New Zealand has what is known as a "free association" relationship with the Cook Islands, and helps the latter with defence ...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is on his first official visit to China, said the Cook Islands had not been transparent and open about its comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

China has been wooing Pacific Island countries with strategic partnership agreements. New Zealand has said it will pause funding to the Cook Islands until it can take a closer look at these deals.

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

New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials in Wellington said Thursday ...

New Zealand has paused nearly $20m of core sector support funding for the Cook Islands, after its government signed partnership agreements with China earlier this year without consulting New Zealand.

New Zealand has halted more than $18 million in development assistance to its realm country. But the island's prime minister ...

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself ...

Cook Islands PM said the relationship between his country and New Zealand is defined by partnership, not paternalism. Read ...

New Zealand has suspended millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands, the government said Thursday, as relations ...