Same sex rights groups are expressing guarded optimism after Government disclosed that work is underway to ensure new criminal legislation will not contain clauses that discriminate against any Cook Islander or resident. The Government has revealed the Crimes Bill – a proposed piece of legislation that updates the existing criminal code – is currently being reviewed by one of New Zealand’s foremost public legal authorities. The prospective bill is a sweeping piece of legislation drafted in 2017 that in its current form decriminalises homosexuality in the Cook Islands. The current law says the offence of “indecent acts” between two males is punishable by up to five years in prison.