(2) This Act shall come into force on a date to be appointed for the commencement thereof by the Governor-General, by Proclamation, being a date later than the date on which the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands is held after the first general election of the Assembly held after the passing of this Act.
Section 1(2): this Act brought into force, at 10.30 pm on 4 August 1965, by the Cook Islands Constitution Act Commencement Order 1965 (SR 1965/128).
Section 1(2): amended, on 4 August 1965, by section 2(2) of the Cook Islands Constitution Amendment Act 1965 (1965 No 2).
2 Interpretation and application
(1) In this Act—
the Constitution means the Constitution of the Cook Islands, as set out in the Schedule
the Cook Islands has the same meaning as in the Constitution.
(2) This Act shall be in force in the Cook Islands and, unless the context otherwise requires, shall apply to the Cook Islands only and not to New Zealand.
3 Cook Islands to be self-governing
The Cook Islands shall be self-governing.
4 Constitution of the Cook Islands
The Constitution set out in the Schedule shall be the Constitution of the Cook Islands, and shall be the supreme law of the Cook Islands.
5 External affairs and defence
Nothing in this Act or in the Constitution shall affect the responsibilities of Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand for the external affairs and defence of the Cook Islands, those responsibilities to be discharged after consultation by the Prime Minister of New Zealand with the Premier of the Cook Islands.
6 British nationality and New Zealand citizenship
Nothing in this Act or in the Constitution shall affect the status of any person as a British subject or New Zealand citizen by virtue of the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948.
