According to Prime Minister Brown, this isn’t about his failure to talk with Cook Islanders – it’s about New Zealand exerting control.

He claims consultation “was not so much the issue” but rather that New Zealand wants to dominate.

This is a convenient distraction from the reality that his own people are demanding answers from him, not from New Zealand.

It was Brown’s government that secretly pushed ahead with seabed minerals exploration without meaningful dialogue with the Cook Islands public. It was his government that floated the Cook Islands passport idea – without proper consultation – and then blamed the media when it spiralled out of control. And now, with his China deals under scrutiny, Brown claims New Zealand’s reaction is causing “destabilisation”.

No, Prime Minister, the destabilisation is a direct result of your refusal to engage with your people before making these decisions. Elena Tavioni is right, it’s time for change.

(Name and address supplied)