Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Photo: Alisha Evans/Sun Media. Photo: Alisha Evans/Sun Media
The New Zealand government says it is prepared to work constructively with the Cook Islands if the country looks to join the United Nations.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has previously said his country could pursue UN membership to become a member of the International Monetary Fund for future financing options.
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta told RNZ Pacific the government in Wellington will work constructively with Cook Islanders.
"We are aware that there have been comments regarding the Cook Islands next step in their self-determination journey.
"Fundamentally, it is for the Cook Islands Government and the people of the Cook Islands to determine what that looks like and Aotearoa New Zealand has signalled its willingness to engage at the appropriate time," she said.
"It has been clear since the US formally recognised the Cook Islands, that this has opened a door for deeper and more direct engagement within the international community.
"The recently signed Statement of Partnership (Waka Hourua/Vaka Purua) allows Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands to work constructively together and this includes open dialogue around the constitutional relationship, any consequential matters and staging and sequencing of next steps."
The Cook Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand.
While it administers its own affairs, Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens who are free to live and work in New Zealand.
All Cook Islanders are entitled to hold New Zealand passports under the special constitutional relationship between the two countries.
For this reason the Cooks efforts to gain UN membership have not been supported by the New Zealand government.
Ms Mahuta's office says there has been no change of policy.