Hundreds of people have gathered outside parliament in Avarua to protest recent moves by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown.
In December last year, 1News revealed the Cook Islands was pushing for its own passport - a plan that has since been put on "the back burner".
PM Mark Brown has signaled adopting a local passport and has been to Beijing to sign a strategic partnership pact with China. (Source: 1News)
Brown recently returned from China, where he signed a comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement, which concerned New Zealand as it was not able to see the contents before it was ratified.
MPs, including Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana, Cook Islands Party MP Sonny Williams and Tourism Industry Council Tere Carr were also seen outside parliament.
People have taken to the streets to protest the Cook Islands Prime Minister's recent decisions. (Source: 1News)
Protest signifies 'strong support' - opposition
Opposition leader Tina Browne said she wanted the passport issue off the table forever, something which was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd.
Browne told 1News the protest signified "strong support our people have for the passport issue".
"We realise that the Prime Minister has said 'oh well its off the table' but the serious add on was 'for now'. We want that to be 'off the table for good'."
She said only making only part of the agreement available was "not transparency".
"He talks about transparency, but I don't think he knows what the word means. It isn't about transparency just to only choose what he wants to reveal."
Te Pāti Māori co-leader hears concerns
One of the attendees was Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, who told 1News she was in Avarua on a personal matter, but was approached at the airport.
She said she had spent the last few days meeting with "hundreds" of community members and hearing their concerns.
"To be honest, it was matching a lot of the other concerns for our Tongan whānau back in Aotearoa, and I'm the Pacific spokesperson for the party."
She said she was there listen to the people, and said the connection between New Zealand and the Pacific "means everything to us, particularly as Te Pati Māori".
"That's really the essence of my arrival today, to listen to the angst of actions that could be geopolitically moving them away not only from whakapapa connections but also those sovereign connections.
"There's been a lot of real humbling korero and I think its important for us, those of us who are Governments in waiting that we are aligned and really clear what is going on outside of Aotearoa."
Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather gave a short speech to the cheering crowd.
Upon returning from China, Brown held a news conference which 1News was prevented from attending.
Brown told journalists he was sure once he explains in parliament, he “will overcome some of the concerns that have been raised and the speculation that has been rife, particularly through the New Zealand media, about the purpose of this trip to China”.
'Significant concern': NZ, Cook Islands relationship worsens
A statement from Foreign Minister Winston Peters' office said the Cook Islands had failed to share, which it is required to do as a realm country, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership "and other agreements" that Prime Minister Mark Brown is about to sign with China.
Sun, Feb 9
3:02
He said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China would be made public shortly, and while he hadn’t spoken to or shared it with the New Zealand Government yet, he was certain they would be reassured that it would benefit the Cook Islands.
A motion of no confidence has been filed against Brown and his Cabinet, but there will be a delay in hearing it because of parliamentary procedure.
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