China has been wooing Pacific Island countries with strategic partnership agreements. New Zealand has said it will pause funding to the Cook Islands until it can take a closer look at these deals. New ...

News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a government budget document.

New Zealand has halted more than $18 million in development assistance to its realm country. But the island's prime minister said his government was "aware" it was coming.

The Cook Islands responded by saying it was "determined to address [the issue] as a matter of urgency", adding that it "highly values" New Zealand's development assistance over the years.

Freeze emerges as NZ's leader visits China. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt Thursday only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a ...

Freeze emerges as NZ's leader visits China. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt Thursday only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a ...

The money is part of NZ $200 million directed to the Cook Islands by New Zealand over the past three years as part of an almost 60-year-old free association compact.

New Zealand's latest action was an “entirely avoidable consequence of Cook Islands’ strategic flirtations with China,” said Mihai Sora, analyst with the Australia-based thinktank Lowy Institute.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has suspended millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation has made ...

Freeze emerges as NZ's leader visits China. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a ...