New Zealand rejects Cook Islands passport plan

23/12/2024 12:21

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 spokesperson for New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said in a statement late Sunday that a separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are only available to fully independent and sovereign countries.



As such, the Cook Islands could access these things while it remains in free association with New Zealand and would need to become fully independent for it to do so, the spokesperson said.



The spokesperson said, "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." 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.