New Zealand must ‘reset’ Cook Islands ties after China pact, foreign minister says

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters calls for a reset in relationship with Cook Islands over China agreements.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) his country must “reset” its relationship with the Cook Islands government after its Pacific neighbour signed agreements with China without consultation.

In a speech to the Pacific Island Political Science Association in Wellington, Peters said Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s opaque dealings with Beijing was the latest attempt to test constitutional ties with New Zealand.

“While the connection between the people of the Cook Islands and New Zealand remains resolutely strong, we currently face challenges in the government-to-government relationship,” he said.

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“We are going to need to reset the government-to-government relationship.”

The Cook Islands is a self-governing nation and maintains free association with Wellington, sharing a head of state and citizenship rights. It is permitted an independent foreign policy, but the two countries are required to consult on security, defence and foreign policy issues.

Mr. Brown’s visit to Beijing this month resulted in a strategic partnership with China spanning education, the economy, infrastructure, fisheries, disaster management and seabed mining.