Name: New Zealand suspends Cook Islands funding over China ties | REUTERS
Uploaded: 2025-06-19T17:05:49.000Z
Duration: 1 min 30 s
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New Zealand has suspended millions in budget funding to the Cook Islands over that nation's growing ties with China.

Tensions between the two escalated in February.

After Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a strategic partnership with Beijing covering areas from deep sea mining to education but excluding security.

A spokesperson for New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement on Thursday that the country decided in early June to halt an $11 million dollar support payment to the islands.

And what it called core sector support as this quote relies on a high trust bilateral relationship.

They also say further funding will remain on hold until the Cook Islands take quote concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust.

The Cook Islands Foreign Ministry said it remains committed to restoring that trust and values Wellington's support.

The Pacific nation is a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, New Zealand commits to defend it if asked.

The two countries consult on defense and foreign policy.

And Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens.

New Zealand said it was not properly consulted ahead of the China agreement breaching their bilateral arrangement.

The Cook Islands says the two sides have since set up formal dialogue and have met twice to discuss the China agreements.

About Beijing's influence in the Pacific.

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New Zealand suspends Cook Islands funding over China ties | REUTERS

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