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New Zealand has declined a proposal by the Cook Islands to introduce a separate passport for its citizens while retaining New Zealand citizenship.
Prime Minister Mark Brown requested separate passports for Cook Islanders “to recognise our own people,” but New Zealand stated that this would only be possible if the Cook Islands became fully independent.
The Cook Islands, a self-governing Pacific nation, is in “free association” with New Zealand, which handles its foreign affairs and defence. Citizens of the Cook Islands are entitled to live, work, and access healthcare in New Zealand.
Reports indicate that Brown has been advocating for a separate passport and citizenship for Cook Islanders for months while hoping to maintain its status as a realm country of New Zealand.
Approximately 100,000 Cook Islanders reside in New Zealand, while only about 15,000 live in the Cook Islands. Those who have lived in New Zealand for at least one year can participate in New Zealand’s elections and referendums.
Also, reports indicate that tensions between the two countries have been rising over the issue of separate citizenship, with leaders on both sides engaging in a series of discussions in recent months.
However, some Cook Islanders criticised their government for insufficient consultation on the proposal.
On Sunday, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters effectively ended the debate, stating that separate passports and citizenship are only available to fully independent and sovereign nations.
He added that any change in the relationship between the two countries would require a referendum.
He said in a statement, “Such a referendum would allow the Cook Islands people to carefully weigh up whether they prefer the status quo, with their access to New Zealand citizenship and passports, or full independence.
“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.”
Another small Pacific Island, Niue, shares a similar relationship with New Zealand, being internally self-governing but reliant on Wellington for defence and foreign affairs.
Similar self-governing territories exist globally, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Puerto Rico, which is subordinated to the United States in defence and foreign affairs.
Frances Ibiefo
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