Robert Patman: International Relations Expert says Luxon will "set the record straight" over Cook Islands dispute

An International Relations Expert says the Prime Minister will set the record straight in China regarding the pause on Cook Island aid funding. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has put millions of dollars in developmental aid on hold - saying trust needs to be restored. 

The island nation signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, without reference to New Zealand, despite our two countries' official special relationship. 

International Relations Expert Robert Patman says the timing of his current visit to China, isn't great. 

He says he's sure Luxon will make the point the Cook Islands were informed well before this visit. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks be follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
And on the topic of the Cook Islands, the government
has paused nearly twenty million dollars in development funding for
the Cook Islands over the last few years. We've given
them almost two hundred million dollars. This move comes following
the controversial partnership agreement signed between the Cooks and China
back in February, and more so because of the lack
of consultation with New Zealand on that agreement, Whenston Peters

(00:39):
has pointed to repairing trust as the main catalyst for
the cessation of the funding. So I'm joined now by
Robert Patman and international relations expert Happy Matariki. To you, Robert,
good morning, Andrew So Winston Peters and New Zealand told
the Cook Islands on June the fourth that this was
going to happen for a fortnight or so. Nobody says anything.
Then this week the Cook Islands Parliament had that report

(01:02):
tabled in their parliament. It was picked up by the
Cook Islands News and now everybody knows do you reckon?
That was delivered by the Cook Islands to sabotage our
talks of China.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
Well, I just don't know, to be quite frank, the
timing is curious, and I'm sure mister Luxelon will be
making the point that the Cook Islands were to his
Chinese hosts, that the Cook Islands were informed well in
advance of his visit to China, and the timing has

(01:35):
not been determined entirely by New Zealand. But yeah, I
mean we've informed them, I believe in early June, as
you indicated.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
So looking at the Cook Islands now, how big a
loss is the money for them? It's twenty million dollars,
you know, affecting of course our talks, and we've already
signed almost a billion dollars with the business with China.
But for the Cooks twenty million dollars. That's quite a
sizable wad of money.

Speaker 3 (01:58):
It is, particularly when you considered over the past three
years New Zealand's provided about two hundred million to the
Cook Islands through the development program. And clearly it's a
pretty powerful signal to the Cook Islands government unpacked and
perhaps the opposition in Cook Islands that mu Zine is

(02:19):
not happy with what they see as a deficit in
the levels of trust between the two actors. And so yeah,
I mean it's a way of making a point and
I don't think the government would have done it lightly.
They were clearly felt somewhat diindsided by the comprehensive agreement
between the Cook Islands and in China.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah. Sorry, but here's the thing. New Zealand had to
do something, didn't they.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yes, And the good thing is about a step like
this is never good from the if you're on the
receiving end of this, it's never good to receive such
a a gesture or a move. But on the other hand,
the owners is on the Cook Islands to step up
and indicate that the relationship is strong and that the

(03:07):
in future they'll be greater efforts at consultation so it
can be repaired cleanly.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
All right, and I thank you for your time today, Robert,
enjoying your holiday

Speaker 1 (03:16):
Here for more from News Talks at b Listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.