Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Cook Islands – trouble in Paradise as Wellington pulls the plug
Waatea News
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June 20, 2025
Role Funding: In December 2024, Prime Minister Mark Brown proposed issuing a unique Cook Islands passport—a move Wellington warned could signal constitutional independence. Although the passport plan was later shelved, it heightened sensitivity...
Cook Islands PM slams NZ over funding pause
Otago Daily Times
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June 20, 2025
By Caleb Fortheringham of RNZ 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...
Cook Islands PM says China deals do not ‘compromise’ sovereignty
The Sun Daily
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June 20, 2025
WELLINGTON: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday defended a string of contentious deals with China, saying they did not “compromise” the Pacific island nation’s sovereignty. The agreements prompted major donor New Zealand to halt aid...
Cook Islands PM slams NZ for 'patronising approach' over China deal
1News
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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...
Cook Island Prime Minister criticises NZ aid pause as ‘patronising’
The New Zealand Herald
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June 20, 2025
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...
Cook Islands nation scrambles to recover millions from New Zealand
World - North Carolina
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June 19, 2025
The Cook Islands’ foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was working to regain millions in funding New Zealand cut off earlier this month. The agency said New Zealand halted the funding due to concerns over a deal the Cook Islands signed with China...
PM Brown: Cook Islands not consulted on NZ-China deals amid funding pause
Cook Island News
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June 19, 2025
New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon witnessed the signing of $871 million of commercial agreements between NZ businesses and their Chinese partners. Picture: CHRISTOPHER LUXON Cook Islands was “not privy to or consulted on” any agreements New Zealand...
Cook Islands anticipated New Zealand funding pause, dialogue ongoing to repair trust
Cook Island News
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June 19, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown with New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Catherine Graham at the Matariki celebration held at Tamarind House in Tupapa last night. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/25061818 Cook Islands government anticipated the...
Cook Islands saga another test for Govt’s China policy as Luxon hits Beijing
Newsroom
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June 19, 2025
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the “areas of risk” in the strategic deal between the Cook Islands and China include security, defence, sovereignty and international border arrangements. These risk factors are now being worked through by...
Government revives ammunition supply
Cook Island News
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June 28, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown in Parliament on June 23, 2025. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25062320 Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing firearm regulation and safety across the Pa Enua. This includes the...
New Zealand withdraws millions in aid from Cook Islands
World Socialist Web Site
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June 24, 2025
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...
Cook Islands funding frozen over China links
Otago Daily Times
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June 18, 2025
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ New Zealand has paused its core sector support funding for the Cook Islands after its government signed partnership agreements with China earlier this year, Winston Peters office says. It comes...
PAC flags concerns with Cook Islands Investment Corporation
Cook Island News
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June 23, 2025
Public Accounts Committee chair Teokotai Herman in Parliament last week. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/25061623 The Public Accounts Committee in review of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) annual and financial period for 2022-2023 has...
Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB political editor on the poll revealing less than a third of respondents support NZ giving Cook Islands services
Newstalk ZB
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June 23, 2025
Less than a third of respondents to a poll believe the Cook Islands should still get New Zealand services. Last week, the Government paused aid after the Cooks signed a partnership with China, without sharing any details with New Zealand. The...
New Zealand’s funding pause to Cook Islands is ‘not the Pacific Way’
Pacific Media Network
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New Zealand’s suspension of funding to the Cook Islands government has seen tensions rise among officials and experts. This follows reports that New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, withheld more than $18 million because...
Former New Zealand PM blames Cook Islands for creating a crisis
Papua New Guinea Post Courier
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June 22, 2025
WELLINGTON: 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...
Thomas Wynne: Cook Islands’ fourth pillar
Cook Island News
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June 21, 2025
Thomas Wynne. We have grown up with a national consciousness that tells us our nation stands on three distinct pillars: our Ekalesia (church), our Ui Ariki (traditional leaders), and our Kavamani (government). But has there been another pillar...
Stars align for unity: Matariki unites NZ and Cook Islands amidst tensions
Cook Island News
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June 21, 2025
A little performance at the Matariki celebration based on the importance of Matariki. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/25061816 Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, the New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga hosted the annual Matariki celebration, emphasising...
Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis
Asia Pacific Report
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June 21, 2025
By 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...
Christopher Luxon raises Cook Islands impasse with Chinese Premier, disagrees with Nato boss that China in league with Russia to undermine West
The New Zealand Herald
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June 20, 2025
Those remarks appear to echo the words of Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who this month urged the Pacific to stand together and stressed the importance of the centrality of the Pacific Islands Forum in conducting Pacific affairs. “As we face...