New Zealand has rejected a proposal by the Cook Islands, a self-governing nation in free association with the larger Pacific country, to allow the creation of its own passports and citizenship but said it could discuss independence.

New Zealand has rejected a proposal by the Cook Islands to introduce its own passport while retaining New Zealand citizenship. The Cook Islands, a self-governing island nation in the Pacific, is home to around 15,000 people.

The Cook Islands can only have its own passport if they give up New Zealand citizenship, the office of New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters said.