I guess the most obvious concern is without political debate (which requires an active democracy to exist) the voice of the people can be dismissed or sidelined.

Currently in the Cook Islands both seem evident.

New Zealand is guilty of paternalism and not adapting to geopolitical and economic change moving across the Pacific, relying on some aces in their deck (NZ passport, aid, etc) to maintain a blind spot to the changes afoot.

Should the Cook Islands be successful in deep sea mining, paternalism will hold less sway and harping on about aid is pointless given the wallets of those who also want to influence the South Pacific nations.

Trade and investment, particularly encouraging NZ companies by way of tax incentives, access to development finance to JV (joint venture) with Pacific businesses to seek opportunities to balance trade (i.e. a Regional Pacific Development Fund should be considered) and has merit.

The influence of local business leaders on political direction and transparency should be a cornerstone of the future lens for which NZ interacts with the Pacific, the political landscape can change overnight but successful business leaders are generational.

The Cooks have the same aspirations as every other nation and history

has shown a firm hand in the Pacific has never proven successful in

the long term.

Food for thought.

(Name and address supplied)