Mata Rakanui is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pacific Affairs, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU

A Cook Islander born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. He is currently based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

1. Currently, Policy & Research Officer, Office of the Prime Minister, Cook Islands
2. Committee member, (CIREC) Cook Islands National Research Ethics Committee, (CINRC) Cook Islands National Research Committee.

2025 - Pacific Islands Leadership Program (PILP) with the Taiwan Diplomatic Institute/EWC Hawaii.

2024 - U.S Institute for Rising Leader Fellowship at John Hopkins University/U. S State Department

2024 – (PRC) Pacific Research Colloquium, Canberra, Australia

His research revolves around the question, what is sovereignty? What does it mean? How is it exercised (or constrained) under the free association model? What does sovereignty mean to our brothers & sisters across the Pacific? What did it mean in the past from a traditional sense? How was it demonstrated? How does it differ from today? Is the Cook Islands mixing traditional sovereignty aspects with a “modern” concept of sovereignty What are the limits on modern day Cook Islands Sovereignty?