New Zealand rejects Cook Islands passport plan
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The democratically elected Cook Islands government controls domestic and international affairs but the population has New Zealand citizenship.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WELLINGTON - New Zealand has rejected a proposal by the Cook Islands, a self-governing nation in free association with the larger Pacific country, to allow the creation of its own passports and citizenship but said it could discuss independence.
A spokesman for New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said in a statement late on Dec 22 that a separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are available only to fully independent and sovereign countries.
“If the goal of the Government of the Cook Islands is independence from New Zealand, then of course that’s a conversation we are ready for them to initiate,” the spokesman said. He added any decision on Cook Islands’ future would be made by referendum.
The Cook Islands is a grouping of 15 islands and atolls in the South Pacific. It has a population of 15,000 and been a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand for nearly 60 years.
The democratically elected government controls domestic and international affairs but the population has New Zealand citizenship. According to New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand also has a constitutional obligation to respond to requests for assistance with foreign affairs, disasters and defence.
Nearly 100,000 people who identify as Cook Island Maori live in New Zealand currently.
In documents released first to broadcaster 1News, but seen by Reuters, Cook Island Prime Minister Mark Brown has been pushing for New Zealand to allow for the creation of the passport. Both New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Peters have said this is not possible.
“A Cook Islands passport would raise fundamental questions for our shared constitutional relationship and shared citizenship,” Mr Peters wrote in a letter to Mr Brown in September.
Mr Brown had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publishing. However, he has previously said that he was looking to create a Cook Island passport. REUTERS
