Cook Islands PM: ‘Our people grow and expand our borders’ amid NZ tensions

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says his people overseas are not leaving the nation behind, they are helping it grow.

Speaking at the end of his visit to Aotearoa New Zealand last week, Brown placed the Cook Islands diaspora at the centre of his message.

He highlighted their role in shaping the island nation from afar. “It's important for us to know that when our people leave the islands, they don't diminish our islands, they grow and expand our borders,” he told PMN News.

Brown wrapped up his trip to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland after meeting with the Cook Islands community and holding talks with New Zealand leaders.

Both governments have confirmed they are working through a difficult period in their relationship.

“[I wanted to] just give them an update on how things are going back home, how our country is performing and how we’ve done, especially after Covid,” Brown says.

Mark Brown pictured with members of the Cook Islands community at an event in Auckland. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

During his visit, Brown announced new steps to better support Cook Islanders living in New Zealand.

These include an internship programme across government agencies in Rarotonga and expanded access to an online system for deaths, births, and marriages.

The Pacific island nation has also approved a plan to introduce Cook Islands status stamp processing in New Zealand, with an initial rollout in Wellington from the second half of 2027.

Watch a snippet from Mark Brown's interview below.

“These are practical steps that respond to what our people have told us matters most,”

Brown says. “It is about making services more accessible, creating opportunities for our young people, and ensuring our people remain connected to home in meaningful ways.”

Brown’s visit coincided with Polyfest in Auckland, where he praised Cook Islands students for keeping their culture alive through performance.

He said it was “heartwarming” to see young people embracing their identity, particularly during the Cook Islands’ 60th year of self-governance.

But the visit comes at a sensitive time. Relations between the Cook Islands and New Zealand have been strained since June 2025 when Wellington suspended millions of dollars in funding.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown deepened diplomatic and economic ties with China through a "comprehensive strategic partnership" signed in early 2025. Photo/Supplied

The move followed concerns over the Cook Islands government’s growing ties with China, including cooperation agreements that raised questions about transparency and Rarotonga’s long-term direction.

New Zealand officials have also expressed unease about a lack of consultation, given the constitutional relationship between the two countries under the Realm of New Zealand.

That tension has raised the stakes of Brown’s visit, with both governments now working to stabilise the relationship.

In a joint statement released on Friday, Brown and New Zealand Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters confirmed they held informal talks in Auckland to discuss “fundamental challenges” in the relationship over the past 18 months.

Mark Brown and Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters following their informal meeting in Auckland. Photo/Supplied

Political dialogue will continue in the coming weeks to see whether those issues can be resolved.

Against this backdrop, Brown’s focus on the diaspora carries added weight. Most Cook Islanders live in New Zealand and this makes them an important link between the two countries - socially, culturally, and economically.

With elections approaching this year, Brown acknowledged their role and influence.

“It's important that they know that we at home recognise their identity as Cook Islanders,” he said. “We value their contributions, not just to New Zealand, but also their contributions back home to our country when the time comes.

Listen to interview with Mark Brown below.