Inconsistences in Citizenship Laws in the Realm of New Zealand

Abstract

In 2010, a report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee of the New Zealand House of Representatives entitled ‘An Inquiry into New Zealand’s relationships with South Pacific countries’ was presented to the House of Representatives. The report deals with a wide range of issues but a central concern that consistently resurfaces is the fact that the three Pacific countries which belong to the Realm of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau have a special status by virtue of their residents’ New Zealand citizenship. “We believe,” states the report, “that it is difficult to accept that there should be communities of New Zealand citizens overseas who receive lower standards of basic services than New Zealanders living in similar-sized population centres in New Zealand.”