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 Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which disqualified around 20,000 French citizens ... <a title="France’s top diplomat confirms ‘unfreezing’ of New Caledonia’s electoral roll back on table" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/14/frances-top-diplomat-confirms-unfreezing-of-new-caledonias-electoral-roll-back-on-table/" aria-label="Read more about France’s top diplomat confirms ‘unfreezing’ of New Caledonia’s electoral roll back on table">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 12, 2025
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia later this month to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future. These discussions on February 22 follow preliminary talks held last week in Paris in “bilateral” mode with a wide range of ... <a title="French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/12/french-overseas-minister-manuel-valls-to-visit-noumea-for-key-political-talks/" aria-label="Read more about French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to visit Nouméa for key political talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2025
Jotham Napat has been elected as the new prime minister of Vanuatu. Napat was elected unopposed in Port Vila today, receiving 50 votes with two void votes. He is the country’s fifth prime minister in four years and will lead a coalition government made up of five political parties — Leaders Party, Vanua’aku Party, Graon ... <a title="Vanuatu parliament elects Jotham Napat as new prime minister" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/11/vanuatu-parliament-elects-jotham-napat-as-new-prime-minister/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu parliament elects Jotham Napat as new prime minister">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 11, 2025
Yasser Abdulaal, who has lived in Ōtautahi Christchurch for five years, said his two sisters had lost their homes in the 15-month-long war. “Toxic wasteland” . . . Palestinians take shelter in tents set up amid heavily damaged buildings in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Image: Al Jazeera screenshot APR Abdulaal said they and ... <a title="Ōtautahi man says family in Gaza will never leave despite US proposal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/11/otautahi-man-says-family-in-gaza-will-never-leave-despite-us-proposal/" aria-label="Read more about Ōtautahi man says family in Gaza will never leave despite US proposal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2025
RNZ Pacific Marshall Islands Journal editor Giff Johnson says US President Donald Trump’s decision on aid “is an opening for anybody else who wants to fill the gap” in the Pacific. Trump froze all USAID for 90 days on his first day in office and is now looking to significantly reduce the size of the ... <a title="Trump’s USAID freeze ‘undermines relationships in Pacific’, says editor" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/11/trumps-usaid-freeze-undermines-relationships-in-pacific-says-editor/" aria-label="Read more about Trump’s USAID freeze ‘undermines relationships in Pacific’, says editor">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2025
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson, RNZ News journalist New Zealand should be robust in its response to the “unacceptable” situation in Gaza but it must also back its allies against threats by the US President, says an international relations academic. Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said the rest of the world also “should ... <a title="NZ must take robust Gaza stance – ‘stop tip-toeing’ around Trump, warns academic" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/09/nz-must-take-robust-gaza-stance-stop-tip-toeing-around-trump-warns-academic/" aria-label="Read more about NZ must take robust Gaza stance – ‘stop tip-toeing’ around Trump, warns academic">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2025
MEDIAWATCH: By Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter By the time US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on China and Canada last Monday which could kickstart a trade war, New Zealand’s diplomats in Washington, DC, had already been deployed on another diplomatic drama. Republican Senator Ted Cruz had said on social media it was “difficult to ... <a title="Mediawatch: NZ media in the middle of Asia-Pacific diplomatic drama" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/09/mediawatch-nz-media-in-the-middle-of-asia-pacific-diplomatic-drama/" aria-label="Read more about Mediawatch: NZ media in the middle of Asia-Pacific diplomatic drama">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>
