The Cook Islands prime minister, Henry Puna, says his government will not be following New Zealand's move to legalize same sex marriage.
Mr Puna says the Cook Islands will not stray from its core values as a Christian nation, including its tradition of upholding the union of a man and a woman in the sight of God.
The prime minister, who is currently in New Caledonia, says he respects the sanctity of marriage as provided for under Christian beliefs and faith.
The Cook Islands Marriage Act 1973 was amended in 2000 to include the provision that a man may not marry another man and a woman may not marry another woman.
A week ago, New Zealand's Parliament passed a law legalising gay marriage, 77 votes to 44.
