• New Zealand has suspended NZ$18.2 million ($11 million) in funding to the Cook Islands due to concerns over its relations with China.
• The funding suspension is a response to a lack of consultation regarding recent agreements signed by Cook Islands with China.
• Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown asserts that these agreements do not compromise the nation’s sovereignty.
• The freeze on funding is seen as part of a growing precaution among New Zealand and Australia regarding China's influence in the Pacific.
• Discussions are ongoing between New Zealand and Cook Islands to address the concerns raised.

New Zealand has announced a suspension of NZ$18.2 million (US$11 million) in budget funding to the Cook Islands, as the relationship between the two countries deteriorates amid the island's increasing ties with China. This decision was communicated by a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who stated that funding relies on a "high trust bilateral relationship" and that significant new funding will not be considered until the Cook Islands Government takes steps to "repair the relationship and restore trust," according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The funding cut follows Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown's February visit to China, during which he signed various agreements in areas such as deep-sea mining and education. New Zealand expressed concerns that these agreements were made without appropriate consultation, thereby breaching the terms of their special relationship. Over the past three years, New Zealand has provided NZ$194.2 million to the Cook Islands, emphasizing the close ties, according to Reuters and BBC.

As concern mounts regarding China's growing influence in the Pacific, both Australia and New Zealand have adopted a more cautious stance. New Zealand's decision comes as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon prepares for discussions with Chinese officials and highlights the complexities of regional diplomatic ties in light of Cook Islands' decisions, as reported by Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

In response to the funding suspension, Prime Minister Brown defended the Cook Islands’ partnerships with China, asserting that these agreements did not compromise its sovereignty. He expressed a commitment to maintaining strong ties with New Zealand and engaging in constructive dialogue to navigate the concerns raised by Wellington. Brown’s comments underscore the ongoing complexities of international relationships in the Pacific region, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions, as noted by Channel News Asia and Reuters.