Cook Islands' Auckland consulate office closure still unresolved

A year after raising the issue in parliament, United Party leader Teariki Heather says there has still been no clear update from the Cook Islands government on the status and purpose of the Auckland Consulate office, leaving Cook Islanders in New Zealand and at home confused about the role of the mission.

Heather, who first questioned Prime Minister Mark Brown in February 2025 on reasons the consulate remained closed since 2020, told Cook Islands News this week that people are still in the dark about what the office is actually doing and whether it should stay shut.

"There still has been no update as mentioned before. No comments coming from the Prime Minister," Heather said.

"At the time, the reason given was budget restraints and Covid-19. Since then, there were indications the office might reopen, but I haven't heard anything, neither has our community in New Zealand or at home."

The Auckland Consulate has been closed since the Covid-19 pandemic forced remote work, and the government opted not to renew its lease in 2025 as part of broader financial caution, Prime Minister Brown told Parliament last year.

Brown also confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) was reviewing its international diplomatic network including whether to retain, repurpose, or reopen the Auckland mission.

Cook Islands News visited the old Consulate office in Auckland and it was empty as expected, and reached out to the consulate for a comment.

The office of the Prime Minister was also contacted for a comment.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) interim secretary Joshua Mitchell, who was assigned to respond instead as MFAI is dealing with the matter, explained that he will need more time to provide a response but also admitted that there hasn't been progress on this matter.

"Unfortunately as I understand it, there has not been much movement on the matter of the Cook Islands Consular Office since you reported on it last year," he said.

"In any case, I am regrettably not in a position to be able to respond in the time requested in your email. We can hopefully try to get you a response in the next day or two, but I can't confirm this until I have had a chance to review all the files on the matter. This will take some time."

Heather said that review, now more than a year on, has yielded no public outcome, and the public remain uncertain about the office's purpose.

"My understanding was that the office was there to assist Cook Islanders in New Zealand, especially for referrals and help with services. It's not just there to attend functions."

The consulate office in Auckland once played a role in engaging with the growing Cook Islands community in New Zealand, estimated at more than 62,000 people and supported Islanders travelling for medical referrals and administrative issues.

Heather said many in that community still rely on assistance for healthcare referrals and other support that the Auckland office could help with, but instead those functions have been limited or unclear since its closure.

"Some people here have benefits in New Zealand, some don't. But there should still be an office that's doing what it was meant to do … if not, then close it properly."

When asked what his advice to the government would be, Heather reiterated that transparency and an update are urgently needed.

"They said they closed it because of budget restraints. If it's necessary, then close it clearly and tell people. But if we need it, we need it and there should be something tangible for our people here," he said.

The continued silence comes amid broader diplomatic and financial pressures between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.

In 2025, New Zealand paused nearly NZ$30 million in direct aid to the Cook Islands after disagreements over the country's agreements with China and consultation obligations.

Government officials at the time said that outcomes of the MFAI review would shape the future of the Auckland consulate including whether services could be delivered differently or maintained through other arrangements.