New Zealand has ruled out allowing the Cook Islands to become a member of the United Nations.
The issue was reportedly discussed in Auckland where the Cook Islands prime minister, Henry Puna, met his New Zealand counterpart, John Key.
A spokesperson for Mr Key's office says he made it clear that New Zealand was not looking to change the existing relationship.
The Cook Islands has been in free association with New Zealand for 50 years.
The Cook Islands reportedly wants to become part of the world body because it is about to lose access to OECD funding as it is graduating out of the least developed countries category.
Cook Islands fails to get NZ support for UN bid Photo: Supplied
