Tiana
Haxton, RNZ Pacific journalist
Caleb
Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist
The
Cook Islands government says it is working to stabilise its
strained relationship with New Zealand, but not at the cost
of its independence.
It comes after Aotearoa extended
its funding pause to almost $30 million over two financial
years.
In a 30 minute long address, Cook Islands Prime
Minister Mark Brown assured his parliament the government is
taking steps to mend the rift.
“Our officials and
ministers have engaged consistently with New Zealand across
every formal channel that is available to us. We have
attended every scheduled meeting, we have responded to every
letter and continued to seek constructive pathways to
address the concerns raised.”
But Brown emphasised
that restoring the relationship must not come at the expense
of the growing independence the Cook Islands has gained
throughout the years.
Quoting the country’s first
prime minister, Albert Henry’s 1965 UN speech: “Even in our
smallness, we are proud to be self governing in an
association with New Zealand, which is entirely free. I
would like to stress the point that we are not under
anyone’s domination or control.”
New Zealand’s concern
stems from several agreements the Cook Islands signed with
China early in the year, which Wellington felt it wasn’t
consulted on.
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During questions time, Opposition MP
Teariki Heather pressed the Brown on the affect of less New
Zealand money flowing.
“The question is, Prime
Minister, are you denying the people… the right, the
privileges, and also the support of New Zealand, financial
support for this country?”
In response, Brown said the
government has protected essential services in the budget,
which will not be impacted by the funding freeze.
“The
pause in funding did not deter the government from passing a
budget which was not only fiscally responsible, but also
contain the increases that we had promised to our people
through the wage and salary adjustments and also through the
welfare programs.”
But he said the Cook Islands still
values New Zealand’s contribution.
“That is not to say
that we don’t need New Zealand money. New Zealand funding is
greatly appreciated by our government and by our people, and
has been over the years.”
Brown said the situation has
taught him a lesson.
“While we are fully committed to
our relationship with New Zealand, we have learn’t a
valuable lesson in that we’ve seen the risks that arise from
over reliance on any single partner for our development
needs.
He said “a narrowed or non-diversified
development partner approach would weaken our economic
resilience” and had implications for Cook Islands long-term
ability to advance its own development goals.
He added
the priority is to “strengthen and modernise” the
partnership.
“The Cook Islands remains committed to
our constitutional relationship with New Zealand. We will
continue to act in good faith, and we will continue to
engage and with their support, we will continue to protect
the interests of our people as a proud self governing state
within the realm.”
Brown said he is confident the
relationship will stabilise and that trust will be
rebuilt.
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