Cook Islands Shouldn’t Get Automatic NZ Privileges if Foreign Policy Splits, say Kiwis
A new nationwide poll commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union shows New Zealanders do not believe the Cook Islands should continue to enjoy automatic access to New Zealand citizenship, healthcare, and education if its government pursues a foreign policy contrary to New Zealand’s – or fails to even consult Wellington. 60.5% of decided respondents oppose Cook Islanders retaining automatic access.
Across all respondents, just 30% of respondents supported Cook Islanders retaining automatic access to New Zealand entitlements under such circumstances. 46% were opposed, and 24% were unsure.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Direct funding of the Cooks has been in the media in recent days, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to the taxpayer-funded entitlements given to Cook Islanders such as health, education, and the New Zealand passport."
“If the Cook Islands Government isn’t going to act in New Zealand’s best interests, or even bother to consult with us on foreign affairs, it raises the obvious question of whether Kiwi taxpayers should continue to give Cook Islanders the free lunch.”
“This is a strong message from taxpayers. The results show that the public expects alignment on foreign affairs in exchange for the privileges and responsibilities that come with New Zealand citizenship. From a taxpayer perspective, that is not an unreasonable expectation.”
The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research between 7–9 June 2025 and sampled 1,000 eligible and likely voters across New Zealand. The margin of error is ±3.1%. The full results are available at www.taxpayers.org.nz/cooks_poll
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