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New Zealand challenges Cook Islands PM to independence vote after his comments on China
New Zealand challenges Cook Islands PM to independence vote after his comments on China

RNZ News

time7 hours ago

  • Politics
  • RNZ News

New Zealand challenges Cook Islands PM to independence vote after his comments on China

By Losirene Lacanivalu , Cook Islands A spokesperson for the Office of the Cook Islands PM said the Cook Islands government remains committed to its constitutional relationship with New Zealand. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon New Zealand has called on Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown to test the views of the Cook Islands people and hold a referendum on independence from New Zealand following his latest defence of agreements with China. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made this comment in response to PM Brown's recent statement defending the nation's new strategic partnership with China, as he cited the need for diverse international partners to fund a $650 million infrastructure plan. Speaking at the opening of the Pa Enua Governance Forum on Monday local time, Brown said that if NZ cannot help fund their proposed infrastructure plan, then the country "will go somewhere else and look for that help" . A spokesperson for the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs told Cook Islands News that these comments are the latest in a long line of public statements by Brown over the past year that "have badly mischaracterised the New Zealand Government's approach to our foreign policy and our relationship with the Cook Islands". "With each mischaracterisation of the New Zealand approach, Prime Minister Brown makes it harder to restore trust in the New Zealand-Cook Islands relationship." The spokesperson said that it has been clear to New Zealand for some time that Brown, "bristles at the constraints placed on him by the Cook Islands' free association relationship with New Zealand, and that he wishes for the Cook Islands to be completely free of those constraints". "If Prime Minister Brown wishes to run a foreign and defence policy without the need to consult New Zealand, and in contravention of New Zealand interests, then he ought to respect the Cook Islands people enough to test their views and call a referendum on independence from New Zealand. "New Zealand has always made clear that should the Cook Islands people wish to become independent of New Zealand, then we would support them in their wish. For its part, the New Zealand Government deeply values the free association model and its cherished relationship with the Cook Islands people." A spokesperson for the Office of the Cook Islands PM (Wednesday NZT) defended the comments PM Brown made on Monday. "The Prime Minister's remarks at the Pa Enua Governance Forum reflected a conversation with island leaders about the delivery of infrastructure and development outcomes. They were not a statement on foreign policy, and should not be read as a departure from the Cook Islands' long-standing relationship with New Zealand," the spokesperson said. "The Government remains committed to its constitutional relationship with New Zealand and to the constructive engagement currently underway between our two countries. "We have no further comment to make." On Monday (Tuesday NZT), PM Brown addressed the need for Cook Islands to have diverse international partners to fund a multi-million-dollar infrastructure plan that New Zealand alone cannot support, despite NZ's concerns and paused funding. He said that the country's national infrastructure investment plan costs $650m for infrastructural work across the country, including buildings, transportation, and so on. "New Zealand can't afford to give us that amount of money…we have to develop our partnerships with other larger countries to get the support we need to meet our infrastructure needs," Brown said. "Let me set the record straight about the reality of life, we need to build our infrastructure, we need to improve our standards in the Pa Enua, me kare rauka mai ta te Nuti Reni (if we can't get help from New Zealand), we will go somewhere else and look for that help, and that's what we've been doing." The New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said: "For 60 years, it has delivered a great deal for the development of the Cook Islands and its people. Indeed, the living standards in the Cook Islands are a testament to the free association model's success." "New Zealand looks forward to celebrating 60 years of free association on 4 August with the Cook Islands people, both in Rarotonga via the visit of Her Excellency the Governor-General and at events in New Zealand." Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, who disagrees with a referendum for independence, says, "We should never forget the hand that has fed us all these years." Heather said that if PM Brown were to demand independence, he would organise a rally and protest against it, adding that Brown "should resign as Prime Minister of this country". -This article was first published by Cook Islands News .

Table-toppers Spartans eye place in Premier Sports Cup last 16
Table-toppers Spartans eye place in Premier Sports Cup last 16

Scotsman

time4 days ago

  • Sport
  • Scotsman

Table-toppers Spartans eye place in Premier Sports Cup last 16

All action as Spartans and Brechin battle it out on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brown Spartans are the new Premier Sports Cup Group A leaders after chalking up their second win of the competition. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Dougie Samuel's men ran out 2-0 winners against Highland League champions Brechin City with goals either side of half-time from Mark Stowe and a Cillian Sheridan own goal at the Vanloq Community Stadium. The victory adds to last weekend's 2-1 success over Queen's Park, a 1-0 loss at Cove Rangers on Tuesday night sandwiched in between. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, a win over the Glebe Park outfit has now set up a potential winner-takes-all-tie against Premiership newboys Falkirk this weekend. Elsewhere, Edinburgh City picked up their first points of their League Cup Group B campaign, winning 5-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw with League Two rivals Stranraer at Meadowbank. The Citizens suffered back-to-back heavy defeats to Partick Thistle and Queen of the South in their opening two fixtures ensuring they won't progress to the knockout round. Michael McIndoe's side complete their cup fixtures with a trip to Dingwall on Tuesday night to face Ross County. McIndoe said: "We played really well in the first half, dominated possession like we do, and back to winning ways which is important. But much more important than that was having seven 17/18 year-olds on the bench and a 16-year-old starting. It's important we are putting these young lads in. The youth programme is developing well but it's going to take time. They are going to get more opportunities than any other club in the SPFL, in my opinion, to play." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Meanwhile, Bonnyrigg Rose went down 4-1 to Montrose in their third Premier Sports Group C fixture. Despite taking the lead at Links Park right on the stroke of half-time through veteran Kallum Higginbotham, the hosts responded after the interval through a Corrie Fellows own goal, Ewan Loudon, Terry Masson, and Craig Wighton. Lowland League Rose finish off against Steven Pressley's Dundee on Tuesday night. Boss Jonny Stewart said: "I think we shot ourselves in the foot after the break following a really good first half. But it's more minutes in the legs, a learning curve really. But we now move onto Tuesday."

Not too many concerns for Otago against Southland
Not too many concerns for Otago against Southland

Otago Daily Times

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Otago Daily Times

Not too many concerns for Otago against Southland

New Otago coach Mark Brown has given his side a "sneaky B-plus" for their opening effort of his tenure. They beat Southland 40-31 at the University Oval yesterday afternoon. The sneaky B-plus was more than fair. Otago dominated virtually the entire first half and led 26-12 at the break. They would have received a much higher grade except they suffered bouts of narcolepsy. The home team muffed too many restarts and Southland pounced. Hard-working No8 Ethan Macdonald crashed over from close range, and halfback Nic Shearer took off from another quick tap, ran around an Otago pack that had taken the opportunity for a forty winks, and dotted down in the corner. Both opportunities came about because of some rotten work at the restart. Brown had a wry smile when asked about the sluggish effort at that phase. "Yeah, so ironically over the last 10 days, kick-offs are the one thing we hadn't got to, so that showed," he smiled. "But no real concern on our behalf there. But what it does highlight is how important they are, so they'll get our attention in the next week or two." Other than that, the first 40 minutes were impressive from Otago. They controlled possession and territory and scored four tries. Young fullback Sam Nemec-Vial got two of them. He stepped off his left foot and ran in from 20m to score his first. And he finished off another with an acrobatic dive in the corner. The Green Island player looked dangerous when the ball came his way. But stand-in first five Sam Gilbert set the tone. He made sound decisions and gave the ball some width. He got an armchair ride thanks to the pack. Zingari-Richmond hooker A-One Lolofie had a strong game and scored from a lineout drive. New recruit Joseva Tamani was solid in the lineout, and blindside Will Stodart hit rucks hard and did well in the set pieces. Southland scored first after the break. Otago fumbled the ball close to their line and winger Michael Manson finished off a nice move from a 5m scrum. But Otago centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen burst free from a ruck, scampered 30m and offloaded to openside Harry Taylor to score. But the try of the game was scored by Jae Broomfield. He has shifted south from Canterbury to try his luck with Otago and he showed some good gas. He ghosted through a gap in the midfield and ran a 50m angle run to the corner. He outpaced the chasing pack and pushed off the last defender to score a ripper. Southland centre Issac Te Tamaki scored a late consolation for Southland to narrow the margin. But Otago dominated the fixture when they could keep their eyes open. "I don't really want to pick out names. I thought collectively they all subbed in and connected with the team and played in the system and took on board what they've been exposed to the last couple of weeks," Brown said. Otago open their NPC campaign against Southland in Invercargill on August 2. Three players who caught the eye • Otago have named just one specialist first five and he missed Otago's warm-up against Southland at the University Oval yesterday afternoon. But experienced outside back Sam Gilbert filled in more than admirably for Cameron Millar. The utility back is heading to Ireland at the end of the NPC to play for Connacht. But he demonstrated how useful he will be with a polished effort at pivot. • Otago fullback Sam Nemec-Vial is uncontracted, but he played with some real spark at the back. He stepped off his left foot and ghosted 20 metres to score his first. And he dived over in the corner later in the first half to complete an impressive outing. He has good pace and he is gutsy. Could do with a few more meat pies to fill out those skinny legs. • Southland spent most of the game on the back foot but scored some nice opportunist tries. The effort of halfback Nic Shearer was pretty impressive. He took a quick tap, ran around an Otago pack that had taken the opportunity to take a nap, and dotted down in the corner.

Not too many concerns for Otago in hitout against Southland
Not too many concerns for Otago in hitout against Southland

Otago Daily Times

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Otago Daily Times

Not too many concerns for Otago in hitout against Southland

New Otago coach Mark Brown has given his side a "sneaky B-plus" for their opening effort of his tenure. They beat Southland 40-31 at the University Oval yesterday afternoon. The sneaky B-plus was more than fair. Otago dominated virtually the entire first half and led 26-12 at the break. They would have received a much higher grade except they suffered bouts of narcolepsy. The home team muffed too many restarts and Southland pounced. Hard-working No8 Ethan Macdonald crashed over from close range, and halfback Nic Shearer took off from another quick tap, ran around an Otago pack that had taken the opportunity for a forty winks, and dotted down in the corner. Both opportunities came about because of some rotten work at the restart. Brown had a wry smile when asked about the sluggish effort at that phase. "Yeah, so ironically over the last 10 days, kick-offs are the one thing we hadn't got to, so that showed," he smiled. "But no real concern on our behalf there. But what it does highlight is how important they are, so they'll get our attention in the next week or two." Other than that, the first 40 minutes were impressive from Otago. They controlled possession and territory and scored four tries. Young fullback Sam Nemec-Vial got two of them. He stepped off his left foot and ran in from 20m to score his first. And he finished off another with an acrobatic dive in the corner. The Green Island player looked dangerous when the ball came his way. But stand-in first five Sam Gilbert set the tone. He made sound decisions and gave the ball some width. He got an armchair ride thanks to the pack. Zingari-Richmond hooker A-One Lolofie had a strong game and scored from a lineout drive. New recruit Joseva Tamani was solid in the lineout, and blindside Will Stodart hit rucks hard and did well in the set pieces. Southland scored first after the break. Otago fumbled the ball close to their line and winger Michael Manson finished off a nice move from a 5m scrum. But Otago centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen burst free from a ruck, scampered 30m and offloaded to openside Harry Taylor to score. But the try of the game was scored by Jae Broomfield. He has shifted south from Canterbury to try his luck with Otago and he showed some good gas. He ghosted through a gap in the midfield and ran a 50m angle run to the corner. He outpaced the chasing pack and pushed off the last defender to score a ripper. Southland centre Issac Te Tamaki scored a late consolation for Southland to narrow the margin. But Otago dominated the fixture when they could keep their eyes open. "I don't really want to pick out names. I thought collectively they all subbed in and connected with the team and played in the system and took on board what they've been exposed to the last couple of weeks," Brown said. Otago open their NPC campaign against Southland in Invercargill on August 2. Three players who caught the eye ■Otago have named just one specialist first five and he missed Otago's warm-up against Southland at the University Oval yesterday afternoon. But experienced outside back Sam Gilbert filled in more than admirably for Cameron Millar. The utility back is heading to Ireland at the end of the NPC to play for Connacht. But he demonstrated how useful he will be with a polished effort at pivot. ■ Otago fullback Sam Nemec-Vial is uncontracted, but he played with some real spark at the back. He stepped off his left foot and ghosted 20 metres to score his first. And he dived over in the corner later in the first half to complete an impressive outing. He has good pace and he is gutsy. Could do with a few more meat pies to fill out those skinny legs. ■ Southland spent most of the game on the back foot but scored some nice opportunist tries. The effort of halfback Nic Shearer was pretty impressive. He took a quick tap, ran around an Otago pack that had taken the opportunity to take a nap, and dotted down in the corner.

Regional unity not at risk amid tensions between NZ and Cook Islands, says Peters
Regional unity not at risk amid tensions between NZ and Cook Islands, says Peters

RNZ News

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • RNZ News

Regional unity not at risk amid tensions between NZ and Cook Islands, says Peters

By 'Alakihihifo Vailala , PMN Foreign Minister Winston Peters Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Foreign Minister Winston Peters has dismissed criticism over the government's decision not to send a minister to the Cook Islands' 60th anniversary celebrations. In an interview on Pacific Mornings , Peters insists that regional unity in the Pacific remains strong despite recent tensions between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. His comments follow the New Zealand government's choice not to send any ministers to the Cook Islands' 60th anniversary of self-governance. Peters describes Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro's attendance as "proper procedure". "I was in the Prime Minister Cook Islands position, I'd regard that as the proper procedure, the proper protocol, and I'd be entirely happy with it," Peters says. "It is, after all, a special realm relationship, and here comes the person in the shoes of the King of the Commonwealth." The absence comes shortly after Peters announced a pause in $18.2 million of development funding to the Cook Islands, citing a lack of consultation over a recent agreement with China. Peters' last meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown was in Nice, where they met briefly. But he reassures that the situation is being managed between senior officials. While former Prime Minister John Key attended the 50th anniversary in 2015, and both Peters and Christopher Luxon visited Niue ahead of its commemorations last year, Peters says the government believes the current arrangement is appropriate. Peters also discussed developments in New Caledonia, saying he is satisfied with the increased responsiveness to some concerns of the local population. Fomer Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna with the former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the 50th anniversary of self-government for the Cook Islands. Photo: Cook Islands Government France has agreed to grant New Caledonia special status, but it has not granted independence to the Pacific island nation, which has been a French territory since the mid-1800s. Between 2018 and 2021, New Caledonia held three votes to decide on independence, none of which were successful. Recently, tensions rose when new voting rights were extended to non-Indigenous residents, which made it more challenging for Kanaks to influence local governance. "When you've got a country like France with an aid programme of billions of dollars to a place like New Caledonia, that is something you want to save at all costs if you possibly can," Peters says. "Now, what we are saying in New Zealand and what we're saying to the French is that we can in any way help if we want to, but the pathway forward is being ironed out as they speak, and let's hope and pray that it works." Despite not having yet spoken with the President of the government of New Caledonia following the agreement in Paris last weekend, Peters stressed the importance of self-determination. "We expect to be treated with equality when we're dealing with big nations, and by comparison, these countries are as small to us as we are to China, but it doesn't mean we should be treated any differently. We say that small states matter." "They matter big time. They've got a right to their own self-destination, determination, and our job is to help them get there and ensure that the Pacific, in the meantime, remains proud of the phrase itself, 'Pacific means peace'." As Peters prepares to attend the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in Suva in August, he underscores the importance of regional dialogue at this time. He signalled more cross-party delegations to the Pacific are planned and called for less talk and more action. "I know Talanoa is a great way of relying and relaxing and waiting around and having conversations, but we need action right here, right now, and that's what we'll be talking about." -This article was first published by PNM .

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