The Cook Islands and New Zealand have signed an agreement allowing New Zealand to access information from the Cook Islands if the government believes there is tax evasion.
The so-called Tax Information Exchange Agreement was signed in Rarotonga by the prime minister, Jim Marurai, and his visiting New Zealand counterpart, John Key.
Under the agreement, tax officials will be able to request tax records, business books and accounts and bank information from the Cook Islands.
Mr Key says tax evasion is illegal, and the agreement follows a global trend.
