The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, will lead a delegation to Wellington later this week to strengthen relationships with the New Zealand government.
Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Koroi Hawkins
Mr Puna said the change of government provided both countries with a platform for fresh negotiations on issues that greatly affect the people of the Cook Islands.
He said this would focus on pension portability, scholarship loans and a deepening of the relationship with the Labour Party which has been a long-time supporter of Cook Islands communities in New Zealand.
Mr Puna said Labour and the deputy prime minister Winston Peters, had long supported the changes his government's been calling for with regard to pension portability.