For months, the New Zealand and Cook Islands governments have been embroiled in a standoff which could have resulted in the people there losing their New Zealand citizenship status.
Documents released to 1News under the Official Information Act show the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has been pushing hard for a separate passport and citizenship for his country – while also hoping to maintain its special relationship as a realm country of New Zealand.
However our Government has said it will not entertain this proposal and either the Cook Islands remains in free association with New Zealand or — if it ploughs ahead with its idea — it is “akin to independence”.
In a statement to 1News, a Government spokesperson says New Zealand expected Prime Minister Mark Brown to be upfront with his people.
“If he wishes to create a separate Cook Islands passport and citizenship then he is advocating independence from New Zealand. Prime Minister Brown needs to make it clear to Cook Islanders that they can have a Cook Islands passport or a New Zealand one… they cannot have both.”
After being approached for comment Brown did a swift turnaround today saying that the “government will not be implementing anything that affects our important status as the part of the four countries that make up the Realm of New Zealand”.
But documents released to 1News show escalating tension over the last few months between the two countries over the issue. One outlines the events of back-to-back meetings last month between the two Prime Ministers and another with Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
Both Christopher Luxon and Peters “emphasised that PM Brown’s proposal was constitutionally unworkable”.
In a follow up letter, Peters said New Zealand would not support a separate passport and citizenship under the current relationship and “any proposal to change this foundational concept would need to be agreed in partnership with New Zealand and would also need to be put to the people of the Cook Islands through a referendum”.
Under its current free association status, the Cook Islands runs its own affairs at home and overseas, the people have Kiwi passports with access to services in New Zealand such as hospitals. The idea this had been put at risk enraged local residents over the lack of consultation.
Businesswoman Ellena Tavioni said she had “never heard anything so stupid in my life, so stupid”.
“We can vote them out anytime so they are silly to think they’re there for a long time… they need to do the right thing by the voters by the people of this country and to even think to even consider changing our citizenship it is mindboggling,” she said.
Liana Scott, president of the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council, said, even before a referendum, “I think there needs to be robust discussions on the pros and cons”.
Tatooist Luther Berg said he was completely unimpressed. “[The] government seems to operate how they please.. it’s almost fascism wearing the mask of democracy… the people truly have no say”.
Others told 1News that the free access between the two countries is invaluable, especially when it comes to healthcare.
Brown said being able to identify as a Cook Islander is becoming more and more important for our people. ”The Pacific and particularly Polynesian resurgence in culture, language, arts, sports, affinity to our land and our traditional ways reinforces our people’s desire to identify as a Cook Islander.”
An identity document, which wouldn’t affect the Cook Islands’ relationship with New Zealand, is likely on the cards now the passport and citizenship is off the table.
