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China ready for ‘in-depth’ talks as Premier Li Qiang set to meet Cook Islands leader
China stood ready for “in-depth” talks with the Cook Islands, Beijing said on Thursday, a day before a meeting between Premier Li Qiang and visiting Prime Minister Mark Brown. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Brown will attend the...

‘National sovereignty’ central to Cook Islands PM’s discussions with China as deal enters final stages
In his post, Brown acknowledged the “strong interest in the outcomes” of his visit to China. “I want to reassure our people that every conversation is being guided by what is best for the Cook Islands – ensuring that our partnerships support...
New Zealand government alarmed by Cook Islands deal with China
The Cook Islands is set to strike a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, triggering a hysterical response from New Zealand’s government and media, which brands the deal as a major diplomatic victory for Beijing. The US is seeking to...
New Zealand urged not to overreact in Cook Islands dispute
Winston Peters, left, and Mark Brown. Photo: RNZ/Pacific Islands Forum/123RF New Zealand needs to ensure it does not become unhinged over the spat with the Cook Islands, says an international relations specialist at Victoria University of...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader joins protest against ‘aggressive’ Cook Islands PM
“There’s a group that we’re really concerned about the change of the passport and the impact, not only what it means politically, but what means is whakapapa. “Then obviously there’s more questions than answers when it came to the Chinese...

Cook Islands and China discuss enhanced cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Tingika Elikana, with Dr Zhaoxu Ma, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. MFAI/24122209 A delegation from the People’s Republic of China visited Rarotonga last week with the aim of...

What does China want with the Cook Islands?
Diplomatic storm clouds are gathering around the Cook Islands, a picturesque tourist destination in the South Pacific known for its creaking palms, pink beaches and deliciously warm nights. The microscopic island-nation has a long-standing ‘free...
If Cook Islands wish to leave Realm of NZ for China – let them – but current arrangement can not stand
Legitimate shock at what the Cook Islands are doing by signing a deal with China is not colonialism, it is the reaction from our Constitutional arrangements with the Cooks. The genuine anger from New Zealand is being framed as colonialism trying...
The diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, explained
Winston Peters, left, and Mark Brown. Photo: RNZ/Pacific Islands Forum/123RF Explainer: New Zealand and the Cook Islands are in the middle of a diplomatic row. A series of events has frustrated New Zealand, with the latest being the island...

New Zealand and Cook Islands fall out over China deal
Kathryn ArmstrongBBC News The Cook Islands is the latest Pacific country to strengthen its ties with China New Zealand has accused the Cook Islands government of a lack of transparency over its plans to strike a partnership deal with China. The...
Report on South West Pacific climate prompts plea to public, governments
South West Pacific region includes New Zealand. Photo: AFP PHOTO/Torsten BLACKWOOD A new report into the climate of the South West Pacific - including New Zealand - shows "shocking" changes, World Meteorological Organisation's director for the...
NZ, Cook Islanders left in dark over PM's possible China deal - Peters
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in Rarotonga. 8 February 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon The Foreign Minister says no one is challenging the right of the...
Opposition concerned by diplomatic row between New Zealand government and the Cook Islands
Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he is very concerned about the "rapidly deteriorating relationship" between the government and the Cook Islands. It comes as Cook Islands Prime Minister...
No security deal with China, assures Cook Islands PM Brown
Cook Islands’ agreement with China will not include any security aspects, Prime Minister Mark Brown assured Thursday. Brown, who is flying to China today with his delegation for a state visit from 10-14 February, will sign a Joint Action Plan for...
'Do not see eye to eye': NZ and Cook Islands at odds over diplomatic issues
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in Rarotonga. 8 February 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon New Zealand and the Cook Islands are not seeing eye to eye on a...
State visit to China- strengthening the Cook Islands’ global partnerships: Foreign…
Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown will undertake a State visit to China from 10 – 14 February, reinforcing the Cook Islands’ commitment to diversified international partnerships that support national development. At the invitation of the...

Why a deal with China has strained New Zealand’s ties with the Cook Islands
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Cook Islands aims to future-proof tourism with legislative overhaul
Tourism’s chief executive Karla Eggelton. Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is undertaking a legislative review to modernise the tourism framework, aligning it with sustainable tourism practices and addressing challenges like workforce development...
'Do not see eye to eye': NZ and Cook Islands at odds over diplomatic issues
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters in Rarotonga. 8 February 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon New Zealand and the Cook Islands are not seeing eye to eye on a...

Abandonment of Soft Power, Neglect of Climate Change, and the Shifting Geopolitical Landscape of the Pacific
The start of President Donald Trump’s second term has been turbulent. In just a few months, the United States’ position in the Pacific has sadly been weakened, widening the arena for strategic competition that inevitably puts peace and security in...