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New Zealand pauses funding to Cook Islands over China agreements

NZ HeraldThe PressWaikato TimesThe PostOtago Daily Times1NewsRNZStuffThursday 19 June 2025 · 8 outlets · 11 reports · updated

In this story Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters, Xi Jinping, Mark Brown, Cook Islands Government

Photo: NZ Herald (opens in new tab)

New Zealand has paused between $18.2 million and nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands. The decision follows the Cook Islands government signing partnership agreements with China without consulting New Zealand. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has downplayed the move while on an official visit to China.

How they headlined it

First reported by NZ Herald, Thu 19 Jun 2025, 7:51am · 11 reports from 6 outlets over 13 hours
  1. NZ HeraldNZ Herald

    New Zealand pauses Cook Islands funding over China deal stoush (opens in new tab)

  2. The PressThe Press via RNZ

    Government halts Cook islands funding (opens in new tab)

    Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab), The Post (opens in new tab)

  3. Otago Daily TimesOtago Daily Times

    Cook Islands funding frozen over China links (opens in new tab)

  4. 1News1News

    NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China agreements (opens in new tab)

  5. RNZRNZ

    New Zealand halts Cook Islands funding in stoush over China (opens in new tab)

  6. StuffStuff

    Cook Islands reaffirms commitment to restoring relationship with New Zealand (opens in new tab)