Transcript
Warriors carried New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and her husband Sir David Gascoigne high on a pa'ata on to the Atupare Marae on Rarotonga. There she was given the special honour of a seat on the throne of some of the countries traditional leaders. The Cook Islands, like Niue, is self-governing in 'free association' with New Zealand which means its people have New Zealand passports, access to jobs and aid. New Zealand in turn looks after their defence and decreasingly the country's foreign affairs. Dame Patsy acknowledged the strong links which have seen thousands of the islanders migrate to New Zealand, and aid enhanced to keep them home.
"We are very excited to come here on our first official international visit, very excited because it was a way of us understanding the links that bind us, that tie us together, both those unique historical, constitutional and genealogical links."
Dame Patsy's equivalent in the Cooks, the Queen's Representative Tom Marsters, also stressed the ties that bind as well as the fishing rod and bait that New Zealand had given the Cook Islands for development.
"When we get sick and refer to New Zealand, we go to the top of the list, not waiting in the line. New Zealand opened up the door to scholarships. Not only the top students in the Cook Islands can go on scholarship now, every single student who makes the grade can go on scholarship now. That's the new policy."
Dame Patsy visited aid, agricultural and business projects, watched cultural displays and met with the locals. Away from the ceremonies, the countries' leaders while stressing the links did not back away from their quest for more independence from New Zealand. Both governments want a separate seat at the UN which would likely bring them more political leverage internationally and more foreign aid for their vulnerable economies. New Zealand is against this saying they can't have both New Zealand passports and independence at the lead international body. For the Cook Islands it appears the issue is on the backburner. The acting Prime Minister Mark Brown said people didn't want to lose their New Zealand citizenship.
"The UN matter for us is something that we'll be looking at more long-term. It may come up again in the future for us to pursue but again from our perspective, membership of the UN has nothing to do with the special relationship that we have with New Zealand."
Niue's premier Sir Toke Talagi said he was going to run for another term as premier because he had unfinished business - developing the economy and continuing the quest for a UN seat.
"You've got to allow us to be part of this group, otherwise we're only there hanging on. This is not something that we say this year is going to happen, (or) next year. This is something that will continue to engage both the New Zealand government and the Niue government."
Dame Patsy conferred Sir Toke with a knighthood, for his contribution to Niue's development, during her visit.