New Zealand challenges Cook Islands PM to independence vote after his comments on China
Losirene Lacanivalu
, Cook Islands
A spokesperson for the Office of the Cook Islands PM said the Cook Islands government remains committed to its constitutional relationship with New Zealand.
Photo:
RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon
New Zealand has called on Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown to test the views of the Cook Islands people and hold a referendum on independence from New Zealand following his latest defence of agreements with China.
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this comment in response to PM Brown's recent statement defending the nation's new strategic partnership with China, as he cited the need for diverse international partners to fund a $650 million infrastructure plan.
Speaking at the opening of the Pa Enua Governance Forum on Monday local time, Brown said that if NZ cannot help fund their proposed infrastructure plan, then the country
"will go somewhere else and look for that help"
.
A spokesperson for the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs told
Cook Islands News
that these comments are the latest in a long line of public statements by Brown over the past year that "have badly mischaracterised the New Zealand Government's approach to our foreign policy and our relationship with the Cook Islands".
"With each mischaracterisation of the New Zealand approach, Prime Minister Brown makes it harder to restore trust in the New Zealand-Cook Islands relationship."
The spokesperson said that it has been clear to New Zealand for some time that Brown, "bristles at the constraints placed on him by the Cook Islands' free association relationship with New Zealand, and that he wishes for the Cook Islands to be completely free of those constraints".
"If Prime Minister Brown wishes to run a foreign and defence policy without the need to consult New Zealand, and in contravention of New Zealand interests, then he ought to respect the Cook Islands people enough to test their views and call a referendum on independence from New Zealand.
"New Zealand has always made clear that should the Cook Islands people wish to become independent of New Zealand, then we would support them in their wish. For its part, the New Zealand Government deeply values the free association model and its cherished relationship with the Cook Islands people."
A spokesperson for the Office of the Cook Islands PM (Wednesday NZT) defended the comments PM Brown made on Monday.
"The Prime Minister's remarks at the Pa Enua Governance Forum reflected a conversation with island leaders about the delivery of infrastructure and development outcomes. They were not a statement on foreign policy, and should not be read as a departure from the Cook Islands' long-standing relationship with New Zealand," the spokesperson said.
"The Government remains committed to its constitutional relationship with New Zealand and to the constructive engagement currently underway between our two countries.
"We have no further comment to make."
On Monday (Tuesday NZT), PM Brown addressed the need for Cook Islands to have diverse international partners to fund a multi-million-dollar infrastructure plan that New Zealand alone cannot support, despite NZ's concerns and paused funding.
He said that the country's national infrastructure investment plan costs $650m for infrastructural work across the country, including buildings, transportation, and so on.
"New Zealand can't afford to give us that amount of money…we have to develop our partnerships with other larger countries to get the support we need to meet our infrastructure needs," Brown said.
"Let me set the record straight about the reality of life, we need to build our infrastructure, we need to improve our standards in the Pa Enua, me kare rauka mai ta te Nuti Reni (if we can't get help from New Zealand), we will go somewhere else and look for that help, and that's what we've been doing."
The New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said: "For 60 years, it has delivered a great deal for the development of the Cook Islands and its people. Indeed, the living standards in the Cook Islands are a testament to the free association model's success."
"New Zealand looks forward to celebrating 60 years of free association on 4 August with the Cook Islands people, both in Rarotonga via the visit of Her Excellency the Governor-General and at events in New Zealand."
Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, who disagrees with a referendum for independence, says, "We should never forget the hand that has fed us all these years."
Heather said that if PM Brown were to demand independence, he would organise a rally and protest against it, adding that Brown "should resign as Prime Minister of this country".
-This article was first published by
Cook Islands News
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Henry Puna returns as president of Cook Islands Party
Pacific Islands Forum secretary general, Henry Puna. Photo: Forumsec Former Cook Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general Henry Puna has been appointed president of the ruling Cook Islands Party (CIP). The CIP is the party of Prime Minister Mark Brown, who continues to serve as party leader. Puna has also previously served as CIP leader. A statement from Cook Islands Party said Puna brings "unparalleled experience" in his former roles as, party president, party leader, Prime Minister, and head of the Pacific Islands Forum. "His return to the Party Executive signals a renewed sense of stability, unity, and strategic focus," the statement said. "With Henry Puna as President, and Mark Brown leading as Prime Minister and Party Leader, the Cook Islands Party is confident in its future direction and leadership." Former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna has been appointed president of the Cook Islands Party. Photo: Cook Islands Party The change in president comes as the governments of New Zealand and the Cook Islands are in an increased time of tension stemming from what Wellington views as a lack of consultation over deals Brown signed with China in February. New Zealand paused $18.2m in development assistance last month. The statement from the party said delegates were briefed on the current diplomatic challenges between the Cook Islands and New Zealand. "One of the immediate priorities for the new Party President is to work closely with the Party Leader and Prime Minister to navigate these issues and uphold the interests of the Cook Islands," the statement said. The annual general meeting was held on Thursday local time on Rarotonga and was attended by representatives from all 24 electorates.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Bay of Islands hapū achieve Ngāpuhi-first Treaty of Waitangi milestone
Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari. Photo: LDR / Supplied A Bay of Islands trust representing four Ngāpuhi hapū groupings has achieved a major milestone in its Treaty of Waitangi negotiations. The Trust received its Crown Deed of Mandate recognition on 16 July - the first for a group of Ngāpuhi hapū. Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari (Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā) said the milestone was of "historical significance". "Te Whakaaetanga is looking forward to discussing and negotiating the full spectrum of their redress options," Rihari said. Ngāpuhi - New Zealand's largest iwi with almost 185,000 people - has not yet achieved Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The hapū grouping's area of claim encompasses most of Pēwhairangi/the Bay of Islands. It includes the eastern Bay of Islands' Ipipiri Islands where wealthy American writer Zane Grey set up his gamefishing base at Urupukapuka Island's Otehei Bay in 1926 and described New Zealand as the "Angler's El Dorado". It also includes Motukokako (Piercy Island) which features the internationally-famous Hole in the Rock boat trip tourist destination, and Cape Brett. A new era is dawning for Treaty of Waitangi negotations over this Bay of Islands vista, after Ngāpuhi's first Crown Deed of Mandate recognition for a local hapū grouping. Te Whakaaetanga Trust's claim stretches from Purerua Peninsula (foreground)to Cape Brett and includes the Ipipiri Islands. Photo: LDR / Topshot Media Rihari said Te Whakaaetanga Trust's Crown Deed of Mandate had been recognised after 18 years' mahi. Te Whakaaetanga Trust's achievement comes 14 years after the government's controversial 2011 Tuhorunuku Deed of Mandate, which was towards a single settlement for all of Ngāpuhi. That Deed was rescinded in 2015, after major rejection from within the iwi's 100-plus hapū. The July Deed of Mandate meant the Crown formally recognised the trust's mandate to negotiate a Treaty of Waitangi settlement on behalf of its affiliated hapū. Rihari said it also opened the door to "negotiate redress that acknowledges the maemae (hurt) of the past and creates meaningful opportunities for our hapū and mokopuna". "It provides a foundation for enduring redress, cultural and economic revitalisation and the restoration of hapū mana across our rohe," Rihari said. [ Te Whakaaetanga] Trust represents coastal hapū Ngāti Kuta, Ngāti Manu me ngā hapū rīriki - Te Uri o Raewera and Te Uri Karaka, Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā and Patukeha. The trust is made up of two people from each of the hapū it represents. Rihari said the hapū grouping's area of claim approximately encompassed an area bounded in the north by the Bay of Islands' Purerua Peninsula. Its boundary ran from the peninsula's tip, south-east across the waters of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and Rāwhiti. Rihari said the boundary then travelled south-west to Karetu. From there, the claim's western boundary headed roughly north to Tapkea Point and included Opua and Russell settlements. It continued northwards across Bay of Islands waters including Moturoa Island on the way. to Te Puna Inlet. Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith (front, second left) at a Te Kotahitanga meeting in the Bay of Islands. Photo: LDR / Susan Botting From there it continued to the northern side of Purerua Peninsula, the claim encompassing all of the landform to the east, and including the maunga (mountain) Matakā at the peninsula's tip. Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Local Democracy Reporting Northland the Crown Deed of Mandate for Te Whakaaetanga was a positive achievement. "We're pleased to be making progress," Goldsmith said Northland Māori leader and Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene said it was a major milestone for Ngāpuhu hapū working towards Treaty of Waitangi redress. It offered a model for Ngāpuhi tribes, such as those around Waimate, Taiamai, Kaikohe and Whangaroa who were collectivising towards the same goal. Tipene said it was important the government approached any Ngāpuhi Treaty of Waitangi hapū redress on a hapū-based commercial and cultural basis. However, Minister Goldsmith poured cold water on that. "The government has indicated its preference for a single financial redress for Ngāpuhi, with a small group of cultural-based settlements sitting underneath," Goldsmith said. "Te Whakaaetanga is now mandated as one of the groups with which we will be discussing a cultural settlement," Goldsmith said. Rihari said the next stage would be preparation for formal negotiations with the Crown and the trust was committed to ongoing kōrero with all who "held an interest in our shared future". Rihari said many hands, hearts and minds - past and present - had contributed to the kaupapa of achieving the deed of mandate milestone over many years. "Ehara tēnei i te mahi māmā, engari he mahi nui mō ngā uri whakatupu. Mā tātou katoa tēnei e kawe, mā te rangimārie, mā te kotahintanga, mā te aroha hoki. "This is not easy work, but it is important work for the generations to come. Together, through unity, peace and aroha, we carry it forward." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Christopher Luxon defends voting changes after Judith Collins raises problems
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said people need to get organised for elections. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii The Prime Minister says the public still have plenty of time to get enrolled to vote despite scrapping same-day enrolment for elections. Last week the government announced legislation to overhaul electoral laws it said had become "unsustainable". The government agreed to close enrolment before advance voting begins, with people needing to enrol or update their details by midnight on the Sunday before advance voting starts on the Monday morning (in other words, 13 days before election day). The legislation sets a requirement of 12 days advance voting at each election, and the changes would mean special vote processing could get underway sooner. On Monday morning, Newsroom reported Attorney-General Judith Collins, had said the proposed law changes clashed with constitutional rights in a report. She indicated 100,000 or more people could be directly or indirectly disenfranchised by rules banning enrolment in the final 13 days before an election. Collins declined an interview with Morning Report on the issue. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, told Morning Report , Collins had a statutory responsibility to review legislation to make sure it was consistent with the bill of rights. "As a government we think enrolment should happen before early voting starts," he said. Luxon pointed to Australia as an example of a country that does not allow enrolment on the same day as voting. "We want everyone to participate but it's just done two weeks before elections day. It's not uncommon, it gives people plenty of time to get enrolled and get sorted. "All we're saying is we want everybody to participate in our democracy... not an unreasonable request." On Election Day 2023 110,000 people enrolled to vote or updated their details. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
