Latest news with #CookIslanders
DW
2 hours 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
5 hours 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.
9 hours ago
- Business
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.
NBC News
10 hours ago
- Business
- NBC News
New Zealand halts millions of funds to Cook Islands over its China ties
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the 'breadth and content' of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand Foreign Minister's office said Thursday. New Zealand, which is the smaller Pacific nation's biggest funder, won't consider any new money for the Cook Islands until the relationship improves, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters told The Associated Press. 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. Relations between other Pacific islands and their larger regional backers Australia and New Zealand have stumbled over ties with China in recent years as Beijing has vied to increase its Pacific sway. But the latest move by New Zealand's government was striking because it reflected growing friction between two countries with strong constitutional ties — Cook Islands is self-governing but shares a military and passports with New Zealand — over their diverging approaches to managing relations with Beijing. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt Thursday only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a government budget document. It is likely to prove difficult for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is in China for his first official visit and due to meet President Xi Jinping this week. Beijing has defended its Cook Islands strategic partnership before, saying in February that the deals were not intended to antagonize New Zealand. 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 is 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, population 15,000, 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 did not promise security cooperation between Beijing and the 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 that 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 Avarua led by opposition lawmakers. On Thursday, Brown made a pointed reference in Parliament 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 Avarua not knowing their content. New Zealand's latest action was an 'entirely avoidable consequence of Cook Islands' strategic flirtations with China,' said Mihai Sora, an analyst with the Australia-based think tank 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.
Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Luxon plays down Cook Islands funding pause
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has down-played a pause of nearly $20 million in funding to the Cook Islands during his second day of his trip to China. Luxon spoke to media in Shanghai hours after it became public that New Zealand paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the island nation after its government signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China earlier this year. The Cook Islands operates in free association with New Zealand, and while it governs its own affairs, a 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters said the Cook Islands had failed to give satisfactory answers to New Zealand's questions about the agreement. However Luxon said the dispute lies squarely with the Cook Island government - not China. He said the Cook Islands has obligations to disclose partnership agreements with New Zealand, irrespective of who they're signed with. "Part of our constitutional arrangements as a realm country and free association is that we actually have responsibility for matters around defence and security, and as a result, what we've said from the beginning of the year, we were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands government wasn't open and transparent about its international agreements." Luxon is currently in China on his first official visit and is due to meet with President Xi Jinping shortly. Asked if he expected the topic to be raised in his meeting with the Chinese President, Luxon said the issue was between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. "The Cook Islands people [have] made a massive contribution to New Zealand. They are New Zealand citizens, there's not a Cook Islands citizenship... they get the huge benefit of being part of New Zealand and being citizens of New Zealand with respect to accessing our public services. The Foreign Affairs minister informed the Cook Islands government of the funding pause decision in early June. However, it only became public on Thursday after media reports in the Cook Islands. "We're really proud of them, our issue is not with Cook Islanders, our issue is with the Cook Islands government and Prime Minister Brown not being sufficiently transparent enough," Luxon said. Luxon tore through a blitz of promotional events on his first day in Shanghai, spruiking New Zealand's wares before the serious diplomacy began. When visiting "New Zealand Central" - an event facility run by NZ Trade & Enterprise - the PM announced a new government certification scheme clearing the way for Kiwi-made cosmetics to be sold on Chinese shelves.
