Cook Islands PM says China deals do not 'compromise' sovereignty

Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis

By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/producer Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself by not consulting Wellington before signing a deal with China. The New Zealand government has paused more than $18 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands after the latter failed to provide satisfactory answers to Aotearoa’s questions about its partnership agreeme…

Cook Islands PM says China deals do not 'compromise' sovereignty

Wellington (AFP) June 20, 2025 Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday defended a string of contentious deals with China, saying they did not "compromise" the Pacific island nation's sovereignty. The agreements prompted major donor New Zealand to halt aid funding to close partner the Cook Islands, citing a "lack of consultation". The Cook Islands has a "free association" relationship with its former colonial