its EWC 1Board of Governors.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr Puna oversaw the development and implementation of the Te Mato Vai programme, one of the largest infrastructure investments ever undertaken in the Cook Islands. The programme was designed to improve the security, quality and long-term sustainability of water supplies for current and future generations and laid the foundation for the establishment of To Tatou Vai.
His experience spans governance, law, public policy, regional diplomacy and stakeholder engagement, with a strong track record of working collaboratively across government, community and development sectors.
Mr Puna said he was honoured to accept the appointment and looked forward to supporting To Tatou Vai’s important work.
“To Tatou Vai plays a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of our communities through the delivery of essential water services. I look forward to working alongside the Board, management and stakeholders to build on the progress already achieved and support the organisation’s future priorities.”
Mr Puna’s appointment takes effect from 8 June 2026.
