Dancers prepare to welcome dignitaries at 50th celebrations in Rarotonga in 2015. (file image) Photo: RNZI/Sally Round
New Zealand has an opportunity to "show maturity" as Cook Islands celebrates six decades of self-governance, a Cook Islands political analyst says.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are not going to attend the 60th Constitution Day celebrations in Rarotonga.
New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will attend the celebrations instead.
The Cook Islands will mark 60 years of being in free association with New Zealand on 4 August.
"Who [New Zealand sends], sends a clear message," William Numanga, who worked for former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna as a policy analyst, said.
"I think if New Zealand wants to move forward on a lot of things, of course, it should send the Prime Minister."
Last month, New Zealand paused nearly $18.2m in development assistance funding to the Cook Islands, after its government signed several controversial deals with China.
Wellington cited a lack of consultation with the Cook Islands as the reason for the pause.
Numanga said the two nations relationship troubles had played out publicly, so it is not a shock Luxon is not attending the celebrations.
"I think a lot of people will not be surprised, but a lot of people would want to be able to move forward from where things are at, and hopefully, we can resolve things at the diplomatic level."
In 2015, former Prime Minister Sir John Key attended celebrations marking Cook Islands 50 years anniversary.
New Zealand Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono, who is one of two Cook Islands MPs in Parliament, said the coalition government should have representatives at the event.
"It is an important milestone in the relationship with the Cook Islands," he said.
"John Key went 10 years ago, so it is a bit petty, and it is a missed opportunity for dialogue to sort out the differences between the two governments," he said.
Fomer Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna with the former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the 50th anniversary of self-government for the Cook Islands. Photo: Cook Islands Government
Officials from the Cook Islands and New Zealand have been meeting to try and restore the relationship.
"This comes on the back of the unilateral freeze on funding to the Cook Islands and my concern there is, and like a lot of Cook Islanders, is that the Cook Islands won't be able to fund schools, health care and social services," Tuiono said.
"We have got New Zealand passports, I think the emphasis here actually should be that government should be focusing on patching things up."
Prime Minister Mark Brown said that his government is honoured to have New Zealand Governor-General representing New Zealand at the event.
"We are excited to welcome Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Davies as they lead the New Zealand delegation for this significant national occasion," Brown said.
"I look forward to reconnecting with them, following our last meeting in October at Niue's 50th anniversary of self-governance."
Meanwhile, more than 900 Cook Islanders will head to Rarotonga from the outer islands for the 60 years celebrations.
Cook Islands News reports that the government has allocated over NZ$4 million to help transport people across the country so they can join in the celebrations next month.
For the Southern Group islands, it will be a mix of air and sea travel.
For the Northern Group, ships from Tonga and Tuvalu will take people to Rarotonga.
