New Zealand Declines Cook Islands’ Proposal for Separate Passports

New Zealand has turned down a proposition from the Cook Islands concerning the establishment of a distinct passport for its populace, alongside the retention of their New Zealand citizenship. The Cook Islands, a self-governing Pacific country, maintains a status of “free association” with New Zealand, which oversees its foreign affairs and defence. Citizens of the Cook Islands are also entitled to reside, work, and utilize healthcare services within New Zealand. Prime Minister Mark Brown had requested that Cook Islanders possess their own passports “to recognise our own people,” but New Zealand stated this is not feasible unless the Cook Islands achieves complete independence. Reports, based on documents initially disclosed to local broadcaster 1News and reviewed by Reuters, indicated that Brown had been advocating for a distinct passport and citizenship for Cook Islanders for several months, while simultaneously aiming to preserve its status as a realm country of New Zealand. Approximately 100,000 Cook Islands nationals reside in New Zealand, whereas only around 15,000 inhabit the Cook Islands. Individuals who have continuously resided in New Zealand for a minimum of one year are eligible to run for office or cast votes in New Zealand’s elections and referendums. Accounts suggest that friction between the two nations has intensified regarding the matter of separate citizenship, with officials from both parties engaging in multiple discussions in recent months. “New Zealanders are free to carry dual passports, there are a number of New Zealanders who have their passports of other countries,” Radio New Zealand quoted Brown as stating in November. “It is precisely the same thing that we’ll be doing,” he affirmed. Nevertheless, certain Cook Islanders expressed disapproval of their government due to insufficient consultation regarding the proposition. Thomas Wynne, a Cook Island national employed in Wellington, informed local news outlet Cook Islands News: “The real question is what do the people of the Cook Islands want and have they been consulted on this critical decision? Or will it be a decision made by the few on behalf of the many?” Additional residents of the Cook Islands conveyed to 1News their apprehension that such an initiative could also impact their access to services, including their entitlement to healthcare in New Zealand. However, on Sunday, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters concluded the discussion, declaring that a distinct passport and citizenship are exclusively granted to fully independent and sovereign nations. He further stated that any action to alter the existing relationship between the two countries would necessitate 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,” he communicated in a statement issued to media organizations. “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.” As reported by 1News, Brown subsequently reacted to Peters’ declaration by asserting that the Cook Islands would “not be implementing anything that affects our important status [with New Zealand]”. Niue, another small Pacific island, maintains a comparable relationship with New Zealand; it governs itself internally but depends on Wellington for defence and the majority of its foreign affairs. Autonomous territories are also found globally, encompassing Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, and Puerto Rico, which is subordinate to the US concerning defence and foreign affairs. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.