Latest news with #CookIslanders
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
China could win from Cook Islands-New Zealand spat
Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements." Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements." Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements." Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements."
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
China could win from Cook Islands-New Zealand spat
Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. "The negotiation between the two countries, between New Zealand and Cook Islands, needs to take aid as a bargaining chip off the table for it to be able to continue, for it to be successful," she said. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements."
West Australian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
China could win from Cook Islands-New Zealand spat
Confusion and concern is mounting over a growing spat between New Zealand and Cook Islands, which analysts believe could result in stronger ties between the Pacific island nation and China. New Zealand is withholding key aid, worth $A16.8 million, to its former colony after Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pair of secretly negotiated agreements with Beijing earlier this year. Kiwi Foreign Minister Winston Peters has defended the move as necessary after Mr Brown broke agreements it had with New Zealand. "Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association," a spokesperson for Mr Peters said. Mr Brown argues that New Zealand is acting cruelly, given that funding is worth more than four per cent of his country's budget. "It is targeted, and has always been targeted, towards the sectors of health, education, and tourism," he told parliament this week. Cook Islands is only semi-independent, governing in "free association" with Wellington after breaking away in 1965, with its citizens afforded Kiwi passports and the benefits of New Zealand citizenship. However, those perks come courtesy of a promise to consult with New Zealand on defence and security matters. Both sides agree there has been a breakdown in the interpretation of the key pact - the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration - which underpins relations. The rift is causing ructions both internally and in the region. Locals have rallied alongside the Cook Islands opposition parties in support of keeping ties to New Zealand, given its deep historical ties, which extend to a majority of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand. Pacific analysts, including Massey University associate professor Anna Powles, believe Mr Peters' call to withhold aid could deepen Mr Brown's ties with Beijing. "(It) opens the door for increased Chinese engagement with the Cook Islands," she told Radio NZ. "This could be a very good news story for China, and it certainly puts New Zealand in a weaker position, as a consequence." Dr Powles described the situation as "pretty messy", which threatened to boil over at September's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Solomon Islands. "The negotiation between the two countries, between New Zealand and Cook Islands, needs to take aid as a bargaining chip off the table for it to be able to continue, for it to be successful," she said. While the aid cut was made clear to the Cook Islands a fortnight ago, it has been made public this week as New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon undertakes a state visit to China. Speaking from Shanghai, Mr Luxon affirmed his support for the decision - but said it would not cloud his talks with the superpower. "Our issue is really with the Cook Islands. It's between Cook Islands and New Zealand," he said. "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements."
DW
a day ago
- Business
- DW
New Zealand pauses Cook Island aid over China deals – DW – 06/19/2025
China has been wooing Pacific Island countries with strategic partnership agreements. New Zealand has said it will pause funding to the Cook Islands until it can take a closer look at these deals. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Thursday said millions of dollars in funding for the Cook Islands would be suspended while his government examines the "breadth and content" of agreements with China. Luxon, who is visiting China for the first time this week, said the Cook Islands was not transparent about the scope of its strategic partnership with Beijing. "We've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues," he said in Shanghai. The funding pause amounts to a $11 million development assistance payment for the next financial year, according to government figures. New Zealand is the biggest provider of financial support for the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands' China deals The funding pause is part of larger friction between New Zealand, Australia and smaller Pacific island nations that China is approaching with partnership agreements as Beijing works on expanding its influence in the Pacific. In February, the Cook Islands surprised New Zealand by signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China on deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues. The agreement did not include security cooperation, but it did allow for more China-funded infrastructure projects. The Cook Islands was formerly part of the Colony of New Zealand. Today, it is self-governing and currently has a "free association" relationship New Zealand, sharing a military and passports. New Zealand also provides the Cook Islands with budgetary assistance, and advises on foreign affairs and defense. Cook Islanders can also freely work and live in New Zealand, which heightened security concerns after the agreement with China was signed. China's plan to dominate the seas To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday that "both New Zealand and the Cook Islands are important partners of China," adding that the strategic partnership agreement was not intended to antagonize New Zealand. "China-Cook Islands cooperation targets no third party, nor should it be interfered with or constrained by any third party," Beijing said. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said in February that the agreement with Beijing did not "replace our longstanding relationships with New Zealand, Australia and others, but rather complements them, ensuring that we have a diversified portfolio of partnerships." New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. New Zealand seeks more 'trust' The funds in question are part of a larger raft of $116 million (€101 million) in aid provided by New Zealand to the Cook Islands over the past three years under its free association agreement and earmarked for health, education and tourism sectors. A spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday said the Cook Islands' agreements with China demonstrated a "a gap in understanding" between the governments "about what our special relationship of free association requires." "New Zealand has therefore paused these payments and will also not consider significant new funding" until the Cook Islands government "takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust," the spokesperson's statement said. Edited by: Zac Crellin
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
New Zealand has suspended millions in funding to the Cook Islands over its growing China ties
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has suspended millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the 'breadth and content' of agreements the smaller Pacific nation has made with China, officials said Thursday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on his first official visit to China, said the Cook Islands had not been transparent and open about its comprehensive strategic partnership with China. 'We've suspended some of the aid money until we can get clarity on those issues,' he said in Shanghai. Relations between the smaller Pacific island nations and their regional backers Australia and New Zealand have stumbled in recent years as Beijing vies to increase its sway in the region. The latest move by New Zealand was striking because it reflects growing friction between two countries with strong constitutional ties over their diverging approaches to managing relations with Beijing. Cook Islands is self-governing but shares a military and passports with New Zealand. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown told lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday that the funding was 'not halted, it's paused' and downplayed the significance of the amount frozen. New Zealand is the biggest funder for the Cook Islands. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a government budget document. It's likely to prove difficult for Luxon, who is due to meet President Xi Jinping this week. Beijing, which said in February that the deals were not intended to antagonize New Zealand, defended its partnership with the country of 15 islands and 15,000 people. 'Both New Zealand and the Cook Islands are important partners of China,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing. 'China-Cook Islands cooperation targets no third party, nor should it be interfered with or constrained by any third party.' In a report tabled in the Cook Islands Parliament this week, the Public Accounts Committee registered 'concern' about a reduction of 10 million New Zealand dollars ($6 million) in the government's purse, the first known mention of the finance freeze. The money was earmarked for 'core sector support', which funds the Cook Islands' health, education and tourism sectors, with audits by Wellington on how it's spent. The money is part of NZ $200 million directed to the Cook Islands by New Zealand over the past three years as part of an almost 60-year-old free association compact. The links demand consultation by Cook Islands leaders with Wellington on agreements with other countries that might affect New Zealand. The pacts with China were the first serious test of those rules. The Cook Islands has a large and lucrative exclusive economic zone, with Brown's government exploring prospects for deep sea mining activity. Cook Islanders can freely live and work in New Zealand, which prompted alarm about national security in Wellington when officials learned of the raft of agreements Brown signed in February. The agreements didn't promise security cooperation between Beijing and Cook Islands, but they did pledge more funding from China for infrastructure projects and educational scholarships. Not all of the documents Brown signed were released publicly. The spokesperson for New Zealand Foreign Minister Peters said Thursday said the agreements illustrated 'a gap in understanding' between the governments 'about what our special relationship of free association requires,' which included consultation to ensure the preservation of shared interests. The 'breadth and content' of the deals and lack of consultation with Wellington about them prompted a review of funding to the Cook Islands, Peters' office said. 'New Zealand has therefore paused these payments and will also not consider significant new funding until the Cook Islands Government takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust,' the spokesperson's statement said. Brown said in February that the deals did not 'replace our longstanding relationships with New Zealand, Australia and others, but rather complements them, ensuring that we have a diversified portfolio of partnerships.' News of the agreements prompted protests in the capital, Avarua, led by opposition lawmakers. On Thursday, Brown made a pointed reference to Luxon's China visit, highlighting the New Zealand leader's announcements of increased trade with Beijing and looser visa requirements for Chinese travelers. The Cook Islands leader said he trusted any agreements Luxon made in Beijing would 'pose no security threat to the people of the Cook Islands' despite his government not knowing their content. New Zealand's latest action was an 'entirely avoidable consequence of Cook Islands' strategic flirtations with China,' said Mihai Sora, analyst with the Australia-based thinktank Lowy Institute. 'It's a bit cute to sign up to a comprehensive strategic partnership with China in 2025 and pretend there is no strategic angle for Beijing, given all the mounting evidence of China's malign strategic intent in the Pacific,' he said. Graham-McLay writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
