King's Representative

The king's representative is the official representative of Charles III, as King of the realm of New Zealand, in the Cook Islands. The office of King's Representative is established by the Constitution of the Cook Islands. They are appointed by the King for a term of three years, and may be reappointed. When the Cook Islands has a queen regnant, the viceroy is titled queen's representative.

The king's representative fills the role normally filled by a governor-general in the Westminster system of a Commonwealth realm, being both a representative of the monarch and the titular head of executive government. They appoint the prime minister and Cabinet and chair the Cook Islands Executive Council. In performing their duties, they must act on advice.

Originally these duties were performed by the high commissioner of New Zealand to the Cook Islands, but in 1982 these powers were repatriated. The governor-general of New Zealand still represents the king in matters pertaining to the entire realm.

Following the death of Elizabeth II, the office formally became known as "King's Representative".

In August 2025, Tom Marsters was reappointed as the representative for a fifth three-year term.