Prime Minister Mark Brown met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier this week in Auckland where the two discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues ahead of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to convene in Tonga at the end of August.

Discussions focused on both countries’ economic recovery efforts, including air links, debt servicing, infrastructure development, renewable energy, tourism, labour mobility, as well as health, seabed minerals and education, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

In a statement, MFAI said the two leaders also discussed regional priorities including progressing regional collective efforts under the 2050 strategy, the forthcoming Pacific Islands Forum Troika-led mission to New Caledonia to take place before the Forum Leaders Meeting, and the elevation of health and education to the Leaders’ agenda.

The two leaders committed to supporting the advancement of the Cook Islands’ application for International Monetary Fund membership and the country’s deeper engagement in international affairs and within the international community.

PM Brown said: “I had a very constructive exchange with Prime Minister Luxon and am pleased we’ve formalised through our meeting this annual leader level dialogue which will provide leader impetus to our existing annual Joint Ministerial Forum which convened in May this year.”

“A centrepiece of our discussions was aspirations for our 60^th anniversary next year. 2025 will mark sixty years since the Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand and as we look ahead to this historic and important commemoration, we have committed to issue a joint declaration to elevate the relationship and celebrate the many strands that make it unique and enduring.

“I look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Luxon and his government to support reciprocal high level missions next year and the elevation of our relationship in a manner which supports our shared and separate aspirations.”

This week’s meeting follows the 8^th Cook Islands-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Forum hosted by New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with the Cook Islands delegation headed by Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana.