New Zealand freezes Cook Islands financial aid over China ties

NHK

19-06-2025

New Zealand has announced it halted millions of dollars in financial aid to the Cook Islands. The move comes amid Wellington's growing concern over the island group's deepening ties with China.
In a statement on Thursday, the government said about 18 million New Zealand dollars, or about 11 million US dollars, in development funding for fiscal 2025-26 would be paused.
The Cook Islands has been self-governing in free association with New Zealand, which is committed to defending it. The two nations are obliged to consult mutually on defense and security.
But in February, the Cook Islands signed a strategic partnership agreement with China, which New Zealand says it was not consulted on.
The Cook Islands says the agreement with China didn't contain security or defense matters.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters on Thursday, "We were unhappy and dissatisfied with the fact that the Cook Islands' government wasn't open or transparent about its international agreements."
Wellington also says it will not consider significant fresh funding until the Cook Islands takes steps to restore trust.