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Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New Zealand Withdraws Millions In Aid From Cook Islands
New Zealand has abruptly halted nearly $NZ20 million ($US11 million) in funding to the Cook Islands in retaliation for a partnership agreement the tiny Pacific Island nation concluded with China in February without consulting Wellington. NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters informed the Cook Islands government of the decision early this month, but it only became public on June 19 after a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a government budget document. The New Zealand government declared it will not consider significant new funding 'until the Cook Islands government takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust,' a spokesperson for Peters said. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown told parliament that the 'punitive' financial decision was 'patronising' and would hit core sectors including health, education and infrastructure. 'It also disrupts long-term planning and the sustainability of vital public services,' he said, adding it would 'harm the country's most vulnerable citizens.' New Zealand has long maintained a neo-colonial relationship with the Pacific nation as one of its so-called 'Realm' countries along with Niue and Tokelau. The Cook Islands, with a population of just 15,000, has been a self-governing territory in so-called 'free association' with New Zealand since 1964, administering its own affairs with Wellington providing oversight in the key areas of foreign affairs and defence. In 2001, New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a Joint Centenary Declaration, which broadly states that the two governments must 'consult regularly on defence and security issues.' Peters demanded that the Cook Islands share the proposed text of the agreement with China before it was signed, which Brown flatly refused to do. The declaration nowhere defines the scope and nature of bilateral 'consultations.' It explicitly affirms the Cook Islands' right to enter independently into 'treaties and other international agreements' with any governments and international and regional organisations. Brown maintained that Wellington was advised the China deal would not include matters of security and that there was 'no need for New Zealand to sit in the room' while it was drawn up. He declared that his government was legitimately exercising the Cook Islands' autonomy and its ties with both New Zealand and China should not be construed as a threat. The 'comprehensive strategic partnership' is broad in scope, referring positively to China's Belt and Road Initiative and the US-backed Blue Pacific development strategy adopted at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in 2022. It pledges cooperation over economic and environmental resilience, infrastructure, including port and wharf facilities, and cultural exchanges. It also promises to 'explore areas for further cooperation within the seabed minerals sector' and offers joint consultations over regional forums. In response, Peters made increasingly belligerent threats, seeking to destabilise the Brown government. He warned that if the Cook Islands opted for more 'independence,' beyond the 'free association' framework, its citizens would lose their New Zealand citizenship. This would call into question the status of 80,000 of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand and another 28,000 in Australia. The China-Cook Islands agreement was hysterically denounced by the entire New Zealand political and media establishment as an existential danger and used it to justify the country's further integration into US-led plans for war against China. Right-wing New Zealand Herald columnist Matthew Hooton provocatively declared that NZ troops should be sent to invade the Cook Islands. In a complete inversion of reality, Martyn Bradbury, editor of the pro-Labour Daily Blog, wrote on June 21 that the Cook Islands was 'seeking to destabilise NZ' by publicising the fact that NZ aid had been stopped on the eve of NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to China last week. Bradbury denounced the Cooks as 'acting as an enemy to us' and engaged in 'treason.' The blog's unvarnished belligerence reflects the attitude of the NZ ruling class to the entire Pacific, which has not changed in the past century. The funding halt by Peters, who is leader of the far-right NZ First Party in the governing coalition, is a brutal reprisal. New Zealand is the Cook Islands' major source of development aid. The money is part of $NZ200 million directed to the country over the past three years as part of an almost 60-year arrangement. Peters' Trump-like ultimatum that the Cooks must scrap its deal with China is a clear threat that the funding could be permanently stopped. Significantly, Peters has refused to criticise the Trump administration's cuts to USAID funding in the Pacific. The Biden administration had pledged $US1 billion to help counter China's influence. All aid has now been frozen, which along with Trump's planned tariffs, is deepening the economic crisis in the region. Diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and China were first established in 1997. Beijing has consistently defended its pacts, saying in February that the deals were not intended to antagonise New Zealand. China's ambassador to Wellington, Wang Xiaolong stated that as far as China was concerned, the Pacific was 'not a chessboard and should not become one.' New Zealand is now considering additional national security clauses in its agreements with Pacific Island nations. These would be modelled on the neo-colonial deals Australia has signed with Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea and Nauru which explicitly give Canberra the right to veto engagements with any other states on security and defence-related matters. In a Pacific-France summit convened in Nice last week by French President Emmanuel Macron, Peters mounted a thinly disguised attack on China, urging Pacific leaders to 'stand together as a region' against 'external forces' which he declared are seeking to 'coerce, cajole and constrain.' Peters explicitly criticized countries he claimed pressured Pacific partners 'not to publish agreements or avoid the [Pacific] Forum Secretariat when organising regional engagements.' The propaganda that China wants a military foothold in the Pacific turns reality on its head to justify the accelerating preparations for war by the US and its regional allies. New Zealand, under the previous Labour Party government and the current National Party-led government, has been intent on rolling back Chinese influence in the region. While engaged in strengthening security and defence ties with both Canberra and Washington, Peters has made multiple visits across the Pacific to cajole and bully island governments into line. The small impoverished island nations are caught in a fraught balancing act. Brown's visit to China in February followed similar trips last year by Fiji's Sitiveni Rabuka, Jeremiah Manele and Charlot Salwai, the prime ministers of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and Fiamē Naomi Mataafa of Samoa. All met with President Xi Jinping and secured economic agreements. In response to the NZ government's funding freeze, the opposition Labour Party's Pacific spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni wrote on Facebook that 'the Cook Islands signing the agreement with China was out of step with our free association agreement.' She merely criticised the 'timing' of the government's decision and called for diplomatic negotiations. Former Labour prime minister Helen Clark, who was a signatory to the 2001 Declaration, told Radio NZ last week that the Cook Islands had 'caused a crisis for itself' by not consulting Wellington before signing the deal. 'There is no way that the 2001 declaration envisaged that Cook Islands would enter into a strategic partnership with a great power behind New Zealand's back,' Clark told RNZ. In fact, the regional imperialist powers—Australia and New Zealand—have maintained neo-colonial control over the Southwest Pacific, keeping the fragile island nations in a state of dependency with conditions of poverty and under-development endemic. New Zealand is now working to further cement its interests in the region in collaboration with Australia, France—which placed New Caledonia under an armed occupation last year following anti-colonial riots—and the United States. All these countries are rapidly building up their militaries in preparation for a US-led war against China. 24 June 2025
1News
20-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
Cook Islands PM slams NZ for 'patronising approach' over China deal
Pausing nearly $20 million in development assistance is "patronising" and "inconsistent with modern partnership", Prime Minister Mark Brown has told the Cook Islands parliament. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands, due to a lack of consultation regarding a partnership agreement and other deals signed with Beijing earlier this year. The pause includes $10 million in core sector support, which represents four percent of the country's budget. On Wednesday local time, Brown said the money would have been used for health, education and tourism marketing. "The relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is defined by partnership, not paternalism," he told his parliament on Thursday. "Decisions to unilaterally pause core sector support reflect a patronising approach, inconsistent with modern partnership." The 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security, which Peters said had not been lived up to, but Brown said the declaration was "explicitly clear" that the Cook Islands could enter international agreements in its own right. ADVERTISEMENT "Where we are finding our divergence of views is in the provision relating to the consultation obligations and rights of both parties to the declaration. "We are committed to addressing this urgently. That is why we agreed to New Zealand's proposal to establish a formal dialogue mechanism to discuss the agreements and their implementation." Brown said there had been two meetings so far – one in April and May. "It is disappointing that political commentary from within New Zealand has come at a time when official dialogue continues," he said. "Such commentary undermines genuine and concerted efforts by our senior officials to mend the erosion of trust and confidence that, to be clear, has been experienced on both sides." RNZ Pacific reached out to Peters' office for a response on Brown's comments. A spokesperson for Peters said they would make no further comment and stood by the statements issued yesterday. In parliament, Brown suggested a double standard from New Zealand and said he was "not privy to or consulted on" agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. Brown said he was surprised by the timing of the announcement. ADVERTISEMENT "Especially, Mr Speaker, in light of the fact our officials have been in discussions with New Zealand officials to address the areas of concern that they have over our engagements in the agreements that we signed with China." Peters previously said the Cook Islands government was informed of the funding pause on 4 June. He also said it had nothing to do with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting China. Brown said he was sure Luxon would ensure good outcomes for the people of the realm of New Zealand on the back of the Cook Islands state visit and "the goodwill that we've generated with the People's Republic of China". "I have full trust that Prime Minister Luxon has entered into agreements with China that will pose no security threats to the people of the Cook Islands. "Of course, not being privy to or not being consulted on any agreements that New Zealand may enter into with China." The Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand and governs its own affairs, but New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief and defence. Former Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister and prominent lawyer Norman George said Brown "should go on his knees and beg for forgiveness, because you can't rely on China". ADVERTISEMENT "[The aid pause] is absolutely a fair thing to do, because our Prime Minister betrayed New Zealand, and let the government and people of New Zealand down." Not everyone agrees. Rarotongan artist Tim Buchanan said Peters was being a bully. "It's like he's taken a page out of Donald Trump's playbook, using money to coerce his friends," Buchanan said. "What is it exactly do you want from us, Winston? What do you expect us to be doing to appease you?" Buchanan said it had been a long road for the Cook Islands to get where it was now and New Zealand seemed to want to knock the country back down.
Scoop
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark Blames Cook Islands For Creating A Crisis
Article – RNZ Helen Clark says the Cook Islands government entered into a strategic partnership with a major power nation – China – without consulting New Zealand. Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Producer Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself by not consulting Wellington before signing a deal with China. The New Zealand government has paused more than $18 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands after the latter failed to provide satisfactory answers to Aotearoa's questions about its partnership agreement with Beijing. The Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand and governs its own affairs. But New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief, and defence. The 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security, which Winston Peters said had not been honoured. Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown both have a difference of opinion on the level of consultation required between the two nations on such matters. 'There is no way that the 2001 declaration envisaged that Cook Islands would enter into a strategic partnership with a great power behind New Zealand's back,' Clark told RNZ Pacific on Thursday. Clark was a signatory of the 2001 agreement with the Cook Islands as New Zealand prime minister at the time. 'It is the Cook Islands government's actions which have created this crisis,' she said. 'The urgent need now is for face-to-face dialogue at a high level to mend the NZ-CI relationship.' Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has downplayed the pause in funding to the Cook Islands during his second day of his trip to China. Brown told parliament on Thursday (Wednesday, Cook Islands time) that his government knew the funding cut was coming. He also suggested a double standard, pointing out that New Zealand has entered also deals with China that the Cook Islands was not 'privy to or being consulted on'. A Pacific law expert says that, while New Zealand has every right to withhold its aid to the Cook Islands, the way it is going about it will not endear it to Pacific nations. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) senior law lecturer and a former Pacific Islands Forum advisor Sione Tekiteki told RNZ Pacific that for Aotearoa to keep highlighting that it is 'a Pacific country and yet posture like the United States gives mixed messages'. 'Obviously, Pacific nations in true Pacific fashion will not say much, but they are indeed thinking it,' Tekiteki said. Since day dot there has been a misunderstanding on what the 2001 agreement legally required New Zealand and Cook Islands to consult on, and the word consultation has become somewhat of a sticking point. The latest statement from the Cook Islands government confirms it is still a discrepancy both sides want to hash out. 'There has been a breakdown and difference in the interpretation of the consultation requirements committed to by the two governments in the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration,' the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) said. 'An issue that the Cook Islands is determined to address as a matter of urgency'. Tekiteki said that, unlike a treaty, the 2001 declaration was not 'legally binding' per se but serves more to express the intentions, principles and commitments of the parties to work together in 'recognition of the close traditional, cultural and social ties that have existed between the two countries for many hundreds of years'. He said the declaration made it explicitly clear that Cook Islands had full conduct of its foreign affairs, capacity to enter treaties and international agreements in its own right and full competence of its defence and security. However, he added that there was a commitment of the parties to 'consult regularly'. This, for Clark, the New Zealand leader who signed the all-important agreement more than two decades ago, this is where Brown misstepped. Clark previously labelled the Cook Islands-China deal 'clandestine' which has 'damaged' its relationship with New Zealand. RNZ Pacific contacted the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but was advised by the MFAI secretary that they are not currently accommodating interviews.
Scoop
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark Blames Cook Islands For Creating A Crisis
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself by not consulting Wellington before signing a deal with China. The New Zealand government has paused more than $18 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands after the latter failed to provide satisfactory answers to Aotearoa's questions about its partnership agreement with Beijing. The Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand and governs its own affairs. But New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief, and defence. The 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security, which Winston Peters said had not been honoured. Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown both have a difference of opinion on the level of consultation required between the two nations on such matters. "There is no way that the 2001 declaration envisaged that Cook Islands would enter into a strategic partnership with a great power behind New Zealand's back," Clark told RNZ Pacific on Thursday. Clark was a signatory of the 2001 agreement with the Cook Islands as New Zealand prime minister at the time. "It is the Cook Islands government's actions which have created this crisis," she said. "The urgent need now is for face-to-face dialogue at a high level to mend the NZ-CI relationship." Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has downplayed the pause in funding to the Cook Islands during his second day of his trip to China. Brown told parliament on Thursday (Wednesday, Cook Islands time) that his government knew the funding cut was coming. He also suggested a double standard, pointing out that New Zealand has entered also deals with China that the Cook Islands was not "privy to or being consulted on". A Pacific law expert says that, while New Zealand has every right to withhold its aid to the Cook Islands, the way it is going about it will not endear it to Pacific nations. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) senior law lecturer and a former Pacific Islands Forum advisor Sione Tekiteki told RNZ Pacific that for Aotearoa to keep highlighting that it is "a Pacific country and yet posture like the United States gives mixed messages". "Obviously, Pacific nations in true Pacific fashion will not say much, but they are indeed thinking it," Tekiteki said. Since day dot there has been a misunderstanding on what the 2001 agreement legally required New Zealand and Cook Islands to consult on, and the word consultation has become somewhat of a sticking point. The latest statement from the Cook Islands government confirms it is still a discrepancy both sides want to hash out. "There has been a breakdown and difference in the interpretation of the consultation requirements committed to by the two governments in the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration," the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) said. "An issue that the Cook Islands is determined to address as a matter of urgency". Tekiteki said that, unlike a treaty, the 2001 declaration was not "legally binding" per se but serves more to express the intentions, principles and commitments of the parties to work together in "recognition of the close traditional, cultural and social ties that have existed between the two countries for many hundreds of years". He said the declaration made it explicitly clear that Cook Islands had full conduct of its foreign affairs, capacity to enter treaties and international agreements in its own right and full competence of its defence and security. However, he added that there was a commitment of the parties to "consult regularly". This, for Clark, the New Zealand leader who signed the all-important agreement more than two decades ago, this is where Brown misstepped. Clark previously labelled the Cook Islands-China deal "clandestine" which has "damaged" its relationship with New Zealand. RNZ Pacific contacted the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but was advised by the MFAI secretary that they are not currently accommodating interviews.
Scoop
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Mark Brown Slams New Zealand For Its 'Patronising Approach' Over China Deal
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist Pausing nearly $20 million in development assistance is "patronising" and "inconsistent with modern partnership", Prime Minister Mark Brown has told the Cook Islands parliament. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands, due to a lack of consultation regarding a partnership agreement and other deals signed with Beijing earlier this year. The pause includes $10 million in core sector support, which represents four percent of the country's budget. On Wednesday local time, Brown said the money would have been used for health, education and tourism marketing. "The relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is defined by partnership, not paternalism," he told his parliament on Thursday. "Decisions to unilaterally pause core sector support reflect a patronising approach, inconsistent with modern partnership." The 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration signed between the two nations requires them to consult each other on defence and security, which Peters said had not been lived up to, but Brown said the declaration was "explicitly clear" that the Cook Islands could enter international agreements in its own right. "Where we are finding our divergence of views is in the provision relating to the consultation obligations and rights of both parties to the declaration. "We are committed to addressing this urgently. That is why we agreed to New Zealand's proposal to establish a formal dialogue mechanism to discuss the agreements and their implementation." Brown said there had been two meetings so far - one in April and May. "It is disappointing that political commentary from within New Zealand has come at a time when official dialogue continues," he said. "Such commentary undermines genuine and concerted efforts by our senior officials to mend the erosion of trust and confidence that, to be clear, has been experienced on both sides." RNZ Pacific reached out to Peters' office for a response on Brown's comments. A spokesperson for Peters said they would make no further comment and stood by the statements issued Thursday. In parliament, Brown suggested a double standard from New Zealand and said he was "not privy to or consulted on" agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. Brown said he was surprised by the timing of the announcement. "Especially, Mr Speaker, in light of the fact our officials have been in discussions with New Zealand officials to address the areas of concern that they have over our engagements in the agreements that we signed with China." Peters previously said the Cook Islands government was informed of the funding pause on 4 June. He also said it had nothing to do with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting China. Brown said he was sure Luxon would ensure good outcomes for the people of the realm of New Zealand on the back of the Cook Islands state visit and "the goodwill that we've generated with the People's Republic of China". "I have full trust that Prime Minister Luxon has entered into agreements with China that will pose no security threats to the people of the Cook Islands. "Of course, not being privy to or not being consulted on any agreements that New Zealand may enter into with China." The Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand and governs its own affairs, but New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief and defence. Former Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister and prominent lawyer Norman George said Brown "should go on his knees and beg for forgiveness, because you can't rely on China". "[The aid pause] is absolutely a fair thing to do, because our Prime Minister betrayed New Zealand, and let the government and people of New Zealand down." Not everyone agrees. Rarotongan artist Tim Buchanan said Peters was being a bully. "It's like he's taken a page out of Donald Trump's playbook, using money to coerce his friends," Buchanan said. "What is it exactly do you want from us, Winston? What do you expect us to be doing to appease you?" Buchanan said it had been a long road for the Cook Islands to get where it was now and New Zealand seemed to want to knock the country back down.
