New Zealand signs defence pact with Cook Islands after quarrel over China deal | New Zealand
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defense and security declaration, ending a year-long diplomatic dispute that erupted after the Cook Islands struck strategic deals with China.
The Cook Islands were a dependent colony of New Zealand from 1901-65 but have since operated as a self-governing nation in “free association” with New Zealand. Approximately 17,000 of its citizens hold New Zealand citizenship. Yes obligations between two countries To consult regularly on defense and security matters.
In February 2025, New Zealand expressed “significant concern” about the lack of transparency regarding the Cook Islands’ decision to sign a strategic partnership agreement with China covering deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues.
This marked the first time the Cook Islands had struck a major deal with a country other than traditional partners New Zealand and Australia, raising concerns in those countries about China’s push for influence in the Pacific.
New Zealand, the Cook Islands’ biggest funder, responded by halting millions of dollars in aid to the country, which Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown described as “arrogant” and “inconsistent with modern partnership”.
Relations between the two countries improved on Thursday after the signing of the declaration requiring both sides to act in good faith and consult on defense and security issues.
New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters said it was no secret that the two governments faced a series of “serious disagreements” since late 2024, but the declaration was about “charting a course together for the future” and providing clarity on the relationship.
Peters said: “The strategic environment we face today is more complex and controversial than at any time since New Zealand and the Cook Islands established our free association relationship in 1965.
“In this context, it is vital that New Zealand and the Cook Islands are clear with each other and with third parties about the nature of our special relationship and our responsibilities to each other in the areas of defense and security.”
He said New Zealand would continue its annual funding support of around NZ$29.8 million (US$17.1 million).
Peters added: “We are pleased that we now have shared certainty about the contours of this relationship and are grateful to Prime Minister Brown and his government for taking a constructive approach to negotiations on this declaration.”
Brown said the agreement was about “moving forward.”
He said: “This declaration is about security and defense in our region and I am confident that the provisions contained in this declaration will address concerns that may have arisen in the past.”
Brown said the defense deal with New Zealand would not affect the Cook Islands’ deal with China, but Peters said the deal was no longer a concern.
“This declaration resolves this old uncertainty and provides clarity to both governments so we can move forward focusing on the future, not the past,” Peters said.
“If anyone understands Polynesian society, the cousins occasionally break down… our job is to take it back.”
