STRICTLY 4 THE ISLANDS: ELECTION SEASON: KŪKI ‘ĀIRAINI AND AOTEAROA

Weekly Pacific Politics with Otis Whinney

It’s safe to say that the Cook Islands have had their fair share of political scandals and moments of tension over the past few years. The current Prime Minister, Mark Brown, has seen the spotlight quite a bit since that very public stoush over a deal signed with China that New Zealand was not consulted on. While that might seem like us poking our nose in other islands' business, in all fairness the Cook Islands exist under a ‘special relationship’ with New Zealand. The country is within the ‘Realm of New Zealand,’ an arrangement that came into existence after the Cook Islands (along with other Pacific island nations) was granted independence from the empire of New Zealand. It’s an arrangement that seems to invite a level of political ambiguity, and the China-scandal brought that to the forefront for people on both sides of that relationship.

Much like Aotearoa, the Cook Islands are now in the throes of an election season, although theirs is arriving much sooner than ours, on August 12th. The Incumbent, Mark Brown, has shown through his actions that he seeks to emphasise the sovereignty of the islands even within the New Zealand realm. Brown proposed that the Cook Islands stop using New Zealand passports in favour of creating their own, partially in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of independence for the nation. Both the public and the New Zealand government strongly opposed this move, with many Cook Islanders fearing that the move would distance them from New Zealand and the familial/cultural connections the nations share. Like many countries with a ‘post-colonial’ (in name, at least) relationship, a huge diaspora of Cook Islanders call Aotearoa home. Brown eventually walked this idea back, with Winston Peters making it clear that a move such as this would only work if the nation sought full independence;  “If the goal of the government of the Cook Islands is independence from New Zealand, then of course that's a conversation we are ready for them to initiate.” A series of diplomatic tours and lengthy talks eventually ironed out the disagreements Brown and New Zealand had been having for the past few years. It still leaves open the question of whether or not Brown’s apparent desire to afford his country more independence is something that is politically viable in a place with such deep ties to their more influential neighbor, and one that is in the throes of an increasingly-strained tourism industry and growing cost-of-living crisis.

Perhaps Mark Brown’s actions with China can be explained by a want to avoid further dependence on any one nation, or perhaps it can be more simply explained by a lack of political foresight from a Prime Minister who saw an opportunity and took it. Regardless of what you think of his previous dealings, Mark Brown’s ideas do not represent all Cook Islanders. That some of his people marched in protest to his actions, and that the opposition tabled a motion of no-confidence in parliament in the wake of these events, shows this clearly. The political party with the second-highest number of candidates in the election is the Cook Islands United Party (CIUP), led by Te Ariki Heather. Part of his outline to the people is a proposed halt to discussions with Aotearoa until after our election on November 7, in the hopes that his party will be able to patch up old wounds with whoever comes out on top. He is also adamantly against the passport change, stating on Pacific Mornings that “We love our relationship with our people in New Zealand, Australia, and everywhere else, and we want to keep New Zealand associated or citizenship with New Zealand.” His pitch also includes an increased focus on local industry and a focus on retaining people to live and work within the country as opposed to seeking opportunity elsewhere. While the tourism industry in the Cook Islands has been on the up, the industry has found itself struggling to support those who work in it, forcing some to import workers from other Pacific and Asian nations at high costs to cope. While the government has taken some action to provide relief for the cost-of-living crisis, and while Brown argues that the tourism boom is a positive sign of growth, many are still struggling to make ends meet. So not too different from New Zealand, I guess.

New Zealand will no doubt be watching this election very closely. If Mark Brown takes the W again, it stands to reason not much will change. A win for Brown shows at least some level of support for his agenda, and it gives him a whole parliamentary term to take it as far as he can. A Brown loss leaves everyone in more uncertain waters, but perhaps New Zealand would welcome it. After this security pact between Australia and Fiji was signed recently, and after New Zealand confirmed they were to discuss the possibility of joining it, the Cook Islands’ newfound closeness with China will remain a sore spot for all those involved.

China’s recent missile test in the Pacific ocean took Pacific media by storm. ABC Pacific ran so many stories on the missile launch you would’ve thought it was aimed at the deciding match for State of Origin. After the landmark deal between Australia and Papua New Guinea and the subsequent deal with Fiji, Australia seems to be collecting the infinity stones of Pacific-defence commitments, but we should not act like Australia is a neutral actor looking out for their Pacific neighbors. The constant back and forth between Australia and countries like Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands over their ties to China and their attempts to halt other countries deepening ties with China makes this clear. PNG and nations like it have still managed to maintain some level of strategic neutrality. PNG recently closed its representative offices for Taiwan, something done to honour China’s ‘One-China’ policy to delegitimise the existence of Taiwan. This all stems from a very lengthy civil war in China and has remained a thorn in the side of the Chinese Communist Party ever since that war ended. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised PNG’s decision, while the USA stated they weren’t too happy about it. 

Many Pacific nations, PNG and otherwise, are walking this diplomatic tightrope. While the USA remains the dominant force in the region, many Pacific leaders understand the need to diversify to avoid dependency as much as they can. We can’t ignore the fact that New Zealand exists, in some part, as an extension of US interests in the region. We follow them through shows of military power in the South China Sea, we let them open FBI offices in Wellington, and despite whatever tariff or fuel crisis they throw our way, our current leaders seem fine brushing them off and continuing on as if they remain our best friend. Mark Brown doesn’t really seem interested in decoupling from the US, but his deals with China show that maybe he is trying to push the country closer to a position of strategic neutrality like his Pacific neighbors have tried to do. 

Winston Peters wasn't entirely off base when he said that these types of moves should only be pursued alongside actual independence for the nation. It is hard to maintain a strategic neutrality when your country literally exists within another country’s realm. Seeking independence is a very scary thing, and it’s something the people of the Cook Islands don’t seem in any rush to pursue. But maybe this isn’t as weird a relationship as some may think. I mean, New Zealand doesn’t have an independence day, nor have we fought a war to gain it, nor have we ever really been too keen on being independent in the first place. I mean, our founding document is basically a deal to join the British empire. We really became ‘independent’ through a series of boring constitutional amendments, instead of revolutionary war like our fellow settler colonies of the Americas. And then, whenever our politicians stand in front of the cameras and flub through talking points defending illegal overseas wars conducted by our allies and our allies’ allies, we ask ourselves if New Zealand even has an independent foreign policy. Our pride in our nuclear-free stance or our refusal to participate in the US invasion of Iraq serve as reminders that when we follow our values and act like an independent nation regardless of what the great powers think, it does actually make us feel pretty good.

So, yes, Mark Brown and the Cook Islands have found themselves in a political pickle. A pickle that is forcing them to confront what it means to be a part of the global community.