The New Zealand Governor General says the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands is the best he has seen it.
Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae is currently visiting the Cook Islands, which along with Niue, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency make up the wider Realm of New Zealand.
Sir Jerry, who is visiting the Cooks for the first time as Governor General says the symbiotic relationship has produced some positive results, such as growth in the Cook Islands tourism industry, in which New Zealand makes up three quarters of the visitor numbers.
"I think the relationship is probably the best I've seen it.The political relationship is pretty good. You know, my conversations with Prime Minister Henry Puna, you know it's evident that he and [New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray] McCully get on well. And I also got it in Niue as well.There's a sense of we're in a partnership."
Sir Jerry Mateparae's three day visit to the Cook Islands follows a brief visit to Niue at the end of last week.
