Transcript
TOKE TALAGI: Why is it so important? Because we should be part of the international community, and the United Nations is the international community. But let me say this. When we were in the process of becoming self governing the United Nations were here, and they were instrumental in getting us to have the status that we have at the present moment. My belief is that, if that's the case, then they really should also take responsibility to allow us to become a member of the United Nations.
DON WISEMAN: What would it mean to be a member of the UN?
TT: What would it mean to Niue? What does it mean to anybody? What does it mean to New Zealand? What do you think?
DW: Well it is not for me to say.
TT: It is not for me to say to you either. But if you don't understand the requirement to ensure that we have a voice in the international community, then obviously you haven't been following the United Nations.
DW: Well the reason I asked that was over the last two or three years the Cook Islands has been looking to get membership of the UN and it's been knocked back by New Zealand quite emphatically on those occasions. So have you talked to New Zealand about this?
TT: No not really. We are keen to talk to the United Nations, Don.
DW: So it wouldn't bother you what New Zealand had to say, you would strike out on your own anyway?
TT: Not necessarily, no. It is New Zealand's decision as per the constitution to decide what it wishes to decide with respect to their relationship with Niue. I am very comfortable with our relationship with New Zealand. The fact that the Cooks have gone ahead and have prepared a document to ask New Zealand to support them to become a member of the United Nations, is a pointer as to where we ourselves should be heading.
DW: It affects the citizenship though doesn't it? Whether Niueans would automatically have New Zealand citizenship if you were fully independent and a member of the UN. Can it be done?
TT: That is one way of looking at it but the American territories, some of them, have membership of the United Nations. They haven't lost their American citizenship, whatever it is, so I don't see that as an argument. And I am not looking to change the status with New Zealand. It is not up to me, it is up to New Zealand to decide what it wishes to do.
