CoveragePost
June 20, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested a double standard, saying he was “not privy to or consulted on” agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands due to a lack ... <a title="Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/20/mark-brown-cook-islands-not-consulted-on-nz-china-agreements/" aria-label="Read more about Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 19, 2025
ANALYSIS: By Ben Bohane This week Cambodia marks the 50th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh to the murderous Khmer Rouge, and Vietnam celebrates the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces in April 1975. They are being commemorated very differently; after all, there’s nothing to celebrate in Cambodia. Its capital Phnom Penh was ... <a title="Did Australia back the wrong war in the 1960s? Now Putin’s Russia is knocking on the door" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/04/19/did-australia-back-the-wrong-war-in-the-1960s-now-putins-russia-is-knocking-on-the-door/" aria-label="Read more about Did Australia back the wrong war in the 1960s? Now Putin’s Russia is knocking on the door">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 28, 2025
By Talaia Mika of the Cook Islands News As concerns continue to emerge over China’s “unusual” naval exercises in the Tasman Sea, raising eyebrows from New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands government was questioned for an update in Parliament. This follows the newly established bilateral relations between the Cook Islands and China through a ... <a title="Cook Islands government to seek update on China’s naval exercises" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/28/cook-islands-government-to-seek-update-on-chinas-naval-exercises/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islands government to seek update on China’s naval exercises">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist, in Avarua, Rarotonga More than 400 people have taken to the streets to protest against Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s recent decisions, which have led to a diplomatic spat with New Zealand. The protest, led by Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, has taken ... <a title="Cook Islanders march in Avarua against Mark Brown government" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/18/cook-islanders-march-in-avarua-against-mark-brown-government/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islanders march in Avarua against Mark Brown government">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 17, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown hopes to have “an opportunity to talk” with the New Zealand government to “heal some of the rift”. Brown returned to Avarua on Sunday afternoon (Cook Islands Time) following his week-long state visit to China, where he signed a “comprehensive ... <a title="‘No areas of concern’, says Cook Islands PM on NZ’s China deal fears" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/17/no-areas-of-concern-says-cook-islands-pm-on-nzs-china-deal-fears/" aria-label="Read more about ‘No areas of concern’, says Cook Islands PM on NZ’s China deal fears">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 16, 2025
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/Bulletin editor Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark maintains that Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, should have consulted Wellington before signing a “partnership” deal with China. “[Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown] seems to have signed behind the backs of his own people as well as of ... <a title="‘Clandestine’ Cook Islands-China deal ‘damaged’ NZ relationship, says Clark" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/16/clandestine-cook-islands-china-deal-damaged-nz-relationship-says-clark/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Clandestine’ Cook Islands-China deal ‘damaged’ NZ relationship, says Clark">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 16, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday. Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands and China. “Our relationship and ... <a title="China deal ‘complements, not replaces’ NZ relationship, says Cook Islands PM" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/16/china-deal-complements-not-replaces-nz-relationship-says-cook-islands-pm/" aria-label="Read more about China deal ‘complements, not replaces’ NZ relationship, says Cook Islands PM">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 14, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his regular press conference that Brown’s ... <a title="China confirms ‘in-depth exchange’ with Cook Islands as New Zealand faces criticism for bullying" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/14/china-confirms-in-depth-exchange-with-cook-islands-as-new-zealand-faces-criticism-for-bullying/" aria-label="Read more about China confirms ‘in-depth exchange’ with Cook Islands as New Zealand faces criticism for bullying">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 14, 2025
The Chinese have politely told the Kiwis to back off. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that China and the Cook Islands have had diplomatic relations since 1997 which “should not be disrupted or restrained by any third party”. “New Zealand is rightly furious about it,” a TVNZ Pacific affairs writer editorialised to the ... <a title="Will New Zealand invade the Cook Islands to stop China? Seriously" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/14/will-new-zealand-invade-the-cook-islands-to-stop-china-seriously/" aria-label="Read more about Will New Zealand invade the Cook Islands to stop China? Seriously">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist China and the Cook Islands’ relationship “should not be disrupted or restrained by any third party”, says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, as opposition leaders in Rarotonga express a loss of confidence in Prime Minister Mark Brown. In response to questions from the Associated Press about New Zealand ... <a title="China: Cook Islands’ relationship with Beijing ‘should not be restrained’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/11/china-cook-islands-relationship-with-beijing-should-not-be-restrained/" aria-label="Read more about China: Cook Islands’ relationship with Beijing ‘should not be restrained’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 10, 2025
The Cook Islands finds itself in a precarious dance — one between the promises of foreign investments and the integrity of our own sovereignty. As the country sways between partners China and Aotearoa New Zealand, the Cook Islands News asks: “Do we continue to haka with the Taniwha, our constitutional partner, or do we dance ... <a title="Cook Islands crisis: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/10/cook-islands-crisis-haka-with-the-taniwha-or-dance-with-the-dragon/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islands crisis: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand is asking for too much oversight over its deal with China, which is expected to be penned in Beijing next week. Brown told RNZ Pacific the Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship was reciprocal. “They certainly did not consult with us when ... <a title="Mark Brown on China deal: ‘No need for NZ to sit in the room with us’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/09/mark-brown-on-china-deal-no-need-for-nz-to-sit-in-the-room-with-us/" aria-label="Read more about Mark Brown on China deal: ‘No need for NZ to sit in the room with us’">Read more</a>
