As hundreds gathered in protest against the government yesterday at Parliament in Nikao, one of the main concerns for many protesters was the fear of losing their New Zealand citizenship, or “risking” it, due to the government’s decisions.

The protest, organised by the Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, was against the now-abandoned Cook Islands passport proposal and the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with China.

Prime Minister Mark Brown had earlier announced that the Cook Islands passport proposal was “off the table for now” but the protesters yesterday demanded it be “off the table forever”.

Cook Islands operates in free association with New Zealand and its citizens hold NZ citizenship. The country governs its own affairs but NZ provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief and defence.

Among the about 400 protesters was 76-year-old Archer Hosking, who limped along, carrying his New Zealand passport, to support the call of his fellow demonstrators.

Archer Hosking, 76-year-old, fears risking Cook Islands-New Zealand ties due to the government’s recent decisions. TALAIA MIKA/25021733

Hosking, when asked about his motivation for joining the protest, said: “I don’t want to lose my passport. No way. And I don’t want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to lose this citizenship.”

“I was born and bred here in the Cook Islands and I still live here and the relationship with New Zealand since I was born has been bloody good,” he said.

Reminiscing about his career and life growing up, Hosking said there has been a lot of blessings through Cook Islands’ special constitutional relationship with New Zealand.

A father of three, and also a grandfather and great-grandfather, Hosking attended a special training overseas related to law enforcement in 1972. However, he did not join the police force as planned due to political issues at the time.

Hosking joined CITC where he worked for almost 40 years until he retired and enjoyed the New Zealand pension.

“I don’t want to lose my citizenship and I want the Prime Minister to be fair to the people of the Cook Islands and tell the truth and that’s all we want otherwise, piss off.”

Another protestor, Maria Joe, praised the organisers and the demonstrators, emphasising that it is the people’s role to protect the country if the government is failing in its duty to do so.

“It’s going to be pretty tough (if they lose New Zealand citizenships), I’d much rather get the New Zealand passport than get a Cook Islands one and also support New Zealand for what they do for us today and what they have been doing for years,” Joe said.

“I’d much rather stay with New Zealand especially regarding the health support. How many of our people get sent on referrals to New Zealand and if the Cook Islands can take care of that then yeah.

“Keep the passport, it’s our right to voice our concerns and that’s what we’re doing.”

Esta Oaariki, an Australian-based Cook Islander, emphasised the benefits of holding a New Zealand passport, including her own ability to live in Australia thanks to her New Zealand citizenship.

“Next step? Just keep the passport and if he (Prime Minister) doesn’t want to apologise, that’s on him but the people have spoken,” she said.

“It should make a different and we’ve got other politicians who are with us so it should make an impact.’

Justine Flanagan, a member of a non-governmental organisation, also supported their call and urged the government to be open-minded about their concerns.

“I think it was an amazing event. To take people’s frustration and to turn it into something beautiful like this, an expression of our heart and our soul and our will and God willing, our politicians will hear us,” Flanagan said.

When asked whether it was still worth reminding the government about something they had already done – that is, scrapping the Cook Islands passport proposal – she said, “Yes”.

“It’s more how he’s (PM Brown) making his decisions. He’s making them unilaterally, by himself, without consulting with the people,” she added.

“And we need a leader who reflects and represents the will of the Cook Islands people. And that is why it is worth protesting about the passport, to express very strongly, like (Opposition leader) Tina Brown said, that ‘We don’t want this off the table for now. We want it off the table forever’. We’re thinking of our children. 

“This is the final straw. This has been years of a government that has not been listening to its people. As Jackie Tuara (one of the organisers) so beautifully put it, ‘it’s been issue after issue after issue and this is just us coming out and saying, please listen to us. You are supposed to be representing us, not making decisions by yourself’.”