Ruth Kwansing, right, with Taneti Maamau, middle, in a post-election meeting on 26 October 2024. Photo: Facebook / Ruth Cross Kwansing
- New Zealand cancelled its visit to Kiribati because Winston Peters specifically wanted to meet with President Taneti Maamau
- Kiribati MP Ruth Cross Kwansing says the cancelled trip had nothing to do with China
- Diplomats are understood to be patching things up behind the scenes
A New Zealand-born Kiribati MP has come to her president's defence in the diplomatic row between Wellington and Tarawa, stating the "media manufactured drama", in which Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced a review of NZ aid to the Micronesian nation, is "disrespectful to Kiribati's sovereignty".
This week, Peters confirmed that Aotearoa was reviewing its development programmes - worth NZ$102 million between 2021and 2024 - to Kiribati due to the "lack of political-level contact".
The NZ Deputy Prime Minister said he was turned down from meeting with Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, who is also the Foreign Minister, three times, with the most recent snub occurring this month, about a week before he was set to take a delegation to the island.
A spokesperson for the Minister told RNZ earlier this week that they were informed that Maamau was no longer available to receive Peters from 21 to 22 January.
Kiribati's Education Minister Alexander Teabo told RNZ on Tuesday that Maamau had a pre-planned event to attend - the ordination of a Catholic priest - on his home island of Onotoa. However, that event was held on 11 to 12 January, before the planned visit from Peters.
The Catholic ordination scheduled on 11 to 12 January finishing prior to the planned visit from Peters on 21 to 22 January. Photo: Supplied
On Wednesday, Peters told PMN's Pacific Mornings that the Pacific is "our backyard and we want to be a responsible partner". He added New Zealand has done its best to increase its assistance in the region and "all that's on the line now".
However, Ruth Cross Kwansing, a first-time MP who joined President Taneti Maamau's government after the 2024 elections, defended Maamau, saying that he "would never in a millennium intentionally 'snub' New Zealand or any foreign minister."
"The New Zealand media, in its typical fashion, seized the opportunity to patronise Kiribati, and the familiar whispers about Chinese influence began to circulate," the Kiribati minister for women, youth and sports said.
"The reality is far more nuanced."
She said Maamau announced to his Cabinet ministers late last year that he would delegate international bilateral engagements to his deputy, Dr Teuea Toatu, or other ministers and ambassador.
"Thereby enabling him to focus intently on domestic matters, including the workplan for our national necessities outlined in the KV20 vision and 149 deliverables of his party manifesto."
Kwansing said Vice President Dr Toatu was prepared to receive the New Zealand delegation, but Peters "was insistent on meeting with the President himself".
"This insistence on bypassing established protocol is not only unusual but also, well let's just say it with as much love as possible: It's disrespectful to Kiribati's sovereignty," she said.
"It is also worth noting that the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia recently visited Kiribati and engaged with the Vice President and Cabinet ministers without any such reluctance," she added.
Taneti Maamai, left, and Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ
She told RNZ Peters was given the same option, but he "wasn't happy with that arrangement".
"This would be a different conversation if it was the Prime Minister of New Zealand that was coming to Kiribati and a so-called snub from our president, but it wasn't at all."
Maamau, who will return to Tarawa on Thursday after a four-day state visit to Fiji this week, has yet to make a comment.
But Kwansing told RNZ that the Kiribati government is now considering if Maamau should drop his foreign affairs portfolio to avoid an expectation for him to meet with other foreign ministers.
She said Maamau had accepted a different engagement, which was the state visit to Fiji and Nauru.
'Tool for political pressure'
New Zealand's announcement of an aid review, Kwansing said, including a potential threat to the NZ$2m funded RSE scheme had "understandably caused serious anxiety in Kiribati".
She added the potential loss of funding for critical sectors like health, education, fisheries, economic development and climate resilience would have a devastating impact on the I-Kiribati people.
"After committing $102m between 2021-2024 these are major threats to public health where $20m was invested in initiatives like rebuilding the Betio Hospital, training doctors, building clinics, NCD strategic planning and more.
She added a further $10m in education and $4m in developing the fisheries sector had been committed by New Zealand.
"It's an expansive and highly impactful list of critical support for capacity strengthening to our country.
"While New Zealand has every right to review its aid program to Kiribati or any developing country, it is crucial that these kinds of decisions are based on genuine development processes and not used as a tool for political pressure.
"Linking Pacific aid to access to political leaders sets a questionable precedent and undermines the principles of partnership, mutual respect and 'mana' that underpins the inextricably linked relationships between Pacific nations," she said.
'Weird and confusing situation'
The New Zealand high commissioner to Kiribati has met with Dr Toatu to unpack the issue. Kwansing said he was given assurance that aid would not suddenly stop.
"In the end, my view is we just need to have this visit, right? It didn't go ahead; it should have gone ahead.
"We're all in this weird and confusing situation and the best thing to happen, like any misunderstanding, is to address the root cause."
Kiribati switched its diplomatic ties with Taiwan for China in 2019.
Regional commentators have labelled Peters' approach as a "geopolitically stupid move" that could push the island further towards Beijing.
However, Kwansing said China had nothing to do with the saga.
"China has no more influence over this government than any other diplomatic relationship," she said.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said all funding to Kiribati is accounted for and the review will be used to "justify expenditure and demonstrate achievements to stakeholders and taxpayers".
Australia remains committed
Meanwhile, the Australian government has confirmed it continues to have amicable relations with Kiribati and does not have any intentions to review its support to the island.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said Australia is Kiribati's largest bilateral donor and remains committed to its longstanding partnership with Kiribati.
They also said Australia has continued regular engagement with the Kiribati government.
Last year, the Australian newswire service, AAP, has reported Australian officials are being frozen out of Kiribati.
