June 21, 2025 • 7 mins
The Government is pausing $18 million in funding for the Cook Islands following their deals with China earlier this year.
What can be done to fix our relationship? Who's at fault?
Tim Beveridge is joined by Tere Carr, Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council President...
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks dB.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yes, it is twenty eight past three now. As you know,
Foreign Minster Winston Peter's announced to pause. Well he didn't
announce it, it came out he paused eighteen million dollars
in funding to the Cook Islands following a lack of
consultation over their deals with China earlier this year. The
money would have been used for health, education and tourism.
The Cook Islands. Prime Minister Mark Brown slammed the move
hot saying holding millions in sect to support us patronizing
(00:31):
and doesn't align with our part partnership arrangements. And he
says they're committed to addressing this urgently. That's probably up
for a bit of debate to discuss that cook we
have from the Cook Island tourism development. We have Terry
Carr joining us. How let's see, I just need to
push the right button, Terry Hello. Sure. What was the
(00:52):
reaction to this locally?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
The reaction was taken as with mister Peters with holding
the aid solely their Mark Brown fault. So much of
what's happened this year has not been disclosed to the people,
as Cook Islands has not been disclosed to the New
Zealand government and so it came as no surprise really
(01:18):
that mister Peters took the steps he needed to do
to pull mister Brown back into line. And I think
that's what most of it were seeing on the ground here. Yeah,
is that? Yeah? It you know, it's a situation we
find ourselves and right now actions are one man, How.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Important was this money?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The money is important. All age that comes from New
Zealand is very important because it does support services in
the community in the country. But at the same time,
I think it's more important this year for mister Brown
and his government and that it's election year next year,
so that aid would have been news. I'm sure in
(02:00):
situations where it would, you know, it would be seen
that the government was doing what it should be doing
and therefore reflected and reinstating them in government next year.
So really, really critical, I would say at this point
in time is.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
The So I get the vibe that the major concern
it's not maybe so much with the money, but it
is in the way Mark Brown's going about business and
arguably cozying up with China to the expense of its relationship.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
With New Zealand absolutely, and I think what New Zealanders
need to understand is that the Cook Islands has a
long history with New Zealand since nineteen oh one. We've
been part of the realm of New Zealand in nineteen
sixty five. We have a constitution in place, and under
that constitution we have internal self government. We also have
(02:50):
New Zealand in charge of defense and foreign affairs. It's
in our constitution and mister Peters has alerted mister Brown
that there was been any change in status. You need
to go back to the people of the Cook Island
and sleeper referendum, and that hasn't been done. And so
until that's done, we're not a sovereign nation. We can't
(03:13):
be going out there making deals and unknown deals which
could harm us. It could harm New Zealand. We are
in New Zealand citizens and so I think from our perspective,
we're really pleasing. Let mister Peters is stepped in.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
What about Mark Brown? Is he giving any signs that
there's going to be I don't know. Some healing of
the relationships one thing to talk about it, but it
doesn't seem like they're having a constant dialogue him and
Winston does it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
No, it doesn't. And I think the problem with mister
Brown's government, with the government we have in place at
the moment, is that, you know, there's a lack of
brain power. Mister Brown is really the brains behind the
whole thing. So any decision making of a serious nature
is made by one man. So all the China deals
are made by him. The passport situation arose because he decided,
(04:06):
you know, that we should go our own way and
have a secret passport with an understanding that you know,
the relationship with New Zealand means you can't do that.
So it's yeah, it's up to mister Brown to kind
of eat humble Pire would say, because I think the
people at the Cook Islands value this relationship we have
(04:26):
with New Zealand. They're like our backstop. They are there
when we need them when our government goes off the rails.
At least under our constitution, you know there's a backstop
where New Zealand can step in and say in that
there are things you need to do before you even
talk about sovereignty and being able to go around the
world and make deals.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's just a case of waiting for the next election,
for the people to have their say, or the other
things that he's that Brown might respond to.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I think it's imperative. I think in today's newspaper he's
urged by the opposition party to go and talk to
mister Peters. But I think until the full extent of
what you know, the contract or the duralty signed with
China actually exposed, how how they will affect you know,
the relationship, the foreign affairs relationship with defense relationships. I
(05:19):
just feel that mister Brown needs to do a whole
lot of disclosing of what's actually on the table, and
the people at the Cook Islands need to know as
well and make informed decisions. You know that if there
is a referendum, the Cork Islanders need to know that
they in danger of losing their passport. They're in danger
of losing you know, these are free entry into New
(05:39):
Zealand health services that they have access to. So I
think the biggest disappointments and a lot of us on
the ground here is that mister Brown's actions simply alerted
the whole public of New Zealand that the Cook Islands
is receding taxpayer money from New Zealand and not valuing it,
so it's very disappointing.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah, how's, by the way, your president of Cork, Colin's
Tourism Council, how tourism going, Because New Zealanders love going
to the Cook Islands. So how's everything shaping up at
the moment for you guys? People spending money where you'd
like them to.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You know, New Zealand tourists have been our best supporters
since we opened after COVID and now be joined by
our Australians and North America coming through, but the New
Zealanders coming over had been They're on the ground and
they like to know what's happening on the ground. So
last week there was a lot of questions about what's
going on. And I think New Zealanders that do come
(06:34):
here as tourists see the real Cook Islands. They see
how the people on the ground are feeling, whereas in
New Zealand. New Zealanders probably wouldn't have that same feeling,
but they understand that these are decisions made by the
Prime Minister and it's impacting all of us without us
actually having a choice about it right now. But yeah,
they've been absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Thanks Hey, Terry, we really appreciate your time staff known
for your comments on the situation that as a Terry Carr,
President of the Cook Islands Tourism Council. Yeah, fascinating comments.
Actually not pulling out punches there at all? Was she
on Mark Brown? They're not happy with him over there.
So watch the space. We'll be doing some e one
hundred eighty ten to eighty talk back your thoughts, so
(07:16):
you can add a comment on the Cook Islands. But
I imagine in terms of the big piece of news
of course, as America attacking a round in those three
nuclear facilities. My my indview with Jeffrey Miller there, which
was it didn't make me feel particularly relaxed about the situation.
But what's your thing? What's your response? Do you think
the States have done the right thing? Or are you
as concerned as Jeffrey is that it was madness? Basically
(07:38):
sums it up. It is twenty four minutes to four
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from the weekend collective, listen live to News
Talks EDB weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks dB.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yes, it is twenty eight past three now. As you know,
Foreign Minster Winston Peter's announced to pause. Well he didn't
announce it, it came out he paused eighteen million dollars
in funding to the Cook Islands following a lack of
consultation over their deals with China earlier this year. The
money would have been used for health, education and tourism.
The Cook Islands. Prime Minister Mark Brown slammed the move
hot saying holding millions in sect to support us patronizing
(00:31):
and doesn't align with our part partnership arrangements. And he
says they're committed to addressing this urgently. That's probably up
for a bit of debate to discuss that cook we
have from the Cook Island tourism development. We have Terry
Carr joining us. How let's see, I just need to
push the right button, Terry Hello. Sure. What was the
(00:52):
reaction to this locally?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
The reaction was taken as with mister Peters with holding
the aid solely their Mark Brown fault. So much of
what's happened this year has not been disclosed to the people,
as Cook Islands has not been disclosed to the New
Zealand government and so it came as no surprise really
(01:18):
that mister Peters took the steps he needed to do
to pull mister Brown back into line. And I think
that's what most of it were seeing on the ground here. Yeah,
is that? Yeah? It you know, it's a situation we
find ourselves and right now actions are one man, How.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Important was this money?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
The money is important. All age that comes from New
Zealand is very important because it does support services in
the community in the country. But at the same time,
I think it's more important this year for mister Brown
and his government and that it's election year next year,
so that aid would have been news. I'm sure in
(02:00):
situations where it would, you know, it would be seen
that the government was doing what it should be doing
and therefore reflected and reinstating them in government next year.
So really, really critical, I would say at this point
in time is.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
The So I get the vibe that the major concern
it's not maybe so much with the money, but it
is in the way Mark Brown's going about business and
arguably cozying up with China to the expense of its relationship.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
With New Zealand absolutely, and I think what New Zealanders
need to understand is that the Cook Islands has a
long history with New Zealand since nineteen oh one. We've
been part of the realm of New Zealand in nineteen
sixty five. We have a constitution in place, and under
that constitution we have internal self government. We also have
(02:50):
New Zealand in charge of defense and foreign affairs. It's
in our constitution and mister Peters has alerted mister Brown
that there was been any change in status. You need
to go back to the people of the Cook Island
and sleeper referendum, and that hasn't been done. And so
until that's done, we're not a sovereign nation. We can't
(03:13):
be going out there making deals and unknown deals which
could harm us. It could harm New Zealand. We are
in New Zealand citizens and so I think from our perspective,
we're really pleasing. Let mister Peters is stepped in.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
What about Mark Brown? Is he giving any signs that
there's going to be I don't know. Some healing of
the relationships one thing to talk about it, but it
doesn't seem like they're having a constant dialogue him and
Winston does it.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
No, it doesn't. And I think the problem with mister
Brown's government, with the government we have in place at
the moment, is that, you know, there's a lack of
brain power. Mister Brown is really the brains behind the
whole thing. So any decision making of a serious nature
is made by one man. So all the China deals
are made by him. The passport situation arose because he decided,
(04:06):
you know, that we should go our own way and
have a secret passport with an understanding that you know,
the relationship with New Zealand means you can't do that.
So it's yeah, it's up to mister Brown to kind
of eat humble Pire would say, because I think the
people at the Cook Islands value this relationship we have
(04:26):
with New Zealand. They're like our backstop. They are there
when we need them when our government goes off the rails.
At least under our constitution, you know there's a backstop
where New Zealand can step in and say in that
there are things you need to do before you even
talk about sovereignty and being able to go around the
world and make deals.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
It's just a case of waiting for the next election,
for the people to have their say, or the other
things that he's that Brown might respond to.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
I think it's imperative. I think in today's newspaper he's
urged by the opposition party to go and talk to
mister Peters. But I think until the full extent of
what you know, the contract or the duralty signed with
China actually exposed, how how they will affect you know,
the relationship, the foreign affairs relationship with defense relationships. I
(05:19):
just feel that mister Brown needs to do a whole
lot of disclosing of what's actually on the table, and
the people at the Cook Islands need to know as
well and make informed decisions. You know that if there
is a referendum, the Cork Islanders need to know that
they in danger of losing their passport. They're in danger
of losing you know, these are free entry into New
(05:39):
Zealand health services that they have access to. So I
think the biggest disappointments and a lot of us on
the ground here is that mister Brown's actions simply alerted
the whole public of New Zealand that the Cook Islands
is receding taxpayer money from New Zealand and not valuing it,
so it's very disappointing.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Yeah, how's, by the way, your president of Cork, Colin's
Tourism Council, how tourism going, Because New Zealanders love going
to the Cook Islands. So how's everything shaping up at
the moment for you guys? People spending money where you'd
like them to.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You know, New Zealand tourists have been our best supporters
since we opened after COVID and now be joined by
our Australians and North America coming through, but the New
Zealanders coming over had been They're on the ground and
they like to know what's happening on the ground. So
last week there was a lot of questions about what's
going on. And I think New Zealanders that do come
(06:34):
here as tourists see the real Cook Islands. They see
how the people on the ground are feeling, whereas in
New Zealand. New Zealanders probably wouldn't have that same feeling,
but they understand that these are decisions made by the
Prime Minister and it's impacting all of us without us
actually having a choice about it right now. But yeah,
they've been absolutely wonderful.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Thanks Hey, Terry, we really appreciate your time staff known
for your comments on the situation that as a Terry Carr,
President of the Cook Islands Tourism Council. Yeah, fascinating comments.
Actually not pulling out punches there at all? Was she
on Mark Brown? They're not happy with him over there.
So watch the space. We'll be doing some e one
hundred eighty ten to eighty talk back your thoughts, so
(07:16):
you can add a comment on the Cook Islands. But
I imagine in terms of the big piece of news
of course, as America attacking a round in those three
nuclear facilities. My my indview with Jeffrey Miller there, which
was it didn't make me feel particularly relaxed about the situation.
But what's your thing? What's your response? Do you think
the States have done the right thing? Or are you
as concerned as Jeffrey is that it was madness? Basically
(07:38):
sums it up. It is twenty four minutes to four
News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from the weekend collective, listen live to News
Talks EDB weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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