New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over agreements the smaller Pacific nation made ...

The news - amid a stoush over the region's relationship with China - only emerged as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ...

New Zealand has halted funding to the Cook Islands over what it considers the small Pacific nation's deepening ties with China.

A Massey University security and defence observer says the New Zealand government's tactic of trying to punish partners over their decision-making is short-sighted.

Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters informed the Cook Islands government of the decision in early June. However, it only became public on Thursday (June 19) after media reports in the Cook ...

New Zealand freezes funding to Cook Islands over China agreements, demanding relationship repair and trust restoration.

New Zealand "paused" the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took "concrete steps" to restore trust, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.

New Zealand, which is the smaller Pacific nation's biggest funder, won't consider any new money for the Cook Islands until the relationship improves, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston ...

Peters' spokesperson said the agreements signed by the Cook Islands and China and the lack of consultation with New Zealand illustrated a gap in understanding between the Cook Islands and New ...