The Cook Islands has put a controversial proposal to create its own passport on the “back burner”, Prime Minister Mark Brown has told local media.
It comes after a standoff with New Zealand amid fears the plans would fracture the relationship between the two countries.
1News’ Barbara Dreaver revealed in December the Cook Islands was pushing for its own passport despite New Zealand arguing it would be constitutionally impossible to do so as a realm country.
New Zealand’s view was that any Cook Islanders who applied for a Cook Islands passport would have been seen as renouncing their New Zealand passport, 1News understands.
But Brown said that plan was now “off the table,” according to reporting by Cook Islands News, saying New Zealand had “bared its teeth”.
He reportedly said: “We don’t want to jeopardise our people and the safety and security of Cook Islanders. We will now put this onto the back burner.”
Protest rising in Rarotonga as locals claims to have been left in the dark about the breakdown in relations with NZ. (Source: 1News)
In December, 1News revealed documents showing 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.
In 1965, the Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand.
The country runs its own affairs at home and overseas, while Cook Islanders have Kiwi passports with access to services in New Zealand such as hospitals.
New Zealand also has a commitment to ongoing financial assistance.
Prime Minister Mark Brown wants his country to have their own citizenship while keeping a special relationship with New Zealand. (Source: 1News)
But the Government has previously told Brown the Cook Islands that it cannot have both, and that his nation should either remain in free association with New Zealand or — if it ploughs ahead with its idea — choose the option which would be “akin to independence”.
A Government spokesperson said in December: “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.”
It comes as 1News also reported this week that Brown was about to head to China on the country’s first state visit, where he was expected to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China – something that took NZ by surprise and a potential breach of constitutional arrangements between the Cooks and Aotearoa.
