Cook Islands nation scrambles to recover millions from New Zealand

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 in February. The deal was nonbinding and focused on climate, economics, and sustainable development, the foreign ministry said. The Cook Islands’ government was eager to meet with New Zealand officials to address their concerns, it said.

The government of New Zealand paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Pacific archipelago in early June, but didn’t make the decision public until this week, according to Radio New Zealand. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed on Thursday that his government cut the funding because it was unhappy that the Cook Islands nation wasn’t transparent about its China deal, according to the outlet. Both the Cook Island nation and New Zealand operate in free association, but a 2001 pact requires both Pacific nations to consult each other on defense and security issues.

What’s the status of New Zealand’s relationship with China? The Cook Islands news broke during Prime Minister Luxon’s visit to China. In a Thursday government release, Luxon said his country prioritized its relationship with China. More than 20% of New Zealand’s goods and services exports go to China, he said.

What did China say about the kerfuffle? Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Thursday said no third party should disrupt friendly relations between China and the Cook Islands. China also regarded New Zealand as an important partner, he said.