New Zealand has paused millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over wide-ranging deals that its smaller Pacific neighbour had made with China. Wellington, the Cook Islands' biggest funder, said it was blindsided by the deals that were struck in February, covering infrastructure, tourism, technology and perhaps crucially, deep-sea mineral exploration. Fresh funding will not be considered until the Cook Islands "takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust", said a spokesman for New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. The NZ$18.2m ($11m; £8m) funding halt comes as concerns grow among US allies, including New Zealand and Australia,over China's rise in the Pacific. "Funding relies on a high trust bilateral relationship," Peters' spokesman said on Thursday. "New Zealand hopes that steps will be taken swiftly to address New Zealand's concerns so that this support can be resumed as soon as possible," the spokesperson added. The Cook Islands responded by saying it was "determined to address [the issue] as a matter of urgency", adding that it "highly values" New Zealand's development assistance over the years. "Constructive dialogue is ongoing, and the Cook Islands remain committed to engaging closely with New Zealand to understand where their concerns lie and how they can be addressed," its foreign ministry said in a statement. New Zealand's latest move also comes as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on an official visit to China, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Peters' spokesman said he was not worried that Beijing might view the move negatively, noting Wellington's "special relationship" with the Cook Islands. The deals with the Cook Islands are part of China's broader campaign to woo small but strategic Pacific nations. Beijing had earlier signed asecurity deal it signed with the Solomon Islands in 2022which alarmed Western nations. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said in February that its deals with China were based on his country's "long-term interests" and tried to reassure its neighbours Australia and New Zealand that they do not replace their "longstanding relationships". China also said the deals were not meant to antagonise anyone in the region The deals sparked protests on Rarotonga - the largest of the Cook Islands - and a vote of no confidence against Brown in parliament, which he eventually survived. New Zealand has what is known as a "free association" relationship with the Cook Islands, and helps the latter with defence and foreign affairs. In the last three years, Wellington provided NZ$194m in funding to the Cook Islands, according to government figures. Cook Islanders also hold New Zealand passports. There are around 15,000 Cook Islanders living in their own nation, but as many as 100,000 live in New Zealand and Australia. Culturally, Cook Islands Māori - who make up the majority of the population - are also closely related to, but distinct from, New Zealand Māori. These close ties explain why the Cooks' first-of-their-kind deals with China led to such strong reactions. Even before that, however, the Cook Islands had already shown signs of wanting to pull away. Late last year, it abandoned a proposal to introduce its own passportfollowing a public outcry.
New Zealand halts Cook Islands funding over China deals
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"New Zealand Suspends Funding to Cook Islands Amid Concerns Over China Agreements"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
New Zealand has announced a significant pause in its funding to the Cook Islands, amounting to NZ$18.2 million (approximately $11 million), due to a series of agreements that the Cook Islands has entered into with China. These deals, which were finalized in February, encompass a range of sectors including infrastructure, tourism, technology, and notably, deep-sea mineral exploration. New Zealand, which has been the primary financial supporter of the Cook Islands, expressed that it was taken by surprise by these agreements and has stated that any future funding will be contingent upon the Cook Islands taking concrete steps to mend the relationship and rebuild trust. This development is particularly concerning amid rising tensions regarding China's expanding influence in the Pacific, a situation that has been increasingly alarming for Western allies such as New Zealand and Australia. A spokesman for New Zealand's Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, emphasized the importance of a high-trust bilateral relationship for funding to continue, urging the Cook Islands to address New Zealand's concerns promptly to facilitate the resumption of financial assistance.
In response, the Cook Islands government has indicated its commitment to urgently address the situation, acknowledging the significance of New Zealand's development aid over the years. The country's foreign ministry stated that constructive dialogue is underway, and it is dedicated to closely engaging with New Zealand to clarify and resolve any concerns. The timing of New Zealand’s funding halt coincides with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's official visit to China, where he is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agreements with China, which are part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties with smaller Pacific nations, have already sparked protests within the Cook Islands and led to political challenges for Prime Minister Mark Brown. Despite the growing ties with China, Brown has reassured neighboring countries that these deals do not diminish the long-standing relationships with New Zealand and Australia. The Cook Islands' unique political and cultural relationship with New Zealand, underpinned by a free association agreement, further complicates the dynamics of these developments, especially given the historical and familial ties shared between the peoples of the two nations.
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