Rt Hon Winston Peters
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
23 May 2019 PĀNUI PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT
Foreign Minister to lead Ministerial Consultations in the Cook Islands
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is travelling to the Cooks Islands tomorrow for annual New Zealand - Cook
Islands Ministerial Consultations.
Mr Peters will be joined by Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Fletcher Tabuteau.
“New Zealand has a very special relationship with the Cook Islands as a realm country, and this meeting is an serious
opportunity for us to reaffirm New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to our unique constitutional relationship,” said Mr
Peters.
The Ministerial Consultations are taking place prior to the Cook Islands’ expected graduation in January 2020 to high
income country status, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Cook Islands
would be the first Pacific country to graduate since New Caledonia in 2000.
“Graduation to high income status will represent a serious achievement for the Cook Islands Government and it is timely
to discuss how we will continue to work closely together” said Mr Peters.
The ministerial delegation will be travelling from 24-26 May.
ENDS