Cook Islands PM: ‘If we can’t get help from NZ, we will go somewhere else’

By Teitimoana Tairi, Cook Islands News

Cook Islands PM Mark Brown Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Lydia Lewis

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown defended the nation's new strategic partnership with China, citing the need for diverse international partners to fund a $650 million infrastructure plan that New Zealand alone cannot support, despite NZ's concerns and paused funding.

Brown made this comment on Monday (Tuesday NZT) while officially opening the 2025 Pa Enua Governance Forum, held at the USP Cook Islands Campus until Thursday.

The Forum is attended by outer island leaders, who are in Rarotonga for the 2025 Te Maeva Nui festival and the Cook Islands' 60th self-governance anniversary in free association with New Zealand, running from 25 July to 5 August.

Addressing the ongoing diplomatic row between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, Brown said: "Kua akaari mai a Nuti Reni e, to ratou manamanata, the main one is, kare oki tatou e uipaanga Kapiti ana kia atou, I mua ake tatou I rave teia koreromotu a tatou I sign ki te baseleia o Tnito (New Zealand shared their concerns with us, the main one is that we didn't discuss this partnership with New Zealand before signing the comprehensive strategic partnership with China)."

This has resulted in New Zealand pausing over $18m in core sector support funding, which targets key areas in the Cook Islands' annual budget.

Brown said he was surprised to learn that New Zealand had signed an agreement with China similar to the Cook Islands' deal, which resulted in "$60 billion worth of trade" for New Zealand in exchange for relaxed visa entry requirements for Chinese visitors.

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, exports to China total $20.85 billion, comprising $17.75b in goods and $3.1b in services (figures for the year ended December 2024).

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will not attend the milestone event in Rarotonga, which will celebrate the Cook Islands’ six decades of self-governance in free association with NZ. Photo: RNZ Pacific

"There's not one dollar out of this koreromotu (signed partnership) a te Nuti Reni e te Tinito ka tae mai kia tatou," the Brown said.

He said that last week, the Australian Prime Minister signed a partnership agreement with China, adding this agreement involves over $200b in annual exports to China and promotes Australia as a tourism destination for Chinese travellers.

"Kare okotai meitaki I roto I teia koremotu e ka aere mai kia tatou (Nothing out of this partnership will benefit us), nothing, we have to do our own," Brown told Pa Enua mayors and council members.

"… what we did (with China) was sign a friend work engagement in the areas that we would collaborate, and one of them was infrastructure development."

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown defended the nation's new strategic partnership with China. Photo: LIU BIN

According to Brown, the country's national infrastructure investment plan costs $650m for infrastructural work across the country, including buildings, transportation, and so on.

"New Zealand can't afford to give us that amount of money…we have to develop our partnerships with other larger countries to get the support we need to meet our infrastructure needs," Brown said.

"Let me set the record straight about the reality of life, we need to build our infrastructure, we need to improve our standards in the Pa Enua, me kare rauka mai ta te Nuti Reni (if we can't get help from New Zealand), we will go somewhere else and look for that help, and that's what we've been doing."

Highlighting the significance of the 60th anniversary, Brown stated that in 1965 the Cook Islands had only one development partner, New Zealand.

"Sixty years later, we have 70 development partners, with formal relations with over 70 countries, including all of the biggest countries, the biggest economies in the world today."

The 2025 Pa Enua Governance Forum opened on Monday local time (Tuesday NZT), bringing together leaders from across the Pa Enua, government officials, outer island mayors, executive officers and other distinguished guests to discuss ways to strengthen the collaboration between Pa Enua and central governance.

In her opening speech, Karopaerangi Ngatoko, the chief of staff at the Office of the Prime Minister, welcomed attendees with words of gratitude and purpose.

"…your presence reflects the strength of your commitment to your islands and to our shared development journey," Ngatoko said, acknowledging the distance many had travelled to attend.

"This is a working week, it is about progress about delivery and about impact. It is about building the bridge between planning and action - and ensuring that action delivers real outcomes for our Pa Enua."

Under the theme, "Akatinamou'anga I te itiki'anga Ora" symbolising unity, collaboration and a shared goal, the Forum marks a significant moment in the Cook Islands journey, coinciding with the nations 60th anniversary of self-governance.

Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter urged integrity and action in the public sector.

"We are public servants, servants of the public, not public owners," shared Hunter, highlighting the values that define the nation's public service.

He emphasised impartiality, transparency, accountability and added hard work as a core principle, calling for service that puts people before self-interest.

Hunter also acknowledged workforce challenges, especially in the Pa Enua, worsened by Covid-19 and ongoing out-of-migration.

"In the Pa Enua, these effects have been compounded by long-standing challenges, including high living costs, limited employment opportunities and continued outmigration. These trends have resulted in the loss of skilled workers and have placed real strains on local services and community capacity."

Hunter shared early steps in a National Workforce Development Plan and reaffirmed the government's commitment to deeper engagement with island communities through ongoing visits and partnership.

Mayor of Atiu, Timaau Mokoroa, representing the Pa Enua, warmly welcomed all attendees and acknowledged the event. Mokoroa extended his gratitude to the Office of the Prime Minister for hosting such an important gathering, which provided a platform to address concerns, share ideas and discuss further improvements for a sustainable country.

"I thank our Prime Minister at the moment of the day, for convening this important platform, not only as part of the celebration marking 60 years of self-governance, but more critically, as a space where the voices of our people, especially in the Pa Enua, can be heard. Our concerns acknowledged, and our collective aspirations discussed," he said.

"May we move forward in unity, grounded in Christ. Together we carry the weight of our islands, our people, but together we can also carry the weight that leads us forward."

-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.