Cook Islands-New Zealand rift deepens over China deal

For the Cook Islands Māori version of this article, click here

Former and current MPs in the Cook Islands are raising the alarm over new diplomatic strains involving New Zealand and China.

The concerns come as Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown arrived in Beijing for a “jam-packed” week of diplomatic talks.

Opposition Leader Tina Browne says residents are angered by the ordeal.

“The lack of consultation, firstly, on the passport and then to say to ‘we'll let you know what is in the agreement with China once it's signed’, that's an insult, and that's sort of dictating from the top - it's not consultation with the people.

“I'm really concerned with the latest announcement from New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister spokesperson, it's getting worse.”

In a post from the New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga, officials accused the Cook Islands of failing to adequately consult on the controversial Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with China.

The lengthy statement referred to the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration and warned New Zealand required full disclosure before international pacts that could affect mutual security were finalised.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters reiterated the seriousness of the matter and said a consultation was “only meaningful if it happened before an agreement was reached, not after the fact”.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Browne said if there was nothing to hide, they should consult with Aotearoa about it.

Watch Tina Browne’s full interview below.

“If I was at the helm, I certainly wouldn't run away and be so arrogant. I certainly will consult with New Zealand.

“They have the resources to help me so that I don't go down a path that my country is going to regret," Browne said.

Iaveta Short, Former Cook Islands Cabinet Minister, said while many people don’t understand the prime minister's motivation, he may be playing a strategic game for aid funding.

“It's also a good signal to the rest of the Western world, Australia, America, saying ‘Hey, what are you people doing? The Chinese are out here, tendering to us and offering this and that, where are you?’”

Short said the Cooks had signed agreements with other countries on opportunities such as fishing.

Watch Iaveta Short’s full interview below.

“We signed the Law of the Sea Agreement, which really, for a country like the Cook Islands with internal self-government, sometimes we venture out of that self-government role into an independent kind of role," he said.

“But the reality is we only do this at the forbearance or agreement of New Zealand.”

In a live broadcast on Friday, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown called for balance and said traditional alliances and new partnerships would provide freedom to “shape our future while maintaining the strong partnerships that have contributed to our success”.

He stressed the importance of “reason, discussion and mutual understanding” to resolve disagreements.