Cook Islands reportedly dropping separate passport idea, Winston Peters ‘blindsided’ by China move

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was "blindsided" by the Cook Islands' recent China moves. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Foreign Affairs Minister’s office is aware of media reporting suggesting the Cook Islands has backed down from its controversial proposal to introduce its own passport, an initiative that threatened to shake the island state’s relationship with New Zealand.

It comes as Peters also expressed shock on Friday morning that the Cook Islands was planning to sign a major partnership with China without full consultation.

The Cook Islands is self-governing, but in free association with New Zealand.

The New Zealand Government provides some financial support and assists with foreign affairs, defence and other matters. Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens.

There are several issues currently in the relationship between the two governments, including the proposal for the Cook Islands to have a separate passport and the Cook Islands looking to engage more deeply with China.

However, it was reported by the Cook Islands News on Friday that the island’s Prime Minister Mark Brown had taken the passport “off the table” after failing to convince New Zealand it wouldn’t affect the two’s constitutional relationship.

According to the Cook Islands News, Brown halted progress on the passport after reports that applicants for a Cook Islands passport would be seen as renouncing their New Zealand one.

“New Zealand has bared its teeth. New Zealand government has said that they are willing to go to change the law in New Zealand to punish Cook Islanders.

“So we’re not going to have that. The passport has to be off. We’ll look at other ways to be able to recognise our own nationality as Cook Islanders.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is aware of the media report. Photo /Mark Mitchell

A spokesperson for Peters on Friday told the Herald the office was aware of the report.

“We believe the free association relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands has brought great benefit to both countries over the past 60 years. Cook Islanders are integral members of the New Zealand family,” a statement said.

The spokesperson said a passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations was “only available to fully independent and sovereign countries”.

“The Cook Islands cannot access these things while it remains in free association with New Zealand, but could do so if it chose to become fully independent from New Zealand.”

Any proposal to change that relationship, including with a separate passport, “must be decided by the Cook Islands people via a referendum”.

“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 from New Zealand.”

Peters told Newstalk ZB on Friday the passport would be “dramatic in terms of our constitutional arrangements”.

The Herald has contacted Brown’s office for further comment.

The proposal of a separate passport was made to mark the Cook Islands’ 60th anniversary of self-governance this year. Brown said in a statement last year that he had “no intention of altering the constitutional relationship” with New Zealand.

“It is intended as a means of identifying as a Cook Islander and recognition of our nation, our people and our heritage. This initiative does not replace the New Zealand passport or citizenship.”

‘Blindsided’ by China move

The reported comments from Brown come as New Zealand also expresses concern about the Cook Islands’ engagement with China.

Brown will this month visit the Asian superpower, during which he and his delegation will “meet with key Chinese government representatives to discuss current and future areas of co-operation”.

“A Joint Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will be agreed upon, serving as a framework for engagement and a roadmap for collaboration in the years ahead,” a Cook Islands government statement said.

However, Peters told Newstalk ZB on Friday morning the China visit came “out of left field” and had “blindsided both the Cook Islands people and ourselves”. He said New Zealand had asked for information for months but it hadn’t been shared.

“I can assure you that the NZ Government has done its best to find out what’s going on, and to say this has been discussed with us is absurdly not true.”

He didn’t agree with a reported comment from Brown that the Cook Islands, through its diaspora and local companies, contributed more than a billion dollars to the New Zealand economy, while New Zealand contributed much less to the island.

“This is extraordinary and extreme... I’ve got no idea [where he got those numbers from].”

Peters said New Zealand supported the Cook Islands in many ways, including underwriting Air New Zealand flights to the Cook Islands to enhance tourism and fixing their water system alongside China. He said some of China’s work there had “failed”.

The Cook Islands self-governs, but has an association with New Zealand. Photo / 123rf

“These are things that are going to be out in the ether very shortly if this comes down to a dispute as to what has happened.

“Sadly, that should not be the case. We’ve had this special relationship, and I believe the mass majority of the Cook Islanders want it to go on.

“The Cook Island people... just don’t know what’s going on, and I and my government, our government, are constitutionally required to ensure we talk to them, to ensure that we, on the behalf of the New Zealand taxpayers, know exactly what’s going on so we’re accountable to the New Zealand taxpayer. It’s their money after all.”

There have been concerns for years about growing Chinese influence in the Pacific, including by signing infrastructure and security agreements with Pacific nations. New Zealand has previously raised its eyebrows about the likes of a Solomon Islands-China agreement.