David Seymour defends Cook Islanders’ right to NZ citizenship amid public opposition

Acting Prime Minister David Seymour firmly rejects the idea of revising the automatic citizenship rights for Cook Islanders, despite a recent poll showing widespread public opposition.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Seymour says proposals to revoke or limit citizenship access if the Cook Islands' foreign policy diverges from New Zealand's are "a major injustice".

He says this will harm many people with deep family and community connections to the two countries.

"There are many people who are Cook Islanders, but also New Zealanders. There are families that are mixed together,” Seymour says.

“These are brothers and sisters, mums and dads, children. It's a pretty big deal to suddenly say ‘we're going to take away your rights’ when a lot of your life is between the Cooks and New Zealand.

“So no, I think that would be a major injustice on many people in their real lives.”

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. Photo/PMN News/Joseph Safiti

His comments follow a poll commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, which found that 60.5 per cent of respondents opposed Cook Islanders maintaining automatic access to citizenship rights if their foreign policy diverged or if consultation ceased.

Seymour strongly rejected suggestions that Cook Islanders take their access to New Zealand services for granted, saying such views are "a terrible judgment."

“I think that's a terrible judgment on a large number of people who are very good people just going about their lives like everybody else.”

While recognising ongoing diplomatic discussions between Wellington and Rarotonga, the ACT leader urges the Cook Islands government to appreciate and protect its special relationship with New Zealand.

Since 1965, the Cook Islands is a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. Photo/Supplied

"It's important that the Cook Islands government recognises that New Zealand is an important friend to the Cook Islands and to the Cook Islands people,” Seymour says.

“I think it's important that the Cook Islands people are clear to the government that they can elect and control that the relationship between New Zealand and the Cooks is very special.”

When asked about the possibility of the Cook Islands becoming fully independent, Seymour hopes the relationship between the two countries will remain strong.

Watch David Seymou's full interview on Pacific Mornings here

"I think what we have works very well. It allows people to live their lives between the two countries,” he says.

“It would be a real shame to see that relationship degrade in any way and that's why there's ongoing dialogue between our governments.”