**New Zealand Suspends Aid to Cook Islands Amid China Partnerships**

Fri Jul 18 2025 03:21:56 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
**New Zealand Suspends Aid to Cook Islands Amid China Partnerships**

New Zealand's decision to halt funding over concerns regarding China's influence in the Cook Islands highlights rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific.


This funding pause could reshape the Cook Islands' diplomatic landscape and economic future, emphasizing the need for trust in international relationships.

New Zealand has put a stop to millions of dollars in developmental aid to the Cook Islands due to a series of agreements made by the island nation with China that caught Wellington off guard. The New Zealand government, which serves as the foremost financial supporter of the Cook Islands, expressed surprise over the deals finalized in February that encompass various sectors including infrastructure, tourism, technology, as well as deep-sea mineral exploration, a critical area of interest.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters emphasized that any further funding will be contingent upon the Cook Islands making "concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust" with Wellington. The suspension involves NZ$18.2 million (approximately $11 million), revealing rising apprehension among US allies, especially New Zealand and Australia, about China’s increasing influence in the Pacific region.

A spokesperson for Peters commented, “Funding relies on a high-trust bilateral relationship,” highlighting the importance of clear communication and mutual understanding. The Cook Islands has assured that it is actively engaging in discussions with New Zealand to resolve the situation and values the longstanding development assistance it has received over the years.

This funding suspension arrives concurrently with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s official visit to China, where he is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Peters’ office does not seem concerned about potential negative perceptions from Beijing, underscoring New Zealand's "special relationship" with the Cook Islands.

China’s efforts to forge partnerships with smaller Pacific nations, including a controversial security agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022, have sparked alarm among Western allies. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown emphasized that the agreements with China focus on his nation’s “long-term interests” and strive to assuage worries from regional partners like Australia and New Zealand by confirming that these partnerships do not replace existing relationships.

The ramifications of the agreements have led to public protests on Rarotonga, the largest island in the Cook Islands, including a parliamentary vote of no confidence against Brown that he managed to survive. New Zealand maintains a "free association" relationship with the Cook Islands, providing support in defense and foreign affairs. Over the past three years, New Zealand has channeled NZ$194 million towards the Cook Islands, with many Cook Islanders holding New Zealand passports.

Culturally, the Cook Islands Māori share ties with New Zealand’s Māori community, making the response to their first agreements with China particularly poignant. Notably, the Cook Islands had previously exhibited a desire for independence when it scrapped plans for its own passport amid public backlash late last year. The evolving dynamics in the Pacific suggest pivotal changes ahead, not only for the Cook Islands, but also for the broader regional alliances.

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