Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau leaders meet Luxon for historic Realm talks in NZ

A historic four-way Realm leaders’ meeting opened in Auckland, with a focus on strengthening cooperation and confronting shared challenges across the Pacific.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described today’s gathering of New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau leaders as an “incredible moment”, saying it is the first time the Realm’s leaders have come together in this way.

The Pacific countries were represented by Ulu-o-Tokelau Petelo Alapati Tavite, Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown.

“This is an incredible moment really because it’s actually the first time the Realm leaders have come together in this way as a foursome,” Luxon said.

“And I just want to say a big thank you to you Dalton because it was your initiative, it was your idea and it’s great to be co-hosting this with you today.”

In February Tagelagi called for a formal meeting of Realm leaders on Pacific Mornings, saying a frank discussion about their constitutional relationships was “overdue”.

Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi was acknowledged for coming up with the initiative of a Realm roundtable meeting. Photo/PMN News

Luxon said the four partners had distinctive relationships with each other, but were connected by their constitutional arrangements, history, culture and people.

“The relationships we have with each other are all very unique but we also share a very deep connection as Realm partners,” he said.

“We’re bound by our constitutional arrangements but also our history and our culture and of course our people.”

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown attended the Realm roundtable, pending the outcome of their general election. Photo/Supplied.

The Realm of New Zealand comprises New Zealand, the self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency.

The Cook Islands and Niue are self-governing in free association with Aotearoa while Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand; people of the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are New Zealand citizens.

The King of New Zealand is the Head of State across the Realm, represented in New Zealand by the Governor-General.

Luxon said the leaders shared both challenges and opportunities. He described the meeting as an opportunity for the leaders to speak informally about issues affecting the Realm and the wider Pacific region.

Ulu-o-Tokelau Petelo Alapati Tavite. Photo/PMN News

“Today is just an opportunity for us to come together informally and be able to talk through a range of issues and opportunities that we have.”

Luxon also pointed to New Zealand’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum next year as an opportunity for the Realm partners to consider how they could work more closely together ahead of the regional gathering.

“Obviously with New Zealand hosting PIF next year, it’s a great opportunity for us to start to think about if there’s more something we might want to do about that and how we can get together on that,” he said.

“But it’s really an opportunity for us all to reflect on the region and where we want to go together as well.”