The Cook Islands nation is on track to fully separate from New Zealand in the near future, an Auckland-based outlet has reported, citing declassified documents obtained from the government.
The 15-island archipelago has been a self-governing territory since 1965, with the government in Wellington handling Avarua’s defense and funding its budget. Both recognize Charles III of Great Britain as their head of state.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has told New Zealand that the archipelago wants to establish a separate citizenship and to issue passports, 1News said on Monday, citing documents obtained from the government.
The government in Wellington has responded that this would raise fundamental questions for our constitutional relationship and shared citizenship.
New Zealand does not object to Cook Islands declaring full independence, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reportedly told Brown during a meeting last month, also according to 1News.
However, Wellington would have a duty to ensure that Cook Islanders who are New Zealand citizens have an opportunity to express a view on the full military implications of such a development.
Any move towards full independence would require a referendum involving Cook Islanders, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said in a letter, also seen by 1News.
The archipelago itself has a population of about 15,000, most of whom are citizens of New Zealand as well. Another 80,000 Cook Islanders live on the two islands of New Zealand, and about 85% were born there.
The US Pentagon has already recognized Cook Islands as a sovereign nation, establishing diplomatic relations with Avarua in September 2023.
Cook Islands is about 1,900 miles away from New Zealand. First settled by Polynesians who sailed over from Tahiti, the islands had their first contact with European explorers in 1595.
The archipelago was ultimately named after the British explorer Captain James Cook, who visited them in the 1770’s. During the 19th century, Cook Islands was a popular port of call for British, American and Australian whaling ships.
In modern times, the nation’s economy is mainly based on tourists visiting its many beaches, lagoons, and coral reefs. Fishing, offshore banking and pearl exports help complement the islands’ budget, in addition to payments from New Zealand.
The US Pentagon has already recognized Cook Islands as a sovereign nation, establishing diplomatic relations with Avarua in September 2023.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2024.
Wise move, New Zealand is a US proxy and Five Eyes stooge of the worst kind. The National and Labor party’s are especially bad from what I have heard.
If USA have already recognized their sovereignty, you can guarantee they are eyeing it up as a potential military base asap. Independence is good, but USA will ignore that if “national security concerns” are expressed by State Dept clowns.
America already has aircraft runways built in the northern part of the island during WW2 , Biden is “pleased ” to announce a new Embassy there and it provides a bulwark against Chinese expansionism –that’s step -1 . Step-2 is offering the Cook Islands “protection ” instead of New Zealand by setting up naval bases and enlarging the runways to take nuclear bombers. Step-3 as an incentive offering to help finance the island and build up its economy which wont cost them much in real terms but expand US hegemony . Check out Japan and US bases there where the… Read more »
Watch China take over the Cook Islands and build the Biggest Military Base in the South Pacific.