The Cook Islands, a group of 15 beautiful islands in the Pacific, might be about to separate completely from New Zealand. This surprising news came from an Auckland-based news outlet, which obtained documents from the government that had been kept secret until now.

The Cook Islands have been self-governing since 1965, meaning they manage most of their own affairs. However, New Zealand still handles the defense and helps with funding the country’s budget. Both nations also share the same ...