N.Z. to take new look at Cooks

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 7

N.Z. to take new look at Cooks

PA Wellington The Government is reexamining New Zealand’s relations with the Cook Islands, according to the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). He said the Cabinet had before it copies of an exchange of letters in 1973 between the then Prime Minister, Mr N E. Kirk and the Cook Islands Premier (Sir Albert Henry), about the special relations between the two countries, and was getting other material. Mr Kirk nad told Sir Albert that New Zea'and expected the Cook Islands Government would “uphold a standard of values generally acceptable to New Zealanders.” Sir Albert had replied that the Cook Islands shared New Zealand's views. Mr Muldoon sa.d he was sure that some people would argue that Chis undertaking had been breached by the spending of a reported $300,000 to fly voters to the islands

for the recent General Election. The New Zealand Govs eminent had a responsibility to the Cook Islanders as New Zealand citizens, and to New Zealand taxpayers, he said. New Zealand’s S6M aid to the islands was one of the largest per capita aid contributions to any country in the world. Asked whether he thought the 1973 agreement had been breached, Mr Muldoon replied: “I would like to have a little more information before I answer that question.” When he was asked whether the Government might redefine the relationship. he said: “I don’t want to pre-empt the right of the Cabinet to make a decision.” “But we have got to be concerned.” he said. Mr Kirk’s letter to Sir Albert in 1973 seemed to go very close to the present Government’s view on New Zealand’s responsibility to the Cook Islands, said Mr Muldoon.