‘Be careful what you wish for’

Deputy Prime Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has underscored the importance of letting Pacific island nations decide their future while recognising the strategic stakes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

His comments follow Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown's proposal to introduce a Cook Islands passport while maintaining the New Zealand passport.

Speaking with Pacific Mornings’ William Terite, Peters also gave his take on the Pacific's evolving aspirations as the region continues to battle with the geopolitical competition between China and the United States.

“All politics is about the people in the end, not the leadership, not politicians,” Peters said.

“What would the people in the Cook Islands want to do? What do they want? That might not be what the politicians want.”

Cook Islands PMN Mark Brown and spouse in Tonga for the PIF Leaders Meeting. Photo/Joseph Safiti

Niue’s Prime Minister, Dalton Tagelagi, earlier told PMN News of his desire for the New Zealand realm nation to become fully independent at some stage, but he added that he could not see this happen during his lifetime.

Niue recently entered a special diplomatic relationship with the US while maintaining close ties with China as officials from Beijing are in the Niuean capital Alofi working on infrastructure projects.

Despite the geopolitical tensions, Peters says New Zealand has done a ‘marvellous job’ maintaining relations with Niue.

“Be careful what you wish for because at no time in any way have we sought to interrupt the independence of their culture, their procedures. We've done our best and I think have done a marvellous job.

“I've seen, I've travelled the world, I see extensively how things have been so disastrous. I've seen failed states. And look, our support for Tokelau for the Cook Islands and Niue has been massive.

Niue PM, Dalton Tagelagi. Photo/PMN News

“I'm not going to let anybody think they can say that we haven't done our very best as New Zealand taxpayers.

“We've got New Zealand taxpayers working two to three jobs, many of them are Pasifika people. And they would expect that their people back home are appreciative of the effort that their taxes make to their country.”

On the home front, Peters said he was pleased with National supporting a bill to restore the right to citizenship for some Sāmoans.

“The [Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act] 1982 legislation had a certain grinding unfairness about it.

“The question is, were people who had a right to gain New Zealand citizenship unfairly treated? And my party has always believed that yes.

“So when this matter arrived, we thought, well, let's see what we can do about it. Let's support the initiative from Teanau [Tuiono] and we will then look at its details.”

The bill’s Second Reading is next Thursday.

Watch Peters' full interview on Pacific Mornings here