A Cook Islands MP with an outstanding arrest warrant in New Zealand has shown up at parliament in Rarotonga.

Photo: Cook Islands Parliament

Three MPs were sworn in as parliament sat for the first time since last year's election, among them was 47-year-old Albert Nicholas.

Mr Nicholas was due at the Manukau District Court on 26 March to face a charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

But he failed to appear, instead returning to the Cook Islands.

Police in New Zealand have confirmed that an arrest warrant is still active for Mr Nicholas but they did not say if they were working to have him returned from the Cooks.

Mr Nicholas, who bolsters the governing Cook Islands Party's thin majority in parliament, was sworn in this morning.

But RNZ Pacific understands the opposition is looking to move a motion against him when parliament resumes this afternoon.